Vol. I, Part 2: Chapter 21

  “Focus, Psyduck. Visualize the vibration,” Hugh commanded.

  Nate watched from the sidelines with Riolu. The training fields were baking under the midday sun, the air shimmering in waves above the packed dirt. It had been three days since the Aggron attack, but his body still felt like a rusted hinge. Nate shuffled his legs, wincing as a sharp stiffness shot up his side.

  In the center of the arena, Psyduck stood with its webbed feet planted wide. Oshawott stood right beside him, offering a firm nod of support.

  “Show Psyduck again, Oshawott,” Nate instructed.

  Oshawott stepped up, digging his heels into the ground. With a sharp huff, he produced jagged rings of water from his mouth, a Water Pulse, sending them spiraling into the air with perfect symmetry.

  Psyduck observed the demonstration with intense, beady-eyed focus. After Oshawott finished, Psyduck recomposed himself. He took a deep breath, clutching the sides of his head as if trying to physically hold a thought in place inside his skull.

  “Now! Water Pulse!” Hugh cried out.

  Psyduck thrust his beak forward, releasing rings of liquid that oscillated violently. The attack rippled through the air with a low, thrumming bass sound visibly distorting the space around it before slamming into Scraggy on the opposite side.

  The impact was potent. Scraggy crossed his arms to block, but the kinetic vibration knocked him backward.

  “Yes!” Hilbert cheered, pumping a fist. “That was clean, Hugh! Way better that time!”

  Scraggy shook his head, his loose skin acting like baggy pants drooping low around his ankles.

  “Haha! Maybe even better than clean,” Hilbert joked, watching Scraggy struggle to regain his footing. “You okay there, Scraggy?”

  Scraggy managed to stand, hitching up his "pants" and flashing a thumbs-up to signal he was good to go.

  Hugh let out a soft sigh of relief, the tension draining from his shoulders. He walked over and patted Psyduck on the head. “Great job, buddy. That’s exactly what we need.”

  Psyduck looked pleased with himself, tilting his head into Hugh’s hand before promptly sitting down and clutching his temples as the inevitable migraine set in.

  Hilbert walked over to Hugh with Scraggy close behind. “Now that Psyduck has learned Water Pulse, what do you say Scraggy and Psyduck have a little sparring match?”

  “Sure,” Hugh said, meeting Hilbert’s eyes with a competitive grin. “But let’s take a five-minute break first. My brain hurts just watching Psyduck concentrate that hard.”

  The boys retreated to the metal bleachers, the aluminum radiating heat through their clothes as they took shelter in the thin strip of shade. Scraggy burned off excess energy by doing pushups in the dirt, while Oshawott threw his scalchop like a boomerang. Psyduck lay peacefully in the grass, webbed feet sticking straight up, clutching his head and staring blankly at the sky.

  “It’s amazing how far you’ve come with Psyduck,” Nate commented, easing himself onto the bench carefully to not disturb his bruise. “It doesn’t seem that long ago since we found him sleeping in that barrel.”

  “And now look at us, learning new moves together,” Hugh said, looking at his partner with genuine admiration.

  “You found it in a barrel?” Hilbert asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “At Flocessy Ranch. The day we sheared the Mareep wool,” Hugh replied.

  “That’s similar to how I met Boldore, except it was in a trashcan. Not a barrel.”

  “How’d Boldore fit in a trashcan?” Nate asked, chuckling despite the soreness in his chest.

  “Back then it was just a Roggenrola. Still though, they’re pretty big. It was stuck so I had to tilt the trashcan over just to get it out.”

  “Let me guess, you had to dig through trash to get to it?” Hugh asked with a grin.

  “Of course I did! The poor guy was crying for help. It wasn’t easy. Or pleasant.”

  “So, when did it evolve into a Boldore?” Nate asked.

  “Not that long ago, actually. In fact, it happened right here in the arena. Hilda and I were sparring and then suddenly, Roggenrola became Boldore.”

  “Really? Just like that?” Hugh asked in disbelief.

  “Yeah. We weren’t even doing anything crazy. Just practicing commands and coordination.”

