Chapter 7:
Any media coverage of the challenge was strictly forbidden, and trainers who conquered it stayed mum about their experiences, either because it was too stressful to recall, or because it was seen as a rite of passage and any descriptions or accounts of their own trials might ruin the experience for future trainers.
This has always been a fascinating take to me! I don’t think I’ve seen anyone else approach Victory Road in this secretive, mysterious way. I like it, though—makes sense that they wouldn’t want to give an unfair advantage to trainers if they know exactly what to expect.
So without any concrete descriptions, rumors constantly swirled about the League's penultimate challenge. Some speculated it was a vicious gauntlet of seemingly endless battles against the strongest trainers in the region. Others claimed to have heard it was a punishing obstacle course for both trainer and pokemon alike. One tale even speculated it was actually a week-long exam full of written theory and unique battle scenarios.
Heh, Steven sure is gonna be delighted to find out it’s just a big ol mega-chonker cave
Steven never considered himself a betting man, but right at that moment he would have been willing to put money on the fact that tears of joy had never been shed on the entry side of Victory Road. But that's exactly what he felt like doing when he first set eyes on the League's final benchmark.
In his wildest dreams he never would have imagined the final obstacle in his way was a massive network of caves that bored their way through the very island of Ever Grande itself. To any other person, this was a punishment of the worst degree. To him, it was a dream come true.
This made me smile. It’s so Steven, and of course he’d be thrilled to find out it’s a cave! Heh.
Silently he thanked his odd habit of always carrying enough supplies to sustain an unplanned cave excursion.
Of course he would. 💛 I’d expect nothing less.
Not only could he eliminate the path from the potential exit route, but it afforded him a chance to do some collecting as well. Deploying Aggron, or Cradily, or Armaldo to keep watch for any wild pokemon he may disturb, he gleefully brought out the hammer and chisel he always carried with him whenever the urge to do some digging struck.
Ahahaha Steven is such a nerd. I adore him.
"Ah ah, don't move, pretty boy."
The voice was close and practically oozing with the same dark aura as the Mightyena that bristled just across the campfire. A thin, sharp object pressed against the side of his neck.
I am currently experiencing Deal with the Devil flashbacks
A ragtag group of trainers stepped into view. Some were young, some were older, and they seemed to run the gamut when it came to style and pokemon choice. The only thing they shared in common was the dirty and disheveled state of their clothes that told him they had spent far more time in these caves than he.
When I first read this, I thought this was maybe an early-days Magma or Aqua group. But no! It’s sadder than that!
"You're gonna recall that Claydol, and if you try anything funny, Cacturne here is gonna sink its needle through your jugular."
Cacturne? I know who’s coming up >:)
The Cacturne snickered again as its trainer stepped forward and the glow of the fire made his red mohawk stand out even more against his black leather jacket.
THERE HE ISSSSS
Sheila stared at him for a breath before she rolled her eyes and bade him to continue with a dismissive wave of her hand.
Small side note here, but I very much enjoy how expressive your characters always are. Conversations are always interesting and fun to follow because each person has their own distinct body language.
"There's an unspoken agreement when two trainers lock eyes… I propose we have a battle to determine my fate. If I win, I get to take a quarter of my supplies with me when I leave, and you keep the rest. If I lose, you get to keep my supplies –" he held up a hand to cut off Sidney's protest, "— and my pokemon."
BRUH I forgot he even bet his Pokémon on this gambit. That’s gutsy af.
"When we got out of here, we'd probably just get crushed by the Elite Four and have to slink home with our tails between our legs. Then what? Life as a trainer doesn't prepare you for what happens after your dreams get smashed into little pieces.
Ooof, this is some heavy stuff. First of all, what’s to stop any jaded trainer from just…taking their bitterness out on the world? What Sheila and her crew are doing is terrible, but it could also be much, much worse, since we’re talking about a whole group of skilled trainers and their teams, here. This could very quickly become a serious issue if not addressed properly, and it certainly is worth addressing. Trainers need to be prepared for life after training, and society needs to be willing and able to make space for them. It’s heartbreaking that, rather than be seen as a failure, Sheila would rather live her days out hiding in a cave and convincing other trainers to give up on their dreams.
At that, Steven's temper finally reached its breaking point.
"You're not the first person to assume I've had everything in life handed to me, and you certainly won't be the last. Battle me so we can really see how much you know about who I am."
