NOVEL WEB Chapter 14 - Proving Worth
Chapter 14 – Proving Worth
Both women are stunned by my declaration before Lenora eventually responded to my challenge.
“I am sorry to say this young man, but I am on a work sabbatical. You will have to take the exam just like everybody else to earn that gym badge.”
‘We are already being underestimated from the get-go? Did she just assume I couldn’t ace her ridiculous written test?’
Numsy wasn’t having it though I did promise him a battle against Lenora just after his defeat against that Panpour in the Striaton gym. He was ready to prove his mettle, and Lenora’s stubbornness was just another obstacle to him. His many years spent at my side taught him the most effective way to deal with stubborn humans.
“Num num…?”
Numsy walked up to Lenora and gave her his best charm attack. Bunting her kneecaps while giving her his best sad look. He has improved over the many years of tricking Flannery out of Pokémon treats. The droopy eyes really sold it.
“Trainer Egon, why is this Numel looking at me like I am supposed to be giving him something? Whatever it is you are looking for little Numel I have long since become immune to charm attacks. I raise lillipup litters for a living.”
‘Failure! I’ve never seen Numsy’s patented charm move not work. Even my stubborn grandma sneaked some leftovers for Numsy when hit by this attack.’
“He just really wants to battle a gym leader to prove his strength. I kept telling him all about the Nacrene gym during our road trip on route 3.”
“Well, he will just have to wait until next year. I don’t even have any Pokémon at the appropriate experience level. What are you? A three-badge challenger?”
“2-badge…”
“Burgh was too though for you, eh? Don’t worry about it kid no one expects a minor like you to complete his first circuit run.”
‘This woman and her assumptions! Just because I am on the younger side doesn’t mean I am lacking as a trainer.’
I had many things I wished to convey to her. My sponsorship from an elite four member. My knowledge about various secret methods to make Pokémon stronger. Ultimately her casual assumptions turned me into a mute. Defending myself by listing all my achievements would make me look more like an immature kid than my silence would.
“Okay you two ready to go? Lenora pulled out a poké ball and released a ragged looking Braviary.”
Braviary, the Valiant Pokémon, The evolved form of Rufflet. Known as “the hero of the skies,” this Pokémon is so proud and so brave that it will never retreat, even when it's injured. The more scars it has on its front, the more heroic it's considered to be. Those with many scars on their back are mocked by the flock.
‘I guess that’s why it looks the way it does. I would love having a brave Pokémon for my team.’
“I am brave!”
‘Yes, and you are getting braver every day.’
The braviary in question was busy preening it’s feathers clearly proud at hearing what the Pokédex had to say about its species. Showing off all its front-end scars in the process. Lenora sighed exasperatedly half-amused and half-annoyed.
“Don’t mind him he likes hearing the Pokédex entry every time he’s sent out.”
By the look of that Braviary’s scars I guess Lenora was telling the truth about not having any weaker Pokémon on her. Most trainers are only allowed to have a team of six Pokémon on them at all times. Lenora being a gym leader could clearly carry a fair bit more than that. She finished giving her Braviary instructions before beckoning us to leave with her.
“Braviary will keep an eye out for us from the sky. The youngster may ride my Stoutland if his legs get tired.”
‘…’
“Are you okay?”
‘I am fine it’s just the first time in my life that I have been underestimated like this.’
The trek towards the archeological site would take a couple of hours so we set off immediately. Most people would take issue with the scorching sun but it honestly kind of invigorated me. The real issue was all the sand. My feet kept sinking deeper inside the ground and I had to pull extra effort into hauling myself back up. Numsy didn’t have any issue at all. His camel toes perfectly adapted to this desert substrate. I knew if this kept up, I might be proving Lenora right about needing a ride.
‘Stupid kid sized legs.’
