Team WinterLeaf Miss 3: Part 1

Altar at Monochrome Tower

Part 1: The Steel Guardian Cobalion



A gentle breeze rolled over the hills as two Pokémon bearing green scarves wandered on to find the person they were looking for. It wasn't too far from home. It was a small clearing that was in-between Tao Village, and their final destination, Monochrome Tower.

The first of the two Pokémon, a Smoochum, smiled at her companion.

"This is exciting! Our first mission! Mike must be really confident in us to send a new team on such an important job!"

"Actually, I think he didn't even know WHO we were, since he seemed to be too busy hiding under the desk, he just gave us the job without looking" The Seedot pointed out as he waddled along. "I think he was mumbling something about his mother…"

"Aw, don't be so negative, Pan" She scolded gently. "We'll just have make sure that Mike doesn't regret his decision! We'll do great! I can feel it!"

"Your always so optimistic, Claire" If Pan had had a visible mouth, he'd have smiled. Instead, his eyes made a happy look.

As the two reached the designated point, they saw who they were supposed to meet., a Minccino with large sunglasses who was holding a white sphere with several indents in it.

"Are you Chill?" Claire asked.

He turned to face them and smiled, looking them over.

"So this is what Mike sent me? A kewpie doll and an acorn!"

"Look who's talking, you big fluff ball!" Pan glared at Chill.

"Aw lighten up! I'm messing with ya!" Chill laughed a little, patting Pan's head. "So, who are you guys supposed to be? You new to the guild?"

"We are" Pan nodded, calming down. "I'm Pan, and this is my partner, Éclair.

"Just call me Claire" She smiled before saluting. "Team Winter Leaf reporting for duty!"

Chill smiled.

"Glad to get some help! Let's be on our way then!"

Chill grabbed the Light Stone and led the way. Pan and Claire followed behind.

"So…what exactly is the mission?" Pan asked. "We kind of just walked into Mike's office and he told us to come find you here, he wasn't big on the details. All he said was that it was important."

"We're taking this here stone to that tower there!" Chill pointed to Monochrome Tower in the distance.

"Ooooh" Claire gaped excitedly.

"Sounds pretty easy if you ask me" Pan said.

"It isn't…" Chill frowned. "I've heard the place is crawling with traps and ghost Pokémon"

"We can handle it!" Claire said confidently.

"Well…" Chill continued. "There's also the matter of--"

Chill's explanation was interrupted by the sound of hooves clopping against the ground. The trio looked and saw the intimidating figure of a Cobalion stepping out from the bushes. He wore a black hat that had a unique looking feather on it for decoration.

The large stag gave them an intimidating glare, sneering as he trotted up to them.

"You have no right to bear that stone…" He glared. "You have no idea what you're messing with"

Pan and Claire ran up in front of Chill, getting in front of the Minccino. The Cobalion looked them up and down, sizing up his supposed opponents.

"Hmph, be gone young ones…I've faced countless enemies in battle, some of them three times my own size…to face me would be foolish!"

"Well you've never faced US before!" Pan glared. He was putting on a strong front but inwardly, he was nervous.

"We're not afraid of you!" Claire added.

"Heh, I like you guys" Chill smiled behind his shades.

The Cobalion stomped his hoof down and the ground trembled.  The three were knocked off their feet as the ground cracked around them.

"I am Estoc! Guardian of the Monochrome Tower! This is your last chance, leave now and give me that stone! It does not belong in your hands!"

"He knows Earthquake…this could be complicated…" Pan thought as he got back up.

"We're not giving you anything you big bully!" Claire cried, getting back up as well.

"All we want is to make this world a better place!" Chill said as he got back up, holding the stone.

"It's not your place to decide how this world is run…if you won't relinquish the stone, then I have no choice!" Estoc slammed both of his front hooves on the ground, shaking it again.

The ground started to break apart underneath them. The three split up and began to run to avoid the fissures opening up below them. Estoc charged forward towards Chill, lowering his head and aiming his horns at him.

Chill jumped up as high as he could to dodge, smashing his tail against the ground to give him an extra boost. While in the air, Estoc ran right by under him. Chill then called out.

"Yo Pan! Go long!"

Chill flung the Light Stone as hard as he could. Vines shot out of Pan's side and he caught the stone. Pan ran for his life as Estoc turned and began to charge at him. Claire dove in front as her lips glowed.

She began to use Lovely Kiss, blowing kisses at Estoc and sending out lip shaped blasts of energy.

Estoc reared back to avoid being hit by it, only to rear right back into Chill, who had jumped up towards his head.

Using Tail Smash, Chill swung his glowing tail and decked Estoc across the face. The guardian stumbled back a bit and Pan tossed the Light Stone to Claire. The tip of Pan's stem opened up like a nozzle and he began to use Bullet Seed, unleashing a torrent of hard seeds that collided into Estoc's body.

"Haha! We got him on the ropes!" Chill grinned, preparing to use Blizzard.

Estoc yelled out angrily and slammed his hooves down, using Earthquake once more.

"ENOUGH OF THIS!!!"

This time the ground began to split apart even further and pillars of earth blasted up from the ground. One pillar rose up right underneath Claire and knocked her down into an open fissure. The Light Stone fell from her hands and rolled across another fissure, though Chill managed to catch it.

Pan ran over to where Claire had fallen in, looking over the edge in worry.

"CLAIRE!!"

"You should be more concerned about yourself…" Estoc glared, trotting over to him.

Pan glared up at Estoc, only to see his horns were now glowing. Estoc lowered his head before swinging it up in an arc. Two arc shaped beams of light blasted out of his horns and towards Pan.

Pan barely managed to dive out of the way, and he watched the two light arcs carve across the ground before utterly demolishing a nearby hill, reducing it to nothing but large chunks of earth.

"My Sacred Sword…" Estoc stated. "My strongest attack…you are out of your league…"

Pan glared, but looked behind Estoc to see Chill pulling something out of another fissure. It was Claire!

"The fissures must have connected into tunnels…" Pan thought.

"Says you!" Pan said out loud, trying to keep Estoc's attention as Claire and Chill snuck up behind him. "I won't go down without a fight!"

"You have a lot of spirit for one so small…but I show no mercy" Estoc hissed as his horns glowed again.

Chill and Claire got up behind Estoc. Both took a deep breath, ready to use Ice Beam and Blizzard.

Suddenly, Estoc spun around and launched his attack at the two. Claire and Chill dove out of the way as the two light arcs demolished several of the raised pillars of earth.

"Did you honestly think you could sneak up on me??" Estoc yelled as his horns glowed yet again.

Pan shot two vines out of his sides, wrapping them around Estoc's hind legs and pulling hard. The guardian cried out as his legs were pulled out from underneath him, bringing him to the ground.

Claire took her chance and used Ice Beam while he was down, freezing Estoc to the ground.

"Let's split! Now!" Chill said, clutching the Light Stone as they ran past him.

Estoc snarled and broke out of the ice, standing up and turning around. He watched the three fleeing  through glaring eyes.

"I…WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO PASS!!

He jumped up in the air as high as he could before crashing down and smashing all four of his hooves down, using Earthquake for a fourth time.

The ground below the three fleeing Pokémon crumbled as pillars of earth rose up left and right. A large fissure opened up behind them and the three fell inside as they screamed, taking the Light Stone down with them.