I did make it to the PokeCentre, eventually, but they had already left. Without their
Pokemon. The Pokemon weren't totally healed when they had arrived and had to go without them, Cal most likely showing of again. Joy wouldn't let me take theirs with me because it was against their policy. I nicked out of their on Chilun as fast as my aching as would let me, no more than a canter, and Fury racing beside me. I swore every time I hit a bump, so pretty much every two seconds.
When we reached the Well fifteen minutes later, Kurt and the man were in a Pokemon battle, Rattata vs. a Ledian, evolution of Ledyba, and it was obvious who trained whom. Ledian hit Rattata with a final Comet punch and Rattata went down. The man recalled Rattata and hissed at Kurt, "You'll be sorry you messed with team Rocket," and dashed
down the direction of Azalea. His trench coat slipped from his shoulders revealing the
Rockets black uniform with a red R blazoned across the front.
I looked at Kurt questionably as I fell off Chilun and recalled him.
"Most Rockets have a code of honour. If you defeat them in a Pokemon battle they'll be cooperative," he answered gruffly and began to press the bricks of the well. Each stood firm. He tapped the tiles of the roof and the decorative stones around the well. Still nothing.
We knocked against trees until Fury came across the crooked limb of a Banksia. Kurt flicked it and to our amazement, the closest wall of the well caved in!
On closer inspection the bricks had only fall into a position so it made a staircase, leading into the darkness. After a few moments, the bricks relocated back to their former position.
We flicked it again and without waiting Kurt leapt into the forbidding hole. Soon after there was a loud thud and a cry of pain. Cal, Suma, Fury and I looked at each other and jumped down to find Kurt at the bottom leaning over awkwardly. He moaned again.
"I put my back out.”
"Oh no," Suma squeaked. "We've gotta get out of here!" She looked around anxiously as if expecting boogiemen to jump out at us.
She and Cal took him over their shoulders and climbed up the already receding steps. I tried to follow but Kurt stopped me. "Don't. You're the only one with Pokemon and those Slowpoke need you."
I nodded and motioned for Fury to lead. I was cut short when she glared at me and said,
"I'm only doing this for the Pokemon."
I was hurt. I only paused to mutter a quick damn it, because she was pretty the only one I could trust in caves, and followed her.
It wasn't long before we encountered the Grunts, Rocket members. Most only had Zubat's, Rattata's and Ekan's and Mystic defeated them easily. After the battles, they let use pass with nothing more then sworn revenge. I found it hard to believe that these snakes had honour, but then again the oldest was no more than 17. I released my Pokemon and as I'd hoped Chilun stayed calm, but tossed her head anxiously. I crawled onto her back with little trouble and I figured that we'd ride in there, create as much chaos as possible and escape with the Slowpokes.
"Mreeeeeep”
I heard a cry of surprise from outside the tunnel. "I know that Mareep, its that girls!"
"DAMNIT!" Bolt had wandered into the centre of the cavern and now various Rockets were advancing upon him. Oh well, may as well make a dramatic entrance. Maybe we can stun them into giving up.
I sat erect on Chilun and ordered my Pokemon in a formation around me. When we were already, we ambled out there, looking the picture of nobility. A walk in the park was more dangerous than these clowns.
"I challenge you!" I announced to the Rockets who just stared at me, some scrawny kid who'd broke into there fortress of security and had the audacity to just walk in where there were more than 20 of them, all ready to attack on a moments notice.
I managed to get off Chilun with out falling in the dirt. "You heard me. I, challenge, you, to, a, Pokemon, battle!" I said slowly my voice dripping with scorn. "3 on 3. You win, you get 3 of my Pokemon. I win, you give me 3 of your Pokemon and get the hell out of here."
I saw Ricky and Renee down the back of the group. "And the Egg you stole. Also to the winner." I was bluffing, I didn't have 2000 bucks, but if these Pokemon were anything like the ones I battled before, I'd fly by.
"We accept," an 18 year old said, clearly in charge of the operation. "But you will battle three of us, one Pokemon for each."
"Agreed." I let them argue among themselves a little more until they had chosen who would battle me. They then formed a loose circle around us indicating the size of the battleground. "Ready?"
"Ready. You're going to battle Eric first," The ringleader said. Eric took up position on the base line and I did the same. I sized him up and chose my first Pokemon.
