Hey readers, here we are with the next chapter : )
We're getting quite close to the end of this original episode now, and then we'll be back to the canon timeline for a bit : ) I have to admit, I'm looking forward to that, since Ash obtaining the three Kanto starters are some of my favourite ever episodes, and definitely the ones I watched most as a kid : )
Anyway, let's talk about the result of the latest Encounter Voting Topic. I wish I could give you guys the name of the winner... but - you guessed it - it ended up in a tie again XD I'll give you more details on that later.
Finally, I just want to say a MASSIVE thank you to everyone that has reviewed, favourited, and followed this story. The support that has been shown to the story is amazing, and it means so much to me, so thank you : )
Please remember that Pokemon is not mine, only my OC's are : )
I hope you enjoy this chapter : )
Sweet Melodies, Sweet Rivalries - Part 5
As the dazzlingly bright rays of the summer sun peeked through the tattered canvas of the deflated hot-air balloon strewn across the hilltop, the air vibrated with muffled groans that hinted at a struggle just beneath the surface. Three figures, tangled in a web of beige fabric, fought against the weight that pinned them down, their voiced filled a mix of confusion, pain and utter determination. With each twist and turn, the reality of their unexpected descent slowly dawned on them, and amidst the chaos, a sense of frantic urgency began to spark. They had to get out from under the wreckage. They just had to.
The three distinct figures all groaned as they struggled to move beneath the heavy material, but eventually they emerged and took grateful gasps of air, revealing themselves as Jessie, James, and Meowth of Team Rocket. Each member of the criminal organisation was battered and bruised from the unexpected crash landing.
Jessie, groaning in pain as her hand clutched her bruised side, was the one to get her breath back first.
"Ugh...Are you two alright?" the magenta haired woman moaned, although she sounded genuinely concerned about the welfare of her friends and co-workers.
James, sporting what would no doubt turn into an impressive black eye over the next few days, sat up and winced.
"I don't think anything's broken" the cyan haired man admitted, but he was still in a fair amount of pain though. As such, he quickly added, "Just a few bumps and bruises".
Meowth was in a similar condition. The Scratch Cat Pokemon moaned as he sat up, rubbing his aching shoulder.
"I think I've used up about seven of my nine lives on this one" the cute little Normal Type Pokemon whimpered pitifully. But I'll be okay… I think…"
Jessie sighed, relieved that her friends were okay, but a mixture of frustration and pain evident in her voice.
"Good" the magenta haired woman sighed, pleased about that if nothing else. Her thoughts quickly turned to the events precipitating their crash landing however, and a look of outright fury flashed through her cold dark eyes, "Did that twerp really have to go as far as to have his blasted Pidgey pop our balloon though? After he already freed the Jigglypuff we were trying to steal, wrecking our balloon on top of that... seems rather... vindictive".
James and Meowth couldn't help but scowl in angry agreement.
"Typical Nolan" the cyan haired man spat, thinking about all the other times the blonde trainer had either defeated them himself or at least assisted in the downfall of whatever scheme they had cooked up, "That little twerp deserves a good kick in the..."
Meowth cut in before the irate male human had a chance to finish that rather unsavoury thought.
"Everyone thinks he's so sweet and kind, but hidden deep down, dat Goldilocks got claws sharper den mine!" the Scratch Cat Pokemon somehow managed to sound a little jealous about that as opposed to annoyed.
A new voice sharply cut through their complaints before Jessie or James had a chance to reply.
"You'd better believe it!" a painstakingly familiar voice snarled at them.
Nervous gulps escaped the three criminals as they tensed up upon registering the angry tone.
They knew that voice.
Swallowing hard, Jessie, James and Meowth all looked over in the direction where the voice had originated from. Sure enough, they saw none other than Nolan Locke standing there, smirking vindictively down at them, his icy blue eyes burning like cold fire. He was surrounded by his Pokemon: Meadow the Bulbasaur, Welkin the Pidgey, Iris the Venonat, Xanthite the Geodude, and Fang the Growlithe. Just lile their beloved trainer, they were all glaring threateningly at Team Rocket. The Jigglypuff that the infamous trio had been attempting to capture was still there as well, looking at them, wide-eyed and fearful.
The three criminals were up and on their feet in an instant, breathing harder and angrier than a herd of charging Tauros.
"YOU!" Jessie snarled at the young trainer, her face visibly turning crimson.
"LOOK AT WHAT YOU DID TO OUR BALLOON, YOU LITTLE BRAT!" James bellowed, furiously gesturing at the wreckage of their transport strewn across the hilltop.
Clearly baiting them, Nolan just shrugged, completely unfazed. It did little to calm their brewing tempers.
"You deserved it, after what you tried to do to poor Jigglypuff" the golden haired boy informed them bluntly. As if to provide evidence of his statement, he pointed at the adorable little pink creature in question.
Team Rocket, momentarily caught off guard by the boy's words, stared at Jigglypuff in shock.
"Hey, look! There it is!" Jessie gasped and pointed, her anger forgotten as she stared greedily at the frightened Balloon Pokemon, "Right there!"
James and Meowth both beamed in delight, a new glint in their eyes.
"Oh, thanks for holding onto it for us, twerp" James grinned nastily, his tone practically oozing with sarcastic condescension as he sneered down at Nolan, "You're a real pal!"
"Now if you'll just hand over our Jigglypuff..." the Scratch Cat Pokemon purred, raising his claws menacingly, "We'll be on our way".
The golden haired boy standing across from them all just scoffed.
"Jigglypuff isn't yours!" Nolan growled back, stepping protectively in front of the frightened Jigglypuff, his heart warming with pride when all of his Pokemon did the same, forming a barrier around the Balloon Pokemon, "And it certainly doesn't want to go anywhere with you!"
"Jiggly..." Jigglypuff whimpered in agreement, clinging onto the leg of Nolan's jeans.
Soon enough, Jessie's patience with the obnoxious little... brat they were dealing with finally shattered. The magenta haired woman took a menacing step forwards, clearly intent on intimidating the boy.
She failed miserably.
"Listen up, little boy!" Jessie hissed through clenched teeth, and whilst Nolan's expression remained flippant, he arched an eyebrow to show that he was listening, "You've caused us enough trouble for one day, and I'm starting to lose my temper. And you don't want me to lose my temper, you hear me? When I lose my temper, bad things start happening. Dangerous things".
With a sharp scoff, Nolan just rolled his eyes, unimpressed by Jessie's threats.
"I'm not scared of a pathetic circus like the three of you" Nolan retorted bluntly, smirking in amusement when Jessie's jaw dropped wide open. It was clear that she was shocked by just how little of an impact her statement had had on her enemy, "You can try to take Jigglypuff, but I won't let you".
James laughed nastily, a sneering grin spreading across his face.
"Have it your way, twerp" the cyan haired threatened in a sinister manner. He was clearly very eager to knock the golden haired boy down a peg or two.
Those words were the only warning Nolan received.
