Aftermath: A nuzlocke Pt.5: Team Aqua

As Fakir and Erica were about to leave, they heard a shout from behind them. Erica turned to see Clyde walking calmly up to her, "Miss Roxanne has something she wishes to talk to you about," he said, pointing behind him. Erica grimaced. She had a sinking feeling this was about her refusal to kill Roxanne's pokemon. She turned and walked back into the room hesitantly.

"Y-yes?"

"What's going on here?" Roxanne was cradling her waking geodude in her arms. Her janitor stood guiltily in the corner, looking down at his shoes. When Erica entered, he looked up, and made eye contact for a brief moment before looking back down. Erica sighed.

"Um, what do you mean?" Erica asked quietly, trying to look Roxanne directly in the eye.

"It seems my pokemon are alive," she replied, sounding very confused. She obviously didn't need to deal with this kind of problem often, if ever. She paused before continuing, "what is the meaning of this."

Erica took a deep breath, trying to remain calm, "There's no law against it, and I didn't see the need."

Roxanne nodded, still looking confused, "Is that true, Clyde?" she asked the man, who had followed Erica into the room and was hanging back behind her.

He nodded, "I looked, and there's no law against it, Miss," he replied. He didn't make eye contact, and instead chose to stare at Fakir, who stood patiently beside Erica.

Roxanne nodded, her eyes darting around as she thought, "I'll have to talk to Champion Wallace about this," she whispered, "alright, you may go," she said, shooing Erica away. Erica nodded, smiled, and walked calmly out of the room. When she was safely of of the gym, she leaned against the building and laughed.

"That went better than expected," she murmured, grinning at Fakir.

He smiled back, "Yeah, hopefully it continues to go so smoothly, although I wouldn't hold your breath. She did say she was going to call the champion," he replied, looking around, "did you hear that?"

Erica raised an eyebrow, "Hear what?" Before Fakir could answer, she saw an Aqua grunt dash by, "ah, that." Without even thinking, she dashed off behind him.

"Erica!" Fakir cried, following her. The man that Erica had helped the day before in Petalburgh woods wheezed behind them, struggling to keep up.

"Shit, shit, shit," the Aqua grunt cursed as he ran, almost tripping over his feet as he heard Erica gaining on him. He breathed a sigh of relief as Erica herself tripped, skidding on the pavement. She picked herself up, but the grunt was already out of sight. Fakir had caught up to her now.

"Are you alright?" he asked, looking genuinely concerned.

Erica shook her head, "No. I'm not okay! He got away!" she snapped. Fakir flinched, not used to seeing her this angry. The man from the day before hobbled over to the two of them.

"He went," he paused to catch his breath. This took a whole minute, "that way," he finished, pointing in the direction of route 116. Erica nodded and began to walk in that direction. Fakir tugged at her sleeve to get her attention, but she ignored it. She continued to walk, scanning the area as she went. It would be impossible for him to hide in such an open space. She looked north and could see Rusturf tunnel.

"He must have gone in there," she said to herself, pressing onward. Fakir followed behind, scanning the ground. The route was very short, and they reached the cave in no time. Outside, a very old man sat crying.

"They took my Peeko away!" he sobbed, face in his hands. Erica clenched her fists. Stealing an old man's pokemon was too low, even for team Aqua. She strode confidently into the cave. The air was cool and the whole cave was silent. She wasn't surprised. The cave was supposedly inhabited by whismur, who were generally very timid creatures. There wasn't a single zubat in the cave.

She heard a chuckle, and she ran to find the source. An Aqua grunt leaned against the cave wall, a briefcase by his side. In his right hand was a pokeball, which he was tossing up in the air, "The boss will be pleased," he said to himself, "I got the goods and this new pokemon. Maybe he'll let me keep it."

"Hey!" shouted Erica, walking towards him, "give that back or I'll sick Fakir on you just like yesterday!" Fakir flinched. Erica was being unusually angry. She didn't appear to be thinking before she acted.

The grunt glared at her, "I'd stop being so confident if I were you," he said, taking a solitary pokeball from his belt and throwing it in her direction. A new Poochyena popped out of it, growling. Having learned his lesson from last time, he picked up the briefcase and tried to make a run for it.

