It's finally here! After decades of waiting (/hj), I finally managed to get myself into writing again. Writer's block sucks. Not the most proud of how this chapter turned out, but definitely does the job. I got sorta distracted from writing by a lot of stuff lately so that kinda explains why I got a writer's block haha /lh.
Also like I said, this fic is canon-divergent, though I'll twist some things. I have made some changes that I kept in mind so if any of you spotted something different from the original Cho-Z plot, those are one of the things that I have twisted.
“Darn it! He’s quick…” Valt thought, speeding up his steps. In a moment, he managed to catch up with the redhead.
“Aren’t you a fast one? Try harder, tough!” Aiga laughed out loud, outspeeding the blunette once more – altough he isn’t that far away from Valt this time.
Aiga did all his manouvers hastily. He ran, jumped, and climbed over any obstacles on his way. At last, he found a long vine. As he arrived at an edge of the cliff he’s running up on, he quickly grabbed the vine and hanged onto it. He tried to sway to the other side of the cliff, but he failed. As he swayed, the vine got broken off and it caused Aiga to fall into a river just below him. Valt, following him, had the same fate. He didn’t slow himself down and as a result, fell into the river with Aiga.
Underwater, the two tried to talk to each other – shouting at each other, probably – though as a result, the two gargled the river’s water instead. They managed to reach the surface in a matter of seconds.
“I told you- *coughs* I’m quick!” Aiga snickered, coughing a little between his word. “But you’re great as well – I haven’t met someone who can catch up with my speed in a while. I don’t even remember who is it the last time!” Aiga said as he stood up, lending a hand to help Valt to stand up as well. The boys dried themselves a little, although not completely, and began walking again.
“We’re so close! We’ll just need to walk that way a few more meters and we’ll arrive at my teeny little village. This way!” Aiga said, leading the walk. Valt smiled and follows the latter.
The two walked towards the direction Aiga had pointed, and at last, finally arrived at the said village. After a few more steps, Aiga found his little farm house. From it’s wooden fence, a half-worried looking bluenette – Naru – stood. When she saw Aiga, however, her frown turned upside down.
“Aiga!” Naru happily said out loud as she waved her hand at Aiga. “What took you so long? Mom and I are worried you know..” She mumbled happily, hugging Aiga tightly. Before Aiga could say a word, though, Naru asked him something again.
“Huh? Who’s that?” Naru asked, trying to look at Valt who is standing behind Aiga.
Aiga smiled as he turned his body towards Valt, “I guess you should introduce yourself now.”
“Ah, hello. I’m Valt, Aoi Valt. I came here looking for Taiga…Akaba Taiga. I believe he’s your father?” Valt lightheartedly introduced, and asked as well. For a while, Naru remained silent, before finally smiling wide.
“I am Naru! Akaba Naru! And yes! Taiga’s our father! Wait here, alright?” She happily cheered. She ran from the two boys and called her father, which can be clearly heard from the distance. The boys are left alone when in a matter of minutes, Aiga’s mother – Kanna – showed up.
“Oh Aiga? You’re home!” She smiled, before looking at Valt. “…With a friend?” She asked shortly, with a half-confused face. Aiga nodded happily, and explained everything about Valt. Valt bowed and told Kanna why did he came here – saying sorry too, for making Aiga came late, because Aiga saved him from being lost earlier.
Kanna nodded, and told Aiga to wait as Naru’s calling her father. Not so long after, a middle-aged bluenette showed up with Naru pulling on his arm. It was none other than the said-to-be legendary blacksmith Valt has been looking for – Akaba Taiga. Valt’s expression mixed with awe and intimidated – a little. In awe because of how he can’t believe he finally met the legendary blacksmith, and a little intimidated by how tall Taiga is.
“Naru told me everything about you. What do you want?” He asked before Valt could do his introduction in a gruff voice as if he’s just woke up. Valt looked at him with starry eyes.
“You see here, I’m a rookie swordsman – I’m still in training! My sword, though, has its magical abilities weakened. I need your help to re-enchance its magical ability, sir!” Valt said enthusiastically, taking his scabbard and pulling out the Valkyrie broadsword out of it, glowing faintly.
Taiga took the broadsword as if it’s weightless, and took a quick look around it.
“It’s a sword that was once wield by Valkyries…where did you get this, Valt?” Taiga asked, weakly touching and rubbing his hand on the sword.