He watched as both Jessie and James each unclipped a pokeball apiece from their respective belt and tossed them into the air. In a burst of scarlet coloured light, the familiar forms of Koffing and Ekans were released onto the hilltop. They each stood in front of their trainers respectively.
"Ekanssss!" the serpentine creature flicked its tongue as it reared up menacingly.
"Koffing!" the spherical Poison Type Pokemon floated overhead, grinning jovially down at them all.
Nolan reacted to the entrance of the two newcomers almost immediately, his icy eyes flashing with determination. He quickly turned to his team and hastily issued them all with a list of instructions before the imminent battle could break out.
"Meadow and Fang, deal with these jokers!" Nolan exclaimed, ignoring the indignant protests from criminals standing across the hilltop, "Welkin, Iris, Xanthite; you three stand guard over Jigglypuff! Protect it at all costs!"
"Bulbasaur!"
"Growlithe!"
Nolan's Pokemon obeyed his commands instantly. Meadow and Fang both stepped forward, more than ready to take on the threat posed by Team Rocket.
"Venonat!"
"Pidgey!"
"Geodude!"
Welkin, Iris, and Xanthite meanwhile all formed a protective line in front of Jigglypuff. Glancing back of his shoulder, Nolan winked at the adorable little pink creature, reassuring it with a gentle smile.
"Don't be afraid" the golden haired boy muttered softly, projecting an air of calm confidence, "We'll protect you".
Jigglypuff believed him.
"Puff... Jigglypuff!" the Balloon Pokemon squeaked, trusting the golden haired boy and his team to keep it safe.
Across from the display of budding trust, Jessie scoffed derisively.
"How touching" the magenta haired woman sneered nastily at the pair of them, her eyes burning with utter contempt and loathing, "But I need that Jigglypuff if I want to be wearing diamonds in this lifetime, twerp, so I'm not going anywhere without it!"
At her side, James and Meowth seemed to have a different reason for wanting to steal poor Jigglypuff.
"Err...Jessie, we want dat musical puffball so we can steal more Pokemon for da boss, not so you can sparkle like a disco ball!" Meowth exclaimed, rolling his eyes at her one-track mind when it came to expensive jewellery.
Jessie chuckled darkly, her smile thin and cold.
"Someone as perfect as me was always meant to shine" was the simple response that passed by the magenta haired woman's lips.
Her cyan haired male counterpart smirked in agreement.
"And someone like me was always meant to be stinking rich!" James declared boldly, before he glanced up towards the round purple creature hovering just above his head, "Koffing, get us our ticket to riches back! Use Sludge Bomb!"
And just like that, the battle got underway.
"Ekans, help him out with your Poison Sting!" Jessie immediately jumped into the fray, hoping to finish Nolan off before the other twerps could turn up and make their goal of snatching Jigglypuff that much harder.
"Koffing!"
"Ekans!"
In almost perfect synchronisation, Ekans and Koffing both launched themselves through the air as they fired off their respective attacks at Meadow and Fang, their goal aimed at knocking them back. Thankfully, Nolan was on the ball and ready with a command of his own.
"Dodge it, guys!" the golden haired boy shouted urgently.
He really shouldn't have worried too much though. Meadow and Fang were more than a match for Ekans and Koffing. The Grass and Fire Type Pokemon were both able to nimbly dodge out of the way of the incoming attacks, using their impressive agility to their advantage.
"Nice dodge guys!" Nolan compliment his beloved Pokemon with a grin, "Now Meadow, fight back with your Vine Whip! Fang, you use Ember!"
The golden haired boy looked on with a satisfied smile gracing his handsome features as his team hurried to obey his latest instructions. With the ease that came from a great many hours of practice under their belts, Meadow's vines lashed out ferociously, ensnaring Koffing in a tangle of green, whilst Fang's fiery breath blasted Ekans back towards Team Rocket with a harsh hiss of pain.
"Ekans, oh no!" Jessie gasped upon seeing the nasty looking burn now gracing some of her partner's violet scales.
"Koffing! Try to break free!" James' face was contorted with horror as he watched his Poison Type Pokemon struggle against Meadow's powerful and unrelenting Vine Whip attack.
Across the hilltop from the team of villains, Nolan's reaction to the current situation could not have been more different.
"Good job, guys!" the golden haired boy cleared happily clearly delighted with how well things were going for their side in this most important battle. Behind him, the rest of Nolan's Pokemon were cheering on Meadow and Fang as well, while still maintaining a watchful eye over Jigglypuff.
"Saur!" Meadow finished her assault on Koffing with a flourish, knocking him back towards Team Rocket.
"Growlithe!" Fang barked happily, clearly proud of his own efforts.
Glaring hatefully at all of them, human and Pokemon alike, Jessie snarled as she felt her anger rising to previously unprecedented levels.
"Don't celebrate too early, twerp" the magenta haired woman sneered down at the blonde trainer opposing her and getting in the way of her dreams becoming a reality, "Ekans, use your Wrap attack on that Bulbasaur! Crush it!"
"Koffing, use Tackle on the Growlithe!" James concurred, eager for a little revenge.
Both of the villainous Poison Type Pokemon tried to attack their enemies again, but just like last time, Nolan was ready and waiting. He glanced down at his two battlers with a look of intense concentration.
"Meadow, cover Fang" the golden haired boy quickly ordered, an idea taking shape in his mind, "Use your Vine Whip to grab hold of Koffing again!"
"Bulba!"
Meadow's Vines lashed out again, and despite the best efforts on the floating purple creature's behalf to dodge in time, the little Grass Type Pokemon was easily able to snag hold of a struggling Koffing. She held him firmly in place as she awaited the next instruction from her beloved human.
"Okay, Fang!" Nolan quickly turned to the Puppy Pokemon to launch phase two of this coordinated assault on their villainous enemies, "Now send Koffing straight at Ekans with your Body Slam!"
"Growlithe!"
Fang let out a joyous bark and happily wagged his tail, before he charged towards the spot where the bound Koffing was being held. With a sickening Thud, the Puppy Pokemon leapt into the air and slammed into Koffing, sending him barrelling towards Ekans. The plan went exactly as Nolan had hoped it would, and the impact was enough to knock Ekans back, sending the serpentine creature tumbling to the ground.
"Ekanssss!" Ekans recoiled and hissed as he landed in an undignified heap at Jessie's feet. The woman in question looked down at her partner in horror.
"You know..." James drawled from her side as he looked at his own roughed up Pokemon, "For a twerp, that kid's pretty good".
Jessie's mouth fell open, scarcely able to believe what she was hearing.
"Don't compliment the enemy!" the magenta haired woman all-but screamed in the face of her male counterpart, making him wince, "We're losing face here!"
From his spot nestled between them, Meowth agreed with the vain sentiment.
"Yeah!" the Scratch Cat Pokemon hissed, his fur puffing up and his tail swishing about in irritation, "Besides, it's not dat Goldilocks is good, it's dat both your Pokemon are complete weaklings!"