We made it about halfway through when I was delightfully captivated by this catchy tune riding on the desert winds. It most resembled street music something you would typically expect to be played by a wizened old musician sporting a pair of maracas. Aurea and Lenora reacted to this sound as well, both being curious as to the source of this enchanting music. Aurea nudged me motioning for me and my Pokémon to follow her into the desert shrubbery.
Standing in a clearing was a triplet of maractus giving a musical performance to the surrounding wild Pokémon. The trio of Pokémon using a rock outcropping as their musical stage. The spectators being a pair of sandile three dwebble and a lone scraggy. The catchy tunes luring out Pokémon who should be sleeping at this time of day, when the sun is at its hottest. Too bad none of these Pokémon are the darumaka I am looking for.
Maractus, the Cactus Pokémon. When Maractus dance in rhythm, they sound like maracas shaking. They make their homes in dry desert-like areas. Once each year, this Pokémon scatters its seeds. They're jam-packed with nutrients, making them a precious food source out in the desert.
Luckily the Pokédex has a silent mode for situations like these.
Numsy clearly enjoyed listening in on the Maractus’ as did the other Pokémon we had out. Braviary landing on a dried-up looking tree just to enjoy the show. We just sat there behind the prickly bushes until the end of their performance. The surrounding Pokémon waking up from their daze started to leave as well. The sandile and dwebble digging themselves back inside the sand while the scraggy just walked off into the horizon.
Aurea clearly moves by this scene put her feelings into words.
“Nature can be cruel sometimes but seeing moments like these proves it is beautiful as well. Maractus can safely give out performances because no Pokémon here is willing to jeopardize their yearly seed scattering, also predators don’t typically eat grass type Pokémon.”
What she said made sense all Pokémon have plants-based foods as the staple for their diets. However, the carnivores still needed to eat meat occasionally. Eating plantlike Pokémon such as maractus therefore made no sense from a dietary standpoint, since it didn’t satisfy their craving for meat.
Victini was oddly quiet during the performance. Feelings of wonder and amazement flooding our telepathic link.
‘When we get back to Hoenn I’ll take you to see the contest halls. There these kinds of performances are the norm.’
The plan was to make it to the camp before sundown. Our little group didn’t encounter any more difficulties on the way, so we made good pace. Braviary kept a flock of vullaby and a single mandibuzz off our backs by tussling with their leader one on one. Lenora later told me that was typical mating behavior. Apparently that Mandibuzz thought Braviary was a good match, but the prideful bird wasn’t too impressed by her antics and shooed the she-bird off.
We finally made it to the expedition’s camping grounds. All put together there were around twenty archeologists, paleontologists, and trainers roughing it out here in the wild. The expedition’s foreman is a man named Hawes who worked at the museum, while at the same time being Lenora’s husband. Standing next to his wife the two looked pretty comical. Whereas Hawes is a person of short stature his wife was fairly tall by Unovan standards. I didn’t ponder on it for too long though love takes the form of all shapes and sizes, especially so in this world.
“Welcome back dear, I see you’ve brought Aurea back with you, and who is this fine young trainer?”
I decided to introduce myself before Lenora could. ‘I’ll show you who is immature making assumptions.’
“Egon is the name and fire types are my game a pleasure to meet you sir. Professor Juniper my sponsor thought it would be a swell idea for me to shadow his accomplished daughter for a while to learn a thing or two.”
Aurea and I agreed on this cover story. Me observing her made a lot more sense than the other way around. Hawes and Lenora are trustworthy people but we couldn’t account for all the personnel they invited to this camp.
“So, you are looking to become an academic as well? Welcome to the winning team Egon I am sure there is much to learn from our resident genius. Unfortunately, this expedition has come to a grinding halt until we can fix our ghost problem. The Sigilyph guarding the ruins are very reasonable as long as we don’t cross their bottom line, we can study these ruins all we want. That is not so much the case for the ghost-types.”
“Hawes I might have a solution for our problem Egon here has close ties with a family of gravekeepers in Hoenn. The granddaughter being an ace trainer who specializes in ghost-types. Bringing her over is well within our budget.”