"Talorn, I choose you!" She answered the call and took too the air. She circled impatiently while Eric choose his.
"Kadabra, go!"
"Kadabrrra!" he cried as he escaped the Pokeball. Before I uttered a word Talorn plummeted from the ceiling, talons extended. As she was about to rip Kadabra's face into shreds, he Teleported from beneath her. Too late to change her course, she collided with the ground. I gasped, but was quickly relieved as she picked herself of the ground, a little dazed. In that moment Kadabra reappeared and launched a pulsing purple Psybeam. It caught Talorn at the base of her neck. A shrill agonizing shriek rent the air and Kadabra ceased the attack to clutch his sensitive ears. Talorn wheeled to face him and mimicked the attack.
I was beginning to feel dizzy. All this was happening to fast for my brain to compute and the whirlpool of reds, blues and purples wasn't making me feel much better. Seeing me ready to fall, Chilun stepped closer to support me. I nodded thanks and returned to watch the match.
Since Talorn was of higher level, the attack was magnified and Kadabra was engulfed in a tornado of psychic energy. Talorn quit the Psybeam and inhaled a huge gulp of air, then gasped for more. The attack had taken a lot out of her, but she was in a hell of a better shape then that of Kadabra. His eyes had rolled back into his head and its limbs were limp. The wave of red light caught Kadabra and returned it to its Pokeball. Eric compressed it and shoved it angrily in his pocket. He stepped aside for the nest Rocket to battle me.
A bead of perspiration slide down the contours of my nose and dropped on to Chilun’s flank. I frosted over as it touched. Not only was it stuffy in her but also I was nervous.
Talorn was my strongest Pokemon and Kadabra had left her badly out of breath. Her usually lustrous feathers were covered with chaplets of sweat and her head drooped visibly. I debated whether or not to recall her, but I saw the gleam of light in her eyes that said the only way she was going back in her Pokeball was if she fainted.
Sage Li was right. My Pokemon were stubborn.
A woman stepped up to the plate now. She had the same cocky grin Angel wore when he thought he was ahead. I quickly change his statement just as I would change hers.
"I choose you, Gail," she cried and tossed a Greatball into the centre of the makeshift arena. I scanned my memory trying to recall any information on the Pokemon but came up blank. I wasn't surprised when a scarcely familiar Pokemon appeared from the ball.
Gail must have been a nickname.
"Gira, Girafarig," she murmured, her head lowered. I saw faint scars crisscrossing patches of balding fur. The Pokemon must have been poorly treated.
"Sand attack," I ordered. Talorn gave a weak nod and waved her wings back and forth. A billowing cloud of dust covered the field. I coughed hard as the dust particles caught in my throat.
"Attack, you dumbass Girafarig!" A crack of a whip pierced the air followed by the wail of pain. I winced. Suddenly a shaft of light cu through the dust lie a knife through butter. I heard a gasp and a loud thump. We waited for the dust to settle and my fears were confirmed as I saw Talorns form lying on the ground. I recalled her and patted Chiluns well muscled shoulder. Chilun leaped forward, his eyes wide with excitement. It was after all his first trainer battle. He pranced from one foot to the other while Gail only stared at him steadily.
"Confusion!" the woman yelled and lashed out with her whip. It slapped against Gail's haunch and a burst of energy short from her stumpy horns as she skittered from beneath the whip.
The attack only skimmed Chilun's right flank but he went wild. He reared back and flailed his hooves madly. The Grunts closest to him backed up to the skirts of the cavern. Chilun launched his own attack, an ice beam. A jagged blue lightning zapped through the air.
Gail sidestepped, but not fast enough. Her back half, where the second head gnashed the air, froze solid. It collapsed and her forelegs pawed at the ground to keep balance. I noticed Chilun stood still with his forefeet in the air, like an ice sculpture except for his mane, which fluttered in a nonexistent breeze. Come to think of it, there was a breeze but it didn't come from the tunnel. Goose bumps broke on my skin and I rubbed to keep myself warm. The air rose and fell about the room; I could see specks of white floating on it. I followed the path it took around the cavern. Its spirals became tighter and more and more snowflakes could bee seen. Soon a hurricane of snow and ice whipped around Chilun, still standing stone like. His mane wavered frantically billowing like a kid trying to blow out his birthday candles. A moment later the snow was so thick you couldn't see any of Chilun. I took out my Pokedex to try and figure out the attack.
