Following Disaster
Chapter III

'Hey Kyuudou?'

'Mm?' Kyuudou snapped out of her reverie as her name was spoken.

'I have a favor to ask.' Naia blinked as she tore her eyes from the landscape and faced Kyuudou for the first time in quite a few moments. 'I just realized that what I'm looking for--I mean, my Absol's trainer, like I told you--is somewhere around here. But.. Chaos is my only Pokémon and I have to get across the water. Do you know how..'

'A flying Pokémon would be best,' Kyuudou interrupted as Naia trailed off. 'It's faster and besides, surfing gets your feet wet.' She smiled. 'And I can provide a Pokémon who'll get you there, if you want..' She snatched a Poké Ball from her belt.

'Really? Thank you so much!' Naia's grin wasn't repressible, and she eyed the Ball that Kyuudou had selected eagerly.

'She's a Flygon and she answers to Cloudburst.. she'll obey you fine, I think.' Kyuudou tossed the Ball to Naia and tapped thoughtfully on a different Poké Ball that adorned her waist. 'Hey.. before you go..'

Naia stopped in the action of tossing the Flygon's Poké Ball. 'Yeah?'

'I have a favor to ask of you, now.'

'Sure, anything!' Naia was enthusiastic, glad to repay Kyuudou's generous service.

'Remember how I told you that my Wailmer's got to evolve before I try to enter the chamber? Well.. I think a good battle will toughen him up a little more. Your Absol's pretty strong, and it would be terrible if I let such a good Pokémon go to waste!' Her friendly smile countered the aggressive words, and Naia smiled tentatively back. Should she? She had never once used her Absol in battle before.

'Umm.. I don't know.. I've never battled with Chaos before.'

'There's a first time for everything.' Kyuudou's eyes were shining, and it gave Naia a sudden jolt as she recognized the spark in them. It was the same expression that Spect had worn all through his life. I guess both of them are pretty serious about Pokémon, she thought to herself. And where would Chaos be if his trainer hadn't been? Kyuudou was right, the Absol was strong. And it really would be a waste if he never had the opportunity to use that strength. Naia glanced at Chaos.

'Do you want to?'

'Absol Sol!' Chaos leaped up with a fanged grin in place, excitedly pacing across the sand.

'I guess we'll accept your challenge, then.' Naia confirmed confidently.

'Alright. Let's go, Wailmer!' Kyuudou flung the Poké Ball to the sandy terrain with an expert twist of her wrist, and caught it casually as it rebounded. The flash that erupted from the depths of the ball formed a large, spherical shape that towered over Kyuudou. As the bright neon light faded and Naia was able to make out its specific features, she could see that it definitely resembled a whale. It had a mouthful of baleen and streamlined fins to propel it through the water. Its body, though, was anything but streamlined. It was as round as a beach ball and many times larger. Naia guessed that helped the creature to float in the sea.

'Okay, Chaos.. umm.. use your Swords Dance!' Naia shouted to her Pokémon, intiating the battle. The Absol obeyed immediately, springing into the elaborate steps that would raise its attack power to an extreme point.

'Wailmer, Water Pulse attack!' The immense whale Pokémon sent out an ultrasonic water wave that bubbled and splashed over the Absol's head. He spluttered and shook his sodden fur, glaring sullenly through ruby-red eyes. Chaos panted, momentarily weakened.

'Chaos, use Snatch!' Naia ordered quickly. Absol nodded and did nothing, waiting quietly for the Wailmer to make his move.

'Hmmm.. Surf, Wailmer.' Kyuudou was thoughful. Wailmer carried out the command, rising on a swell of water that crashed forcefully over Chaos's head. He let out a cry of pain, and immediately attacked back with Snatch. The move had allowed him to use Surf against Wailmer. Most of the water attack was absorbed by Wailmer, it being a water Pokémon, but Swords Dance had given it enough edge to do some damage. It was Wailmer's turn to be tired out.

'Careful, Wailmer,' Kyuudou warned. 'Restore your health. Rest.' Wailmer closed its eyes gratefully and settled into a light sleep. Naia could see the battered skin heal before her eyes and watched in amazement as Wailmer fully heale itself.

'No more playing around. Shadow Ball attack!' Naia cried. Chaos shut his eyes and focused, building a dark mound of energy that he hurled at the Wailmer's sleeping form. It slept on, and Naia called for another Shadow Ball. Chaos obeyed and Wailmer awoke. Chaos managed to hurl a third Shadow Ball at Wailmer before he could counter-attack. Kyuudou opened her mouth then, but Naia was quick to guess what the order would be and spoke first. 'Taunt, Chaos!'

Sneering, Chaos used the attack and Wailmer was rendered unable to use any defensive or healing moves-- it couldn't use Rest anymore.

'You learn fast,' Kyuudou commended softly. 'I'm very impressed. However, you've forgotten about the state of your own health.' She turned to her Pokémon. 'Wailmer, one last Surf.'

The huge whale Pokémon crashed another torrent of water onto Chaos, and finally the Absol collapsed on the beach. Naia kneeled down worriedly. 'Chaos, are you okay?'

'Absol.' Chaos nodded, wincing. He was down and Kyuudou had won. He glowered sulkily at his opponent as his trainer stroked his fur.

'Hmm..' Kyuudou was watching her Wailmer. 'Nope. He's not ready to evolve yet. Darn. I'll have to find some more good trainers to battle him against.' She grinned in Naia's direction. 'That was great, especially for your first battle. Keep at it.'

Naia shook her head. 'Nah. I'm not cut out to be a Pokémon trainer like you are. You and Wailmer are amazing. Good luck wherever you're going..'

'Good luck to you too, Naia. I hope you find what you're after. You'd better heal your Absol in the Pokémon Center before you go, and I'll see you off after you do.'

'You're right. Come on, Chaos.' Naia pulled on her sneakers again and helped her Pokémon to the Center, where his wounds were properly healed. Naia peered at the sky as she made her way back to the beach. The weather was lovely, and she imagined the thrill of ripping through those puffy clouds on a strong Flygon. It was still sunny afternoon and night wouldn't fall for quite awhile. She didn't know where she would go, but at least the conditions would be good.

'You've got my Flygon?' Kyuudou asked as Naia approached. Naia held up the Poké Ball to confirm the question. 'Good,' Kyuudou said. 'Return her to me next time we meet. And I know we will.' She gave Naia one of her strange half-smiles. 'See you.'

Naia tossed the Poké Ball, releasing Cloudburst the Flygon. She swung herself onto the Pokémon's back with little difficulty and returned Chaos to his own Poké Ball. 'See you, Kyuudou. And thank you so much.' With that, she nodded to Cloudburst and was suddenly airborne. Suppressing the thrill of flight long enough to wave to Kyuudou, she rose farther from the ground and further from Lilycove-- out to the endless sea.