~~~ Chapter 23 - N Minus One ~~~
I was struck with awe when I saw the remnants of the ancient Unovans’ worshipping grounds. I was ten years old, reading it in one of those shitty school science mags. I was enamored by the statues of the so-called ‘Forces of Nature’—Thundurus, Landorus and Tornadus. It gave me hope for the future.
I thought, "Wow, those statues look like shit!" And now, here I am. Whatever that means.
- Lyra, Ex-Hoenn, Kanto Champion, Opelucid University PhD student
~~~
In the Sinnoh region, resting on the dark, still waters of the pond in Acuity Cavern, inside of the island of the lake of the same name—Lake Acuity—is a sleeping fae-like pokemon. She is approximately a foot tall, from the top of her head, to the bottom of her body. She has two feet and two arms. Her feet, however, would drag her underside along the ground, were she not a strong enough psychic to float in the water.
Her face held neutral, eyes closed as though she slept, her shoulders were hunched and her large head seemed to be held up more by her psychic powers than by her own small and impossibly thin neck. Her face, it seemed, was a mask of gold. Adorning the center of the pokemon's forehead, was a ruby gem that was encrusted into the mask's forehead, above her sleeping eyes. Light and information were drawn into the crystal, as if she was sustained simply by the passage of information alone. The pokemon's arms jutted out from the nearly-nonexistant shoulders. They hung limp, giving the illusion she was holding herself up by her arms as her body was leaned back. Her twin tails curved up, two smaller ruby-read gems embedded in the centers of her tails' flat ends.
Her rest was silent. Member of the Lake Guardians, the fourth pokemon of Arceus' creation. She was, is, and would be known as the bringer of knowledge. Believed by many humans to be originators of both mind and soul. Each member, perceived to be representative and responsible for separate aspects of the soul—willpower, emotion, and knowledge. This pokemon was called Uxie, and if asked, and able to answer, would say that the definition was not wholly incorrect.
Acuity Cavern was nestled in the center of an that jutted up, out and above the waters of the large lake. The lake, positioned at the top of one of Sinnoh's taller mountains, was covered in snow most of the year, though it had a tendency to melt during the heat of summer. Being the late spring, the entrance of Acuity Cavern glowed in the light reflected by the relatively-untouched snow.
A man, dressed in a dark gray suit, wearing a vest with the emblazoned Team Galactic logo, stood on the island. The man was alone, save for a houndoom at his side. He walked, looking up and admiring for a moment, the simplicity of the surroundings of the entrance of Acuity Cavern. Before proceeding inside, he took a moment to scratch his faithful houndoom between the ears.
Crossing the snow, he maintained his posture of confidence, his face held in a permanent frown, and bags under his eyes belaying his thoughts. In his hand, a flashlight, he switched it on, stepping into the dark of the cavern, illuminating his way. His houndoom led the way as they proceeded into the cave, out of the breezy wind, out of the cold, out of the snow and ice.
She chose to entertain his presence. The man stood straight up, head held high. He had perpetual bags under his eyes, and short, spiky light blue hair. A full team of pokemon and pokeballs adorned the man's belt. The traits of those losing sleep in a war which would soon have taken its endless toll. The man stood at the entrance of the cavern, near the shore of the nearly-bottomless pond in which Uxie swam. Her eyes closed, their minds touched. The corners of Uxie's mouth curled up into a light smile as she spoke to his mind.
Seeking to stack the deck ever further in your favor, you bid for an audience with Azelf. And left, hungry. Having attempted to please Mesprit, you were rejected. Now, you appear before Uxie. Speak your wish.
Cyrus had gone stiff. He'd been cultivating his own bond with his dark types. None of the human psychics, or even a few psychic pokemon were able to read his mind. Everything that he worked for, everything that he was building up for? To learn that all the effort he'd put in to build up resistance to psychic prodding, to be brushed away? The bridge was burning even as he was crossing over in the final stages. He shook his head. No, this was a member of creation. Humans weren't pokemon. He didn't expect to be on tier with even his houndoom or honchkrow, no matter how well-bonded they were.
