When Beakon toppled off Slate’s arm and hit the floor before he could even react, the Team Shade goons buckled over with unrestrained laughter, while his allies looked as horrified as he was.
“B-Beakon? What’s wrong?” Slate asked, on his knees now, trying to rouse the strange creature, which was as still as a statue. April had warned him Beakon was an ‘odd’ Pokémon, but this was ridiculous! It couldn’t be… Could it? Slate didn’t want to consider the thought. Was he so bad of a Trainer that his newest Pokémon would rather choose the hereafter over being a member of his team? “I-I don’t understand! What happened?”
Slate looked to a nonplussed April for an answer, but it was his Rotom Phone that provided one. *Ping* “Ability activation detected,” the device spoke.
While Team Shade continued to shriek with laughter, Slate read the message that had appeared in his Pokédex app. His eyebrows moved humorously as his expression cycled rapidly between confusion, surprise, understanding, and astonishment. Beakon had indeed used an Ability, and it was the craziest Pokémon Ability Slate had ever heard of.
Penance – When it has a lot of HP, the Pokémon may sacrifice itself to revive a fallen ally.
Above the on-screen explanation, a party alert was flashing intermittently. Upon clicking it, Slate smirked widely. “Thanks, Beakon” he said, returning the creature to its Silph Ball, then exchanging it with one on his belt.
“Slate…” April started. “I think you were right before. We can’t rely on Crimsant in this situation.”
“This isn’t Crimsant’s ball,” Slate told her with a grin, throwing the Silph Ball high in the air. “Come on out, boy!”
In a flash of white, Cryote appeared with a loud bark, its tongue sticking out as it wagged its tail energetically.
“But…how?” April stammered as the Team Shade grunts ceased their laughter.
“Oh man, that’s the Shiny Cryote I told you about, the one that bit me at that farm!” one of them said fearfully.
“I thought Parker said Mayor Douglas defeated that one,” said another.
“I’ll explain later, let’s get em’!” Slate told April. “Cryote, use Bellow!”
April nodded, their allies rallied, and the fight began anew.
“Larvibe, give them all the String Shot you’ve got!” April commanded, and her little bug Pokémon began spewing an endless reel of sticky thread.
The Team Shade grunts gave varying retaliatory orders to their slow Slugish, but those who weren’t crippled by Cryote’s super-effective sound waves were hampered by the net of String Shot that continued to rain down on them. Some managed to release poorly aimed globs of Acid and clouds of Poison Gas but their Trainers were distracted with fending off Joe and the gang.
“Cryote, target them one by one with your Echoed Voice!” Slate ordered, emboldened by their combined efforts, looking to April with a reassuring smile.
“You just keep firing String Shot, Larvibe,” said April, “We’ll make sure Cryote has easy targets!”
However, at that moment, a fresh batch of five more Team Shade grunts emerged from Nutera Power. Slate’s stomach fell. As well as they were doing now thanks to Beakon’s sacrifice, they couldn’t take on this many opponents. They would surely be overwhelmed eventually.
Just as suddenly, a voice called out behind them, “Save some for us, Ape!”
Slate turned to see a boy around his age approaching at a run, wearing orange and green Trainer Gear. His closely cut brown hair had a longer blonde stripe down the middle. Two other figures were following closely behind him. On one side, his trench coat billowing as he ran, was Looker. On the other side was…Melissa, the bare-footed Bug-type Gym Leader!
“August!” April exclaimed with relief.
“Looks like we’re in time for the party!” her brother replied.
When the three arrived on the scene, they each immediately released Pokémon. August sent out the Botunny April had mentioned once, which turned out to be a small pale-green rabbit Pokémon, a Grass-type if its leafy ears and literal bush of a tail were any indication.
*Ping*
SPECIES
#126 Botunny
DERIVATION
Botany + Bunny
CATEGORY
Elusive
COLORING
Pale Green
Light Green
Dark Green
TYPE
Grass
Normal
ABILITIES
Run Away
Harvest
Speed Boost
DETAILS
Berries grow out of their bush-like tails. This makes them a popular target for wild Pokémon as well as Trainers. However, their sharp hearing and impressive agility make them very difficult to catch.
