"
You know," Gabrielle said through gritted teeth, pushing forward through the pain of her bad leg. "
someday I may look back to this day and just laugh."
Earlier when she tripped down the side-path, she fell down a steep slope, landing poorly on her feet and twisting her left foot into a bad angle. Luckily she was wearing her sturdy boots, so the sprain should be all healed up in a few days. Sooner if she applies compress on it. Her Skiddo walked beside her, worrying for his Trainer's sake. He would have carried her, but the low ceiling of the cave prevented her from doing such a thing.
That's also one of the reasons she didn't climb up the sidepath she fell through. Even if the Escape Ropes Douglas, Chansey, and herself had in their packs was useless, since there is no stable anchor on the main path to hook the rope and let Douglas climb down and back with her in tow. So instead, since there is already a path down here, she told the Hiker and Euphy that she'll follow the sidepath and see where it goes, and meet up somewhere further into the cave.
At first, Douglas was against it, but relented. Gabrielle is a Trainer, and she knew what she was doing. True enough, Gabrielle knew that the best thing to do in her situation is to sit still and wait for help. Her mother drilled such situations into her several times, being the person who teaches what to do during times of crisis and the very person who rescues them.
Yet despite all common sense and reasons, Gabrielle moved on. Not for any sense of logic, but for the feeling brewing at the pit of her stomach.
Now, had it been anybody else like say Gabrielle's mother, who is part of Kalos's First Response Team; which is the Kalos's counterpart to Kanto and Johto's Special Assault Team, and Special Response Team, this would have been the right choice to make as it would have led them to the very situation Gabrielle is in right now. But since Gabrielle is not her mother, or had a full team of well-trained Pokemon, the Pâtissière simply found herself in trouble.
A lot of trouble.
Slightly ahead of her, a group of uniformed men were scrambling around a dig site. From her position in the side tunnel, she could see a man with graying hair direct his two grunts as they lifted bags over their shoulders. Further ahead, a man with bruises is sitting tied up.
She didn't know what was happening, but she sure does know that having someone tied up in a cave while other people worked around him isn't a common occurrence. Whomever these black-garbed men are, they're trouble. Gabrielle just knows, especially when she saw one of the men kick aside a Geodude minding his own business. They're probably part of the crime organization here in Kanto, more so when she saw the big bright 'R's on their shirts.
Gabrielle hates criminals. The individuals more than their organization. They are the anti-thesis to the her mother's raison d'être, and one of the reasons why her mother missed a few important moments of her life. She just didn't get why people would even join organizations like that. Do they not have lives and dreams of their own? Is it worth risking living a life of crime for their goals? Do they not have ambitions of their own?
She shook her head. Now is not the time for such contemplation. She glanced down at her shoulder strap, seeing her three Pokeballs. Though she had Euphy's Safari Ball, it's empty. Though she may use it as a bluff if worst comes to pass. Her Luxury Ball is sitting snugly on its spot, holding Sweets her Slurpuff. And of course, her Skiddo's Premier Ball. The girl made a mental note to give Skiddo a nickname later.
"
Hmm..." Gabrielle grumbled, leaning against the wall of the tunnel with her hand. She tested her foot to see if she could put weight on it, and hopefully run, but the sharp pain that shot through her nerves says otherwise. Giving up on that idea, she supposed that there's nothing left but to either wait for help, or fight the criminals off.
And Gabrielle is not the type of person who stands by and let a criminal activity to happen in front of her eyes and not do something about it.
"
Skiddo, you know Vine Whip, right?" She asked her Pokemon, and earned a nod from the Grass-type. With a smile, she began planning.
She sent out Sweets, hoping to bring the numbers up before she attacks. The criminals won't play fair, then so won't she.
"Skiddo, keep using growth until you can't. And Sweets, reinforce your defense with Cotton Guard." She told her Pokemon, watching as they were bathed in colored auras as their moves took effect. "Good. Now, in three, Skiddo, I want you to use Vine Whip on the grunts. If you can't restrain them, grab their sacks. I bet that's what they're after. As for you Sweets, run in the distraction and free the person they have tied up."
The two Pokemon chanted their names in affirmatives, before waiting for Gabrielle's signal.
"
Three!"