Jessie and James huffed, both clearly offended by that particular remark.
"Dis is a job for Meowth!" the Scratch Cat Pokemon purred smugly before either of his human friends could voice their indignation. Meowth then turned towards Meadow, his eyes alit with malice, "Meadow! Prepare to taste my Fury Swipes, you overgrown salad! Meowth!"
With a fierce hiss, Meowth charged towards Meadow, his lethally sharp claws raised as he got ready to unleash his attack.
"Oh no you don't!" Nolan exclaimed in response, his icy blue eyes narrowing as he came up with a strategy to deal with this latest threat from Team Rocket, "Fang, this time you need to protect Meadow! Use your Crunch attack!"
"Growl!"
With an uncharacteristically savage gleam in his eyes, Fang yipped and raced towards Meowth. The Puppy Pokemon was able to intercept the Scratch Cat Pokemon's attack with almost laughable ease, and before the villainous creature knew what was happening, Fang was biting down on his tail. Hard.
"MMMMEEEEOOOOWWWWTTTTHHHH!"
With a scream that just might have been loud enough to alarm the entire forest, Meowth shrieked in pure and unadulterated agony. The Scratch Cat Pokemon began frantically twisting and turning as he ran about in circles, trying desperately to shake off the Growlithe but having precious little luck.
On the sidelines, Jessie and James looked on incredulously.
"And he dares call our Pokemon weak?" Jessie scoffed, her elegant eyebrows climbing her forehead as she shook her head in disbelief.
"I know, it's a bit rich, isn't it?" James commented with an annoyed frown.
Nolan, knowing that he had his opponents on the ropes now and seeing this as his opportunity, called out to Team Rocket. He wanted to give them a fair chance to surrender and leave peacefully. He wasn't cruel after all.
"Team Rocket!" the voice of the golden haired boy boomed across the hilltop, drawing the attention of the two human criminals. The Scratch Cat Pokemon was still busy trying to shake off a determined Fang to pay the boy any notice, "You idiots have interfered with my day enough! I don't have any more time to play games with you! If you don't want to get beat up again, I suggest you leave now!"
Needless to say, Nolan's ultimatum was not well received.
"That's fine, Twerp!" Jessie spat, her dark eyes narrowed with a malignant glint, "Just hand over the Jigglypuff and we'll be on our way!"
It was from Nolan's lips that a derisive scoff escaped into the summer air this time.
"That's not gonna happen!" the golden haired boy said firmly, maintaining his protective stance in front of Jigglypuff. Behind him; Welkin, Iris and Xanthite all mirrored their beloved human's actions.
"Well we're not going anywhere then!" James bellowed angrily, not knowing when it was time to quit. It was obvious that the idea of admitting defeat, especially to a child, was just something the man's pride couldn't contend with.
Nolan sighed deeply, a hint of exasperation in both his tone and expression.
"Have it your way then, but don't say I didn't give you a chance" the golden haired boy gave Team Rocket a look that was almost genuinely pitying, but then he turned towards his beloved Fire Type Pokemon with an air of utter determination, "Fang! Remember how you got rid of these creeps back at the day care centre in Orange Town? Well do the same thing now! Go for it, Fang! Use Fire Spin!"
No sooner had the command parted ways with Nolan's lip than his Pokemon was following it.
"Growlithe!" Fang let out a joyous bark as he finally let go of Meowth's tail.
Before the Scratch Cat Pokemon could be too relieved to be rid of those sharp teeth however, the Puppy Pokemon was already sprinting towards the rest of Team Rocket, red hot flames swirling around him as he prepared to unleash his powerful Fire Type attack.
Clearly remember what had happened the last time they were faced with this scenario, Jessie and James understandably began to panic.
"No! Please! Not again!" James whimpered fearfully.
"Get back you mangy mutt!" Jessie yelled in frustration, dreading where this was heading but struck with the painstaking realisation that there was nothing she could do to prevent it.
Needless to say, Fang ignored their protests and unleashed his powerful Fire Spin attack.
WWWWHHHHOOOOOOOOSSSSHHHH!
Screeching in an equal mix of fear, pain and righteous anger; Jessie, James and Meowth all feebly tried to dodge the vortex of fire, but were quickly engulfed in the flames. They screamed in pain as they, along with Ekans and Koffing, were all swept up into the air.
BBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!
The ground literally shook from the force of the resulting explosion due to the meeting of Fang's flames and Koffing's highly flammable gases. Nolan staggered on his feet slightly, but his grin was firmly fixed in place. The golden haired boy watched in amused satisfaction as his enemies were sent flying across the sky.
"It's time Team Rocket blasted off!" he heard James' voice bellow furiously.
"You may have won this round, be we'll be back!" Jessie's voice promised with a shrill scream. Their shared frustration over yet another failure was practically palpable.
Moments later, the criminal gang was nought but a twinkle on the horizon.
Down on the ground, Nolan beamed.
"Well that was fun" the golden haired boy said with a remarkable air of casualness about him, as if he hadn't just sent a gang of dangerous criminals careening across the sky, "Nice work everybody. Thanks for the help".
"Bulbasaur!"
"Growlithe!"
Whilst all of his Pokemon were happy to take the praise being offered to them, Meadow and Fang seemed particularly proud of themselves, considering they had been the ones who had battled Team Rocket's Pokemon. Before any of his Pokemon could react further to his words however, the wild Jigglypuff approached Nolan, a shy smile gracing its adorably cute features. The golden haired boy smiled and knelt down to the Balloon Pokemon's level.
"Hey there, you're safe now" Nolan soothed gently, sensing that the little pink creature was still a little nervous, "They won't bother you anymore".
"Jiggly!"
The Jigglypuff smiled up at the golden haired boy warmly, clearly happy and relieved. Realising that it was warming up to him now, Nolan cautiously picked up Jigglypuff. When it didn't resist, he gave it a gentle hug.
"And don't worry" the golden haired boy continued with such sincerity that Jigglypuff couldn't help but believe him, "Even if you decide that you don't want to join our little family, I'll make sure you're safe before we say goodbye".
It was a promise that Jigglypuff had no doubt that Nolan would honour.
"Jiggly!"
Nolan smiled and squeezed the adorable little pink creature again, before he felt that the Pokemon that were legally his responsible needed and deserved some more praise. Setting the Balloon Pokemon down, Nolan stood proudly, addressing his team of Pokemon once again.
"Well done, team!" the golden haired boy beamed with pride, "You guys are definitely getting stronger! I can tell by how easily you absolutely decimated Team Rocket. They won't be bothering us for a while, I'm sure of it!"
The Pokemon all let out happy chirps, shouts and barks, clearly proud of the victory their collective efforts had brought about.
Nolan opened his mouth to say more, but before he had a chance to utter so much as a single syllable, something happened that made his voice die in his throat.
CRUNCH!
At first Nolan could do little more than look around in utter bewilderment.