He closed his eyes, and took a breath, getting his thoughts in order. "It's all falling apart," the man said, venting his frustrations before the god. "I try to make a better world? I have worked to build Sinnoh up into a world power, and now, what do I get? A single girl and international police on my ass? The damn girl's a one-person war machine, through the region, focused on tearing all of this down." Cyrus said. Sinnoh was the Lake Guardians' home. He'd had a speech prepped, his request. Instead, his fist was trembling, houndoom growling out at the fraction of a god sitting on the water.
Uxie, for her part, remained silent and unmoved. The water was completely still, the depths hidden by how little light there was in the main cavern, only the faintest echoes of light from the outside illuminating spots where his flashlight didn't reach. Uxie had been correct. This was his third attempt at recruiting the assistance of a member of the Lake Guardians. Of course, he had backup plans and contingencies. He had contingencies for his contingencies at this point, despite the pressure.
"How is it, I wonder," Cyrus said. "That you three remain undisturbed in your caves through all this time? My ancestor never managed to enlist your aid," pausing, before he lets out a short laugh. Houndoom, still faithfully by Cyrus' side, follows him onto the shore of the cave's inner pond. He picks up a rock. For a split second, he contemplates skipping it across the water. He plotted out the trajectory it would take to skip the rock and hit Uxie's form, resting undisturbed on the water.
In his mind's-eye, he pulls his arm back at an angle, then throws it. The rock skips across the water, and pegs her form in between the eyes. She doesn't move. Uxie wouldn't move if he had. Uxie, the one holding the lamp, the light of knowledge, or to be precise, memory, would not have to. Because he wouldn't ever actually throw it. The man did not act on impulse, and Uxie's actions were, in a word, known for their subtlety. Cyrus mulls over the words he wishes to say, instead, before his own thoughts are diverted by hers.
You want assurance, Uxie indicates, ignoring his verbal and internal outburst. To remit suffering from the world, with a new world. You wish for an ally in your efforts? One to ensure your plans are accomplished no matter what? There are limited pieces on your board. You wish for a new piece. One that cannot be bought with money, one to help you to shape reality, and humans, as clay.
Cyrus' persistent frown turned to a smile. He nodded. There were costs to everything, and Uxie would have hers. Though, one question lingered in his mind—had he already paid those costs? Or would he be paying the cost after? With Palkia and Dialga under his control and subdued, he would have all the power he needed—his hand was clammed up, they were cold, and yet, he was sweating. He needed to answer the question.
Say it, Uxie demanded.
Cyrus' face slipped back into a frown. "I knew this would happen," he muttered. If Uxie could see his thoughts, read his intents and yet here, before a god that was actually hearing his wish—he was just at the cusp. So close to that final push to Mount Coronet. And yet, Cyrus knew he still needed allies. Extra contingencies. Diversification of assets, income, establishing multiple ways to achieve victory, and limiting the paths for opponents to hinder.
If he'd actively hindered Dawn it had only slowed her down, made her push harder. Recently, he'd tried telling her that he was one of the 'good guys'. But by that point, it had been too late. She'd already drawn her suspicions straight to him. He'd overplayed his hand years too early, and was now instead coasting on goodwill. With interpol involved, more and more plans were falling apart. It didn't matter though. Uxie still sat across from him on the little pond in Acuity Cavern, at the center of Lake Verity.
"You're right. I'm here, I'm doing all of this. To get to the mountains because I'm tired of losing because I play by the book and the rules. I need an assurance. A contingency. An ally. Someone, or something from outside this bullshit game. Permanently remove Dawn from the picture before she throws a wrench in my plans. Additional fallback to ensure my plans succeed."
Okay! Uxie said, the sudden shift in Uxie's tone, throwing Cyrus aback at Uxie's change in tone. There is a flash of movement.