  “Pokémon evolution sure is strange,” Nate said.

  Hilbert nodded in agreement, leaning back against the riser. “Juniper thinks some Pokémon can evolve purely because they want to. Just… sheer willpower to get stronger. I’d say that’s pretty accurate given Boldore’s case.”

  Willpower to get stronger.

  Nate rubbed the tender spot on his ribs, wincing slightly. If he could evolve, he would become something bulletproof the second that Aggron roared. Instead, he got tossed around like a ragdoll at the mercy of a rampaging monster. It was a humbling reminder that no matter how hard he trained, there was a biological gap between him and his partners that no amount of pushups could bridge.

  He looked out to the field to clear his head. Scraggy and Oshawott were now playing catch with the scalchop while Psyduck was fast asleep in the grass.

  He turned to check on Riolu, who sat a few bleachers down from their position.

  His partner wasn't playing. Riolu sat on the far end of the aluminum bench, legs crossed in a lotus position. His eyes were shut, focusing intensely. A faint, sputtering blue aura flickered around his paws as if he were trying to ignite a damp match. His ears twitched erratically, hunting for a sound that wasn't there.

  What’s Riolu up to?

  Riolu let out a sharp, frustrated sigh and broke his stance, rubbing his temples. The aura vanished into mist. He looked exhausted.

  Pop! Pop-crack! Pop!

  Nate shot up. The sound of clanging metal broke his focus. “What’s that sound?”

  “Over there,” Hilbert pointed a thumb over his shoulder. “Elekid’s beating up the shed like it owes him lunch.”

  Elekid was near the equipment shed, facing away from them. He was relentlessly shadowboxing against the corrugated metal wall. Every jab ended with a small discharge of electricity, leaving tiny scorch marks on the metal. He moved with a rhythm that was entirely his own, ignoring the other Pokémon completely.

  “He’s intense,” Nate noted.

  “He’s bored,” Hugh corrected. “He wants something that hits back.”

  Nate looked back at his own team. Riolu was brooding, trapped in his own head. Elekid was restless, punching a wall. They were both strong, but they were disjointed.

  Riolu needs a distraction. And Elekid needs a challenge.

  Nate stood up, ignoring the twinge in his side.

  “I’m going to go see if I can get Elekid a sparring partner,” Nate said.

  He left Hugh and Hilbert to join Riolu.

  “Riolu?” Nate asked aloud.

  The aura vanished instantly. Riolu’s eyes snapped open. He let out a sharp sigh, his shoulders sagging in frustration.

  “Nate,” Riolu’s voice projected in his mind, sounding annoyed with himself.

  “What’s the matter?” Nate telepathically communicated. “You look frustrated.”

  “I’m not… I’m just… trying to see.”

  “See what?”

  Riolu looked down at his paws, flexing them as if they didn't belong to him.

  “See inside myself. When I looked into Deerling’s aura, it was easy. I reached out with my own aura and saw everything. The shadow. The gun. I felt the pain. It was all right there, so easily accessible.”

  Riolu clenched his fist tight.

  “But when I turn that sight inward… when I try to see my own beginning… I see less than nothing. The man with the green hair called it a void. He was right.”

  Nate sat next to Riolu on the bleachers. “You haven’t remembered anything since the Ranch?”

  “Not exactly,” Riolu admitted. “Small things. Instincts.”

  Riolu looked at Elekid who was still bashing the shed. “Elekid fights with passion. He wants to prove he is strong. When I fight… I do not feel passion. I feel instinct. I know where to strike an opponent to disable limbs. I know how to defend blows I cannot see. I fight like a calculated machine.”

  Riolu turned his eyes to Nate. He could see the deep contemplation in the Pokemon's gaze.

  “I feel… trained. More than any wild Pokémon should be. But I do not remember learning it. Who taught me how to fight? Why am I like this?”

  Nate felt a chill creep up his neck, despite the baking sun. It was a valid question. Riolu’s tactical mind was his greatest asset, but hearing Riolu describe it as something programmed was unsettling.

  “Do you think any of it has to do with your ability to speak with me?” Nate wondered.