The strange noise was soft and gentle at first, so much so that the young Pokemon trainer was having difficulty pinpointing exactly where it was originating from. In fact, it was only when Nolan felt the ground suddenly tremble beneath his feet that the boy got his first clue as to what was happening. A heavy frown darkened his handsome features.
"What... was that?" Nolan asked nervously, a flicker of fear creeping into his tone.
Around him, all of the Pokemon seemed to have sensed the same disturbance. Meadow looked worried and stuck close to Nolan's side, whilst Fang whimpered, Iris let out a startled chirp, and Welkin and Xanthite both looked around nervously. Jigglypuff looked concerned by the strange noise well.
A soft groaning noise.
Like rushing soil... like crumpling foundations... like... breaking earth.
Oh no.
CCCRRRUUUNNNCCCHHH!
With a sound that was chilling similar to the snap of breaking bones, a loud crunching noise shattered the stillness, reverberating through the air like a warning bell. Nolan's heart raced as he turned to face the ominous sound, confusion etched across his brow. Before the golden haired boy could fully comprehend what was happening, the ground on the hilltop beneath his feet trembled, a violent shudder that seemed to echo the turmoil in his chest.
"Wha...what's happening?!" Nolan gasped, looking down at the Pokemon clustered around his feet anxiously. They all seemed just as perplexed as he was.
The group would not be kept in confusion for long.
Quite suddenly, without any kind of warning or preamble whatsoever, the earth beneath them split open with a deafening roar, as if it were a living entity protesting against the disturbance. In an instant, the tranquil panorama transformed into a chaotic tableau, a chasm opening wide like a gaping mouth ready to swallow anything in its path.
"WHOA!" panic surged through Nolan as he instinctively reached for his Pokemon, his loyal companions nestled at his feet.
"Bulbasaur!"
"Growlithe!"
"Venonat!"
"Pidgey!"
"Geodude!"
"Jigglypuff!"
All of the Pokemon seemed to sense the change in the atmosphere, their quickly instincts kicking in. But as the ground beneath all of their feet began to give way, Nolan and the Pokemon felt a terrifying tug - a gravitational pull that beckoned them all towards the shadowy abyss that had opened up beneath them.
Nolan immediately fought to maintain his footing, his fingers desperately grasping at the uneven earth.
"HOLD ON!" he bellowed over the cacophony towards the six Pokemon, though his voice felt small against the vastness of the unfolding disaster, "GUYS! MOVE BACK! GET AWAY FROM THE HOLE!"
It was already far too late for that.
Nolan's wonderful Pokemon, usually so spirited and full of energy, were caught off guard. With wide eyes, they faltered as the earth crumbled beneath them. A heart-wrenching realization struck the golden haired boy: they were all in danger. He could see the fear mirrored in their eyes, each one of them ready to leap into action but frozen in place, unsure of what to do. Nolan grimaced as he felt the ground slide away beneath him, inch by inch, as the sinkhole deepened, a dark void that menaced the very fabric of their adventure. Time seemed to stretch, each second laden with the weight of uncertainty. Would he be able to save his amazing little family? Would he even be able to save himself?
WHOOSH!
"NOOOOOOOOO!"
The primal scream of terror burst out of Nolan's throat before he could even think about trying to hold it back. The golden haired boy just couldn't help it though. His icy blue orbs were wild with terror as he watched Fang, Iris, Welkin and Xanthite begin tumbling towards the opening in the hilltop, helpless to resist the force of the rushing grass and soil. Even Welkin and Xanthite were helpless to resist the pull of gravity this time around, and only Meadow and the wild Jigglypuff were able to pull far enough back in time to avoid the same fate. The others weren't so lucky.
It wasn't long before they were tumbling into the void.
"Growlithe!"
"Venonat!"
"Pidgey!"
"Geodude!"
"NO!" Nolanscreamed in horror again at the quite frankly terrifying sight of his friends falling into the darkness. The golden haired boy knew he had to save them, and so bravely letting go of the grass and letting himself fall down a few feet, Nolan quickly unclipped four pokeballs from his belt and pointed them towards the opening, "RETURN, EVERYBODY!"
Four beams of crimson light burst forth, and Nolan let out a relieved sigh when they successfully met their targets. Fang, Iris, Welkin, and Xanthite were all pulled back into the safety of their pokeballs before they could hit the bottom of the sinkhole. Thank goodness for that.
"Whew, that was close!" the golden haired boy smiled weakly as he reattached the now occupied capsules to his belt.
Any relief was short-lived though.
Saving his friends from their unpleasant fate had required Nolan's to relinquish his own grip on sturdy ground, a sacrifice he had been only too happy to make. But now the sinkhole had its grip on him instead, and the golden haired boy found himself drifting closer and closer towards it.
"Uh oh!" Nolan whispered, his eyes and tone both filled with dread.
"BULBASAUR!"
Nolan couldn't help but gasp in pain when he suddenly felt a set of strong vines wrap tightly around his waist, hauling him upwards. Snapping his head up in the direction of the newly formed lip in the landmass, the golden haired boy gaped in shock to see that his amazing partner was struggling to bring him back to safety.
"Meadow?!" the boy exclaimed in relieved surprise.
"Saur..." the Seed Pokemon grunted with effort as she strained her vines. She was working desperately hard to counterbalance the pull on her beloved human, but she was slowly inching towards the rushing soil herself...
"Thank you, Meadow!" the golden haired boy smiled gratefully, oblivious to the true severity of Meadow's grip, "You're a lifesaver!"
His words of praise were a little premature.
Before Nolan had a chance to even fully register Meadow's heroic actions, another chunk of earth crumbled beneath Meadow's feet.
"SAUR!"
Meadow didn't even have two seconds to try and catch herself. Before either of them knew what was happening, she and Nolan were both tumbling down the flood of grass and soil, and together, the flew over the edge.
"AAAAAHHHHH!"
Nolan yelled out in fear as he suddenly found himself falling through the impenetrable darkness, his limbs flailing like a ragdoll. He could still feel the vines wrapped around him tightly, so he knew that Meadow was in the same precarious situation. Before the golden haired boy could even try to think of a way to get them out of their predicament however, hope suddenly arrived, taking the shape of a small pink balloon.
"JIGGLY!"
Nolan's head snapped up in shock. It was hard to see in the looming darkness of the underground cavern he seemed to tumbling through, but in the one streak of sunlight that was filtering in, the golden haired boy could make out a very distinct round silhouette. Jigglypuff. The wild Jigglypuff that they had befriended had inflated itself and was now drifting through the air towards the falling human.
"Jigglypuff!" the little pink creature squeaked in concern.
Before Nolan had a chance to question why Jigglypuff seemed to have willing floated down into the sinkhole after them, the little pink creature made its intentions crystal clear. Using its tiny paws, the Balloon Pokemon seized hold of the hood on Nolan's hoodie.
"Urgh!" Nolan involuntarily grunted as the fabric suddenly choked him. Thankfully the unpleasant sensation only last for a scant few moments.
