Chapter 63 - The Crabominable and The Snow-Woman - Pt. 5
Today - Sevii, Two Island Marina, Two Island
Celeste nearly leapt from her seat. “That’s it, isn’t it? The big finish? You guys met up again when you chased down Crabrawler?”
Lori’s smile widened as she set her mug on the table, her gaze lingering on each friend’s face. Luan, though somewhat reserved, was clearly hooked. Delia, on the other hand, seemed attentive but not entirely convinced about what Celeste had no doubt was a lesson about how disagreements and misunderstandings happen, and in the end, good friends can forgive and forget.
That’s what Celeste gathered from it, anyway.
“So, you wanna wrap this up?” Bruno asked. His smile persisted, yet a trace of concern flickered across his features. “I’m kinda curious to hear how you’ll tell this last bit…”
At that, Lori just nodded. It was story time again.
—*——*—
“Caleb gave me directions, and I double-checked them at the Poké Center. Crabrawler had indeed been spotted in the same area for a few days straight, and I was certain this was my chance. Catching it would end my slump for good…”
—*——*—
One and a half years ago - Kanto, Off Route 16
On a bright winter afternoon, Lorelei dismounted her Lapras, her eyes scanning the vicinity. The people in Celadon had directed her to a meadow by a stream, a spot where Crabrawler had been sighted over the last few days. At first glance, there was no sign of it, but the nervous rustling of Caterpie and Rattata in the nearby bushes hinted at its presence. She instructed Fractal to stand guard and released her Snorunt, while keeping her fingers near the Pokéballs of Piloswine and Dewgong.
She wasn’t about to let this opportunity slip away.
Little flowers peeked through the melting snow, and Lorelei trod lightly, both to preserve them and to maintain silence. As she edged closer to the bushes, a gust of chilly wind blew past her. It made her heart freeze.
Could it be Beedrill again?
No. The noise behind her wasn’t the familiar buzz; it was a series of drumming and clicking sounds.
That was Crabrawler.
She didn’t have to issue a command. One glance at her Lapras, and she let out an Ice Beam, while Snorunt created a protective barrier around her. That was enough for the defiant crab to burst into view, its eyes wide and angry. Fractal launched another Ice Beam, yet the distance gave Crabrawler time to react. It smashed through the ice with a single punch, barrelling towards her and slamming into the barrier.
Clearly, it remembered her from before.
Lorelei closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The only sounds around were the rustling of leaves and fists pounding against Silver’s barrier. Bruno said she shouldn’t do this with tricks, but honour. She… wasn’t about to let his words sway her actions… but avoiding a rocky start in her relationship with a new Pokémon would be best.
“I can see you’re strong, and you want to be stronger,” she said, keeping her voice still. “I can help. Train with me, and when you evolve, I’ll teach you to be a master over ice.”
Crabrawler paused, its fists mid-air, and stared at her. What if it refused? She had captured Sorbet and Aurora without any of that, and they both thrived under her care. She really should stop thinking about what Bruno thinks and just capture it.
“Well?” she pressed, her hand inching toward an empty Pokéball.
The crab clicked dismissively. That looked like a no… and it wasn’t backing down. Its pincers glowed with the hues of Fighting-Type energy, as it smacked them together. It then launched into Snorunt’s barrier with even more force than before. By the fifth punch, Silver winced as the barrier began to crack. At that, Fractal, ever protective, cried out and a rainbow of colours already swirled at the tip of her snout.
She should just let Fractal’s Aurora Beam be. End this quickly. If not with this move, then her two other Pokémon could simply gang up on Crabrawler until she managed a capture.
Two against one, surprise attacks… Lori, that’s just bad form.
Ugh. She shouldn’t have spent all those nights listening to Bruno lecturing her.
“Fractal, stand down,” Lorelei sighed, much to her Pokémon’s dismay. She locked eyes with Crabawler. “One on one, what do you say? Let me prove I can help you get stronger?”
This gave Crabrawler some pause. It was considering its options. Finally, just as Lorelei sensed a breakthrough, unwelcome voices shattered the moment.
But it wasn’t just any voice. Oh, no. The universe had a terrible sense of humour.
