The Chasm

Despite its small size, it took the three of them several hours to see all that Floaroma Town had to offer. The town itself was made up of small, suburban homes and seemed to lack any trace of big business, save for the mart inside of the Pokémon Center. The vast flower-filled fields that gave Floaroma its name seemed to spread out from the town in nearly every direction as far as the eye could see; Butterfree and Beautifly fluttered from flower to flower, their large, delicate wings flashing their own collection of colors. Cameron, Dawn and Serina spent quite a while walking through the vibrant hues, even stopping to sleep a few hours away on the fluffy fields. But with it now late into the afternoon, their stomachs began to protest at their lack of lunch.

“Guess we should find something to eat, huh?” Cameron asked as he sat up and brushed the flower bits from his shirt. “I do like to eat after a nap.”

“As do I,” Serina agreed, still lying back in the flowers. “In Alto Mare, such fields are unheard of. This was most relaxing and enjoyable.”

“So you’re feeling better then?” Cameron asked, Dawn suddenly sitting up at this unexpected show of kindness towards Serina.

Serina just looked away, gazing off across the fields.

“I… I am better. Thank you for asking, Cameron.”

Dawn’s eyes couldn’t open wide enough as her mouth slowly opened in shock. The two were talking as if they actually liked each other; it was just too strange.

“You were right, Dawn,” Serina added. “With what you said this morning; I am sorry for the way I acted towards you.”

It took Dawn a moment to catch on, but when she understood she smiled warmly.

“Apology accepted,” she said as a breeze blew across the field, sweeping flower petals through the air around them. “I’m glad you’re feeling better.”

Serina turned back to them and smiled, her soft red hair blowing in the wind.

“Do you think… do you think we might call JC and congratulate him on his success?”

“I think that would be a wonderful idea,” Dawn said, nodding to Cameron to get his Pokégear. She crawled over behind him as he dialed, resting her head on his left shoulder so as to see the screen. Serina did likewise, but avoided lying on Cameron’s shoulder, simply sitting slightly behind him. Cameron’s Pokégear played a small “connecting” animation and then flashed on when JC answered.

“Hey, everybody!!” JC said as the video connected, seeing all of his friends gathered together onscreen. “Long time no see! Do I have some news for you?!”

“Same here,” Dawn said excitedly, “But you go first!”

“Alright, well…” he smirked as he lifted his new badge into view, “I don’t mean to brag, but I won my first badge today!!”

“We know,” Serina smiled over Cameron’s shoulder, we were watching.”

“You were…? But how…?”

“We made it to Floaroma this morning and they were televising it in the Pokémon Center,” Dawn explained, “Cameron just happened to catch it so we all watched. You were amazing!”

Kira grabbed JC’s hand and turned the camera towards herself. “Wasn’t he?!” she said happily. “And did you see Twiggy? Did you see how great he was?!”

“We sure did,” Cameron laughed, “You’re a pretty great Trainer, Kira!”

“Thank you,” she smiled, putting JC back on screen.

“So, you guys made it to Floaroma, then?” JC asked. “That was quick! How’d you get there so fast?”

“Do not even ask…” Serina sighed, “We took a ‘shortcut’ that proved quite treacherous.”

Dawn rolled her eyes, “No it didn’t; it was just fine. We took the Ravaged Path and it took less than a day to nearly make it to town. Besides, you made a new friend because of it, isn’t that right?”

“I suppose…”

“Oh a new friend?” JC commented, “I’m curious now!”

“His name is Lartar,” Serina said, lifting the Pokémon into view. “Is he not just adorable?!”

JC’s eyes grew wide as Lartar waved at him through Cameron’s Pokégear.

“Cameron…?”

“Yeah man?”

“That’s a Larvitar.”

Cameron breathed a heavy sigh, “I know.”

“Is it yours?”

“No…”

“But it’s a Larvitar.”

“I know…”

“Well, just checking…” JC said, suspicious. “Dawn, has he been feeling alright?”

“Oh stop it you two,” Dawn dismissed. “But, speaking of the Ravaged Path… we have a surprise for you!!”

“A surprise?”

“Yes! Next time you’re near a Pokémon Center stop in and see for yourself! I think you’ll like it!!”

“Well I’m excited!” he laughed, “And thanks, you guys! It’s really nice to talk to you all again.”

“Aww thanks, JC, it’s nice to hear from you, too,” Dawn smiled. “You too, Kira!” she added.

“Thank you!” she chimed in from off-camera.

“And, Serina,” JC added.

“Yes?” she asked immediately.

“It’s good to see you.”

They heard a slight grunt come presumably from Kira, and Dawn and Cameron both glanced at Serina; her eyes were slowly growing glassy and she was blushing. She sniffled, embarrassed as she rubbed the coming tears from her eyes.

“Um, thank you, JC. It was… most wonderful to see you as well.”

He smiled, “I guess we’ll all talk later, then?”

“Definitely!” Dawn said, “Have a good trip!”

“You guys, too!” he replied, the connection cutting off.

◄►

“Well that was nice of them to call,” Kira said as they walked along the rugged Route 207. “It’s too bad we already left Oreburgh, otherwise we could’ve gotten to see your surprise right away!”

“I know, what a bummer!” JC sighed, pausing in his tracks. “Maybe we should turn around…”

“Nah, let’s keep going,” Kira urged, tugging on his arm. “We’re bound to run into a Center eventually anyway.”

“True,” he agreed, resigning to her persuasion and leaving Oreburgh behind him.

North of Oreburgh City, Routes 207 and 206 were a direct route to Eterna City but cut directly through the mountains, particularly through Mt. Coronet itself, the tallest mountain in the entire region. A considerably difficult set of roads to traverse, Route 207 consisted of a very harsh landscape, uneven and jagged; Route 206 was a bit more hospitable, yet its sudden drops and deep valleys made for a rather lengthy trip.

“I’m hungry,” Kira stated as she rubbed her stomach.

“Are you ready for lunch, then?” JC asked her, feeling his own stomach rumble at the mention of food.