Oh it's so nice to be able to stretch these legs again!, she continued. So, here's how it's gonna work, buster! She blinked out of the focus of Cyrus' flashlight, a single concentric wave emanating out from the center of the pond from where her body had been resting, houndoom crouching low, emitting a low growl. The growl turned into a snarl as Uxie's body, eyes still closed, appeared to their left, rolling along the pebbles and dirt of the shore, stretching. Cyrus' entire body froze, save for his hand, which he put on houndoom's head. Dark types were natural counters, but he'd brought houndoom to buy time for an escape. Capturing Uxie was not even on the table of options. Not unless the god willingly followed him along.
What you want? Yeah, can do. Dawn will be gone! Don't you worry about that! But! You need to think long and hard about what you really want from Palkia and Dialga.
Cyrus held still, putting his hand on houndoom's head, "sssshhhh", he said, hushing his faithful pokemon. He'd heard different stories about the personalities of each member of the lake guardians. Never one so upbeat, however.
Our red chains? The stuff they're using without our permission? They're in Mount Coronet! A whole load of those old pieces we gave your ancestors, long ago! But you already knew that!
He shivered. It would make sense for whichever personality they wore when active, to reflect the era people they interacted with. This was his best chance at success, that was true. But he was not quite ready to throw all of his cards onto this member of the trio.
Now, let's see, hmmm what else do you need to know? Oh yeah. One more thing, I gotta say before I go back to sleep! Uxie said, her body slightly returning to its uncanny stillness, ceasing its moving. The three dragons return to the world, their ancient grudge goes cold, yadda yadda, world burns, new world, blah pokemon, blah rescues, blah humans, blah pain, suffering, blah, blah darkness, blah blah blah, dreams and stuff.
Uxie finished, practically prancing around as she finished hops on the shore, teleporting around the cavern.
Now that's over, want ta know why you were turned down by Azelf and Mesprit? Cuz I knooooow~
~~~
image [https://i.imgur.com/R3jtZwV.jpg]
~~~
A series of uncomfortable pressures pressed on my abdomen, poking in, then letting go, then pressing down again. Someone was pressing on me, even while I was in torpor, moving their hands about, from thorax down to the abdomen. It was no massage, just muted pressures. My scents had booted up, and the signal of soft disinfectants and aluminum and stainless steel said I was in a pokemon center. The individual inspecting me pressed on a sensitive spot on my abdomen, and I snapped reflexively, biting at where my proprioception said their hand was. I caught nothing but a whiff of light fuzz, immediately decomposing under the digestives in my mouth.
Rousing from sleep or torpor, vision came into focus, a wave of light, a flash, and back to greys and reds again. Rousing from torpor is always interesting, as my vibration senses tend to boot up first, followed by scent, and then lastly my visual senses all have their own bootup times. I’m usually moving about, seconds before my visual and taste centers begin registering the contents of the world around me. Even then, my visuals were blotches of grays and blacks as my eyes shifted into registering the greater colors of the world.
The examiner had yelped, pulling their arm back. The blobs of grays flickered, shifting to red, pulling me into the smock at their chest. The sensations cleared, and the face of the nurse with red hair was above me. I backed up, trying to lie back down once I realized the mistake, as they spoke in quiet, but harsh tones. They paused, watching me as I rubbed my blades together as their anxiety, oddly interpretable from visuals alone compared to, say, Sundresser or the Junipers, turned toward annoyance. The hallucinations from earlier in the morning were just that, hallucinations.
Sorry! I thought at the nurse. They looked back over at me, who was still sitting on their table, trying to relax. My automatic sleep-defenses attacked, I’ve shut them down, no worries! What could I do to make it up to them? I didn’t have any crafts on me to make them a leaf necklace. It would have to wait until I found a chance to visit the pokecenter on my own, unfortunately. A flower or leaf necklace felt good.