"Fakir, take care of the mutt!" Erica ordered, running past the small creature and after the grunt once more. The grunt was clearly very fit, though, and outran Erica with ease. He laughed, allowing himself to slow down slightly. He looked behind him, and in that second where he wasn't watching where he ran, he tripped over a rock. The pokeball rolled away, and the briefcase skidded across the cave floor.

"Shit," he hissed, trying to pick himself up off the ground. Erica reached him before he could, though, and kicked his head. He cried out in pain, "Shit! crazy girl!" he exclaimed, curling up so she couldn't attack his head again. Fakir ran up beside Erica, glaring at the grunt. Breathing heavily, Erica picked up the briefcase and the pokeball. She was about to head back when she turned to the grunt again.

"Do you know anyone by the names of Emily and Jason? They should be in Team Aqua." she asked.

The grunt uncurled himself slightly from his ball, glaring at her and her pokemon. He had been about to get up and attack her when she was unprepared, but it didn't seem worth it now. He wouldn't dare attack Erica now; not with the grovyle there. He knew what those things could do, "Never heard of them."

Erica shook her head, "No, you wouldn't have," she said, "come on Fakir. This guy's not going to cause us any trouble." She walked away, Fakir following. The pokemon occasionally glanced behind him, making sure the grunt didn't try to come after them. On the way out, they came across the poochyena that Fakir had been fighting. She was regaining consciousness now, shaking her head. Upon seeing Fakir she jumped back, growling.

"M-my master's going to kill you," she threatened.

Fakir rolled his eyes, "Doubt it. I don't think he's coming back. Sorry to tell you. He's probably abandoned you."

The pokemon's eyes widened and she shook her head again, refusing to believe it. "No. Master loves me. You're lying."

Fakir opened his mouth to reply, but Erica interrupted him, "Come on, Fakir. Let's get out of here. If she doesn't want to believe us, that's her problem." Fakir nodded and followed her, leaving the poochyena. The pokemon glanced at her pokeball before walked over to it. She lay down next to it. Her master would come back.

***


Erica entered Rustboro. She hadn't said anything through the whole walk, not even when she caught a Whismur just before exiting the cave. She's even given the old man his pokemon back without talking. He apparently owned a boat, and would take them to Dewford. That would be helpful. The man from Petalburgh woods stood waiting for them. He ran up to Erica and hugged her, "Oh thank you so much!" he cried, "you may have just saved my job! Oh, if I had lost these goods..." he murmured.

Erica nodded, not wanting to deal with him. It seemed that his company needed to hire new employees if this was to keep happening. The man stood staring for a moment before deciding to continue, "Do you think you could take those goods to Slateport, actually? I was supposed to but it might be safer for you. They're supposed to go to Captain Stern."

Erica shrugged, "Sure, I guess," she said. The man fished in his coat pocket and took out a letter, "and could you deliver this to a man named Steven in Dewford?" Erica nodded and took the letter, "thank you so much," the man said once more, before walking away again.

Fakir looked at Erica, "Cheer up," he encouraged, "you did well."

"I still don't know anything," she retorted. Fakir looked at the ground, not knowing how to reply. Erica went on, "it doesn't matter. I shouldn't have expected that grunt to know anything. Let's just.. head to Dewford," she said, beginning to walk again.

"Hold up," said Fakir, looking behind him, "seems that Poochyena from before is following us." Sure enough, the little dog was running in their direction. In her mouth was her own pokeball.

"He didn't come back," she admitted, dropping the ball at her feet, "so I was wondering, if maybe.." she trailed, off, but Erica knew what she meant.

"Whatever you want," she replied, attaching the new team member's pokeball to her belt. She didn't really need two of the same species, but it wouldn't be a problem.

She smiled, "Great! I'm Angel, by the way," Erica didn't reply, and continued to walk. Angel and Fakir followed her.

Fakir smiled, "That's a very nice name."

***


Back in the cave, the Aqua grunt lay against a wall. He thought of what he should tell his boss as an excuse. He couldn't say that he'd been beaten by a girl. No, he'd never be taken seriously then. He couldn't tell the truth and say he didn't care enough to fight back, that would piss him off. He smiled as an idea came to his head. He stood and began to walk out of the cave.

"Just you wait, girl. The boss doesn't hesitate to kill."