Coronet: A Nuzlocke
Chapter Three: Catch of the Day
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon or the Nuzlocke Challenge.
One reason I loved the country was the seamless transition from humble town to untamed wilderness. In towns such as Sandgem, which are virtually part of the landscape already, it's possible to take a few steps, turn a corner, and enter a completely different biome.
It was through one of these transitions that Dawn and I passed through now. One moment – the slightly salty scent of a seaside village; the next – the aroma of fresh dirt and the distinct roughness of tall grass against my legs.
This was Route 202. Pokémon territory.
"Lucas," Dawn began from beside me, "You do know how a Poké Ball works right?"
"No, I have no idea," I replied truthfully. Honesty felt like a good idea here.
"What level of physics did you take in high school?"
"I...uh...didn't take physics. I never did that great academic-wise." Damn honesty, making me admit that I suck at school to someone who obviously values education.
Dawn sighed. "I should've expected. I'm not even going to try to explain the finer points of particle expansion, extrasensory radiation, and pressure contraction, then; just know that pressing the button will expand the Ball or compress it, depending on its current state. Contact with any sort of hard surface will cause the Ball to open. Think you can remember that? Or do you need to write it down?" The last sentence was delivered with thinly-veiled animosity – I ignored it. As was prudent, probably.
"Button changes size, smack it to open. Easy enough, I guess."
Dawn stopped abruptly. "Let's do it here."
"Do what, exactly?"
She looked at me the way a frustrated honors student looks at the regular kid they were assigned to help. "I'm going to catch a Pokémon, and you're going to watch me. Then it'll be your turn. I don't expect you to get it on your first try, but hopefully you'll be able to surprise me."
I nodded. "Sounds good."
"Good. Here we go. Come on out, Ashik!"
In a split second, Dawn grabbed a Poké Ball from her belt, expanded it, and flicked it to the ground. A fiery monkey appeared, one I didn't recognize. Remembering Rowan's instructions, I fumbled for my (not mine, his) Pokédex. I held the device up to the monkey, and watched as a short paragraph appeared on the screen.
Monferno (moukazaru). The Playful Pokémon. The evolved form of Chimchar, it skillfully controls the intensity of the fire on its tail to keep its foes at an ideal distance.Approximately Level 23.
"Monferno," I said. "Looks dangerous."
Dawn nodded. "Ashik is my oldest and closest partner. He was my starter, when I first began my journey." The Pokémon in question took a step forward, growling softly at me. "Back, Ashik. Lucas is here on the Professor's request."
Ashik looked up at me with a strange mix of respect and mistrust in its eyes. I wasn't sure how to respond, instead fingering Soren's Poké Ball softly in its resting place in my pocket.
"Okay, Ashik. We're going to take it nice and easy today; I just need to catch a low-level Pokémon. Think you can find one?"
The Monferno backed into the tall grass and was swallowed up, all three feet of him.
"It won't be long now," said Dawn.
She was right – we promptly heard Ashik's battle cry a short ways out from us. We ran to the source, pushing away the encumbering foliage.
"Monferno, use Ember!" Dawn could see her Pokémon before I could, and wasted no time in commanding it like a seasoned battler.
I recoiled a bit upon seeing the Pokémon Ashik was in combat with. It was a Bidoof, the same species that tried to attack me on Route 201.
The stout weasel was already singed in several places, and battered along its snout where Ashik had used Scratch. I made to turn away, but Dawn tugged on my sleeve.
"Watch: I weaken the wild Pokémon first, then throw a Poké Ball just before it faints. That way it can't find back against the compression of its elementary particles because – oh, never mind, just take my word for it. One more time, Ashik!"
The Bidoof now shrunk away, fearing for its life. My eyes were glued to the scene, as if it were a terrible accident on the news.
"Alright, Ashik, that's enough!"
The Monferno obeyed Dawn and ceased its attack, long enough for a red-and-white Ball to come sailing over its head. The capture device bounced once...twice...and click! The Pokémon was caught.
Dawn looked over to me, her face flushed and her breath heavy with excitement. "And that's how you do it. Thanks, Ashik. Return." The two Poké Balls, one old, one new, were hooked onto her belt with the others.
"I still don't know if I like this whole idea," I said.
"Shut up and catch a Pokémon, Lucas."
"Yes ma'am."