"Unknown attack."
Then record it in your memory," Dex gave a beep of confirmation and began rolling.
Chilun meanwhile had broken from his trance and screamed into the air. He brought his hooves down and the place trembled. The gust of snow and ice seemed to die and drop to the ground but a moment later it revived itself and raced along the ground like and arrow aimed right at Gail who was still feeling the bite of the whip.
The attack didn't hesitate and enveloped Gail in the Fury of the blizzard.
When it passed, the Girafarig was trapped in a case of ice. The woman lashed with the whip doing no more damage to the glasslike structure than an insect. As the saying went, ‘You can't wring blood from a stone. The woman recalled Girafarig with a look of pure hatred on her face. I was making a hell of a lot of enemies on my journey and I hadn't even earned my second badge.
A 15-year-old boy stepped up next, but he looked as if he had a lot more experience then me. He tossed a Pokeball into the ring. A Houndour. It breathed a tongue of flame and grinned. Chilun, recovering quickly from the mystery attack pranced the ring again confidently.
"Beat Rush!" I yelled. Chilun charged with all the speed and grace that came with his kind. The blur crashed into Houndour and Houndour crashed into his trainer. After no more then moment, he bounded off his trainer and exhaled a storm of fire at the unprepared opponent. I roared over Chilun and refused to let go. A puddle of the melted crystals that usual covered his body formed a puddle at his feet. He fell onto one knee then the other and soon he lay in a pool of water with his radiant blue flames almost extinguished. I recalled Chilun with a heavy heart.
No whom would I choose? Bolt was out of the question and Mystic and Aqua were tired from their battles earlier.
"Fury go!" Fury stood firm at my side. "Go on, get. You said you were only in it to help the Pokemon so do it for the Pokemon." I hissed so only she could hear. She glared at me and said in an equally low voice. "Fine. But I battle for myself."
She stepped up to face the Houndour. He grinned at her, a little out of breath but none the worse.
"Houndour, ember!" The liquid fire pelted Furies body harmlessly and she retaliated with a series of Slash and Bite attacks. Houndour backed away to avoid them but couldn't escape tem all.
"Now Flamethrower!" Again Houndour's mouth filled with inferno. Fury dodged the first column of flame, and the second. She then leapt to latch her tiny jaws about his neck but was caught in the third blast.
She screeched as it coiled around her, but Houndour ignored the sound where Kadabra didn't. She howled with pain and jerked and spasms ripped through her body as if she were in her death throes. Houndour quit the barrage and set on Fury like a cat on a mouse, which was a pretty accurate description since Fury was at least half his size.
"Smokescreen!" I screamed. My heart pounded against my rib cage like a wild animal trying to escape. Fury heeded my warning and exhaled the smoke hiding her from view.
Houndour skidded to a halt before entering the cloud and looked confused. He looked at his trainer for help; the boy didn't know what to do either. While Houndour had his back towards her, Fury leapt out of the cloud and jaws wide but instead of snapping onto his neck like she'd tried before she fired a volley of golden stars each hit Houndour and exploded like a shooting star. Houndour staggered back. He was dazed and dizzy and fired a poorly aimed flamethrower.
"Tamed Flame!" Fur flashed me a quick grin and howled. The Flames did a U turn and crashed into Houndour.
"Return to sender!" she yelped as Houndour fainted and jumped into my arms. I guess I was forgiven for the stupid remark earlier.
"All right! The money, the Pokemon, the Egg and get the hell out of here!" I grinned confidently to the crowed of Rockets.
The ringleader grinned too, but his was that of a snake. "And if we don't?" The smile dropped from my face immediately as the blocked the exit." I glanced anxiously around the room and saw cage upon cage stacked in the far corner each filled with a Slowpoke. An idea dawned in my head.
"Ember over there!" Fury's collar of fire extended and cleared the to the back wall. I reached it and yanked on a cage, trying not to rock the others.
"Slow?" they asked looking perplexed.
"Confusion!" I yelled as the Rockets closed in. Each Slowpoke stared at me with a dopey statement. "DO SOMETHING!!!" I screamed hysterical. A Grunt took my arm but Fury fixed that. He jumped back screaming for water.
"Slow… Poke... Slow… Poke," A Slowpoke on the bottom row began to head-butt his cage. It wobbled, as did the others above it.
