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“Don’t go too far!” Draydens voice shouted behind them, making Ingo shout out a reflective ‘we won’t!’ In response.
He and Emmet had been forced to go with Drayden to a meeting with the ground type gym leader Clay. He didn’t know what they were going to talk about, but he knew it was going to be boring. Or, he had thought it was going to be boring, but once Clay had seen the two of them eyeing the tunnels, he had allowed them to explore.
Ingo was very very excited to see more tunnels that were professionally dug. He had fallen in love with tunnels and trains after camping out in the abandoned subway’s tracks a few times. They had both been fascinated by them, and these were only slightly smaller!
And so, the two happily went further into the complicated tunnels until they reached a wider cavern.
“Watch out! There’s a bunch of holes in the ground!” Ingo nudged his brother away from one, holding onto his collar.
Emmet tilted his head, “tunnels aren’t safe.”
Ingo nodded, crouching down to look at one closer. “These are really deep, like something dug a whole tunnel system beneath the dig site… that definitely doesn’t pass safety checks.”
Emmet crouched down next to him and stuck his entire arm into the hole, ignoring Ingo’s shout of his name. “I am Emmet. I don’t feel anything.”
“Of course not, they are deep holes! The pokemon who did this could be anywhere-“
The sound of crumbling dirt cut him off, making both brothers turn towards the pokemon that had just popped its head out of the ground. They locked eyes for a moment, the pokemons gaze slowly tracing to Emmet's arm halfway down one of its tunnels. It squeaked and dived back underground.
“Ah! It’s a drilbur! Quickly Emmet, let’s follow it!” He tugged his brother up and chased after the hole where the drilbur popped out of. In its panic it hadn't dug down too much, meaning its movements unsettled the dirt up over it. It was easy to follow the trail of loose dirt to where it would occasionally surface.
The two boys followed the pokemon deeper and deeper into the mines, Ingo’s one track mind not even noticing the shift of looser, brown stone turning denser and grayer. They twist and turn around the maze like tunnels, following the raised dirt through forks in the path and over rocky ground. It was only the hard tug on his sleeve that had Ingo slowing down.
He abruptly stopped, making Emmet crash into his back. “What is it Emmet?”
“Lost.” Emmet clutched Ingo’s sleeve.
“We aren’t lost, we just have to follow the tracks back to”- he looked behind them, expecting to see loose dirt in a clear trail. Unfortunately, he had failed to realize that it had gotten progressively darker as they went, and they were surrounded in nothing but shadows. They could only see each other easily due to Ingo’s softly glowing eyes. “Oh… that is an issue.”
Emmet tucked himself closer to Ingo’s side, “dark.”
Ah… was Emmet still afraid of the dark? Didn’t he get over it?
Ah no, of course he pretended he got over it. Emmet didn’t like admitting weakness in battle, figuring out clever plans and strategies to cover them, but he didn’t have time to prepare a plan to cover his own weakness.
But that’s what multi battles were for, helping each other with weaknesses that the other couldn’t cover. Ingo quickly pulled off his bag, shuffling through the items and pulling out a flashlight. He had forgotten to take it out after he and Litwick went out last night into the forest.
“Here, take this. Proper visibility is essential to following safety precautions!” Ingo clicked it on, making sure it was pointed at the ground, and handed it over. His brother seemed a bit less tense, thankfully. “Come on, we still have a pokemon to catch!”
They were off again, Ingo moving a bit slower now and keeping a firm hold on Emmets hand. Thankfully the dirt was still loose from where the drilbur had dug, making it easy to follow.
It took a while of walking, but soon Ingo spotted a glint of metal in the dark. He squinted, hoping it would make the image clearer, and saw the vague form of the drilbur.
“Ah! There it is!” He shot forward, Emmets hand slipping out of his own as he bolted. He was not expecting his foot to hit open air, yelping as he fell forward into a pit of shadow. He hit the ground hard, lightning pain streaking up his leg as his ankle moved wrong. He covered his mouth quickly, stifling any sound of pain that might have escaped his mouth. He didn’t want to worry Emmet.
He took a minute to breathe through the pain, waiting for it to numb a bit. A light made him scrunch his eyes closed and duck under his arm.
“Sorry.” Ingo looked up, seeing the light that probably came from Emmet’s flashlight. “Get help? Stay?”
“Y-yeah, go get a rope. I could probably climb out if you help pull me.” Ingo tried to hide his winces and he sat up. He probably twisted his ankle, and he needed to put pressure on it to hold it steady.
“Roger,” Emmet said, voice flatter than usual in his worry, and set off. His steps were much too quick to be following safety checks though.
