Entering Verdant Cavern was spooky to say the least. The air was silent, still and eerie, not even the Pokémon made a sound. Frost was calm however so I knew I was safe, she got tense quickly.

I'd only just realised that I had only one Pokémon to do this trial with since I technically couldn't use Frost Flower in officially sanctioned battles which left me with only Floe and I wasn't allowed to catch wild Pokémon until after I completed the trial. Well then... I may have just royally screwed up.

Huffing at my own stupidity, I looked back at the clue in my hand. First key lies where thornful roses bloom but will never wilt. Guarded by a toy of pink, but don't hug it! It didn't make much sense, at first I thought it was some sort of poetry but it didn't fit in with the poetry thought to me through my schooling. Roses die quite easy, not the strongest of flowers but I didn't know much more then that about them, they don't grow naturally at home and their neither edible nor poisonous...

I looked around the Cavern absently. Ominous, I thought to myself as I wandered down a random path to my right. Where would roses not wilt? Perhaps a painting of some sort... no, why describe them as thornful then? A rock formation? Plausible but it doesn't feel right. Sighing to myself, I again studied the area. A Pokémon? No, the only Pokémon I know with roses as decor are the Budew line and I don't think they fit with the theme of a normal type trial. Okay, so it must be a metaphor...

Hmming to myself, I looked around for a metaphor. Bloom could mean change or growth and will not revert back - never wilting - and thorns could really be any hidden reason to be cautious. So maybe it is a Pokémon. Perhaps a pink one that resembled a toy... Oooooooh - doi! A Stufful you nincompoop.

"Okay, so I'm looking for a spot where a Stufful would like to evolve... I think so anyway..."

"That is reasonable using deductive reasoning." Frost purred, looking around with her ears twitching. "Where do Stufful like to evolve?

"In the sun I think... I helped Aunty Dessi take care of one for several months and it evolved in her care but not until after a huge rainstorm." I explained, remembering the time I spent with Aunty Destiny fondly. "It waddled out into a big open field and she explained that Stufful love to be warm when they evolve and while not necessarily required for evolution they much prefer evolving in sunlight. So, where in Cavern will I find direct sunlight?"

"Why don't you try over there?" Frosty inquired, gesturing with her blue booted paw to a further point in the Cavern where a crack in the ceiling allowed bright sunlight to filter through.

It took a few trial and error attempts to make my way through to the point Frost Flower had pointed out - few battles with Alolan Ratata and Yungoos here and there but it didn't take too long, regardless, I'm glad this particular trial wasn't timed.

"Hey, look roses." Frost cheered, pointing out a painting of the rock wall. "Very pretty."

"Okay, good... now we're looking for some sort of key." I beamed, turning around slowly to observe the surrounding area. "There will probably be a Stufful guarding it."

~Hello Trial Goer!~ I spun around completely, spotting a fluffy little panda like Pokémon  on the ground, a golden charm of some sort around its neck. ~Ooooo, you're a special one aren't you!~

Frost Flower flicked her tails. "Harmony is the next Voice of Purity, I am her Guardian Angel." She stated proudly.

The Normal-Type Pokémon's eyes widened is awe. ~Really!? I'm honoured Miss Voice of Purity! Oh oh oh, we have to battle now! I get to actually battle the Voice of Purity, ooooo my friends are going to be sooooo jealous!~

I chuckled to myself. "Okay, don't go easy me now."

~I would never insult you in such a manor Miss Voice of Purity Ma'am!~

"Harmony is fine." I smiled back, setting Frost on the ground before detaching Floe's Pokéball from my belt.

~Oh of course, I'm sorry Miss Harmony!~ The young Stufful bowed her head in apology before straightening up in a battle ready poise. I don't know if she was trying to look intimidating or something but the position was more akin to adorable then anything in relation to threatening.

"Come on out Floe!" I cheered, throwing her ball high into the air, releasing her in a whirr of bright blue light. "Prepare for battle."

~About bloody time I got some action!~ She snapped, waving around her bright blue parasol of a flower in an irked manor. Floe looked down at her opponent, clearly disapproving.

Pinching my nose in irritation, I sighed softly. "Watch that mouth little lady, do not let my cousin hear you speak like that." I snapped back.

Floe just wrinkled her face in disgust. ~Bite me.~

"Just..." I sighed deeply. "Use Fairy Wind please."

~I don't have to listen too you...~ She snapped, surrounding herself in aura guarded leaves. ~I will use Magical Leaf if I want too.~ Without hesitation, she flung her attack at the unguarded Stufful, who's been watching our argument with confusion up until that point.

Stufflul didn't have a chance to dodge before she was nailed with the the magical leaves, she let out a squeak of pain, waddling back a few steps. She growled, staring at Floe with a Baby-Doll Eyes before transitioning to a Tackle. Floe simply danced to the side and once more attacked with a Magical Leaf, throwing Stufful to the ground with the brute of the attack, knocking the young one out cold.

Floe snorted, tossing her head. ~That was far too easy, give me a challenge next time.~

"Oh, be nice you." I retorted, kneeling by Stufful's side, encouraging her to nibble on an Oran Berry. "Thank you for the battle Stufful!"

The little Normal Type perked up with a smile. ~You are very much welcome, although your Floette is... the opposite  of nice.~

"Only on the outside." I reassured, smiling softly as Stufful shed her charm for me to collect. As I picked it up I noticed a scrap of paper also attached to the necklace. The second clue I presume.

Thickest branch bends but is never broken, a spirit to match without a word spoken.