"No! Don't! Damnit!" Too late more had taken up the chant and slammed their prison door. The Slowpoke who had started the movement tipped his cage forward, the rest fell with it.
I screamed as the world crashed down around me. I cage slammed me and drove me to the stone floor. I let go of Fury and tossed her out of the mayhem, she rolled to safety.
Another and Another smashed against my skull and lower back. The Slowpokes, well not exactly screamed, but cried out as they were rocked within their prisons.
Suddenly the avalanche stopped and the Rockets moved in again, but before they could, an orange and black striped blur burst into the room and knocked them down like Bowling pins. I beautiful blue bird swooped down and pecked the unmercifully. Then, what looked like a whole heap of prisms glued together floated out using a Tri Attack. Lightning ice and flame whirled about it electrocuting, freezing and burning anyone with in striking distance.
Some familiar faces poked through the entrance, Cal, Suma, a boy and a girl, and a whole heap of police officers, adding more terror to the chaos.
After half an hour of utter, order was almost restored and Cal and the unknown boy pulled me form beneath the battered Slowpokes, while the girl nursed Fury. Suma stood rummaging through the Rockets things and Maverick chewed on their ankles while
Officers hauled them away.
After another half hour I was at the Police station giving a statement of the account, Fury butting in if I had forgotten something. I must say she lingered on her part and exaggerated her own heroics as well as mine.
"Well," Officer Jenny said with a look of awe. "Looks like we owe you 3 Pokemon, and an Egg. You friends already have the Egg, here's your and you can choose your Pokemon in here. Your friends can have one too. They were very responsible when they were under pressure. Miss Erben has taken her share of the spoils, its only fair you should too." She nodded and went back to check on the Team Rocket members.
I chose my three, Gail, Houndour and an Eevee and sent them to Professor Elm.
I called to Cal and Suma. It took Cal approximately two seconds to choose a Pokemon , a Monsoon. While Suma took a Shahman, a bird I'd missed. I swore but didn't really mind. I looked out the door and the boy and girl were still there.
"Come choose a Pokemon too!" I said with a grin. "As you can see, there's plenty to share."
The girl came closer. She looked younger then me but was still quite a bit taller. Long
Blonde ringlets fell down to her waist and stunning green eyes studied me with interest.
There was something familiar about her but I couldn't put my finger on it.
"Thanks for the Pokemon, I'm Moon," she said but then added curiously. "Are you alright? Those cages hit you pretty hard."
I couldn't help but laugh. "I'm Topaz and believe me I've had worse."
Moon smiled. "I know you! Your from the Route 32 bushfire."
"And more. Go on, get your Pokemon." She nodded and went in search of a Pokemon.
"Is this one alright?" It was the boy. I must've been shrinking because he was taller than
me too. Brown hair framed his face and his eyes were a warm chocolate brown. There
was something about him too. He held a Pokeball labelled Stantler.
"Sure, uh..."
"Phil."
"They're pretty strong when raised properly," I said as Moon returned with her own Pokeball. "What you get? I've got a Stantler."
"A Korin. I can't wait to train it!" she exclaimed. A Korin was a small ghost Pokemon known for its cute looks and fearsome attacks. A Kunundrum, its evolved form, was so strong it could send a Tyranitar flat on its face.
"Where are you two headed?" I asked curious.
"The gym, after a bit of training," she said still smiling.
I opened my mouth wide. "Your right. I might see you two around some time, but for now I'm off to battle Bugsy."
"The Gym closes at 5:00," Moon said with a raised eyebrow.
"Damn it. Oh well, I'll do it tomorrow."
"It isn't open then either," Phil answered.
"OK I'll get some training done. Care to join me?"
The two nodded happily. "We'll see you tomorrow. We've got a few things to do."
"Seeya then." I waved them out the door. I was dead tired. I just hoped I had the strength to make it to the PokeCentre.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Birth of Glaceon
Houndour darted across the space that separated him and Dragonair with lightning speed and slammed it with his shoulder. The Dragonair tucked into a wheel to break it's fall. It got up dizzily and fired a volley of blue flames, a dragon rage attack. They struck in the centre of the silver skull that decorated Apollo's broad black forehead.
"Return Apollo," I called as he disappeared into his Pokeball.