The faucet turned off, and there was no red mark remaining, though I definitely tasted a hint of iron. The bite drew a drop of blood. Did pokecenters have a tank of hyper-potions? It was hard to imagine they didn’t. Hints of burned leaves dissipated through the air. My helmet, thorax-piece, skirt and abdomen bottom cover were all gone, the bases of my leaf blades covered in burns, had been cut off. Probably in the garbage, hints of their burning dissipating through the air.
The nurse’s lips turned up, their smile returning. Hoisting me up into their arms, I was carried and set into a small room with a large pile of leaves with a bowl of soil and food. As I scooped it down, sparks of electricity entered my memories. I should have let go of the ampharos. What other options had been open to it than to call a strike of thunder onto itself? Had I been close to winning? What did winning even mean? Knocking it out of the ring? It probably had double my mass. What if I had instead batted the ampharos down and tried to push it out of the circle? Break its concentration and stop the waves of electricity?
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I scooped my soil and assorted fruits and veggies into my mouth, abdomen slowly humming. Restoring the burned cufflinks on my legs and the leaves behind my head was the first order of business. They had retrieved a very large number of leaves for me.
I’d finished restoring my blades, cufflinks, and crown of leaves. A few last scoops and I finished off the last of the food. Silk was restoring quite quickly. but with a rub of my soft blades, I was done waiting. Pocketing a few new razor leaves on my quickly-hardening cufflinks, I stuffed the remaining leaves in my mouth, mashing them, walking in circles in the enclosed room.
I rubbed my blade-arms together. "Eeaaa aaa leee nyyy," I called. "I’m ready to go, come get me!"
I rubbed my blades again and paced in circles some more, occasionally crying out. No one came. I wanted to be patient. I took a breath, and paced. I was patient. I rubbed my blades. I paced some more. I looked up. There was no camera in the room that I could see. No one knew that I was ready to leave. I took a breath again, observing the doorknob.
When no one opened the door, I took a breath, preparing to face the fluorescent floor once more. I reached up, pushing my weak blade-leaves onto the flat doorknob. When they didn’t break, but instead had decent grip, I pushed my left blade-arm up and my right blade-arm down, sliding the knob open.
I opened my mouth, and took a breath, tasting my own tension in the air on my antennae and tongue. The door clicked, sliding wide. I rubbed my blade-arms together. It was time to leave the pokecenter.
~~~
Aurea and Artemus were sitting in the lobby of the evening pokecenter, observing the floors and walls, neither had been quite willing to break the silence as their pokemon were being evaluated and healed. Fy had demonstrated excellent control in gym battles in the past. Why hadn’t he done so here? She knew if it ever got out, she’d never hear the end of it. She could already see the tabloid headlines: "Aurea Juniper, Eight Badges And Progressing Through Elite Four Nearly Kills Trainer’s Low Level Leavanny." She shuddered.
"Aurea and Artemus, please come with me," a boy with short blonde hair called them both. He was wearing a smock and looked about nineteen years old, seven years Aurea’s junior, she reckoned. Aurea tossed Artemus a short smile as they both got up. The kid kept his eyes on the ground.
"Both of your pokemon are in perfect physical condition, so you don’t need to worry about that," the kid said. Artemus’ look widened, tears freely fell. He wiped his eyes.
Pulled into a back room, they were brought to a red-haired man. ‘Nurse Kyson,’ his tag said. He stood behind the counter, thumbing through a datapad.
"Artemus, was it?" The man asked. "You came back to us so soon." The pokeballs they’d delivered were in a little container with their names on them. When your pokemon was injured, pokeballs will stall many injuries from progressing, including internal damage, but they also have a tendency to slow the contained pokemon’s natural ability to self-heal. If it got bad enough, or the ball sensed strong enough stress, the safety mechanisms on the balls would release.
"No gym badges?" Aurea winced on behalf of the boy.
"Correct, s-sir," Artemus responded, keeping his head down.