I just—YES. This line is so so good, it defines Steven so well. Yes, he
does come from a life and background of privilege. He very easily could have skated through on wealth and his father’s name if he wanted to, but he very actively chose
not to. He clawed and struggled and worked for everything he had, and it was because that’s what he wanted. I daresay that’s just as admirable, if not even more so, than those that do come from a less privileged background because he, unlike most people, had the opportunity to take the easy way out and to have a very cushy and cozy training experience. But that is not who Steven is, and I’m sure he’s absolutely sick and tired of people assuming he
hasn’t worked insanely hard for everything he has just because he dresses a little nice and had a rich father.
"I think I speak for the rest of the group when I say this… Life down here isn't easy, we know that. But that's why we're down here, to live. We need a leader that is going to look out for everyone. If it's so easy for you to discard the lives of your followers over one trainer, I'd hate to see what you will do when a real threat to our group comes along. Sheila, you are hereby stripped of your leadership position and are banished from the colony."
YES SIDNEY THAT’S MY BOY. Re-reading this chapter really makes me want more of that Sidney backstory fic you were planning a while back. I need more Sidney!
But the former leader was incensed, and she continued to shriek wildly.
"You can't throw me out! I saved you! I won't let you take my home away from me! Muk, kill them all!"
Oh YEESH this lady is real cray
Chapter 8:
Steven wasn't the only one who had shared in the excitement of Lairon's new form either. Lileep practically squealed with joy when Lairon lowered his head and scooped her up onto his back for a brand new perspective of the Route. Not to be outdone, Anorith chattered for a lift, and Metang was happy to oblige, hovering low so Anorith could scramble up and offer its own congratulations at a new vantage point too. Rolling its eyes at the two younger pokemon's antics, Metang leveled its gaze to Lairon and Steven swore he could feel the silent pulse of respect shared between the two evolved teammates.
AaaaaaaAAAA I ADORE THIS. So cute and wholesome and shows the team dynamic a bit. I’m getting very “older siblings take care of the younger siblings” vibes here. Too precious!
"So, do we go the long, safe way? Or do we go the short, unexplored route?" he asked with a quirked brow as he eyed the sharp elevation lines of the mountain ridge that separated forest from desert.
Lol Steven “do we go the safe way or the
dangerous way? Obviously the dangerous way!”
I remember initially being SO SURE this was going to go south in the worst way (like in chapter 6) but it turns out it wasn’t too bad!
Steven blinked at the rude greeting, but he was determined to be polite. These men were working for Professor Cosmo, after all.
Are ya sure about that
As he was pushed to a halt at the edge of the campsite, he turned to question his sudden exit and discovered the scientist had beaten a hasty retreat back to his companions. They had huddled up once more and all eyes were on him as he stood with a bewildered expression on his face. Steven frowned at the odd exchange and made a mental note to ask Professor Cosmo about his employees later.
Lol Steven I have news for you
Steven stumbled back in surprise as the intruder let out a long, hollow whistle.
"A Claydol?"
However, his own apprehension wasn't matched by his partner, who hummed a greeting at the newcomer instead.
Looking back and forth between the two pokemon, a realization slowly crept in. "…Baltoy?"
Eyyyyy there it is! The first time reading, I was so sure Baltoy was going to join the team in its first debut. So when it reappeared this time, I was like “ah yes, there we go!”
"Fancy seeing you here again, my boy! Here I thought I had lost you for good in that sandstorm a while back."
Steven bit back on informing Dusty just how disappointed he was that that wasn't the case, and instead grated out a polite smile.
LOL Steven isn’t often snarky but when he is, he packs a LOT of it 🤣
"You see, I'd been rather unsuccessful in my own travels through the desert, and it had been so long that I grew lonely… So when I came across your father on his expedition, I thought we might be able to team up, but he wasn't interested… But I didn't give up. Instead, I thought if I tagged along I could convince him to change his mind… In the end, I only ended up following Joseph around like a lost puppy. So earlier when I said I'd accompanied him on his journey, that wasn't really true…"
Steven held Dusty's gaze as the explorer finished his tale, and the older man clutched his hat to his chest before giving a deep bow of apology.
"The reason I knew that look Claydol was giving you is because it's the very same look I gave your father all those years ago."
At that, Steven's glare softened, and he felt a pang of guilt for being so upset with the Ruin Maniac. This entire time all he'd been hoping for was a friend to explore the desert with. While he certainly could have been more tactful about it, Steven found he couldn't remain angry with the explorer.
Aw. Poor guy is just socially awkward and desperate for friends who share his interests. It’s impressive how you managed to take a guy who has been so consistently obnoxious over a couple chapters and turned him into sympathetic within just a few paragraphs.
