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Nuzlocke: The Gold Standard Chapter 9

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Chapter 9: The Heights, The Depths And Everything In-between


A Rude Surprise - A Miltank in Distress - Lisa Aims to Do Some Good - Sammy's Sins Catch Up to Him - Argument Time! - How to Exploit Poke Ball Communication - A Refresher Course in Falling Off Things - Harry's Deja Vu as Mike Accepts a Mission - Cowering Crabs - Journey to the Centre of Union Cave - History tends to Repeat Itself


Today had been a trying day for Mike even before he fell out of a lighthouse.

After finally conquered the Ecruteak City Gym, essentially by abusing one Dark-type move repeatedly, Mike was feeling well as he strode along Rt. 38. The breeze was blowing, the sun was shining, he had his treasured Bayleef by his side, the birds were chirping and the trainers were easy to beat. As a result, when his PokeGear suddenly let out a garbled shriek and the screen flicked madly he almost fell over in surprise.

'Woah, woah, woah, what's going on?!' he despaired, fiddling with the device on his wrist desperately while trying to remember what the instruction manual had said, or even looked like. A patch of static segued across the screen and the sound wobbled in and out like the world's most dramatic vibrato. Throwing caution to the winds, Mike simply thumped every button in sight and resorted to shouting at it. Cautiously, Sammy the Bayleef looked up over his arm to try and see what was happening, his trainer's desperate outburst causing people to start staring.

With the sound of an ambulance siren colliding with a laser pistol, the phone screen flashed through six different backgrounds, displayed a precise current time of 91:00am and then cut to black.

'Aw, no!' Mike cried, wringing his hands. 'That's the second one this journey! I keep having to send begging letters to my mum already, this is going to push her past the brink.'

Sammy frowned. 'What happened to the last one?'

Mike scowled at him in response. 'You dumped it in the river when we arrived in Goldenrod City, remember?'

Sammy gulped. 'Er, no,' he lied. 'But what happened here-'

Both boy and Pokemon saw it at the same time as the Magnemite floated up to them, its eye fixed on the PokeGear on Mike's wrist. As the two watched the floating Steel type it appeared to inspect Mike device from a short distance, intrigued by its findings, quite oblivious its two onlookers.

Mike looked at Sammy. 'Magnemites? Are they capable of things like that?'

'Hm...' Sammy frowned in thought. 'Those magnets... I mean, no-one knows how those really work. They say magnets can ruin electronic devices, so...'

Mike grinned. 'No, but I know how Great Balls work. Like this.' With a deft flick of the wrist, the Magnemite found itself suddenly captured and trapped, before beaming away to Mike's PC storage.

'So, a new team member,' Mike said with a smile, the balance of fate having been levelled again. 'Awesome. Look forward to seeing it later. If I still have money left.'

Sammy gulped, his head down. He was equally to blame here, so he figured it best to stay out. He hadn't told Harrison, Lisa, Harry or Colin about the original team's little party on arrival in Goldenrod City, but during that time all the team members had done things they'd... regretted. That is, regretted not being to do anymore.

Mercifully, Mike's short attention span came to the rescue. 'Hey, is that a farmhouse?'

There was indeed, a farmhouse. Words like 'quiant' and 'picturesque' spring to the minds of those who've never seen actual farmhouses, for all the muddy, messy, smelly barns they are. Fortunately, Mike is one of these people. Entering the house as you do when you are a teenage Pokemon trainer and presumably exempt from the law, he entered the barn area to find two young girls crouched with... a Miltank.

Hyperventilating, Mike slowly forced himself to calm. Whitney's Gym was a long time ago. Bravely, he made himself enter non-instrusively and say 'Erm, can I help with anything?'

'Oh...' One of the girls looked up from the Pokemon's side, not in the least bit surprised to see him. 'Miktank here isn't very well... She needs something that can help her, but we can't leave her here... Do you have anything?'

'Super Potions?'

The other girl shook her head. 'She doesn't do well with artificial remedies... She needs a natural touch...'

