PoV:
1: Mya (Our Steely Girl!)
2: Mystery Pokemon (Not really >.> by the title)!
3: Rhea
I loosely follow this map as a visual guide; the creator made it in paint?!?! It’s insane! Some errors here and there, but I follow its design for the most part. Areas can be further apart, some cities are in the wrong places or not listed, and the regions aren’t nearly so close. The best map I’ve found, though!
I’d like to thank my patrons for continuing to support me:
SirToyJet, Blinglee, Puppeteir, Sheranor, Ethan Hohman, JaPB, Skia, Vincent Bhushan, Lishmael, Aron34, Selvaria, Xophque, Kite7, Andy, Ewekata, Evin Nilsson, and my many other Patrons!
2:48 p.m. August 15th, Saturday, 106 PH (Post Hoopa Event). Day 67.
Events: Rhea won her Silver-tier Encrusted Badge after a tough battle! Now, our girls are on their way to getting their four Encrusted Badges for the League. Onward! Our girl started her journey on the 9th of June, and the end of registration for the Winter Indigo Cup is December 5th (111 days away).
The bright lights of the stadium hit Mya’s eyes, making her squint as the thump of drums and whistle of flutes filled the air. Screams and shouts echoed through the giant ninja cave village, and the rocky stage of Pewter came back to her. On the screen above, it looked like she was glowing, metallic sheen sparkling.
Vision lowering to the sparsely wooded area at the bottom of the pyramid, still open enough to allow onlookers and cameras to see her, Mya streamed out the stress in her lungs as her gaze fixated on Salan. The Salandit looked better after finding the berries.
Fist clenching, now that she was at the bottom of the field, the scent of berries wafted through the cavern’s cycling air stream. Rhea’s instructions fed through their linked spirits, and her teammates’ support filled her with strength.
Tasting the air, she jogged to the right, second mouth opening as her saliva thickened with the thought of food. A light blue glow closed around her hand, taking the shape of a sword and boosting her Attack up by two stages before dispersing. The poisonous fire lizard would discover she wasn’t an easy target, and Alice wasn’t the only one with a diversity of Moves.
“Mya, look for ovoid-shaped berries that smell spicy, or one that is bright green that smells sour.”
She chuckled, catching a whiff of something hot. I don’t know what an ovoid is, but I smell something spicy!
Digging around in a nearby bush, she saw a little box with two berries inside. Jaws swinging around to champ on them, Rhea stopped her.
“Wait! Eat it while using Fire Fang. It will increase the potency, according to Pokedex.”
Okay?
Mya jumped inside the bush as she saw Salan come around the side of the pyramid, scanning for her. She liked most types of food, but spicy wasn’t her favorite. Hopefully, it would be worth it.
Drawing in the energy to do a weak Fire Fang, her jaws sparked with light as her tongue slid out to pull it in, and chomped down on the berry. Immediately, her face turned red at the heat that practically turned her into a Fennekin; there was a tiny sweetness, yet that was barely noticeable.
“Ack!” A soft red shimmer surrounded her body, mixing with her energy matrix and adapting with the berry’s attributes. “Blah…”
“It’s worth it, Mya. You’re now neutral to Fire Damage for a time. Are you ready to get back in this fight? He’s coming down to find you.”
Let’s do this! she choked, throat a bit raw and trying to fight tears. It’s so hot!
Tongue feeling a bit numb, Mya wore a smile as she walked out of the bush, staying in full view of the salamander. Saliva thick and dripping out of her mouth, her oppressive aura shot across the field, lowering the Pokemon’s Attack. She wasn’t scared; however, her confrontation with the Sandstorm Onix had taught her a healthy degree of caution was useful to cultivate.
Setting her resolve, Mya boldly pointed at the curious salamander as she made her declaration, a light pink brilliance shining around her frame. “You want me? I’m not running anymore. So come get me if you can!”
Salan’s eyes grew big, captivated by her gusto. “Wow! You really are a bold girl. I like it,” he laughed, chest puffing up as he launched three small balls of fire at her, yet they passed through a shadow.