"I appreciate your honesty, Dusty. While I'm not happy that you lied to me, I'd like to think that in the end you've not only ended up with one friend," Steven extended a hand, "but something more like two hundred friends."
A collective rattle sounded around the two trainers as the Baltoy colony gathered to hover in close. Dusty's head snapped up from his bow and he eagerly grabbed Steven's hand with both of his. Shaking it heartily, he turned to see the sea of Baltoy clamoring and twirling happily.
"I promise I'll take good care of these little fellows. You can tell that Claydol of yours too, you have my word. And even though the meteor's gone, we'll keep watch over this site so those ruffians can't come snooping around ever again."
Steven smiled. "I'm counting on you Dusty. Consider this your first official collaboration with the Stone family expeditions."
Awwww I love this conclusion. Dusty gets a whole tribe of friends, and the Baltoy have someone else looking out for them! It’s so wholesome and it makes my heart happy.
Chapter 9:
Spinning his gaze back ahead, he could see the outline of Mossdeep slipping up from the water.
“Spinning” seems like an odd word choice here. Perhaps “turning” instead?
He had been waiting to make this trip ever since he set foot on Lilycove's eastern shore and been told he'd need a new pokemon that could traverse the oceans of Hoenn.
I gotta ask, though—do they not have a ferry system? Surely it would be difficult for the citizens of Sootopolis and Mossdeep if they didn’t have one of some kind?
But beyond the rocket's outline, something else caught Steven's eye. A singular hunched landmass rose out of the ocean just to the north of the island, gently cradled by wide sandbars on either side. Squinting into the wind, the unmistakable shadow of a cave entrance peeked out of the shallow tide.
Steven is the dogs from Up, but instead of “omg squirrel” it’s “omg cave!”
Patting the bird's steel crest, Steven offered the Aspear berries it seemed so fond of, eager to stay on Skarmory's good side. As it happily chomped on the sour snack, Skarmory was all too keen to let Steven clean and polish its feathers as an extra reward for carrying them across the ocean.
Love that Skarmory likes sour berries, which indicates its Tough nature. I adore all the attention to the tiny details!
Metang rattled a sigh of disappointment is its red eyes swept over the craggy opening.
“Is” should be “as” here
But he soon discovered that the ceiling height wouldn't be an issue, as the sandy shelf at the entrance quickly dropped off as the cavern sunk down into the earth, revealing a deep pit with water worn tunnels bored into its sides. The depth of the sudden drop caused Steven's stomach to flip as a chunk of sand came loose from beneath his boot and cascaded down the cliff face, where it eventually crumbled and stuck to the moisture slick rocks below.
Considering the last time Steven was in an ocean-level cave, you’d think he would know to be more cautious this time…but nah. 😂 my guy really ought to do research about his caves before he goes spelunking
Before it fully materialized, Metang already was looking about in amazement. Neither trainer nor pokemon had seen this many shells in one place before. Hoenn's shores weren't particularly known for washing up many treasures, and Steven's hand came to his chin as he briefly wondered if some natural phenomenon could be responsible for depositing all of them in the depths of this cave instead.
Me, upon reading this the first time: Oh, they’re in Shoal Cave! :D
Also me: Oh. They’re in Shoal Cave. D: This will not end well.
Catching sight of the approaching swarm, whatever hope Steven had that his pokemon's echoing cry might have deterred the restless bats vanished in whirlwind of leathery wings.
Missing an “a” between “in” and “whirlwind”
Steven hadn't been paying attention as he rounded the corner of the passage and bumped straight into something that was definitely larger than a Snorunt. Whatever it was tumbled backward from the unexpected collision with a shout of, "Excuse you!"
“Excuse you” is
precisely the kind of greeting/exclamation Wallace would give, ha
Wallace smirked as he smoothly brushed the dirt from his cloak as he stood. "I guess if you've managed to run into me down here in Shoal Cave, then you must have eventually figured it out. Congratulations." It didn't sound very genuine.
Lol the snark remains. I guess he doesn’t have to be tactful now that Juan isn’t around to keep him in check. 😂
Nestled in the heavy fabric was a baby Spheal. Its mouth opened wide in a gleeful bark and it waggled its tiny fins with excitement.
Babyyyyyyy!!!! Want to cuddle all the baby spheal. So good. So round. So friend-shaped.
Breath curling in a wisp that hung in the air, Steven couldn't believe just how much this one cavern had morphed from the rocky tunnels and passages one level above.