  “I don’t know. I’m not sure of anything, now,” Riolu sounded defeated. His ears drooped to his sides while he swung feet that couldn’t reach the ground.

  “We’ll figure it out,” Nate said, resting a hand on Riolu’s shoulder.

  Nate looked to Elekid, now bashing his head against the shed. “I think sparring with Elekid will help clear your mind. Plus, Elekid needs a partner right now.”

  Riolu didn’t look convinced, but he nodded. “Perhaps.”

  Riolu hopped off the bleachers, shaking out his limbs. Nate walked with him towards the shed, the pounding thud-thud-thud echoing as Elekid continued to thump his head on the siding.

  “Hey, tough guy,” Nate called out.

  Elekid paused mid-bash, his head inches from a dent in the metal.

  “Riolu wants to go a few rounds. What do you say?”

  Elekid didn’t need to answer. He spun around, windmilling his arms as sparks danced on his plug-like horns. He beckoned Riolu with a wide, toothy expression.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “Alright, let’s head over to the arena.”

  They set up in the arena with Hugh and Hilbert beside them. Psyduck and Scraggy began their sparring match while Elekid and Riolu took position for theirs.

  Riolu stepped forward. He didn’t take a stance immediately. He watched Elekid with narrow eyes. Nate could feel the fight instincts shift in Riolu’s mind like a switch.

  “Distance: Three meters. Sufficient initial charge to fire a Discharge at this distance. Opponent favors the right arm for Thunder Punch.”

  Elekid fired a Discharge, just as Riolu predicted. Riolu sidestepped, dodging the bolt of electricity that kicked up the dirt where it landed. Elekid wasted no time in launching himself forward.

  Riolu ducked to avoid the oncoming Thunder Punch. Elekid stumbled as his fist swung at nothing but air. Riolu slipped underneath, getting behind Elekid. Instead of attacking, Riolu bounced in place, waiting for Elekid to turn around.

  Elekid growled and let off a loud Screech. Riolu dashed out of the way to avoid the deafening sound waves, which were so piercing that even Psyduck and Scraggy had to stop sparring to cover their ears.

  “Riolu, don’t just dodge,” Nate called out. “Engage!”

  Riolu grimaced. He blocked a Quick Attack with his forearms, the impact jarring his bones.

  “I know how to break his stance,” Riolu thought, the tactical data flooding his mind. “Dodge the heavy hits and cripple him with quick blows. But… is that me? Or is that the training?”

  The hesitation cost him. Elekid feinted a Thunder Punch, then spun wildly into an unpredictable Thunder Shock.

  The electricity caught Riolu in the chest, knocking him backward. He tumbled across the dirt, skidding to a halt near Nate’s feet.

  "Riolu!" Nate knelt down.

  Riolu pushed himself up, shaking his head to clear the static. He looked frustrated. Not at Elekid, but at himself.

  Elekid grinned, clearly proud of his attack. Riolu crouched into a sprinter’s stance and dove in for a Quick Attack. Elekid mirrored his attack and locked in on Riolu. The two collided in a mass of blue and yellow, grappling hand-to-hand. They grunted and growled as they put in all their strength to overpower the other.

  Suddenly, a blinding flash flickered from the side, bright as the sun above. Riolu and Elekid broke apart, shielding their eyes as they turned to the source.

  “No way! Again?” Hilbert cried out.

  “It can’t be…” Hugh said in disbelief.

  Nate saw it. What was once a Psyduck was now a brilliant, white silhouette consumed by energy. The air hummed with power as the shape distorted itself. The light expanded violently, forcing Nate to squint. Horns elongated on the head. Legs stretched vertically, muscle knitting together in seconds, and arms extended outward.

  The light shattered into fading sparkles.

  Standing next to Hugh was a fully grown Golduck. He stood nearly as tall as Hugh, exuding a calm, focused aura that was miles away from the headache-prone Psyduck they were used to.

  “You… you actually evolved! Golduck I can’t believe it!” Hugh shouted.

  Nate walked over to Hugh and Golduck, Riolu and Elekid following, completely forgetting their match.

  “Congratulations, Hugh! Golduck absolutely deserves it,” Nate said, smiling to his friend.