Aurea and Hawes walked away to hash out the details for tricking my childhood friend into coming here. Leaving me and Lenora alone, I spent my time sifting through more details of our surroundings. It was then that I noticed the various statues inside the camp’s threshold. The camp seemingly ignored the statues even leaving some of their equipment on and around them.
‘Those poor Darmanitan being used as furniture by these ignorant scientists.’
“Those statues are alive!?”
“Yep, darmanitan have this hidden ability called Zen Mode. They petrify and can’t move, but in return gain heightened psychic abilities.”
“Leader Lenora, I have a proposition for you.”
“What do you have in mind squirt?”
“If I discover something groundbreaking about these ruins you owe me a gym battle for this circuit.”
“Egon you do realize no one is permitted to enter these ruins without special permission from my husband? It’s too dangerous right now especially for a rookie trainer like you.”
“I don’t need to get inside to make my discovery.”
Lenora made a pained face as if struggling to make her decision, but it didn’t reach her eyes. ‘Still underestimating me, eh? She’ll be singing a different tune shortly.’
“Okay you have yourself a deal little Egon.”
‘Victini I need you to fish out my ragecandybars from my backpack. They are the key to winning this bet.’
Suddenly a sense of shame is transmitted through our bond.
“…I ate them.”
‘’The entire dozen!?’
“They smelled good, and I am sorry! We only have two left.”
‘It’s okay It’s okay. I only needed one. Don’t worry about it and the next time you get hungry you can just tell me I won’t get mad about something like that.’
I stuck my hand inside the backpack where Victini secretly gave me one of the last two bars. Afterwards I tapped Numsy on the back to indicate that I wanted him to follow me. We made it to the darmanitan statue nearest to the middle of the camp. Lenora following me to see what I had planned gave a brief piece of commentary on this petrified Pokémon.
“Ah yes, the darmanitan statues. Their presence around the ruins helped the first explorers of this region identify where the entrance was buried. We believe these strange looking darmanitan are the ancestors our modern-day ones.”
‘Tini now that I have made you aware can you sense the mind trapped in this body?’
“It’s faint… but I do believe you are correct.”
“Okay Numsy time to make a big splash. Can you jolt everyone awake with growl?”
“Num!”
Numsy proceeded to use grunt loudly as he does when I forget to bring him food. Gathering the crowd’s attention towards us.
“Esteemed PHD’s and trainers, Today I Egon from Lavaridge town will prove that the stone darmanitan aren’t statues but petrified Pokémon! These protectors of the ruins below have simple fallen asleep and are stuck in a state that I like to call zen mode!”
The crowd looked miffed especially the PHD’s whose important time I now must be squandering. Well at least they think that I am doing so.
I unwrap my ragecandybar and hold it up for the crowd before slipping it through the narrow crack that is the Darmanitan’s petrified mouth and wait. The candybar takes a while to have an effect on the darmanitan, but slowly the camp’s people and I start hearing a peculiar sound. The noise emenated from the petrified Pokémon one which I recognize to be the chewing of my candybar.
“See here, Darmanitan is enjoying my brand authentic ragecandybar imported straight from Johto!”
The crowd especially Lenora look on with surprised faces and murmuring sounds while the Darmanitan slowly wakes up from its age-old slumber.
“No way…!”
“This whacky kid is correct!”
‘Who is the one that called me whacky?!’
The darmanitan finally finished eating the candy bar meal and started moving its limbs in order to stand up. The blue colored petrified body slowly turning red, and its stone white fish eyes slowly forming a moving pupil.
“Darma..NITAN!!”
“Darmanitan is in a state of confusion Numsy let’s battle!”
“Num num!”
“Hold up there young man. We have no idea how strong this ancient darmanitan is let me take over.”
A menacing look Stoutland materialized right next to me and Numsy. Eying the unpetrified darmanitan and looking ready to battle. Meanwhile its trainer seemed to have plans for me.