The first clause of this sentence reads a little awkward because it’s not a full sentence on its own? It’s an easy fix, though! If you just place “With” at the beginning of the sentence, it makes it read much smoother.
His gaze was fixed on an icy plateau just ahead of them, and there Steven spotted the same thing that had caught Wallace's attention. Spheal was happily gliding around on its stomach, giddily barking as it pinballed off of the frost coated rocks that poked out along the edges of its makeshift rink.
PINBALL SPHEAL, I REPEAT, PINBALL SPHEAL
From up ahead, Wallace couldn't hide his mirth at Steven's discomfort. "What did you expect? The ocean's not too balmy this time of year."
Wallace is simply not capable of keeping the snark away whenever he opens his mouth, the little snot 🤣 I’d say that I’m enjoying their banter, but at this point it’s less banter and more just Wallace roasting Steven with every breath he takes, lol
The rumbling chatter from his pokemon confirmed it. A double evolution.
I’ve said it before but I will say it again. *Ahem*
CRISIS EVOS CRISIS EVOS CRISIS EVOS
Now it was Steven's turn to chuckle, although it sounded weak as his shivering intensified.
"H-ha ha, all it took was a l-little teamwork," he grinned, "And a b-bit of caving knowhow."
Boy you sure do a great job of showing just how bitter cold it is and how badly it’s affecting Steven. I’ve been in horribly cold environments and it’s absolutely awful. I’d rather be in a place that’s too hot, frankly. Cold is just the worst.
"One last climb. Can't be worse than the first one," Wallace said, trying to sound cavalier and Spheal clapped its encouragement in response.
Bless Wallace for finally easing up on the snark lol. Also Spheal clapping in encouragement is THE CUTEST THING, MY HEART
"If M-Metang keeps to the s-shallow e-edge of the pools, there s-should be enough earth f-for it to l-levitate just f-fine," Steven stuttered out between shivers while ignoring his starter's worried glances at the sorry condition its trainer was in once again.
“Once again”, indeed!
I sure ain’t complaining though, give me all the whump
Also, I hadn’t ever thought about water being an obstacle for Metang! I often forget that they float by magnetism and not just because they’re a floaty psychic mon.
"Oi, what do you have in this thing?! Rocks?"
Moving quickly, Wallace slung his cloak from his shoulders and wrapped it as best he could around Steven's frame. It was still damp from their escape through the flooding tunnels, but it was warmer than anything the freezing trainer had on at present.
As Victoria swiftly carried her two passengers to the cave exit, Wallace swore he heard a mumbled affirmative from the barely conscious trainer in his arms.
Ahaha I love that he’s just conscious enough to clarify that, why yes, he
does have rocks in his bag. I love you Steven
To Wallace's surprise, Steven rolled his eyes to the ceiling as he lay back onto the pillow with a groan. "Metang is gonna be furious with me."
Wallace quirked an eyebrow. "Do you do this often?"
"Metang seems to think so… Where are we anyway?"
Lol that’s because Metang is RIGHT, Steven.
At this, Wallace actually looked a bit sheepish. "Well, I didn't know where else to go in Mossdeep, so I brought you to Taj and Mira's house –"
At first I was like “wait that’s not the twins’ names” and. Wow I gotta keep reminding myself that this is not the same time period as Brenden and May’s journeys haha
"I've seen a lot of trainers come through our Gym… I can count on one hand the number of them that could have orchestrated such a rescue under those circumstances. I'll admit, I didn't think much of you when we met back in Lilycove. The only anticipation I had for our next meeting was to send you and your team home from our Gym, sans badge. Now I must confess, that anticipation has changed. I look forward to our next meeting, but for very different reasons."
Nothing like a good old-fashioned life-or-death scenario to forge a friendship, amirite?
"Don't think about it too hard, it's just as I said. Besides, I don't have much use for it anyway. I'm not planning to deal with water too much after this."
"Are you not coming to the Sootopolis Gym?"
Worry flashed across Steven's face. "Your Gym isn't designed after a cave, is it?"
"Heavens no!"
"Then I'll be fine. Just no more mixing water and underground caverns…"
At this, Wallace smiled. "So you finally agree."
"Let's not get carried away…"
"A victory is a victory, no matter how small."
Haha ok, now this is some good banter. Love to see their friendship really start to bloom here.
Chapter 10:
"… And that means you'll have to take it easy until then. I'd recommend putting any pokemon training on hold at least until the next appointment."