Moon, Philip, Suma, Cal and I had been training all morning. I'd exchanged Mystic and
Bolt for Apollo, my new Houndour, and my Eevee, Artemis. Gail was at Professor Elm's laboratory getting some TLC. She was in good hands and I'm sure Professor Elm was delighted with the chance of some more research.
I caught some of the locals; Ledyba, Hoppit and Joust, a steel type Pokemon that resembled a knight of old except it's movement were fluid and graceful. Suma had caught a Hoppit too, but focused on evolving her Pokemon. Nidoran was now a
Nidorina, Sentret was a Furret and Fireline wasn't far behind. Cal was way ahead of her though. A Quagsire and Typhoon, evolved Monsoon, and Azumarill were now his, and he was helping Lapras learn ice beam. Bu I noticed he eyed Moon's Dragonair jealously.
I'd learnt much about Moon and Phil. Much to my surprise, Moons parents weren't hippies, just your average parents that don't let you stay up late or eat lollies before dinner. Moon had won some regional championships in Kanto so she was pretty experienced.
Phil was a normal type trainer and got on with Cal perfectly. If the two weren't arguing, which was better, water or normal, they were discussing the advantages of training one
type.
After battling the wild Pokemon, I got bored and challenged Moon to a six on six battle. I
chose Fury for my first Pokemon and she took out Moons Raichu with ease, but was
beaten by her Ivysaur. After a scuffle between Ivysaur and Artemis, Artemis came out
on top. Moon's Arcanine was amazing. It defeated both Artemis and Aqua. Then I
released the big guns and Talorn conquered Arcanine.
That's when things got interesting and Articuno came into play. That's right, Articuno, a
bird of the fabled Wings of Council, except this one was only a baby, no bigger than my
Aquatro.
I drooled shamelessly.
But being small didn't make it any less powerful. After a stunning battle and a massive
blast of energy, sending us running for cover, they were both left unconscious. We
recalled them and chose our next Dragonair and Apollo. With Apollo down, I was left to
my last, Chilun. After an Ice Beam, Dragonair was down for the count. We both had only
one Pokemon left.
"Eevee go!" she yelled with determination. Her Eevee was ready to rumble and growled,
though it sounded more like a Meowth purring.
"Chilun! Beat Rush!" I roared, meeting the challenge. Chilun stampeded after the tiny
Eevee. She panicked and ran but was no match for the Artico's superior speed. Eevee
froze, like a Nidoran caught in the spotlight. Chilun reared up to leave an immense hoof
imprinted on Eevee's face.
"Agility," Moon commanded her petrified Eevee. Something must have gotten through
because she weaved in and out of the pounding hooves, nipping at the ankles. Suddenly
she made a wrong move and Chilun crushed her fluffy tail. Eevee screeched and dug it's
teeth into the flesh of Chilun's forefoot. He squealed, frantically pawing the air hoping to
loosen his attacker. Her jaws gave way and was tossed into the air. She landed at her
owners feet groaning.
"All right. Ready Eevee!" Moon said with a furtive grin. Eevee's eyes brightened and
straitened herself, no longer in pain. Chilun watched warily. He'd learnt the first time and
was still regaining his breath. Something big was going to happen and I hand to act now.
"Tundra Eruption!" I yelled, naming the attack he'd used yesterday. We'd been
practicing, trying to make it a swifter and more powerful. The attack was strong and if
done properly, would wipe Eevee out before she had a chance.
The air immediately grew cooler. Chilun pounded his hooves against the dirt and, like
the dominos effect, a wave of ice swept it's way to Eevee, always picking up speed.
Eevee stood strong, waiting for her trainers commands. Now Moon chose to unleash the
Eevee's power.
"Hyper Beam!" Eevee inhaled a swirl of golden energy storing in the back of her throat.
She then breathed it out, the beam with it. Chilun danced nimbly aside and the attack hit
a near by tree, He snickered, but was cut short when a fairly large branch broke from
above and brushed his rear end a little too closely. Meanwhile the Tundra Eruption had
overwhelmed Eevee and encased her in ice.
Chilun escaped from beneath the branch and whinnied with triumph. His coat
shimmered in the morning light. I suddenly realized that it wasn't just the rainbow light
that usually reflected through his frosty pelt, he was evolving. His shape twisted and
turned beneath the layer of light that now completely covered his body. When the light
faded he was full grown Articolt.