"Call me Nurse Kyron, kid. I’m no sir." He turned to Aurea, his dark red hair swaying with the motion.
"And Aurea Juniper," he said, "eight badges and pursuing a series of Domination matches against the elite four." Aurea’s face went a bit red.
Nurse Kyson’s face had lifted up at the edges as he bore into their eyes. "A Juniper, so close to obtaining a champion title, has brought a leavanny owned by a trainer who has no gym badges, to our pokemon center, in critical condition." Aurea held firm in the man’s glare, Artemus shifted his eyes away. Aurea held her posture high, despite the tightness in her chest.
Nurse Kyson continued. "I knew Professor Juniper was old-school—" he huffed, shifting his well-defined forearms, bearing a nice wide v mark "—but I didn’t expect this, and I’ve been following your career for a few years now, Aurea." She chose not to respond.
He turned to Artemus, "Who was your sponsor for becoming a trainer? Aurea here?" Artemus shook his head.
"N-no, sir. N-N-Nurse Avery in Anville," he said, face flush, looking at the countertop.
The nurse turned stern. "With no gym badges, a de-recommendation from coming into the pokecenter with your pokemon in a state like this, it could put your whole career at risk!" The man rubbed his eyes. "But I suppose to start with the threats, that’s not fair. Pokecenters are a place of healing, and you should always feel welcome to bring them in. We will always work to heal mankind’s best friends," he said, before pausing.
"First, this morning, you brought two of your pokemon into the pokecenter having consumed a bottle of human hair conditioner, a psychoactive substance that was never intended for use on bugs."
So that’s why my conditioner was half-empty and it was having such a hard time walking around, Aurea thought to herself.
"That’s an honest mistake, but there will be more of those in days to come. Human products, including our processed food, are at best designed with not killing dog-and-cat types in mind. You’re not feeding your bugs basic kibble, are you?"
"No, sir," Artemus said, straightening up his posture. Most trainers knew better than to give their pets that trash, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
"Good," Kyson said, his face turning stern again, looking at Aurea. "Were you made aware of the physical report from your own father’s lab that there is a recommendation to beware electric battles for Leah?"
Her face turned flush. "Yes," she said, taking a quick breath for a pause. "But after a quick soft-battle, she didn’t demonstrate any exceptional susceptibility to electric attacks" she defended. Nurse Kyson just shook his head, turning to Artemus.
"A full suite of tests on her abdomen should be run and documented in Leah’s official records before any more engagements with electric types," he sighed, continuing: "I would have removed the rocks right away, but the pokecenter's proverbial hands are tied. We can’t do anything considered modification without evidence they’re actively detrimental to the animal’s health."
Artemus would have to scrounge up enough money to pay for the operation out of pocket, she thought, looking at the kid. If he didn’t, and fought an electric pokemon again, and Leah was hurt again, it could cause the teen trouble.
"When ‘Leah’ woke up after being healed, she showed signs of anxiety and bit my arm," he said, waving the slice of red. "From the incident this morning, bringing her to us in such bad shape, I have half a mind to declare your leavanny abused and send her off to a safety center!"
"Nurse Kyson," Aurea began, "this was my fault—" but the nurse cut her off.
"You’re damn right it’s your fault for allowing this to happen—"
"No," Artemus said, speaking up.
No?
"No, what kid?"
"No, please. I-I-I can’t lose her. She’s—" he said. "She’s my best friend. I-I don’t know what I’d do, I’d rather lose my trainer’s license."
He turned back to the kid, "That’s what I needed to hear," his expression softening. "Give me your license." Artemus pulled out his pokedex and set it on the counter.
"What? No! I’ll take the blame! It’s not his fault!" Aurea said. "I let the fight get out of hand!"
The nurse looked Aurea in the eyes. "You can’t take responsibility for this kid’s mistakes. You know that." Aurea frowned, filling in the rest: "...because your name would keep you from getting any real consequences."
