A Hollow Victory, A New Enemy.

It had been a few days since  Mumble, Solembum and Pigwidgeon had become best friends and formed their team, "The Three Poke-teers", and since then things had been moving fast! They even had made two new friends Daisy, a mistakenly nicknamed, male Psyduck. And Orik, a tougher than tough Geodude.  Even though Solembum, Pigwidgeon and Mumble were still the closest, they had all become something of a small family.  Hugo mostly left the Poke-teers take care of themselves lately, while going with Daisy and Orik to help them along. 

The next thrilling chapter in Hugo and his Pokemon's story starts in the Pokemon Center in Oreburgh City.
"Well everybody," Hugo said as he finished his lunch, "We have a few days more to train here in the city, Roark is in the mines and said he'll be in there for another three days. Poke-teers, I'm counting on you to get yourselves  ad ready as possible, Daisy and Orik, I'm gonna go with you back to route 203 to get you guys ready. OK?
"OK!" they all said excitedly 
"Mumble, I'm gonna give you, Solembum and Pigwidgeon each a super potion." Hugo said as he handed the spray bottles to each of them in turn, "If anything happens and you end up using your potions, and you get hurt  again I want you three to get to the Pokemon Center and wait for me there."
With that Hugo, Orik and Daisy left the Pokemon Center and started toward 203.
"Well Guys," Mumble asked finishing up his own lunch "Where do you wanna train?"
"I was thinkin' that we should head over to route 207," Pigwidgeon said excitedly "It has plenty of rock Pokemon for you, some fighting Pokemon for me and Solembum. What do you guys think?
"I like it," agreed Mumble. "What do you think Solembum?"
"It sounds good to me!" Solembum as she finished her lunch


With that, the trio left the Pokemon Center and went to route 207


*On 203 things are progressing fast for Hugo, Orik and Daisy.*


"Good job you guys!" Hugo said hugging Daisy and Orik tightly, "I'm so proud of both you."


"Thanks Hugo." they both said.


" I really think that you'll be ready to fight Roark when the time comes."


"Really?" Orik asked, "You actually believe in us THAT much?


"Of course I do!" Hugo said tenderly, "You guys are gonna do great!"




*Back on route 207*


The Poke-teers have been battling nonstop for the past day and they have grown powerful, it wouldn't be long before the power they've gained couldn't be held by their smaller bodies.


"MAN!" Pigwidgeon said loudly as he flew threw the sky letting off the pent up excitement from their most recent battle," THAT WAS AWESOME! I FEEL UNSTOPPABLE!" he pulled a big loop-the-loop before landing fantastically next to Solembum and Mumble


"Totally!" Solembum said, "I'm sooo excited! I can't believe that I finally learned Spark!" as she said it, sparks traveled down her fur.


Mumble stood quietly, the gym battle was going to be here before they knew it and he was feeling ready but....something, something was bugging him. Something had happened to Hugo, but he didn't know what.


"Guys," Mumble said quietly," I have a bad feeling that something happened to Hugo...."


The other two quickly stopped talking at looked at him seriously.


Solembum looked at Mumble without blinking, "You've been feeling that too? I though it was only me..."


"You two aren't alone," Pigwidgeon said, looking to the West where Hugo and the others were. "I've been feeling that for the past day."




What the trio didn't know was that they had all gotten more than they thought they had in their last battle

SUDDENLY Solembum started to glow bright white!




"Solembum!"  Pigwidgeon said and he jumped forward to help but in mid-jump he started glowing too!




"OH no! Pigwidg-!" 




And Mumble started to glow too!  And in that exact moment all three heard a distant voice 


"HEELLLLP!" 


it was Hugo!




And carrying his companions in his talons the Staravia that was now Pigwidgeon flew the newly evolved Solembum and Mumble towards route 203!




*****


Hugo, Orik and Daisy were backed into a corner by a Cubone! the Cubone had a strange bone in its hand, the end was elongated with a sharp blade. it was using the arm bone of a Kabutops!!!




"Pigwidgeon, Mumble, Solembum! You guys  evolved! But how could you hear me calling for help?!?"




"RUN NOW!" Mumble shouted as he jumped down from Pigwidgeon in midflight and let loose a Bubble attack at the Cubone.