Quick Move activating, Mya traveled through the darkness, opening up to the Shiny Salandit’s confused stare. Her shadow-wreathed fist slammed into the top of his head, driving Salan into the stone.
“Surprise!”
“Esh—”
Mya hissed, jumping back as a cloud of poison choked out of the Pokemon to cover him in a haze. Rhea had a counter, though.
“Misty Terrain!”
Taking a deep breath, she released a thick, light blue mist that dissipated the poison on contact, combating the Move as the twinkling fog veiled her.
“Here he comes!”
Instead of retreating, Mya jumped forward and tackled Salan down the steps as a greenish-purple light enclosed his tail to swat her away. Tumbling step by step, Mya released more mist while wrapping her feet around his tail to keep the thrashing thing away from her. Poison could be handled; fire was still trouble, even with the berry.
He’s too wiggly! Muk!
A heavy weight struck the side of her leg, making her grit her teeth as the draconic Move sent a burst of kinetic propulsion into her body, dislodging her and punting her down the pyramid. Despite the Move’s power, her matrix took no damage due to her Fairy nature; however, she still felt the force of the attack, crashing through stone and cleaving a line down the side as a red beam connected to her.
“Alice, find a berry. If they’re going to use this stall tactic, then we’ll recover a little, too!”
“On it! Mya, Rhea, I have an idea. Do you trust me?”
Let’s do it, Speedy! Mya hissed.
“You have a plan you want to try? Okay, Alice, let me know when to return you.”
♦ — ♦ — ♦ — ♦ — ♦
Alice flew out of her Poke Ball, a hair’s breadth away from her matrix from shattering as Salan recovered from Mya’s Sucker Punch and blew away the Misty Terrain with a Heat Wave.
I am not going to let him just recover his matrix after everything I did. No berries!
“What?!” Nova cried as Alice dashed right for the pyramid and lizard. “Alice, anything could take you out of this fight at this point! You need to find a berry!”
“Let her cook,” Mya grunted, making Alice’s heart warm and pushing her to move faster.
“Bad choice, pretty bun,” Salan chortled, spewing himself and the whole area in poisonous gas, melting the steps and turning them toxic, yet something unexpected silenced the crowd and them. “You can’t—eh?!”
A tremor shook the ground as a large pipe was revealed underneath the temple brick, corroded by the poison. The announcer laughed, shouting, “A water pipe has been exposed!”
An explosion of liquid fountained out, throwing back the Salandit, and Alice shot through the spray, a multi-colored ripple surrounding her fur, protecting her from the gas. Salan’s noxious fangs shot through the dwindling geyser’s mist, purple-laced mouth spewing toxic fumes to taint the water and air.
For the first time in her life, Alice didn’t dodge, entering the haze, and all of the poisonous energy was sucked into a cyclone, absorbed into the light, turning it purple. Salan’s thin eyes grew to the size of a plate as she grinned, claws closing around his thin throat.
“Wha—”
Fur drenched, light erupting from around her frame, Alice grinned and giggled, her matrix a flick away from breaking. “Wrong choice.” The haze bathed the salamander in his own corrosive-enhanced smog.
“The tables have turned! Magic Coat! Magic Coat, ladies and gentlemen! Alice has done the impossible, shoving Salan’s poison back into his own mouth, and our adorable bun isn’t finished. Circle Throw!”
Spinning the Pokemon in a sharp twist by the neck, Alice’s charged attack threw the ill salamander into her Trainer’s side of the field, as high as she could throw.
Now!
A red beam connected to Alice, carrying her back into her Poke Ball.
♦ — ♦ — ♦ — ♦ — ♦
Mya materialized in the sky, right above the bewildered lizard, drawing in sharply from Rhea’s dwindling energy to form a second bright blue sword. Twisting in the air, she caught Salan in the gut with the solid forming rays before they dispersed, rocketing him to the ground, and Rhea gave the next Move to end the toxic Pokemon’s match.
“Punishment!”
Eyes flashing black, followed by a malevolent aura that launched her toward her opponent, Mya spun as the shadowy force gathered at her horn.