"What the-" The grunt exclaimed, tripping on the vine that suddenly appeared in his path. The vine then quickly snatched the sack off his shoulder, bringing it to Gabrielle, who 'oof!'ed at the weight of the bag.
Gabrielle opened the bag, trying to see what exactly is inside the bag. There, she spotted a few rocks that look suspiciously like the Fossils she saw in the Museums of Kalos, Alto Mare, and Pewter. But there are also a few stones that have an remarkable gloss on their surface. She picked oen up, turning it in and over her hands. This texture and colour...
"
Okay, now I'm sure you three are up to no good." Gabrielle said, pocketing the stone just in-case they managed to steal back the sack, which she wouldn't doubt they would try given their glares. "
Fossils and Evolutionary stones?"
"Who are you, brat?" One of the grunts exclaimed, a scowl marring his otherwise flawless face. Shame that such a good looking man would be part of a criminal organization. "Better yet, do you know who you're messing with?"
"
Should I?" Gabrielle doesn't often goad other people, the instances that she does is few and far inbetween. But right now, she needs a distraction to buy Sweets time to untie the prisoner. Her jibe, though unpracticed, got the desired effect of angering the three.
"We're Team Rocket, and we'll someday rule the world!" The other grunt said, while the leader facepalmed. They're not to bright, are they? Must be the reason why they're doing grunt work. Well, this makes things easier for Gabrielle, as she's assured that they don't have that strong Pokemon.
"I'm deducting your salary." The leader said, and the grunt reared back as if hit. "Now, get her."
The two grunts moved to do just that, and Gabrielle ordered her Skiddo to attack.
"
Skiddo, Vine Whip!" The goat's thick vines slapped the two grunt's faces, and this time they reeled back because they were actually hit, not only metaphorically.
"Idiots... Use your Pokemon!" The Leader sighed.
"Oh, right. Go, Koffing!"
"Zubat!"
"
Of course it's Poison-Type." Mumbled Gabrielle, looking at Skiddo. "
Is it too much to ask for them to have a Dark Type instead?"
"Zubat, use Air Cutter!" The Second grunt said.
"Follow it up with Assurance, Koffing!" The first one commanded.
Okay, so they may not be too dub after all. The battle just got a whole lot tougher.
"
Vine Whip on the Koffing." Gabrielle told Skiddo, and the vines shot out from the bush around Skiddo's neck and smacked the Koffing. Despite being less effective on Koffing, with it being a Grass-type move and Koffing being tough against Physical Attacks, this is countered by Skiddo's stacked up Growth. So despite the attack being a poor choice against Koffing, the Poison-Type shuddered at the power behind the hit. "
Now, bring it here!"
Skiddo looked at his Trainer as if she was crazy, not being used to her battling style. But the Pâtissière simply gave her Pokemon a look of understanding. Resolving to follow his Trainer, Skiddo's vines wrapped around Koffing like a snake, plugging a couple of its holes while doing so. The vines retracted, but the Air Cutter chose that time to hit Skiddo.
Gabrielle braced herself, the winds buffeting her clothes and bag, while Skiddo took the brunt of the hit. As soon as Koffing came close enough, Skiddo used it like a shield and hid behind what few cover it could behind the Poison-type.
"Koffing, use Smog!" The grunt gave his order.
Gabrielle took a step back, nearly slipping on her bad leg, as noxious fumes poured out of the Koffing's pores. Skiddo grimaced, unable to do anything through the barrage of attacks. The Pâtissière frowned, if this kept up Skiddo won't last long.
"
Take Down!" Skiddo charged forward, like a bull headed for a target, the vines holding Koffing whipping out forward towards the stone wall. The Koffing slammed back first into the rock, before 68 Pounds of Grass-Type pushed it deeper into the indent it made in the wall.
"Use Self-Destruct!" The Koffing replied by shining a bright white glow. Skiddo, too dedicated to his attack to escape, was caught in the blast. When the smoke cleared, a bruised and battered Skiddo stood, teetering on its legs.
"Zubat, finish it off with Wing Attack!" The other grunt ordered his Pokemon, while his partner returned his downed Koffing.
"
Oh no you don't!" Gabrielle swept her hands out, a short plan forming in her mind. "
Skiddo, use Leech Horn as soon as Zubat gets close!"