The Cubone was expecting it and swung it's scythe bone at the bubble stream and popped them all.  Mumble flipped over the Cubone and tried a metal claw! but the Cubone caught his claws on the bone!  From above Pigwidgeon came diving and went for a wing attack but was knocked aside by the Cubone.  Then it was Solembum's turn. She went for a tremendous Spark attack! but it too was absorbed by the scythe.  Pigwidgeon tried one last wing attack but the Cubone took his scythe and hit Pigwidgeon with a critical hit to the wing.  




"You'll pay for that!" Mumble growled, "Solembum together!"


With that Mumble used Metal Claw again, and was blocked by Cubone's scythe, but Solembum came from the side and was running towards the cubone. The Cubone charged up his Iron Tail which was his most powerful move. 




That was exactly what Mumble wanted him to do. "NOW SOLEMBUM, SPARK!" 




Fear shone in the Cubone's eyes as the lightning raced toward him. It hit his tail and arced up to his skull helmet. 




"Cuuuubonnne......" and it fainted.


****


At the Pokemon Center in Oreburgh. Nurse Joy comes out to Hugo and the others to tell them about Daisy's condition, Daisy had tried to fight the Cubone on his own but he never stood a chance.


"I'm sorry," she said sadly "But your Psyduck is in Critical Condition. He's being kept asleep to save him the pain."




At that moment, the doors to the Center Slid open.


"Hugo! I'm back from the mines and I'm ready for our battle!"


Hugo turned around angrily to tell Roark to go to hell!  but Orik Stopped him.




"It's OK Hugo, go battle Roark. I'll stay and look after Daisy."




"Thank you  Orik. Come to the Gym if anything changes." then Hugo turned to Roark. "Lets go!"




At the Gym it took Hugo less than 20 minutes to beat Roark's Lackey trainers. Than came the true battle.




"Go Mumble."


It was Mumble vs Roark's Geodude. It was a simple battle. Mumble used Bubble and it fainted.


Then came his Onix. Again it was a simple bout. 1-2-3


Next. Hugo knew was his only real challenge here. Cranidos didn't go down easily. it got a critical on Mumble and Hugo had to call him back to keep him safe.




"Your in charge Solembum!"




"SPARK!"


And it worked! Cranidos was Paralyzed, Hugo Knew he had maybe a turn before  it's ability "Mold breaker" cured it's status.




"USE SPARK AGAIN!"




It hit! And it got a critical! Cranidos fell to the ground!


"This is embarrassing... I went and lost to a Trainer who didn't have a single Gym Badge... But that's tough. You were strong and I was weak. That's all there is. According to Pokémon League rules, I have to give you our Gym Badge since you've beaten me, the Leader. Here's your official Pokémon League Coal Badge."


"Thanks...." Hugo took the badge, and the TM, and walked out of the gym.


"Hugo!" Orik shouted,"It's Daisy! He ran from the Pokemon Center to try and find the Cubone. We have to find him!"


Everyone started running towards the cave that connected Oreburgh with route 203. Only to find Daisy, on the ground, outside of the cave entrance.


Hugo fell to his knees and picked up Daisy, tears streaming in his eyes.


"Daisy?..."




Daisy's eyes fluttered open, "Hugo, I'm sorry....I....was...too weak." With that, Daisy's eyes close. And his eternal headache finally ended. His arms fell to his sides.


"Oh Arceus..." Hugo stood up and got out Daisy's Pokeball. "Daisy...return! Return Daisy! RETURN!!!"


Mumble put his wing on Hugo's leg, tears tumbling down his own face. "He's not going to return Hugo....I'm sorry.




Hugo broke down and picked up Daisy. He sobbed into his dead Pokemon's stomach still begging him to return....




"Hey! HEY HUGO! ARE YOU AWAKE??!!? I'M HERE TO SEE HOW WELL YOU'VE RAISED YOUR POKEMON."


Hugo, lifted his tear stained face to look into his old friends excited face. And vowed that Barry would never. EVER beat him........

The three Poke-teers. All for one and one for all!

"Who are you guys?" asked Mumble, the confused young Piplup.


"Um, excuse me! I happen to be a GIRL!" said the Shinx. "And my  name is Solembum." she continued to watch Mumble scathingly


"Uh OK." said Mumble uncertainly "And you are?"  


The Starly, who looked like the oldest out of the three of them puffed out his feathers proudly "My name is Pigwidgeon." To Pigwidgeon's utter humiliation Mumble and Solembum started giggling! Pidwigeon blew out his breath and let his feather flop back into place; he knew his name was odd sounding, but their trainer, Hugo, had given it to him and he was proud to have it.