“What are you…!?”
Lenora picked me up and carried me over her shoulder.
“No this is my battle! Darmanitan is going to be a perfect addition to my team.”
“Sorry kid, I am not letting a one badge trainer like you face a fully evolved Pokémon.”
‘This woman keeps getting in my way! Belittling me and now violating trainer’s etiquette by jumping in another’s battle.’
“Stoutland use Take down!”
“Arf!!”
“Nooooo! This is unfair!”
The battle concluded with Lenora defeating the disoriented thousands of years old Darmanitan and capturing the Pokémon for research purposes. I refused to talk to anyone from the expedition all day. ‘How can they just stand there and allow this miscarriage of justice to happen?’ I was assigned my own tent by Hawes the man seemingly apologetic over his wife’s behavior. I didn’t buy any of it though. If this expedition was set on treating me like a kid, I would share none of my knowledge with them.
‘Maybe it’s the culture?’ In any of the eastern regions I would be treated as a fellow adult, but Unovans could have another mindset when it comes to ten-year-olds.
“Are you okay?”
“I guess not really? Its though being treated as lesser even though their bozos would never figure things out without me.”
“Should we leave?”
“Ehh maybe. I still have stuff I want to accomplish here. That harpy also still owes me a gym battle.”
My Xtransceiver started ringing looking up the caller’s name I saw it was Aurea. Brooding internally, I decided to pick up the call anyway.
“Hello?”
“Ah you are still awake Egon. Can I come visit you in your tent? There are a couple of things I want to discuss with you in private.”
“Fine I guess…”
The call ended within a few short seconds Aurea zipped open my tent and walked inside. Luckily these tents are big enough for a family of four, so we still had plenty of space to move around. My Pokémon were with me, and as equally outrages as I was. At least I know they will always have my back.
“Firstly, Egon I am sorry for what happened earlier. The trainers and researchers talked it over and it was indeed your information that led us to this new discovery. We have decided to let you have the Darmanitan if you still want it.”
“Is this a joke? I didn’t earn its approval by defeating it in battle, and even worse it saw me being hauled off like a kid throwing a temper tantrum. If I do get to keep the Darmanitan it won’t respect me as a trainer.”
“Do understand Egon most of the people here are academics. They don’t understand what it means for a trainer to lose the respect of a Pokémon. Yes, Lenora should’ve known, but she is also one the proponents of raising the age restrictions on trainer licenses even further. Lenora has always been dismissive of younger trainers. Having had to deal with them on a daily basis when fulfilling her duties as a gym leader. This has made her start thinking anybody below the age of 14 is too immature to set off on their own journey.”
Ironically, I was of the same opinion. Even in Hoenn not many kids make it far at all on their first circuit run. Most of them get too homesick and finish up their journey without winning a single badge. The real exceptions are those kids who are raised in families compromised of professional trainers. Having been raised by people who have seen and done it all before the newer trainers from those families performed far better. The kids who didn’t have that advantage failed their first circuit run spectacularly, and usually bettered themselves before coming back and trying again.
However, I wasn’t a kid. And I refuse to be disrespected like that without an apology.
After Lenora captured the darmanitan the camp personnel started treating the petrified darmanitan with a whole lot more caution and respect. The first few scientists tried to capture the darmanitan straight up. However, it was quickly discovered that the poké balls didn’t register the petrified darmanitan as Pokémon. After which they tried to emulate me by feeding the statues, but none of the food items they tried shoving in the mouths of the darmanitan seemed to work. Their final resort was to come to me for answers.
“Egon can you tell me how you figured out the secrets of the darmanitan statues?”
“You too huh? I thought I was clear on this. No more free information until I have received a public apology.”
“How about we compensate you for it? I know Lenora fairly well and you have almost no chance of getting that apology.”