Taking full advantage of its inflated body and using it to help, Jigglypuff had cleverly created a makeshift parachute out of itself, slowing Nolan and Meadow's fall considerably. The golden haired boy gasped when just a nanosecond later, his feet gently landed on the floor of a dark, underground tunnel, Meadow landing beside him shortly after, their descent having been cushioned by Jigglypuff's assistance. That had been close. Way too close.
"Wow, thank you, Jigglypuff!" Nolan beamed gratefully as the Balloon Pokemon landed on the ground before him, "That would have been a really nasty fall without your help!"
"Jiggly!" Jigglypuff let out a happy squeak and nuzzled itself against Nolan's leg affectionately.
Nolan smiled for a moment longer, before the reality of their bleak situation quickly returned to the forefront of his mind. He glanced up at the pinprick of light filtering down from the cavern roof. It must be at least twenty feet above their heads, so there was slim to no chance of escaping that way. The golden haired boy swallowed hard, suddenly feeling extremely claustrophobic.
"The... the battle with Team Rocket... the explosion... we must have weakened the integrity of the ground..." the golden haired boy stammered out as the realisation of the sinkhole's sudden creation struck him, paling as the darkness seemed to be closing in around them, "But... but where are we now? How do we get out of here?"
"Bulba..."
"Jiggly..."
The two small Pokemon seemed just as lost for a solution as Nolan was beginning to feel. His breathing became slightly laboured as his pulse quickened. What if they never got out of here? What if no one ever found them?
No.
He swiftly cut those distressing thoughts off before they could run rampant. Panicking wouldn't help in this situation. So taking a deep breath to calm himself, Nolan tried to think rationally. Light. The first think they need was more light. It was almost impossible to see down here.
"Let's see..." the golden haired boy muttered as he pulled off his backpack and rummaged through it.
He eventually found what he was looking for through feel alone, and he pulled out a small torch. Nolan flipped the switch, illuminating his surroundings. He heaved a sigh of relief.
That made things a little better already.
Nolan's icy blue eyes immediately focused as the torch's beam of light sliced through the enveloping darkness, illuminating the vast expanse of the underground warren. Shadows danced along the jagged walls, and the air hung heavy with the musty scent of damp earth. He swallowed hard, the sound echoing ominously in the stillness. This was not just any cave; it was a labyrinthine realm hidden within the hollowed heart of the hill, a place that seemed to pulse with echoes of forgotten secrets.
The golden haired boy's heart raced as the realisation washed over him once again, reinforced this time by the sight before him - he was far from the sunlit world above.
Panic clawed at his chest as he took a reluctant half-step forward, the beam of his torch revealing more than he ever wanted to see. Stalactites hung like sharpened teeth from the ceiling, and in the dim light, the contours of the cavern twisted into grotesque shapes, reminiscent of terrifying Pokemon that might lurk just out of sight. Nolan hated caves; the idea of being trapped beneath layers of rock sent shivers down his spine. He had always preferred the open forests, the feeling of sun on his face, and the wind in his hair. Yet now, the thought of returning to that freedom felt like a distant dream.
"Stay calm" he whispered to himself, though the tremor in his voice betrayed him. He needed to find a way out and fast.
"Bulba..." Meadow gently ran one of her vines across the human boy's leg in an attempt to soothe his nervousness. The little Grass Type Pokemon knew of her beloved partner's intense dislike for caves after all.
Whilst Nolan appreciated her efforts, the thought of being lost in this subterranean world, where time seemed irrelevant and boundaries blurred, sent a fresh wave of dread spiralling through him. He took a deep breath, steeling himself against the encroaching darkness, and began casting the torch-beam further into his uninvited prison, determined to reclaim his freedom.
His efforts were not for nothing.
Under Nolan's anxious but unwavering gaze, the beam of light flashed over something of interest, something that showed that Nolan, Meadow and Jigglypuff were not as alone down here as they'd originally appeared. The underground warren was actually filled with a plethora of forest-dwelling Pokemon. Rattata were scampering about, a Caterpie munched on leaves, and even a slightly less common Paras was scuttling across a wall nearby. Nolan swallowed anxiously again, feeling a sense of unease. Jigglypuff, noticing his rather fragile state, looked up at him with a concerned expression.
"Jiggly?" the Balloon Pokemon sounded worried.
"I'm… not a fan of caves. Or being underground, to be honest" the golden haired boy begrudgingly admitted, not wanting to talk about it, "Caves make me nervous… if they cave in, I'd be trapped, never found… it's… frightening".
"Saur..." Meadow nuzzled against Nolan comfortingly once again.
"Thank you, Meadow" Nolan smiled down at his partner gratefully, although it was painfully clear that her attempts to make him feel more at ease were in vain, "But I'll only feel better once we figure out how to get out of here".
"Bulba..." Meadow sighed sadly, although she knew he had a valid point. They did need to figure a way out of this place.
"Jiggly! Jigglypuff! Puff! Jigglypuff!" suddenly, Jigglypuff began squeaking up at Nolan excitedly, waving its tiny paws to get the human's attention. The boy in question stared down at the Balloon Pokemon in confusion.
"What is it, Jigglypuff?" Nolan asked curiously.
"Jiggly!" Jigglypuff proudly gestured towards itself once more, then back at Nolan and Meadow again. It didn't take much to put the pieces together.
Hope blossomed in Nolan's chest as he managed an actual smile.
"Are you saying you can get us out of here?" the golden haired boy asked the adorable little pink creature with an air of hope, "You know this place?"
"Puff!" Jigglypuff nodded eagerly.
Nolan's smile was now brighter than the torch in his hand. He knelt down to Jigglypuff's level, his icy blue eyes wide with excitement.
"How?" the golden haired boy wanted to know.
This time Jigglypuff didn't respond to Nolan verbally. Instead, the cute little pink creature simply snatched the torch from the boy's hand and began waving it around, illuminating the various Pokemon in the warren.
"I get it!" Nolan grinned as understanding suddenly came to him, glancing around at the other wild Pokemon scurrying about their business, "This warren is home to some of the Pokemon that live in the forest!"
His curiosity piqued, Nolan turned his attention back to Jigglypuff.
"Is this your home too?" the golden haired boy asked with a gentle smile. To his utmost relief, Jigglypuff nodded, a wide smile on its face.
"Jiggly!" Jigglypuff confirmed happily.
"That's great!" Nolan beamed at the little pink creature, his heart fluttering in his chest as he felt a genuine sense of hope now coursing through him, "So that must mean you know the way out, right?"
"Puff!" once again Jigglypuff squeaked excitedly, confirming his assumption.
"That's wonderful!" Nolan cheered in grateful relief, reaching out and gently stroking the fine fur covering the Balloon Pokemon, earning himself a happy coo, "Can you take us there?"
"Jigglypuff!"