Just a recommendation... Which Steven had no intention of following. As much as he dreaded being trapped in Slateport for so long, he knew he'd get through it. But if he had to do it without being able to do much of anything with his pokemon, especially after what he promised on the boat, he knew he'd go stir crazy. Besides, it's not like he would be doing cartwheels or climbing trees…
Lol of course Steven has no intention of listening to the doc’s recommendations, he and Wes certainly have that in common. Though I suppose he does have a point here too—it’s not like he can’t engage in light battles without over-exerting himself.
The first day at the Pokemon Center was miserable. After struggling to do the simplest of things, like discovering how buttons had suddenly become his greatest nemesis, his frustration finally peaked at how much effort it took to simply let Beldum and Aron out of their balls.
Ugh yes. It’s been 20 years since I last had a broken bone, but I still remember how frustrating everything was when I had to do it all one-handed, BUTTONS ARE THE WORST, and even the slightest wrong movement hurt so so bad. Hecc. Hate broken bones.
After a contortionist exercise to reach the PokeNav in his pocket,
Lolol I love this description
"You try doing this with only one… hand…"
His voice trailed off as Beldum gave him narrow-eyed glare. Aron simply sat back on his haunches and quirked his head to one side with an innocent snort.
Ahahahahah OMG I don’t think I caught this joke the first time while reading. 🤣
The first night proved to be an even more miserable experience, as Steven discovered it was nearly impossible to lay down with the sling and cast combination. Eventually he gave up and found himself ringing the nurse in the middle of the night, sheepishly asking for some extra pillows to try to prop his shoulder in a comfortable position.
Hhhhhh sleeping with a cast is just. The WORST. I
very vividly remember trying to sleep with my arm in a cast and I had to have it propped up in the most uncomfortable position, and every time I moved in my sleep (which was a lot, I’ve always moved a lot in my sleep), I’d just wake up to stabbing, burning pain all the way up my arm. Ugh broken bones SUCK.
"No training today," he wiggled the fingers of his injured arm, "Doctor's orders. I can't be a disobedient patient on the first day. But soon enough, we'll get to work."
This reminds me—didn’t he also injure his hip from that incident? Why no mention of that? Was it just a bad bruise, I assume?
"It'll just be for a few days," he lied, "I need a change of scenery, and I'm sure you do too." That part wasn't a lie.
Lol I love that this implies that the first statement about it just being a few days
was a lie. It was a pleasant surprise to know that Steven actually was a decently obedient patient for the most part and did take things slow and easy.
When Steven had brought his pack out from the closet, Aron immediately perked up, clearly just as excited as his trainer to go on a new adventure.
Oh this is just my dog whenever I grab my car keys. Or put on shoes. Or put on clothes that aren’t obviously comfy frumpy clothes. 🤣
But the Gulpin happily ignored the trio and eventually slowed to a stop beside its prey. It eyed the trash closely and then seemingly oblivious to its onlookers, opened its gooey maw as wide as its entire body and proceeded to swallow its target in one fell swoop. Its mouth snapped shut with an unsettling smack. Steven pulled a face in disgust. There was no way he was even slightly interested in having that thing on his team now. What if it decided to just swallow Aron whole one day? A quick glance down at the pokemon in question told him a similar thought must have crossed its mind too, as it sat in unblinking shock before a shiver broke its gaze and it edged even further away from the wild Gulpin. Beldum chattered a quiet laugh at Aron's obvious unease and the teasing sent Aron chasing after it, but not without giving the Gulpin a wide berth, just in case.
Ahahahaha I love everything about this, from Gulpin just mindlessly OMMMMMM-ing the soda can, to Steven assuming it would just mindlessly try to swallow its teammates, to Beldum teasing poor little Aron. 🤣 it’s perfect.
The pokeball sailed wide to the right as Beldum screeched in terror.
With a dull thud, the Electrike hit the ground at the edge of Route 110 and the resulting momentum sent it somersaulting into the sea. Steven's heart sunk.
Hhhhhhh I remember my heart just dropping out of my stomach when I read this. Poor little guy. This would be so horrifying to witness.
She shook her head. "Pokemon Center healing is very good at taking care of minor injuries and fatigue sustained in battles, but some injuries can be too extreme. Unfortunately, we cannot offer long term care for every pokemon that comes in, so we quickly treat pokemon as best as we can. Once they are no longer in critical condition, we release them into the care of their trainers." Suddenly her composure slipped, and her gaze fell. "As much as I would like us to be, we're not a pokemon hospital...we can only do so much."