Salan hit the stone steps near their base, a blue barrier protecting him, yet pulverizing the temple and creating a dust cloud that Mya shot into. Protecting too early, it shattered as she traveled with the Salan another two meters into the pyramid to crash through it and into its inner chambers.
His matrix shattered, Mya lifted her large, salivating jaws in the plume that encompassed her, internal cameras flipping on and recording her as she stood over her unconscious opponent.
What a Mukin’ legend, Alice, she laughed, hearing the resounding cheers as slow-motion replays happened above the announcer’s shouts.
“What a combo! Mirror Coat into Circle Throw, a swift swap of teammates, a second Sword Dance to disorient, and to end the show, a +4 Attack Punishment to the face! What teamwork! How long have they been practicing that one, folks?! Look at that replay in slow motion—the precision from Pokemon and Trainer—now that’s a combo worth an Encrusted Badge! Mya didn’t even need the Occa Berry!”
I can still feel it on my tongue…
Breathing out the tension, Mya snickered while slinging Salan over her shoulder, looking up at the blinding light of the opening they’d created into this interior.
If only they knew it was all on the fly. Uh, how do I… Oh.
A strong vibration made her stumble back as the side of the pyramid opened up, and she jogged out to praise. She winced as the light hit her, and the stadium of fans made her slow to a stop; a ton of small groups of people she didn’t even know were holding up the words, ‘Go, Mya, Go!’ and ‘The Steely Wonder!’
Choking up for some reason, Mya fought back tears while jogging to the opponent’s side of the field. People didn’t see her for her Pewter loss. Strangers were rooting for her to win. She wasn’t a burden on Rhea, even though she’d hospitalized their Trainer in her first two days of hatching and lost them their first Gym Badge. The thing that made her bite her tongue was the vibes she got from her speedy rival.
“That was amazing, Mya… Maybe we should work together more often.”
…I’d like that.
A red beam took the Salandit back as Janine stared down at her with a thoughtful smile, holding Tarn’s Poke Ball, and the blazing lights leering at her from their lofty heights warmed Mya’s skin. Meanwhile, the announcer was speaking through the crowd’s chants.
“I can say it all… then again, it would take all week to tell you how these stadium lights can build you up or burn you down. This is what it’s about, my young Trainers! This is the circuit where you walk on empty roads into a jewel-encrusted headstone, and the path you take might be your own, but you also mark that road for the next generation, and tonight… tonight, you prove to yourself and the world that you walk on streets of gold!”
Janine chuckled, her words echoing through the cave as she spoke high above the ground. “Show Fuchsia your inner flower and soul for its badge. Will you burn bright or burn out? Show me your fire.”
Mya set her brow, a silence overtaking the atmosphere as Tarn was thrown on the side of the pyramid to face her. The toad flipped out and landed on his feet, smiling smugly and making a taunting gesture that spiked into her chest.
“Show me what you have to offer.”
Rolling around her neck, Mya stretched her jaws, displaying her glistening fangs and returning the dirty look. “Let’s dance.”
A ghostly aura lit around Mya as it mirrored in the Croagunk, their double Astonish meeting between them to a clash of darkness. Tarn leaped through the cloud, fist pulled back to send a Vacuum Wave her way, yet Mya met him in the air, a grin and light gray shroud encompassing her.
The blow struck, dropping her matrix to 81% and pulling her in, yet a part of the energy used transferred into a steel ball in Mya’s overhead, gaping jaws. Pulled right to her prey, she was right where she wanted.
“Metal Burst!”
Tarn tried to lean back to dip under her in a flip; unfortunately for him, she could direct the projectile. It struck a half-shell of blue light that was too fast to be Protect as they sailed past each other.
“Quick Guard!”
Landing on the ramp leading inside the pyramid’s interior, a brown glow condensed into four rocks that she sent after the toad. Dancing around two of them, he made a swift jab, an invisible wave shattering the other two and forcing the resulting dust to obscure the Croagunk.
“Not bad,” Mya grinned as Rhea swapped tactics. “Bye!”
A blast of kinetic force parted the dust, only for a red beam to safely carry her away; waiting for them to use a Move before returning made Pursuit unlikely.
