Chapter 8- Route 202

  Route 202 is a very peaceful voyage in normal circumstances. It is a well trodden road that winds gently around some rough terrain with clusters of trees here and there. The wild pokemon are few and far between, only being of the most docile varieties Sinnoh has to offer.

  Following the road on foot it should take no more than a day and a half to two days of travel. If one takes a few shortcuts down some small cliffs the hard way they can shave off nearly half the travel time, but vehicles or delicate deliveries are better off on the main road.

  It is mid morning by the time Erdd and Sever start walking along Route 202.

  The restrictions for Sever in cities got on both their nerves. The cool morning air refreshes the two and they are simply glad to be able to walk around together again.

  After bathing in Sever’s presence sufficiently, Erdd speaks up as they walk “While at the school I met a man following The Way.” “Gible!?” Sever doesn't quite understand but is surprised to hear such praise from his shiver leader’s maw.

  “I know, I yearned to challenge him that very moment, but I’m sure the time was not yet right. There will be better chances to whet your blades upon him in the future.” Sever fantasizes at the notion of another fight like his tribulation a few days ago.

  “I know. I anticipate that day as much as you do.” Erdd’s grin splits at the hunger he feels for that battle.

  When the two stop for lunch the road is cutting through some tall grass and Erdd instructs Sever a bit more on how to train

  “You are good at making one clean cut on the grass with a single energized claw. Now you need to energize all of your claws for the attack.” “GIble.” Sever starts to walk away eagerly

  “Hold it, I wasn’t finished.” Erdd grabs his overzealous shark by his crest fin and hauls him back. “The point of this exercise is to push Scratch to its limit. You were able to make that tiny glow turn into one larger claw. Make all three of your claws glow that bright and you’ll be able to push yourself to the next stage.” “GIB!” He fiercely roars but still is not released.

  “Still remember to maintain control over the attack. Three claws, three clean cuts. If they aren’t clean, try again.”

  “Gib.” Sever is less fierce but resolutely moves to practice on the grass.

  Erdd feels a disturbance and decides to watch Sever’s practice rather than exercising himself.

  Sever concentrates to create a powerful Scratch with all three of his claws and takes a swipe at a blade of tall grass. The grass crumples and tears into several pieces. Sever lets out a snort before trying again on the next stalk but only one of the cuts is clean on that try.

  He repeatedly takes a moment to focus before cutting again. Whenever Sever tries to cut the grass he only manages one clean cut and every time he tries to fix it a different claw regains its sharpness, but the successful one dulls. He cycles between which claw cut well each time.

  At the tenth attempt Sever is getting increasingly frustrated and by the fifteenth Erdd decides to step in.

  “My friend, I have suggestions. Should you be in the business of hearing them?” Sever ceases practice and his gaze snaps to his shiver leader, the frustration disappearing like an abra.

  “You are currently too concerned with maintaining the shape of your attack rather than the sharpness. Focus on having three sharp claws, no matter if they aren’t the strongest you can muster. This is a control exercise so add power to match the control. Trying to add control after power is… less than fruitful.” Erdd instructs his pokemon.

  “Gible!” Sever confirms his trainer’s words and gets back to work.

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  This time the Scratch is thinner and shorter than before but still three distinct claws of energy. After a few rounds of practicing the grass barely wobbles as Sever cuts them into ribbons.

  Erdd speaks up again “Once your claws pass through the grass with no disturbance, increase the power slightly then cut until there is no disturbance once again. Keep doing so until training is over. If the new level is too much, reduce the power and try again.”

  Erdd smiles with teeth at his friend's progress as he moves away to do his own training, trusting Sever to follow his instructions well.

  The training goes well. Erdd works up a decent sweat even given the cool atmosphere. Sever sometimes tries to up the energy in his claws too much, but remembering Erdd’s words he lowers the energy level and tries again.

  Back on the road the two travel until the sun begins to wane and then they make camp under a tree and make dinner.

  Dinner tonight is a simple one but before the meal is over a surprise occurs.

  A zigzagoon waddles out of its burrow in the roots of the tree. He freezes at the sight of what his instincts scream at him is an apex species. When Erdd and Sever notice the new pokemon and fix their gazes upon him it starts quivering like a leaf in the wind, paralyzed by fear.

  “If you wanted to know what smells so good we’d be more than willing to share a meal with you, scavenger.” The human speaks and the zigzagoon regains some of his bearings. Given the monster has yet to eat him, the zigzagoon is lured in by the promise of food and scampers to Erdd’s side, opposite from Sever.

  Erdd fetches a berry and hands it to his new guest. The zigzagoon takes the berry in his mouth and with the assistance of his front paws, voraciously devours the berry.

  While the zigzagoon eats, Erdd absentmindedly runs his fingers back and forth through the Normal type’s fur and lets his gaze wander off into the sunset.

  For the briefest moment man harmonizes with the world and the eighteen energies whisper their secrets to him freely. But the moment passes and the whispers are forgotten.

  Erdd smiles. He is not angry for he does not need those secrets, his pokemon are much more important.

  After dinner the zigzagoon returns to his burrow, Erdd and Sever return to their tent to sleep.

  The morning comes and the two are joined again by their guest for breakfast. After they eat, Sever and Erdd set off on the road again.

  They pass again through a road surrounded by tall grass without incident and reach the next clear stretch of road. By the time they reach the next grassy part of the route it is time for lunch.

  Sever once again trains by cutting grass. He is much more successful, the grass he strikes doesn’t even realize it is in three more pieces than it used to be. The power of the Scratch attack is reaching the limit Sever can maintain.

  Then Sever realizes something. He combined three small claws into one moderately larger one. What could he do if he tries to fuse the three large claws? When he attempts to put this plan into action, it is… easy. He’s done this before, he realizes. He simply forgot how, if it was ever a memory in the first place.

  But his body remembers. The claws conjured by Scratch sublimate into another form, a wide, curved blade that is wickedly sharp made of pure white energy that crackles with harsh shadow.

  Sever used Slash.

  The young Dragon does not consider this a departure from his training. He has made his claw much more powerful and must now test his control.

  Effortless. The blade flows cleanly and entire swaths of grass fall, not even interrupting their swaying in the breeze.

  It is now that Erdd looks up from his own training to notice Sever’s accomplishment. He smiles cleanly at his friend. Though no matter how proud he is of his pokemon, he decides to wait until training is over to shower him in praise. To do less would be to mock his dedication.

  Training ends eventually, though.

  “Good job using Slash again. I had the utmost faith in you.” Erdd gives his pokemon an unrelenting sequence of pleasurable scritches and soothing pats. “Gib…” Sever’s jaw slackens as he melts into his trainer’s embrace.

  After the spoiling session is over Sever has a question “Gib?” Erdd chuckles “The attack you were using at the end of your training, it wasn’t Scratch. It was Slash, a much more advanced move.”

  Sever is surprised at this discovery and conjures a Slash and looks between it and Erdd “Yes, that is Slash. I’m proud of you for learning it naturally like you did. Had I informed you how you used that attack in your tribulation after you fainted I fear you would have tried to force yourself. So remember to take things one step at a time.” “Gible.” He responds solemnly.

  After they are done talking the two continue along the last stretch of Route 202. It is an uneventful afternoon walk through the plains. Not long thereafter a sign greets the two travelers.

  It is barely evening when the little man and little monster make it to Sandgem Town.