OOC: No way this RP is dying just yet ;) Sorry it's been a while since I posted, hopefully this will make up for it.
Warren woke up to an eerie silence. Slowly raising his head and looking from side to side, Warren saw the rest of the group still sleeping quietly on the ground. It was still late. So what had woken him up? Tilting his head, Warren listened carefully. Nobody speaking, nothing moving, no loud noises at all. Then Warren froze. No loud noises. Why couldn't he hear the rushing noise of Meteor Falls? Quietly turning around and staggering to his feet, Warren gawped in amazement towards the spray of water. As if by magic, the stream had slowed to a halt and frozen, in midair. With a growing sense of dread, Warren stepped towards the cliff face. Now he got closer, he could see that the water was in fact not frozen - just hanging still, glowing faintly blue, just as it had done when the Lunatone had flown through the cave. That same cave now loomed in front of him, dark and foreboding. With a gulp, Warren stepped forwards, hands dropping to his belt, ready to grab a Pokéball if necessary. Moving into the dark, he opened his eyes as wide as possible, willing himself to see something in the pitch black. Then, without warning, something shifted in front of him. He froze, but then recoiled back a second later as the person turned on a torch, temporarily blinding him. Desperately blinking to try and clear his sight, Warren squinted at the person in front of him, frowning as they came into focus.
"Guy?" The scowling face in front of him momentarily switched to a look of surprise. Warren noticed what appeared to be a small metal claw resting on Guy's shoulder, glaring at him with a single red eye.
"Warren. We really should stop running into other like this." He lowered the torch and turned around as Warren continued to stare at him, before stepping further into the cave and bending down to inspect something in a rocky hollow on the floor, dropping a large brown sack on the floor next to him. Warren growled.
"You gonna tell me what you're doing there, Guy?" Guy shrugged.
"Maybe. Maybe not." He held the bag open and began to reach into the hole, pulling out what looked like large, oval rocks. Warren only realised what they were when he saw the red markings on them. Reaching forwards, he grabbed the bag away from Guy, who spun around angrily.
"No way. You are not just going to steal those eggs and walk out of here." Guy chuckled.
"Of course not. And you'll stop me, because it's not like you need me on your side right now or anything." His smile faded.
"Face it, Warren. I'm your only lead. So either shut up and leave, or the deal's off." Warren paused, clenching and unclenching his fists.
"Then I guess the deal's off." Guy froze, then looked Warren dead in the eye.
"What?"
"I'm not going to become just as bad as Team Magma and Aqua to get my team back. Morally gray is one thing, but this is just wrong. Besides..." He slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out the Magma membership card.
"I've got my own lead now. I don't need to associate myself with scum like you anymore." Guy scowled viciously.
"Fine then. I guess I'd better get rid of you." Warren glared back.
"You just try it. There's no way I'm letting you get away with this. This has been a long time coming. Useless, come on!" The small tree leapt forwards as Warren threw the Pokéball. It charged at Guy, but the Beldum on his shoulder darted in front of its master and the two Pokémon clashed fiercely, striking at each other with heavy blows. For a second, they leapt back and both Warren and Guy took the opportunity to shout orders.
"Take Down!"
"Low Kick!"
The two combatants leapt forwards again and Beldum lashed out wildly towards Useless. But the Bonsly spun over its head, lashing out with its foot to drive the Beldum into the ground, face first. It struggled back into the air, but Useless struck again before it could rise and it collapsed in the dust. Behind them, the flow of water resumed as the Pokémon holding it back slipped in unconsciousness. Warren grinned, looking up at Guy.
"No way you're getting away with this. We're going to take you out!" Guy smirked.
"Of course. Trust me, that Beldum is worthless anyway. Nuzleaf, go!" He threw another Pokéball as he returned the Beldum, releasing a squat, vaguely humanoid Pokémon with a long nose and a leaf sprouting from the top of its head.
"Low Kick again, Useless!" The bonsai charged, but the Nuzleaf simply crouched and placed a hand on the ground. Instantly, a glowing green shoot sprouted from the earth, wrapping itself around Useless's foot and bringing it crashing to the ground.
"Energy Ball!" Before Useless could dodge, the Nuzleaf summoned a green glowing ball between its hands and launched it straight at its foes face, sending it skidding backwards along the ground. Warren returned the unconscious Bonsly, then ducked, yelling in shock as Nuzleaf launched another attack at him. The Energy Ball smashed harmlessly on the wall behind him and warren looked up angrily at guy, who just sniggered.