'Oh. Right,' Mike said, feeling rather awkward all of a sudden. 'Um, in that case I'll... come back to you, ok? If I find anything. Promise.'

The first girl nodded slightly. 'Thank you...'

'And, um, my consolations.'

'You're very kind.'

Mike gave the Miltank a cautious look. The Miltank made a noise best described as 'blart' and rolled over weakly. It was probably an ok one, for a Miltank.

Wandering outside again, Mike decided that he could capitalise on the fresh air and released most of his team from their Poke Balls to enjoy the scenery. Kate the Fearow immediately flapped to the top of his head and nestled there, Lisa bounced down upon release and looked around at the surrounding nature with delighted curiosity, her eyes lighting up as she saw the farmhouse. Sammy immediately stepped to his trainer's side and smiled cheerfully and Harrison stood in behind, his scythe-arms ready to do justice, badassery or a combination of the above to any dangerous passerbys. Harry the Sudowoodo merely groaned and was returned to his ball at his own request, saying something about how 'If anyone's going to amusing plot-inflicted illness from this area, it's bound to be me.' Colin was left in his ball for... obvious reasons.

'So where's next, chief?' Harrison asked as the associated mix of species contoured the edge of the farm.

'Olivine City, I think the map said,' Mike replied. 'Apparently there's a huge lighthouse, you'd love it up there Kate.'

'Hm?' The Fearow on Mike's hat cracked open a lazy eye. 'And why might I do that?'

'Well... You're a bird...'

'That's like saying Bicycles like being kept in the garage.'

'What- Bicycles don't have feelings!'

'Oh, wow. That's a pretty mean thing to say about them. Geez, Mike, I thought you were cooler than that.'

'But- it's not like that! It doesn't work that way!'

'How would you know that? When was the last time you talked to a bicycle?'

'Wha... I...'

Kate smiled. 'Oh, you. You know I love messing with you, Mike.'

Mike groaned despairingly. 'Kate... One day you'll give me a heart attack.'

'That'll be a fun day,' Kate said as she nestled comfortably again. Her  eye opened and caught Harrison and Sammy's expressions. 'Hey, don't give me that look.'

Harrison sighed disparagingly. 'When I first met you lot,' the Scyther muttered, 'I didn't think my new friends were going to be this strange. Eventful, yes, but not strange.'

'Well, it keeps life fun!' Sammy chirped happily, for lack of anything better to celebrate.

Mike smiled wearily. 'Yeah. We may be odd, but at least we're keeping each other-' He stopped suddenly as he realised two things.

First thing. 'Hey, where'd Lisa go?'

Second thing. 'Hey, where'd my bag go?'

By the time he'd reached the farmhouse again, Lisa had got halfway through his Berry supply. 'And another and another and another... Open wide!' The Miltank looked at her with abject confusion (as indeed did the girls), but Lisa just smiled perkily and kept up her bedside manner. 'Eat up! They're good for you!' The Miltank frowned, but opened up all the same and ate the Berries straight out of the Jigglypuff's hand.

'Lisa! Lisa!' Mike exclaimed as he stormed into the room and snatched the bag out of Lisa's hands. 'We need those!'

Lisa looked up at him, shocked. 'But, but, but... She needs them.' Her bottom lip began to wobble.

'She's not the one who might need an easy health boost in a battle! If I don't have the supplies you might all be in danger!'

Lisa's eyes were wavering now.

'Aw, Lisa, no, don't give me that face...'

Sat outside, Sammy and Kate were hovering by the door listening to the noise coming from inside. Kate chuckled. 'Tch, that kid. Getting up to all kinds of things, eh?'

'I don't know,' Sammy said loyally. 'I don't want Mike getting too upset because of it.'

'You worry too much, Sammy. Our team's weird, you get used to it-'

'Hey! You two!'

'Um...' Turning in the direction of the voice, the two Pokemon were in time to see a Miltank bearing down on them full steam. The look of anger on her face was not comforting.