“Yes, please!” she smiled widely. “Can we have some of the stuff we bought today?”

JC chuckled to himself, “You know, before this trip I never realized how much you liked to eat.”

Kira blushed slightly, “I—I’m sure it’s just all this walking we do; I used to have a very small appetite…”

“Don’t stress about it,” JC said, kissing the top of her head. “I still love you. Even if you could eat an entire Tauros at times,” he teased.

“Hey!” she laughed back, hitting him lightly on the arm, “I don’t eat that much…”

“Of course you don’t, sweetie,” JC said, directing her to a small semicircle of boulders that had tumbled down from the mountains above, “Let’s eat here, okay?”

“Okay,” she agreed, helping him to clear the ground for their meal. In no time they had a small pot hung over a fire, with a sweet-smelling vegetable stew simmering inside.

“What do you think it is? Your surprise, I mean,” Kira asked as she scooped some into several bowls: one for her, one for JC, and three for all of the Pokémon, minus Zubat due to the bright sunlight.

“It’s probably just a little trinket or something,” he replied, “Nothing too fancy.”

“I don’t know; Dawn made it sound pretty exciting…” she said as she handed out the food, just as curious as he was. The Pokémon all joined in on a “thank you” of a grunt and two squeaks as they accepted their bowls, happily enjoying the change from dry Pokémon food.

“Well, we won’t know until we see it for ourselves,” he shrugged, settling back against a boulder to enjoy his stew. “Hopefully we get to a—”

“Shh!” Kira interrupted as she raised her palm to silence him.

“I’m sorry, what?” JC asked, shocked at her rudeness.

“No really, shh!” she ordered, standing and moving outside of their alcove of rocks. “Did you hear that?” she asked, straining to hear.

JC set down his food and walked to her side, turning his ear in the direction she was listening.

“Yeah,” he agreed, catching the faint sound in his ear. “It sounds like… shouting?” Sure enough, an unmistakably female voice grew louder and louder, frantically calling for help.

“What’s happening?” Kira asked nervously, moving down the route towards the calls. A girl suddenly came running into view, obviously fleeing from something farther up the route. She was young—at least 13—dressed in pink shorts over white tights, a white shirt with frilled shoulders and a tan backpack. Her long, pink hair was done into pigtails; the left circling into a loop like Nurse Joy, and the one on the right trailing behind her as she ran.

“HELP!!” she cried, her eyes squeezed shut as she ran with all her might down the route and straight towards them. She crashed into JC at full speed, knocking the wind from his body as he hit the ground.

He found the girl sitting on his chest when he finally recovered, her face wrinkled as she painfully held her head.

“Oww…” she moaned, cringing. Her eyes shot open as she felt JC move beneath her, immediately apologizing as she jumped off him.

“Please help!!” she cried, “You’ve gotta help Mira!!”

“Help who?” JC asked, “What are you running from?!”

“THAT!” she exclaimed, pointing up the route from where she’d come. Flying towards them like a bullet was a large bird glinting in the sunlight. It was squawking angrily, growing closer with each beat of its heavy wings.

“What is that thing?” JC asked as he scrambled to his feet, pulling his Pokédex from his pocket.

“It’s a Skarmory,” the girl cried, “And a mean one, too!”

BingBing! “Skarmory, the Armor Bird Pokémon. Because Skarmory nests in brambles and is constantly scratched by thorns, its wings become razor sharp. While its sturdy wings look heavy, they are actually hollow, allowing it to fly freely in the sky, and while also clad in iron-hard armor, Skarmory can fly at speed in excess of 190 mph.”

“Wow, that’s an awesome Pokémon!” JC said excitedly as the bird landed heavily in front of them, giving him his first view of a Skarmory. The large bird stood at least five feet tall, its metal body glistening a dark, bronze hue in the sunlight. It threw its head forward and opened its wings, displaying its many green feathers as sharp as blades. The bird screeched loudly to frighten them, baring its beak lined with small, sharp teeth.

JC looked to the Skarmory and then to his Pokédex. “It doesn’t really look like the one in the Pokédex though…” he said, scratching his head. The small encyclopedia displayed the same bird but with a slight bluish tint and red feathers, definitely not what was standing before him.

Again the Pokémon screeched, suddenly charging them on foot as its heavy talons dug into the rocky earth, driving it forward with surprising speed.

“KAI!!” JC shouted, turning to shield the two girls. His Pokémon came barreling out of the alcove with his back ablaze, tackling the Skarmory and knocking it away from the Trainers.

Skarmory quickly regained its footing and screeched harshly at Kai, displaying its broad wings again to frighten him. Kai ran forward regardless, stepping between the Pokémon and JC and igniting his back to display his own power to the aggressor. The Skarmory took a step back, seeing the flames and growing a bit anxious; it clanked its beak together a few times, twitching its head back and forth as it examined its opponent.

“Thanks buddy,” JC said, leaving the girls to better command his Pokémon. “Now we’re going to have to do this quick; I don’t want you taking any hits from that thing. I get the feeling they’re really going to hurt…”

Kai squeaked in agreement, ready to fight.

“Quick attack!” JC ordered as Kai bolted towards his opponent. The Skarmory lunged at him but Kai was too quick, and in seconds he was right behind the metal bird.

“Ember!” he shouted, his Pokémon spewing hot embers onto the metal Pokémon. Skarmory screeched in pain as they warped its metal skin, quickly taking to the sky and blowing Kai backwards with its powerful wings.

“Wow, when did Kai learn quick attack?” Kira asked, impressed.

“I don’t know but he’s amazing!” the girl added, her eyes wide in admiration as she watched JC battle.

“Which he, exactly?” Kira inquired, her eyes narrowing.

“The Cyndaquil!” she replied, “What a Pokémon!”

“Oh, well that’s alright then,” Kira said, blushing at her jealousy.

They watched the Skarmory circle high overhead, far out of Kai’s reach as it examined the situation. Suddenly it dove towards him, its wings glowing brightly in the sunlight.

“Watch out!” JC warned too late: Skarmory swept across the ground at lightning speed, striking Kai in the chest with a solid steel wing at full force.