“My mom was a Valkyrie once, and she gave me this sword because she knows very well on how much do I wanted to be a swordsman.” Valt told Taiga. For a split second, his eyes twinkled with nostalgia.
“I see. Follow me.” Taiga commanded, leading Valt to his blacksmith workshop. Sneakily, Aiga and Naru follows behind. Taiga, however, noticed the two following him and Valt behind and pushed them away. Alas, Aiga and Naru waited outside of the workshop, constantly peeking from the window. Valt and Taiga are clearly talking, but unfortunately, Aiga can’t hear them.
“Ooh, A Dragon-Eye Orb! I saw a few of these back in my town!” Valt said, touching the purplish-black orb that sat beside the anvil where Taiga is working on.
“It’s well-known for its great use in enchancing weapons, if I remember correctly…” Valt continued, a little hesitation on the end of his words. He made a gesture as if he’s trying to remember. Taiga stopped for a while and turned his head upon Valt.
“You sure know a lot. A bit unusual to see a swordsman knowing these kinds of things. They usually just ask for the strongest enchancement without even bothering to learn about the component that is used to enchance their weapon.” Taiga smiled faintly. His mind seemed to fly somewhere around his memories, maybe somewhere when he’s still a young swordsman.
“My mother teaches me about these when I was younger! She said its important to know these things.” Valt smiled. Taiga responded with a tiny laugh – in a somewhat proud way.
Outside of the workshop, Aiga and Naru waited, trying to hear what are Valt and their father is talking about, but it’s honestly just kind of useless. Starting to get bored, Aiga jumped off the window’s frame and started kicking small rocks around, constantly mumbling inaudible words a bit upsetly. Once every few minutes, the strange glint of light sparked out of the workshop’s window.
After a while, the door handle of the workshop’s door moved, and the door opened with a creaking noise. Behind the door was a cobalt-haired boy, smiling widely, holding a sword in his hand. His face was decorated with smudges of black dust and coal, looking a little dirty. The sword on his hand shined softly with a gleam that feels different – not in a bad way. It radiates an aura much more powerful than ever.
“What do you say?” Valt cheerfully said, raising his sword towards the evening sun. It sparked a light blinding any gaze towards it. Aiga and Naru stared at the sword with sparkling eyes, amazed by how it looked. The cobalt and silver blended perfectly with the shades of yellow and red it has. Not to doubt, that sword clearly had greater power than before.
“That is amazing! Dad sure did a great job on this one!” Naru cheerfully said, smiling widely. Valt smiled back. A few seconds passed, and Taiga came out from the workshop, wearing a dirty apron.
“That’s your dad for you.” Taiga smiled proudly. Turns out, he heard the entire conversation.
“Say, Valt. What about we spar a little?” Aiga asked, pulling out his iron shortsword. Compared to Valt’s sword, the iron shortsword is smaller, but still enough for a little friendly fight.
“Why not? I want to see how much my sword has became!” Valt grinned. In a matter of minutes, the two got ready on each other’s position, behind the workshop.
Before Valt or Aiga could make a move, however, Kanna caught them.
“What were you thinking? It has gotten really dark. No more activities outside, sorry.” Kanna said in a concerned and upset tone, crossing her arms.
“Valt, you can stay for the night. Going through the forest to reach the next village will take if not four then six hours.” Kanna said, turning her head towards the forest for a second, then turning her head towards Valt again. No matter how much the boys resisted to go inside, Kanna is right. The sun has sinked half on the horizon, shining orange and pink colors softly.
“Now, store back your swords to your scabbards, and go inside for supper. I have made some soup and baked some bread.” Kanna smiled, guiding the boys. Behind them, Taiga and Naru walked along. While Valt and Aiga are cleaning themselves up, Naru and Kanna prepared the table.
That night was a comfortable yet surprising one.
~To be continued
hey guys, did you know that in terms of competitive battling, vaporeon is one of the most underrated? not only that it is a water type which grants it only 2 weaknesses and 3 resistances, vaporeon also has a whopping HP stat of 130 and a respectable special defense of 95, allowing it to tank attacks well. it also has the access to the ability hydration, which makes it especially a power to be beckoned in rain teams as it is immune to status moves. not only as a staller, vaporeon can also hold the role of a sweeper as it has a respectable special attack stat of 110, allowing it to fit on HO or HO Rain teams well. in addition, it is able to learn the moves toxic, scald, wish, protect and acid armor making it a very compatible staller and support, flexible to fit in various teams, tiers and so much more to come.