Oh that one's more obvious - I thought to myself, spinning around pointing to a twisted log bridge on the opposite side of the Cavern. It's branches bending this way and that but not a single on seemed ready to snap. The wind was heavy in that area, blowing quite roughly but it didn't make a sound.

Floe hovered by my side, looking down at me with much disapproval. ~You know I am far above this right?~

"No I do not, you've never let me battle with you before and come to think about it, this was a very bad idea because I've never used you in battle before and you don't really listen to anyone and you're currently my only Pokémon." I sighed in disappointment as we arrived before looking around for a Stufful.

Clicking my tongue anxiously, I surveyed the area. A slightly larger Stufful then the one I'd battled previously lay under a looped branch, sleeping peacefully beneath the warming sun rays that filtered from cracks in the Cavern walls. Great, my one weakness - adorable Pokémon sleeping... this would take a while.

"Just wake it up." Frost Flower sighed, rolling her bluebelle coloured eyes. "Or do you want me too."

Taking in a deep breath, I gave an awkward smile. "Can you do it...?"

Frost sighed, jumping out of my arms and nudging the sleeping Stufful with her paw. "Wakey wakey sleepy head. Time for the trial."

The Stufful yawned. ~Is it that time already?~ He yawned, looking up with a confuzzled gaze. ~I could of sworn I had a few more minutes?~ Regardless he stood up, looking me over with a quizzical stare. ~You have a special aura...~

~Brother brother brother, guess what!~ The younger female Stufful from before came bounding past me. ~I got to battle the younger Voice of Purity! Oh lookie, she's here, you get to battle too! How lucky are we!?~

The male simply sighed. ~You can understand us I presume?~

I nodded, looking between the two with amusement.

With a slightl pause before hand, the older one bowed. ~It is an honour Miss Voice of Purity.~

~Oooo, you can call her Harmony, that's her name!~ The little female beamed, pouncing around excitedly.

~Okay Miss Harmony, shall we begin our battle.~ The male inquired, striding to his battle position in a couple of precise leaps. ~Sister is new to the ways of the trial, I will not be so easy.~

"Yeah, let's go." I replied, taking a few steps back into my position before taking Floe's Pokéball and tossing it into the air.

~Stop putting me in there if you're going to call me out every five freaken minutes!~ Floe glared with a growl.

Without even bothering a sigh, I snapped back firmly. "Oh be quiet, it time for a battle, use Magical Leaf."

With a twirl of her flower, Floe shook her head in defiance. ~No, I don't wanna.~ She back lashed, shooting out a Dazzling Gleam instead.

I sighed deeply, simply allowing Floe to pull her own against the Stufful - she wouldn't listen to me anyway. We'd definitely need to work on that before the next trial, if I even managed to pass this one, which part of me severely doubted I'd be able to do. Floe was very hot headed and tended not to look at the larger picture, like how exhausted she was becoming due to the way she bounced about.

The Stufful fell the the ground with a heavy thud, bringing my attention back to the battle at hand. I fed the Stufful an Oran Berry before removing the charm he also carried around his next, reading the next hint - although it wasn't much of one, it pretty much just told me to put both the charms in the spaces provided at the back of the Cavern to pass.

As we arrived at the back Carven, all eeriness of the area behind us seemed to lift in this room. Although the large cave, stretching all the way to the roof held a daunting presence, the ground shook as a shadows came into view as I almost lost my balance. A Bewear, larger then anything I had ever seen before came into the light, letting out an "Oooooo" that caused the very walls to shake.

I gritted my teeth as the totem aura surrounded Bewear, taking a few nervous steps back. Floe couldn't do this... Not alone. Tightening my grip on my lone Pokéball before sighing and releasing it, leaving it in place. Instead, I took the trial charm from my bag and held it out to the boss of a Pokémon - a symbol of defeat but I couldn't do it to Floe, it wasn't fair on her, even if she thought she could.

The Bewear's Totem Aura lifted as he recognised the battle to be over. He waddled over to me, each step making the ground shake due to his enormous size. He lightly pat my head, letting out a cheerful cry. ~Perhaps next time Young Voice.~ He hummed before making his way back to his cave.

Walking the walk of shame back though the caverns, I took the shortest way through, hopping over a few small ledges before leaving the cave. My cousin sat under a tree, reading a book. Above his head his Skalmory sat preening his metallic feathers, he cawed in greeting. Chrome sat up straighter as I approached, smiling his greeting.

"So?" My cousin inquired.

With a sigh, I shook my head. "No success. I kinda realised that I have one Pokémon that hardly listens to me as it is sooooo... I forfeited the match."

Chrome smiled, patting my head as messing up my black hair. "All good, do some training, catch a new Pokémon and then we'll come back." He encouraged as Ingot landed beside his trainer, poking around in search of treats. The older Skalmory yanking at his shirt boredly.

"Yeah, that's the plan." I smiled back, pulling a Poké-treat out of my belt pocket and feeding it to the large avian Pokémon. "Besides, now I can go back in ready for anything."

~*~*~*🌸*~*~*~
Word count: 2116

Well... I've had a rough couple of months... battling migraines, back pain, depression and anxiety and I currently have some sort of eye infection which is not fun at all... Work has been super hard for me, I'm expected to do so much but they won't give me the hours I need to do it... I'm considering quitting after the Christmas season - I didn't feel like I can leave now as other then the Manager, I'm the only fully trained up floor leader and out of the other two in training - it's really not got - one yells at customers and thinks she's just above everyone else - a quality I cannot stand and the other just started,.. anywayy I'm going to sleep because my eye is really sore...

Sorry again for the long wait, I can't promise the next chapter being any quicker.