“Loori, is that you?” Bruno’s call rung loudly in her ears. Turning, she saw him next to some redhead with a Butterfree perched on her head. The girl’s eyes narrowed at the sight of the crab.
“That’s the one! That’s the Pokémon who’s been hassling the Metapod!” she cried, completely ignoring Lorelei’s presence.
“Harassing the Metapod?” Lorelei asked Crabrawler, almost as if it would give her an answer. Wanting to be strong and picking up some fights wasn’t a crime, was it?
The redhead was in no mood, however. “Stun Spore!” she commanded, ignoring Bruno’s attempts to intervene.
That jolted Lorelei back to the situation at hand. This girl was about to mess up her chance at catching Crabrawler and seemed far more inconvenient than Bruno.
It was hers, no one else’s. “Silver, clear the spores with Icy Wind!”
The cold gusts the Snorunt blew scattered the spores, drawing a growl from both the girl and her Butterfree. Bruno tried soothing her, “Hey, no need for a fight, Lori here is a friend,” he tried, but his companion was unyielding. With eyes locked on at Lorelei and Crabrawler, she released an Exeggcute.
“Barrier and more spores!” she commanded without hesitation. Before her Pokémon could even act, Silver strengthen his own barrier, now around both her and Crabrawler.
Lorelei initially thought they’d reached a stalemate, both trainers shielded as spores paralysed any Pokémon not able to defend themselves. She was wrong. Crabrawler barely waited for the air to clear as it slipped past the barrier with a maniacal gleam in its eyes and drool trickling from its mouth. In no time, it launched a massive Bubble attack that clouded everything.
Lorelei wiped her glasses, though it did little to clear her view from the dust, bubbles, and lingering spores that swirled around them. Through the chaos, the only clear sight was the glow of air slashes cutting through the air.
She really didn’t like this Butterfree trainer.
“Drop the barrier, Silver, I’ll be fine,” Lorelei instructed her Snorunt. “Focus on that Butterfree. A Chilling Water combo should freeze its wings solid.” She smiled, envisioning the following impaling of wings with Ice Shards.
Crabrawler, unfortunately, wasn’t on the same page. In fact, it didn’t even have eyes for the Butterfree attacking it. All it cared for was their opponent’s Exeggcute. As the battle raged on, it did the same motion it’d been doing before Lorelei had been so inconveniently interrupted. One punch after another, it rammed against the barrier—this time Exeggcute’s rather than her own.
Amid the chaos, Lorelei could swear she heard someone repeatedly shouting “bad form!” But at this point, no one cared about Bruno’s protests at all.
The Butterfree girl shifted nervously. “Confusion,” she hissed at her Grass-Type.
In response to her command, Exeggcute still maintained their barrier. Were they lowering it to attack? Lorelei quickly realised that wasn’t the case. Six heads, it turned out, could multitask quite well. Three of them fired the psychic move at Crabrawler, while two others split and redirected the energy towards Silver. The last head kept up the barrier.
For a split second, Lorelei could only watch in horror as the psychic assault neared her Pokémon. Then, a cry from her Lapras rang out—a warning, telling everyone she was joining this battle. An Ice Beam soared through the air, but it was a tad too late.
The confusion wave finally shattered Silver’s barrier, and Lorelei winced as both her Pokémon and Crabawler staggered under the impact. The battle descended into chaos—flurries of snow and the delicate petals flew as confused strikes found random targets. Some, luckily found their marks on Exeggcute, and Silver, still somewhat lucid, managed to clip the Butterfree’s wings, effectively grounding it with ice.
Lori hated when battles got chaotic like that. It was all too messy and annoying. At this point, she’d had enough. Bruno’s caution of ‘bad form’ be damned.
“Fractal, Sing,” she commanded her Lapras and, as the haunting melody filled the air, one they’d practised to not affect her, she readied an empty Pokéball.
Her opponent seemed taken aback. “You want to capture it?” she blurted out.
Lorelei, eyes narrowing, glanced briefly at Bruno, who continued to protest their battle. Ignoring him, she fixed her gaze on the redhead. “Don’t you?”
The girl scoffed. “It has to pay for what it did to the Metapod.”
One look at the fallen Butterfree clicked everything into place. Revenge. That was the burning fire behind the redhead’s eyes. Lorelei could respect that—she’d go to the ends of the earth for the Lapras back home after all.