Get him, Speedy!
“On it!”
♦ — ♦ — ♦ — ♦ — ♦
Alice exited her Poke Ball; she wouldn’t be caught off-guard again. Swift met the Vacuum Wave as she jumped into the hole Mya made, entering the pyramid.
“Catch my tail if you can!” she sang.
The announcer’s bewildered voice followed. “What is Rhea doing? Isolating your hyper-weakened Pokemon away from safety? Is there a plan here?”
I think I can do my new Ability. I’m feeling it!
“If you can survive,” Mya chuckled. “You do have those dodges, though.”
Pink eyes flashing with an afterglow, Foresight slowed the world around her as the Croagunk jumped after her, sticking to the ceiling with its webbed feet to look down at her.
Holding a small piece of rock, Alice’s brow set as she tossed it up and down; the cameras flew inside, watching them face each other.
“What kind of trap are you setting here?” Tarn questioned, likely not committing to any Move to keep his Protect available. “You obviously have some plan, but what are you going to do all the way down there, send a bunch of stars at me? Come at—”
Her gaze drifted over the smaller arena ring that made up the pyramid’s interior, three claws holding onto the rock. This would do.
“I don’t think so,” she snickered, clapping her hands with a bright smile, head and ears lilting to the left as she interrupted his taunt. “I quite enjoyed that last Move you did. Do it again!”
“Jinx…” he cursed, making her scowl.
“And here I was, the prettiest bunny in the world only a moment ago. Catch!”
Throwing the stone, time slowed as Alice concentrated, focusing on it.
I am the rock… I am small… I am in motion… I am a GODDESS… Trade places and—
“Huh.” Alice’s mouth opened in shock as her amazing, awesome little stone she’d carefully selected poofed into dust in her foresight vision, which was so utterly unexpected that her mind totally blanked. “My rock…”
♦ — ♦ — ♦ — ♦ — ♦
Mya slapped her face as Alice put so much focus on the rock she was trying to trade places with that she’d totally forgotten about locking the Croagunk into Vacuum Wave. Not in a million years did the bun seem to think that the toad would just destroy her rock and attack her.
Through their Trainer’s eyes, and on the large screens, she watched her rival’s stupified face get hit full blast by the invisible force, sending her into a full, double backflip to land on her back. Silence overtook the crowd as the announcer tried to make sense of what just happened after the previous amazing combo they’d done.
“Well… Alice throws a rock at Tarn… and then is… paralyzed by—did I miss something, folks? Alice was making moves—Encore to lock the toad down, a stone thrown to… distract, maybe, and then… I don’t know. Rhea will need to clarify that post-battle because I’m at a loss. Alice is out!”
Rhea forced a laugh as she recalled their hyperactive bunny; Tarn carried her out. “Let’s tell Alice he just got a surprise jump on her… It’s her first real Gym Battle, and it’s super stacked against us.”
I don’t know if she’ll believe that, Mya laughed, glad to feel Rhea doing better after the meeting with her mother. Alice could have dodged, but she was so shocked that he actually destroyed her rock. That’s rich! I can’t wait to tease her over it.
“Mya!” Nova growled, nipping at her spirit. “We need to be supportive. Remember your first Gym Battle?”
I know! I know! Mya said, brushing off her ruffled teammate. I’m just playing. Alice really did do great. It’s just funny how she froze. I get it! It’s just funny. Like Lulu!
“Auntie Alice! Don’t die, Auntie Alice!” the puff ball cried, hopping forward to hug Rhea’s hand, holding the bunny’s capsule. “What a meanie! He can’t do that! Kick his butt, Auntie Mya!”
Rhea had trouble putting Alice in the Center transport slot, so she tossed Mya out while comforting the fuming Cosmog. “It’s okay, Lulu. She’ll be okay!”
Reforming near her side of the field, Mya hopped up and down like Alice usually did, knowing the bun would likely insist on rewatching the fight. “Don’t worry, Lulu. I’ll get ‘em!”