Skiddo's horns glowed a light green, while Zubat's a bright white. The Bat Pokemon swooped down from its position to strafe the Grass-type with its wings, but Skiddo was waiting for it. As soon as it was in range, Skiddo turned its head to the side, effectively swatting the Zubat down to the ground. A hoof descended on the flying Poison-type, preventing it from getting off the ground. Skiddo then pressed its horns down on it, sapping more of its life force and restoring more of Skiddo's.
"Use Leech Life!"
Zubat opened its mouth, exposing the tiny, but no less deadly fangs it uses to suck the life from its prey. The fangs sunk into Skiddo's Horns, and now it was a matter of who's going down first.
"
I'm going to teach Skiddo Synthesis after this." She said to nobody in particular. "
And something to damage Poison-Types aside from Take Down."
Thankfully for the Kalos-born girl, her Skiddo's much stronger than the Rocket Grunts', as the Zubat fainted not long after. Skiddo looked like he has seen better days, but looks like he could fight for a very short time before finally succumbing to his exhaustion.
"I can't believe you two are losing, to a brat with a disadvantaged Pokemon no less!" A woman in a lab coat came out of one of the tunnels leading out of the clearing Gabrielle and the grunts were fighting in. She had in her hand a Pokeball, and he didn't look happy at the Pâtissière interfering. "Take care of her, Klang."
A Pokemon popped out of the Pokeball resembling a trio of gears locked together. Then an orb of energy form in the middle of its two grinding gears. Dread and alarm rang through her entire body at seeing the attack, feeling the power radiating from it even from this far away.
'
Th-that's Hyper Beam!' Gabrielle screamed in her mind, looking at the newcomer and the smirk on her face. '
Hasn't this woman heard of the term overkill?'
Then the Klang fired.
The beam roared towards her, and her only saving grace would be that her Skiddo tackled her tot he side. Both of them evaded the attack by the barest of margins, with Gabrielle feeling the shockwaves generated by the attack battering her even as Skiddo covered her.
"You two," The scientist addressed the grunts, who saluted at her. "Finish what you have to do. Your boss and I will take care of the interlopers."
"Pawnyard." The boss of the grunts sent out the Steel/Dark type, the metal armor glinting in what little light is available in the dimly lit cave.
"
Skiddo, are you alright mon ami?" Gabrielle asked her Pokemon, a pained smile on her face. The Grass-type wearily got to its feet, staring down the two other Pokemon. Then, something caught the girl's eyes, and she breathed out a sigh of relief. "
Sweets, use Fairy Wind!"
"Arcanine, Flamethrower!"
Sweets the Slurpuff finally untied the prisoner from earlier, and after waking him up, managed to send out his own Pokemon into the fray. The large canine Pokemon pounced in between Gabrielle and her opponents, before releasing a large stream of fire. Both Steel-types ducked and weaved, missing them by a mile.
"This is getting tedious." The scientist said, her glasses shining in the glare of the light. She shook her head, holding out her hand in the general direction of her opponents. "What are you waiting for? Christmas? Hurry up and attack them."
"Yeah, yeah... Grumpy old witch..." The leader muttered, earning a scathing sneer from the scientist, before ordering his own Pokemon. "Use Metal Claw on that Slurpuff."
"
Quick, push him away with Fairy Wind!" Gabrielle tried, Sweets spinning in place and unleashing torrents of pink-tinted winds. The Pawniard who leaped forward took the hits with its crossed arms, before retaliating with silver-colored claws. Arcanine raised its paws to bat it away when a silver blur smashed into Arcanine, throwing back the huge Fire-type away from the Pawniard.
"Arcanine!" The man said, looking back at where his Pokemon flew. Gabrielle saw the Klank engaging the Fire-type, remarkably faster than a Steel-type would suggest. "Flame Charge!"
Gabrielle wrenched her eyes away from the two battling Pokemon, focusing on her own. Sweets is being pushed back, having already sustained multiple hits from the Metal Claw, with each swipe getting stronger than the last. Skiddo tried to help it, but it was too nimble for the Vine Whip to catch.
"
Sweets, Cotton Spore, close range!" A puff later, and Pawniard is covered in cotton, slowing it down enough for Skiddo to get a good hit in. "
Horn Leech, Draining Kiss, now."
