"First thing's first, Rayne. Espeon isn't looking so well..."
"There's a Pokemon Center just down the way! Let's go!"
So we left the mayor's hour (was is he anyway?) and headed towards the front gates, where the Pokemon Center was located. I expected to simply be able to give the nurse my Poke Balls and be on my way.
"I'm sorry, sir, your Espeon is infected with a sickness that we cannot cure here."
Of course I was worried, "What do you mean?"
"it's called encephalitis lethargica, or the Nuzlocke Syndrome. Your fainted Pokemon will be unable to continue fighting with this disease in their system."
Cue flashback to PMJ telling me about rules. I sighed, "Alright... I'll box him for now."
Walking over to the PC, I opened an empty storage box and deposited Espeon. "Thanks Espeon. Rest now, we'll take care of you later."
I grabbed my remaining Pokemon and went outside where Rayne was waiting. She didn't ask questions and I didn't want her too. We headed out of town, starting our journey to Pyrite, only to be stopped by some ruffian in a red jumpsuit.
"Sorry to break it to ya, pal, but I'm not about to let you pass. Or do you have some idea that you can take me on in battle?"
Mystery Troop has entered #battle.
Keeper has entered #battle.
<Mystery Troop sent out Quilava and Grimer!>
<Go Umbreon and Makuhita!>
<Rayne> Look Keeper! The Quilava! It's a Pokemon with a black aura!
Turn 1:
Umbreon / Makuhita vs Quilava / Grimer
Quilava led off with Smokescreen, lowering Umbreon's accuracy and causing his Bite to miss.
Makuhit's emotions rose to a fever pitch (wat) and he was unable to act. Grimer used Sludge on Umbreon.
Turn 2:
Quilava's Flame Wheel did a ton of damage to Makuhita, putting him in yellow. A combination of Bite and Shadow Rush was necessary to do the same to Quilava. Grimer again used Sludge on Umbreon, who was still in the green.
Turn 3:
With no healing options thanks to Makuhita's state, I went for the Poke Ball... Which worked! Gave me time to call out to Maku and get him back to his senses. Mystery Troop sent out Spoink to replace his captured comrade. Grimer tried using Sludge again but it missed.
Turn 4:
Umbreon / Makuhita vs Spoink / Grimer
I healed Maku with a Super Potion, knowing full well that she'd get knocked out without it. Umbreon used Bite on Spoink for a boat-load of damage, bringing it down to yellow and caused him to Flinch. Grimer used Screech on Makuhita.
Turn 5:
Bite Spoink for the KO. Maku's emotions again rose, putting it in Hyper Mode. Grimer used Screech on Umbreon.
Turn 6:
Umbreon / Makuhita vs Grimer
Called out to Makuhita. Used Bite with Umbreon. Grimer flinched.
Turn 7:
Makuhita enterd Hyper Mode (why you litte). Used Bite with Umbreon. Grimer flinched.
Turn 8:
Repeat Turn 6. Grimer fainted.
#battle has ended.
"What was that strange Pokemon?" Rayne demanded to know. "What did you people do to it?"
"That?" The man answered. "It's just a Pokemon we turned into a fighting machine by closing its heart. Not a big deal."
"You did what?" I asked, confused.
"Knowing that won't help you do anything!" The man ran off, out the exit we were headed for.
"Come on Keeper! They're probably going to Pyrite Town, we should follow them!"
Of course we followed, we were going that way anyway, but I guess she didn't remember that.
Except, I wasn't ready to head out to Pyrite just yet. I needed to restock on Poke Balls from the outpost, so we stopped there first.
PMJ stopped us before we could get inside, however.
"Oh, hey! Keeper, do you play smash bros? Wait, yeah, you do play smash bros. Let's play smash bros."
"I don't actually seem to have my DS with me at the moment..."
"Ugh, fine. Then come on, let's battle! I'm not losing this time!"
PMJ has entered #battle.
Keeper has entered #battle.
<PMJ sent out Linoone and Zigzagoon!>
<Go Umbreon and Makuhita!>
<Keeper> How have you trained enough to evolve Zigzagoon if you've just been standing around here all day?
<PMJ> Idk.
Turn 1:
Of course, Linoone moves first. Fury Swipes hit Umbreon 3 times and it quite hurt. Zigzagoon was hit to yellow with Bite, but it retailiated with Pin Missile, putting Umbreon in the red. Makuhita entered Hyper Mode and couldn't act. Again.
Turn 2:
Used up Makuhita's turn to heal Umbreon with a Super Potion. Linoone used Odor Sleuth on Maku. Bite brought Zigzagoon down to red and made him flinch.
