Tia and Aidan get trapped in a cave-in while exploring Cerulean Cave.
Tia crouched behind a rock inside Cerulean Cave, watching as the swarm of Chanseys rolled and frolicked around. Aidan sat nearby, watching her.
“Tia-”
“Shh!” Tia pulled out a Luxury Ball, expanded it, and prepared to throw it. She heard the sound of footsteps on gravel.
“Uh…”
“Not now, Aidan!” Tia snapped, throwing the Luxury Ball at the nearest Chansey. It disappeared into the Ball and wobbled three times. The gravelly footsteps turned into a low rumble.
“Tia, there’s a-”
“Can’t it wait?” Tia asked, annoyed. She saw the Luxury Ball click shut. Then she pulled out another Luxury Ball. The low rumble got louder and mingled with a growl.
“WATCH OUT!” Aidan grabbed her and pushed her away from the rock, right before it was vaporized. They both landed on the ground, in front of a massive, angry Golem.
“Let’s go!” Aidan pulled Tia’s hand, trying to lead her away. But she held her ground.
“But what about my Poke Ball?” she asked frantically.
“Don’t worry about it!” he shouted, yanking her along. “It’s no good to you if you’re dead!”
They ran until they reached a dead end, the giant Golem rumbling after them. It hit the walls, causing them to shake and tumble down, and rolled away, leaving behind a wall of fallen rocks and debris.
When the rumbling stopped, Aidan ran over to the fallen rocks and tried to dislodge one. He failed. “Damn it,” he muttered, “It’s no use. We’re trapped.” He didn’t say anything for a few moments.
“I’m sorry,” Tia said meekly, “I was so focused on my work, I didn’t see what was happening behind me. And the Luxury Ball…” She put her head in her hands and groaned. “You were right to leave it behind. The research wasn’t worth our lives! I’m so stupid...”
“Hey, hey.” Aidan walked over and gave her a shake. “It happens to the best of us. Just keep it in mind for next time, okay?”
Tia swallowed, not willing to voice her thoughts. What if there was no next time? What if they were stuck here?
“Come on,” Aidan said, guiding her to the cave wall and sitting her down. “Just sit down and relax, and get some rest. Someone else has to be in here somewhere and heard the cave-in. They’ll send someone to rescue us.” He sat down next to her and put an arm around her. She snuggled against him.
They continued to talk, about everything and nothing.
“You know, I used to think Trainers were stupid when I was a kid,” Tia confessed. “I had a problem with making good Poke Balls for Trainers who were too dumb to know how to use them properly.”
Aidan burst out laughing. “Well, I’ve definitely met my share of dumb Trainers. It’s a disease!”
Tia smiled. “But then I think of Trainers like Steven Stone, and the kid who became the Hoenn League Champion after him, and I remember that there are amazing Trainers out there who are deserving of the Poke Balls I help to develop.
Aidan nodded.
“And you too, of course. Thank you for saving me back at the rock. I don’t know what I would have done if you weren’t around.”
Aidan frowned. “But I was the one who got you into this mess in the first place!”
Tia shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. I would have ended up in this place sooner or later because of my research. At least right now I’m not alone.” She smiled at him, a warm, grateful smile. “Thank you for putting up with me.”
“I… uh…” Aidan’s face turned red. “It’s… it’s the least I could do. You would do the same if it were me.”
Tia didn’t answer. Aidan looked down to see her curled against him, asleep.
“Hey! Hello? Is anyone there?”
Tia woke up abruptly, hearing the shouts. She nudged Aidan in the side, waking him up. “Hello!” she called out, “We’re over here! On the other side of these rocks!”
“Stay back, ma’am. We’re going to clear the way.”
A blast of moisture filled the air, along with the noise of rocks being moved. A while later, the rocks were removed, revealing an Ace Trainer with a Blastoise and a Machamp.
“Thanks for getting us out,” Aidan said gratefully.
“No problem!” The Ace Trainer pulled something out of his pocket. “I don’t suppose this is yours?” He placed a lone Luxury Ball into Tia’s hand.
Tia gasped. “Yes, it is!”
“I found it right outside the cave-in. It made me think twice and wonder if anyone was on the other side. No one would leave their Pokemon alone like that unless something had happened!”
Tia nodded. “Thank you!”
Later, after the two of them were settled at the Cerulean Pokemon Center, Tia plugged the Luxury Ball in and waited for the capture data.
Chansey
Level 65
Gender: Female
Happiness Level: 85
Capture Rate: 0.99
“Did it work?” Aidan asked, sliding into the seat next to her and handing her a cup of coffee.
Tia took the coffee gratefully and answered, “Perfectly. The Luxury Ball has a similar catch rate as a normal Poke Ball, but is designed to increase a Pokemon’s happiness over time. Happiness level typically starts at a base value of 70 when a Pokemon is first caught. The fact that it went up even a little bit while we were trapped in that cave meant it’s working as it should.” She frowned.
“Don’t keep worrying about it,” Aidan said, squeezing her shoulder. “We got out.”
“It was scary,” Tia answered, “I wasn’t sure if we’d make it.”
“We’re okay. We’re alive to research another day!” Aidan smirked.
Tia laughed.