Chapter 78: Briv Trains More
The afternoon sun hung low over Aethelburg, bleeding gold across the crystal towers and turning the floating bridges into ribbons of fire. The training grounds on the eastern edge of the city sprawled beneath that light—a patchwork of packed earth, weathered stone, and chalk-lined arenas that had hosted a thousand battles before this one.
Briv stood at the edge of the main field, Luxio at his side, the Electric-type's fur crackling with restless energy. The morning had been shit. Patricia had left before dawn to train with Dariana, and he'd woken to an empty bed and a note that said nothing important. Just words. Just space.
He'd needed to hit something.
"You sure about this?" Axel asked from his position against the stone wall, Rotom flickering in lazy circles around his head.
Briv rolled his shoulders. "Yeah."
The stranger stood across the field—a wiry man in his late twenties with sun-darkened skin and eyes the color of wet slate. His clothes were travel-worn, patched at the knees, and his boots had seen better decades. He'd introduced himself as Marcus, no last name, no affiliation, just a trainer passing through on his way to the League.
He didn't talk much.
That was fine by Briv.
"Three-on-three," Axel said, pushing off the wall. His voice carried the weight of authority, the same tone he'd used when he'd refereed Patricia's battle the night before. "Standard League rules. No substitutions. Begin when I signal."
Marcus nodded.
Briv nodded.
The air between them thickened.
---
"Luxio, let's go."
Luxio padded onto the field, its paws sparking against the dirt, its eyes locked on the stranger's first Pokéball. The Electric-type's tail twitched, the star-shaped tip gleaming like a blade.
Marcus threw.
"Gengar."
The ball split open in a burst of purple light, and the Ghost-type materialized with a sound like distant laughter. Gengar grinned—that wide, unsettling grin that never touched its eyes—and floated above the ground, its stubby arms crossed, its red eyes gleaming with malice.
Briv's jaw tightened.
Ghost-types were unpredictable. Tricky. They didn't fight fair, and they didn't fight clean. A Gengar could phase through attacks, poison with a touch, and put a Pokémon to sleep with a whisper.
"Luxio, stay sharp."
Luxio growled.
"Begin," Axel said.
---
Marcus moved first.
"Shadow Ball."
Gengar's hands came together, and darkness gathered between them—a sphere of writhing shadow that pulsed with negative energy. It launched with a shriek, cutting through the air like a thrown knife.
"Dodge left."
Luxio pivoted, its claws digging into the earth, and the Shadow Ball screamed past its ear. It exploded against the wall behind them, and the stone cracked.
"Spark."
Luxio's body ignited. Electricity crackled along its fur, arcing from its tail to its whiskers, and it launched itself at Gengar with a howl.
Gengar phased.
Luxio passed straight through it.
"What the—"
Gengar solidified behind Luxio, its grin widening.
"Sludge Bomb."
The attack came fast—a glob of toxic sludge that splattered across Luxio's flank. The Electric-type yelped, stumbling sideways, and the poison began to work immediately, eating into its fur, into its skin.
"Luxio!"
Luxio shook itself.
It didn't fall.
---
Briv's mind raced.
Gengar was too fast to hit directly. Too slippery. Every physical attack would pass right through it, and every special attack would be dodged or countered. He needed to think. He needed to adapt.
"Luxio, listen."
Luxio's ear twitched.
"I want you to use Charge."
Luxio's body crackled.
"Then Discharge."
Luxio's fur bristled, and electricity exploded outward in a wave. The attack filled the arena, arcing across the ground, through the air, everywhere at once. Gengar couldn't phase through it—couldn't dodge it—because it was everywhere.
The Ghost-type shrieked.
It materialized, its body twitching, its grin replaced by a snarl.
"Now," Briv said. "Bite."
Luxio lunged.
Its jaws closed around Gengar's arm.
Dark energy flooded the Ghost-type's body. It screamed—a sound like breaking glass—and tried to phase, but Luxio held on. It bit down harder, its teeth crackling with electricity, and Gengar's form flickered.
"Shadow Claw."
Gengar's free hand ignited with purple energy.
It slashed across Luxio's face.
Luxio let go.
It stumbled backward, blood dripping from a gash above its eye, but it didn't fall. It stood there, panting, its eyes blazing.
Gengar floated backward.
Its arm hung limp.
"Gengar is unable to battle," Axel said. "Luxio wins."