"Are you going to leave now?"
"Like hell I am! Silver, go!" The wolf shot forwards, charging as soon as it was freed.
"Bite!" Caught off guard, Nuzleaf squealed as Silver sank its teeth into its forearm, batting it off and stumbling back.
"Razor Leaf, now!"
"Howl!" The plant Pokémon flicked its head, sending a flurry of razor sharp leaves at Silver, but the Poochyena stood and took the blows, howling madly in anger and pain.
"Now, Tackle!" Pumped up by aggression and sheer bloodlust, Silver shot forwards, throwing the Nuzleaf into a wall. It bounced off, collapsing in the dust and Warren grinned in triumph and glee. The fast pace of the battle was getting him properly pumped up.
"Ditto, Transform!" Guy threw his next Pokéball and Warren caught just a glimpse of pink goo before it was gone, replaced by dark fur. In a second, there stood not one but two Poochyena in the cave, glaring at each other.
"Bite!"
"Bite!"
The two wolves clashed in the middle of the cave, clawing and snapping at each other. In seconds, Warren had no idea which was Silver and which was Ditto, nor which one was winning. Both had taken some heavy hits and were panting heavily. Then, with a long, loud howl, one of the Poochyena leapt forwards, barging the other one hard and leaping on top of it. The lesser wolf batted at its assailant with its paws, but the victor ignored the weak blows, then ducked down and snapped its jaws tight around the neck of its victim. Warren winced, but instead of meeting fur and flesh, the teeth snapped into viscous pink jelly. Ditto crawled back, oozing gently, before collapsing into a puddle. Guy returned it, snarling viciously as Warren grinned at Silver. This was it - the chance he'd been waiting for to show Guy that he was just as tough as him. Tougher, even. No more deals and no more double-crossing. Just two rivals, fighting to prove who was best.
"Croagunk, take down that wolf! Mud Slap!" Warren snapped his attention back to the battle as a large blue frog emerged, spraying mud at Silver, blinding it temporarily.
"Tackle him!" The Poochyena charged, clipping the toad but not doing any serious harm. Croagunk turned, then drew back its arm.
"Revenge!" As Silver desperately tried to clear its vision, Croagunk swung its fist forwards, driving it into Silvers face and felling the wolf with one quick swipe. Warren growled, returning the wolf and releasing Violet.
"Now you're going down, Guy! Confusion!" Croagunk was sent flying back as Violet raised her hands, but scrambled back to its feet, breathing heavily.
"Faint Attack!"
"Double Team!" Croagunk shot forwards, wrapped in dark energies, but Violet split into four separate copies and the toad's fists met nothing but air. It lashed out twice more, but destroyed only the copies. Violet backed up towards a wall, grinning. Warren paused, then smiled as he realised her plan.
"Headbutt!" Lowering its arms, Croagunk leapt forwards, head down, but Violet closed her eyes and dematerialised, instantly teleporting back to Warren's side. Croagunk smashed headfirst into the wall and fell to the ground, groaning. Guy returned it, immediately throwing his next Pokéball.
"Vespiquen, go!" Warren blanched as the huge bee, nearly as tall as him, materialised in front of Violet and flew forwards.
"Confusion!"
"Bug Bite!"
Violet pushed back as Vespiquen flew forwards, but although it slowed, the bug kept going and bit down hard on the Ralts's helmet, tossing it to the ground. Violet struggled back up, concentrating her Confusion on the surrounding rocks this time. They flew forwards, but Guy just smirked.
"Defend Order!" A cloud of tiny insects swarmed out of the bottom of Vespiquen's dress, absorbing the rocks and dropping them to the ground. Hundreds were squashed and killed, but the remainder returned home, ready to defend once more as Violet growled, annoyed at her failed attack.
"Gust!" Vespiquen began to beat its wings rapidly and Warren had to grab onto a rock to prevent himself from being blown off his feet. Violet was tossed through the air, landing hard on the ground. Warren returned her, then quickly threw another Pokéball, releasing the huge blue whale that was Cannonball. Slightly confused, he just grinned at the gust blowing in his face - strong enough to lift Violet, but nowhere near powerful enough to even bother him.
"Water Gun!"
"Defend Order!" The remaining troops rematerialised in front of their queen, but the whale unleashed a powerful attack which smashed through them and struck Vespiquen hard, driving it into the wall. Nursing its injuries, it stepped forwards, then fired a rainbow-coloured beam from the jewel on its head. Cannonball rocked backwards, blinking its eyes, dazed by the Confuse Ray and Warren swore.