"Faint Attack."
Pawniard vanished in mid-air, confusing Sweets and Skiddo, who looked around wildly for their opponent. Suddenly, Skiddo let out a pained cry, Pawniard appearing from the side and jabbing its claws between his ribs. Skiddo moved to hit it with his horns, but Pawniard vanished again.
"
Cotton Spore." Sweets puffed up her fur again, this time exploding out and covering both Pokemon in cottony down. Since Skiddo is a Grass-type, he wasn't hindered by the attack, but Pawniard is, and it needs to come in close to hit them.
"Psycho Cut."
"
Of course, why not?" The Pâtissière deadpanned, watching as the Pawniard came out of hiding and sent out a wave of Crescent formed from Psychic energy, displacing the Cotton Spore and hitting Sweets, who whirled her arms as she took the hit. "
Vine Whip!"
"Iron Defense!"
A metallic sheen covered Pawniard, successfully deflecting the attack from the Grass-type. Taking advantage of the situation, the Dual Dark/Steel-type grabbed the vines before using Metal Claw to scratch at the vines.
Skiddo whined at the pain, flailing the free limb in desperation. It was no use, as Pawniard has it pinned in place. Thinking fast, Gabrielle did the only thing she could at the time.
"
Take Down." The Pâtissière's voice cracked in the middle of the order, but managed to get it out. Skiddo charged headlong towards the Steel-type, who cocked its arm back for another attack. Take Down met Metal claw with a resounding smack, flinging both Pokemon away from each other.
"
Sweet Scent." The Pâtissière said, running out of options. Still, Sweets has been trained by her mother to protect Gabrielle, and would take more than a Type advantage to take her out. The Pawniard backed off, distancing itself from the cloud of scent. "
Take Down."
Skiddo plowed into the Pawniard, and the Grass Goat Pokemon angled his head so that when he hit his opponent, the Steel/Dark type was swept off its feet. Taking advantage of the situation, Skiddo smashed his opponent into the ground as he ran, digging groves through the limestone floor. Finally, with a flick of his head, sent the Rocket's Pokemon flying.
Not willing to let her trainer be in any more danger, Sweets attacked independently, forcing out a Fairy Wind that crashed into the free-falling Pawniard. The Steel/Dark type landed bonelessly in front of its trainer.
The Rocket Leader returned his Pokemon, fingering another ball strapped to his belt, when he smirked.
Icy cold fear ran up Gabrielle's spine, and she spun to face where the Arcanine and Klang were fighting. She could see that the battle is over, and not in her favour. Arcanine is collapsed on the ground, struggling to get to its feet. Lightning arced on its singed fur, having taken a rather powerful Electric-Type move if it was any indication.
But right now, it was the Klang that she has to worry about the most. The Pure Steel-type didn't look the least bit expended fighting the Fire-type, and Gabrielle didn't like the chances of going up against a powerful Pokemon. Of course, the Klang didn't give the young Pâtissière a choice. It shined a color ranging from all colors of the spectrum, before firing it towards the Pâtissière's Pokemon.
The Signal Beam surged towards them, quickly covering what short distance the two groups had.
And then it hit.
The blinding light was too much for Gabrielle, and she had to turn away from the sight no matter how much she wanted to make sure her Pokemon are alright. When the light cleared, the scene that greeted her made her eyes widen in disbelief.
Sweets stood before Skiddo, breathing heavily. The rock around her was cleaved into perfect arcing furrow. Sweets wobbled unsteadily, before putting a foot in front of her. And then another. The Fairy-type was slowly yet surely inching its way towards Klang.
"Hah."
The scientist scoffed, unfazed by the heated glare sent to her by the young girl at her remark, or that the Slurpuff was making her way towards her Pokemon. The Fairy-type glowed in preparation for an attack. Klang floated there, not intimidated by the Slurpuff's last-ditch attack.
Sweets raised an arm, lightly tapping the Klang on one of its gears.
What happened next amazed the onlookers. One moment, Klang was floating in place, the next, Klang flew from one side of the room to the other like it was shot out of a cannon, the wall splintering into a spiderweb of cracks at the impact, the Pure Steel-type thoroughly embedded.