---
Marcus recalled Gengar without a word.
He drew his second ball.
"Phanpy."
The ball opened, and the Ground-type materialized in a flash of brown light. Phanpy was small—smaller than Briv had expected—with a blue body, a long snout, and ears like flaps of leather. It stomped the ground with its stubby legs and trumpeted.
Luxio was panting.
It was hurt.
Briv could see the poison working through its system, see the blood dripping from the gash above its eye. It wouldn't last much longer.
"You did good," he said. "Rest."
Luxio looked at him.
It didn't want to rest.
"I know. But I need you later."
Luxio nodded.
It walked back to Briv's side and sat down, its tail curling around its paws.
Briv drew his next ball.
"Prinplup."
The Water-type materialized in a flash of blue, its plumage immaculate, its expression proud. It looked at Phanpy and sniffed.
"Prinplup, this is a Ground-type. You know what that means."
Prinplup nodded.
No electric attacks. No flying. Just water, ice, and steel.
"Begin," Axel said.
---
Phanpy moved first.
"Rollout."
The Ground-type curled into a ball and launched itself forward, picking up speed as it rolled. It hit Prinplup square in the chest and sent the Water-type sliding backward.
"Prinplup, hold your ground."
Prinplup dug its flippers into the dirt.
Phanpy circled and came back around, faster this time.
"Bubble Beam."
Prinplup opened its beak and unleashed a torrent of bubbles. They exploded against Phanpy's rolling form, and the Ground-type veered off course, tumbling across the field.
"Now. Metal Claw."
Prinplup's flipper gleamed silver.
It slashed across Phanpy's flank.
The Ground-type squealed and skidded to a stop, its body covered in scratches, its eyes watering. It struggled to its feet.
"Take Down."
Phanpy charged.
It hit Prinplup like a freight train.
Prinplup flew backward.
It slammed into the wall.
"Prinplup!"
The Water-type slid down the stone, leaving a smear of blood. It didn't move.
"Prinplup is unable to battle," Axel said. "Phanpy wins."
---
Briv recalled Prinplup.
His hands were shaking.
Not from fear.
From anger.
He'd been careless. He'd underestimated Phanpy. He'd let his frustration cloud his judgment, and now Prinplup had paid the price.
"Monferno."
The ball opened.
Monferno materialized in a burst of fire, its tail blazing, its eyes fierce. It looked at Phanpy and grinned—a predator's grin, all teeth and hunger.
"Monferno, this is personal."
Monferno cracked its knuckles.
"Begin."
---
Monferno moved first.
"Mach Punch."
It crossed the distance in a heartbeat, its fist connecting with Phanpy's jaw before the Ground-type could react. Phanpy flew backward, bounced off the wall, and landed in a heap.
It didn't get up.
"Phanpy is unable to battle," Axel said. "Monferno wins."
---
Marcus recalled Phanpy.
He looked at Briv.
Then he smiled.
It was the first time Briv had seen him smile, and it wasn't a nice smile. It was the smile of someone who had been waiting for this moment.
"Good," Marcus said. "Very good."
He drew his final ball.
"Hoothoot."
---
The ball opened in a flash of brown and cream, and the Flying-type materialized on the field. Hoothoot was round and plump, with a single large eye, a small beak, and feathers that shimmered in the dying light. It hopped from foot to foot, its head swiveling, its eye tracking Monferno with unsettling precision.
Monferno growled.
"Hoothoot is a Normal and Flying-type," Briv said. "That means it's fast. It means it can hit you from angles you can't see."
Monferno nodded.
"Stay mobile. Stay unpredictable."
Monferno's tail flared.
"Begin."
---
Hoothoot moved first.
"Air Slash."
Its wings beat once, and a crescent of wind screamed across the field. Monferno ducked, and the attack sliced through the air above its head, leaving a furrow in the stone wall behind it.
"Flame Wheel."
Monferno curled into a ball, its body engulfed in fire, and rolled forward. Hoothoot hopped sideways, its eye tracking the attack, and launched another Air Slash.
Monferno uncurled.
It leaped.
The Air Slash passed beneath it.
"Mach Punch."
Monferno's fist connected with Hoothoot's face. The Flying-type squawked and tumbled backward, its feathers ruffled, its eye blinking in shock.
But it didn't fall.
It righted itself.
"Hypnosis."
Hoothoot's eye glowed.
Monferno staggered.
Its eyes drooped.