“Move with speed, not haste!” Ingo shouted, and immediately the footsteps slowed to a more careful pace. That taken care of, Ingo turned to his sprained ankle.
He tugged off his bandana, carefully took off his boot and pulled the cloth tight around his ankle, looping around twice. It would do for now, and putting his boot back on would help even more. He made sure to tie it a bit tighter than normal.
He sighed as he slumped against the side of the hole, rocks poking at his back painfully, but not so much it made him move. He didn’t know how far they were in the tunnels, but he knew it would take a long time for Emmet to both get a rope and then come back.
A trill caught his attention, eyes slightly illuminating the small form of the drilbur standing at the other side of the hole. It shuffled back and forth on its feet nervously, tapping its claws against the ground. It took a step forward and then immediately shuffled back again.
Ingo shifted, reaching into his bag and pulling out some Pokémon treats. He always kept a few on hand just in case, and he was glad he kept them. Ingo tossed one towards the drilbur, making it perk up as it smelled the sweet treat. It took a few steps towards it and looked back at Ingo.
“It’s okay, you can take it.” The pokemon didn’t move, “I’m not mad, if that’s what you're worried about. And I can’t chase you anymore either, I hurt my ankle.”
The pokemon trilled apologetically as it tapped its claws against the ground again. Hesitantly it picked up the treat and walked closer to Ingo. He tilted his head as the drilbur dropped the candy in his lap, and then ran off back to the other side of the hole. Huh, weird.
Ingo sighed as he slumped further against the wall. There was almost nothing but darkness surrounding him, his eye’s faint glow unable to light up the area much besides two feet in front of himself. He pulled the uninjured leg closer to his chest and slumped over his knee, manually tugging it closer. He kind of wished the drilbur would come back, he was lonely all by himself.
The sudden chirp from the other side to the hole made Ingo flinch, looking up quickly. The drilbur stood there, Ingo only seeing it with the light glinting off its metal claws. It shuffled closer, dragging something with it that made the grinding sound of stone on stone. Finally the pokemon entered the light glow his eyes created, and Ingo got a good look at the stone it was dragging.
At first he thought it was merely a bluish gray stone, but then he spotted the completely intact feather fossilized on one side.
“Oh! Bravo! I’ve never seen a plume fossil in such pristine condition!” The drilbur trilled in pride, puffing out its chest. Hmm… “is… is this why you’ve been digging all these tunnels? So you could find fossils?”
Sheepishly, the pokemon nodded, looking down at its clawed feet.
“I’m sure your effort is well appreciated, however, the holes in the tunnels make dangerous terrain for people to cross.” Ingo slumped over his knee again, embarrassed, “that was why I wished to catch you, to make sure safety checks were being followed. I am sorry for scaring you so badly.”
A gentle tap on his leg made Ingo look up from his slouching position, meeting the gaze of the drilbur. It skittered back to the fossil and pushed it closer to him, and met his eyes.
“Do you… want me to have it?” It chirped, “are you sure?” The pokemon nodded, pushing the plume fossil closer, “thank you very much!”
He opened his bag again, fishing out the rest of his pokemon treats and carefully making room for the stone. He slid it in between things he didn’t think would break it, and then zipped up the bag. Opening the treat package, Ingo offered one to the drilbur again. It looked hesitant to accept it, probably feeling bad about accidentally hurting Ingo.
Ingo humed and placed the bag on the floor, sliding it closer to the pokemon. It blinked and then chittered in laughter, accepting the treats. Ingo settled against the wall again and watched it eat, amused at how it tried to pinch the small candies with its claws. Ingo sighed and curled up again, looking back up the hole. He still couldn’t see anything, but he was hoping that his brother would return soon.
The crinkling of the packaging the candies were in stopped, and suddenly there was a warm weight pushed against his side. He looked over and saw the drilbur settling against his hip, pushing its face into his lap.
Hesitantly, Ingo reached out and petted its head. When it didn’t react, he scriched at it, making its small form purr. He closed his eyes and continued to pet the pokemon, appreciating the small comfort.
“Ho there!” Ingo jolted awake, blinking rapidly at the brightling shining down on him, “you alright there, son?” Clay had come, apparently.
“No! I sprained my ankle!” He shouted up, trying to squint past the light.
“Alright then, stay where ya are.” He threw down one end of a rope, which coiled up right next to him, “tie that around yer waist, be tight about it. You know the bow line knot?”
“Uh… you make a loop and pull the tail through?”
“That’s right, now what?”
“Wrap the tail over the part you're holding and pull back through the loop?”