"Well." Mumble said, trying to put a bit of the leadership that his position granted him in his voice. despite his being the youngest Pokemon there.  "Hugo, said that he needed to start grinding ASAP. He wants us all to grow big and strong before we even THINK about going to Oreburgh! So come on lets find us a battle!"


"Excuse me kid!" Pigwidgeon interjected, eyeing him appraisingly. "But I am the oldest one here Mumble, who put you in charge?"


"Hugo did! And also, because I'm the STARTER pokemon." Mumble went on the tips of his toes to look eye to eye with the Starly.

"Oh ho ho ho ho!" Solembum said sarcastically " Did you hear that Pigwidgeon? The gender challenged Piplup is the starter Pokemon!" 


"HA!" Pigwidgeon laughed disdainfully. "Well all powerful starter Pokemon...." he then pointed down the route leading north out of Jubilife city, "lead the way!"


As Mumble waddled forward he suddenly fell to the road, then looked up to see Solembum and Pigwidgeon walking away down the route, laughing snidely. 


"Sniff, sniff..." Mumble held in the tears that were welling behind his eyes. He hated when people hated him and this whole Journey seemed to be going badly already.


*Several minutes later*


"Well boss," Pigwidgeon asked "Can you tell us WHY Hugo isn't here?" 


"He said something about finding some sales clowns and that we should come find him in the city if anything happens."


"Well he doesn't have anything to worry at all about," Solembum said as she jumped around, trying to find an opponent. " Well, about Pigwidgeon and I at least."


"THAT'S IT!" Mumble shouted "I am done with you guys making fun of me! I'm going back to Hugo right now!"


Pigwidgeon and Solembum looked at each other. "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA"


"That's it! I'm done!" and he quickly waddled away with them still laughing at him.


*another several minutes later....*


"Those guys are total jerks!" Mumble said as he ate a fish from the pond the trio had passed earlier.  "They do nothing but make fun of me because I'm younger than they are!"




"Well well well....what have we here Bidoof? said a scary voice from behind Mumble.


" It's a Piplup Geodude, hahahahaha! and a weak one to!"


when Mumble turned around he saw a Bidoof carrying a Geodude!  Geodude were never seen this close to the city!


"You fight him first Bid' The Geodude commanded. "I want him nice and weak for me!"


"Thats it!" Mumble said roughly " I'm taking you down BIDOOF!" not even giving the Bidoof time to get his act together Mumble used POUND until he was done!


The Geodude looked shocked! "HOW could you beat Bid'? I guess I'll have to settle for your little friends!" With that he ran away leaving Mumble alone to be shocked at the fact that he had just went up a level AND learned a new move!


"Well he can what he wants to Solembum and Pigwidgeon, I don't care about them!" and yet. Mumble still waddled back to Jubilife feeling guilty until...




"HELP!" "HELP!!!"


"That was Solembum and Pigwidgeon!" Mumble quickly ran back to where the voices came from!


"Mumble, help!" Solembum was on the ground shaking badly she looked about to faint! permanently!


"Mumble," Pigwidgeon said wincing in pain. "Your the leader! I was wrong to make fun of you! I'm sorry, I just wanted you to know that before... anything happens. Take him down!"


"Mwa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Your friend here can't beat me! All he knows is pou-"


"WRONG!" Mumble said, " I know bubble!" and with that Mumble finished the battle!


And before his eyes Pigwidgeon and Solembum went up a level to! They looked as if they would make it!


And so after taking Pigwidgeon and Solembum back to Hugo he was able to get them to the Pokemon Center. And everyone fine! Hugo was proud of all them for becoming stronger and learning new moves all by themselves. Another upside is that now Solembum, Pigwidgeon and Mumble had all become the best of friends.


"Well guys I'm glad that you guys grew to be such great friends! Honestly nowadays it's like you guys are the Poke-teers! Next stop for us is Oreburgh city where we'll grow even stronger! Than we''ll be sure to beat Roark."


"Well guys what do ya say?" Mumble said excitedly to the other two.


"What do you mean Mumble?" Pigwidgeon and Solembum asked.


"We are like the Three Poke-Teers!" Mumble whispered quickly "We gotta promise to never abandon each other and always make sure both us and Hugo are safe! Deal?"


"Deal!" the other two said at once!


And at the same time they said their motto!


"All for one and one for all!