"Monferno!"
Monferno shook its head.
It was fighting it—fighting the sleep—but it was losing. Its legs wobbled. Its tail dimmed.
"Monferno, listen to me."
Monferno's eyes found Briv's.
"I need you to burn."
Monferno blinked.
"Burn through it. Use your flames. Use your anger. Use everything you've got."
Monferno's tail flared.
The fire spread—up its legs, across its chest, into its eyes. It roared, and the sound shattered the sleep like glass.
"Flare Blitz."
Monferno exploded.
It crossed the distance in a blur of fire and fury, its body wreathed in flames, its fist cocked back. Hoothoot tried to dodge, but it was too slow—too shocked—and the attack connected with the force of a meteor.
Hoothoot flew.
It hit the wall.
It didn't get up.
"Hoothoot is unable to battle," Axel said. "Monferno wins. Briv wins the match."
---
Silence.
Marcus recalled Hoothoot.
He looked at Briv.
"You're good."
Briv nodded.
"So are you."
Marcus walked forward.
He extended his hand.
Briv took it.
"Good luck at the League," Marcus said.
"Thanks."
Marcus turned and walked away.
He didn't look back.
---
Axel approached.
"Not bad."
Briv looked at him.
"Not bad?"
"You won. But you made mistakes."
Briv's jaw tightened.
"I know."
"You underestimated Phanpy. You let your emotions dictate your strategy. And you almost lost Monferno to Hypnosis because you weren't thinking ahead."
Briv stared at the ground.
"I know."
Axel's voice softened.
"But you won. And you learned."
Briv looked at him.
"Did I?"
Axel nodded.
"That's what matters."
He turned and walked away, Rotom flickering behind him.
---
Briv stood alone on the field.
Luxio padded to his side.
Monferno joined them, its tail still smoking, its body trembling with exhaustion.
Prinplup limped over, its plumage ruffled, its pride wounded.
Briv looked at them.
"You did good," he said. "All of you."
They looked at him.
"I'm proud of you."
Luxio pressed its head against his leg.
Monferno grinned.
Prinplup sniffed.
Briv laughed.
"Come on. Let's get you fixed up."
---
They walked back to the inn together.
The sun had set, and the crystal towers were lighting up one by one, their glow reflecting off the canals, turning the water into rivers of light. The city hummed around them—traffic, laughter, music—and Briv felt something loosen in his chest.
He'd needed that.
He'd needed to fight. To win. To remember why he was here.
The League was twenty-six days away.
And he was ready.
---
The inn was quiet when they arrived.
Patricia was in the common room, Lopunny beside her. She looked up when Briv walked in, and her eyes softened.
"Hey."
"Hey."
She stood.
"I heard you won."
He nodded.
"Three-on-three. Against some stranger."
"Marcus."
"Marcus."
He walked to her.
"I'm sorry," he said.
She blinked.
"For what?"
"For being distant. For pulling away. For—" He stopped. "For everything."
She looked at him.
"Why were you?"
He didn't answer.
She waited.
"I was scared," he said finally. "Scared of losing you. Scared of the League. Scared of—" He stopped again. "Scared of not being enough."
She reached out.
She touched his face.
"You're enough."
He closed his eyes.
"I'm sorry."
"I know."
She pulled him into a hug.
He held her.
---
They stayed like that for a long time.
The inn settled around them.
The night deepened.
And somewhere in the city, the Eclipse Squad was moving.
---
Revan Stormcloud stood on a rooftop.
He watched the inn.
He smiled.
"Soon."
He vanished into the dark.
---
The League was twenty-six days away.
And the hunt was just beginning.
=====
The night air tasted like rain and metal, that particular Aethelburg cocktail of canal mist and monorail ozone. Nicola stood at the edge of the training grounds, Tangrowth looming behind her like a wall of vines, and watched Julye Makimoto stretch on the far side of the chalk-lined arena.
Silver hair pulled back. Pink crop top riding up to show a strip of toned stomach. White boots planted wide. The girl moved through her warm-up with the precision of someone who'd been doing this since before she could walk. Every motion economical. Every breath measured.
Axel leaned against the stone wall, arms crossed, Rotom buzzing lazy circles around his head. His green eyes tracked Julye with something that might have been respect. Or calculation. Hard to tell with him.
"You ready for this?" he asked.
Nicola cracked her knuckles.
"Born ready."
