Pokémon Nuzlocke Novels: Ancient Scarlet
Chapter 17: Picnics and Power-ups
Milo and Arven stared down at the Fuecoco as the blue light of evolution enveloped him, much as it had Fleur the other day. Reggie slowly grew in size, becoming larger and shifting in shape. When the light died down, a red, white and yellow-colored reptile stood in the Fuecoco's place with fiery hair and a strange egg sitting atop his head that glowed brightly.
"Craaaaw!" Reggie growled in a deeper tone, smiling up at Milo as the teen knelt down to look at his Pokémon, his eyes wide with wonder.
"Looks like Reggie got an upgrade!" Arven laughed as he clapped Milo on the shoulder enthusiastically as the younger teen stood back up. Milo stared at his Partner with an expression of awe before beaming at the newly-evolved Pokémon. Milo quickly pulled out his Pokédex and the appropriate entry for Reggie came up.
"Crocalor. The Fire Croc Pokémon and the evolved form of Fuecoco. The combination of Crocalor's fire energy and overflowing vitality has caused an egg-shaped fireball to appear on the Pokémon's head." The 'Dex entry explained, with Milo grinning from ear-to-ear as Reggie let out a relaxed yawn. He didn't even seem particularly bothered by the rainfall.
"Sir Reginald the Spicy! We bow to thee!" Milo said dramatically, bowing as if he was a character in an old play. Reggie growled and actually bowed back while Koraidon padded over, also taking a moment to bow its head in respect, with Reggie bowing to the draconic mount as well.
"All right! Look at my little buddy, coming through like a champ!" Arven laughed, clapping his hands as he laughed with delight. Both their victory and Reggie's evolution had the older teen grinning widely with joy. Even Koraidon had let out a happy bark while Cocoa and Barbossa hopped up and down on the ground.
It was at that moment Titan Klawf twitched, and suddenly flopped onto its side and back upright again. Milo and Arven let out screams of terror and prepared themselves for another round, only for the Stony Cliff Titan to flee down one of the canyon paths.
The two teens and their Pokémon observed for a few moments before Arven sighed and sagged his shoulders. "But these Titan Pokémon are…yeesh. I sure don't like having something so tough out to get me!"
"Oh come on, you had fun. Look at all those dodge rolls you were doing, mate! That was badass!" Milo said with an excited grin, causing Arven to chuckle a little. Arven then took a few steps towards the entrance to the cave that Titan Klawf had revealed, a curious expression on his face.
"I bet somewhere in here there's more of that Herba Mystica the Titan was eating. Quick, let's have a look around before it comes back!" Arven suggested, earning a nod from his friend. The two Trainers returned their Pokémon and quickly ran inside the cave, eager to escape the storm and to see what lay within the Titan's lair.
"Watch your step. It's pretty dark…" Arven muttered, pulling out a flashlight and illuminating the path. The cave itself was almost pitch black, but seemed to have plenty of room for them to walk.
After a few seconds of walking, the two teens found themselves in a large room that was illuminated enough for them to see clearly which struck Milo as odd. There was nothing of note about the cave except for one single item, which immediately caused Arven to shout, "No way!"
Arven bolted towards the back of the cave, with Milo close behind. Sitting atop a mound of rocks that were coated in bright green bioluminescent moss was a tall plant that was glowing a bright pink color (and was the single source of light in the cave). It was the same kind of plant that the Stony Cliff Titan had consumed to empower itself in the second battle.
"This is one of the Herba Mystica! It's exactly how it looked in the book!" Arven examined the glowing plant close, getting down on one knee to get a better look while Milo crouched slightly, slightly awed. Up close, he could feel power flowing from the plant.
Arven set down his bag and pulled out a small pair of scissors. He then carefully reached forward with a steady hand and snipped a few leaves off of the plant (being very careful not to damage the plant itself) and stored them in a small plastic bag. Arven carefully put away the leaves in his backpack before turning to Milo, barely able to contain his excitement.
"YES! We actually found one! And it's all thanks to you, Milo!" Arven cheered, doing several excited fist pumps in a way that reminded Milo of Nemona. The younger student smiled at the remark, happy that he was able to help Arven out and relieved that all their hard work paid off.
"It was a team effort, mate. I doubt me and Cocoa would've been able to deal with that monster a second time." Milo said as he held a hand up, which Arven high-fived a moment later with a wide smile.
