Pokemon: Childhood Dreams

We made it to Sunburst Island by the afternoon and I urged Drako to land on the smaller connected island. The place was uninhabited and featured a forest with some large hills. Unluckily, I couldn’t just fly around on Drako as there was plenty of tree cover to obscure a cave opening. I knew it wouldn’t look so apparent otherwise people would have found the crystal cave already. Though the crystals aren’t worth that much, there are a lot and they would still fetch a fair price.

I let out Hellen and let her and Drako know what we were looking for.

“In this cave is a special onix. One that I want to catch in order to have enough money to support our team and potentially a new member.”

“Char?” “Bulba?”

“Well, since I am only able to support six bonds I have to choose my bonds carefully. Although this onix is special, I’m not sure if I want to bond with it.” I say. “But we’ll make sure it gets a good home, with someone who’ll cherish it.”

At the auction, a seller does have the ability to veto any purchaser. Although, it doesn’t happen often because all the buyers are checked out beforehand and it is seen as a huge snub to the prospective buyer.

“Once we find the cave and the onix, we will likely have to battle them because they are very aggressive pokemon.”

In this world, defeating a pokemon puts them at your mercy. In the wilds, pokemon will often fight to the death for resources. If a trainer defeats a pokemon and then heals them, they are likely to gain some goodwill from the pokemon.

I was lucky to be able to receive Drako as an egg which hastened our bonding, as well as bribing Hellen to be able to talk with her. Most encounters with pokemon are not amicable.

“CHAR!” “SAUR!” They both said, affirming their willingness to fight.

“Alright team, let’s find that cave!”

“Finally, that damn cave…” I say as I spy the opening behind a vine curtain. Hellen was the one who found the cave by using her vines for tactile feedback along the cliff face.

It’s been five days since we got to this island and we’ve been searching in a grid pattern since. Though we did stop for breaks and training.

Drako has a good handle on brick break now and has kept up his practice of his other moves. Including aerial ace which has become stronger due to all the flying Drako has done. Even though he’s been honing his draconic energy since he was a charmeleon, he is still working on acquiring the difficult dragon dance. This boosting move is similar to growth in that after the boost, the pokemon becomes weakened for a time. Drako is having trouble in directing the unruly draconic energy resulting in the boost being shorter and weaker, but I’m sure he’ll have it down soon.

As for Hellen, she has continued to hone her physical body, whips and razor leaves. Along with that, I’ve had her trying to speedily shoot “blank” leach seeds, that don’t have the energy to sprout, so that she could develop bullet seed. Though the most focus has been on developing her sleep powder and poison powder.

After testing Hellen’s powders on some wild rattata when she was up close, I concluded that they were potent enough. She just had to work on her dispersal to increase the affected area. While we were traversing the forest, I had her follow a bit behind as she practiced producing sleep powder and then poison powder. Through her efforts, she was able to increase the size of the moves along with developing a more concentrated squirt sort of like pepper spray.

“Alright, let’s be careful going down as the onix is likely to be aggressive. Drako will lead, followed by me, with Hellen guarding the rear.”

“Zard.” “Saur.”

We filed into the cave that led deeper into the earth. After some time, I noticed some crystals sprouting off the walls and became elated. This was the right cave! My bonds picked up my excitement and we continued with renewed fervor.

Finally we reached a large open cavern teeming with crystals and a lake at the end, this had to be the main resting area of the crystal onix. We slowly surveyed the cavern and saw a couple of tunnels branching off. There was no sign of the onix, so far. We wandered into the cavern while on alert, checking out the other tunnels. But there were no clues as to the onix’s whereabouts. As we neared the lake at the far end, I had a suspicion borne from the anime.

“Drako, flamethrower on the top of that lake. Hellen, stay and protect me.” I gave out orders.

Drako approached the lake and let out a flamethrower that heated up the surface of the lake. After a few seconds, SPLASH, a humongous form came out of the depths screeching, causing a wave to splash over Drako’s legs and startling him to stop the flamethrower.

Once the steam and water cleared, I could see the beautiful crystal onix. This creature could not be done justice in animated form. It glistened even through some of the grime covering it.

“Onix, I challenge you to a battle!” I shout out so the pokemon could hear me.

“ONIX!” It screamed as it approached Drako.

“You’ve got this, Drako. It’s weak to fire.” I say as I retreat with Helen and let Drako get to work. The crystal onix in the anime resisted water and was weak to fire, unlike normal onix.

Though Drako was now a charizard, he didn’t forget his training as a landbound charmeleon. Letting off a barrage of embers that exploded against his foe, slowing it down. He then got into stance and readied his fighting type energy. With a quick pivot, he smashed onix with a brick break diverting it down and to the side.

This sent some rocks flying my way, but Hellen intercepted them with her vines. “Thanks, girl.”

Though Drako did take some damage from the onix’s slam, he quickly recovered and let loose a humongous flamethrower on the onix’s head.

The onix let out a cry, but quickly swept out horizontally at Drako trying to get him in a bind. Drako narrowly dodged with a jump and he used his wings to float at the top of the cavern. Drako continued to roast the onix as it slid by and as it readied for an attack, it finally gave out from all the super effective attacks. I approached and threw a heavy ball at the hurt and fatigued onix, which quickly captured. Hell yes! Now to indoctr- Ahem- I mean convince it to be auctioned. First a quick scan which shows that it’s female.

I release the onix away from me, with Drako and Hellen in between us. The onix is conscious but in no shape to fight.

“Onix, we defeated you in battle. Now let me heal you. I know there are a lot of people out there that will marvel at your grandeur and beauty.”

Onix raises her head at this.

“I promise to find a good trainer for you. They will take care of you, providing food and shelter.”

Onix snorts with a deep rumble.

“I know you have food here, but they would give you far better food than these crystals. The new food and some buffing will have your crystals glistening!”

At this the onix seems interested.

“Yes, look at your crystals now, though they shine I’m sure once all the grime is off they’ll be like never before!”

“Onix.” It replies after some deliberation. Through my bonds with Drako and Hellen, I can tell that she has acquiesced. I slowly approach and apply some potions and burn heal.

Using Drako to communicate I could gather that she was the only onix in this area.

After assuring her that when she was next out she would be getting fully healed, I returned her to her ball.

Now I just needed to hand her over to the auction house.