Shortly after arriving at the beaches Brass borrowed Steel’s fishing rod and haphazardly threw the hook into the sea. After a few attempts and entering waist deep water, he landed in deeper water, raising his chances for a suitable pokemon. And so, he waited.

A couple of hours passed and he was sure he was developing a sun burn. He was about to reel in the line when it was suddenly tugged sharply. Gritting his teeth, he began to pull the line in. His catch popped up at the surface, it was a Gyarados.

Brass stared at the pokemon, debating which to use to subdue the giant. In this situation, all he could use was Kama. The shellfish pokemon screeched and ran across water to latch onto its enemy’s face.

“Don’t… don’t hurt her too badly…” Kama seemed to completely disregard what Brass said and continued his violent attacks. Brass semi-reluctantly pulled an ultra ball from his back pocket and chucked it at the Gyarados to end all of this madness. The pokeball sank to the bottom of the water and Kama scuttled across the water to his side. Brass stared uncertainty at the spot the giant serpent was previously.

He couldn’t tell if he caught it but lost the pokeball in water or if he didn’t catch it and the pokemon swam off. His question was answered when the Gyarados breeches the surface, lifted him onto his back and suddenly began to sail away.

Galvin watched the whole scene occur with an amused look. He lowered his sunglasses and glanced over to Steel, who was currently sunbathing.

“He caught a Gyarados,”

“Cool.”

“At least that way we wont be squished on Bubbles.”

“Good. He says all the extra weight is bad for his back.”

“Seriously?”

“To be fair, were all like a hundred twenty pounds each, or at least around there. While he’s only a hundred and eighty nine so it’s about twice his weight on his back.”

“Yeash, if I knew that I would of arranged getting another water pokemon sooner.” Steel shrugged.

“He says it’s a good workout at least.”

“I guess that’s a plus.”

As for Brass, Syldra made it as far as she could reach on Kindle road. With giant stones blocking the way Brass had to get off his pokemon, walk across the sandy shores and to the other shore of the road and let her out yet again to reach the mountain Bill pointed out. What a pain in the butt…

Now at the base of the mountain Brass glanced upwards, watching the peak of the mound climb higher and higher. That was some distance. Well, he wouldn’t make any just standing here. Brass started up the the man made steps carved from hardened lava. He pushed a thought out of his mind almost immediately. After all, Bill wouldn’t of sent him, or really anyone, up the mountain if it was volcanic active.

Speaking of Bill, just as he informed Brass there was a cavern entrance someway up the mountain. The hole was a little small but he could fit through it if he crouched down. So he did. The only problem now was that it was pitch dark. Shuffling in the darkness he searched for Flamin Billy’s pokeball. He had to be careful. One false move and he could pull out the wrong pokemon. If it was Syldra he was good as dead….

He was lucky and pulled out Clefa Star instead. Well, at least he wasn’t dead. On his second try he managed to pull out Billy. He quickly explained the situation to his starter and Billy lead the way down the path as Clefa hitched a free ride on Brass’s shoulder.

The deeper they went into the cave the more fire and rock based pokemon were found roaming around with interested expressions. This was more or less due to the caverns becoming hotter and hotter, creating a suitable environment for the pokemon, not people but for some strange reason Brass wasn’t feeling the heat at all. It was just as weird that he wasn’t bothered with the snow at all.

Brass continued down a series of ladders, moving aside and smashing various bolder and rocks that go in his way, heading deeper and deeper into the mountain. It got to the point where the mountain was too uncomfortable for Clefa, forcing him to return to his pokeball. On the fourth floor several slabs of marble were found on the floor, Brass tried to read the text but no avail due to the text being merely dots.

“Who the heck reads dots?” Brass huffed climbing down the ladder. Billy shrugged and the two of them continued down the winding path. The path continued to wind and wind until it reached a dead end. The ruby he was searching for was embedded in the wall. He tried to pull it from the wall with his bare hands but the second he touched the ruby his hands fell to his side and he looked around.

He could of sworn he heard a voice. A voice calling out to him.

He turned his back to the ruby and started to make his way out of the cave. Clefa jumped from it’s pokeball to deliver a powerful double slap to the walls. It managed to chip away enough of the wall to ease the giant gem stone out. Clefa collected the stone and followed after Billy and Brass, worrying about his trainer’s well being.

