Pokemon Amethyst Version

The momentary hinderance of the Treecko's vision had been just what Dante and Darrick needed to stay ahead for the first round. In the resulting time the Treecko used to locate Dante's position and work through the screen, the Cyndaquil had prepared for evasive action. Dante sidestepped, clearing the trajectory of the pound and, by a small margin, evaded the attack.

"Don't waste any time Dante!"Darrick shouted. "Follow up with a Tackle!"

Dante followed the instruction spot on. As soon as the call to attack had passed through Darrick's lips, he lunged forward towards the Treecko in an attempt to ram it to the ground.

 

Jasmine smiled slightly at her friend's excitement and turned to her Eevee with a sigh, "She can be so clueless you know? I bet she has no idea how I feel about her, but yet... the thought of her knowing is frightening." She chuckled as her new companion climbed up onto her shoulder and then onto her head and began following her friend onwards. "I'll do anything for her Summer... We'll do anything for her. I'm old enough to understand what it is I'm feeling... I love her... I always will. Let's go Summer."

Eventually Jasmine had taken her place at Aura's side and with a giggle she waved back towards the boys as the two girls walked onward.

 

"Yeah!" Darrick cried joyously, punching his fist through the air as Dante's Tackle connected with the Treecko. His blood was rushing in the elation of the battle and his head was clearly swelling in the confidence of his last attack's success. He hadn't even heard his father's bidding that the Treecko take the hit; much less hearing the command that followed.

As soon as his fist had struck out into the open hair his smile and reverie faded. A mournful frown grew in its place as he realized that he had been mislead. All he could do was watch helplessly and hopelessly as Dante was surrounded by rocks from all sides. "No!" He reached his hand out, as if he expected to pull Dante from the attack. A second later his hand dropped to his side. The Rock Tomb closed in, crushing into the Cyndaquil's body, kicking up a share of dirt from the soil beneath, blotting out the scene for a split second.

When it had cleared, the Cyndaquil rose weakly to its feet, legs shaking as it struggled to stand. Darrick saw clearly that his Pokemon wasn't going to last much longer. Even if he used another Smokescreen and Tackle pairing, there was no guarantee of success; he'd have to deal with another Rock Tomb, or even another Pound finishing Dante off. After a few more seconds though, it was, without a doubt, over: Dante's last effort to get onto its feet failed, and the Pokemon dropped to the ground, knocked out cold. Darrick, mimicking his partner, dropped down to his knees and buried his face in his hands, shaking his head in humiliation.

"No. How could this have happened? How could I misjudge this?"

"Yes. Just the same as seven years ago." Darrick's father had crossed the field, casting his shadow over Darrick. He shook his head and scowled. "If you couldn't learn after watching that battle, then you won't last long. Now follow my advice: GO. HOME.... Unless you want to end up like your sister." Mr. Kuhn walked passed, recalling his Treecko and letting out an Alakazam, which assumed its place at his side. When he reached the path, he stopped, reached into his pocket and tossed two items towards Darrick.

Darrick, turning around as he watched his father, still dumbstruck by result of the battle, eyed the objects curiously. One looked like some sort of medicine, like a Potion; the other, food of some kind. "What is this?" he asked.

"A revive and a candy bar, specially made for Pokemon," his father said, still looking disappointed. "The Revive will get it back on its feet, and the candy should make it happy. You might as well return a healthy and content Pokemon to Professor Cypress. THEN, you can go home." He wheeled around. With a larger stride, he began walking down the path out of town.

Darrick, finally coming back to his right senses, began running after him. "Hey! Wait. What'd you say about Deena? What happened to her?!" But it was too late. His father, a ways down the road, vanished, Teleported away by his Alakazam. Darrick ground to a halt and fell back to his knees, this time more confused than despaired. "What did he mean by that?" he asked himself aloud.

 

Darrick was on his knees for what seemed like hours in his head. His mouth hung open, reading with an expression of lingering awe at the battle's result and confusion at his father's parting message. His eyes told a different story, casting a raging, vengeful look down the road to the spot where his old man had just vanished.

