Chapter 15: Tunnel Encounter

Words - 2292

The following morning, Tyson and Shane departed from the campsite. Traveling alongside were Trapinch and Larvitar, who chose to remain outside of his Poké Ball for the journey. As he went along, Tyson plucked an Oran berry from a neighboring tree and slipped it into his pocket, a move that largely went unnoticed. Soon the group reached a cave entrance, a mere ten minutes away—a fact that intrigued Tyson. Facing Shane, Tyson inquired, "Grandpa, how do you know this cave?" Upon hearing the question, Shane responded, "It's simple, kiddo, I've been here before." His reply caught Tyson off guard, despite his earlier hunches. 'I suspected as much, considering how swiftly he found food and knew his way around the campsite. But when had he been here?' Satisfying Tyson's curiosity, Shane elaborated, "I've been an adventurer for many years, and your grandmother and I have lived in Celestic for a long time. Did you really think this was my first time in the forest?"

Scratching his head in embarrassment, Tyson chuckled, "I may have overlooked that fact, sorry grandpa," while Shane also laughed at Tyson's words. As they entered the cave, Tyson observed its darkness and thought, 'I've never visited a cave, even in my past life. I should remember to bring or buy a flashlight when traveling' just as he noticed his grandfather retrieving a small flashlight from his backpack. 'I definitely need one of those backpacks,' he mused. Venturing deeper into the cave, Tyson saw it was quite narrow, with only one path to follow despite the entrance's large appearance. Curious, he asked, "Are there more caves like this on Mt. Coronet, grandpa?" Shane replied, "Yes, the mountain is a veritable maze, full of twists and turns, and if you're not careful, getting lost will be the least of your worries."

Shane continued, "Caves and caverns are popular for expeditions but they harbor some of the more perilous Pokémon. Zubats and their evolutionary relatives feed on blood, so it's crucial to avoid swarms unless you're accompanied by a strong Pokémon, or they might drain you completely. While Zubats pose a threat, you must also be wary of Onix. They don't typically attack humans, but entering their domain without permission is a definite no. Rarer Pokémon like Nidoking or Rhyhorn and their evolutionary forms are generally peaceful, but if provoked, be prepared for a cave collapse." Absorbing this information, Tyson thought, 'Pokémon are as perilous as I feared; even a small group of Zubats could be lethal if I'm not cautious.'

After a lengthy walk, the group reached an expansive cavern illuminated by stones of various sizes. Tyson observed several Pokémon meandering about, including Zubat, Geodude, Diglett, and Drilbur. The sight of Zubats staring down with their eyeless faces made Tyson tense, recalling his grandfather's earlier warnings. "Don't be so tense, sport; the Pokemon can sense it, just like anyone can by looking at your face or watching your movements," Shane said, his eyes scanning the cavern. Heeding Shane's advice, Tyson nodded, took a deep breath to calm his nerves while he also started to survey the cavern, noticing the large stones that glowed brightly.

"Grandpa, what is this place?" Tyson inquired. Shane replied, "It's a local tourist spot off the beaten path. Not many people come here, but those who do are drawn by the sight of the Crystals." Shane concluded. "Crystals? What are they?" Tyson asked. This was his first encounter with such a phenomenon, as his reading had mostly covered Battle Strategy, Pokémon ecology, and World History. "These crystals are called Light Crystals; they serve the same purpose as a flashlight. It's theorized that they draw energy from elemental mines. However, many crystal deposits have been found without a nearby mine, so the theory has been debunked."

(Pokemon Ecology - The study of Pokemon habitats, their impact on the environment and human lives)

(Elemental Mines: These are significant for their large deposits of Elemental Stones, such as Water Stones, Fire Stones, and others)

"But then, why do they glow?" Tyson asked, his curiosity unabated. "Well, that's a question for a scientist, not an old man like me, son," Shane replied, chuckling at Tyson's inquisitive nature. It had been some time since he had heard of his grandson's desire to join Coronet Acadamy, however His grandson had always been eager for knowledge. Reflecting on this, Shane inquired, "So, kiddo, do you plan to become a researcher during your time at the academy?" Tyson's face took on a thoughtful expression, and after a pause, he answered, "No, while I'm keen on learning and researching, traveling and exploring the world appeals to me more. Though, I haven't decided on what type of trainer I wish to become, whether it be a Type Specialist or Generalist. Heck, I haven't even decided if I plan to become an adventurer like you, or a coordinator. It's a thought that's been troubling me". Although Tyson was focused on battles, the idea of becoming a coordinator had crossed his mind once or twice, as it would offer him a different perspective on Pokémon and battling.

