Lapis almost made it out of Victory Road without losing another Pokémon, but unfortunately, Pearl the Grumpig fell victim to another pair of strategizing Cooltrainers. The loss caused the teen to faint, revealing another memory he hid in his subconscious. The Nuzlocker ran into a familiar face, where he learned there was more to what happened to his parents. But Lapis still needed to focus on his final preparations before challenging the Elite Four. What will they be, and who will be the final pieces to his team?
Zuli (Lvl. 49 Swampert, male; Item: Soft Sand): Impish Nature, Torrent Ability, moves: Return, Ice Beam, Mud Shot, Surf
Opal (Lvl. 34 Vulpix, female): Hasty Nature, Flash Fire Ability, moves: Will-O-Wisp, Confuse Ray, Flamethrower, Dig
Onyx (Lvl. 49 Mightyena, female; Item: King's Rock): Mild Nature, Intimidate Ability, moves: Return, Rock Smash, Crunch, Bite
Hiddenite (Lvl. 26 Shuppet, male): Hardy Nature, Insomnia Ability, moves: Night Shade, Spite, Thunderbolt, Psychic
Celestite (Lvl. 49 Altaria, female): Gentle Nature, Natural Cure Ability, moves: Fly, Safeguard, Steel Wing, Dragon Claw
Amethyst (Lvl. 49 Vileplume, female; Item: Miracle Seed): Quiet Nature, Chlorophyll Ability, moves: Petal Dance, Acid, Giga Drain, Moonlight
Pokémon sent to the PLA: Tiger Eyes (Linoone, male), Citrine (Makuhita, female), Kyanite (Electrike, female), Moonstone (Swellow, female), SmokyQuarz (Numel, male), Bixbite (Camerupt, male), Pearl (Grumpig, female)
Chapter 48: The Final Steps towards the Peak
With a clean bill of health, Lapis entered the Pokémon League rotunda near the tournament grounds. It was fairly empty, likely due to everyone being at the ongoing Hoenn League matches. Still, it had the things he needed: a healing station, a PC, and a mini Poke Mart. With his next plan in mind, he got a Great Ball from his PC and let all of his Pokémon outside.
There was an uneasy silence amongst the team. Zuli gritted his teeth, Onyx sat with her head drooped, and Celestite hummed a mournful melody. Amethyst and Opal, on the other hand, comforted the Grumpig.
Lapis sighed, sitting next to his recently fallen Pokémon. "I'm so sorry, Pearl… First Bixbite, and now you…"
The Psychic type hugged her Trainer. "It's okay, Lapis. We did our best; I'm just happy I helped you get to the last part of your journey."
"I know. Just hope we don't lose your replacement."
"Speaking of my replacement, where are they?"
"Right here." A Shuppet materialized next to them, startling her.
The Nuzlocker chuckled. "Hiddenite, you're still a curious one, aren't you?"
"Of course. Now, let me converse with Pearl, if you don't mind."
Nodding, he left them alone and returned to the others.
"Hey where did Zuli and Onyx go?"
Celestite replied, "They wanted to talk privately, but they said they'll be back soon."
"All right. Hope it's sooner than later. We gotta get back to trainin'."
Zuli and Onyx sat underneath a palm tree on the beach near the city center. Despite the refreshing sea air, the mood was still dampened by the recent events. The Swampert slammed his fist into the sand.
"Damn it! How could we lose Bixbite and Pearl in that blasted cave?!"
"Zuli," Onyx said, flicking her tail nervously.
"I thought all of us were strong, but it still wasn't enough… What if the Elite Four and Champion are stronger than all of us? I-I can't let Lapis down now…"
"Zuli!" she shouted. "We won't know that until we battle them. Besides, we need to be there to support Lapis. I'm sure he's feeling the same way you do."
The Water type chuckled, wiping away a tear. "Guess he's really rubbing off more on me since we met." He looked at the rippling waves and took a deep breath. "Onyx, what do you want to do after the challenge is over?"