"You're seriously the best. Thank you." Arven said sincerely, causing Milo to look away somewhat bashfully. He wasn't the best when it came to being complimented, but he appreciated the gratitude either way.
Arven turned around to his backpack and quickly pulled out the Scarlet Book, flipping it open and looking down at it with an intense expression. "Now then, let's see…What does the book have to say?"
Milo waited patiently as Arven found the spot in the book he was looking for. Finally, the upperclassman pointed at a page. "It says here that the Sweet Herba Mystica is good for gut health and that it aids digestion. Says it's great for stomachaches too, or when you want to stimulate the ol' appetite!"
"Sounds like it'll make one hell of a sandwich." Milo remarked, amazed that a herb could do all of that stuff even after seeing it power up the Titan like it had mere minutes ago. Arven closed the book with a serious expression and stowed it in his bag, crossing his arms as he became wrapped up in his thoughts.
"Now if I can just get him to eat some…" Arven muttered to himself almost too quietly for Milo to hear, with the older teen smiling happily as he closed his eyes. Before Milo could ask about that, Arven opened his eyes and rolled up his sleeves with a determined expression. "All right! Now it's my turn to show off what I can do. You're about to get a taste of my cooking!"
While the cooking was going on, Milo managed to snap a picture with Arven using his Rotom Phone of them both smiling next to one of the sandwiches as its wondrous scent filled the cave, with Milo leaning on the table with a content smile. Arven meanwhile wore a goofy grin, holding his hands against his cheeks. The two teens also changed into dry uniforms, since they had happened to be in their Naranja Academy uniforms when they had confronted Titan Klawf and got caught in the rain.
If Arven noticed anything odd about Milo going behind a rock to change while Arven changed out in the open, he didn't comment on it.
"Here you go!" Arven said after several minutes of prep-work, setting down two plates of sandwiches onto the table. "An Arven-original sandwich packed full of herbs!"
Arven beamed at Milo, who was staring at the sandwiches with both surprise and clear hunger. The smell from the herbs being prepared by the masterful chef had filled the cave completely, causing Milo to become extremely hungry.
"And I'll even give you a badge - y'know, as a thank-you for taking on that Titan Pokémon." Arven remarked, causing Milo to look at him in confusion. The upperclassman reached into his pocket and handed Milo the badge, which greatly resembled the badge that Milo had gotten from Katy. However, it had a rock-like symbol in the center of it.
"I call it a Titan Badge. Made it myself, using a replica of the Gym Badges, see?" Arven pointed out, with Milo staring down at the badge still. With Katy, the badge had been a symbol of his strength in overcoming the Cortondo Gym Leader.
With the Titan Badge, it was a symbol of Arven's gratitude and a reminder of their triumph over the Klawf, the Stony Cliff Titan.
Milo's eyes became somewhat misty as he smiled, continuing to look down at the badge for several long moments. He then looked to Arven, who was still smiling at him. "Thanks mate. I'll take good care of it."
The two students grabbed their sandwiches and sat down on rocks and began to eat. Milo sank his teeth into the sandwich, which in addition to special herbs, had been also filled with two slices of Unovan yellow cheese, yellow bell peppers, two fried Magikarp filets and a liberal amount of mayonnaise. Needless to say, the Fried Fillet Sandwich with a touch of Sweet Herba Mystica was absolutely delicious.
However, Milo hadn't gotten more than a few bites into it when a certain sandwich-obsessed lizard popped out of its Poké Ball with a loud cry. Milo smirked as Koraidon began sniffing the air, but Arven had a more extreme reaction. He recoiled sharply and leapt to his feet, angrily putting down his sandwich on the table before crossing his arms and glaring at the beast.
"Argh! What's up with that thing?! It just comes out of its ball on its own whenever it wants?" Arven practically growled, with Milo frowning at the sheer venom in the normally friendly-teen's voice. Koraidon seemed oblivious of Arven's ire, instead focusing on the sandwich in Milo's hands and sniffing eagerly at it. Milo smiled at Koraidon, knowing exactly what it wanted.
"...Hey now." Arven said in a very firm voice, staring intently at Koraidon. "No. That's not for you."
Koraidon heard that, glancing at Arven for a moment before glancing at Milo and growling softly. Milo looked at the massive lizard, and then at Arven, and then back to Koraidon.
"Sorry, buddy. This is mine…" Milo said meekly, causing Arven to relax a little. Koraidon jerked back in surprise at being told no, and after sniffing the delicious sandwich a few more times, Milo shook his head.