  “Thanks. We’ve put in so much work to get you stronger,” Hugh turned to his new partner. “I’m so proud of you, Golduck.”

  Golduck crossed his arms and gave a confident nod, the gem on his forehead glinting in the sun.

  Amidst the cheers and celebration, movement caught Nate’s eye in the distance. Squinting against the glare, he saw the girls walking their way. Rosa led the formation, flanked by Hilda and Bianca, while Cheren trailed a few paces behind like a brooding shadow.

  Even from this distance, the vibe was wrong. The contrast was stark, the boys were buzzing with adrenaline and the high of evolution, but the approaching group moved with the heavy momentum of a storm front. Bianca’s usual bounce was gone. Hilda was silently marching. And Rosa... Rosa’s eyes were fixed on the dirt, the usual sparkle Nate was so accustomed to seeing extinguished completely.

  “Something’s not right,” Hugh muttered, his smile fading as he followed Nate’s gaze.

  “Yeah,” Nate replied, the excitement in his gut curdling into unease. “I wonder what?”

  The tension arrived before they did. The girls and Cheren stopped a few feet away, their expressions unreadable and cold. Nate didn’t dare speak up. The divide in atmosphere was too sharp, cutting the boys' celebration short.

  “Hey, Hilda,” Hilbert started, his voice tentative. “Is everything alright?”

  Hilda rocked back on her heels, hands clasped tight behind her back. She stared past him, focusing on the horizon. “Yeah. Everything’s fine,” she replied. Her voice was too level, too rehearsed. Neither distinctly sarcastic nor authentic.

  Her gaze flicked sideways, landing on Hugh, or rather the towering, blue bipedal duck standing behind him.

  “Nice Golduck.”

  “I… Uhh…” Hugh stammered, looking from his partner to Hilda, Nate sensing the compliment was just a distraction. “He just evolved. Right before you came along.”

  “Really? Here? Again?”

  “I know. Isn’t that weird?” Hilbert forced a chuckle to try and reclaim some levity.

  “This place must be cursed or something,” Hilda muttered, refusing to meet his eyes.

  “Not quite the reaction I was expecting,” Hugh whispered under his breath.

  Rosa stepped forward, breaking the formation. “She didn’t mean it like that,” she said, her voice soft but earnest. She looked at Hugh, really looked at him, though her eyes were tired. “That’s really great for you, Hugh. Psyduck trained hard to earn it. Congratulations.”

  It was sincere, but it felt heavy, like she was carrying a physical weight on her shoulders.

  “Thanks,” Hugh conceded. He crossed his arms, his sharp eyes scanning their faces. “But stop changing the subject. There’s something going on with you all.”

  The girls exchanged glances, a silent, telepathic debate on who would break the news.

  “Cheren?” Nate questioned, looking at the Team Leader.

  Cheren stood with his hands jammed deep in his pockets, a slouching posture that looked wrong on someone usually so upright. He let out a long, ragged sigh.

  “Listen, we need to talk about our next mission.” He jutted his chin toward the metal stands. “Let’s go sit. My legs are tired.”

  The seating arrangement happened naturally, but it spoke volumes. Rosa sat on the middle row, pulling her knees up to her chin and wrapping her arms around them, making herself as small as physically possible. Bianca sat close beside her with hands folded in her lap. Nate and Hugh took the row above, looming behind Rosa like protective sentries, while Hilbert and Hilda sat on the row below, their chins resting on the metal riser near Rosa’s feet.

  “Everything I heard was true,” Rosa began, staring at the scuffed toes of her sneakers. “The mission, the danger. Ms. Gabby was so afraid she tried talking Juniper out of it.”

  Rosa paused, letting the words sink in. A flock of Pidove at the top of the bleachers took off, letting out a chorus of chirps that broke the silence.

  “But we stood up to her. We told her she can’t force us out,” Rosa continued, her voice gaining a fraction of steel. “There are dying or dead Pokémon in that cave, and plenty more could get hurt. If we won’t help them, who will?”

  Bianca reached out, placing a comforting hand on Rosa’s shoulder.

