High Society: The tales from Victory

Ridgeworth [Part I] (Chapter 22)

"Silky use Bug Buzz!" Lacy commanded from the sideline. Her Volcarona flew up by the Whimsicott and gave it's vibrant attack. The Whimsicott stood tall, but that was its facade. It soon toppled over, the thud echoing throughout the room.

The battle was finished. Ponder patted Lacy's back and congratulated her. She leapt into the air, pride welling up in her. She wrapped her arms around Battousai, who looked a bit disgruntled that her Bisharp was taken down earlier.

All of High Society walked across the gym to meet the Gym leaders at the center, Micheal Wildstar and his entourage. They shook hands, took their monetary award, and then accepted their badge; The Harvest Badge.

Once done, they opened the door to leave and were greeted with a golden hair woman.

Vanessa Wildstar.

...

"Again, that was amazing to watch!" Vanessa cheered, while rubbing up against Ponder, his arm trapped by her loving embrace. His face was flushed a Cherubi red.

John came back with Nurse Joy, their pokeballs all on trays. The Tailow, Crested, rested on John's leveled arm, chirping happily. They quickly recollected their pokemon and attached them to their persons.

Lacy remarked. "I'm glad you came to watch the match." The sheer excitement in her face made Vanessa give a large pearly white smile. Lacy opened her pokeball and scratched the head of Silky, appreciating the minor reward of battle.

Vanessa let go of Ponder. "Gladly! I love watching my friends do well! But I did have something I wanted to ask you all."

Lacy asked, in Ponder's stead, "What is it?"

Vanessa reached into her purse. "Well my family has been mining beneath Ridgeworth for some time now. We bought out the gym, farms, etcetera. And we even paid to have them relocated, now nice of us! But I'm not really allowed into the mines, which I think is kind of ridiculous. Well, I went anyways. I found something odd and then something pretty. This was the only piece I was able to retrieve."

Vanessa took out a transparent crystal, wrapped in a leather sheet. The gem gave them all a hesitant chill. Something taboo emanated from it. They all felt uneasy being near it. There was something raw and terrible, yet important and desirable about it.

"It's beautiful, but there were other gems that accumulated like bushels of beauty. I want you all to escort me down there to try and get some myself. It might make for some gorgeous jewelry. Also, I heard spooky Pokemon and I think it would be better to have some people there to protect me. Especially a strong man like my Beloved Ponderosa."

Ponder looked away, his face a bright red. Battousai looked over to Vanessa and cocked her head. "No Pokemon partner?"

"Um, no... I gave my Beloved Ponderosa my Charmander. Since he is in need of a companion of the sky."

"Royal has been serving me well." Ponder commented, as if to downplay her gift.

"Yes, but he is a grass type. You need a hearty fire type to protect you. And with my special gift, Bishop becomes a black dragon!"

"Off topic," Phoebe hissed, annoyed at all the extraneous conversation, "Why should we go into the cave with you all?"

"Oh, yes." Vanessa got to her feet, she gestured to the gem, and then took her phone out. "I took a picture of an odd pokemon. I could see its twisted aura, but I'm not an Aura Guardian! I took a picture!"

She showed the image to each member and they each passed it around. The photo itself was sharp, showing extreme details of the cave, but became terribly grainy on the pokemon. Although what seemed like transparent tendrils of energy emanated from the alleged pokemon. Vanessa continued, "I want to figure out what it is down there. I can offer you anything you want- as your unofficial official sponsor."