She was surprised by the question. "Huh. I never put much thought into it. Why do you ask?"
"Well… We should do something fun with…just the two of us…"
She blushed. "Zuli… I'm flattered, but we're not in the same Egg Group."
"Does it matter? We can still be together and not have any Poochyena, though it is a little weird how that works."
Laughing, Onyx gave her first teammate a lick on the cheek. "I guess so. But I'll give you my answer when the challenge ends. Come on, I'm sure Lapis is worried about it."
"I know, but let's take the long way back."
The two smiled as they slowly returned to their Trainer, talking and laughing along the way.
It was a few long grueling weeks Lapis spent getting Opal and Hiddenite up to speed with the others. The others did their best to support the newcomers while gaining levels on their own. But it wasn't enough to battle against wild Pokémon. They needed stronger opponents.
I hope Norman's getting all the people I asked for on the list… Then, his PokéNav vibrated, as if answering his thought. But he was surprised to see who the caller was.
"Jade…you okay?"
The research assistant sighed. {Yeah, being kidnapped wasn't fun, but I'm glad the police found me. Thanks to you…}
"I'm sorry I got ya involved with my past."
There was a pause on the speaker. {It's not your fault, Lapis. That Kongō guy…he's a real piece of work. I'm happy you didn't turn out like him, for the most part.}
He chuckled, happy that she wasn't upset. "So, why'd ya call?"
{Actually, I'm relaying a message for Norman, who's visiting the Johto Region at the moment. He wanted me to tell you that he contacted the people you requested, and they're ready to help you prepare. Just meet them at the spots you battled them before, and they'll take it from there.}
"Oh, good. I was wonderin' when he'll get back to me 'bout that. Thanks, Jade." Another pause. "Jade, you there?"
{S-Sorry, Lapis. I'm just surprised you said thanks to me. I wish I could do more, but I still can't battle for a while. Dean's still recovering from our match.}
"No problem; I actually forgot 'bout that. Hope he's gettin' better. Did you find out what happened to him?"
{Yeah, he was holding on to a trinket I never put on him. It was an armband with a topaz stone in it. Though, I'm actually not really knowledgeable about gemstone powers. Do you know anything about them, Lapis?}
"A little. I know gemstones supposedly have either beneficial or detrimental effects. Topaz, for example, is said to increase power and knowledge as well as protect its wearer from danger…" Wait…is that why the Cooltrainers had their Pokémon wearing those necklaces? Are those powers actually real?
{Lapis? Are you there?}
"Oh, sorry. Guess I'm the one pausin' this time."
Jade chuckled. {It was bound to happen. I just said thanks for the info. I'm glad Dean didn't suffer any lasting damage due to that armband. Anyway, I better get going. Good luck with the rest of your training, Lapis. We're all rooting for you.}
His heart skipped a beat at her last words, but he cleared his throat and replied, "Thanks. See you."
He hung up and sat on the ground near the southern Route 111 entrance to the desert. The reporters, Gabby and Ty, peered over him.
"It looks like we got the go ahead, Ty!" the reporter exclaimed. "Ready for another battle interview, Mr. Eurig?"
"If I have to," he answered teasingly.
Several more weeks passed by as the Nuzlocker traveled around the region again to face off against familiar foes. Especially one who tormented visitors with puzzles.
"Confound you, Lapis Eurig!" the Trick Master shouted with his fists in the air. "How do you keep solving my challenging puzzles?!"
"Challengin'? Those were so easy, a Wynaut could do 'em."
The puzzle man stuttered, slamming his hands onto his table. "I…I keep making increasingly difficult puzzles, straining my body to set up those mazes, and staining my hands to write those messages… If someone like you solves them so quickly, especially since the puzzles are ready whenever you exit then enter my doors…" Then the Trick Master steeled his resolve. "I-I must travel. Yes! I must travel the world to explore new ways to make puzzles. Then, when you come back, I will finally stump you, Lapis Eurig! HAHAHAHAHA!"