"Giaaawn…" Koraidon whined, with the lizard visibly deflating with despair. Its entire body sagged with disappointment as it looked at Milo with a pleading expression. The draconic mount looked like a dog pleading for scraps at the dinner table, even somehow having wide watery eyes. Milo winced at how depressed Koraidon looked at being told no and felt extremely guilty, even as Arven nodded in approval.
Give it a bite of the sandwich, you monster! Look at how sad Koraidon is!
As much as Milo wanted to tell the Voice to go away, it had a very valid point. Koraidon looked down at the ground, a trickle of drool coming down its face as it stared forlornly at the sandwich in Milo's hands. Milo felt his heart ache at seeing Koraidon so upset, knowing full-well how much it enjoyed sandwiches. After another glance at Arven, Milo decided that he was willing to do what must be done.
"Here you go, bud!" Milo said with a wan smile, extending his hand holding the sandwich out to Koraidon. The lizard perked up and almost seemed to grin with joy. It then snapped its head forward and chomped down on the sandwich, ripping it out of Milo's outstretched hand and into its own gullet.
The Sandwich Lizard has been appeased, and all was right in the world.
Arven scowled as he watched Koraidon noisily chomp down on his masterfully-crafted sandwich. He then sighed and sagged his shoulders, looking exasperated. "Hey! I went through all the trouble of making that for you, and you just give it away?!"
"Like I had a choice. That sandwich was delicious, but look how happy it made Koraidon." Milo remarked with a smile at the beast who looked like it was having the time of its life scarfing down its lunch. Arven walked over to them, putting his hands on his hips and looking at Koraidon with irritation.
"I hope you realize that's all there was, so now there's none left for you." Arven pointed out, causing Milo to frown. But then the boy shrugged his shoulders.
"That's totally fine! I had a few bites and what I tasted was awesome." Milo said with an easy smile, causing Arven to frown and shake his head, his hair bouncing around.
"Aw, come on! Now you're making me feel like I'm the selfish jerk here!" Arven groaned, causing Milo to chuckle at his distress. He was surprised when Arven walked over to the table and carefully used a knife to slice his own sandwich in half. He walked back over and handed the uneaten part of his sandwich to Milo.
"Here, you can have half of mine. But you'd better savor every last bite!" Arven insisted, with Milo grinning at Arven as the teen stomped back over to his seat and sat down. Milo did the same, taking a large bite of the sandwich and enjoying the taste of the herbs, which were the clear highlight in the meal.
"Happy now, you insatiable dork?" Milo called to Koraidon after swallowing a mouthful of food, earning a joyful growl from the beast in response as it licked its lips. Milo and Arven sat back down and enjoyed what was left of the sandwiches, making sure to send a selfie of themselves to Juliana to prove that they had succeeded.
"You know, we could always take this and replant it somewhere else." Milo suggested as he gestured to where the plant still stood, glowing brightly. Arven considered that option for several moments before shrugging.
"We know where it is now. We can always come back later and do that. For now, this is more than enough." Arven remarked, pulling out his phone and marking the location of the cave. Milo saw what he was doing and did the same thing. Since he had his phone out anyway, he decided to check his Festival Plaza account.
The Alolan social media account he had made a few months ago was somewhat popular, thanks to his actions against Team Star on his first day at Naranja Academy. Somewhat amazingly he continued to get regular followers. This was likely because not only did Juliana regularly tag him in posts and pictures with her friends, but Nemona did as well. The two girls had fairly large followings on Festival Plaza compared to him.
It was while he was glancing through his mentions that he saw something that made him sit up in surprise.
"Oooh, the Iono Zone is on." Milo remarked, smiling at his phone as he saw notification that the Levincia Gym Leader was currently streaming live. Arven smirked, raising an eyebrow at Milo. The younger student frowned and gave Arven a look. "What? I've watched her streams for over a year and a half now. She's really fun to watch."
"Oh yeah, I bet she is. I'm sure you like to watch her." Arven responded with a sly grin, causing Milo to blush at being called out like that. Especially since it was true.
"Fine, I do think she's really cute. But me and Juliana both watched her before we moved here from Galar. She's really popular in other regions, even though she's a Gym Leader here in Paldea." Milo commented, crossing his arms and ignoring the smirk still on Arven's face.