“Razor Leaf!” August ordered.
The little hopping Pokémon complied, pelting the enemy Slugish with a spread of sharp leaves, but April wasn’t too happy about this. “Don’t do that, you’re cutting away all the String Shot Larvibe worked on!” she snapped at her brother, which he proceeded to ignore.
Looker commanded what Slate felt sure was a Psyduck. It was shaped just like one, but its coloring was nothing like the classic yellow of the Pokémon he often fed bread to at the Pewter City pond. Its torso was a mix of browns, while its head was an emerald green with a tuft of blue on top, and with a red jewel-like protuberance.
“Psybeam,” Looker instructed calmly, and the duck Pokémon began shooting multicolored rays from its forehead jewel, with far more ease and finesse than any Psyduck Slate had ever heard of. It wasn’t even clutching its head in pain from using its mental powers.
*Ping*
SPECIES
Nuteran Psyduck
DERIVATION
Psychic + Duck
CATEGORY
Duck
COLORING
Brown
Dark Green
Yellow
TYPE
Water
Psychic
ABILITIES
Drizzle
Magic Guard
Hydrokinesis
DETAILS
Unlike its inferior cousins, this true form of Psyduck uses the jewel on its forehead to focus its psychic power, allowing it to manipulate water for offensive or defensive purposes. It is even capable of summoning rainstorms.
“Another regional variant? And the Nuteran ones are the originals?” Slate mumbled distractedly as his Rotom Phone recited the Pokédex entry. “No wonder Kanto’s Psyducks are so weird. Cryote, dodge to the left!”
Melissa was controlling something even more confusing. Slate tried to keep his attention on the battle, but it was hard to ignore the wild young woman’s army green quadruped as it savagely slashed at the enemy Slugish with its clawed forelegs. Its body resembled exoskeletal armor, it had scarlet compound eyes, and a pointed tail like a Beedrill’s stinger.
It reminded Slate of an Akant in a way, but more than that, it reminded him of another Pokémon. That couldn’t be, though, could it? It didn’t have a Bug-type evolution, did it?
“Formiceon, cycle between X-Scissor and Aerial Ace!” Melissa called, her teeth bared, clearly enjoying herself.
“Formiceon?” Slate repeated to himself as he watched the Pokémon tear through the enemy ranks at speed. “Eon? Can it really be…?”
*Ping*
SPECIES
#179 Formiceon
DERIVATION
Formicine + Eon
CATEGORY
Insectoid
COLORING
Army Green
Black
Red
TYPE
Bug
-
ABILITIES
Tinted Lens
-
Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
Weak Armor
DETAILS
An evolved form of Eevee. Its existence was first discovered when its DNA was found in the body of a Pokémon in the Alola region. Its natural body armor and compound eyes provide it significant protection against the elements.
“No way,” Slate muttered as he had Cryote disperse incoming gas attacks with its now powered-up barks. “It really is a new Eeveelution! A Bug-type… I wonder if there are more…? Eevee could evolve here in a way I don’t even know about!”
Just then, the Rodenki horde joined the fray, assisting the weapon-wielding Joe and co. with targeting the Team Shade members directly. One after another, the enemies began to fall, and the remaining foes’ escape path was cut off when Looker’s Psyduck telekinetically sealed the building’s doors.
Soon, the members of Team Shade that hadn’t been dropped by Rodenki shocks were huddled together in fear, surrounded by Slate and April, and their allies, human and Pokémon alike. While still technically outnumbered by the grunts, Melissa’s formidable Pokémon prowled around them, making intimidating clicks and buzzing sounds.
When the distant sound of sirens grew steadily louder, signaling the approach of Looker’s colleagues, Slate finally relaxed and picked up Cryote, glad to see the pup was okay and proud of how it had battled. “Good job, boy! You saved the day,” he said. “You and Beakon, that is. I’ll have to get you both an extra special treat!”