<Keeper> Odor Sleuth?
<PMJ> Again, FOOL PROOF.
Turn 3:
Called to Makuhita. Linoone used Pin Missile on Umbreon which hit 3 times, putting him in yellow again. Bite knocked out Zigzagoon.
Turn 4:
Potion Umbreon to put it out of range of Fury Swipes, which Linoone then used... Just not on Umbreon. Hit 4 times on Makuhita bringing it to yellow. Makuhita then entered Hyper Mode and couldn't move.
<PMJ> Using healing items 1/10.
<Keeper> Relying on Hyper Mode activating 0/10.
Turn 5:
Healed Maku with Potion, just hoping Linoone would target Umbreon instead. It did, thank goodness,hit twice, and Umbreon retaliated with Bite. Makuhita pulled off a Shadow Rush which did a ton of damage.
Turn 6:
Pin Missile pulled off a crit once, hitting 4 times, but only brought Umbreon to red. Bite wasn't enough to knock it out, but Shadow Rush was!
<Umbreon grew to level 28!>
#battle has ended
"Yup, you're tough, you stomped us good. Good luck out there!"
"Nothing else?"
"Nope!"
Meh. I went inside the outpost, bought a few Great Balls, returned to Phenac City to heal and stock up on potions, then made my way to Pyrite Town.
--------------------------
Once we arrived, I took in how... Run down the whole place seemed. Every building has the faded look of rust, the stone walkways had been worn down over time, several signs and windows were busted... And when we entered, the first thing we saw was a thug arguing with a cop.
"Awwww, Reinforce, give a guy a break! I'm telling you I don't know anything, so leave me be!"
"That better be true Celever. if you're trying to con me, I'll know about it!"
"..."
"I'll let you off easy today... But I'll be back! See you!"
As the cop walked off, I could hear the thung mumbling to himself "What a nitwit," but not knowing the situation, I simply passed along.
As we were walking, Rayne muttered behind me. "Keeper, this is the area where I saw that Pokemon. Be careful. Even at the best of times, there's nothing normal about this town..."
"Here? This square? Do the trainers here have those kinds of Pokemon?"
"Well, I would guess so, but-"
"Be right back, wait here."
...
...
...
...
"Ok, got them all, now what?"
Rayne blinked, "All what?"
"All the dark-aura Pokemon of course! No fatalities."
(This took forever by the way, several healing trips, a few resets for proper gender, etc.)
"Um... What about the Colosseum? You could-"
"Great idea!"
Past the square that I had just finished my glorious catching spree (which landed me a Skiploom [paired with Quilava], Quagsire, Misdreavus [paired], Slugma, Noctowl, and Flaaffy [boxed]) and crossed a worn-down bridge that connected the square to the Colosseum. Unfortunately, before I could enter, the receptionist told us that the competition had already begun.
"Tough, isn't it?" A rogue was leaning on the counter, looking right past me towards Rayne. "I got here late as well. Too bad really, I heard that you get one of those special Pokemon if you win, like Celever did... WAIT. I wasn't supposed to say that. FORGET I SAID ANYTHING."
Rayne looked at me, "Keeper, wasn't Celever the guy at the front gate? We should go talk to him about his 'special' Pokemon!"
"Right, Celever... Do we have to?"
>some time later<
"Hi, Celever?"
We had gone back to the front of the town. The man we had seen arguing with the cop before was still there. He turned when I called to him.
"Keeper! What's up? You know, RF is targeting me for my land and I think-"
"We're here to ask about your special Pokemon."
"Special Pokemon? Oh, like the one I got from the Colosseum! If you really want to know... You should see it with your own eyes!"
Celever has entered #battle.
Keeper has entered #battle.
<Celever sent out Furret and Ralts!>
<Go Umbreon and Makuhita!>
<Rayne> Keeper! The Furret! It's got a black aura!
<Keeper> That's the Pokemon you won? How is that even a prize?
Turn 1:
Umbreon / Makuhita vs Furret / Ralts
Furret used Helping Hand on Ralts... Who promptly was hit with a super effective Bite and knocked out. He sent out Seedot to replace his fallen Pokemon. Makuhita's Cross Chop missed it's target.
Turn 2:
Umbreon / Makuhita vs Furret / Seedot
Furret used Quick Attack on Umbreon for about 10 damage. Umbreon's Bite brought Seedot to yellow, and Makuhita's Cross Chop did the same to Furret. Seedot used Bide.
Turn 3:
Caught Furret, Bite knocked out Seedot. Celever sent out Machop.
Turn 4:
Umbreon / Makuhita vs Machop
Secret Power + Cross Chop didn't quite KO. But he only used Focus Energy when his turn came around.