“Kai!!” JC shouted as his Pokémon tumbled across the ground from the impact. Kai finally struggled to his feet, lighting his back once more.

“Way to go,” JC said, his confidence returning as Kai recovered. His Pokémon stood defiantly in place as the Skarmory circled and dove a second time, preparing to finish the skirmish. But Kai was ready: seconds before Skarmory struck, he fired an ember and dove out of the way. The embers hit their target dead-on, but Kai’s jump wasn’t timed right and Skarmory’s wing clipped his right leg, carving a deep gash into the muscle.

“Quiiiil!” Kai squeaked, falling to the ground as Skarmory crashed behind him.

“Oh no!” JC shouted in alarm, about to jump and save his Pokémon.

“Wait!!” Kira shouted, stopping his advance and pointing to Kai, “Look!”

JC shielded his eyes as Kai was bathed in a bright light, hindering any view of his Pokémon. He felt his Pokédex vibrate in his pocket, and when the light finally subsided his small Pokémon had undergone a radical transformation.

Kai’s body had grown, both in size and length. He was now almost three feet tall as he reared up on his hind legs, his fiery red eyes wide open and glaring at the Skarmory clambering to its feet.

“Kai… evolved?” JC said skeptically, pulling out his Pokédex.

BingBing! “Quilava, the Volcano Pokémon, and the evolved form of Cyndaquil. Quilava is completely covered with nonflammable fur, thus making it immune to fire-type attacks. Before battle, it turns its back on its opponent to demonstrate how ferociously its fire blazes.”

“Kai evolved!!” JC shouted, happily accepting what he just witnessed, “Way to go, Kai!!”

Flames erupted from Kai’s head and rear as he charged the Skarmory on all fours with newfound agility. He jumped and curled his long body into a ball as flames enveloped his entire body, returning to the ground and rolling towards his opponent as a flaming wheel.

Skarmory frantically tried to move but Kai slammed into him with enough force to dent its metal body and catch the steel Pokémon on fire. It leapt into the air in an attempt to escape, but quickly fell back to the ground in a molten heap as the fires took their toll.

JC was quick to throw a Poké Ball at the defeated Pokémon, the ball shaking only once as it captured its new inhabitant.

JC checked his Pokédex once again: several messages had popped up on the screen, alerting JC to what had been pivotal moments in the battle.

Quilava has learned Flame Wheel.

And also,

New Pokémon Captured: Skarmory

Gender: Male

Condition: Weakened and Severely Burned

Immediate Medical Attention Required.

“Kira, I’m going to need you over here,” JC said, pulling the Poké Ball from the crater where Skarmory had crashed. “Do you still have some Burn Heals on you?”

“I sure do,” she said, rushing back to their lunch area to get her bag. In moments she was connecting the glass cylinder to the Poké Ball’s front port, coating the Pokémon inside with a healing salve.

“Kai, too,” he added, noticing his Pokémon wince as he moved his leg; his wound was deep and bleeding profusely.

“I’m on it,” Kira said as she dug through her bag for her equipment. She sprayed Kai’s leg with a bit of Super Potion and bandaged him up, the newly evolved Pokémon nuzzling her in appreciation.

“You’re always a lifesaver. What would I do without you?” JC smiled, kissing her on the head.

Kira smiled bashfully, “I try…”

“Wow!” the girl said, astonished, “Just wow. That was all… just whoa.”

JC laughed, “Um, thanks. I think…”

The girl suddenly snapped out of her amazement, embarrassed as the attention fell on her.

“Oh, um, thank you for saving me,” she laughed nervously. “I can’t believe I got myself into a situation like that… But congratulations on your Cyndaquil evolving!”

“Thanks,” JC said, nodding his head in satisfaction. “But what happened, exactly? Why was that Skarmory chasing you?”

“Well…” she trailed off, “Ya see, I’d heard that Mt. Coronet emits these ‘waves’ that cause certain Pokémon to evolve into a different form… I’ve got a Magneton and…”

“You wanted it to evolve into a Magnezone,” Kira finished. “You know evolution doesn’t just happen. Your Pokémon has to work for it.”

“Yeah, that’s how the Skarmory got involved…” the girl blushed, “I guess that’s what I get for taking on a steel-type with a steel-type.”

JC chuckled and Kira sighed. “Well you really should be more careful in the future. My name’s Kira,” she said, introducing herself, “And this is Jemkyn. We’re from southwestern Sinnoh.”

“Mira,” she said, bowing, “Mira Langley; from Rikishii Town in Johto.”

“Ooh, Johto,” JC said, interested. “Isn’t that where you’re from, Kira?”

“Sure is,” she replied, “Goldenrod City. Rikishii Town wasn’t too far north of us actually: between Mahogany Town and Olivine City.”

Mira looked confused. “I thought you just said you were both from Sinnoh…”

“Oh we are,” Kira corrected, “I live in Floaroma now. Well, that’s where my home is, at least. I lived with a friend in Sandgem when the Academy was in session.”

“Oh, you’re Academy students?” Mira asked, impressed. “That’s pretty cool! I’ve never actually been to Sandgem; I hear it’s nice though. That’s where Professor Rowan’s lab is, right?”

“That’s right,” JC said, “You sure know your way around Sinnoh for a Johto girl!”

Mira shrugged, “I visit a lot. Sinnoh is one of my favorite regions; it’s so pretty and warm here!”

“Yep,” JC said as he clasped his hands behind his head and smiled happily, “It doesn’t get much better than this.”

“Well anyway, thanks again,” Mira said, “I really do appreciate it.”

“It was no problem, really,” JC assured her. “So with that Skarmory gone, are you heading back to evolve your Pokémon?”

“You got it,” Mira winked, “But… like you said: that Skarmory’s gone. What am I going to battle now?”

“I’m sure you’ll find something when you get there,” Kira said, “It was nice meeting you!”

“I guess I might…” Mira thought aloud, “But hey, would you guys maybe want to come with me? I’d love the company!”

JC turned to Kira, interested in the proposition.

