Pokemon: Hazel's Path (fanfiction)

Chapter 2: Team Wildfire

Latias flew high in the clouds with Hazel on her back. Their destination, Jagged Pass. More specifically, Norby's Secret Base, the home of Team Wildfire. Team Wildfire was the team that Norby had decided to make, to give the group a name.

When Hazel and Latias arrived, they heard the sounds of a Pokémon battle coming from inside. Were Norby and Brooke practicing, or was there a challenger? Hazel grabbed her crutches and entered the small cave with Latias to see.

"Koshiba! Use Water Shuriken!"

A Greninja swiftly touched the star-shaped marks on its thighs, and shot a shuriken of water at Norby's Flareon, Sarasille.

"Sarasille, dodge it and use Return Favor!" Norby shouted the command, as Sarasille avoided the shuriken and charged at the Greninja, striking it with a power as strong as the bond Sarasille had with her Trainer. The Greninja stumbled, and his Trainer, a teenage girl with dark skin and shoulder length black hair, grinned. Why was she grinning?

"Koshiba. Finish her with Dark Pulse." she said.

Finish her? Hazel thought. But Sarasille has plenty of HP left!

The Greninja shot a wave of dark thoughts at Sarasille, scoring a critical hit, and knocking her out.

"What?!" Norby shouted, rushing to the defeated Flareon's side. "But I trained Sarasille to be a specially defensive Pokémon! How did you do that?"

"Simple, Koshiba has perfect IVs in Special Attack, and I've maxed out his EVs in that stat as well," the challenger explained. "Guess I got pretty lucky when Professor Sycamore gave me Koshiba as a meek, level 5 Froakie."

So she's from Kalos? Hazel thought. I guess that makes sense.

Norby returned Sarasille to her Poke Ball, and shook hands with the challenger. "So you weren't kidding," Norby praised. "You really are another PokeTalker!"

Hazel's heart skipped a beat when she heard this news. This challenger had the same ability as she and her friends had!

A PokeTalker was a Pokémon Trainer who had created an exceptionally strong bond with their Pokémon, that they realized an ability within them that allowed them to understand any and all Pokémon as though they were speaking the Trainer's native language. PokeTalkers were also exceptionally strong Trainers through these bonds. Hazel, Norby, and Brooke were all PokeTalkers, and it seemed that this challenger was as well.

"I wouldn't lie about such a thing like this," the challenger explained. "We are a rare bunch."

"So," Hazel said confidently. "Another PokeTalker? That's definitely a surprise! What's your name?"

"My name is Lorelei Dameron, Kalos native," the challenger explained. "I came to Hoenn to help Professor Sycamore with his research, and he's been busy as of late, so he hasn't been able to get much done outside of Lumiose City. And since we all know what field of work the professor studies, I offered to search for Hoenn Mega Stones for him, and hopefully put a few of them to good use myself."

"You're in direct contact with Professor Sycamore?" Hazel rephrased, slightly shocked. Then, she caught a glimpse of a shimmering object on Lorelei's wrist. It was a Mega Ring, and the object that had caught Hazel's eye was a Key Stone.

It wasn't surprising to Hazel, though. Mega Evolution required a strong bond between Trainer and Pokémon in order to pull it off. PokeTalkers needed and even stronger bond to realize the ability, so it wouldn't be surprising if every PokeTalker that existed had a bond that could make Mega Evolution possible. Hazel herself had a Key Stone embedded in her Mega Bracelet, which she wore on her left wrist. Latias held a Mega Stone as well: Latiasite.

"So, Lorelei," Hazel asked. "Which Pokémon do you use that Key Stone with? For me, it's usually with Latias, my Blaziken, and my Gardevoir. What about you?"

"I really only use Mega Evolution with my Gallade, Gale Knight," Lorelei explained. I first met him as a Ralts, given to me by the Kalos League Champion, Diantha herself! I had defeated her after beating the Elite Four in the Kalos League, and the next time we met, she gave me Gale Knight."

"What?!" Norby exclaimed. "You are so lucky! Receiving a Ralts from Diantha and having direct relations with Professor Sycamore? That's not something that happens to everyone!"

"Both of you have direct relations to Professor Birch and Steven Stone, correct?" Lorelei pointed out. "I heard you both became Hoenn League Champions one after the other. Norby, you challenged Hazel as her last challenger before she was to step down due to the injuries caused by an accident. I don't know what happened, though."

"I fell from the top of Sky Pillar," Hazel explained. "Feet first into the waters below, all the way from Dragonhark Altar."

"Well, now I know why you had to step down!" Lorelei exclaimed. "I'm surprised you ended up surviving! I heard Sky Pillar reaches to the clouds!"

"I survived by some miracle," Hazel said, lost in thought. If Latias hadn't been there to dive after her, she would've died in a bloody cloud in the waters of Route 131. "I owe everything to Latias. She saved my life."

Hazel found a chair to sit in, and sat her crutches against the wall, sighing.

"Since you've obviously heard of us before finding Norby's base, I assume you came here to join the group?" Hazel assumed.

"That's exactly right," Lorelei confirmed. "I told Augusti-... I mean... Professor Sycamore about this, and he seemed overjoyed that there were others with the same abilities as me. In fact, I could hear a bit of jealousy in his voice."

"Maybe he's jealous of the PokeTalkers?" Norby giggled. "I could see why!"

"Lorelei, what were you about to say before you changed it to Professor Sycamore?" Latias inquired. Obviously, she had picked up on Lorelei's slip up, and was confused. Lorelei blushed, embarrassed.

"Oh, nothing," Lorelei covered up. "Don't worry about it."

"I heard August," Latias giggled. "Were you about to say Augustine?"

Lorelei sighed. "Yes."

"I hope you don't actually call him that to his face!" Hazel joked. "If that were the case, I'd be kinda worried!"

"Don't worry!" Lorelei laughed. "I have yet to slip up in front of him!"

"Good, cuz it's best to keep things formal," Norby smiled.

Suddenly, Brooke burst through the entrance, with her Vaporeon, Koi, by her side. "Hey, everyone! Sorry I'm late! Who's the newcomer?"

Once introductions were over with, and Brooke was finished being a total goof about Professor Sycamore, everyone let their Pokémon out of their balls so they could play. Lorelei brought out her bag and pulled out some items from the Kalos region. She shared special treats from Lumiose City called  Lumiose Galettes with everyone and then pulled out some different Mega Stones she had found.

The first was a sandy colored stone with an orange and yellow core, radiating with fiery energy. "At first, I couldn't tell what Mega Stone this was, so I called the Professor about it. He told me it was a genuine Charizardite Y. Beautiful, isn't it?" Lorelei explained.

Norby was the most intrigued by the Mega Stone. After all, he did have a Charizard, and he had been trying to find a Mega Stone for it. Lorelei noticed this, and smiled.

"I don't plan to use a Charizard anytime in the future, so I'll give this one to you, Norby. I believe you need it more than I do." Lorelei offered.

"Are you sure?" Norby asked.

"Positive."