"Take your pokeball, Juniper. Fy will be brought out to you in the lobby. I’ll be discussing this with Artemus here alone now." Aurea huffed at the nurse’s display before heading out to the front to pick up her ampharos.
~~~
Once Aurea left, Nurse Kyson spoke up. "Pick up your pokedex and pokeball and come with me," Nurse Kyson said. They proceeded up a flight of stairs. Kyson handed it back to the kid, who let out a tear, releasing some of his tension.
Artemus tried to hand his dex back to the nurse.
"Keep it," Kyson said, as the two ascended. "You know," he said, crossing the first few steps. "I don’t enjoy scaring people like that," the nurse said, letting out a huff of air as they climbed the stairs. Then why do it? he thought to himself.
"W-Where’s Leah?"
"She’s up here. Should be done eating and cleaning up some of her leaves by now."
"Why not bring her down?" Art demanded, expression turning stiff and annoyed.
"Because, I wanted to be away from prying ears."
"The Junipers have given me the opportunities I have right now, I don’t want to hear about how they’re mean or secretly evil," Artie said, feeling the gratitude he still had just for receiving everything he’d been given, and Aurea’s defense of the two of them. Tens, if not hundreds of trainers have received their starts after passing through Nuvema.
The nurse just chuckled, waving off the accusation. "You know what? Never mind. Instead, make me a promise, Artemus."
"Like what? First you bully me and now you want me to do something for you?" he asked once more, the nurse just ignored the building tension as the kid’s chest wound tight.
"Don’t let fear of other humans stop you from doing what’s best for your pokemon."
Art paused. Was that why I’d taken the fights with Aurea? And didn’t stop Leah from hurting herself? And why? For what reason? He clenched his fist to his chest for a moment as they made their way up.
The frown she’d make, or the judgement of her dismissal, the excitement of learning from a pro. Not measuring up to the expectations of others. I hadn’t cared even four weeks ago. Why did I care now? The image of Leah in her shoes bouncing about nonsensically to the camera. So what if I’m from the Burghs?
"I’ll work on it," he told the nurse. "But what about fighting electric types? Leah’s my strongest pokemon, and she took a lot of hits without even staggering the second time around." Art only technically had two. He needed a couple gym badges before he could train more.
The nurse tightened, pausing mid-step. "Kid, I just censured you for pushing your pokemon too hard just because a more experienced trainer said it would be fine."
Artie grumbled.
"But," the nurse continued, "if what you’re saying is true, keep her to Mastery battles and no one will bat an eye once you’ve had a few wins on your official record. But beware fighting more with Aurea. She’s been preparing to fight the Elite Four over the last year. That ampharos has likely forgotten what Mastery battles are."
"Is that possible?" Artie asked.
"Absolutely," Nurse Kyson said, opening the door to the upper floor. "If the battles all happen in the same arenas, and the opponents are all the same, how do pokemon know when it’s a fight for Dominance versus a Mastery fight?"
Leah had hugged the ampharos, rather than trying to shove it out of the ring. Nor had the ampharos moved out of the ring, even when Leah had scored her own nasty hits.
The nurse continued, stalling them in the doorway. "If a pokemon assumes no fight is dangerous, then when the trainer goes to fight for Dominance, what’s the logical outcome?"
The pokemon doesn’t take it as seriously as it needs to.
"Their pokemon is caught off-guard when the fight continues despite meeting whatever rules it has learned for what the conditions for victory typically are. This is how most pokemon in Dominance fights get killed. The Elite Four only do Dominance fights at the league stadium for this reason."
During their little rematch, Leah wouldn’t let go of Fy. If a pokemon always assumes the fights are Dominance-survival style… Fy wasn’t holding back enough to tell Leah it was just a friendly exercise. They put the opponent’s pokemon in mortal danger. It was Alder’s gym. And Aurea was apparently family-friends with the man… They had probably practiced quite a bit as she was getting better and better…
Had she lied about Fy’s ability for control? Or was her definition of control skewed because she has eight gym badges under her belt? Her samurott and mienshao didn't need to be told to hold back, seeing how softly they played with the swadloons, even indoors. But her ampharos?