“Why did you two stay at the beach again?” Bill sighed at the couple curled up at the Poke Center’s fire place.

“It seemed like a good idea at the time.” Galvin admitted. Steel let out a tiny sneeze. Galvin reached over and pat her back.

“It’s the middle of winter!” Bill shrieked.

“You’re such an angry man Bill.” Steel giggled.

“I’m not angry! I’m hardly ever angry!!”

“You sure aren’t acting like it.”

Brass scaled the mountain in no time. But all in a daze, no consciousness and utterly monotoned as he gave commands to his pokemon as necessary. Brass continued walking to the edge of the volcano. He didn’t seem to care, even as he walked along a spiral path into the mouth of the volcano. Once Brass reached the bottom he finally regained consciousness.

He was utterly baffled. Where was he? How did he get here? Brass nearly flipped out of his skin when he realized he was inside the volcano surrounded by pillars and arcs made of some sort of stone material. He turned to run back up the stairs when flames burst from the ground. Brass shrieked like a little girl and fell to the ground.

From the flames a figure formed, a yellow bird of flames and fury. Moltres. Brass opened his mouth to scream once more but not a sound came out.

The same as always. A coward…

Words still refused to come.

Sad the job of protector falls in your hands but I cannot fight fate, we were destined to meet once more since the day you were born.

“…Destined….?” Brass managed to choke out.

You were born to fight those of ill intention and protect those who couldn’t fight themselves. That is not only your job but the job of heroes of many regions.

“Protector… you called me a protector? What is that?”

Shame. You have forgotten all see… Has your friend chosen to disregard you and keep secrets? Fine, I shall tell you, while a soul user has a job to protect. The protector’s job is to specifically protect the guardian and the leader.

“My friend… what are you talking about?”

The chosen of Ardicuno has already become one with her partner. They know much about the plans of Rune and are even creating a counter attack or has she left you in the dark because of your utter uselessness?

Brass found himself speechless.

‘She’

He had only one female friend. Steel. What was she doing? Counter attacking against Rune? How could this happen?

He grabbed his head and pulled at his hair.

I see. She really has valued you as utterly useless…

“N-no!” Brass snapped. “Steel doesn’t think that! If she hasn’t said anything it must be for a good reason…! She’s my friend and I’m her’s!”

Do you truly think that?

“Of course I do!” Brass bellowed. “I’ve been her friend since she first came to Pallet Town… I’ve been always at her side… she’s a good girl with good intentions but she always carries such heavy burdens and hates worrying people or making them mad… of course she wouldn’t say anything because she wouldn’t want to worry anyone but that doesn’t mean she thinks lowly of me…!”

Tell me, would you, if given the power, would you protect her, the guardian and the world?

“If… if it would lighten the load of all her worries, yes. I would.”

Present me your father’s pocket watch.

“Excuse you?”

Did I stutter? I said show me that pocket watch. I will lend you my power but I require a prized possession to do so.

Brass sighed, lifting the pocket watch to the pokemon. Moltres’ body soon became simple whips of flames that circles Brass’ body. Much like Steel’s he went under a change. His brown hair and eyes took on a redish hue. He was dressed in an rusty orange dress shirt, sleeved rolled up before his elbow with a pale yellow vest on top. Brown-red pair of pants and heavy brown boots that reached his knees. To finish off the outfit was brown fingerless gloves and his own glowing red cape.

“What is even going on?!”

Rather simple, when a human becomes one with their partner the human adapts an appearance that looks like the pokemon.

“So… can I shoot fire and fly?”

Yes.

Meanwhile, Clefa was still scaling the volcano. He had no idea what was wrong with Brass but he had to find his trainer before he did something stupid. The little pokemon stopped running to catch its breath and at that moment a figure flew from inside of the volcano. Clefa flipped onto it’s back and flailed, purely startled. Brass noticed his partner pokemon and blushed. Oh geez. Did he really forget Clefa? She scooped the pokemon into his arms.

“Oh cool buddy, you remembered the ruby! I’m sorry I forgot you, let’s go to the Poke Center.” Brass took off flying, over the mountain, kindle road’s grasslands and the sea. Brass touched down on the beach, returning to his usual clothes, and made his way to the Poke Center. He tugged the handle.

It was locked.