“It is on our way…” he persuaded.

“I don’t have a problem with it, we’ve just got to clean up first,” she said, heading back to their lunch spot to gather up their things.

“We’ll just be a minute,” JC apologized to Mira, running after Kira to help her. All packed, JC and Kira followed Mira back the way she came while eating their cold stew, the young girl strutting proudly in front of them as she used her impressive knowledge of the area to lead them safely into the mountains.

“That’s where the Skarmory started chasing me,” she pointed out, motioning off into the woods to their left. “This whole area should be close enough to Mt. Coronet to fall within its magnetic field, so Magneton should be able to evolve here…”

“Well let’s get looking for a wild Pokémon!” JC said, dropping his bag by a tree. Together, the three of them searched high and low, but were unable to find any wandering Pokémon for Mira to battle.

“So what am I going to do now?” she asked as she plopped down on the ground, disappointed. “If Magneton doesn’t battle someone and win he won’t evolve, and this whole trip will have been for nothing.”

“Sorry, Mira,” JC sighed, sitting down next to her, “But the Pokémon just aren’t biting today. You and that Skarmory must’ve scared them off.”

“Humph,” she pouted. “Wait a minute… I could battle one of you!”

JC shrugged, “I don’t see why not! What do you say, Kira?”

“Go ahead,” she said indifferently, leaning back against a tree.

“Oh no, not me,” JC corrected, “You get to battle her.”

“Me?!” Kira asked as she jumped back up, “Why?!”

“Because we’d be cleaning up puddles of steel after Kai was done with her Magneton. And because you and Twiggy need to battle together again after I used him so much in Oreburgh; you two need to reconnect.”

“Well, okay…” she agreed, pulling Twiggy’s ball from her bag.

Mira smiled excitedly. “Yes!”

◄►

“Let’s go, Magneton!” Mira said as she tossed her Poké Ball into the air, the steel Pokémon materializing and levitating in front of her. Magneton was made up of three large, metal orbs magnetically attached to one another, each with a round, electronic eye, three half-driven screws and two horseshoe magnets coming off to either side.

“MAGNETON,” it vocalized, its voice reverberating from inside the orbs.

Mira caught her Poké Ball and looked across the clearing at Kira and Twiggy standing ready for her. “Let’s do this!” she said excitedly.

“Ready when you are,” Kira said as she checked her Pokédex, the device crackling with static as it scanned Mira’s Pokémon.

BingBing! “Magneton, the—zzzz—Magnet Pokémon, and the evolved form of Magnemite. Magneton emits a powerful magnetic force—zzzz—that is fatal to electronics and precision instruments. Because of this, cities and towns—zzzz—warn people to keep this Pokémon inside of its Poké—zzzz—Ball.”

“This will be a one-on-one battle,” JC announced from the edge of the clearing. “Ready…? Battle!”

“Magneton, thunderbolt!” Mira commanded, not wasting any time in starting the fight.

“Razor leaf, Twiggy,” Kira countered. Both Pokémon let fly with their attacks; clouds of leaves flew from Twiggy’s back towards the Magneton while the magnet Pokémon crackled with electricity, pivoting its magnets towards Twiggy and launching a bolt of lightning straight at him.

Magneton’s attack hit first, striking Twiggy but otherwise passing through him and dispersing into the surrounding ground. Twiggy’s razor leaves also struck Magneton dead on, leaving only small scratches as they impacted with its steel body.

“What the…” Mira asked confused.

“Whoa,” Kira added.

JC laughed from his referee position, “Both of your Pokémon resist the other’s types; this is going to be interesting!”

“Electricity may be out, but we’ve still got another type to spare!” Mira said defiantly, “Magneton, use a magnet bomb!”

Magneton levitated higher into the air as its magnets began to rotate faster and faster. A small silver orb of energy began to form at the tip of each magnet, and with a flick of its appendages it sent all six orbs flying at Twiggy.

“Dodge it!” Kira ordered, her Pokémon suddenly breaking into a run. The bombs quickly altered their trajectory, locking-on to Twiggy and pursuing him across the clearing.

“Oh no!” Kira winced as Magneton’s attack made contact. The bombs burst all at once, rocking the area with their small explosions and launching Twiggy almost out of the clearing—the boundary lines for their match—his body skidding to a stop just short of the tall grass.

“Come on, Twiggy, get up!” Kira encouraged, “Use absorb!”

Twiggy struggled to his feet, still reeling from the explosion, but still managed to launch his counterattack.

Magneton began to glow green as his energy was sapped by Twiggy’s absorb, but the effects were minimal and Magneton was relatively unaffected. On the receiving end though, Twiggy was suffering from the lack of incoming energy and his recovery was nearly nonexistent.

“Harder, Twiggy!!” Kira pushed, truly worried for her Pokémon, “I know you can do it!!”

Twiggy braced his feet and let out a roar, his own body starting to glow a pale green. Overhead, Magneton began to twitch as the effects of Twiggy’s absorb increased.

“MAAAGNETOONNN!” it cried out as it slowly dropped in elevation, its energy dissipating.

Kira’s Pokédex startled her as it vibrated in her hand, alerting her to something important.

Grotle -zzzz- has learned Mega Drain.

“Wahoo!!” she cheered excitedly, “We can still win this thing, Twiggy! Keep it up!!”

Twiggy let out another roar as his strength returned, emboldened by his Trainer’s faith in him.

Mira grumbled, frustrated. “Magneton, let’s finish this now! Flash cannon!”

Magneton turned itself to face Twiggy, its mechanical eyes glowing white. As its magnets began spinning again another silvery orb appeared in front of it, slowly increasing in size before firing at Twiggy in a silvery burst.

The ground rocked with another explosion as Twiggy was lost in a cloud of dirt and debris. But as the dust settled, Kira saw her Pokémon laying on his back, unconscious.

“Twiggy is unable to battle!” JC shouted, and just as he finished Magneton began glowing brightly.

“It’s happening!” Mira shouted happily, “It’s really happening!”

