Chapter 117: Into the Unown [Bonus]
~Third POV~
[Johto Region, Next Day, Ruins of Alph]
After Gold helped Falkner capture a stray Skarmory, obtaining his new Pokémon Sunkern, he spent a day on Route 32. In the morning, Gold begins attempting to cook lunch as he mutters, "Woo-hoo!! Looks good! Let's see… Hmm. Not there quite yet. Exbo, could you turn up the heat a little?"
*FOOOSH*
However, Exbo accidentally ruined their food. Gold sighed that his lunch was gone and that he was still unable to find Silver and Polibo.
Gold looks at the charred food and says while getting his Rotom Phone, "Looks like you still need to work on that finesse. Anyway, we still have to find Polibo. Where are we anyway?"
Taking the actual time to look around his surroundings, Gold saw ruins where he was cooking as he muttered, casually checking his Map app on his Rotom Phone, "Ruins, huh? That might explain all these piles of rocks… huh?"
Gold then sees a girl and turns head over heels as he says happily, "Yow! She's cute!"
Gold then runs up to her immediately, asking her some cheesy pickup lines and inviting her for a cup of tea as he said happily, "Well hello, miss. It must be boring touring these ruins alone. Do you want to go get some tea or something? Oh! The name's Ethan Gold! But people just call me Gold. I'm from New Bark Town."
The girl introduces herself as Bugsy, and that she is a guy, leaving Gold embarrassed as he explained awkwardly, "I'm Bugsy. From Azalea Town. And you do know… don't you… that I'm a guy?"
*FOMP*
Gold does an anime drop scene out of sheer embarrassment. But he quickly stands back up with a bead of sweat dropping as he says, "D-Duh! Of course I knew!"
Bugsy then explains to Gold his purpose for being in the Ruins of Alph in a serious tone, "I'm not touring the ruins. I'm looking for my friends who've gone missing. We're all in this ruins exploration club. They were poking around here yesterday… when suddenly all communication stopped!"
Bugsy then asks why Gold is at the ruins, and Gold replies that he was searching for his missing Polibo. Bugsy is shocked and wonders if some bad guys stole it, but Gold highly doubts it.
Bugsy then says that there were reports of missing Pokémon at the Famous Fishing Zone. Suddenly, Aibo pipes up, as it heard sounds coming from the other side of the wall. Gold then attempts to burn through the wall with Exbo, "Blast it down!!"
*FWOOOSH*
Managing to succeed in breaking through Bugsy's pleas to Gold, "No!! That's a cultural treasure, stop it!"
But Gold continues and succeeds, ignoring Bugsy's pleas not to destroy Johto's historical site. Gold argues back by saying, "And if those voices are your missing friends?! Wouldn't you…"
*KROOOM*
Exbo had created a hole in the wall as it crumbled, and he went through the hole, with Bugsy on his trail, muttering, "This… just isn't right."
As the two dropped in, Gold's destruction of the wall drew Azure's attention from a distance away. A few minutes later, swooping in, riding Skarmory's back with Pikachu on his shoulder, and Eevee peeking out from his backpack.
*Fwp*
Flying down to where the hole was, Azure recalled Skarmory as he thanked her, "Thanks for the ride, Skarmory. Return."
Recalling her into her Poke Ball, Azure saw the hole as he pulled up his Arc Phone. He mutters calmly, "Ruins of Alph, huh… according to the map, I'll be able to find the secrets within each room. It could prove useful if there are any items or fossils I could obtain around here."
Smirking Azure prepares to enter. He heard a commotion happening as his eyes narrowed, heading deeper inside the Secret Chamber…
/////
[Johto Region, Ruins of Alph – Secret Chamber]
Both Gold and Bugsy jumped into the inner ruins. Gold sees a mysterious code on the wall as he asks confused, "What's that?! Is it some kind of code?"
Bugsy sees the mysterious code on the wall as he exclaimed, stunned, explaining to Gold the story of the legendary Symbol Pokémon, "My goodness… I never imagined I'd find… this! This structure has stood here for over 1,500 years. There is a theory that the mysterious symbol Pokémon once lived here… but no one's found any proof… until now! If we can decode these characters… we may find they tell us all about those ancient creatures."