Clearly eager to help them after they had saved it from the clutches of Team Rocket, Jigglypuff began leading the way, still holding Nolan's torch in its tiny paws. The Balloon Pokemon quickly began guiding Nolan and Meadow through a complex network of tunnels. As they went, they tried to keep as quiet as possible, being careful to avoid disturbing the local wild Pokemon. After all, giving how precarious their situation was at the moment, a battle would hardly be a good idea right now.
Nolan was still growing steadily more uncomfortable as they navigated the darkness, but the boy was finally able to breathe a little easier when quite suddenly, a flicker of sunlight appeared up ahead.
"That must be the exit!" the golden haired boy exclaimed excitedly, before he turned and looked down at their adorable little guide with an earnest smile, "Thanks a lot Jigglypuff. You really saved us both!"
"Jiggly!" Jigglypuff simply pointed up at him. Nolan laughed warmly.
"Yeah... I guess we saved each other" Nolan grinned sheepishly. The three of them started to move towards the light up ahead, their spirits climbing with each step that they took. Freedom was close. Nolan could taste it.
He really ought to have known that things were never that straightforward.
"GGGGOOOOLLLLBBBBAAAATTTT!"
The golden haired boy felt himself instinctively tense up as a low growl reverberated through the air - a sound primal enough to awaken the fear buried deep within him. It wasn't just an echo; it felt like a warning, a promise of something lurking just out of sight...
"That... that doesn't sound good" Nolan swallowed nervously. His heart raced, pounding against his ribcage like a drum, while his mind raced through the possibilities of what could be waiting in the shadows.
Was it just a figment of his imagination, or had he stumbled into the den of a creature that once roamed the surface?
Worried, Nolan strained to listen, the growl morphing into a chilling growl that sent shivers cascading down his spine. Meadow and Jigglypuff seemed just as frightened by the sound as he was. The latter began waving Nolan's torch around, searching for the source of the growling. It wasn't long before the beam of light connected with its intended target.
The sight that greeted them would haunt Nolan's nightmares for years to come, the boy was sure.
Illuminated by the harsh glare of the torch, two identical large creatures with even larger blue and purple leathery wings swooped down from the ceiling, their piercing eyes glowing like dazzling fireflies in the gloom. Nolan's heart raced; the creatures were a chilling sight, their wide mouths stretching into menacing grins, revealing rows of sharp fangs that glistened with the promise of a fierce bite. He instinctively stepped back, his pulse quickening as the echo of flapping wings intensified around him. He knew exactly what species the Pokemon were after all, and in that moment, Nolan had never been more certain of anything in his life before.
This did not bode well for him and his friends. Not. One. Bit.
"Uh oh... Those are Golbat…" the golden haired boy stammered nervously, taking a small step back from the newcomers, "I've read rumours… they apparently drink the blood of humans and Pokemon…"
"Golbat..."
Both of the large winged creatures seemed to grin at him, almost as if to confirm that the rumours were true. One of them even licked its lips as it stared down at him. Not liking that look in the slightest, Nolan slowly pulled out his pokedex, his fingers trembling.
"Golbat - the Bat Pokemon" Dexi reported in her cool mechanical voice after successfully identifying the creatures between Nolan and the exit, "Golbat is the evolved form of Zubat. Attacking with its sharp fangs, this Pokemon can drain three hundred cubic centimetres of blood per bite. Being nocturnal, Golbat fly at night in search of prey".
Nolan gulped. He had been hoping for reassurances, not confirmation that the rumours surrounding these Pokemon were true.
"Will this nightmare ever end?!" the golden haired boy hissed through his teeth, unable to believe this latest turn of events, "Could this get any worse?!"
Of course it could.
"GGGGGOOOOOLLLLLBBBBBAAAAATTTTT!"
With almost startling perfect synchronisation, both of the huge bloodthirsty beasts lunged through the air, casting eerie shadows in the torchlight. Both of the Poison Type Pokemon opened their mouths wide, their lethally sharp fangs glinting through the darkness as they prepared to attack.
"RUN!" Nolan bellowed to his two Pokemon companions, his frantic shouts echoing off the tunnel walls.
The golden haired boy, Meadow, and Jigglypuff all retreated back down the tunnel, keeping their heads as low as possible to avoid the teeth snapping at them. The frightened trio had barely taken a couple of steps in the opposite direction from the tunnel's exit however, when suddenly their problems multiplied by about a thousand-fold.
"GGGGGRRRRRAAAAAVVVVVEEEEELLLLLEEEEERRRRR!"
"GGGGGOOOOOLLLLLEEEEEMMMMM!"
Nolan and the others all skidded to an abrupt halt as, quite suddenly, a much louder growling noise filled the air. The noise was coming from slightly further up the tunnel in the direction that Nolan had been retreating in with Meadow and the wild Jigglypuff. The Balloon Pokemon in question quickly shone the torch, revealing not one, not two, but three giant stone faces.
The golden haired boy's stomach did an uncomfortable somersault. He recognised these Pokemon as well.
Flanking the leader on either side were two identical creatures, both round and robust, made completely out of cold grey stone. They had two sets of muscular hulking arms apiece, their collective eight limbs flailing about menacingly as their hands, in almost perfect synchronization, all clenched into fists. They leered at Nolan and his Pokemon friends through the darkness, cracking their stone fists in an obvious attempt to intimidate them.
It worked.
Nolan swallowed nervously and took a hesitant half-step back, momentarily forgetting that the two Golbat were closing in behind them. Right now the golden haired boy's main focus was on the Pokemon in-between the two stone four-armed creatures. He recognised this Pokemon as well after all, and the sheer power rolling off of it was almost indescribable. Like its brethren, this Pokemon was also round in shape, however it only had two limbs which seemed to be stiffly held at limited mobility, due to the thick armoured plates that covered the Pokemon's entire body. The plates were a strange sort of muddy green colour, giving the Pokemon a somewhat mossy overtone. It stood slightly stooped due to its impressive shell, but even then it stood at an immense height. The beast took one step forward, and the entire hillside shook, a testament to the immense power that this creature wielded over the earth. It took all of Nolan's self-restraint not to close his eyes in despair.
A colossal Golem. Flanked by two hulking Graveler. They smirked as they mirrored the two Golbat's action, closing in on the group and blocking their escape.
They were doomed.
"A Golem and two Graveler! The evolved forms of Geodude… That's what Xanthite will evolve into one day…" even in spite of their perilous situation, Nolan couldn't quite manage to keep the note of wonder out of his tone as he marvelled at the site before them. With shaky fingers, the boy quickly brought out his pokedex again.
"Graveler - the Rock Pokemon" Dexi reported, the device's screen illuminating the dark tunnel even further, casting an eerie blue light about Nolan's handsome features, "Graveler descend from mountains by tumbling down steep slopes. They are so brutal, they smash aside obstructing trees and massive boulders with thunderous tackles. Graveler is the evolved form of Geodude".
As Nolan digested that information, he quickly turned the pokedex in the direction of the one who was clearly the Pokemon's leader.
