A Soul of Silver: The Johto tales

Chapter 3: Who is that mare?

Clara and I kept running, though Cherrygrove City really wasn't that far off. Seeing how Clara fought some Pokémon like Pidgey and Weedle, I had to take her to the local Pokémon Center to heal her up a bit. As I was about to leave Cherrygrove, I was stopped and amazed from who I saw. It was the mare that was peeking in Veritas' lab!

"... You got a Pokémon at the Lab. What a waste." She chuckled at that last sentence. "That's a Pokémon that's too good for a weakling like you."

"I'm not a weakling!", I replied, looking at Clara, who nodded back at me.

"Don't you get what I'm saying?"

I just stared. Was she insulting me, because I really didn't get what she meant.

"I too have a Pokémon from the lab. I'll show you how to be a real Trainer!"

A battle between us began. Or, well, between Clara and... the Totodile from the lab! That must've been what Veritas called me about! This mare probably stole the Pokémon from the lab and is using it to defeat Clara. No way I would let that happen.

Upon sending out her Totodile, I noticed something falling from the mare's mane. I didn't pay too much attention, seeing as how I had to focus on the battle.

Tackles and Scratches were shared between the two, and slowly I began to think I'd lose. However, I refused to give up. And so did Clara. Despite being covered in scratches, the flames on her back kept on burning with determination. No way was this mare gonna get away with theft.

"Humph... You're not half bad.", the mare spoke to me. "For a weakling, at least."

I grinned and took out one of my Potions. I used it on Clara, and her scratches vanished. Clara was back to full health, no way we were gonna lose now. I saw that Totodile on the other ha- no, hoof- was wounded quite badly.

"This is it, Clara...", I began. "One final Tackle, go!" Clara did as I asked, but Totodile managed to dodge it. Clara grinned and jumped straight at him, causing Totodile to fall back and faint. Clara won!

The mare looked at the ground. "...Are you happy that you won?"

"You bet your flank I am!"

"...Do you want to know who I am? I will be this world's greatest Trainer."

With a scoff, she pushed me aside. I picked up what had fallen from her mane. A Trainer Card. I checked it out and read the name. Wasn't very surprising what the name was. She looked back and trotted over again.

"Give that back! That's my Trainer Card!", she exclaimed as she yanked the card from my hoof. "Crap... You saw my name..." was her final sentence before the ran off again.

Clara and I decided to take a very small break so she could rest and eat something. After all, Clara looked hungry. After our break, we ran back to Veritas' lab. Upon entering the lab, a sense of panic filled the room. I trotted over to Veritas, who was accompanied by a police officer that was glaring at me, as if I did something wrong.

"What's the problem, officer?", I asked as if I was a character in some action movie. Well, part of it was true. Pokémon games in general tend to make you a hero.

"We're investigating the case of the missing Pokémon here."

I nodded at that. "What do we know of the criminal?"

"Rule number one: Whoever did it will come back to the site of the crime. So you must be the one who did it!"

I stepped back. Did he really think I stole the Pokémon? Veritas was in too much a shock to say anything. Luckily, I heard a familiar female voice back at the entrance of the lab. The cyan mare trotted up to us. It was Lyra!

"He has nothing to do with it, officer! I saw some grey mare peeking into the lab earlier!"

I nodded. "And I even battled her a while back!"

The officer took out a notebook. "Did you happen to get her name?"

Remembering the Trainer Card I saw, and the obvious background pony from the show, I said her name. Octavia.

"I see. Octavia was her name. Thank you for helping my investigation, sir. My next assignment, apprehend this criminal! Good day." After that, he left the lab and Lyra cheered.

"I'm so glad they understand you're not the criminal, Sand. I'll see you later!" And with that, Lyra left as well.

After a while, Veritas calmed down and walked up to me.

"So, Sand. What was Vinculum's big discovery?"