Magneton’s glowing form melded itself into a new shape, and as the light faded Mira caught her first glimpse of her new Magnezone.

One of Magneton’s orb-bodies had grown much larger and now had a large red pupil in its eye along with a yellow antennae sprouting from the top of its head. The other two orbs remained the same, affixed to either side of the center head with only one horseshoe magnet per side-orb, with a final third magnet attached at its rear.

“Ohh Magnezone! You look so cool!!” Mira exclaimed as she hugged him, her arms barely wrapping around his new girth.

“MAGNEZONE!” it rumbled, its voice slightly lower than before but still deeply mechanical.

While Mira congratulated her newly evolved Pokémon, JC walked over to Kira who hadn’t moved since the end of the battle. She finally returned Twiggy to his ball, but remained rooted in place.

“That was a really intense battle,” he said, “But you and Twiggy battled really well. You should be proud.”

“Thanks,” she said, quickly walking past him and up to Mira and Magnezone, standing tall as she called her opponent out.

“Hey, Mira!”

“Yes…?” she answered hesitantly. 

“I’ve never been beaten that fast before,” Kira said sternly. “That Magneton was a lot stronger than I expected.”

“Oh,” she replied timidly, nervous that she’d offended her new friend. “Well it’s always been my strongest Pokémon, and I’ve been training it for a real long time…”

“And it definitely shows,” Kira smiled, “You were great.”

Mira smiled and ran forward, wrapping Kira in a tight hug. “Thank you,” she said happily. “And thank you so much for my Magnezone! I couldn’t have gotten him without you!”

“You’re welcome,” Kira blushed. “Hey, Mira, you wouldn’t want to stay and camp with us tonight, would you? We’d be happy to have you.”

“Really?!” Mira gasped, her eyes brimming with excitement. “You’d let me camp with you? Oh thank you, thank you!!”

“It’s no problem,” Kira said warmly.

“I even know the perfect spot at the base of the mountain! I’ll go on ahead!” she said, grabbing onto her Pokémon’s forward magnets.

“Wahoo!!” she exclaimed as Magnezone took off, carrying her just over the treetops towards Route 207.

“Well that was sweet of you,” JC said as Mira disappeared down the mountain. “I was beginning to think you didn’t like her.”

“She’s a sweet girl,” Kira replied. “But I’m never losing to her again.”

JC looked at her, not sure what to say. But Kira broke the mood herself, playfully sticking her tongue out at him.

“You’re messing with me,” JC grinned, catching on to her.

“Oh no, you’re much too smart to fall for that,” she laughed, hugging him tightly.

“Come on,” she said as she tugged on his arm, “Let’s go catch up with Mira.”

As the sun began to set far to the west the two of them walked arm in arm the entire way down the mountain, and when they finally arrived at the spot Mira had specified it had already been fully converted into a campsite.

“Wow, this is pretty impressive, Mira,” JC approved, “You’re quite the camper!”

“Thanks!” she said as she struggled to light the fire with some flint stones. “I actually haven’t been camping in a while, so I’m a little rusty.”

“It’s better than anything we would’ve made,” Kira laughed, sitting down on a log. “You’ve got skills, girl.”

“Again, thanks,” she said, growing frustrated with the rocks.

JC put his hand over hers, “Here, let us help,” he said as he released his Pokémon. Kai coughed a few cinders into the pit, instantly lighting the fire.

“He’s so cool!” Mira sighed, gazing admirably at Kai. “I wish I had a fire-type!”

“Where is your starter?” JC asked. “If you’re from Johto you could’ve just chosen a Cyndaquil when you started your journey.”

“I could’ve,” she said, sitting back from the fire, “But the day I got my Trainer’s License my dad gave me a Magnemite. He said, ‘Mira, anybody can make it as a Trainer with one of those starter Pokémon, but it takes a real Trainer to start out with something else.’”

“So your Magnezone is your starter!” Kira said, thinking it through. “Now I know why you were so determined to have it evolve.”

“Mhm,” she nodded. “Magneton—sorry, Magnezone—and I have been through alot over the past three years. We’ve travelled all over the world, making friends and getting stronger.”

“Wow, that’s a pretty big accomplishment for a 13-year-old,” JC acknowledged, “And to think, Kira and I didn’t leave home after getting our licenses for 10 years.”

“You guys are old,” Mira laughed, shifting on the hard ground.

“Don’t you have a sleeping bag?” Kira asked, noticing she was uncomfortable. “Come to think of it, do you even have a bag at all?”

“Nope,” she replied, “Just me and my Pokémon. It’s okay though, normally I don’t need one.”

“Well here, you can use mine,” Kira offered, dragging her bag over to Mira.

“Oh I couldn’t take yours,” Mira said, “Where will you sleep?”

“Trust me, I’ve got a standing invitation to someone else’s,” she winked, sitting down next to JC on his sleeping bag.

“Oh…” she said, not understanding at first. Her eyes suddenly widened, “Oohhh…. Um, thanks,” she added, blushing hotly.

Kira smiled and JC blushed slightly, embarrassed. After all, Mira was still a preteen.

With the last of the sunlight finally gone for the night, Kira’s C-gear started beeping an alarm.

“Oh, Jemkyn,” she said as she muted the device, “It’s egg time.”

“Oh, that’s right” he said, getting to his feet, “Well, come on, Kai!”

“Egg time?” Mira asked as she followed JC and Kai to their bags. “Are you making eggs this late at night?”

JC laughed, “Well, not quite,” he smiled, unzipping his backpack and pulling out his egg.

“Wow! A Pokémon egg!?” Mira exclaimed. “Cool!”

JC smiled again. “Here, why don’t you take mine and I’ll grab Kira’s…” he said, holding it out for her.

“Okay…” she said, taking it in her hands. “Oh! It shook!”

“They’ve been shaking a lot lately,” JC explained as he pulled Kira’s egg from her bag, “That means they’re close to hatching. At least, we think…”

“You think…?”

“We’re kind of new to the whole egg thing,” Kira shrugged as JC and Mira sat down by the fire again. “They’re not even our eggs; the owners of the day-care gave them to us for helping them out.”