Her first Sword Dance was fading, and Mya knew Rhea didn’t have the fortitude to renew it. She had to end it soon. Taunt was gone, as well, giving her more options.
Nova was looking at the Pokedex info as the Croagunk leaped down the broken stairs to meet her; it was bold to come onto her side of the field, showing his confidence.
“Sucker Punch might fail against his Vacuum Wave, Mya. If he’s faster than you, then—”
No, she confidently said. We’re bred to the max, fluffy tail. I got this. As I said…
“Let you cook. I got it! Cook away, Ms. Ice Cream Breath. Just remember, Alice’s recipe was a bit of a disaster there at the end.”
Not the first time. When I bite, I don’t let go.
Balling her fingers into a fist, Mya watched the Pokemon intently, knowing he had Quick Guard to counter most follow-up Moves, but that didn’t apply if she already had him in her jaws.
“Mya and Tarn square up from across the field! We know this Steely girl can get to her opponent at any time if she times it right; the question is… will she?”
Tarn worked around his jaw and fingers, and lights flashed around Mya, making her grimace as his energy-laced words sank into her body. “You’ve done an amazing job thus far. I’m impressed.”
Seeing double of the toad as Flatter hit, she blinked, trying to keep her mind straight; Rhea’s comforting voice cut past the confusion.
“It’s okay, Mya. Just listen to my command… He increased your Special Attack by two stages; we can use that. I’ll get you close. Do you have it from there?”
I’ll cook a cold dish for him, she snickered. Let’s Mukin’ go!
“You’ve been listening to Lori and Zyra too much…”
Trying not to sway, time went in slow motion as the toad jumped into the air.
“Wait… wait—ugh, I’m getting low on energy, Mya… He’s stalli—Sucker Punch!”
Darkness wrapped her into a blanket, and she appeared over the falling toad, suddenly seeing three; she had a one-in-three chance to hit after beating the Move speed contest thanks to Rhea, and Mya could afford to miss the initial attack.
Her fist passed through the center as a mirage before Mya’s jaws closed in around the left one’s side, tasting the nasty flavor of the poisonous toad’s dry skin—she locked in—she had him.
Vacuum Punch struck her gut, making her wince as they were carried to the floor, yet she refused to let go as her matrix hit 61%. Cool mist hissed out of her jaws as Tarn snarled, pulling back to deliver a critical hit; her grapple to pin him was unsuccessful, making her bite down harder as the strike came.
“Let… go! Brrrr… Are you trying to… freeze me?!”
Tumbling down the lower steps, ice coated his core as she fed the energy; her matrix hit 37%. A second Ice Fang locked up his arms, her chilling snicker followed while locking in his side, her repeated arctic bites now further feeding the frigid energy entering his system.
“I… I can’t feel my arms… Muk…”
“Tarn can’t break free—repeated Ice Fangs, cooling his system and slowing down his responses! Mya’s taken heavy damage by sticking to him, but it doesn’t look like Tarn can Move! Oof! Confusion hits Mya—Mya refuses to let go! Another, and… is this—Tarn is frozen. It won’t last for long! How will she capital—Arceus!”
Mya broke herself free, chilled air streaming out of both mouths as she stood over the Pokemon that was somewhat stronger than her; it was a wonder Alice could do anything to this powerful Silver-tier Pokemon. A lot of Moves and Abilities gave a huge edge, though, with their maximized Stats.
A wicked grin lifted the corners of her mouth as Risk-Taker and Steely Resolve activated, and the world righted itself, muddled mind-clearing.
“Nothing personal,” she muttered, jaws closing around his thawing frame and flooding his system with weighty energy before launching him high in the sky; this was everything Rhea could safely give her. “I’ll be taking this chicken dinner, though, because I’m going to eat after this W!”
Dancing in a sharp circle, a gust of Fairy Wind carried the heavy Pokemon further up, increasing the gathering weight of his fall. Spinning her steel second head like a bat, preparing for its ball, Mya didn’t have to wait long until lashing out with the brilliant white light that exploded from the impact, shattering the ice along with his energy matrix.