"Fair enough. You know, it's kind of incredible that she's older than I am. You'd never guess it from how wacky she acts online." Arven remarked as he started to pick at his teeth with a toothpick. "To be honest, I don't really care for social media or any of that stuff. I hate catching crap because of how super-famous Mom is, and it's why I don't have a Festival Plaza account myself. You'd be amazed at how many scam callers or reporters I've had to deal with."
Arven's expression darkened for a moment, but he quickly shook off those feelings and focused on the here and now. Enjoying a picnic lunch with his friend. Arven then caught Milo glancing down at his phone and smirked again with amusement, leaning back on his seat.
"Anyways, I should say I'm shocked you think Iono's pretty, but I guess we've all got our types. I know you're also head-over-heels for the Student Council President, even though I think she's annoying." Arven replied, shrugging his shoulders.
"She's actually great once you get to know her. But I understand you just don't like her." Milo said quietly, not looking at Arven directly.
Arven frowned at Milo's expression of discomfort. He then sighed and said, "It's nothing personal, we just rub each other the wrong way. I'm sure she's very nice once you get to know her, but right now, I really don't want to know her."
"Fair enough, I suppose-"Milo began to say, only for Koraidon to abruptly stand up and let out a loud cry. Milo and Arven turned towards the giant lizard, who seemed to look around the cave and snarled again.
"Gia! Giaaaw!" Koraidon growled as Arven glared at the beast in amazement.
"Huh? You already ate that whole thing?" Arven asked Koraidon, who didn't respond right away. Milo realized that Arven hadn't really been paying attention to Koraidon, as the draconic mount had finished its sandwich several minutes ago.
The beast suddenly reared back on its hind legs as a warm orange glow suddenly suffused the Pokémon, with a faint aura of power radiating outward from it. Koraidon landed back on the ground and let out a loud growl.
Milo and Arven both looked at the beast, confused at what they were seeing. Koraidon seemed to be holding itself a little more proudly now, and its scales seemed to glisten a bit more in the light of the cave. It wasn't just a trick of the light. Something had changed within Koraidon. The two boys could actually feel it.
"Wha-?! Hey, is it me or has this thing sort of…powered up somehow?" Arven asked Milo, receiving a growl of affirmation from Koraidon. Arven's eyes widened in surprise, and a smile of joy bloomed across his face.
"Whoa! I can't believe it! The power of these herbs really is worth guarding!" Arven yelled out, doing several fist pumps as he danced around the room. Milo grinned at his friend's cheer and walked over to Koraidon.
"Looks like it. It's definitely perked up a bit." Milo said as he walked over to the beast, rubbing its neck with a smile. "You feeling a bit like your old self again, bud?"
"Agiaaas!" came the happy response from the mighty beast, grinning at Milo and licking his cheek. Milo rubbed Koraidon's head with a laugh.
Arven finally calmed himself down and took a few steps towards the picnic table, his enthusiasm slowing down enough to catch up with his thoughts. "If they had that big an effect on your Pokémon, then I bet-"
The older teen seemed to realize what he was saying, because he turned around and gave Milo a thumbs up. "Uhhh…I bet it'll come in super handy for that Treasure Hunt assignment we've got! Yup! That's what I bet!"
"Arven…are you sure that-" Milo began to say, only for Arven to cut him off.
"Well, you've both filled your bellies with some of my legendary sandwiches! Guess it's time to tidy everything up…" Arven said with a nervous laugh before walking towards the table. Milo made a move to help, but Arven shook his head. "Oh, don't you worry about helping! After battling the Titan, you've earned a break!"
"You sure?" Milo asked, uncertain about that. Something about all of this just didn't seem right to him.
"Just leave it all to me! Though I'd be much obliged if you'd get a start on searching out the remaining four Herba Mystica for us." Arven said to his friend, who looked doubtful, but at Arven's insistence relented.
Arven waved farewell to Milo and Koraidon, smiling at them as they rounded the corner of the cave to head outside. Once they were out of earshot Arven called out Barbossa and Munchy, who both looked at their Trainer in confusion. The Trainer simply watched the exit to the cave with a troubled expression for another few moments, thinking about what they had been through today and what it meant.
"I really owe you…" Arven whispered, closing his eyes and letting out a deep, pent-up breath. He then turned away and began digging through his backpack…and pulling out a third Poké Ball as Barbossa and Munchy watched on. "Okay. Coast is clear."
Arven knelt down onto the ground and held out the Poké Ball, letting out a tired sigh. It had been a long, hard road, but here it was. His last hope.