“Wow, really?” Mira asked, her eyes wide. “You’re so lucky!”

“We like to think so,” JC grinned.

Kira laughed, “I just don’t know if we’re ready for kids yet! It’s such a big responsibility!”

“Kira!” JC laughed back at her.

Mira smiled, “You guys sound like you’re married. It’s cute.”

JC and Kira blushed, glancing at each other and then staring at the fire.

“So, egg time…?” Mira asked again, breaking their sudden silence.

“Oh right,” JC remembered, “Well basically before we settle in for the night we set our eggs by the fire to incubate a bit. And then one of us has to wake up every hour to turn them…”

“Wow,” Mira said, impressed, “That’s really cool. You guys are like, Pokémon breeders or something!”

Kira giggled. “I wouldn’t go that far…”

“It’s still cool,” Mira smiled.

“Well, that should do it,” JC said, leaning the eggs against each other by the fire. Kai walked up sleepily next to him, nudging one of the eggs a bit to better incubate before walking directly into the fire and curling up to fall asleep. Stunned, JC remembered back what the Pokédex said earlier about him, about having fireproof fur or something. 

Well, he is a fire-type… he thought to himself as he laid back on his sleeping bag next to Kira, setting his Pokégear to wake him every hour.

“Thanks for letting me borrow your sleeping bag, Kira,” Mira said again, “Goodnight!”

“Night, Mira,” she replied, snuggling up to JC.

◄►

“Jemkyn! Wake up!”

“Mira…?” he asked sleepily, grunting as he was pulled from his sleep. “What’s wrong? What time is it?” 

“It’s the eggs!” she exclaimed, “I think they’re hatching!! Hurry and get up or you’ll miss it!”

JC quickly sat up as his excitement took him and checked his Pokégear: 3:47 am. He could hear Mira bustling around the campsite, rushing around in a frenzied state. “Kai, can you get that fire going again?” she asked restlessly.

JC anxiously rubbed the sleep from his eyes as Kai quickly brought their fire back to a roar. As his eyes adjusted, JC saw Kira sitting over on her sleeping bag with an egg in each arm and an excited look on her face.

“Our eggs!” she whispered. Her voice was inaudible, but her smile expressed her excitement.

JC quickly crawled over to her and gave her a quick kiss, watching as the two eggs kicked and rocked. A crack suddenly appeared in JC’s, slowly growing as the creature pushed from the inside; Kira’s soon followed suit, a black beak clawing its way to the outside world.

Kira bit her lip excitedly as a clawed foot poked out from the bottom of JC’s egg, followed by a red, toothed beak. Its mouth free, the baby inside squawked for freedom as it began clawing from the inside at the small hole it had formed. The crack in Kira’s egg suddenly spread all the way down the middle as two strong blue fins pushed hard to escape. As it broke past the last barrier, the small ocean turtle tumbled into Kira’s lap, followed shortly after by a small bird with a bony head, its body covered in colorful, downy feathers.

Mira helped to clear away the eggshells as JC cuddled up next to Kira, looking down at the newest members of their family.

“They look so cute,” he whispered to her happily, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

“They’re beautiful,” she sniffled, tears starting from her eyes.

“Oh, don’t cry,” JC said as he hugged her.

“It’s just so exciting,” she cried, giving him a kiss. “We’re parents!”

JC chuckled and shook his head. He started to say something but was interrupted as the “children” suddenly cried out in hunger.

“Oh I bet they’re starving!” Mira said, “Do you guys have any food?”

“Check my bag,” JC advised. Mira hurried away, determined to find the newborns something to eat.

“Don’t cry sweeties!” Kira cooed, her sweet voice somehow calming their raging appetites. The two babies looked up at her with their large eyes, taking in their first view of their mother.

“Well hello there!” Kira said holding them up close to her face. They both began nuzzling her cheeks, squawking contently; but the minute Mira returned with food, their appetites returned.

“Here, here, there’s plenty for both of you!” Mira said, trying to offer them scraps of dried meat without getting her hands bitten. “I figured with those beaks and teeth, they could probably handle something tough. Hungry little things, aren’t they?” she laughed.

“They’re adorable,” Kira said. “But Jemkyn, what exactly are they?”

“I have no idea,” he answered, squinting in the low light. “But this should solve our mystery…” he said, grabbing Kira’s Pokédex.

BingBing! “No data; unknown Pokémon.”

“And the mystery continues…” Kira giggled. “So what will we call them?”

“How about… baby one and baby two?” JC winked.

Kira barely spent the effort to raise her eyes at his comment.

“I’m serious,” she said, “What are we going to call them? They need proper names…”

Everyone was silent for a moment, save for the smacking of two very hungry jaws. Finally, Mira spoke up.

“I have an idea… What about Tori for the bird, and Kamé for the turtle?”

Kira mulled it over in her head. “Tori… and Kamé… Tori… Kamé… Kamé… Tori…” She finally smiled, “I like those. What about you Jemkyn?”

“I like whatever you like, Kira,” he said, putting his arm around her.

Kira smiled again and Mira let out a long “Aww”. Kira leaned up and kissed him on the cheek, giving him a loving look.

“Well then, little Tori,” JC said, scooping up his Pokémon, “You need to be getting to bed!”

Tori squawked in protest, flailing its small wings in an attempt to escape from JC’s clutches.

“Oh hush,” he chided, picking some meat scraps out of Mira’s hands and laying back onto his sleeping bag. “Here, you little whiner,” he said, dangling the meat over Tori’s open beak. The tiny Pokémon jumped on his stomach, finally snatching it from his hand, nipping his finger in the process with its toothed beak.

“Oww! Feisty little thing, aren’t you? Looks like you take after your mother…” he whispered, Tori finally settling down into the fabric of his shirt, exhausted.

“What was that?” Kira asked, only a few feet from him.

“Oh, nothing,” he laughed.

“Sure…” she smiled, laying back next to him and setting Kame on his chest next to Tori. Disturbed, Tori opened an eye, but quickly drifted back off to sleep after Kame settled in next to it.