  Cheren stood up from the bottom row, turning to face the group like a commander addressing his troops, though his face remained grim. “We’re going to launch a full investigation. We’ll look for this supposed weapon or report any strange anomalies we encounter. But make no mistake, there will be dangerous wild Pokémon.”

  “Not to mention whoever might’ve made the weapon,” Hugh added darkly, staring Cheren down.

  “Like Ms. Gabby said,” Cheren shot back, his tone clipped, “there isn’t sufficient evidence to suggest a weapon exists. We’re there to report what we find. We need to be trained and ready to go by Monday.”

  “Does this mean we can skip Orientation Day tomorrow?” Hilbert asked, his chin still resting on the metal riser, voice muffled.

  “No, we’ll still be going to that,” Bianca said with a small, tired grin.

  “Yippee. Can’t wait.”

  “So, Ms. Gabby will be joining us?” Nate asked.

  “That’s what she said,” Rosa replied, tilting her head back just enough to see him. “She doesn’t want us to get hurt.”

  “Like she did with Castform,” Hilda interjected sharply.

  “Hilda, not now,” Rosa gently pleaded.

  “Fine.”

  Silence descended on the group again. The weight of the mission, the potential weapon, the dangerous Pokémon, the dark history of the cave, all hung in the stagnant air, suffocating the last remnants of the afternoon's joy.

  Nate looked at his teammates. They all processed fear differently. Hilda got angry. Hilbert got quiet. Hugh got focused. But Rosa? She just folded inward. She was delicate. But to Nate, she was more than just that. She was intricate. He wanted to talk with her, learn about her. He wanted her to share things with him that she wouldn’t share with anyone else. But that required trust. Trust that went far beyond small talk at a pond.

  I just need the right time to talk with her.

  “So,” Hugh said, standing up abruptly and dusting the dirt off his pants. “If we only have four days to prepare, minus Orientation Day, we shouldn’t be sitting around moping. We need to be ready.”

  “Hugh’s right,” Cheren agreed, eager for a distraction. “We need our Pokémon sharp. Review type match-ups, practice moves. I can get a list of known wild species in the cave so we have a better understanding of what to expect.”

  “Sounds like a blast,” Hilbert said, finally lifting his head from the metal. He nudged Hilda with his elbow. “C’mon, Hilda, let’s go train. Maybe this time Cottonee will evolve.”

  He held out a hand to help her up. She stared at it for a second, then looked up at him, her chin never leaving the riser.

  “Cottonee evolves with a Sun Stone, you idiot.”

  “I know that! But you’re so bright, I figured we could skip the middleman.”

  Hilda blinked, and then a genuine laugh broke through her stony expression. Her cheeks flushed a brilliant red at the flattery. She grabbed his hand and hauled herself up. “Jeez, Bert. When did you become so smooth?”

  “I’m not smooth, Da. You just have incredibly low standards,” Hilbert grinned, suppressing a laugh.

  “Shut up, Bert!” She slapped his arm, her face turning an even deeper shade of crimson. Hilbert burst out laughing as they shoved each other toward the arena.

  The tension in the group snapped, replaced by a ripple of relief. Even the rest of the team managed a chuckle.

  “Poor Hilbert, always getting beat by Hilda,” Bianca said, her smile lingering as she watched them go. “I love them so much.”

  “Bianca, we should probably go find Professor Juniper. Let her know we’re aware of the mission and we’re preparing for it,” Cheren said. “And you should give Skyla a call as soon as possible.”

  “Oh, right,” Bianca said, her posture stiffening again. She adjusted her bag and stood up. “I’ll probably see you all back at the dorms, okay?”

  “Okay. Bye, Bianca,” Rosa said softly.

  Cheren and Bianca walked off, leaving Nate, Hugh, and Rosa alone on the bleachers.

  Nate looked at Rosa from behind. She hadn’t moved since the others left. Her legs were still retracted to her chest, her chin resting on her knees as she stared blankly at the arena floor below. She looked like a statue carved out of worry, her expression distant.

  “I’m going to work with Golduck,” Hugh said, breaking the silence. He rolled his neck, cracking it. “We need to get used to his new size, figure out his reach.”