This had to work.
"You can come out now."
Milo was happy to see that the storm had passed by the time he had exited the cave. He took a few steps out into the open, feeling energized after eating lunch with Arven and enjoying the Herba Mystica sandwich.
He hadn't gotten more than a few steps away from the cave before he heard his phone ringing. Milo continued to walk alongside Koraidon as he answered the phone, and saw that it was Professor Sada calling him. The teen wondered if it was a coincidence that he had just finished a luncheon with her son. Milo answered the call regardless.
"Hello, Milo. This is Sada." The Pokémon Professor said in greeting, waving at the boy with a cheery expression. Milo smiled at the Professor and gave her a small wave.
"Good afternoon, Professor. Um, can I help you?" Milo asked, realizing that the Professor had called him out of the blue.
"I understand that this call comes as a surprise, and I apologize for that." Professor Sada said with a small nod as she put a hand to her chin. "I detect that Koraidon has regained some of its original power."
Koraidon took that moment to lean into shot behind Milo, letting out a loud bark and scaring the living daylights out of the teen. Professor Sada grinned at the display and added, "It certainly looks more lively than it did the last time we spoke.
Once Milo managed to get his heart to stop beating out of his chest, he glared at Koraidon and then looked back at the Professor. "What do you mean it gained some of its power back? Is it able to fight again?"
Professor Sada shook her head. "Not quite. Rather, it seems it will now be able to dash at high speeds while you're riding upon it."
"Dashing huh?" Milo remarked, grinning at the beast who took a step back and growled softly, its antenna wriggling slightly.
Professor Sada nodded, her hand going to pick up a small clipboard and glancing it over. "Yes, Koraidon's top speed when we last spoke was just under twenty miles per hour, with the ability to continue at that pace for hours at a time if required. With the current levels I am detecting, Koraidon can now reach a top speed of almost seventy miles per hour without needing to stop for a full day. Its endurance has also increased dramatically as a whole."
Milo blinked several times as he processed that as Koraidon sat down and barked, causing Professor Sada to chuckle. "Yes, my friend, you are very special. I hope you're enjoying yourself as you spend time with Milo. Life is precious, and you should be free to enjoy its pleasures."
"That's an insane powerup. We could really get some good traveling in with this." Milo remarked, crossing his arms and adding in an undertone. "Did eating that Herba Mystica really give it the power boost?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that." Professor Sada remarked, causing Milo to jump in surprise.
Milo waved a hand, laughing nervously. "It's fine, Professor. Just talking to myself. Is there anything else I should know?"
"Yes. Koraidon possesses a multitude of special skills and abilities, so be on the lookout for any of them to manifest, especially if it is able to recover more of its energy and strength. I studied it for quite some time, and even then I was unable to determine the true scope of its power." Professor Sada explained to Milo, offering him a smirk. "I'd simply keep an eye out for anything out of the norm and reach out to me if there are any unexpected developments."
"Can do. Koraidon's been great and I'm happy to have it along." Milo said with a smile, patting the draconic mount on the head and earning a loud purr-like noise in response.
"I hope you will continue to explore Paldea with Koraidon, as you have done here." Sada went on, leaning forward in her chair. "Your route is not fixed but open before you. Seek out your own path, using your map and the tools you have at hand. Whenever you have your curiosity piqued, you should go and explore as your heart desires. All that you experience will help you grow in some way, great or small."
The woman then seemed to realize she had been rambling and laughed softly, leaning back in her chair. "I apologize for going on and on. You're quite busy with your studies, after all. And as I said previously, should you require anything I'm just a phone call away."
"Thank you ma'am. I'll keep in touch." Milo said with a nod, shoving back the urge to ask her to talk to Arven. He knew how strained his friend's relationship with his mother was, and knew it bothered him. But Arven was being mysterious enough as it was and he didn't want to make things worse for him.
Professor Sada smiled and waved at the two of them. "Go forth on your journey…and take good care of Koraidon for me."
The call ended, with Milo deep in thought. It had been an extremely eventful day, and nightfall was a few hours away at this rate. It was at that moment a certain someone spoke up.
You're allowed three more catches within the Tera Dens. You did well with the last Objective, but don't get overconfident. Otherwise you'll be faced with a bloodbath.
"I don't plan on being overconfident. Not after Katy. I went in with a plan against Klawf and we won. Whatever's next, I'll have a plan and I'll win." Milo said firmly, exhaling softly as the Voice chuckled.