"Golem - the Megaton Pokemon" Dexi said in her usual cool mechanical voice after successfully identifying the creature, "Golem is the evolved form of Graveler and the final evolution of Geodude. Once a year it sheds its bedrock shell and grows larger".
"Yikes..." Nolan whimpered as he put his pokedex back in his pocket, "Then this Golem must be ancient because it's flipping huge!"
Relishing in the human's fear if the unpleasant smiles on their faces were anything to go by; the Golem, the two Graveler, and the two Golbat all closed in on them even further, trapping poor Nolan, Meadow, and the wild Jigglypuff. It was obvious that the gang of wild Pokemon were spoiling for a fight.
"Wait! Please! We didn't mean to intrude!" the golden haired boy pleaded, sensing that it was his presence in their home that had irked these creatures so, "We just got lost and want to leave. We're not here to cause any trouble!"
"Bulba!"
"Jigglypuff!"
But it seemed hopeless. Going off the sceptical expressions clouding all five of their faces, the wild Pokémon didn't believe him and therefore were unlikely to listen to any appeal he might try to make. Before Nolan could protest his innocence any further though, the wild Golem took another powerful step forwards, glaring down at Jigglypuff in a reproachful manner.
"Golem! Lem! Lem! Golem!" the stone behemoth rumbled disapprovingly. It seemed to be lecturing the adorable little pink Pokemon at Nolan's side.
"Jiggly! Jigglypuff!" the Balloon Pokemon tried arguing back.
At a guess, Nolan would have to assume that since this place was Jigglypuff's home as well, the wild Golem was probably scolding Jigglypuff for associating with a human like him and a captured Pokemon like Meadow. Whatever it was saying, Jigglypuff certainly wasn't happy about it.
"Jigglypuff!" the adorable little pink creature continued squeaking in protest at whatever the Golem had accused it of.
Clearly that had been the wrong approach to take.
"GRAVELER!"
"GOLBAT!"
It didn't take a genius to work out that the wild Golem was clearly in charge around here, and that by speaking out against it, Jigglypuff was showing the territory leader the highest level of disrespect. Nolan swallowed anxiously, his eyes nervously darting about, as all the other wild Pokemon quickly became enraged. The twin Graveler began gathering up large chunks of rocks in their numerous limbs, whilst the hovering Golbat's wings began to sparkle with an ethereal bright white light.
"Uh oh!" the golden haired boy stammered as he recognised both of the attacks that the Golem's four subordinates were all preparing to use, "They're gonna use Rock Throw and Wing Attack!"
"GOLEM!"
But if Nolan thought that the Golem was just going to sit back and allow the others to deal with this situation, the boy was sadly mistaken. His icy blue positively shining with awed fear, his jaw slack and hanging wide open, the golden haired boy watched as with surprising manoeuvrability for a creature so large and heavy, the Megaton Pokemon all-but launched itself into the air.
"Whoa!" Nolan managed to gasp out in shock. The Golem seemed to hang in the air above them all for a moment, whilst meanwhile, the Graveler and Golbat finished preparing their own attacks.
For a split-second, it was like time stood still, all of them frozen.
WHAM!
"AAAAAHHHHH!"
Time suddenly became unstuck again, and that's when all hell broke loose.
Nolan screamed as an intense energy surged through his body, and as he collapsed to the ground writhing in pain, the golden haired boy couldn't help but think that it might the end this time. He wasn't entirely sure what had just happened, just that whatever it was had left him in pure and left agony.
"BULBASAUR!"
"JIGGLYPUFF!"
Judgingby their two shrieks, Meadow and the wild Jigglypuff were feeling the same overwhelming pain that Nolan was currently experiencing. It took any ounce of concentration that the golden haired boy had to figure it out, but Nolan soon managed to deduce what had happened. It was the slight tremors in the ground beneath them that clued him in. The wild Golem must have unleashed one of its powerful Earthquake attacks. That, and the falling projectiles of stone and the swirling flurry of razor-sharp wings let Nolan know that the Graveler and the Golbat had also started their assault.
And Nolan and his Pokemon friends were right at the epicentre of it all.
CRACK!
Wrenching his own eyes open at the ear-splitting noise that suddenly echoed down the tunnel, fearing the worst, Nolan was relieved to find that the sickening sound had not been one of his bones breaking as he'd momentarily feared. That sense of relief was snuffed out just as quickly as it had come however, when the golden haired boy processed what was actually happening.
The ceiling... was splintering...
Jagged cracks were beginning to blossom across the tunnel walls and roof, spreading out like the webs of the Bug Type Pokemon that called the outside forest their home. Soil and dust and pebbles fell in an earthy rain as quite literally Nolan's worst nightmare came to life around him. He swore loudly at the top of his lungs.
"OH GOD!" the golden haired boy moaned in despair, wondering how a string of such terrible luck all in one day was even feasibly possible, "THEY'RE GONNA BREAK THE WHOLE ROOF CRASHING DOWN ON TOP OF US!"
"Bulba!"
Nolan felt a gentle but insistent tug on his sleeve, and glancing over, he saw Meadow looking up at him with a spark in her eye, her expression one of pure determination. The golden haired boy nodded, catching her meaning.
"GO FOR IT MEADOW!" Nolan yelled over the tremendous noise echoing up and down the tunnel as it fractured all around them, "USE LEECH SEED!"
"BULBASAUR!"
Casting a familiar eerie green glow about her bulb which actually lit up the dark cave around them quite significantly, Meadow off her signature Leech Seed attack. An air of hope washed over Nolan, Meadow and Jigglypuff as the sparkling green projectile soared through the air towards the Golem, but those hopes were dashed as quickly as those had arisen.
"GOLBAT!"
Pulling off a very skilful manoeuvre that left Nolan gaping where he stood, one of the Golbat swooped down and intercepted Meadow's draining attack. With a lazy, almost bored flicks of its wings, the large blue creature effortlessly destroyed the Leech Seed attack with its own Wing Attack. It never even came close to striking its intended target.
The realisation fell on Nolan harder than the stones raining down over his head.
"We... we can't get out of this" the golden haired boy whispered in sheer disbelief. Never before in his young life had he ever felt so powerless, nor had any situation he'd encountered on his Pokemon Journey so far seemed quite so bleak, so inescapable, "There's no way my team can handle these guys. They're all evolved Pokemon. They're way too strong..."
Nolan swallowed back the tears he could feel welling up.
It really looked hopeless this time.
Unable to help himself, the golden haired boy thought of his father, the man who'd always loved him more than anything and supported him no matter what. Would Nathaniel ever find out what'd happened to him. Nolan knew his Dad wouldn't stop searching until he found out what had happened to his only son, but who would ever think to look for Nolan's body in a place like this?! Underneath a hill in the middle of a nameless forest? And did Nolan even want his loving father to ever discover that that was how it'd all ended, that his only son had been buried alive? Which was worse? Never knowing and always wondering, or learning that Nolan had died in such a horrific manner?