It wasn’t long before Kira and JC were both fast asleep as well, the two hatchlings sleeping soundly on JC’s chest. Mira doused the fire before settling back into Kira’s sleeping bag, watching the two new parents in the moonlight.

“Too sweet,” she smiled as her eyes slowly closed.

◄►

“Well, I should probably be heading back home,” Mira said as she finished her breakfast. “Mom doesn’t like it when I’m gone for too long.”

“Aww, are you sure?” JC asked, Tori perched on his shoulder as he cleaned off his plate. “It’s been so nice having you around.”

“Yeah, unfortunately. I’ve really enjoyed spending time with you guys though! And getting to see a hatching: priceless!”

“Glad we could provide entertainment,” Kira smiled as she hand-fed Kamé in her arms. “But you’re going all the way back to Johto, aren’t you? Good luck with that trip!”

Mira laughed loudly, “Oh it’s not that bad, trust me. Where are you guys headed?”

“Well we’re trying to get to Snowpoint City…” Kira shrugged, “But it’s taking forever.”

“I could take you there!” Mira offered eagerly, “On my way home! It’s just a short pit stop!”

JC and Kira looked at each other confused.

“Mira, Snowpoint is kind of out of your way…”

“No it’s not,” Mira said, not understanding. “Oh!! No, see I have an Abra! He teleports me wherever I need to go!”

“Oh!” JC laughed, “Well that makes a bit more sense. We thought you were going a little crazy…” he joked.

“Ha-ha,” Mira mocked, “I don’t have to take you, you know.”

“Just ignore him,” Kira smiled. “We would love for you to take us there.”

“Well great!” Mira smiled back as she dug into her pocket, “All I need is my Abra and we’ll be on our way!” She pulled out the small Poké Ball and activated it, releasing her Pokémon on the ground in front of her, fast asleep.

Her Abra was a sandy colored, vaguely fox-like creature with a short snout and short ears. His chest and shoulders were a pale purple and rather bulky, almost like he was wearing armor of some sort; he had three-clawed feet and hands, and his thick tail swayed back and forth as he snored quietly.

“You guys ready?” Mira asked.

“Give us a minute,” Kira answered as they finished packing up, trying to juggle packing and holding a baby. “I’ve never seen an Abra up close before…” she added as she looked him over, “But he’s sound asleep! That doesn’t seem very useful!” She knelt down next to Abra, reaching a hand out towards him, “I mean, I could just reach out and grab—” she stopped, jumping back as Abra vanished in a bright flash, reappearing seconds later on a tree branch, still snoring.

BingBing! “Abra, the Psi Pokémon. Abra sleep 18 hours a day. However, using its ability to read minds, it senses any impending danger and teleports to safety.”

“Interesting…” JC said as he looked the Pokémon over in his Pokédex. “Psychic-types are pretty cool…”

Mira suddenly spoke up from behind him, her eyes on his Pokédex. “I’ve noticed that you guys both have one of those. What are they exactly?”

“What, this?” JC asked as he handed her the device. “It’s called a Pokédex, short for ‘Pokémon Index’. Professor Rowan made them for us.”

Mira fiddled with his Pokédex, weighing it, flipping it open and shut and just examining it. “He made them? What for?”

“To help us out on our journeys,” Kira answered. “The Pokédex has data on nearly every Pokémon we’ll come across, and it helps us to see the levels of our own Pokémon as well as their moves and status. “It’s really helpful.”

“I bet,” Mira sighed, handing the Pokédex back to JC, “I wish I had one.”

“Well maybe you can beg your region’s professor to make you one,” JC joked as he slipped the device back into his pocket. “But why are we still talking? I thought you were all ready to go!”

“You bet I am!” Mira said, eager to move on. “Alright, you ready, Abra? Oh,” she added, “Um, you guys might want to hold on to something. Teleporting can be a little… unsettling the first time.”

At her warning, JC and Kira glanced around for something to hold onto before nervously holding their baby with one hand and gripping the strap of their backpacks with the other.

“Here we go!!” Mira shouted as JC and Kira quickly shut their eyes. They both felt a tingle as their stomachs tumbled, suddenly surrounded with the all too familiar sounds of a Pokémon Center.

“Did we make it…?” JC asked, slowly opening one eye. Sure enough, the warm inside of a Center greeted him as he looked around; a nurse stood at the counter helping a few Trainers while several others sat around a magnificent fireplace holding steaming cups, their dripping coats, boots and other winter garments hanging nearby.

“See, not too bad, right?” Mira asked, “Beats walking the whole way.”

“Wow, that wasn’t bad at—” JC stopped, a wave of nausea coming over him. He steadied himself, the unsettling sensation dissipating as quickly as it arrived.

“Oh yeah, that happens sometimes,” Mira grinned, seeing both Kira and JC’s reactions.

JC took a deep breath, “Well, that aside, I could definitely see myself using an Abra.”

“Maybe you could get your professor to catch you one,” Mira mocked, playing off his Pokédex comment from earlier.

JC started to make a face at her but Kira interrupted.

“Look at that weather…” she said, directing their attention to one of the large windows. A horrible snow storm beat against the building just outside, darkening the landscape in spite of the early hour.

“Wow, that’s fierce,” Mira commented as she hugged them both, patting the babies on the head. “Well, enjoy your stay!” she smiled before vanishing in a flash.

◄►

“Your Pokémon are all healed,” Nurse Joy said, handing JC and Kira their Poké Balls. “That Skarmory of yours took quite a bit of work to patch up! And your Quilava will need a bit of rest; I did everything I could, but there are some wounds only time can heal…”

“It’s no problem, Nurse Joy,” JC nodded, “But thanks for trying. He’s going to be alright though, right?”

“Oh of course!” she smiled, “I’d say he needs about two days of rest and he’ll be back up and melting more Skarmory!”

Kira and JC laughed along with the nurse as Skarmory’s Poké Ball shook angrily in JC’s hand.

“And I must say, your newborns are absolutely adorable,” she commented, watching Kame nibble on Kira’s finger. “Are you two from Unova?”