“Did I just see a Risk-Taker and Steely Resolve boost there at the start?! Seismic Toss, enhanced by Fairy Wind keeps him airborne before a supercharged Slam launches Tarn right over the pyramid. It’s over, folks! Mya takes the win, and look at that smile!”
♦ — ♦ — ♦ — ♦ — ♦
Rhea let Mya wave to her fans, legs feeling like jelly. Janine wasn’t going to let her rest, though; in a flash of smoke, the woman was leaning against the side of the console with a gentle expression.
“Well done—oh?”
“Ne-ne-ne-ne!” Lulu flew over to the Gym Leader to start slapping her head with her puff cloud hands. “Ne-ne! Neeee!”
“Lulu,” Rhea chuckled, saving the Poison Gym Leader from the harmless little girl’s teary rage at seeing her auntie knocked out. “Alice is going to be okay.”
Knowing what to expect after seeing how four other Gym Leaders ended their match, Rhea held the huffy Cosmog against her chest, likely telling the High Master she was lucky Rhea saved her. As expected, the amused ninja laughed with the crowd and asked her questions.
“I don’t want to take much of your time; we can talk privately later tonight, so let’s get this part out of the way.” Janine reached over to press the audience intercom button. “I can honestly say that you performed far better than even I expected. What would you say you learned from this battle, Rhea?”
Rhea hugged Lulu tighter against her chest before using one hand to send a beam to return Mya to her Poke Ball. Releasing the victorious Mawile beside her with Nova, she answered, letting her pretty and unique Pokemon draw attention from the crowd.
“Honestly, we probably wouldn’t have won this without the extra time given to study my teammate’s battles and had a fair bit of luck on our side. I know we won by our own strength, though we did have to improvise and were forced to go outside of our comfort zone. We have a long way to go… I couldn’t be prouder of my little girls, though.”
Tears came to her eyes as she felt the emotion in Mya’s chest, regaining the pride she had before Pewter, only with the experience of humility to pair with it. Kneeling down to hug her three conscious girls, she pulled them up to the console to deliver their own teary words to the masses of Pokemon watching.
“Maw-mawile! Maw-maw.”
“Neeee! Ne-ne. Nee. Nee?”
“Pwe-pwe!” Nova chimed, nuzzling the giggling puff ball before sniffing and looking up at the camera while no doubt thanking her mother. “Pwe-pwe.”
“Mawile! Maw-maw!”
Janine chuckled. “Nova, your Trainer, and Ash’s Pikachu really helped you. Is that right?”
“Mawile!”
“That’s beautiful to see how far you’ve come since Pewter, Mya. I expect great things from all of you in the future. Now, let’s get you where you should be…”
Koga walked out of the nearby shadows, causing a stir amongst the crowd; it seemed nobody knew the ninja grandmaster was there as his Venomath appeared from shimmering light to take her to see her family.
Pressure returned to her chest as she remembered the state of her mom, making her lips pull in. I guess… the roles are reversed this time, she whispered to her Pokemon, thinking back to when she’d just started her journey. This has to stop…
The world spun as the loud chants and cries of the stadium faded away. She had to get stronger, and two people immediately came to mind. If she couldn’t have her aunt, then two others were nearby with just about as much experience.
Ash and Dawn can help us… We need to train.
Discord Link – Growing Community =D
View and help contribute to the Wiki
Support me on Patreon and get up to: Note that Instead of ‘first of the month’ billing, I have opted into ‘pay on the same day you sign up’!
+ 4 Chapters (4 Weeks) ahead in A Tail’s Misfortune
+ 4 Chapters (4 Weeks) Ahead in The Oscillation Rewrite
+ 4 Chapters (4 Weeks) Ahead in UE Rewrite
+ 10 Chapters (10 Weeks) Ahead in PokéSync (Pokemon Fanfic)
– 8 Chapters in The Power Of Cuteness And Positivity
– Soul’s Requiem – Getting ready for Amazon Release (whenever I get the cover art T_T)
+ Random stories, such as Mystic: My First Attempt At A Male Protag Isekai
+ Access to Polls
+ All my commissioned artwork is up for free on my Patreon!
Current Books on Amazon:
