Pokémon Fool's Gold | Orre & Galar Fanfiction

Chapter 20: Catching Up

Amber's diaries were yet another disappointment. They were full of lists of her favourite Pokémon and drawings of them. There was no mention of her parents arguing. The most exciting entry was from a more recent trip to Orre, when she mentioned seeing a 'weird person,' but it didn't mean anything to April. She didn't even bother photocopying them. The whole family was boring. How did Leon stand it? Waiting in her jeep in the shade of the trees, she willed him to feel her presence and lose his frown, but he didn't.

Emili arrived to fix the electrics. Her Electivire identified the offending socket. Instead of relaxing, Leon looked increasingly worried, even when the lights flickered back on. Emili wasn't leaving. She sipped at a coffee Leon brought. Purrloin tapped the window.

'What is it, sweetie?'

It pointed to Olivia's rental car before slowly turning to face her with a sly smile. She returned it.

'Brilliant idea.'

April crept after Purrloin across the drive. It unlocked the car's doors. She slipped one of her trackers under the passenger seat before scuttling back to her jeep. Only just in time. Pokémon burst from the sliding patio doors to play in the garden. April craned her neck to see Charizard, but she couldn't risk it. There were 30 of them with Emili's team. Her Boltund sprinted out. It made a beeline for the jeep. Sniffing around, it began to bark. April opened the window an inch.

'Shh! Quiet! Sit! Sit, you stupid Pokémon!'

Its barking grew more aggressive. Standing on its hind legs to scowl through the window, Purrloin growled. Boltund leapt at it. The glass shook. Purrloin fell onto the gear stick with a shriek. Boltund's fur began to crackle. Curious Cinderace approached. Shit! April couldn't risk Cinderace seeing her. That thing, along with Abbey's Meowstic, alerted them to her binoculars across the road in Wyndon. There was no time for seatbelts. Purrloin sank its claws into the seat to cling on when April yanked the gear stick to reverse and bolt. Slam. Barking was abruptly replaced by whimpers.

She'd hit Boltund. Now Cinderace was making a racket. Enraged, it leapt in front of the jeep as she put her foot down. It thumped onto the bonnet before rolling off. Boltund struggled to its feet to protect it. The jeep lurched. It bumped over Cinderace's legs and Boltund's weakened body. Purrloin anxiously squeaked. April's heart was pounding, too. She was sure Cinderace hadn't seen her face. It was just angry she'd hurt a Pokémon outside of battle... and hopefully it was preoccupied with its injuries now. She was speeding 40mph over the limit. Greens spun, melting into the darkening sky, around her. She turned off road onto a dirt track. Only just in time, again. Abbey's Garchomp swooped over. A Luxray, presumably Emili's, ran after it, scanning its surroundings with its sharp vision... but it didn't look her way.

April reluctantly prepared to sleep in the car. She distantly heard the Trainers catch up to unsuccessful Garchomp and Luxray. Abbey was sobbing. April wanted to laugh, but she settled for sharing a smug smile with Purrloin. Then she heard a familiar voice. A Postwick accent.

'We'll find them, love. And we'll never let them get away with it.'

Yes, Abbey, he'll find me... and then he won't be yours anymore.

***

Whatever annoyed Cassia was absent the next morning. Replenishing their beer supply at the gas station, she turned up Riot Radio as loud as it could go for them to drive on. They stopped at a viewing platform packed with tourists. Most were eager to battle, especially with Orrean Gym Challengers. Cassia's Elekid evolved into Electabuzz. Amber followed Seth off the marked trail, down crumbling rocks, where he precariously leaned to get a photo of the striped rock formations below. The excessive caution that ruled her life prior was fading. She challenged Seth. Feeding off their Trainer's growing confidence, her Pokémon ruthlessly bombarded his until it was down to Espeon vs. Vaporeon. Amber won.