Julye glanced up, and those deep blue eyes caught the floodlight like chips of ice. She smiled—small, knowing, infuriating.
"Three-on-three," Axel said. "Standard League rules. No substitutions. Begin when I signal."
Nicola pulled her first ball from her belt.
Julye mirrored the motion.
The floodlights hummed.
"Begin."
---
"Shieldon."
The Rock and Steel-type materialized with a metallic clang, its armored face gleaming, its squat body planted like a fortress. It snorted, breath misting in the cold air, and lowered its head.
Julye threw.
"Probopass."
The ball split open, and the Compass Pokémon emerged with a sound like grinding stone. Probopass hovered above the ground, its massive red nose twitching, its three mini-noses orbiting its body like tiny satellites. Its eyes gleamed with cold intelligence.
Nicola's jaw tightened.
Steel and Rock against Steel and Rock. This would be a war of attrition.
"Shieldon, Iron Defense."
Shieldon's body gleamed brighter, its armor thickening, its stance widening.
"Probopass, Flash Cannon."
The attack came fast—a beam of silver light that screamed across the arena. Shieldon took it head-on, its armor absorbing the impact, its feet sliding backward half an inch.
"Rock Slide."
Shieldon reared back and slammed its head into the ground. The earth fractured, and chunks of stone launched toward Probopass like shrapnel.
Probopass didn't dodge.
The rocks bounced off its body with dull thuds, leaving barely a scratch.
"Thunder Wave."
Electricity crackled from Probopass's mini-noses, arcing through the air in a web of yellow light. Shieldon tried to dodge, but it was too slow—too heavy—and the paralysis took hold.
Its muscles locked.
"Shieldon!"
Shieldon growled, fighting the electricity coursing through its body, but its legs wouldn't move.
"Earth Power."
Probopass's eyes glowed.
The ground beneath Shieldon erupted.
The Rock and Steel-type flew upward, tumbling end over end, and crashed back down in a heap of dented armor and dust. It didn't move.
"Shieldon is unable to battle," Axel said. "Probopass wins."
---
Nicola recalled Shieldon.
Her hands were steady.
She'd expected this. Probopass was a nightmare matchup for Shieldon—too defensive, too precise, too fucking patient. She needed speed. She needed reach. She needed something that could hit Probopass where it hurt.
She drew her second ball.
"Tangrowth."
The vine Pokémon materialized with a rustle of foliage, its massive body unfurling like a green tide. Its eyes peered through the tangle of blue vines, curious and calm, and its long arms stretched across the arena.
Julye's eyes flickered.
"Interesting."
"Tangrowth, Power Whip."
Tangrowth's arm snapped forward like a striking serpent.
Probopass tried to dodge.
It was too slow.
The whip caught it across the body and sent it spinning. It recovered quickly, its mini-noses realigning, but Nicola saw the crack in its composure.
"Flash Cannon."
"Tangrowth, block."
Tangrowth's vines wove together, forming a shield. The beam hit and scattered, dissipating into harmless light.
"Now. Giga Drain."
Tangrowth's vines shot forward, wrapping around Probopass, pulsing with green energy. The Compass Pokémon shuddered as its vitality was siphoned away, feeding Tangrowth, healing the minor damage it had taken.
"Thunder Wave."
Electricity exploded outward.
Tangrowth's vines convulsed.
It dropped Probopass and reeled backward, its body twitching, its movements suddenly sluggish.
"Shit."
"Probopass, Earth Power."
The ground erupted again.
Tangrowth took the hit—couldn't dodge, couldn't move—and staggered. Vines tore. Sap dripped. But it didn't fall.
"Power Whip."
Tangrowth's arm snapped out despite the paralysis.
It caught Probopass across the face.
The Compass Pokémon spun, its mini-noses flailing, and crashed into the wall. It didn't get up.
"Probopass is unable to battle," Axel said. "Tangrowth wins."
---
Julye recalled Probopass.
She didn't look upset.
She looked fascinated.
"Your Tangrowth is strong."
Nicola said nothing.
Julye drew her second ball.
"Rhydon."
---
The Drill Pokémon materialized with a roar, its rocky hide gleaming, its horn pointed at Tangrowth like a spear. It stomped the ground, and the arena shook.
"Rhydon, Megahorn."
Rhydon charged.
Tangrowth tried to dodge.
Paralysis locked its legs.