The words of his companion proved to be his release from the trance. Sara-Kate's rough comment registered first and Darrick looked up at the three, all of whom stood before him. Darrick closed his mouth, pursing his lips together as the rage in his eyes spread through his face and subsided into something more like determination. "Yeah!" he said forcefully, pushing himself back up onto his feet, turning to Sara-Kate. "Of course I'm getting up. I've come this far; I might as well go further."

He turned to Tom and Krimson next and shook his head. "That wasn't like my dad."He walked back to the lawn, where Krimson's Cyndaquil was trying to shake Dante to wake him, and picked up the Revive and the candy bar. "I mean he's usually tough with me," he continued, speaking over his shoulder as he gently soothed the revival medicine down Dante's throat, "but he usually gives encouragement to keep me going instead of turning me away."

The revive kicked in almost instantly, and Dante perked back up, hesitantly approaching Darrick, clearly shaken and skeptical after the incident. "I'm sorry buddy. That one caught us both by surprise." Darrick held out his hand bearing the open candy bar. "Take it. It's yours." Dante still hesitating, took the bar and took a bite. Realizing it was no trick, he continued to nibble contently upon the treat.

After smiling at his revived partner, Darrick turned back to the others. "Obviously something is up with my family right now. But I won't let that slow us down. Besides, if there really is something wrong, the only way I'm gonna find out is if I keep moving ahead. My father should know better than to tell his own son to quite."

"Exactly what I said to him!" barked the elderly voice of Darrick's grandfather, who had just made his way down the hill. He nodded approvingly at Darrick's team of trainers, and held out a compact disc. "Darrick, I've had this one for a good while. It's called a Technical Machine. You can use it to teach a Pokemon a move that might not be able to learn naturally; of course, they only work as long as the move and the Pokemon are compatible. But I've done my research and I can tell you that your Cyndaquil will get along just fine with this one."

Darrick, confused again, took the disc, inserting safely into his back. "Thanks. What move does it teach though?"

"Oh you'll find out eventually," the Elder Kuhn remarked. But I guarantee that it'll help out against the first Gym challenge. Now, hurry up and get a move on. Don't want that other group getting too far ahead do you?"

"Of course not!" Darrick said. He picked up Dante, placing him back upon his shoulders and turned back to his team. "Alright. No more delays here. Let's show the world what we're made of!"

 

Jasmine visibly flinched at the mention of the game of two truths and one lie, what could she say? She looked at the other three and began sweating a bit nervously, "Uhh... Umm... I... I've always wanted to be a Pokemon Breeder... I'm... I'm straight... and I... I umm... I've got a mild case of depression..." She nervously looked at the ground and swallowed, breathing hard until she calmed herself down. "Sorry... Sorry. I'm okay now. Anyway, those are my three. Who wants to guess first?"

 

"Whoa!" Darrick's jaw dropped back open, this time with the obvious hints of a bemused smile worn well upon his face as his team, one-by-one, ran off down the path. I'm gonna have to step up my game to keep this bunch in line. Their spirits are definitely higher than I expected. He rolled his eyes, heaving a pleasurable sigh, as though he were a parent entertained by his children. "Well,"he said, looking up at Dante at his perch upon his shoulder. "It looks like w're off. I wouldn't be much of a leader if I let myself fall behind now would I?"

He let out a chuckle as he set the Pokemon down. He withdrew a Pokeball from its holster at his belt, and stared at Dante. "I think you've deserved some time to get over all of the excitement. Especially after that battle. I'll let you out a bit later, once we're all on the road. How about that?"

"Quil! Quil!" Dante said, approving of his master's decision. Soon after, a redish light covered Dante, and a second later, he was sealed within his Pokeball.

Darrick put the ball back on his belt, and looked down the path. He stole what was his true last glance at his house on the hill, giving it a sort of salute. He stretched and shook his legs out. And sure enough, he too bolted at a running pace down the path towards the next town, quickly catching up to his teammates.