Yes. She understood it.
But this wasn’t her battle, so she didn’t really care.
“Let me catch it, and you’ll never see that Crabrawler again.” She held up the enlarged Pokéball, gesturing towards Crabrawler who, despite battling sleep and confusion, relentlessly battered Exeggcute’s barrier. Lorelei’s eyelids dropped, her muscles ached. It had been a long day. A long few months, actually.
By Articuno, she needed this win.
“Too easy,” the girl snapped back. Bruno, visibly alarmed by this turn, started to shout—or maybe just talk. It was hard to tell with him. He went on about something his master said about revenge. Again, no one payed much attention to him. “It has to pay,” the girl insisted, her words slurring as the Sing’s effect grappled her. “Screw that… Screw you. Drop the barrier. Mega Drain on the Lapras,” she commanded the Exeggcute and then pivoted to her Butterfree. “And you, Sunny Day, then slow them down.”
Lorelei’s spine chilled. ‘Slow them down’ sounded a lot more like get ready for a Solar Beam. No doubt both Pokémon knew the move. Not that Butterfree could do much else at this point.
“Fractal—”
“Dubs, get in there.” Bruno’s voice boomed, cutting her off… like always. He released his Tyrogue, directing him straight for the struggling Butterfree.
He was on her side.
For a moment, Lorelei allowed herself a smirk as the bug Pokémon got drilled to the ground. Her adversary cursed under her breath—a sound she found oddly satisfying.
Bruno and Lorelei understood each other. They were good rivals, finally threading common ground.
But then, satisfaction melted away, as Bruno’s Tyrogue turned unexpectedly, delivering a sharp kick to Snorunt. The ice Pokémon, too worn out at this point, collapsed instantly.
“What the hell?” the revenge driven redhead exclaimed. “Whose side are you even on?”
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Lorelei might’ve asked the same, but… Damn it! She understood Bruno’s way of thinking. He wasn’t just about getting things over with or pushing his own agenda. He was Bruno, so of course he wanted to make things right—in his own stupid and misguided way.
“Fractal, stand down,” Lorelei sighed, swapping the empty Pokéball in her hands to her Lapras’. Her battle was over, it seemed. No point in giving Exeggcute a chance to seep her ride Pokémon off all her energy.
The other girl’s eyes bulged. Confusion imprinted in her face, but also realisation. Realisation that they had an opening now that everyone was out.
“Crabrawler is all ours. Attack it!” She gestured dramatically towards the crab. As soon as the attacks converged on it, Crabawler grunted, the confusion finally clearing. It endured the ensuing Mega Drain, its claw darkening with a smoky glow.
Lori narrowed her eyes. This was anyone’s game at this point.
Which, of course, meant Tyrogue got in the middle, taking on both attacks. With one hand he caught Crabawler’s dark-imbued pincer while with the other he tried to block the Mega Drain.
“Stop this fight!” Bruno’s voice, firm yet pleading, reached for the girl he’d arrived with. “You said you wanted to protect the Pokémon here. Look around.” He gestured to their battleground. Flowers trampled, Pokémon knocked out, a Caterpie trembling. “Let Crabrawler be…”
The girl steeled herself. “It needs to pay.”
“No. It needs to learn.” Bruno countered.
The girl’s frown deepened, her words deliberate and slow. “Giga Drain, full force. You might want to tell your Pokémon to move out of the way.”
Bruno’s response was a silent, urgent glance at his Tyrogue, who was visibly struggling under the attack’s growing intensity. His knees buckled, sinking into the snow, his breathing laboured and desperate. That’s when their eyes met.
Bruno nodded. Tyrogue nodded back.
With a guttural shout, Tyrogue pushed himself upright. A radiant white glow enveloped him as he transformed. His limbs lengthened, his torso broadened, and his fists swelled, taking on a new, rounder form. Cloth-like bands appeared, wrapping around his newly muscular frame.
Dubs’ following cry was loud and clear. “Chan. Hitmon-Chan!” he yelled, pulling the attacks aside with newfound strength.
Bruno’s face split into a wry grin. “You know what? I don’t think we’re moving for anyone.”
Still gripping Crabawler’s pincer, the newly evolved Hitmonchan flung his blocking arm, unleashing a Vacuum Wave. A single stern look was enough for Crabawler to back down. With a nod, Dubs, now Hitmonchan, surged forward, unleashing a barrage of punches. Though he stumbled slightly, adjusting to his new body, the blows landed with a force Tyrogue could never have matched.
By the time he was done, the battlefield quieted down with the Exeggcute knocked unconscious, most of its heads scattered across the snow.
Bruno had won, and Crabrawler looked at him in awe. How could it not? A Pokémon that picked fights with everyone it met wanted to be a fighter, not some master over ice.
Lorelei’s shoulders sagged. Admitting it was tough. “I think you should go with Bruno,” she told Crabrawler. It… Not ‘it’, she, returned her gaze, puzzled. “Like I said, I could help you master ice when you evolve. But if you want to become a fighter, if you want to take on the best and the strongest, then I promise you, there’s no one better than Bruno.”
Bruno’s voice was so soft he almost choked. “Lori… are you sure?”
She shrugged off the sentiment. “When she’s ready to evolve, take her up a snowy mountain,” Lorelei instructed as she turned to leave. “Just make sure you do right by her ice typing, too. Battles can’t always be about punching things.”
Bruno stepped forward, the other girl now just a distant, cursing blur. “Don’t you want to come? Maybe ice’s the way for me to get you to hike up a mountain with me,” he asked.
Lorelei let out a scoff, maybe a bit forced. “So you can steal my techniques and beat me at the conference?”
He tilted his head in confusion.
“We’re rivals, Bruno.” She couldn’t help but laugh, a sound that felt surprisingly right. “If you want to beat Anton, you’ll have to beat me first. At the conference. At the finals.”
Turning away, she strode towards the water, towards a way out of her slump in the gyms. After all, if she wanted to accomplish her own goals, she’d need to defeat him too. Another reason to move forward. Behind her, she could hear his grin. She didn’t turn to see, but she bet it was big and dumb.
As she mounted Fractal and started to pull away, the faint click of a Pokéball snapped shut.
“I’ll train my hardest,” Bruno’s voice boomed across the distance.
Loud, as always.
—*——*—
Today - Sevii, Two Island Marina, Two Island
“Is that it?” Delia muttered. “Lori, how does this story relate to Celeste eavesdropping on me and Luan?”
Bruno’s brow furrowed. “Was that what happened with you?”
Lori exhaled deeply. “The point was that when you care about someone, things have a way of working out. It’s about understanding each other—”
“It’s nonsense.” Delia cut her off sharply.
Throughout the exchange, Celeste focused on her hands. Rivals who are also friends… Had she dismissed the idea of having a rival a little too quickly? Beside her, Luan remained conspicuously quiet.
“If you’re such great friends now, why does Lori act so weird around you, Bruno?”
They all stared at Delia, then slowly turned to Bruno.
He hesitated before responding. “I… thought it was because she regretted letting me keep her… Fran. She stopped answering my texts around the time she evolved.”
Almost reflexively, Bruno pulled out a phone—an old, bulky model—and held it up for everyone to see. He scrolled through a series of texts with Lori, visible to the group.
—*——*—
Bruno
> Soul Badge - Check. It really isn’t that bad in the thicket, Lori. You should give it a shot next.
Sent April 5th, 06:00 PM - Read
Lori
> Trying my luck at Viridian forest soon. I have a good plan for Pewter. How is Crabrawler?
Received April 5th, 08:00 PM
Bruno
> She’s got a name now – Fran. Heading back to Saffron for more training. My next belt exam is coming up soon. Think you’ll make it there after Pewter?
Sent April 6th, 05:23 AM - Read
Bruno
> D’ya die in the forest? Should I call the rangers?
Sent April 15th, 11:40 AM - Read
Bruno
> Seriously. It’s bad form to make me worry.
Sent April 15th, 13:33 AM - Read
Lori
> The wilderness can be challenging. I survived.
Received April 15th, 23:52 AM
…
…
Lori
> MyBoulderBadge.png
>
> Seems I’m still ahead.
Received May 9th, 7:00 PM
Bruno
> Ever heard the tale of the Bunneary and the Torkoal on a race? Master always says…
Sent May 10th, 5:02 AM - Read
…
…
Lori
> Lost at Cinnabar again. Have you ever been to Mahogany Town? I think I need a new Pokémon.
Received July 22nd, 9:00 AM
Bruno
> No. But if you’re going to Mahogany, I HAVE to tell you of this candy….
Sent July 22nd, 10:00 AM - Read
…
…
Bruno
> FYI, you’re now rivals with a purple-belt.
Sent July 25th, 04:14 PM - Read
Lori
> Hey… Sorry, I had a lot going on. Congratulations on the belt.
>
> My father is going on a business trip to Unova and invited me along. I think a Vanillite is the answer to my problems. I know they look silly, but my mentor had one who was fierce. I’m going to be away for a while, but when I’m back, be ready for the Gym Test of a lifetime.
Received Aug 01st, 8:00 AM
Bruno
> You know you don’t need to repeat those once you passed, right?
Sent Aug 01st, 9:34 AM - Read
Bruno
> Also, neat. Is that the ice cream lady that made you call your Seel Sorbet?
Sent Aug 01st, 9:35 AM - Read
Bruno
> When are you leaving?
Sent Aug 01st, 9:36 AM - Read
Lori
> I told you the name was an homage…
>
> I leave next week.
Received Aug 01st, 8:00 AM
…
…
Lori
> Hey. Merry Christmas! Sorry I haven’t been available lately. My time in Driftveil has been amazing. Needed this break. Sadly, mining for Psychic Gems with Mr Clay is taking longer than expected. Dad says it will be a while longer before he can leave, so I’m staying.
>
> In other news, I’m planning a trip to the nearby mountains to look for that Vanillite. I imagine you are proud of me for finally “taking a hike.”
>
> How is Fran?
Received Dec 25th, 2:00 AM
Bruno
> Damn time differences. Please don’t go to a mountain by yourself without knowing what you’re doing.
Sent Dec 25th, 4:10 PM - Read
Bruno
> P.S. Merry Christmas.
Sent Dec 25th, 4:13 PM - Read
Bruno
> P.S.2 Fran’s mastering Crabhammer. We’re gonna talk evolution soon.
Sent Dec 25th, 4:16 PM - Read
Bruno
> P.S.3 I made it to red belt!
Sent Dec 25th, 4:20 PM - Read
Bruno
> You know it’s really bad form to tell someone you’re going to a dangerous mountain and then vanishing for a month.
Sent Jan 30th, 5:11 AM - Read
Bruno
> Srly. Not Funny, Lori.
Sent Feb 3rd, 5:15 AM - Read
…
…
Bruno
> Thunder Badge - Check. Bet that got your attention?
Sent Feb 10th, 5:45 AM - Read
Lori
> Sorry. Last few months were… I can’t even articulate it. Have you ever watched any Brycen-Man movies?
Received Feb 19th, 1:00 AM
Bruno
> WTF, Lori. I was really worried.
Sent Feb 19th, 5:00 AM - Read
Lori
> Like I said, a lot’s happened. Found a new Pokémon and a training partner. Back to Indigo tomorrow. Let’s meet, have a battle. I’ve got to introduce you to Diamond.
Received Feb 21st, 4:00 AM
Bruno
> Now we’re talking.
Sent Feb 22nd, 5:39 AM - Read
…
…
Bruno
> Heard you were in Saffron. Can’t believe I missed you!
Sent Mar 15th ,7:26 AM
Bruno
> Crabominable.png
>
> Time to make our meetup/battle happen.
Sent April 20th, 6:01 AM
Bruno
> Brown Belt!!
Sent April 29th, 3:44 PM
Bruno
> Been a while… Did you change your number?
Sent April 29th, 3:44 PM
Bruno
> Volcano Badge - Check. That has to make you melt.
Sent May 17th, 8:11 AM
Bruno
> Damn, Lori. Not even showing up to complain about an ice pun?
Sent May 17th, 7:20 PM
…
…
Bruno
> Bruno here… again… Got my Black Belt yesterday. Bro took a test for his fighting specialisation, too. He passed. Guess what?
>
> I got a Machamp, Lori! Can you believe it?
>
> We… really have to battle. And catch up. How are you with the badges?