So you say. I actually like that phrase. Bloodbath…I'll have to keep that one in mind.
"Thanks for the heads up, now leave me alone." Milo said to the Voice, hopping back onto Koraidon as it shifted into its ride form again and within seconds becoming ready for travel. Milo gripped the antennae that had now become handlebars for him to hold on to. "Alright big guy, let's see what you can do!"
Koraidon growled softly before suddenly bounding forward, nearly throwing Milo off entirely as the beast dashed swiftly along the path, knocking aside a small herd of Skiddo and leaping across another chasm, landing with a harsh thud on a rocky pillar about forty feet away. Koraidon grinned widely and let out a loud snarl of joy, even as Milo violently trembled on its back while holding its antennae in a death-grip. He was glad that the Herba Mystica helped fortify his stomach, because he was barely holding back the urge to throw up.
Milo took about twenty minutes to recover from that, and then had Koraidon proceed at a more sedate pace. Eventually Milo found his way to a Tera Den that was sending a beam of pure yellow light into the air.
The Galarian ventured into the den and found a trio of 3XC members who were ready and waiting for him, and Milo used Cocoa in the upcoming battle against what Milo was informed was a Tera Venonat. The fuzzy Bug-type wore a Tera Crown that resembled a lightbulb, standing in the middle of its lair and made a strange purring sound as the group surrounded it.
Unfortunately for Venonat, it was no match for Milo and Cocoa, and so it quickly went down and was caught. Milo accepted his reward and crawled out of the den, quickly swapping out his newly-caught Venonat.
"Let's see…there we go." Milo muttered as he found the Pokédex entry. Meanwhile the purple bug stared up at Milo quizzically, cooing softly.
"Venonat. The Insect Pokémon. Poison oozes from all over its body. It catches small bug Pokémon at night that are attracted by light. This Venonat is Male and has the Ability Tinted Lens. Its Tera Type is Electric." The Rotom Phone explained before flying back into Milo's back pocket.
So what extremely lame name are you going to give this one?
"Don't put me on the spot…uhh…uhhh…"
It's alright, you can't disappoint me anymore than you have already. Just pick something.
"Fine. I'll go with Victor."
…I lied.
"Screw you." Milo muttered as he registered Victor's name in the Pokédex before returning the Venonat. Milo hopped back on Koraidon, spotting a nearby Tera Den with a light blue light shooting into the sky. Milo took that time to return to the main path and spend time getting used to Koraidon's newfound dash ability.
The teen found that when he was on level ground, the experience was quite exhilarating. Riding on Koraidon could be tough sometimes, but with how powerful the beast was (even in its weakened state) it could traverse whatever terrain it wanted with ease and easily land on the ground from hundreds of feet in the air.
Not that Milo would ever admit to anyone that he'd done that, because he knew his three closest friends would never let him hear the end of it.
By the time Milo found his next Tera Den, which was located at the top of a large spire of rocks, it was starting to cool down outside as the sun sank lower in the sky. Milo entered the Ice Tera Den and waited about a half hour for backup to arrive. When he finally entered the lair of the Pokémon within, he saw it was an adorable dog covered in icy crystals. Soon, the battle was on.
"Reggie! Let's show them what real firepower is! Ember!" Milo called to trusty Starter, who let out a loud growl as he stomped forward. The Fire Croc Pokémon opened his mouth and charged up a sphere of smoldering flames before firing it off with the force of a cannon. Milo immediately noticed that the attack had significantly more power behind it than it did when Reggie was a Fuecoco.
Tera Fidough whined as the attack struck it, dealing major damage while also filling the air with the delicious smell of freshly baked-bread. Two more Embers later, and the Fidough was defeated and Milo had caught his next Pokémon.
Milo spent the time after he received his reward and crawled out of the Tera Den playing with the Fidough, all the while making sure Koraidon didn't get any funny ideas about eating the Pokémon because it smelled like a sandwich.
Finally, Milo pulled out his phone and looked up the Pokédex entry for Fidough, quickly getting a response from the Pokédex App. "Fidough. The Puppy Pokémon. This Pokémon is smooth and moist to the touch. Yeast in Fidough's breath induces fermentation in the Pokémon's vicinity. This Fidough is Female and has the Ability Own Tempo. Its Tera Type is Ice."
"Hmm, she needs a name…Oh wait. I've got one. Donut." Milo said as he input the name into his Rotom Phone, causing the Voice to hum for a few moments.