This makes sense. It does beg the question, though: if Centers aren’t hospitals, where are the actual hospitals? Wouldn’t Slateport have one, since it’s such a big city and a major tourist attraction?
But Steven's concern wasn't the tingling sensation that lingered in his fingers, it was the way Electrike twisted and writhed under the assault of its own electricity. He didn't know much about electric type pokemon, but this wasn't right.
Even knowing the outcome, it still hurts to read this. Poor little doggo :(
"You must be the trainer with the Electrike. You sure got here in a flash, wahahaha!"
Steven's eyes narrowed. Did someone just crack an electricity pun?
Ahahaha WATTSON. I love your depiction of Wattson so much. He has such Dad Humor energy and I am here for it
But as he spun to face the owner of the voice, he came face to face with a portly older man sporting a neat white beard and tackiest printed shirt he'd ever seen.
Of COURSE he wears tacky printed shirts, I wouldn’t ever expect anything less
Steven must have given him an odd look because the Gym Leader just laughed. "What's the matter, you look shocked, wahaha!" He suddenly leaned in and spoke in a secretive manner, although his voice carried through the room anyway, "Don't worry, I won't charge for my help."
This man is a whole VIBE AND A HALF, I love him. There’s something about people who are so shamelessly cheery and unafraid of their own terrible humor that just really gets to me hahaha
"Your Electrike swallowed too much sea water, and now its electric sacs are over ionized. Poor guy is all out of balance. I can drain some of its excess charge with my pokemon."
The Leader dug into the pocket of his jumpsuit and brought out a pair of pokeballs. With a flash, a Magneton and a Voltorb appeared at his side and instantly the crackling electricity was drawn up and away from Electrike. The pained pokemon finally opened its eyes and turned its gaze up toward its saviors. Wattson grinned down at the Electrike and gave its head a hearty rub before addressing Steven again.
"Treat it with plenty of fresh water and stay away from processed pokemon food, too much salt content. In a few days it'll be back to its old self."
I really really enjoy stuff like this! I dunno, I just find explorations of Pokémon biology really fascinating, and I love seeing different and unique ailments that can pop up and how they can be treated. I’d read a whole fic about pokemon medicine and health care, to be honest.
He held up Electrike's ball and pressed the center button for a few seconds. Two beeps later, the pokeball opened in his palm, empty. Electrike was no longer his.
"I made a promise to my partners that we'd get stronger together. And so far, I haven't even been able to keep up my end of the deal. It may sound selfish, but I want you to keep Electrike because I need to figure out how keep my promise to the pokemon who are with me now."
Ngl, when I first read this, I was kind of rooting for Steven to take the lil sparky doggo, even though I knew he doesn’t have a Manectric on his team. I just thought it was a lovely story of how they met (and I admit, I’m biased because I love Electrike.) But this choice makes sense, especially since he really has a desire to specialize in rock and steel types and doesn’t feel qualified to care for an electric type properly.
Chapter 11:
Both pokemon nodded as they turned back to face the opponent and Steven grimaced. Taj and Mira both were still smiling.
"Two steel types –"
"—An interesting choice indeed."
"We can sense your strategy –"
"—But will you be able to pull it off before we execute ours?"
Omg this would be SO obnoxious and unnerving. Not gonna lie, it seems wildly unfair that they can read minds and literally predict what you’re about to do. How do you compete with that?? Even though Steven wins, it’s unclear how exactly he managed to catch them by surprise.
Mira's shout cut through Lunatone's distressed cries and Steven watched the flames begin to build. Solrock aimed at where Lairon's trajectory was headed and unleashed its attack.
"No you don't! Metang, use confusion to deflect that attack!"
"What!?" Two simultaneous shouts issued from the Gym Leader's box.
AHAHAHA. How does it feel to have your own strategy used against you? >:)
"Yeah! Go kick his butt!" Liza swung a little fist into the air.
Mira looked down at her daughter in mock surprise. "Now, Liza, is that what friends do?"
"Totally! That's why I kick Tate's butt all the time. We're best friends!" She smiled innocently as her brother's face scrunched in a sour look.
"Nuh uh, it's 'cause I let you win or else you cry!"
Lol I love the sibling banter
At this elevation, the Falls were no longer buried deep within the earth. Raised above sea level, the thick cavern walls had been worn away by wind and rain and time. So much so that large openings had been carved through the exterior rock and allowed fresh air and sunlight to pour into the space. Plants and greenery spilled in through the openings, creeping their way toward the grand pool at the center of the cave. Fed by tiny rivulets that cascaded from a hidden source at the very top of the cavern, the water of the central lake was crystal clear, and yet it stretched so deep in the middle that its bottom was shrouded in inky blue darkness.