'Um,' Sammy said, 'can we help you-'

'You've got some nerve coming round here, Bayleef!' the Miltank said furiously, marching right up to Sammy's face. 'As if you haven't been difficult enough for me already! What's your deal, huh?'

'Um, nothing, I don't even think we've met-'

'Oh, we've met. Believe me. We met in Goldenrod City. When you and your four friends dumped me in the river.'

Memory Lane is a dark and treacherous road. Sammy gulped. 'Oh,' he said in a small voice. 'Oh dear.'

'You bet I'm still angry about that! And now you come round here, huh? What is this to you, a game?'

'What about me?' Kate said nervously from behind this exchange.

The Miltank shot a look over her shoulder at Kate. 'What about you?'

Kate blinked. Of course, she'd evolved since then. 'Oh, nothing.'

'That's alright then. Call me Sally.' The Miltank rounded back on the distressed Sammy again. One of their more elaborate pranks was coming back to haunt him - literally. 'Are you ready to apologise yet, buster? I'm not leaving until we've made even!'

'Er, look,' Sammy attempted without enthusiasm, 'it's not the way it looks, I assure that-'

'Freaking Jigglypuffs... I ask you, honestly...' Mike scowled as he marched out of the farmhouse, Lisa having been returned to her ball. 'Can't control 'em with a cattle prod... Oh, hey guys. What have-' His eyes suddenly brightened as he saw the third Pokemon present. 'Oh sweet, a Miltank!'

Kate and Sammy realised what was happening simultaneously. 'Oh no no no no no-'

Mike had already produced a Great Ball. 'Here it goes!' he shouted, and threw. Sally barely had time to respond before she was captured well and truly.

'Yes!' Mike cheered, his fist in the air. 'Awesome! Those things are so rare, I can't believe I found one!'

'Ohh, no,' his two Pokemon groaned in despair.

'What? What's up?'

'Just... Never mind.'


---


It took a matter of minutes, upon entering  the fresh, pleasant, cheerful Olivine City for Silver to spoil everything.

'Look, don't even bother,' the poorly-dressed delinquent teen said with his hands up as Mike reached for his Poke Ball. 'I'm not going to challenge you. It's no fun at the moment.'

Mike growled, meeting his rival in the eye. 'You've got some nerve coming round here and being a jerk, Silver. What do you want from me this time?'

Silver gave him an unimpressed look from beneath his swathes of unnaturally bright red hair. 'For your information, I don't just live my life around you, Mike. I have my own reasons for being here, and you don't matter in them.'

Within her Poke Ball, Kate was observing the tense conversation with interest. She'd always wondered what a human battle looked like, and now her wish might just be granted. Suddenly a voice from nowhere said 'Um, Kate? Hello?'

'Wha- What the?!' she exclaimed in surprise. 'Who are you? How are you talking to me?'

'Um, sorry,' the voice said immediately. 'I just, you know, the communication in these Balls works for any frequency, so I thought... Well, I just... I found a way to talk to you, that's all.'

Kate groaned as she realised. 'You're Lee, aren't you? You're that douche's Quilava.'

'Um, I, um, yes,' Lee said nervously from the other side of whatever communication he was using. It was a minor mercy for Kate that she didn't have to watch him fumble desperately before her eyes. She just had to hear it. 'I didn't know if we'd be let out of our Balls, so I wanted to talk to you... Um...'

On the outside, Silver shrugged. 'The Gym Leader's away anyway. She says she's looking after a sick Pokemon in the lighthouse. Boo freaking hoo. Leave dumb Pokemon. If they can't get better it's their own fault.'

Mike frowned. 'Hey, my neighbour's Marill was sick when I was young and I helped take care of it. You've got to look out for people who can't do anything. It's only fair that way.'

'Huh. If it's not strong, it's no use. I don't care. That's all I've ever needed.'

Kate sighed within her Ball. 'Ok, never do this again. Seriously, it's really creepy.'

'Oh, er, ok...' Lee replied nervously. 'Well...'