"Rollout! Come on, just concentrate!" Cannonball tucked its flippers and tail in, closed its eyes and rolled forwards at top speed. In the narrow cave, Vespiquen had no chance of dodging, but Cannonball was too dazed to stop and both Pokémon flew into the wall, then collapsed, unconscious. The two trainers returned their Pokémon, then locked eyes.
"Cuddles!"
"Houndoom!" The two fighters appeared in the middle of the cave and Warren crossed his fingers. He had faith in Cuddles, but there was no escaping the fact that Houndoom was a more seasoned battler and probably had more powerful moves. He had to hit it hard and fast.
"Fury Swipes, top speed!" The bear dashed forwards, claws flashing, and the dog winced as it was scratched across the nose, but quickly responded with a savage bite with caught Cuddles's ear. Whipping its head around, it sent the bear flying through the air, squealing loudly. Spinning, Cuddles landed on all fours, ignoring its pain and looked to Warren for an order.
"Lick it!"
"Thunder Fang!" The two Pokémon both attacked and Cuddles landed his blow first, swiping the wolf across the face with its tongue. But as it spun, the Houndoom bit down, closing its teeth on the same ear and sending sparks flying through the bear's body. Both of them stumbled back in pain, eyeing each other with undisguised hatred matched only by that of their trainers.
"Ember now!"
"Dodge, and Fake Tears!" Houndoom spat flames at Cuddles, but it ducked behind a rock, then stuck its head back over the top, eyes watering convincingly. Houndoom barked with laughter, firing off more flames which Cuddles narrowly avoided.
"Ok, try Leer this time!" Cuddles glared at Houndoom again, but this time it was with sheer malevolence and Houndoom flinched momentarily. It was the opening they needed.
"Faint Attack, then Scratch!" The bear shot forwards almost instantly, too fast to be seen, and struck hard at Houndoom. It reeled back, only to be caught by a vicious scratch. Warren smiled. This fight was his now. Houndoom was too hurt and too tired to take down Cuddles.
"Smog!" Taken unawares, both Cuddles and Warren snapped their eyes shut against the stinging smoke, coughing and hacking. Slowly, it cleared, to reveal the two of them, alone. Warren spun around, but there was no sign of Houndoom or Guy. Warren swore loudly. He knew he should be glad that he'd chased off Guy and shown him who was boss, but he was just angry that he'd been denied the chance to win properly. He turned back to Cuddles, who was sitting against the wall of the cave, worn out.
"Nice fighting there, runt. He bent down to check the bear's ear. It looked a bit chewed up, but nothing life-threatening. Then, without warning, the sound of the waterfall faded once more. Warren spun around to see Amos standing there. Floating next to him in the stream was his Lapras. From the blue glow in its eyes, Warren could tell that it was the one holding back the falls. The trainer stepped forwards and opened his mouth to speak, but Amos raised a hand.
"No." There was such cold anger behind that single word that Warren stopped in his tracks. What was going on? Then he followed Amos's gaze, over his shoulder, to where Guy had dropped the sack of Lunatone eggs. One could be seen right now, poking out, with its markings clearly visible. Warren turned back to the old man.
"This isn't what it looks like. I-" Amos spat on the ground and Warren stopped again.
"Do not lie to me anymore, Warren. I thought we had found a friend in you, but it seems that you are just as bad as those you claim to be against – if not worse. "
"But-"
"No!" For the third time, Warren stopped mid-sentence.
"Anything you say now will only make this worse Warren. Now, Joshua saw you as a friend and I do not wish to upset him, so I will make this offer. Leave now. Do not speak to us again. Do not come back. We will be heading south after this, so I suggest you go the other way. If we meet again, you will be our enemy. Now go, before I make you leave by force!" Warren stepped forwards.
"Please, just listen to me!"
"Go!" With that, Lapras spat out a warning shot of ice, which grazed Warren's head, leaving an intense feeling of cold. Head down and heart racing, Warren raced for the cave entrance and sped up the nearest tunnel he could find out of the central cavern, leaving behind the people who had almost been his friends. Guy would pay for this.
![[Best Veteran March/May 2011] A new professor in town - Kanto Adventure PG13](https://fc04.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/070/4/b/adeline_by_romdinner-d3beol0.jpg "[Best Veteran March/May 2011] A new professor in town - Kanto Adventure PG13")