Wait, so you're misspelling it. You're thinking of doughnut, like the food.
"I saw it spelt this way once. I think it was an online show about colorful soldiers or something in a canyon. There was a pink guy named Donut."
Okay, that one's not as terrible as the past few, so I'll allow it.
Milo was frowned at the descending sun overhead and made the executive decision to find the closest Tera Den he could so he could wrap things up before the sun went down completely. He found a nearby Fire Tera Den and was shocked to find three 3XC members just about to walk out of the crystal hole, apparently convinced that they wouldn't find anyone willing to help out this late into the day.
Milo hopped down into the den and called out Cocoa, and was greeted by a shining fish covered in red crystals when he walked into the lair of the Tera Pokémon. Unfortunately for it, Cocoa was yet again more than enough to defeat what Milo learned was a Tera Barbcoach when he caught his twelfth Pokémon.
After accepting his reward, Milo clawed his way out of the cavern and called out his newly caught Barbcoach. He pulled up the Pokédex entry on his phone, glancing up at the sky and seeing a cascade of blue, pink and orange streak across the sky.
"Barbcoach. The Whiskers Pokémon. Its two whiskers provide a sensitive radar. Even in muddy waters, it can detect its prey's location. This Barbcoach is Male and has the Ability Anticipation. Its Tera Type is Fire." The Pokédex App informed the teen, who considered that while smiling.
"I have no idea what to call you. Uhhh…Bronson? Bronson the Barbcoach!" Milo said as he typed the name into his Rotom Phone, all while the Voice continued to mock him internally. Milo continued to ignore it, even as the Voice just spoke louder.
"There's such a beautiful irony of catching a fish that's also a Fire-type." Milo remarked with a chuckle as he sat down on a rock, calling out Donut, Victor and Bronson and smiling at them. He was grateful that despite the limitations he was under thanks to the Nuzlocke Curse, he was still given the chance to catch so many new additions to his team. He had to be careful about over-leveling them like he had Echo and Fleur. Milo quickly rearranged his team, and after a few minutes he came to a decision.
Cocoa, Reggie, Storm, Donut, Victor and Fiona would end up being the line-up he went with. Wooper, Crocalor, Wattrel, Fidough, Venonat, Flittle. Milo figured the Grass-gym in Artazon (which was about a two-day trek from his current position) wouldn't be super difficult with the team he had now. Milo had plenty of extra type-coverage and was feeling a bit more comfortable with how his team looked now.
A loud ringing sound snapped Milo out of his thoughts, and he realized that his phone had flown out of his pocket and was showing a rainbow-colored question mark. Cassiopeia was calling, and the phone auto-accepted the call.
"Greetings, Milo. I guess since you answered my call, that means that the giant Klawf didn't murder you. And it means that the Titan Pokémon are real."
"That they are. Sorry for yelling like that earlier, I'm usually better composed."
"Oh, don't worry about it. You were fighting for your life back there. You'd never catch me doing something that crazy. Anyways, I did want to talk to you about Team Star still. If you're not busy."
Milo sighed and leaned back against Koraidon. "I guess I have some time. Not sure what to tell you, though. I don't think I'm ready to take on an entire group like that with the team I've got."
Cassiopeia sighed over the phone, clearly not liking that response. "I would deal with them sooner rather than later. Team Star is getting bigger and bigger every week. I'm worried that the group might try and do something rash if they're not suitably dealt with."
"Not just yet though, I'm afraid. I'm only just now starting to actually have a bit of confidence in how I can battle after that mess with Katy. Give me a few more weeks and I'll see where I'm at. Hopefully by then I'll be strong enough to deal with them and make them back off." Milo said to Cassiopeia, who remained silent for several long moments before grunting with annoyance.
"...Fine. You better not be blowing me off."
Milo frowned and crossed his arms as he stared at the phone. "You're the one who roped me into this. I'm a brand-new Trainer in a brand-new region and the only person you seem to have helping you out. Unless you can give me more information about what the hell is going on with Team Star and why you're being so mysterious, this is the best you're going to get. You haven't even deigned to meet me in-person, so don't get snippy with me."
"Alright, alright! You've made your point! Sorry!"
There was a long pause as Milo scowled at the phone, clearly annoyed at catching grief from the mysterious caller. The worst part was that Milo had been telling the truth. He truly didn't think he was ready to deal with Team Star. Milo had to be totally confident he could crush whatever the group had to throw at him with the Nuzlocke Curse hanging overhead. Any mistakes could be fatal.