'What?' Kate's tone conveyed minimal patience.

'If we can't contact in here, do you think we should meet... outside? Sometime, just the two of us?'

Kate blinked. 'Did you just ask me for a date?'

'Well, if you want to put it like that-'

'I do not want to put it like that, Lee. That is exactly what I don't want it as.'

'Oh. But can we still meet?' In spite of everything Kate had said, Lee's tone was still hopeful.

Kate sighed. 'Why are you so desperate for this, Lee?'

'Because... well... I think that... um... I love you, Kate.'

Something about hearing it being said made it so much worse. Kate looked around the inside of her ball, desperately wishing she had some sand to bury her head in.

'So, can we?'

She ignored him. Mike, hurry up.

'Go on,' Silver said, 'go check the Gym if you like. Go to the lighthouse. See if I care. You can waste your time on weaklings all you like. I don't care. I've got actual training to do.' Pushing past Mike, he gave a 'So long,' by way of parting well-wishes.

Mike watched him go, then shook his head. 'Well maybe I will go to the lighthouse then!' he shouted after his rival. 'And we'll have a lovely time and everything!'

Kate gave a deep sigh of relief. The connection had been cut, thanks to sheer mercy and goodness. If she'd had to hold off any longer, she might have panicked or banged her head on a wall or screamed.

Her only consolation was that however awkward it was for her to talk to Lee, it was a thousand times more awkward for Lee to talk to her.


---


'Is it just me, or is this lighthouse built really badly?'

'How do you mean?'

'There's no direct stairs, and the route hits a dead end. Seriously, what's going on with this thing?'

Harry shrugged. 'Well, this is effectively Olivine City Gym, so I guess there had to be some kind of puzzle gimmick.'

'And there's holes everywhere! Mike continued to protest, not really listening to his Rock type team member. 'Are they really not upkeeping this building any more? It's a lighthouse! It's important!'

'Well, we've got plenty of training in,' Harry said, putting a positive spin on. 'Those fishermen aren't actually all that tough when you've got a team as strong as ours.'

'Well, yeah,' Colin said with undisguised boredom. 'We've been in and out of these rooms, what, five times now? Or maybe it was a hundred, I lost count.'

Mike scowled at his troublesome Eevee. 'Just reminding you, Colin, if it weren't for TM Shadow Ball you'd be hopeless.'

'Yeah, but I do have TM Shadow Ball and now I'm awesome.'  The Eevee grinned. 'How cool do you think it'll be to be a Psychic that uses Ghost moves, eh? I'm thinking along the lines of 'pretty freaking sweet', if I do say so myself.

'Yeah, that's nice, but I hear Jasmine's no joke.' Mike scratched behind his thoughtfully. 'And neither is finding her... There's no way up.'

'Then the only way is down,' Harry muttered. Casually wandering over to one of the many holes dotting the floor, he called out 'Hey Mike, I think I can see all the way to the bottom floor through this one.'

'Really?' Mike peered down, squinting in the poor illumination. 'I don't think so, I can only see the floor belo- Woahhh!'

His staring were cut off as Harry gave him a shove on the back and he pitched forward. Fortunately, having got plenty of practice at falling off things in Ecruteak City, he landed with little more than poor grace. 'Ah, my fovea! Harry, you maniac, why did you go that?! You could have killed me!'

'Actually,' the Sudowoodo said as he dropped down from above, landing on his feet, 'I knew it'd be fine. You were never at any risk at all, really.' Turning round, he caught Colin rather ungracefully. As a token of gratitude, the Eevee pushed off Harry's face and sprang to the ground, where he gave himself a quick scratch.

'And how,' Mike hazarded, 'did you know that?'

'I've played this game before, and I know the walkthrough online. It makes sense when you look at it from the outside.'

Immediately, Mike held up his hands. His automatic response to one of Harry's comments kicked in. 'Yeah, sure, great. I'm just going to go away now and come back when things are normal again.' Barely even registering that they'd found the stairs that they'd been searching for, he turned and began to climb.