Sent Aug 4th, 5:11 AM
—*——*—
Lorelei didn’t glance at the phone, nor did she look at anyone else.
“You ghosted him?” Celeste asked. “But… why? You were rivals, friends…. both!”
Delia’s tone was less accusatory, yet probing. “This wasn’t just a misunderstanding, was it?”
Finally, Bruno offered a smile. Not big or boisterous, but warm. “Whatever it was, it doesn’t matter now. We’re good, right… Lori?”
She remained silent, rising slowly to walk toward the boat’s railing. The night had grown darker, colder. The wind teased her hair gently, and her Dewgong, Sorbet, gently brushed his horn against her leg.
“I…” Her voice faltered, words stuck in her throat. “I thought you would hate me, Bruno… It felt worse that you didn’t.”
He didn’t answer, nor did he seem to understand. “Why would I ever hate you?”
“The Gym… the Fighting Dojo…” Lorelei gripped the railing tighter. “I got the Fist Badge that day. The very last one… The auditors were there, and I knew what it meant. Yet, I didn’t hold back. It was my greatest gym battle… I was so driven. I had trained so much. To them, it must have looked like I was overpowering someone that should’ve had the type advantage and—”
“Lori!” Bruno stepped closer. “Gym Leaders aren’t supposed to win every battle. And… The dojo had been struggling for a while, anyway. It was all the small things adding up… fewer trainers, the flashier academy across the street. That’s not to mention all the politics and lobbying behind the scenes. Saffron is… complicated.”
Lori raised an eyebrow.
Bruno chuckled. “I’m not naive. I know what lobbying is. Plus, it hurt us that the fighting elite didn’t back us. Irene’s from Olivine, and her daughter runs that gym there—it has prestige. Blackthorn is… well, Blackthorn. No one could touch the place even before we got a Champion from their clan. Not having Anton’s support… that meant we never stood a chance. It wasn’t your fault, and you should’ve talked to me before jumping to conclusions.” His smile turned to Celeste. “Maybe the real lesson here is that the only way to handle a misunderstanding—or any problem, really—is by talking to your friends.”
Lorelei sighed, a weight seemingly lifting from her shoulders, though not entirely. Glancing at the others, she admitted, “I’m sorry. It doesn’t erase my guilt—not right away—but… I guess I have a tendency to want to carry things on my own.”
Another pause fell over the group. Celeste watched as Delia idly traced her fingers over Shellder’s shell. Beside her, Luan suddenly stood, his Pokémon fluttering around him.
“A rival,” he blurted out. “It’s something more than friends, isn’t it? You might not always agree, but you two… you push each other up. You challenge each other, and even though it’s infuriating, it’s good.”
“A rival…” Celeste repeated softly.
She had refused to consider it before. She needed a goal, and not a fighting buddy. Friends and not competitors. Yet… to be on her toes, always trying to do better, trying to make it right by their so-called rivalry. It seemed… right? Rey had played that role, even if she didn’t admit it before. Her old friend, and battle prodigy Lyra, fit that bill too—even if there wasn’t a lot of friendship between them. Lori and Bruno… they were just too far ahead for her to measure up. And then there was…
Luan.
Who was now looking directly at her.
“You think a battle is better than me just saying sorry?” Celeste asked. They’d never battled before—quite funny when you think about it—as they’ve had plenty of opportunities.
“I think saying sorry is the best way to say sorry,” he extended his hand toward her. “But… this rival thing… It might be a close second?”
She took his hand and smiled back. Battles, words, time—whatever it took, she and her friends would be okay. She wouldn’t make the same mistakes again. “I know a great battlefield. It’s in a bakery. Delia, I—”
Turning to her friend, she found Delia’s back already turned to her, heading towards the kitchen.
“G-Give her time,” Luan said with a reassuring smile. Celeste nodded, her own lips curling up.
The night was bright, and the moon peeked from behind clouds to cast a soft glow. Pokémon that were still awake looked on with curious and eager eyes—even the Munna, with all his animosity. Bruno and Lori seemed satisfied, too. If they were to have a battle to settle their own feelings, it would have to wait. The breeze picked up, and the stars twinkled brightly overhead.
“I’m not going easy on you, you know?” Celeste said at last.
“I’d be mad if you did.”