The dumbfounded teen watched the eccentric man throw some items on the floor then run out of his house. Lapis picked up vacuum-sealed packages containing a Red Tent and Blue Tent.
"As if I need these things…" he moped. "Along with all those useless envelopes."
Hiddenite, now a Banette, appeared behind him. "What do we do now, Lapis?"
He put the so-called "treasures" into his bag and said, "Guess we finish our trainin' in Victory Road. Now that we beat all the Trainers inside, it's only the wild Pokémon left."
The Ghost type shuddered, making his Trainer notice.
"Hiddenite, you okay? You've been actin' strange since we started your trainin'."
"Y-Yeah… It's just a lot to live up to after Pearl and Kyanite. They mastered Electric type attacks so easily…compared to me."
"Hey, you just learned Thunderbolt, which is stronger than Thundershock and Shock Wave. You'll get the hang of it with some more practice."
"I-I hope you're right…"
Sensing he was still hesitant, Lapis let him use his new move as he walked around Victory Road once more. But instead of calming down, the Banette became more on edge. His Thunderbolts missed, and he struggled with his other new move, Psychic. The Trainer did everything he could to help his newest member, but it came to a head when they encountered a wild Golbat.
"Now, Hiddenite, Thunderbolt!"
The Puppet Pokémon shot the lightning bolt at the Flying type. It hit its mark, but it was still airborne. Then, the Bat Pokémon landed a Confuse Ray on the Ghost type.
Damn it! I hate these status condition moves! "Come on, Hiddenite, finish it off with Psychic!"
But he slapped himself in confusion. The Golbat charged in with a Wing Attack, and Lapis' heart sank when he saw it was a critical hit. Hiddenite fell onto the dirt, motionless.
Lapis carried him in his arms as Onyx performed another revenge knock out. The pain of losing another Pokémon was not as bad, but it still hurt. They made their way to the league's healing center, a little deflated.
"You okay, Hiddenite?" the Nuzlocker asked.
Hiddenite looked away, ashamed. "I…I never got to be of any use, Lapis…"
Sighing, Lapis replied, "It's okay, Hiddenite. Seems the pressure got to you. For a Pokémon with a Hardy Nature, you should've had a Quirky Nature instead."
His fallen Pokémon chuckled. "I haven't been with you guys long, but I'm going to miss everyone."
Onyx, saddened, replied, "We're going to miss you too, Hiddenite."
Once they got inside, Lapis let the rest of his team say their goodbyes as he went to the computer to find potentially his last Pokémon before the Elite Four.
Though I have a good amount of backup Pokémon, I don't know if any of them could handle battling any of the remaining five Trainers. Ugh…why is this choice so difficult?!
Then, an image on the screen wriggled, as if it wanted to talk to him. Intrigued, he got the ball from his PC and let out its occupant.
"What's up, Heliador?"
The Makuhita said, "I wanna be your last Pokémon, Lapis."
"Huh. It's the first time a Pokémon wanted me to choose 'em. What's your reasonin'?"
She gave a determined look. "I'm the best typing you can choose from. I'm also at a high enough level so you don't have to grind me as long as the others."
She's right… She'll be useful against two of the Elite Four members.
"Plus…Agate told me about Citrine. I want to become a Hariyama, a dream she never got to realize."
"So, the Beautifly told you all 'bout that. You make a pretty good point. All right, you can join us. I'll bring you outside so you can meet everyone."
After the team said goodbye to Hiddenite and greeted Heliador, Lapis continued the rest of his training. It was another long round, traveling to all the wild places he could think of. But he didn't lose anyone else and gained a Ninetales through trading his Red Shards for a Fire Stone as well as the Hariyama the latest team member promised. But still, Lapis couldn't help but be nervous; after all, the Elite Four and Champion weren't the only ones standing in his way.
Questions for the Chapter:
What did you think of Hiddenite and Heliador?
What did you think of Zuli and Onyx's conversation?
What did you think of Lapis' final training sessions?
How will Lapis do against the Elite Four?