After more flights than Sprout Tower on top of itself, Mike finally pushed himself up the handrail to the last one and was immediately surprised. While all the previous rooms had been grey and drab,  this one was bathed in light from outside. The afternoon was just coming to an end shortly and the sunlight streamed in, tinting everything a mellow shade of orange. The layout, well, was similar to the floors below but in the centre of this room a young-looking girl in a green dress and with big brown hair was bending over a bed, appearing to dab at something.

Mike paused at the top of the stairs, unsure of how to intrude. Fortunately he was saved the awkwardness, but unfortunately it was due to Colin.

'Seriously?' the Eevee said in disbelief. 'We climb all the way up this dangerous freaking tower, and this is the reward we find? A field hospital? Why did we even bother? Geez, I thought there'd be a legendary trainer or some smart old dude after all the- mmph!' Colin's rang was cut off abruptly along with his breathing by the careful but fast positioning of  Harry's arm.

The girl started at the noise, then  turned to look nervously. Mike gasped. He recognised her from the TV. Jasmine of Olivine Gym was right in front of him. Meeting a Leader in their official Gym capacity was one thing, but this was like bumping into a famous actor or sports star on the street. All thoughts except 'Look like a fish' and 'Say "Oh my gosh, you're actually (insert)" like a moron' flee for the exit.

'Oh!' Jasmine said in surprise, clearly startled at Mike's presence. She fiddled with her necklace nervously. 'I- I'm sorry! I didn't know anyone else knew the way up here.'

'Oh my gosh,' Mike said, his mouth hanging open like a fish. 'You're actually Jasmine.'

Jasmine sighed. 'Yes, yes I am. Look... Please don't tell anyone, ok? I know people know where I am, but... I don't want all the company unnecessarily.' She looked at him with her big, brown, worried eyes. If they started wavering now she could have doubled up for Lisa. 'Could you?...'

Mike continued to stare uncertainly. She was really quite pretty.

Harry muttered something and stomped on Mike's foot, immediately focusing his trainer's attention. 'What, oh, I, yeah. Sure. Your secret's safe with me.' Harry just sighed.

Jasmine gave a relieved smile. 'Oh, thank you. I know I can trust you, er... Sorry, what's your name?'

'Um, Mike. Sorry, I mean Mike. I was just... surprised to find you here, that's all.'

'Oh, that's ok. Nice to meet you, Mike- Ah!' Jasmine blushed. 'I haven't introduced myself! I'm sorry, I'm so rude!' She bowed respectfully. 'Jasmine of Olivine, at your service.'

'I already knew,' Mike replied. 'I saw you on the TV. You're... really good at what you do.'

'Well, I have to be. But when I heard about Amphy here, I just had to drop everything. He's really sick.'

'Really?' Mike said with polite distress. If Jasmine was taking this seriously he probably should too. 'How bad is it?'

'Wait, "Amphy"?' Harry said behind him, as if having a terrible realisation. 'What kind of Pokemon would be nicknamed "Amphy"? Unless it's... Oh no, please don't tell me it's a-'

Jasmine moved to the side, allowing Mike to a little move closer and see the patient. The Ampharos in the bed was pale in colour and looked distressingly thin, its breathing slow and its eyes were closed. As Jasmine sat beside it they flitted open uncertainly, looking up at her but not quite seeing fully.

Mike's heart was touched at the picture of enfeeblement before him. 'Aw, you poor thing...'

'Ampharos...' Harry said weakly. 'Why... an Ampharos...'

'He's been this way for almost a week now,' Jasmine said mournfully. 'I've been coming every day... It's the least I can do.'

Amphy raised his head and looked over the side of the bed and Mike and his two Pokemon. He raised an arm in greeting and painfully said 'Hi.'

There was a loud 'thunk' as Harry fainted.

'Easy there,' Jasmine said softly, laying the Electric type back down as it suddenly let out a spluttering cough. She rubbed its forehead like it was her own dear child. 'We'll get you through this, don't worry.'