Chilun screamed again and pranced up to me neck extended. I reached out and kissed
his velvety nose.
"You legend!" I said exaggerating my Australian accent. "I've definitely got to get riding
lessons now! But, for now, we gotta free Eevee."
Moon was leaning over the icy prison, pounding it with her fists. You couldn't even see
Eevee beneath the frosted surface. If you even got close to it your breath misted in the
air and if Moon didn't watch out she'd probably get frostbite.
"Allow me to offer Chilun's assistance," I said grinning, a tiny bit of a I beat you, I beat
you! tone of voice. Moon gratefully accepted and he took up position beside the Eevee
ice cube, ready to smash his harder than diamond hooves onto it. Chilun lined up his
aim and just a he was about to bring his full weight down, it started to melt.
Well not really melt, but the ice folded outwards and a Pokemon that wasn't Eevee
stepped out.
It was beautiful. It's lustrous white coat had a white sheen that flickered silver with every
flowing step. On each of it's slim ankles were three silver rings banded together. The
silver pigment continued up the fine hairs of the back of it's legs and painted the breast
and stomach. It's sleek snowy muzzle nosed the air and it's rabbit like ears twisted with
each new sound. Tendrils of ice curled from the tips and refracted the light.
"What is it?" Moon breathed. We both pulled out our Pokedex's and each answered
simultaneously, "Unknown subject."
"Come on," I said recalling Chilun and replacing his ball back to his clip. "We can ask
Professor Elm. He knows practically every thing about Pokemon evolution.
Moon shook her head. "Professor Oak a friend of my families, I'd more comfortable
talking to him."
"We'll show both!" Suma exclaimed exasperated. She'd taken an instant dislike to Moon
and was probably doing her best to sound civil.
"Are you going to recall it?" Phil asked, gazing at the Eevee evolution.
"Her," Moon said pointedly. "And no, I think I'll get to know her."
"How? She doesn't have a translator," I asked sceptically. It was a beautiful Pokemon
and if I duplicated the feat I could have one too.
"With this. It allows me to understand what their saying." She held up a gold chain
necklace, dangling from it was a crystal that shone with the same intensity as the ice
Eevee.
"So that's why you were arguing with Raichu," I said.
"And we thought you were just schizophrenic," Suma replied snidely. "Let's go."
Maverick squawked his approval and ran ahead. I think he remembered the almost
eternal darkness of Union Cave and wanted get as far away from it as possible
Moon glared stonily at Suma and started of in the direction of Azalea, the ice Pokemon
trailing behind her obediently behind her.

We arrived at Azalea a little later. Moon and I gave our fainted Pokemon to Nurse Joy
and Moon insisted on calling Professor Oak. He greeted us warmly and made comments
on my journey so far and what he'd heard on the news. I was rather flattered when he
compared my adventures to those of Ash Ketchem. I told him of my goal to capture the
Wings of Council. He gave and amused chuckle and upgraded my Pokedex to include
more information.
Professor Oak observed Moon standing beside me and became remarkably animated.
"Ahh Moon, your parents told me of your situation. Now, how are you doing in the Johto
League. Any new Pokemon?"
When she nodded his smile widened. "Topaz and I were battling. Her Artico used an
attack that froze my Eevee solid. After her Artico evolved we were going to free Eevee,
but before we had a chance, the ice melted and she stepped out." Moon walked back so
he could see the Pokemon.
"Another Eevee evolution?" Professor Oak exclaimed. "It's genetic composition is much
more unstable then I realized. Do you know how many evolutions there are now? About
a week ago a girl from Pallet traded her Eevee with a Leaf stone into what she called
Vineon. Originally if it came into contact with a Leaf stone nothing would happen and yet
when it was traded it turned into the stunning creature it is now."
"In Lavender, when you first started your journey, Topaz, a boy and his Eevee were
trying to capture a ghost Pokemon. A Kunundrum materialized behind them and scared
the Eevee out of it's wits. It evolved into a Spectreon, a creature with an imposing
personality. I couldn't look at it for more then a few minutes with out shuddering. That
made researching it very difficult."
"A normal type was even discovered, Evareon, evolving for some unknown reason. It's
so much like Eevee that I'm surprised it evolved at all. Now your ice type, obviously a
reaction to the cold. That leaves me to another point. What do you propose to call it?"