I just LOVE your descriptions of scenery, but especially of the various caves! This one in particular just sounds so
prettyyyyyy I wanna hang out here.
"You… you live here?" Steven gawked at the trainer's forward greeting.
"Only 'till I catch a Bagon. They're notoriously hard to find, and even harder to capture." The trainer strode across the cavern until he joined Steven near the edge of the lake. "Garrett's the name, nice to meetcha."
y’know, at first I’m like “wow that’s dedication” and then I realize that I, too, would camp out in a cave if it meant meeting a Bagel Child. But then I also remember who this scumbag is and I think “yeah actually no, please stay away from the Bagel Children and also don’t catch another Pokémon for as long as you live, thanks.”
"Well I only wanted the strongest one," Garrett put a hand on his hip as if it was common sense while Aggron wore a smug look of pride.
Lairon ignored the posturing and instead turned its gaze to Garrett with a whine growing in its throat.
"Looks like it's still as big of a baby as when I left it back there in that a cave," he said with a smirk.
Hey, Lairon, sweetie. Do me a favor and CRUSH THIS NUB. Thanks 💛
"Tell me. What did you do with the other Aron you caught?"
"Why do you care?"
"Just... humor me."
There wasn't a shred of remorse in Garrett's tone, "I got rid of them too. They weren't of any use to me."
Just unreal that people can look at living, sentient creatures and treat them this way. The fact that this isn’t a far cry at all from how people treat animals (and other people!) irl is also a punch to the gut.
Also: CRUSH 👏 HIM 👏
It's trainer's face twisted to match.
Wrong “its” here
An ear splitting roar broke the silence and Garrett's Aggron found itself staring down its mirror image. Whether it was out of spite, pride, or sheer willpower, Steven would never know, but in the end, it didn't really matter. Lairon had evolved.
I’m sorry, no offense to the rest of the team, but this evolution scene is JUST SO EPIC, it might be my absolute favorite. AGGRON GO CRUSH EM, BABY
"Choose the opponent's team for them, and then finish them all off with a dangerous knock out technique. Am I on the mark?"
The last remaining evidence of Garrett's cheerful disposition vanished at Steven's cold words.
"Guillotine's not an outlawed move. It's a legal strategy."
"I'm not questioning the legality of it. You're a strong trainer, just not one I can respect."
I love this for many reasons. First of all, the Roar + Gullotine strat
is a creative one. But, even though it’s all technically legal, it feels dirty. It’s a perfect strat to showcase someone who doesn’t care how clean or honorable their battle is, just as long as they win.
"I think you know where this is going," said Steven, staring cooly at his fellow trainer.
A second Aggron appeared on the battlefield in no better condition than the first, but its eyes were sharp and alert. Garrett practically seethed as Steven's Aggron gave a fierce battle cry that sent his own Aggron flinching away in fear.
"Show them how weak you really are."
HECK. YES. I LOVE THAT LINE SO FREAKING MUCH.
Gosh this chapter is one of my favorites because the battles are just so
excellent and well done. Love how creative they are, how involved the trainers are and how there’s so much unspoken communication between Steven and his team, and the pacing is so so good. It never feels boring or dragged out.
Chapter 12:
Pokemon Trainer's Handbook pg. 36: Pokemon are inherently dangerous creatures. It is imperative that trainers understand the risks of raising and training their chosen partners. Attributes, nature, and even the typing of a pokemon can determine how difficult a particular pokemon may be to train…
Ahaha the first time reading through, I knew this chapter would be about Skarmory just from this excerpt.
He could have just gone after a feathered flyer. But no, by some ingrained sense of hubris, he convinced himself that he wanted to catch a bird with metal wings instead.
Lolol “why. Why did I convince myself I needed a sentient flying metal death trap. Why do I gotta be so extra.”
Okay, so his plan hadn't actually been meticulous. After trudging through the soot-coated underbrush for the better part of a week, Steven had grown impatient with his inability to even spot a single Skarmory. Which was precisely why when he'd stumbled upon a gathering of about twenty of the birds, he was so giddy that he burst into the clearing brandishing a pokeball before Metang could stop him.
Ohhhhhh. Oh, Steven. I love you but you’re such a moron. 🤣 He sure makes a lot of terrible decisions in this fic, but this one takes the cake for the worst one.