Soren and I wandered about Route 202 while Dawn watched from afar – ostensibly to make sure we didn't hurt ourselves. Which was a very real possibility, in my opinion.
I expected a Bidoof to come jumping out of the brush at any second for an ambush, but there were disconcertingly no Pokémon to be seen. The air was still, the grass was silent.
Soren chirped anxiously. He was feeling it too. I scratched his head softly, hopefully reassuringly, and whispered, "We'll find one yet, boy. Just a moment now."
Almost on cue, a streak of brown appeared ahead of us, then disappeared just as quickly. "A Bidoof!" I exclaimed. Together, Soren and I picked up our pace. This time, we would get the better of it.
A vicious screech overhead shattered our concentration. Startled, I crouched to the ground and covered my head, while Soren hid himself as close to me as possible.
The next sound was worse, though. The Bidoof screamed. I could feel the fear in my bones, the fear that prey experience when they know they are being hunted.
My concern for the poor Pokémon got the better of my own cowardliness, and Soren and I dashed to the source of the noise.
We were too late.
The second Pokémon corpse I had seen today was currently being feasted on by a huge, black-feathered bird. It pecked at the body with such ferocity that blood and organs splattered on the nearby grass. Bile rose in my throat and I had to turn away, else I was sure to vomit.
Soren, though, was not as small-stomached. He, gutsy as ever, chirped a challenge at the newcomer, ready to avenge the death of the Bidoof that was now dinner.
The bird looked up from its meal and focused its razor-sharp eyes on the Piplup. It angrily flapped its wings and lifted its body a good ten feet into the air, ready to strike. In the air, it looked smaller – it must have been no more than half a meter tall.
I swallowed, even though my throat was dry. There was no getting out of this, not without a fight. While the Pokémon tried to intimidate each other with their battle cries, I took out my Pokédex and gave the bird a quick scan.
Starly (mukkuru). The Starling Pokémon. Because they are weak individually, they form groups. However, they bicker if the group grows too big. Approximately Level 8.
I didn't see a flock in sight; perhaps this Starly had been forced out of its family? It didn't seem at all similar to the calm, docile birds that sometimes visited the Twinleaf farm. It was certainly bloodthirstier. Certainly scarier, too.
A voice next to me stole my attention away from the device. "You look worried," Dawn observed quietly.
My throat was too dry to speak, so I just nodded.
"I think you underestimate your Pokémon. You may be scared, but the Starly isn't attacking you, is it? Soren can handle this fight, but it needs you to command it. So hurry up and get it together, Lucas."
I took a deep breath. I didn't want to hurt the Starly, but if it meant protecting Soren, then I would do what I had to.
"Growl, Soren!"
The Starly was taken aback by Soren's sudden show of force, and didn't put all its strength into the dive-bomb that could have been deadly. The Piplup shrugged off the Tackle like it was nothing, and Scratched the bird while it was disoriented.
"Keep going, Soren! Push the advantage! Don't let it get up in the air again!"
The bird tried, but Soren obeyed and kept up the Scratch attack streak. The Starly was visibly hurt now, and started to bleed from the Piplup's sharp claws.
I turned to Dawn, who was watching the battle with a straight face. "Is that enough?"
"A little more. You're doing well."
Taking her word for it, I reached into my bag and took out a Poké Ball, pressing the button to enlarge the device. I looked up just in time to see Soren get hit with an especially powerful attack from the Starly – though his defenses were strong, the hit made him stumble over in pain.
"That was a good Quick Attack for a Starly of this level," Dawn commented.
Great, Dawn. Thanks. Good to know that my Pokémon is in danger.
"One more hit, Soren! You can do it!"
And one more hit was all it took. A halfhearted Scratch from an injured Piplup was enough to make the Starly cry out in pain. Knowing the time was right, I threw the Poké Ball as hard as I could at the ground in front of the bird and watched as its tangible body was converted into a stream of red particles, and, faster than the eye could see, sucked into the Ball.
One...two...click!
I could finally breathe. The vicious Starly was mine, and Soren was safe.
The Piplup waddled over to me and cooed, rubbing its dirty, bloody body up against my leg. "You okay, buddy?" I whispered. I rubbed his head and conveyed my thanks. "You did great out there; I'm so glad you're alright. Return."
And Dawn and I were once again alone.