"I guess that's all I wanted to call about…I'll reach out again in a few weeks. Hopefully you'll be more prepared by then."
"I'll look forward to it." Milo remarked dryly, making it obvious how he wasn't looking forward to her calling. After all, her phone call earlier had nearly gotten him killed by the Stony Cliff Titan.
"Uh-huh. Well, I'll talk to you soon. Bye."
The call ended, and Milo rolled his eyes and hopped back onto Koraidon so he could return to the Pokémon Center and get some sleep after an extremely long day. All the while Milo wondered what sort of secrets Arven and Cassiopeia were keeping from him.
And whether or not the cost of them keeping those secrets would be his own life.
Milo's Current Party:
Reggie (Crocalor) M - Tera Fire
Cocoa (P. Wooper) F - Tera Ground
Storm (Wattrel) F - Tera Flying
Victor (Venonat) M - Tera Electric
Donut (Fidough) F - Tera Ice
Fiona (Flittle) F - Tera Grass
Benched/PC Storage:
Echo (Toxel) F - Tera Ice (Overleveled for Objective #3)
Fleur (Steenee) F - Tera Dark (Overleveled for Objective #3)
Shelly (Shellder) F - Tera Fighting
Bronson (Barbcoach) M - Tera Fire
Graveyard:
Sparky (Pawmi) M - Tera Electric
Pepper (Maschiff) F - Tera Poison
And that's the fallout from the Stony Cliff Titan in the books. Onward to Artazon!
Q & A
From: SolanaLeonhart
But man, that curse is brutal. I still have my questions about it but I guess we'll wait and see. The evolution was a surprise, if anything I would've Cocoa would be the one to evolve after the way she pulled through, not Reggie, least of all like that...is that why there's a question mark next the Pokémon listing in the end?
I absolutely did that because Reggie was evolving, but he technically hadn't yet in that chapter, so I had some fun there.
And yeah, Cocoa definitely would've fit more. But that's what happened in the run and my goal with this story is to tell the story of a Nuzlocke Challenge that actually happened as closely as possible. Half of the fun so far has been taking a battle's play-by-play and making it an exciting thing to read, which I've hopefully managed so far against Katy and Titan Klawf.
I'll say right now that EXP Share being permanently on was super obnoxious. It made dealing with the Level-Cap far more challenging. There'll be plenty of oddities like that where I have to make allowances for video game moments.
For example, take a shot every time it randomly rains during a major battle.
From: General C
I can't help but feel like I might know the answer myself, but it'll kill me if I don't ask: What would happen if Milo tried to explain to somebody about what's going on?
Would the curse trigger in some shape or form? Would nobody believe Milo, be it because of the curse or how insane it sounds? Or would it be like a Re:Zero type of thing where Milo is physically incapable of telling anybody what's happening?
First off, I apologize about the reviews for this chapter being weird. FF isn't sending out emails as of last update, so I had no idea I had Guest reviews in my inbox until a few days had passed and it was auto-approved by the site. I'll keep a better eye on it in the future.
As for the Curse question, I'll actually be answering it in the next chapter! I can say that you're on the right track.
From: DaGuest
So if this goes over the main story, are you going to be doing the Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC? And if so, will it be during or post-game?
I absolutely plan on including both The Teal Mask and The Indigo Disk in Ancient Scarlet. Teal Mask will occur around the half-way point in the fic and Indigo Disk will be in the post-game (with Mochi Mayhem included) after the main story has concluded. I've actually got quite a bit planned out already, as well as how the Curse would work since this is DLC and not included in the original run.
Massive shoutout to the amazing folks who reviewed since the last update, which includes SolanaLeonhart, General C, DaGuest, WyldClaw, BraviaryScout and a new reviewer known as LostinTime27!
Big thanks also go to Purple-Knight P, WiryTwoTime, LostinTime, BlueIvysaur, and cjwake74 for favoriting and following Ancient Scarlet. I really do appreciate the outpour of support for the first big Titan chapter. I had a blast writing it and I'm glad you all enjoyed reading about it just as much.
That's all for now. If you enjoyed the chapter and feel like being amazing, show your support with a favorite and/or follow and leave your thoughts in the review section below. I also cross-post on AO3 if that's more your speed.
Take care and stay awesome.
Until next time, FlygonNick out!