"Well, you're good at battling, studying, and you love adventure. I don't see why you can't pursue all three. Additionally, I would recommend looking into the basics of Pokémon Breeding," Shane said. "Breeding? Why?" Tyson inquired, to which Shane quickly replied, "Because most successful trainers, adventurers, or coordinators are also breeders, and the knowledge it provides can be indispensable," his words taking Tyson by surprise. "Even you?" Tyson asked, prompting Shane to pull out a small card from his pocket and show it to Tyson. The words "Intermediate Breeder" were written on it, along with Shane's information. Observing this, Tyson was propelled into deep thought. 'I never considered breeding to be a significant part, but looking back on Ash's journey, he always had an expert breeder or at least one aspiring breeder in his traveling party. It makes sense why his Pokémon were always in top condition as well. Man, this is going to be a lot to take in,' Tyson mused internally as he made a mental note to delve into the basics of breeding when he got home.

Building on what he had said earlier, Shane added, "Also keep in mind that being a Novice Breeder will give you experience in making Poke block which are more nutritious than the food purchased in stores. Being able to customize your Pokémon's food to meet their requirements is basic knowledge for breeders. If that didn't convince you, I'll also let you know that Cynthia was a Novice Breeder when she left town too." Shane's words made Tyson flinch. 'That makes so much sense now. Each of Cynthia's Pokémon is formidable, and her Garchomp will be a monster in the future. Even as a Gabite, it would still present a significant challenge.' The journey had given Tyson much to ponder, and he felt grateful for Shane's guidance. "Thanks, grandpa," he said, prompting a smile from Shane, who responded, "No problem, kiddo. Just make sure you don't lose to her next time, and that'll be thanks enough, hahaha."

The two continued to explore the cavern, with Tyson taking in every sight. Suddenly, Trapinch waddled ahead of the group, approaching the back of the cavern. "Hey, wait up, Trapinch," Tyson called out as he and Larvitar followed, with Shane trailing at a walking pace. Reaching the back of the cavern, Trapinch stopped in front of a fork that split off in three directions, each marked by a colored sign. The path to the far left bore a green sign and seemed to be an upward climb, the middle path had an orange sign which was lightly scratched, and the final path was marked with a black sign, giving Tyson an ominous feeling. "These must be markers for the cavern's danger level," Tyson mused as he examined each sign. "But a black sign... what's this for?" Catching up to Tyson and Trapinch, Shane explained, "That's a more dangerous and rarely seen sign in the world, kiddo. It means that path has not been fully explored".

Intrigued by the prospect of adventure, Tyson was tempted to press on, but Shane cautioned him, "Unexplored regions are usually the most perilous, inhabited by many species of Pokemon. These creatures, unaccustomed to human presence, often become aggressive when their territory is invaded." Reflecting on Shane's advice, Tyson ultimately decided to stay put, gently pulling Trapinch back as he said, "Sorry, buddy, we can't venture down there." Disappointment was evident as Trapinch hung its head, its curiosity to explore outweighed by the potential risks involved. Gazing at the green trail, Shane remarked, "It's nearing lunchtime; how about we head up the green path and find a place to rest?" to which Tyson responded with a nod.