“Exactly like that, now go do it around your waist and I’ll pull ya up.”
Ingo carefully tied the knot, apologizing to the drilbur as he gently nudged the pokemon off his lap, and pulled it taught. It kind of hurt, and he knew it would be uncomfortable getting out, but the excitement of finally getting out of this hole won out. He was sort of glad he wouldn’t have to climb back up with Emmet's help, but he couldn’t help but wonder why Clay had come in the first place.
He patted the drilbur one last time and shouted up at Clay, who immediately began pulling him up. As expected, it hurt a bit, but it didn’t take long to reach the top.
“There ya go son. Your brother’s been worried about ‘cha” Clay skillfully untied the knot, re coiling the rope as he gathered it all.
“Where is Emmet?” Ingo sat up, being careful not to move his foot.
“With yur dad”- Ingo winced- “in the main cavern. Told ‘em to stay there in case the tunnels were unstable. That drilbur you were with do all that diggin’?”
Ingo noodded, “it didn’t mean it though! It was looking for fossils. I don’t think it knew what would happen.”
Clay huffed, “either way, can have it here if it’s gonna be makin’ holes every which way.” He straightened and attached the rope to his belt, “alright then, up ya go.”
Ingo definitely did not squeak as the man picked him up, carrying him back through the tunnels and towards the entrance. Ingo hadn't realized just how far he and Emmet had run, and he felt a bit bad about it after remembering that Drayden had told them not to go too far. He should try to apologize later.
“Ya know, Drayden was real worried about ya.” Ingo sensed where his conversation was going and looking down at his hands, worrying his fingers together, “I know everything’s all weird right now, with him just recently adopting you two and all, but ya should try to-“
“I know!” Ingo winced at his volume and scrunched his eyes closed, “I… I'll follow safety checks. I won’t derail again.”
“Kid…” Clay sighed, “that’s not what I meant son, just… Aw I’m not good at this kinda stuff.” He shook his head, “I know y’all are used to being alone, but ya don’t have ta’ do everything yourself anymore.”
Ingo hunched his shoulders, but didn’t respond. Clay sighed, but left him alone
After a while of walking in silence, they reached the more well lit areas of the tunnels. He could hear the vague tone of his brother and Drayden farther away, but he couldn’t discern the words.
“Emmet!” The talking immediately stopped and quick footsteps entered the cave.
“Hold it there son! Grounds still full o’ holes.” Emmet froze, hands tapping against his legs as the two approached.
“Ok?”
“I’m alright Emmet.”
“Still gotta treat that ankle of yours, son.” Clay said, huffing and Emmet nodded and ran off back to the main entrance. “I swear you two…”
Clay gently set Ingo down on a rock near Drayden, patting him on the shoulder as he trailed after Emmet.
Drayden leaned over, looking Ingo over. Ingo looked away.
“I’m sorry we ran so far…” Ingo hunched over.
“It’s alright. I’m glad we found you. I do wish you were a bit more careful though.”
“…I know.”
Drayden sighed, glanced over at the tunnel leading further in the dig site, and stood up. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pokeball. “I think you might need this soon.”
Ingo took the pokeball with confusion. It was too light to house any pokemon in it, and he wouldn’t need protection here anyway. He looked up to ask Drayden why he’d given him an empty pokemon, but the man was already walking to where Clay and Emmet were.
A trill broke his train of thought, making him look down at the drilbur looking up at him. Had it followed him and Clay all the way here?
“Hello passenger! What are you doing here?” The pokemon clicked its claws together, and climbed up next to Ingo on his rock. “Do you want more sweets? I’m afraid you ate them all.” The pokemon shook its head, and leaned into his side.
Ingo blinked, looking down at the empty pokeball in his hand, and then back at the drilbur. “Do you… want to come with me?”
The pokemon trilled in joy, smiling up at him and it happily nodded. Ingo lit up, “oh, bravo!” And held out the ball, letting the Drilbur poke the button with its claw. The ball didn’t even shake before sparks fizzled out of it, accepting the catch.
Ingo immediately sent it out again, pulling it up to settle on his lap. “Welcome to the team, Drilbur!” It nuzzled into his stomach and chirped.
Ingo happily petted its head. Emmet was going to be incredibly jealous. Perhaps he could give his brother the plume fossil so he wouldn’t be on the receiving end of Emmet’s ire?
Drayden peaked out behind the wall at Ingo. He heaved a sigh, and looked over as his old friend lay a hand on his shoulder.
“They’ll come around, Dray. It jus’ takes some time.”
He hoped so.
For now he took comfort in his son happily chatting with his new Drilbur. They would be a good match.