Cryote barked happily and licked Slate’s face.
“You did great too, Larvibe!” April praised.
“What?” August guffawed. “That thing didn’t even attack. We did all the work!”
April looked incensed and opened her mouth to argue, but Larvibe did the talking for her, metaphorically speaking. The wriggling yellow sac began to shine brightly until completely covered in blue-white light, which began to pulsate. Moments later, its size and shape started to change.
“Ooh, it’s evolving,” Melissa explained, back to her airy demeanor now, pulling out a pen and notebook from her pocket, and jotting something down as she observed the phenomenon unfold. “Triggered by your bond, a power beyond space and time, the light of evolution has dawned, revealing the potential inside.”
Slate couldn’t help frowning at this. He was no poet, but he wasn’t quite sure those qualified as rhymes. When the light dissipated seconds later, the place Larvibe had been standing in was now occupied by a very different-looking Pokémon. It closely resembled the mayor’s Despupa but its shell was bright pink, and its eyes were blue.
*Ping*
April beamed as she scanned her newly evolved Pokémon with her Rotom Phone. “Congratulations…Concupa!” she said, consulting the screen.
SPECIES
#033 Concupa
DERIVATION
Concupiscent + Cupid + Pupa
CATEGORY
Pupa
COLORING
Pink
Chartreuse
Blue
TYPE
Bug
Fairy
ABILITIES
Insatiable
Bewilder
Overcoat
DETAILS
The evolved form of Larvibe. It gives off a pheromone that lulls prey into a false sense of security. Once their guard is down, it strikes and won’t relinquish until its hunger is satisfied.
----------------------------------------
Over the next two hours, Nutera Power was swarming with police officers. They rounded up the Team Shade members and their Slugish, loaded them into police vehicles, began searching the buildings, and took witness statements from workers. While Looker directed this operation, Melissa watched from a quiet corner, occasionally scribbling something down in her notebook, her Formiceon sat dutifully beside her.
Slate and April sat on the floor outside the building with August, Joe, Bob, Alice, Jenny, and Graham, entertaining Cryote, Concupa, Botunny, and the Rodenki horde as they waited to be escorted to the station. They were all tired out from the excitement but relieved to be free. All except for August, of course, who hadn’t been imprisoned and whose boundless energy Slate found a little vexing, especially since it caused April to nag at him.
“I can’t believe you doubted me, Ape,” August said with a shake of his head. “No faith…”
“I had good reason to doubt you…but you did the right thing, so it turned out okay,” said April. “And don’t call me ‘Ape!’”
It transpired that August had contacted his mother, the professor, who had written to Looker shortly after his meeting with Slate and April. They had been in contact since, and she had added him to her private network, apparently satisfied that the man could be of use to their investigation. When August relayed the details of Slate and April’s predicament to Professor Larch, she contacted the man immediately.
August had then met with Looker in Pistachion, who needed confirmation before he could radio for backup. By a stroke of luck, they bumped into Melissa on the way into the power plant complex. Feeling inspired after one of her nature walks through Almony Woods, she was only too happy to offer her assistance.
Once Looker was satisfied that Nutera Power was free of Team Shade, he radioed for cars to transport the kids and the former detainees to the station, where they would need to give statements. The group had a tearful exchange as they were separated.
“Thank you for everything you did for us,” Jenny told Slate and April sincerely.
“Yeah, we’d still be stuck in that room if it weren’t for you two,” Graham concurred.
“I’m looking forward to telling Sarah that you kids helped us again,” said Bob. “If you ever need any Moomoo Milk, it’s on the house!”
Alice was unable to say anything. She hadn’t stopped crying since the battle concluded, which the Rodenki had found fascinating. She gave some friendly nods and stifled sobs in Slate and April’s direction, though, which they took as a thank you.
Once their group was driven away, the Rodenki horde let loose a chorus of squeaks before rounding the corner of the Nutera Power office building, presumably heading for an entrance known to them.