I turn towards my Pokémon. These loveable scamps shared my indignation especially Numsy. Being denied his time to shine by Lenora and afterwards being dismissed from a heated battle with the darmanitan.
“What do you think?”
“Num num!”
“Vuuul.”
“Vi Vi!” “I want a bag full of custap berries!”
“I see. Food for Numsy, Jewelry for Rena, and the most expensive sweet tasting berries on the market for Victini.”
“And for you Egon?”
“I’d like to receive a good quality firestone. Not one of those discount ones you can find in shopping mall nine.”
Upon mentioning the fire stone Rena looked apprehensive and gave me questioning yips.
“Pix Pix?”
“Not now Rena just in case when you ever decide you want to, I’ll be ready.”
Evolution stones in any other region are expensive however Unova has a thriving mining industry. Most stones you buy abroad are actually mined in Unova. The gym leader Clay being the first to discover Driftveil’s soil was rich in valuable minerals. He turned his rinky dink old town into Unova’s biggest exporting city. With nothing but his trustly old pickaxe and his starter Drilburr.
“I’ll take care of it. Now can you tell me what you know about these darmanitan?”
“Well, darmanitan are known for having the ability Sheer Force. The darmanitan that are petrified outside the ruins have something I like to call a hidden ability. The chance of Pokémon in the wild developing a hidden ability on their own is almost nonexistent. In any case the other ability darmanitan can develop is called zen mode. When a darmanitan who has this ability is weakened enough their skin color turns blue their limbs fuse into their body and their eyes turn blank. Their physical power is lowered substantially, and their speed becomes nonexistent. However, in turn their defenses are increased thanks to the petrification and their psychic power is raised so much that they become part psychic type while in this form.
“Maybe it’s some form of protection mechanism that they developed over the years? I don’t know I am not a scientist. Somehow these darmanitan have become stuck in that form. They stopped aging their great minds trapped in those petrified bodies.”
I was done monologuing and motioned for Aurea to leave me to my night’s rest. Any further question she could ask in the morning while I wasn’t so cheesed off. This ten-year-old body still needed at least nine hours of sleep.
“Good night.”
“Num num.”
“Pix.”
“Vi Vi.” “Night night.”
The following morning, I was immediately accosted by Aurea during our morning routine. Sleep having taken the edge off my mood. I was much more open to answering her barrage of questions.
“Uhmm… yeah so, the Lavaridge gym has some old records concerning different fire types and how to develop their abilities for use in battle. The zen mode ability is one of those that are written down in an old textbook.”
The Lavaridge gym did have records regarding fire type Pokémon and their abilities, but none for Unovan fire types. It was in my best interest to keep these researchers busy with little crumbs of knowledge I can dole out one at the time. Lest they start asking the tougher questions.
I was planning to stick around until my gym battle with Burgh comes up. Having one final ragecandybar left in my backpack gives me one more shot to catch a darmanitan. As long as the scientists aren’t planning on catching all the darmanitan, I would eventually get my chance. They still didn’t realize that it was my ragecandybar that specifically did the trick.
I could go out and try to catch one of the darumaka that live nearby, but I had my heart set on a darmanitan with zen mode. Having no idea how to train a darumaka to develop its hidden ability this just seems easier to me.
“Egon our crew has been having trouble replicating your achievement and awakening one of the darmanitan. We came to the consensus that there must be some type of compound in the candy bar that dispels their condition. Do you have any of those candy bars on hand that you can give to the expedition?”
‘Darn! I shouldn’t have been so eager to show off. Nothing slips by Aurea.’
“Yes, I have one… I was kind of hoping I’d be left alone for my next attempt.”
“Hmmm the expedition would very much like to analyze the ingredients on the wrapper to figure out what active component is responsible for awakening the darmanitan.”
“That’s impossible.”
“If it’s money that you want…”
“No, I mean these are artisanal candy bars only produced in mahogany town Johto. The recipe is a protected cultural heritage. Meaning if someone outside of Johto and more specifically the area around mahogany town tries to reproduce the bars, than your expedition might come into legal trouble. The best solution is probably to just special order the candy bars. Shipping might take a month or more though.”