The gears of Klang tried to spin, but all it did was make it fall to the floor.
The scientist whirled around to look at Sweets, who was slumped on the ground, to her trainer, Gabrielle, who had a growing smile on her face.
The Pâtissière just now realizing what happened.
Her Slurpuff used Endevour.
The scientist returned her Pokemon, and the Rocket Leader beside her was about to send out another Pokemon when she stopped him.
"No, we'll retreat for now." The woman said. "We've bought the grunts the time they needed. There's no need for us to continue to battle."
The Leader nodded, his arms relaxing at his sides.
"But meddle in our affairs again." The woman said to Gabrielle, who held her stare. "And you won't be let off as easy."
With that word of warning, the two Rocket Members disappeared down the tunnel. Gabrielle watched the corridor for a few more seconds before rushing to her Pokemon's side.
Skiddo looked better off than Sweets, who took the full brunt of the Zap Cannon attack. Taking out a Super Potion out of her pack, she sprayed the solution on the wounds and scratches on each of them. Skiddo winced at the action, not used to having artificial Medicine applied on him, but relaxed at his Trainer's ministrations.
As for Sweets, she was knocked out and didn't even feel the medicine being applied. But Gabrielle made sure she didn't have any hidden wounds from the battle. Satisfied with her work, she returned Sweets into her Ball, before turning to do the same to Skiddo.
Skiddo wouldn't have any of that though. His vines wrapped around Gabrielle's wrist, stopping her from grabbing his ball. He shook his head, saying that he wants to stay out.
"
What's the matter?" She asked, worried for her Pokemon. "
You'll recover better in your ball."
"I think he wants to stay out and protect you." The man with the Arcanine said, walking towards them. His Pokemon flanked his side, the Paralysis flushed from its system. "Isn't that right?"
Skiddo called out his name, nodding his head.
"
Protect me, huh?" Gabrielle whispered under her breath, running her hands on Skiddo's snout. She smiled, giving him a hug. "
Thanks. But you've already protected me."
Skiddo pushed her off, grunting in displeasure. The girl laughed, settling on simply rubbing the side of her Pokemon's face.
"Quite the Sentinel you have there." The man remarked.
"
Sentinel..." The word rolled of Gabrielle's tongue, and she liked the way it sounded. "
How about I nickname you Sentinel?"
Skiddo tilted its head left and right, not really opposed or liking the name. Personally, she would have named him after a herb, like Basil, or Parsley, maybe even Sage. Sage sounded good, but after what her Skiddo did for her earlier...
"
Okay, you pick. Sage or Sentinel?" She asked him.
Skiddo rolled his eyes, but a slight twitch of his lips says that he's happy that his Trainer is asking for his opinion.
"
So, which one? Sentinel?" Gabrielle asked. Skiddo crossed his vines, displaying a rather prominent cross mark. "
Okay, Sage then. Welcome to the team."
"We're 'ere." Douglas said, gesturing towards the Route leading to Cerulean City. From her high vantage point, Gabrielle could clearly see the city's silhouette just beyond the fields.
"
Thank you for showing me the way, monsieur Douglas. It was a pleasure to travel with you." Gabrielle turned to her companion, bowing to him.
"Aye, think noth'n of it. Such a shame tha' you met with some ghastly characters back in the cave. Should've been there with 'a." Douglas rubbed the back of his head, his eyes drifting towards the girl's Chansey, who was carrying a rather sizable backpack. Even larger than his own!
"Well, I better get going too." The man that Gabrielle rescued earlier said to the two, heading back towards the cave. "I still have a few things I need to do, and I have to make sure those villains don't find that vein again."
"
Thank you again for the Stones." She said, gesturing towards the Sail Fossil in her pack. She also gained a few Evolutionary stones with it, a Shiny stone, a Dusk stone, and a Evolite if she was right.
"Oh, no problem at all. It was thanks to you that the rest of the stones in that tunnel are safe, so you deserve a little reward." The man said, waving her off.
"Aye Lass, that was a brave thing you did back there." Douglas said. "But you better get a move on now, daylight's a burnin'!"
Gabrielle nodded, leaning into the newly-nicknamed Sage as they made their way down to the Route bellow. "
I hope to see you again!"