Professor Oak looked worn out. His gestures had been large and energetic and that was
probably as much exercise as he'd had all day.
"I've no idea" Moon admitted with a shrug. I didn't know about her but my mind was
spinning, crammed with all that new information.
Maybe if I was lucky it would push out all that useless geography and history that was
taking up space in my skull. Ms Lera always said "Those who didn't study history were
doomed to repeat it." In her class she was usually right. 6th time lucky is all I can say.
"Wait!" the Professor interrupted before she could hang up. "May I study it for the time
being. I'd like to examine her elemental configuration."
She nodded. "I'll swap her for Rapidash and teach Topaz how to ride her Articolt." Moon
recalled the Ice Eevee and placed it carefully in the transporter beside the Vidphone. A
flash of light and a Pokeball identical to the one that held Eevee replaced it. She turned
back to the Vidphone. "Thanks Professor. I hope you find what ever your looking for."
She nodded goodbye and turned off the monitor. "Have you got Articolt? Good, we've
got get your equipment."
"My equipment?" I bleated.
"Yes." Moon confirmed. You've got an Articolt and you obviously don't know how to ride
it. If you want to pass the distance quicker, you'll need to be able to sit on him with out
falling off every two meters, and if you want to ride, you'll need a whole heap of stuff."
She glanced at my uniform. "And something that doesn't have so much stitching that you
can't see the original material."
"But!"
"No time for it."
"But!"
"No time for that either. Come on."

I did end up getting a new uniform, exactly the same as my old one despite the girls
complaints. I trekked back to the PokeCenter and signed my Pokemon out to meet my
friends in the field east of Azalea.
I fixed Chilun with his new blue, jewel studded bridle. It gave hem a regal and princely
appearance. I didn't bother with the saddle. It would have been to hard to materialize
into the Pokeball and Chilun was having enough trouble dealing with the bridle. He still
refused the translator, I think it was so I couldn't here him swear at me.
Moon started with the basics, getting on. Now keep in mind I'm pretty short for my age.
When an Artico, I had enough trouble trying to clamber my way onto Chilun’s back. Now
that he was an Articolt, and at least a span taller then a Rapidash, it was goddamned
near impossible.
While this was going on, Suma, Cal, Philip, Fury and my other Pokemon were in
hysterics. Fury cackled like a Solcian, a jester like ghost type, and rolled over the grass.
Talorn chortled from the air above us, often remarking about how I should stick to flying.
Apollo bayed and howled while Artemis tittered at his feet. She would call out unhelpful
comments every unsuccessful try. Aqua smiled, her musical laughter drifting down from
the trees.
Suma had tears streaming down her cheeks and was clutching her hides, obviously
trying to keep them from splitting. Cal slapped Phil across the back, practically giving
him a heart attack. But if he didn't die of a heart attack, he almost certainly did of a
collapsed lung when I tried vainly to drop from a branch onto Chilun’s back. It was at that
moment he decided to sample the sumptuous grass a few meters away. I landed flat on
my ass and dirtied my uniform.
"YOU'RE ALL GOING TO BE LAUGHING FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF YOUR FACE
IF YOU DON'T SHUT UP!"
Moon and Rapidash, however, were not impressed. As I got up off the ground she had
fixed him with a glare that could melt steel and had Chilun on his knees. With an
unstable grip on his shoulder, I hoisted myself onto his back and straddled my legs on
either side.
Thank god I wasn't male.
She then instructed me in holding the reins and how each movement was crucial in
Chilun understanding exactly what I wanted. There were so many I'm sure she would
have had us doing the Can Can, or Can't Can't depending on how you look at it, sooner
or later. But it was easy for her to say. Rapidash moved effortlessly across the ground,
almost as if she were floating, while Chilun stepped in every pothole. A few more bruises
on my ass later, I had the gist of it and it was time to learn how to trot.
Damnit!
My elbows flapped like a Pidgey learning how to fly and my behind thumped against
Chilun's bare, bony, back. He, at any rate, was having the time of his life. His English
must have been getting worse too because when Moon said slow down, I complied,
using the correct signal mind you, and he took off at terminal velocity.
But by the end of the day I was riding better. I had mastered most of the commands and
Chilun had relearnt his English, the hard way when he ran through the trees and I was
clotheslined by a low hanging branch.
He was a good little Articolt after that lesson.