When Looker, Joe, the three kids, and Melissa arrived at Looker’s car, the Gym Leader insisted she would walk to Pistachion, but told Slate with a gleam in her eye, “You interest me. I hope to see you at my Gym one day.” With that, she walked away, humming to herself.
“Why didn’t she say anything to me? I’m better than he is,” August sulked, which April tutted at.
Once the car was underway, Looker let out a long sigh. “You kids…” he started. “What were you thinking? I thought I told you to stay out of this business?”
“We’re not kids—” April insisted.
“You are,” said August.
“—Shush! And we didn’t do anything to Team Shade. Nothing new anyway. They came for us because we caused trouble for them at Pyne Farm.”
“Oh? So, you haven’t been scoping out Silph Co. HQ?” asked Looker.
Slate and April exchanged nervous glances.
“Okay, we have, but not that they would have noticed,” Slate responded, absently petting Cryote, who was curled up on his lap.
“I’ve seen footage of you lurking around their building. They’ve probably seen it too,” said Looker sternly. “You disappeared before I could tell you to cut it out. How did they get you, anyway?”
“They surprised us, took us from the roof by helicopter, after my Gym match with Mayor Douglas,” Slate explained. “He’s working with them.”
“The Mayor?” Looker exclaimed. “How do you—”
“It fits,” Joe interrupted. “From what they’ve told me, the mayor must be involved. He’s enabled the blackout, manipulated the media… Plus, I reached out to his office for a comment on my story. He must have given Team Shade my name.”
“I guess that explains why there’s no footage of you two leaving Town Hall,” said Looker into his rearview mirror. “And what have you learned that would make them take such action against you, Mr. Quinn?”
“I’ve heard rumblings about a gathering of Team Shade operatives in Macadam City. I was planning on heading there before I was taken,” said Joe.
“Any evidence?” Looked asked.
“I can’t reveal my sources,” the reporter answered.
Looker’s brow creased at this. “I would think that after what happened to you—to all of you—you would be a little more forthcoming, Mr. Quinn.”
“Wait, I think I can back that up,” Slate interjected. “I heard a guard mention Macadam City. He said there was a base there. He was hoping to be posted there instead of at Nutera Power.”
August jumped in then, “Did I tell you that I beat the Macadam Gym Leader, Ape? He’s pretty tough, but I—”
“Be quiet!” April hissed at her brother before telling Looker indignantly, “See, we’re useful! We’ve given you the mayor and a location, and we’ve probably even solved the blackout mystery. You need us.”
Looker shook his head, the crease in his brow becoming more pronounced.
----------------------------------------
After giving their statements at the station, Looker took Slate, April, and August to the Pistachion Pokémon Center. He wanted them back at the station for further questioning once more information had been gathered, but he insisted they get some rest—and stay out of trouble.
Slate was privately thankful for this. He needed to eat, then he needed to sleep. First, he finally healed up his Pokémon. All but Larvoid…
“Once the police have finished their operation and gathered up all the stolen Pokémon we told them about, I’m sure Looker will have news about Larvoid,” April offered considerately as they took the elevator up to their rooms, each with a big bag of takeout and treats.
August stifled a giggle at this. “You have a Larvoid?” he derided, apparently in on the Nutera region’s joke about the so-called ‘dud’ of a Bug Pokémon. “And you’re upset about losing it?”
“Don’t say that, dummy!” April chastised her brother, swatting him on the arm.
Slate frowned. “I don’t care if it can’t evolve,” he said. “Larvoid is one of my Pokémon, and I’m not giving up on it!”
“Yeah, that’s right,” April agreed before adding unnecessarily, “and it was one of the few that actually listened to you.”
Slate rolled his eyes.
“I thought you told me he was a decent Trainer?” August directed to his sister.
Scowling now, Slate was tempted to challenge the boy with his stupid mohawk to a battle, to show him how “decent” a trainer he was. He resisted, but their first meeting was not going well. If possible, it seemed like August was as annoying as his sister.
“Alright, alright!” August said, raising his hands in mock surrender in response to Slate’s glare. “As long as you know Larvoids are duds, who am I to tell you not to waste your time training one?”