The horn caught it in the chest and lifted it off the ground. Tangrowth flew backward, crashed through the stone wall, and landed in a pile of rubble.
"Tangrowth!"
Tangrowth stirred.
It was hurt. Badly. But it wasn't done.
"Power Whip."
Tangrowth's vines lashed out from the rubble, catching Rhydon around the legs. The Drill Pokémon stumbled, and Tangrowth pulled itself free, dragging its broken body back into the arena.
"Rock Slide."
Rhydon slammed its tail into the ground.
Rocks rained down on Tangrowth.
The vine Pokémon disappeared beneath the avalanche.
"Tangrowth is unable to battle," Axel said. "Rhydon wins."
---
Nicola recalled Tangrowth.
Her heart was pounding.
Two down. One left.
She looked at Staravia's ball.
Then at Rhydon.
Then at Julye, who was watching her with those calm, calculating eyes.
"Staravia."
The ball opened, and the Flying-type materialized in a burst of gray and white. It spread its wings, its crest standing tall, and screamed its defiance at the sky.
"Rhydon, Rock Blast."
Rhydon's horn glowed.
Staravia launched itself upward.
The rocks screamed past beneath it, missing by inches, and Staravia circled, gaining altitude, its eyes locked on Rhydon.
"Brave Bird."
Staravia folded its wings.
It dove.
The impact was catastrophic.
Staravia hit Rhydon like a missile, and the Drill Pokémon bellowed in pain. But Rhydon was tough—tougher than anything Staravia had faced—and it swung its tail, catching Staravia across the wing.
Staravia spiraled.
It recovered.
It climbed.
"Again."
Staravia dove again.
Rhydon tried to dodge.
It was too slow.
The second impact cracked Rhydon's hide.
The third broke its stance.
Rhydon fell.
It didn't get up.
"Rhydon is unable to battle," Axel said. "Staravia wins."
---
Julye recalled Rhydon.
She smiled.
"Good."
She drew her final ball.
"Omastar."
---
The Spiral Pokémon materialized with a wet, sucking sound, its shell gleaming in the floodlights, its tentacles writhing. It was ancient. Primordial. And it looked at Staravia like it was nothing more than prey.
"Omastar, Hydro Pump."
Water erupted from Omastar's mouth like a fire hose.
Staravia dodged.
Barely.
The water carved a trench in the ground where it had been standing.
"Staravia, Quick Attack."
Staravia blurred forward.
Omastar didn't move.
Staravia's beak connected with its shell.
Nothing happened.
"Omastar, Ancient Power."
The ground trembled.
Rocks lifted into the air, orbiting Omastar like a halo of death. Then they launched—all at once—and Staravia couldn't dodge them all.
One caught its wing.
Another caught its chest.
Staravia fell.
It hit the ground hard.
It didn't move.
"Staravia is unable to battle," Axel said. "Omastar wins. Julye wins the match."
---
Silence.
Nicola recalled Staravia.
Her hands were shaking.
She looked at Julye, who was walking toward her, her silver ponytail swaying, her boots clicking against the packed earth.
"That was a good battle," Julye said.
Nicola nodded.
"You're strong."
"So are you."
Julye extended her hand.
Nicola took it.
"Good luck at the League," Julye said.
"Thanks."
Julye turned and walked away.
She didn't look back.
---
Axel approached.
"Not bad."
Nicola looked at him.
"Not bad?"
"You lost. But you pushed her."
Nicola stared at the ground.
"I lost."
"You learned."
She looked at him.
"Did I?"
Axel nodded.
"That's what matters."
He turned and walked away, Rotom flickering behind him.
---
Nicola stood alone on the field.
The floodlights hummed.
The city glittered.
She looked at her Pokéballs.
Then at the sky.
The League was twenty-six days away.
And she had work to do.
---
The inn was quiet when she arrived.
Patricia was in the common room, Lopunny beside her, Briv's jacket draped over the back of a chair.
She looked up when Nicola walked in.
"Hey."
"Hey."
"How'd it go?"
Nicola didn't answer.
Patricia didn't push.
She just pulled out a chair.
Nicola sat.
They didn't talk.
They didn't need to.
---
The night deepened.
The city hummed.
And somewhere in the darkness, the Eclipse Squad was watching.
---
Revan Stormcloud stood on a rooftop.
He looked at the inn.
He smiled.
"Soon."
He vanished into the night.
---
The League was twenty-six days away.
And the hunt was just beginning.