I flew home on Talorns back with the others trailing behind. We zipped across the
thermals and soared above the clouds, working out the stress of the day. Aqua glided
around us, her river like crest and tail trailing behind her, glittering in the twilight. She
sang a beautiful lullaby making me even more relaxed.
When we got back to the PokeCenter, I saw everyone else was unwinding. Moon had
retrieved the Eevee, which she later named Glaceon, was talking to her with Phil in the
lengthening shadow of a blue gum, it's sweet smelling blossoms wafting up into the air,
smelling like incense. They would make some comments and Glaceon would twitch her
ears or occasionally yap her new name in a husky voice.
Fury, Artemis, Apollo, Fireline, Typhoon and Maverick frolicked in the evening air.
Maverick spun wildly in a circle and tried to chase after them. He lunged at Fireline but
she dodged nimbly aside. Typhoon cracked his whip like tail behind Maverick, taunting
him with his deep echoing voice. Fury danced out of his reach, her collar flames licking
the air in excitement. Maverick took a wobbly step forward, and tripped over his tail.
"Tototototo!" he squawked as he fell on top of Fury's fire. He leapt back immediately and
Typhoon doused the flames.
Talorn laughed her laugh, like a duchess jeering a jester and I laughed softly along with
her.
Cal was training his two new Pokemon, Vapoureon and Politoed. I'd given him the water
stone from Union Cave, in exchange for the use of his Waterfall and Whirlpool HM's I'd
taught to Aqua. His Eevee had ardently accepted the evolution stimulant and now
barked a challenge in her bubbly voice to Polioed. Politoed croaked back. Cal evolved
his Poliwhirl when he'd found a Kings Rock while I was learning to ride. We traded
Poliwhirl holding the rock and it evolved into a frog with a yellow spiral across it's
stomach. We traded back. Now he was almost definitely going to earn that badge.
Sumalee was now training Shahman. Now that I had seen it for myself, I regretted
passing up the chance for such a glorious bird Pokemon. A snowy white bird with silky
soft feathers, ruffled by the slight breeze. Razor sharp tail feathers looking more like
knives gleamed in the setting sun. It's head was crowned with a diamond tiara, which
pulsed a bright inner light.
I had used my Pokedex on it earlier and had replied mechanical voice. "Shahman, the
mage Pokemon. Known for it's ability to manipulate the weather,
it is highly sought after by gardeners. The heart of it's powers
are said to reside in the crystals that adorn it's tiara."
As I watched the fight unfolding between him and Nidorina. Nidorina fired a Horndrill at
the hovering Shaman. It brush his wing tips and tumbled towards the earth. Sumalee
rapped an order and Nidorina snapped down on the extended pinion. Shahman shrill
shriek cut through the air and Nidorina released him.
"Hang on!" Talorn barked and veered sharply. Aqua sheered aside as well. Where we
had been moments before, lightning rent the air and enveloped Nidorina in a blaze of
dazzling light. The Pokemon stopped their playing to watch the special effects Shahman
was providing.
When the spots cleared from my eyes, I peered downwards and Nidorina was way past
well done. Suma withdrew her, praising her effort and called Shahman down from the
sky. He whistled through the air to land on her shoulder, careful so not to cut her with his
tail blades. He screeched in his severing voice an exultant cry.
"Come on," I said to Talorn as I watched the sun sink further into the tree lined horizon.
"We'd better land, it's getting la....."
Before I could finish the sentence, a beautiful, deep resonating voice drifted from the Ilex
forest. It's voice rose and fell like the ocean waves as it sang. Each syllable melted into
the next. Each note penetrated the air so all could hear, but each note was pierced with
anxiety. It was looking for something, someone, and time was growing short. As the last
ray of sunlight faded, so did the song. It evaporated into the night air, as if it had never
been.
I balanced on Talorn's back totally entranced, it was impossible not to.
"Follow it!" I cried in a high-pitched voice. There was no way I was going to let the
Pokemon go, even if I only glimpsed it.
"It's no use, my dear. It's gone. It is best we go inside or you'll catch a chill." I let Talorn
set down, but I still watched the horizon, the source of the melody. As recalled Talorn
and my other Pokemon and turned into the PokeCenter, I saw it so fleeting, I wasn't
even sure it was there, but a shadow crossed the moon. So tiny it was, so fragile. It
paused, and then disappeared beneath the treetops.

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