----------------------------------------
After some difficult calls with his mother about his kidnapping, Slate felt fatigued. He decided to spend the next couple of days alone with his Pokémon, who he let out of their Silph Balls while in the room, even Crimsant, who Eevee kept in check. He couldn’t believe how close he had come to losing all of them.
Slate wasn’t much of a social person at the best of times, but after their ordeal, he wasn’t in the mood for the Larch siblings tag team. April, he had learned to handle, but dealing with a new person right now would be too taxing, especially someone like August. He couldn’t imagine ever being friends with a guy like that.
While playing with his Pokémon, occasionally pausing to stop Beakon pecking at its reflection in the window, or admonishing Crimsant for charging one of the others, Slate watched the news coverage of their exploits on TV.
It was an odd feeling for him to hear reporters attribute the return of communications and the arrest of numerous Team Shade operatives “to the heroic actions of two unidentified Pokémon Trainers”. It was undeniably satisfying, however, seeing Mayor Douglas carted off in handcuffs, even if he had tried to warn him about Team Shade. He hoped Looker would be able to get some good info out of the man. He obviously knew something.
When Slate’s Rotom Phone started vibrating on the nightstand, he was surprised to see that the person calling wasn’t April.
“Hello, Slate, it’s Looker here,” said the International Police Agent.
“Oh, hi, Looker, I forgot you’re on the professor’s network now,” said Slate before correcting himself, “but I guess you don’t need to use that now that phones are working again. Anyway, err, what’s up?”
“I just wanted to give you an update,” Looker answered. “My colleagues have finished inventorying the evidence we collected at Nutera Power. We have your bag ready to return to you, and the egg inside it is about ready to hatch if you ask me! But I’m afraid to say, we haven’t recovered your Larvoid.”
Slate’s face fell, which Cryote noticed, resting its head on his knee.
“The thing is…” started Looker, getting Slate’s hopes up. “Well, I hesitate to mention it, because I don’t want you doing anything silly, but I need to ask you something.”
“What is it?” Slate asked eagerly.
“During our interrogations of the Team Shade members, several of the more talkative ones have mentioned that they had orders to keep an eye out for Larvoids.”
Slate adopted a look of perplexion. “Why?” he asked simply.
“Well, we’re not sure. They weren’t given a reason. I don’t know if you’re aware, but since Larvoid are few in number and visually identical to several other Nuteran Bug-types, they’re actually a very rare Pokémon.”
“But… I’ve been told they’re duds,” Slate asserted, “because they don’t evolve or learn new moves.”
“Yes, which is why this is such a mystery. The mayor’s not saying anything, and Professor Larch doesn’t have any ideas about it. For some reason, Team Shade was on the lookout for a Larvoid, and I think that may have been the real reason they targeted you. They saw you use one at Pyne Farm, one that by all accounts, left an impression. So, Slate, is there any reason you can think of why they may have wanted your Pokémon?”
“None at all,” said Slate truthfully.
After a pause, Looker responded, “Okay. Well, I would like for you and April to come in later today to get your things and answer a couple of follow-up questions.”
After ringing off, Slate looked around his room at Cryote, Eevee, Crimsant, and Beakon. It wasn’t right. Larvoid should be there with them. Why did Team Shade want it? Had he caused this somehow? If he had been stronger, could he have prevented it?
Slate clapped his palms to his cheeks, as he often did so to shake off his negative thoughts, unintentionally startling his Pokémon. None of that mattered now. He knew what he had to do. He jumped up from his bed and ran to the door, with Cryote pursuing him. He opened it, walked down the hall to the next room, and pounded on the door.
April answered the door, looking quite alarmed. Her brother was standing behind her. “Slate? What is it?” she asked.
“You alright, dude?” asked August.
“Get your things, we’re going,” said Slate.
“Going where?” said April.
“First to see Looker at the station, to get out bags,” said Slate resolutely. “Then, to Macadam City. We’re going to find the Team Shade base and get Larvoid back!”
THE END - TO BE CONTINUED?
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