If she had been practicing to fight the Elite Four in the Castelia City gym's atrium, her Ampharos might have interpreted the atrium as the place for dominance battles… He shook his head. Even Aurea's Mienshao and Samurott hadn't had issues in the atrium. But he couldn't shake the lingering, sour feeling that was turning over in his gut.
They’d crossed the final distance of the upstairs hall in silence. Kyson frowned. A door to a side room was open, an empty bowl and scraps of silk and leaves on the floor. The door was open. Nurse Kyson pulled his phone to his ear, already dialing. "Hey Nicole, has anyone taken Artemus’ leavanny downstairs?"
The nurse shimmered, shaking. "Oh Is that so? Then we either have a pokemon running loose or a thief with an illegal pokeball. Yes, I have gone to retrieve her and she’s not in the room I left her in."
~~~
It had taken a few doors, but eventually I found the one downstairs. A quick application of some leftover silk, a loop, a piece of silk on the fluorescent floor for grip, and the door opened. Automatic lights in the stairwell turned on as I entered, the heavy door fast sliding shut behind me. This place had almost no security. Perhaps it had been a safety thing?
A ring in the air of the stairwell reverberated, I screeched in surprise. A voice on an intercom echoed, my auditory and balance sense scrambled. I tripped down a step before catching myself on the vertical bars of metal safety rails. I didn’t taste any smoke from any fires.
I tried to stand and keep heading down. Was the building on fire? If it was going up in flames, I needed to get out fast! I stumbled and tripped my way down the stairs as fast as I could, doing my best to maintain balance, crossing two circles of stairs before hitting the bottom. I pressed on the door. The voice and reverberation had gone away.
The door didn’t budge. It was locked. I banged on it, "Eeeeaaaa," I screamed, sputtering, spitting out a chunk of fuzz. I’m still here! Let me out! Let me out! My restored blades hadn’t hardened enough to take chunks out of wood yet!
Banging on the door, I sat down and moaned, consigned to my doom. A motion of shadow from the door’s up-high window and the ringing eventually stopped. The door clicked. I pushed the door open, running out and past the person in the smock, breaking for the entrance. I’m not ready to be stuck inside and die! I just wanted to go back to the gym!
"Leah," Lanky shouted from behind me. I stopped, sliding on the pokecenter floor, before turning to him. "Ea!" I chirped, letting him come to me.
Wrapping his arms around me, I was ready to go home. We stood up. He held my arm and we walked out, meeting junior Juniper out front, where she recalled her sheep, swapping it out for a pink, curled-up pokemon. Musharna. Lanky pulled out his pokedex, flashing it to the Juniper. They swapped a couple words and we teleported.
Appearing in the atrium of the gym, the skylights were dark, and the same girl dressed in black was sitting on the branch above the hammock, petting an awful, ugly red venipede. Lanky emanated an air of frustrationannoyance, exchanging words with the Juniper his tone was soft, but the scent said otherwise. Juniper was dismissive, but recalled her pokemon, interrupting a scraggy playing with her mienshao. A krokorok relaxed in the far corner by the backyard doors, away from all the bugs in their trees. Aurea gave the two trainers a wave and left us, exchanging a few more words.
I let go of Lanky’s hand, walking to Leaf, who was sleeping next to the tree trunk sundresser was lying down on. I gave him a nudge with the bottom of my leg. He rustled a bit as I tried to wake him up.
Hey bitch, I helped you make your armor, time to help me remake mine.
A short little "Sccee!" and we were faced with clicking pincers and stingers approaching.
It was faced with the cutest little purple bug, glowing a luscious beautiful violet. The prettiest bug I ever did see!