  He stood up and turned to Nate. “You coming?”

  Nate glanced at Hugh, then back at the small figure curled up on the bench below them. “Yeah. Yeah, I’ll be right there.”

  Hugh followed his gaze, lingering on Rosa for a second. He gave a short nod of understanding, then turned and jogged down the bleachers toward the arena, his footsteps clanging softly on the metal.

  Nate stayed.

  The training field felt strangely quiet now, despite the distant sounds of Pokémon attacks. He was fixated on Rosa. The last time they had really spoken was at the Tynamo pond with Snivy and Oshawott. That interaction hadn't exactly been smooth, but it had cleared the air between them. He was certain she didn’t think he was stupid anymore. At least, mostly certain.

  “Hey,” Nate spoke suddenly.

  Rosa flinched violently. The sound of his voice seemed to shatter whatever internal world she had been lost in. She whipped around, her eyes wide and startled.

  “Sorry,” Nate said, forcing a small, awkward laugh. “You okay?”

  Rosa exhaled sharply, her shoulders dropping as the tension bled out. She turned her head slightly, just enough for him to see her profile. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

  “You don’t look fine,” Nate said, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees.

  She let out a small, humorousless laugh. "Is it that obvious?"

  "Kind of."

  She picked at a loose thread on her shoelace. “Well, what about you? I saw you wince when you sat down. How’s your side?”

  “It’s still pretty bad,” Nate admitted. There was no point in hiding his pain from her. She could spot a grimace from a mile away with her trained medical eye. “But it’s getting better.”

  She finally turned around completely, shifting on the metal bench to face him. Her eyes searched his face, scanning him as if looking for something. Nate’s stomach turned into a knot. The same, stupid knot that always formed whenever she looked him directly in the eyes.

  "Nate... do you think we're ready? Really?"

  Nate thought about the Aggron. He thought about the sickening crunch of the impact, the bruise on his ribs that still ached every time he sneezed, and the sheer, paralyzing terror he'd felt when the beast charged.

  "I don't know," he admitted honestly. "But we have to be, right?"

  “I’m just worried something bad might happen. Like with what happened to you. Hugh said you almost died.”

  Nate shifted, uncomfortable with the memory. She looked at him with raw, unfiltered sincerity, something she had never done before. The sudden change in her tone caught him off guard, and he fumbled with his hands. “I… well… He was there to protect me…”

  “But that’s the thing,” she insisted. “He was there for you. What if I can’t be there for someone who needs me? Like Hilda or Bianca? What if I freeze?”

  Nate fell silent. He looked at her, really looked at her, and realized he couldn’t find the words. He wanted to encourage her, to tell her that he believed in her, that he’d seen her do incredible things with Blitzle. He knew she was strong. But anything he said right now would sound hollow, like a greeting card slogan. He just couldn’t figure out how to talk to Rosa without feeling clumsy.

  Rosa stood up abruptly, her fists balled at her sides. The vulnerability in her eyes began to harden into something else. Something sharper.

  “Nate,” she said, her voice stronger now. “At the Tynamo pond. You said you would battle me.”

  Nate blinked, surprised by the pivot. “Uh, yeah. I did.”

  “Then let’s do it,” she said. “Right now.”

  “Right now?” Nate glanced at the others. Hugh was already running drills with Golduck, and the sun was beginning its descent, casting long, stretching shadows across the dirt.

  Rosa nodded. “I need this.” Her knuckles were white as she clenched them tighter. "I need to know if I can stand my ground. And I need you to push me. Don't go easy on me just because I'm..." she paused, looking straight at him.

  "Because you're what?" Nate asked, standing up to meet her gaze, ignoring the protest of his ribs.

  "Because I'm scared," she finished softly. She unclenched her fists, letting the blood flow back into her fingers.

  Nate looked at her. He didn't see fear. He saw courage, the kind that takes effort, the kind that hurts. She wasn't running away from the danger. She was training for it.

  He smiled, a genuine, lopsided grin that almost certainly made him look stupid. Except this time, he didn’t care.

  "I wouldn't dream of it."