“Unova?” JC spoke up, “No, we’re from southwestern Sinnoh… why do you ask?”

“Oh, well I just assumed with those Pokémon that you were travelling from out of the region. My mistake!” she apologized.

“Wait, you know what they are?” Kira asked, leaning over the counter, “Can you tell us?”

“Well of course,” Nurse Joy smiled, “The one you’re holding there is a Tirtouga: a water and rock type. And the one perched on your shoulder is an Archen: a flying and rock type. Both are prehistoric Pokémon that were reintroduced into the wild along with the development of cloning technology, like the Sheildon and Cranidos of Sinnoh.”

“Huh,” Kira shrugged, “Well that ends our little mystery! Thanks, Nurse Joy!”

“Anytime,” she bowed. “Now, I don’t mean to pry, but you two don’t seem dressed for the weather… How did you get through the storm?”

“A friend teleported us here,” Kira explained, “We were on Route 207 just an hour ago.”

“Oh I see, so you just skipped it altogether!” Nurse Joy laughed. “Well, you’ll find everything you need over at our store,” she added, directing them to the far side of the Center.

“Thanks so much,” Kira said as they left the counter for the mart. “Oh wait! Jemkyn, your gift, remember? From Dawn?”

“Oh yeah…” JC remembered. “Nurse Joy, is there a package waiting for me or something?”

“I’m not sure…” she replied, clicking away on her computer, “Oh, here it is! It’s not a package exactly,” she said, pressing a final button on her keyboard and turning to a large machine behind the counter. The machine started to whir and hum as it sprung to life, a Poké Ball materializing on its receiving plate.

“Here you go,” she said, handing him the ball, “From a Ms. Berlitz.”

“A Pokémon…?” Kira asked, “Didn’t expect that!”

“Me neither,” JC agreed, “What is it?”

“I can help you with that,” Nurse Joy answered, turning back to her computer. “It’s a… Lapras!”

Kira and JC stared at her, mouths agape.

“Are… are you sure?” JC asked, stunned.

Nurse Joy double checked, confirming that it was, in fact, a Lapras.

“That’s amazing!” Kira exclaimed, “How did they catch one?! Forget that, how did they even find one?!”

“And why give it to me?” JC asked, “Why not Cameron, or even Dawn?” JC was shocked at his friends’ kindness, completely overwhelmed that he was now the owner of one of the rarest Pokémon in the world.

Nurse Joy interrupted his thoughts, “Would you like to add that Pokémon to your current party? I noticed you only had five Pokémon registered when I checked you in.”

“Oh yes, please!” JC said eagerly, “That would be awesome!”

Joy quickly added Lapras to JC’s list of usable Pokémon while Kira headed over to the shop to pick out new clothes. JC joined her shortly after, Kira having already selected a new wardrobe for him.

“Nice,” he commented, looking them over. She had chosen a solid black coat with a green Poké Ball emblem on one sleeve and a new pair of thermal jeans to replace his regular ones. Lying atop the coat was a fleece headband for his ears, solid black with a green Poké Ball like the coat and a pair of green gloves.

“You really like it?” she asked, her eyes full of hope. “I thought you’d look cute in it,” she smiled. “Now what about mine?” she asked as she held her own ensemble up against her body.

For herself she had assembled a much more complex wardrobe: a black puffy coat to match his, black earmuffs, and red gloves and boots.

“Very cute,” JC said, hugging her. “I had a feeling you were the ‘fashionable’ type.”

“What was your first hint,” she laughed, flipping her hair dramatically.

They carried their new clothes to the checkout and purchased them along with replacement Poké Balls and medicines, returning to the counter and getting their room keys from Nurse Joy before heading upstairs. The room they reserved was similar to their previous ones, fully furnished with a large common room and kitchen, but only one bedroom and bathroom. The bedroom, however, was equipped with two beds, one for each of them.

“Well this is nice,” Kira said softly as she exited the bedroom, having just put the babies down for a nap. “We don’t have to share anything! And it’s so quiet without everyone else.”

“That’s the truth,” JC agreed, looking out the large window at the snow storm raging outside. Aside from the pounding of the storm, Snowpoint seemed very quiet. Even the Pokémon Center, usually bustling with Trainers and Pokémon, was surprisingly hushed, a sound JC found a little unsettling. They were so far from everything he knew; what if something happened way out here?

“What’s wrong?” Kira asked, sliding up behind him, “Aren’t you enjoying yourself?”

“Oh definitely,” he assured her, turning and kissing her on the head. “I guess I’m just a little nervous. I mean, I don’t know about you, but this is the farthest I’ve ever been from home…”

“My home’s in Johto,” she smirked, “So I’m always far from home.”

JC grabbed her and poked at her side, “You know what I mean,” he laughed over her squeals. They fell onto the couch and wrestled around for a minute, their playtime slowly turning into a more romantic moment. Kira leaned forward and kissed him lightly, an action JC returned with even more fervor. Kira wrapped her arms around him, pulling him closer as she lay back against the couch, eager to push farther. But a sudden knock at the door interrupted their rendezvous, leaving Kira pouting on the couch while JC went to answer it.

Standing in the opened doorway was a waist high, pink egg-shaped Pokémon called a Chansey, a familiar sight in the various Pokémon Centers. The helpful Pokémon acted as assistants to the nurses, even wearing small nurse’s hats as they performed their duties.

“Chansey, chansey,” it said, holding out a small piece of mail. JC thanked the Pokémon and took the letter, closing the door behind him as the Chansey headed back towards the elevator.

“Man, Kira, you really are popular,” JC said, noting the name on the envelope as he turned from the door, “It looks like it’s for you! There’s no return address though…”

Kira quickly relieved him of the letter, tossing it onto the kitchen counter as she took his hand.

“I’m a thousand miles from home with the boy I love, stuck inside our room because of a snow storm with no one but ourselves to keep us company. I’m going to enjoy this.”

“But your letter,” he said, motioning towards the counter while she tugged him back into the room.

“I’m sure it can wait.”