----
"Kai, the accessory is finally complete. I apologize for being a day late, but I made sure to meet your expectations!"
Mateo stood before Kai, his eyes rimmed with dark circles and his face etched with exhaustion. His dishevelled appearance made Kai feel a twinge of guilt.
Placing a hand on Mateo's shoulder, Kai said with sincerity, "You've worked hard. Why don't you sit and rest for a while?"
Mateo handed Kai a cold, frost-covered box, inside which lay the crafted accessory. Kai carefully opened it and inspected the result.
Mateo had skillfully transformed the Never-Melt Ice into a sleek necklace-like accessory that resembled a semi-rigid collar.
The design was elegant yet practical. However, as expected of its unique material, the accessory was icy to the touch.
Kai only held it for a few seconds before the intense chill forced him to set it down on the ground.
Intrigued, Sabrina crouched beside the item and lightly nudged it with her shoe. "It's incredibly hard," she remarked. "Even after being reshaped, it hasn't melted at all. But… can it endure the intensity of Pokémon battles?"
Kai turned to Mateo and pulled out a special Ultra Ball marked with a snowflake symbol. Without further hesitation, he released Articuno.
The Legendary Pokémon spread its magnificent wings lazily, clearly enjoying the downtime it had over the past few days.
But before it could take in its surroundings, Mateo darted toward it like an overzealous fan.
"This… This is Articuno?!" Mateo's eyes sparkled as he rambled, "It's even more stunning in real life than in the photos! Look at those majestic wings! The vibrant sheen of its feathers is absolutely breathtaking!"
Articuno, startled by Mateo's sudden approach, began to gather energy for an attack. Kai quickly intervened, raising a hand to calm it. "Easy now. He's harmless, just… overly enthusiastic."
Realizing his mistake, Mateo backed away, bowing apologetically. "I'm so sorry! It's just… I couldn't help myself. Seeing a Legendary Pokémon like this up close is a dream come true!"
Once Articuno had calmed down, Kai retrieved the accessory and gently fastened it around its neck. The collar fit perfectly, accentuating the Pokémon's regal appearance. Mateo's craftsmanship was impeccable.
"Thank you," Kai said, nodding in satisfaction. "This turned out even better than I imagined."
Noticing Mateo's hesitant expression, Kai smirked knowingly. "I'll honour my promise." He recalled Articuno and released the Crystal Onix.
This time, Mateo exercised restraint. With Kai's permission, he approached the Crystal Onix and began examining it closely.
He walked around the crystalline Pokémon several times, scrutinizing every facet of its unique body. However, despite his efforts, he appeared visibly frustrated.
"What's wrong?" Kai asked.
Mateo sighed heavily. "It's strange. I thought seeing the Crystal Onix would inspire me, just like it did for my grandfather. But I feel… nothing. Not even a fraction of the awe I felt when I first saw Articuno."
Kai stroked his chin thoughtfully, recalling details from the anime. "Maybe you need to see it in action. Why not have a battle with it? Perhaps something will click during the heat of battle."
Mateo blinked in surprise but then nodded. "You might be right. It's worth a try."
Kai and Sabrina stepped back to give them space, clearing the inn's courtyard for the battle. Kai issued a final warning: "I won't be giving commands. It's just you and the Crystal Onix. But remember, this is still an inn. Keep the damage to a minimum."
"Understood." Mateo stepped back and tossed a Poké Ball into the air. From the flash of light emerged his Cloyster.
"A Water-type, huh?" Kai mused. "A solid choice against a regular Onix. But you're in for a surprise."
The battle began with Mateo ordering Cloyster to use Water Gun. A direct hit landed on the Crystal Onix, yet it didn't even flinch. Puzzled, Mateo had Cloyster fire another Water Gun, but the results were the same.
"What's going on?!" Mateo exclaimed, his confusion growing.
The Crystal Onix retaliated with a powerful Iron Tail, sending Cloyster spinning through the air before it crashed to the ground. Mateo stared in disbelief.
"This… This doesn't make sense! Why isn't it affected by Water moves?!"
Kai finally spoke, a hint of amusement in his tone. "I forgot to mention this Crystal Onix lives in water. Its unique crystalline body makes it immune to Water-type attacks."
Mateo's jaw dropped. "That's incredible… I've never heard of anything like that before!"
Fascinated, Mateo returned Cloyster and sent out his Charmeleon.
"This is my last Pokémon," Mateo explained. "It's not fully evolved yet, but Charmeleon is my trusted partner. It even helped me forge the Never-Melt Ice accessory you're using now."
Mateo's determination was clear as he turned back to the Crystal Onix. "Let's see what you're really made of!"
----
Don't forget to drop some Power Stones!
For early access to advanced chapters on p@treon.
P@treon/iamxeno
Thank you so much for your support and for reading!