'Wha- What can I do?' Mike asked, moved to act somehow. 'How can we heal him?'

'Well... Oh, no, it's silly-'

'Try me.'

Jasmine continued to look down at the afflicted Ampharos. 'There's a pharmacy in Cianwood, over the sea. People say that their Pokemon medicine can cure just about anything. I've been keeping Amphy going, but while he's not getting worse he's not getting better either. But I can't leave him, in case...'

'I'll go.'

Jasmine looked up at Mike. Her face was a mixture of surprise and concern. 'R-Really? You'll go to Cianwood for me? But... Will you be safe?'

'I've got four Gym badges. The reason I haven't got more is because I haven't had chance to. I need to go to Cianwood anyway. I'll get your medicine.'

Jasmine's expression became a picture of gratitude. Now Mike was the one blushing. 'Thank you...' she said from her heart. 'Thank you so much. Hear that, Amphy?' she continued with a smile as she turned to the ill Pokemon, who looked up at her weakly. 'You'll be all better soon!'

'Um, it might be a... few days, or so,' Mike felt incumbent to caution. For some reason, he really didn't want to let this girl down. 'But I promise I'll do it.'

'That's ok. We'll be patient. You'll need a Pokemon that can cross the surface of the water, of course.'

'Don't worry. I know just where to find one.'

'Excellent. Um... Be back soon, I suppose.'

'As soon as I can, I promise,' Mike said meaningfully. He turned and began to walk away, on a mission from God. Ok, not God. But still a mission. And he intended to see it through.

As he headed for the steps Colin fell in behind him. 'Dude, you have such a big crush on her. It's obvious.'

'Shut up. Can someone pick Harry off the floor?'


---


The old man next door to the Pokemon Centre had been surprisingly generous. Mike was starting to think Olivine was a really nice place. A good fishing rod normally cost a few hundred Poke, but this one had been gifted to him for free. And with it, he was hatching a brilliant plan.

It took several tries fishing off Olivine pier before Mike caught anything, in which time he learned several useful lessons about the nature of the sport, but eventually he was rewarded by the sight of his fishing lure bobbing slightly, and a few seconds of furious wrist exercise later he was victorious. The Krabby, stranded on the pier, literally cowered behind a pincer as Mike looked down at it. 'Hey, little guy,' he started, which is not a calming opener and never has been.

The Krabby tried to shuffle away. 'P-P-Please,' it said nervously, 'don't make me fight. I-I'm ok with everything else, just... don't make me fight. Please... Please!'

Mike smiled. 'You don't have to worry about that, my friend. All I need is for you to do one little thing for me. Is that alright?'

The Krabby nodded fearfully.

'Great. What's your name?'

'T-Timothy.'

'Nice to meet you, Timothy. Don't you worry about anything,' Mike said in that voice that guarantees something to worry about, 'after this you can go back to the sea as far as I'm concerned. Are you ok with this?'

Whether or not Timothy was actually up for it didn't matter a jot. 'Y-Yes.'

'Excellent.' Mike moved to head away, and then as if by afterthought added 'By the way, what day is it?'

'F-Friday?'

'Perfect.'


---


The bright side of the journey through the cave was: it was uneventful. The bad sides were: it was long, dark, cold and boring.

'Mike, are you sure we're in the right place?'

'Absolutely. I assure you, this is not a repeat of Dark Cave. The rumours are, the beast visits the base of Union Cave every Friday evening.'

'And what are we going to do?'

'Catch it.'

Sammy stalled in his path as they walked. 'What... really? What if it's too dangerous for us? This is rumoured beast that scares locals living in the bottom of a flooded cave!'

'Which is why I've got my oldest companion, strongest ally and favourite Grass type right here beside me.'

'Thanks Mike. You really know how to make me feel calm.'

'Don't mention it.'

'Um, Mister trainer?'

Mike looked down at the Krabby who less than five minutes ago he had ridden across a pond, in a certain lack of comfort. 'Yeah?'