However, Gold bluntly says to Bugsy, feeling awkward, ruining his moment, "Y'know this is really exciting… but weren't you trying to find your friends…?"
Gold says that it would be more important to search for Bugsy's companions first, to which Bugsy apologizes and agrees as he said sheepishly, "Oh… R-Right. Sorry. Hahaha…"
As Gold and Bugsy prepare to search, he said curiously, "This hall keeps going deeper in. The voices probably came from in there… hey!!"
*Shululu*
But suddenly they're tied up with a string. The culprits are revealed to be Ken, Al, and Harry from Team Rocket, as Al explained, "Thanks so much for smashing open the secret chamber. We thought the only way in… was solving the puzzle in the stones. But now we can just walk in and grab those symbol Pokémon!"
Bugsy's eyes widened in shock seeing Team Rocket as he yelled, startled, "Team Rocket?! But they said you were destroyed!!"
Gold struggles to break free as he orders Exbo, "Exbo – Get'em!"
Exbo struggles to get free, but it is in vain as Ken explains confidently, "Sorry, Cyndaquil's too constricted to ignite."
*Zzt*
*Bzzak*
Ken calls out his Elekid, and his Elekid aims its electricity at Gold, ready to be shot out if Gold retaliates as he explains, "Elekid!! Now we collect the Pokémon essential to resurrecting our organization! And you get to watch!"
Gold then pretends to admit defeat, while Aibo behind him uses its tail to take out Sunbo the Sunkern's Poké Ball as he says in a defeated tone, "Okay… okay… I guess you're right. There's nothing we can do… 'cept this!! Sunbo – FLASH!!!"
*BOM*
*POF*
Sunbo blinds the Team Rocket trio with Flash, and while Ken, Al, and Harry are blinded, "AIEE!! MY EYES!!!"
Gold quickly unties Bugsy, and they attempt to make their escape as he said confidently, "Ha! Meet Sunbo the Sunkern… my new best friend! Sunbo looks extra bright if you've been in the dark awhile! Huh?"
*MWOON*
*POK*
However, the symbols on the wall start coming off, revealing themselves not to be explanations of the Symbol Pokémon but the Symbol Pokémon themselves. Sunbo's Flash from earlier had awakened them. Gold and Bugsy make a run for it.
Afterwards, Ken, Al, and Harry regain their sight, as Ken says happily rubbing his eyes, "Still, we've learned something vital today. Now we know exactly what to be hunting for. And now we get to turn the tables… because now we know the precise layout of this ruin! We can set a trap, take down those stupid kids, and capture the Symbol Pokémon – "
But then Ken was interrupted by a new voice entering the conversation, "Capture what now, boys?"
All three froze in place, hearing a recognizable voice. They slowly turned their heads to see Azure with his Pokémon Houndour, Wooper, Misdreavus, Larvitar, Pikachu, Eevee, and Mareep out.
Seeing this, Al, Ken, and Harry turned to each other. Each nodded as they got up and ran as if their lives depended on it yelling, "Yeah… fuck this shit were out!!!"
*WOOOOSH*
Running away as fast as they could, they bailed on their plan as they thought, 'Ain't no way we're finishing this mission with that Champion around! Abort! Abort the mission and save our skins at all costs is a go!!'
With that, the Elite Trio of Team Rocket fled from the scene. Azure blinked, rubbing his face as he said, confused, "Seriously? I was half expecting a fight with Team Rocket, but it's those goons again."
*OOOMMM*
Azure helplessly shook his head, seeing them flee. But then he heard a rumble occurring, turning his head, seeing numerous Unown coming at him as he smirked, "Oh? Seems like they want to battle me instead, huh? You guys ready for the grind?"
All his Pokémon, except for Pikachu and Eevee, looked nervous. But they nodded, trusting Azure's lead as he held Skarmory's Poke Ball, yelling out loud, "Alright! Skarmory, I need your help! Tailwind! Pikachu! Thunderbolt! Houndour! Dark Pulse! Misdreavus and Eevee! Shadow Ball! Mareep! Thunder Shock! Wooper! Water Gun! Larvitar! Rock Slide!"
