Pokémon: Out of the Woods | A Galar, Unova & Sinnoh Fanfiction

Chapter 30: Condition

Heather walked to Motostoke through Galar Mine No. 2. The purple cavern was dimly illuminated by the glowing crystals protruding from its walls. Until her foot was trapped in a Galarian Stunfisk's iron grip, Heather thought the ground was covered in the remnants of Poké Balls. They weren't Poké Balls. They were Stunfisk's lips. Raboot knocked it out and freed her.

'That was different... wonder if P...'

She almost forgot that if her name was Garnet, Perry's name was Emmet.

'Emmet knows about those?'

Raboot already knew enough about Perry to be sure that he did.

'You're probably right. He's been all over the world with his dad, hasn't he? My mom always wanted to travel, you know. But she was too scared of her own mom.'

All of Heather's new Pokémon looked forward to meeting Juliet, Zenko and even Jamie one day. They all seemed to love Pokémon. They could, however, live without ever meeting April, Juliet's stalker of a mother. Not that they would. She would probably die in Orre's Wilderness Jail. Heather wouldn't be sorry if she never met her, either.

A few Workers on breaks challenged Heather. Otherwise, the mine seemed to be empty, until she came to a pool that would have been a perfect reflection of the mine's vibrant walls, but its surface was disturbed. Pokémon weren't to blame. Triton was standing in it, still wearing his suit, which didn't seem to bother him in the slightest. He was talking to a wild Gastrodon.

Piercing screeches echoed through the cave. A Wimpod scuttled over Heather's foot. It wasn't that. She turned to see a mischievous Noibat. It tried to flee as soon as she spotted it, but Raboot grabbed its feet and climbed onto its back, forcing it down, before it could escape.

'That's it, Raboot! Use Headbutt!'

Headbutt winded Noibat until it was exhausted. Heather threw a Poké Ball. It clicked right away, which might have been telling if any creeps had been watching, because that usually only happened to experienced Trainers. The ruckus disturbed Triton and Gastrodon.

'What's up, douchebro? Other than a soggy suit?'

'As rude as your dad, huh? It echoes in here. Come closer.'

Heather sat at the edge of the pool. She wasn't getting in.

'So?'

'These Pokémon often see Pluto and his friends. The "Lost Kids." They collect these.'

Triton took a smooth red rock from a helpful Croagunk. A Binacle provided a chunk of iron. The wild Pokémon liked Pluto so much that they collected things for him, but they also liked Triton enough to provide whatever he asked about.

'Do they mean anything to you?'

Croagunk answered that question before Heather could. It told Triton that the Lost Kids used the materials to make Poké Balls.

'Still doesn't mean anything to me,' Heather replied, 'I make my own medicine, but I wouldn't have a clue how to make a Poké Ball. I'm pretty sure modern ones aren't made out of this stuff, anyway. They're plastic, aren't they?'

'Yeah. I can make my own medicine, too, but not Poké Balls.'

'I did see him this morning. He had a shitload of money in his wallet, so I don't really know why he needs to make anything. Anyway, he bought a book about Giovanni. And he'd just finished reading Lusamine's biography.'

'That's interesting... did he say why?'

'He said he didn't "enjoy" reading about "such a vile person" – Lusamine – but it was interesting. He hates Tance, by the way.'