“…is there any way we can convince you to part with the candy bar?”
“No… I don’t think so. Is there really such a rush to awaken more darmanitan? I mean why not wait for a month? The one Lenora caught should be sufficient to find out more about the ruin’s mysteries.”
“We have one of our psychic type Pokémon trying to communicate with the Darmanitan. However, it stubbornly refuses to talk about its past and what happened to the underground labyrinth we now call Relic Castle.”
“Aside from the whole darmanitan business what is the expedition planning to do to get inside?”
“We have contacted a specialist who is flying in to help us out.”
“Oh, okay I really thought you guys were set on bringing in Phoebe, but it’s nice that you found someone else willing to help. Trust me bringing her will not be good for some of the older faint of heart scientists that work with us.”
“Well… wait what was that last part?”
“Oh, nothing it’s not important now that she is not coming. Anyway, me and my team have some training to do see you around Aurea.”
We made our way outside the tent and headed towards an empty spot in the desert. I’ve always wondered if the flames my Pokémon produce are hot enough to turn desert sand into glass. Today was the day we find out.
“That’s it Numsy just a bit more Rena you take a break.”
‘Hmm there’s not enough silica dioxide in this desert sand to make proper glass. All we are left with are these weird looking chunks.’
There are actual reasons why we are doing this besides trying to make some pretty looking glass baubles. During our previous matches I’ve noticed our flames intensity is lacking somewhat. It’s been a while since we’ve done this type of training. Keegan isn’t around to make us help him with the firing of charcoal.
“What are we doing?”
“We used to do this back at the Lavaridge gym. The trick is keeping the flame at an even temperature consistently. A gym staffer taught us a bunch of stuff like this.”
“I want to try!”
“Really? I guess there’s no harm in trying. We are in the middle of a desert, and no one is around except for the occasional wild Pokémon.”
Victini revealed itself and started aiming her claw tips at the sand pit Numsy dug up for us to practice in.
‘I am pretty sure Victini has never battled even once in her life. Does she even know how to use a fire type move?’
“Hey!!”
“Oh, I am sorry those are just some errant thoughts. You’ve seen us use a couple of fire type moves why don’t you start off with something basic like an ember?”
“Viii Tini!” “I am trying…!”
Numsy and Rena noticed what she was trying to do and started doling out some advice.
“Num!”
”Pix pix!”
“Like this?”
Suddenly, as if out of nowhere a searing hot beam fired out of her stretched paws obliterating our sand pit. Blowing the half molten sand everywhere me and my Pokémon got doused in a sand and slag.
‘Arceus! it’s everywhere in my nose, my ears and even…!’
“Sorry! Let me help.”
Eventually she got most of it off with her telekinesis it didn’t get rid of the taste though. There are also multiple scorch marks on my clothes which no cleaning solution on the planet can remove. My team is doing fine though both of them being quite fireproof. Rena however got sand stuck all over her fur which undoubtedly, I was going to have to comb out at some point today.
‘I’ve decided after this I am never setting foot in another desert again.’
Victini looked in low spirits though. Her first deliberate use of a fire type move having some unintended consequences. I ruffled her ears some to let her know not to be too hard on herself.
“…!?”
“I am not mad at you Victini. Honestly, I am more inclined to be impressed by the amount of damage you caused on your first try. You have got a lot of strength I guess what they say is true, good things come in small packages.”
“I burned you…”
“You have taken your first step on learning about fire hazard safety. It’s a required course for all the newly hatched Pokémon who end up joining the Lavaridge gym’s roster. Believe me first time accidents like these are an important part of learning how to control your inner fire. Isn’t that right you guys?”
“Num num num!”
“Vuuul!”
“And the first part of learning how to control your flames is doing it over and over again. Now try to fire off another scorcher!”