Ascending the verdant trail, the group reached a clearing on the mountain's flank. At this elevation, Tyson could overlook their campsite, absorbing the view. Shane, perched on a rock, delved into his backpack and retrieved several Oran Berries he had gathered the day before, offering five to Tyson. Accepting the berries, Tyson presented one to both Larvitar and Trapinch, which they accepted and munched on. While eating, Tyson mulled over his earlier musings about his future, recalling Shane's suggestion, "Why not do all of them?" He pondered internally, 'Pokemon Battles and Strategy, Breeding, Pokemon Ecology—there's much to learn. My studies in Pokemon Battles and Strategy are progressing, and with the knowledge from books and grandpa's counsel, I'm set for my journey. Breeding, however, will require time to grasp the basics, encompassing Pokémon Physiology, medicine, and even cooking.'

(Pokemon Physiology is the scientific study of the various Pokemon species, focusing on their anatomical structures and the physical strengths and weaknesses inherent to each)

Engrossed in his thoughts, Tyson was jolted back to reality by a sudden lightness in his hands. Glancing down, he realized the berry he had been eating had disappeared. Surveying his surroundings, he saw Larvitar assuming a defensive posture, standing guard in front of him, fixated on a nearby creature. Tyson, with a puzzled expression, observed the creature clutching an Oran berry. 'When did it snatch the berry from me?' he wondered, eyeing the chiropteran Pokémon with scorpion-like traits. It had a spherical head and body of similar size, long triangular ears, and eyes shaped the same but with tiny pupils. From its upper jaw, two sharp teeth jutted out, and its pink tongue was frequently seen hanging out.

"My, I didn't expect to see a Gligar this far down the mountain," Shane remarked, observing the small Pokémon before them. "She snuck up on you while you were eating, sport. From her demeanor, I could tell she was hungry," Shane explained. As Tyson watched the Gligar, he noticed that as it munched on the stolen Oran Berry, it seemed to gaze at him with a mocking smile. 'Is it making fun of me?' he wondered, just as Larvitar stepped forward angrily, followed by Trapinch, prompting the Gligar to leap back. Sighing, Tyson said, "It's fine, he can have it," only for Shane to interject, "Actually, it's a 'she.' This one is a female Gligar. You can tell by the smaller size of her tail, which is typically larger in males."

"I see, well, I'm sorry for that," Tyson apologized, taking out the second berry his grandfather had given him, an action that caught the Gligar's attention. Keeping an eye on the small Pokémon, Tyson thought, 'Even though I was lost in thought, I was still somewhat aware of my food, so how did it manage to steal my berry?' Suddenly, the Gligar leaped forward at a speed uncommon for its species, shrouded in dark energy, aiming for the berry in Tyson's hand. However, before it could strike, both Larvitar and Trapinch blocked its path, forcing it to halt. "Oh... so it used Thief," Tyson realized, to which Shane nodded. The move Thief had several functions; it wasn't just for dealing damage but could also be used to steal held items. "While you were distracted earlier, that little one glided down from a nearby ledge and took your previous berry," Shane explained.

"I see, that's interesting. To my knowledge, Gligar don't normally learn Thief on their own," Tyson remarked. Shane responded, "Then this one must have picked it up independently. There are many instances of Pokemon acquiring moves that are not typical for their species. Such cases are uncommon, but they are largely influenced by the environment in which they live." Acknowledging this, Tyson glanced at the Gligar and tossed an Oran Berry to its side, saying, "Life out here must be tough if you needed to learn such a move. Take this, but don't steal from me again." His words took the small Gligar by surprise. It looked at Tyson, then at the berry, before seizing it and scampering away. "Where did you get a third berry?" Shane asked and Tyson answered, "I picked it up on our way to the cave". Shane nodded, then said, "We should head back to camp now; I need to collect more firewood for dinner." "What's for dinner this time?" Tyson inquired, to which Shane responded with a smile, preferring to keep it a surprise. The group made their way down the cliff and soon arrived back at camp. Shane once again asked Tyson to fetch more water. As Tyson headed towards the stream with Larvitar and Trapinch in toe, the same female Gligar from before observed him from a distanc

Pokémon Team:

Team Rank: 1

Larvitar

Gender: Male

Type: Rock/Ground

Abilities: Guts, Sand Veil [Developing]

Held Item: None

Moves: Rock Throw, Bite, Payback, Leer, Scary Face, Dragon Dance [Inherited], Ancient Power [Inherited], Stomping Tantrum, Sandstorm