Turn 5:
Bite gg
<Celever> My... My Shadow Pokemon!
#battle has ended.
"Shadow Pokemon?" I asked.
"I'LL GET SCORCHED FEATHERS. He came up with that name, 'Shadow Pokemon,' but it was no big deal after all!"
"So that's what they're called?" Rayne asked, curious. "The Pokemon with a black aura..."
--------------------------
"I trust everything is going according to plan, SF."
"Oh yes indeed, IceEspeon! Our plan is coming along in a lovely, peachy-keen way! We have crushed Duking's spirit completely! Now we can do as we pleas at the Colosseum without his meddling! Shadow Pokemon are going out in huge numbers!"
"Good. Everything is going according to plan then. The final phase is not far off... Alright, I'm out for now then. Good luck."
"You heard him boys! Everything is going according to plan! Now, I'll be headed back to my cave, do as you please here! Start the music! PRAISE ME!"
--------------------------
"It looks as though the Colosseum has a secret." Rayne whispered. "I think there's no choice but to win the challenge there!"
"We were just there, remember? The current challenge is going on, can't enter."
"You know," Celever interrupted us, "You really should go talk to Duking. He's the one in charge around here... Well, mostly. If you're looking to get back at Scorched Feathers, he might be able to help you."
"And why are you helping us?" I asked.
"You obviously didn't take anything that great from me. I need to get back to training the other members of my team. But that SF guy ripped me off."
"Okaaaay. Bye then, we'll go see Duking."
Not far away, Celever directed us to the house of Duking. When Rayne and I entered, we found who I assumed to be Duking sitting at his desk, large arms folded, arguing with another man.
"Duking!" The man said. "How much more will you take from ScorchedFeathers and his cronies? They're using you
and the Colosseum! What's the matter!"
"..."
"So you just clam up? That won't solve anything. Excuse me, Keeper." He said, as he barged out of the house. Weird, had I met him before?
"Duking...?"
"I'm sorry, I'm busy. You'll have to come back later."
"But-"
"I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
"Come on Keeper," Rayne said. "Let's follow that other man! He must know something!"
"Um... This is turning into multiple goose chases... Geese chases? What exactly would be the plural-"
"Let's go!"
Outside, near the bridge leading to the Colosseum, I noticed a worked step out from a small building. A mill of sorts, perhaps? He muttered something I couldn't make out and promptly fell face first onto the stone floor. Ouch. He didn't talk when I went up to him, so I ran right inside.
Another man was on the floor there as well, conscious at least. Talked about somebody taking one of the gears from the machine.
"Chief! Are you alright?" Two men came barging in the door. I recognized one as Reinforce, the cop who had been talking to Celever before.
The man stood up, brushed himself off, and tipped his fedora. "Only thing bruised is my pride. It was only Brave Vesperia, so I wasn't expecting any trouble, but... Now the whole Colosseum will be without power!"
Reinforce spoke up, "Wait, isn't Brave Duking's assistant? Why...?"
"That's what I want to know." The chief replied. "He was ranting about how the Colosseum must be shut down or something. Sorry to worry you all, everything is just fine here. I do have a request to make though, hear me out?"
I assumed he was talking to me at this point. Nobody else was answering.
"Um... Yes...?"
"Good! You see, if the Colosseum loses power, the whole town suffers. You need to find the gear that was stolen and return it! I'm counting on you!"
"...You mean this gear?"
"Keeper! How'd you get that?"
"Magic."
Then, Duking ran in, and demanded the story from the "chief."
"I'm terribly sorry to hear that, Chief. Are you sure you're alright?"
"Yup. Just fine. No need for alarm."
"But Brave... This is an outrage!"
"I reckon if he did this, he must have thought it was right. Look here! We'll be right as rain again momentarily."
Duking seemed to have just noticed us, "Y-You!"
The chief smiled, "I think you might just be saying thanks, Duking."
"I'll ask you to excuse my earlier behavior, but you now seem like people worthy of my trust. You have my thanks."
"Now," said the chief, "I'll just fit this right back in here... And pull this lever here... ~Oh, thirty long years of cranking gears~ Oh yeah!"
The machine began cranking, slowly picking up speed.
"That's the way it ought to be!"
Duking clapped his large hangs. "Well done! Keeper, I can tell you are a man of courage and honor, I have a favor to ask, hear me out?"
"Isn't that what he just said...? And how did you know my name...?"
"I want you to enter the next Colosseum battle. Win, and figure out what exactly is going on there."
"I do suppose I was headed that way anyway... Sure! Pieces of cake."