'I think we're near the bottom of the cave. Um... it's dark down here.'

'Of course it is, that's how caves work. Don't worry, though, you're not at any risk. You're doing a great job.'

'Oh... ok.'

Somewhere beyond them came an echoing sound, like a mix between a roar, a groan and a song.

Mike smiled. 'Let's heard for that noise.' Sammy looked at him. Timothy muttered some sort of crab prayer under his breath and pushed onwards.

In the deepest, darkest, furthest area of the cave, the unlikely travelling party finally found a pool of water. In the middle of the water, just obscured by the gloom, a large blue shape was swimming slowly. The roaring noise had in fact become more tuneful as they approached, and now the beast may as well have been humming a ditty.

Mike smiled. 'Might not even need to battle. Great Ball!' With a pitch of shot matched only by the great baseball pitchers of our world but was pretty par for course for a Pokemon trainer, the Great Ball flew across the pond and hit the blue beast. She just about had time enough to look surprised before the red light drew her in and the ball clicked shut.

There was silence, broken only by the lapping of water and eventually by Mike saying 'Holy cow, that actually worked.'

His PokeDex binged at this declaration and Mike took it out with a smile. Flicking through the data pages, he eventually found the new entry. 'W-Wow! It was a Lapras all along!'

'A Lapras?' Sammy craned his head on confusion. 'I thought they were virtually unknown in the wild.'

'They are, but apparently not totally unknown.' Mike squinted at the screen. 'Says here her name's Nikki. Well, this'll be one to look forward to!'

'Um...'

'Oh, yes, thanks Timothy. I just needed your Surfing abilities to reach here. Well done good and faithful servant, you can go.' Mike released the Poke Ball and the relieved looking Krabby beamed away to the PC storage. He'd be fine there.

'You do know you just sent away our only way out, Mike?'

Ah. Mike smiled. 'Well, in that case we'll have to find a different way out. Come on, my friend, we've got work to do.'

Sammy sighed as he obediently followed his trainer away into the cave.


---


After what could have been months or minutes they eventually came across a strangely well-lit area. Sunlight beamed in from above and displayed the cavern for all to see. What looked like half a stone pillar rose in the middle of the room, into which was set a series of squares. As Mike stepped closer he saw that each had little images on them, or part of one.

'Oh, I get this,' he said cheerily as he stepped up to the pillar, 'it's a tile puzzle.' Immediately his hands set to work, fiddling, twisting and sliding the pieces around in their plinth. 'No, wait a minute... That goes over here... And then you have to...'

'Er, Mike?' Sammy said cautiously. 'I don't like this.'

'Ah, keep it calm, Sammy,' Mike said with a dismissive hand wave. 'I think I get the picture now.'

'But it's too neat,' Sammy enforced, pressing tight against his trainer in fear, 'I don't get the-'

'It all slides together like so-'

'I really don't think it's a good idea to-'

'Look, I'm almost finished now-'

'But-'

The two were interrupted as Mike clicked the last part into position, and the floor dropped out. The two fell once again, but this time for a short distance before landing in an undignified sprawl. Amid moans and worries of having bruised a coccyx, the two eventually took a bearing of their surroundings. Then stopped, and stared in amazement. They knew this area. It was strangely familiar to them.

They'd just fallen into the Ruins of Alph.
Pokemon: 17
Badges: 4 
Deaths: 5 


Well, it's been a while hasn't it?
I'm glad I came back to this when I did, because the finale I've been writing over the last month or so has had some pretty hard-hitting themes so it was fun to come back to a good old-fashioned romp of a series. Let's have some fun!

I really think the Olivine area of Johto is having a lot of trouble with illness at the moment. It's been all over this chapter.

This chapter's Nuzlocke recommendation is TotoRee12 First chapter is here: fav.me/d46wqpp



Pokemon and Pokemon Gold belong to Game Freak.
© 2014 - 2024 Man-in-crowd-4
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