*Ssss*
*Zzzt*
*PEW*
In an instant, an all-out battle unfolded. Azure smirked, seeing his Pokémon as he thought happily, 'It should be almost time for them to evolve soon. With the Unown pissed by Gold's actions provided me the perfect chance to grind. Not only that…'
*Shiii*
As Azure thought this, with numerous Unown battling his Pokémon… Wooper, Houndour, and Mareep began to shake and glow as they began to evolve from the intense battle with the Unown.
Azure smiled seeing this, but then turned to the Unown unconscious on the ground. He pondered a bit before getting his Poke Balls, murmuring, "Well... the Professor could need these Unown for research. I could also bargain with Daisy to collect my Pokémon trading these guys... for science, of course. Welp! I've gotta catch'em all!"
/////
[Johto Region, Meanwhile, Ruins of Alph – Secret Chamber]
Meanwhile, Gold and Bugsy have lost the Unown. Gold pants, as he said in a distressed tone, looking at his surroundings, "Huff… huff… We lost'em but… now we don't know which way is out! We've gotta… huh?!"
"Helllp! Pleease!!"
They then hear a cry for help, and the two run in the direction of the voice as Bugsy says, alarmed, "Could it be…? It is! My missing friends!"
However, a spider web blocks their way. This web, unlike the web from earlier that had tied Bugsy explaining, examining the web, and warning Gold cautiously, said, "It's Spinarak's spider web. But different from the thread they used before… sticker! As a Bug Type specialist, I know! We've gotta go a different way!"
Bugsy suggests they go the other way, but the other way is blocked by a spider web, too. Soon, Gold and Bugsy are surrounded as they cannot advance because of the spider webs, and the Unown are behind them, ready to attack.
*RMBL*
Just as Gold and Bugsy, smoke surrounds them, and they feel the tremors. Both their eyes widened seeing the Team Rocket Elite Trio, Al, Ken, and Harry, run as Gold declares, "Oh, it's you guys! How about – "
*RMBL*
The Secret Chamber shook as the Team Rocket Elite Trio ran past them, declaring, "Team Rocket is blasting off again!!!"
Both Bugsy and Gold were confused, seeing and hearing this. But a startling realization came as they thought, 'Wait, if they were running away, then who's causing these tremors here!'
Knowing this, they quickly dashed towards the commotion with Exbo burning the webs blocking their path. As they arrived, their eyes widened seeing a Trainer with his Pokémon team as they collected the unconscious Unown.
A Houndoom was seen gathering a few Unown. A Flaaffy shocking the attacking Unown. And a Quagsire punching an Unown with Ice Punch, freezing it in the process.
And the other Unown seemingly hands Azure rare items obediently towards him. Some of those items were revealed to be a Helix Fossil, a Dome Fossil, Old Amber, Black Augurite, Peat Block, Electrizer, Magmarizer, Protector, Razor Claw x3, Razor Fang x2, Reaper Cloth, King's Rock x3, and a few Mega Stones.
*BON*
Seeing him capture the Unown, the figure revealed to be Azure as he stored his treasure in his Spatial-Backpack, muttering happily, "This is some good loot here. This certainly opens some potential for my team for future team members. Hmm…?"
Over his shoulder, Pikachu tapped his head, turning to see Bugsy and Gold's eyes widening as he stored the 28 alphabet Unown into his Boxes as he greeted them friendly, "Hello! Didn't see you there!"
Despite his friendly demeanor, Bugsy gulped seeing the historical treasure of the Chamber Ruins crumble. The signs of the intense battle were evident, and conflicted couldn't say what he had done, judging that he had defended himself from the Unown.
Gold, however, being the most vocal, yelled out loud, making his way to him, "Hey! Let go of those Unown!"
Azure simply stared at Gold, hearing his words. He tilted his head, seeing Gold for the first time as he said bluntly, "… No. But I can explain myself as capturing these Unown is all under the name of science... by none other than Prof. Oak!!"
Gold and Bugsy blinked as they said, "Huh?"
/////
A/N: Reach the goal of 150 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!