Red and white vanished into a flurry of silver, but a flash of light told him he had struck one with his hurried throw. The pokeball tumbled to the ground, shaking furiously, as the rest of the Skarmory began to break through the low-hanging clouds to safety.
Welp. Now you’ve done it. Why not at least try to calmly approach one and ask it for a battle? 😂
A gust of wind suddenly interrupted their less-than-hushed argument, flattening the bushes and sending the ground around them erupting into a cloud of windswept soot. Doubled over from a coughing fit, Steven barely had time to register the looming shadow that fell over their hiding place. Metang screeched a warning just before it roughly shoved him to the ground. Skarmory's claws flashed out, but Metang had shifted to cover Steven with its body, and the sharp talons only managed to rake at its steel hide, rather than their intended target. Skarmory shrieked in rage at being foiled, and swooped out of range as Metang took a swipe at the aggressive pokemon.
Agh you do
such a good job of showcasing just how terrifying an angry Skarmory should be. There are many Pokémon on the “don’t ever piss off” list, but I’d imagine a BIRD MADE OF KNIVES would be very high up there.
"I haven't seen many Skarmory around here, but every time I do, they look mad about something. That's probably the last pokemon I'd want to have pissed at me."
Ahahaha same hat
"Those birds are the most disagreeable pokemon I've ever seen. Everyone around here knows to steer clear. Heck, even the pokemon around here are scared of 'em. Not a one would dare to challenge a Skarmory, so they just let it claim as much territory and food as it likes. And to think you came here looking for one."
So, I can give credit to the fact that some species are more hot-headed than others, and this Skarmory is
definitely harboring a grudge that it’s going to take to its grave, which is not something the average even-tempered mon would do. That said, I can’t really blame him for being angry—he was just minding his own business when his day was rudely interrupted, and he made it clear that he didn’t want to stay and fight, let alone be captured. It wasn’t until after multiple attempts from Steven that he finally decided to give him a piece of his mind. So, yes, definitely a bloodthirsty little sword bird, but also, Steven isn’t without fault here, either.
"Don't worry, it should calm down by tomorrow. I think."
Lolol how encouraging. Also, Skarmory overhearing this conversation be like “You fool. You underestimate my power.”
The glass blower frowned, but he didn't back down, "I'm supposed have the vase ready to deliver by tomorrow. There's no time to lose. I need that ash today."
Pano. I am shook. Devastated. Betrayed. Heckin bamboozled. How COULD you have strung me this far along, only to reveal this WAS AN ASHFIC THE WHOLE TIME?
I am distraught. I will never recover from this betrayal. I can’t believe you’ve done this to me. How could you.
(Also, side note, let’s not overlook the fact that this man finished his order two whole days before the deadline?? Respect, man. My disorganized, ADHD, procrastination-prone self is in awe.)
Steven was about to protest the idea when the glass blower stepped back. He had anchored the tub neatly to the top of Metang's head, and Steven nearly burst out laughing at the ridiculous sight. Thankfully, he held his laughter in, but it didn't keep Metang from glaring daggers in return.
Ehehehe this image never fails to bring me some serotonin. I was about to say “Steven you have no right to laugh, you probably also look ridiculous” but then again, Steven does not have a bucket on his head.
Steven yelped as the ground fell away from beneath his body, and in a panicked struggle, he tried to release himself from the smock's straps. He'd gladly lose his ash collection to the angry bird if it meant he could escape its clutches. But as he spotted just how high he'd already been carried, he ceased trying to wiggle his way free, and instead clung tightly the garment, lest he slip out and plummet to his death. He thought about calling out for help, but Skarmory had carried him too high for even Metang to follow, and he watched helplessly as his partner shrunk to a small blue speck in the middle of Route 113, its cries fading into the rushing wind.
Jdbdksjdjskskd this would be THE MOST TERRIFYING THING. Good thing Steven isn’t terrified of heights. I think I would have just died of fright right then and there. Also, POOR METANG LOL. Steven really be out here giving his starter a heart attack every other day.
Before Steven could wonder exactly why Skarmory had carried him here, he was dropped unceremoniously to the ground where he tumbled to a halt on the rocky ground.
This reads a tad clunky with “ground” appearing twice in one sentence. You could easily end the sentence at “unceremoniously to the ground” since what comes after is redundant.
He franticly dug into his pocket, not daring to look away from the deadly bird that leered down at him.
Misspelling here! Should be “frantically”