"BULBASAUR!"
The fierce outcry from his little Grass Type partner was enough to pull the golden haired boy back from that rather morbid line of thinking. Refocusing on the here and now, Nolan saw that Meadow was furiously using her Vine Whip attack in an effort to protect them and to try and keep the approaching wild Pokemon at bay. Despite having the type advantage against three of them however, Meadow was also at a severe disadvantage when it came to the remaining two. As such, her onslaught of angry attacks wasn't having much effect, and she was simply tiring herself out rather than their enemies. It wasn't long before the two Golbat were able to knock her down with their twin Wing Attacks. Sighing, Nolan crawled over to the little green creature's side and pulled her into his arms.
"Sssh, it's alright Meadow..." Nolan tried to soothe her, but they both knew it was anything but, "You just rest now. It'll be over soon".
"Saur..." Meadow whimpered as she cuddled into Nolan's warmth.
"GOLEM!"
"GRAVELER!"
"GOLBAT!"
Meanwhile the gang of wild hostile Pokemon were closing in further and further. Nolan bit his lip thoughtfully. He knew that it was unlikely that any action he took could save himself from their wraith now, but perhaps he could still save Meadow. If he were to put her back inside her pokeball, she would remain in status even if the cave really did collapse on top of them. Then, on the off chance that somebody ever dug the hillside up for whatever reason and discovered his remains, Meadow's pokeball, as well as those of the rest of his little Pokemon family, could theoretically be retrieved. It was unlikely, he knew that, but there was still a million to one chance. But even as the thought occurred to him, Meadow was already shaking her head. Despite the situation, Nolan couldn't help but smile. His partner really did know him too well.
"No point in trying to convince you otherwise?" the golden haired boy had to make sure.
"Saur!" Meadow growled and shook her head firmly. If this was the moment that she and Nolan had to part ways with this life forever, then she would be with him until the bitter end.
"Okay..." Nolan whispered softly and hugged her close.
"GOLEM!"
"GRAVELER!"
"GOLBAT!"
Nolan winced as the quintet of evolved wild Pokemon prepared to unleash another frenzy of attacks on them. The boy knew that this would be it that. Either the combination of attacks would finish him and Meadow off, or they would be the last trigger needed to bring the roof toppling down on all of them. His courage failing him now, Nolan couldn't help but close his eyes and squeeze Meadow tightly, his mind screaming a final goodbye to its father over in Pallet Town. He found himself wishing desperately that he could have seen and spoken to the man, just one more time before he had gotten himself into this mess. Still, soon it would all be over...
And then...
And then a miracle happened.
Overcome with the emotion of the moment, Nolan had almost forgotten entirely that he and Meadow weren't actually alone in this terrible and bleak situation. The wild Jigglypuff, the one they had worked so hard to befriend and had ultimately save in the end, was still there and was ready to help them in any way. And as if by divine intervention, the small pink creature actually could. Mustering up a courage that had deserted Nolan by this point, the balloon Pokemon bravely stepped in front of the cowering human, and faced their aggressors head on.
"No! Jigglypuff!" Nolan cried desperately wreaking for the small pink Pokemon but finding it just out of his reach, "Don't! They'll just hurt you!"
Ignoring the golden haired boy's protests entirely, Jigglypuff instead did something... absolutely incredible.
It opened its mouth and began to sing.
~ "Jigglypuff... Jiggly... Jigglypuff" ~
Just like it back out in the forest when it had been Fang that it had faced, the small pink creature's tone was incrediblysoothing. Nolan, almost against his will, felt his entire body begin relax. As the lullaby resonated with his mind, the effects amplified by the fact that the song was echoing down the tunnel, Nolan's worries melted away. Even the concept of certain death didn't seem quite as dire anymore. He smiled down at Meadow, who look just as relieved as he now felt.
The same could not be said for the five wild Pokemon surrounding them.
Instantaneous was the effect on all of them. Golem, the two Graveler and both of the Golbat circling overhead all froze in an instant, the expressions changing from murderous passion to placid tranquillity in a heartbeat. All five of them got rather dopey smiles on their faces, the individual bodies softening despite their will to keep fighting.
~ "Jigglypuff... Jiggly... Jigglypuff" ~
And the Balloon Pokemon just kept on going, kept on singing, relaxing them all with its sweet sweet lullaby.
It took Nolan's hazy mind a moment to realise that neither he nor Meadow were falling asleep as they were supposed to be at this moment. Perhaps it was because they had been in such a damaging and fragile mental state that they needed more than a simple lullaby to help them calm down enough to sleep. Or perhaps Jigglypuff could somehow control the effects of its song so that not everyone fell asleep when hearing it, although Nolan had never heard of such a unique ability before. Either way, the golden haired boy was glad that he was still awake, not only because induced sleep was not a concept anybody really relished, but because it also meant that he got to witness what happened next. For as his new friend reached the final note of its enchanting lullaby, it became increasingly clear that a miracle had just happened, that Nolan and Meadow had both been brought back from the brink of certain death itself.
Golem, the two Graveler and both of the bloodthirsty Golbat... collapsed to the ground where they stood.
The wild Pokemon were all out cold in seconds.
With a few more notes, Jigglypuff soon finished its song, leaving Nolan and Meadow in stunned silence. They could scarcely believe what they had just witnessed, the power that had been held in that song, but there was no denying what had just occurred. The human and his partner both slowly turned their stunned gazes onto their little pink saviour, still too taken aback to actually speak. Jigglypuff truly had just saved them all.
It was nothing short of a miracle.
And that's another chapter done : )
Now I know that second-half of the chapter in the underground warren may have seemed like a curve-ball plot wise. That was pure self-indulgence on my part I'm afraid. You see, when I originally thought about how I wanted to introduce Jigglypuff to Nolan's team, the first idea I came up with was him getting separated from the others by falling down a sinkhole, end up in an underground warren, and a wild Jigglypuff living there would help him get out. But then I realised that that plot-idea was quite similar to an idea I have for a future original episode, which is why I changed it. I couldn't resist including it a little though, since I really wanted a scenario to play out where Nolan saved Jigglypuff, but then Jigglypuff turned around and saved him immediately after. All in the name on bond-building : )
But enough about the contents of this chapter for now. Instead, let's talk about the result of the last voting topic. As I mentioned previously, it ended in a tie, but this time the result was split three ways. The candidates have now been narrowed down to Sudowoodo, Rattata and Butterfree. Two of these I'd be happy to get, one not so much. One of them is actually perfect for story-based reasons so I am holding out hope for it, but as usual, it isn't down to me. It's down to you guys, so please go leave your vote for one of these Pokemon and hopefully we can break this tie before I have to resort to a coin toss again XD
And I think that's just about everything from me for this time. Thank you so much for reading this chapter and my story in general. I hope you are enjoying it all so far, and please consider leaving a review because I'd love to hear your comments and feedback : )
Until the next time, keep on reading : )