"Fletchling...?" Isobel walks over to her Pokémon and it's sprawled out, unconscious, somewhat stiff. She picks Fletchling up and pets it. "You did your best," she murmurs, hoping that it can hear her even in this state. It stirs slightly and relaxes and Isobel assumes that it heard. She withdraws it into its Poké ball.

"That was a good battle, but, is that your only Pokémon?" Viola asks, praising and then withdrawing Surskit. Isobel slowly gives a nod, then lowers her head and shakes it. "No, it's not my only Pokémon, but..."

"But what?" Viola asks, moving closer. "Have you got other Pokémon? Was that a snapshot of what's to come?"

Isobel shakes her head again. "No, I don't...not at the moment." She swallows back her misery and raises her head towards the gym leader.

"Well, I think that battle was just fantastic while it lasted. You did very well, but you got a bit distracted at the beginning, which gave you a disadvantage. I can't help but wonder what was going through your mind right then?" Viola's voice rose to a questioning tone and Isobel assumes that she is asking what went on at the moment her challenger allowed her Pokémon to get hit.

"I just...reacted slowly is all. I'm still new to battles." Isobel replies. Viola takes that as a viable answer and gives her a smile. "Well, I think you're quite good at them from this angle! I'd say you just need more Pokémon and more training, so there's no need to get a little discouraged. Take it from a top-class photographer. Once you feel confident in your partners, come back and challenge me again."

Isobel waves as she leaves the gym. With that information in mind, she heals her Pokémon. If she was the same person who stepped into Santalune forest, losing would have smashed her confidence into pieces and pushed her back home. But she can't afford to go home, not now that she has something to fight for. In some ways, losing her Chespin was a good thing, but from Isobel's perspective, it's simply devastating.

Once Fletchling was healed by the kind Nurse Joy, Isobel steps out of the Pokémon Center. An elderly man trudges along and then Isobel calls to him.

"Excuse me!"

He ignores her.

"Excuse me, sir! Sir?" Isobel waves.

The man turns his head and gazes at her, looking a bit startled that someone is trying to talk to him. "Oh, are you talking to me? I'm sorry, my hearing isn't quite what it used to be."

"Um, it's okay, no need to apologize. I was just wondering, is there a place to catch Pokémon around here, other than Santalune forest?" Isobel asks, being as polite as she possibly could.

"Yes, there is Route 22, just to the right of the Poké Mart." The man turns and points towards the blue-roofed building. Beyond it is a dirt road surrounded by tall grass. Then the man stops and thinks. "And I suppose there is Route 4 north, though some of the Gardeners that tend the flowers and hedges there can get a bit annoyed when people search in the flowers. I found some good Pokémon there myself, though they are mostly in the flowers."

"Thank you." Isobel says and she heads past many old buildings and cafés until she spots the path to Route 4. She heads towards it; there are flowers as far as the eye can see of all different colours. Flashy red flowers, stunning yellow flowers, exquisite blue flowers and divine white flowers. The hedges are so cleverly crafted to many shapes of different Pokémon, and expertly trimmed so that they even have tiny details that a normal person could miss on a Pokémon. They are made into mazes as well and are very symmetrical.

There are no gardeners around so Isobel slips into the red flowers to find a new Pokémon. There's a flash of pink but she isn't able to catch a proper glimpse of the creature that ran past. As she pushes the flowers out of the way she hears a very gentle cry and then something strikes her in the stomach and she falls over, groaning and grabbing her stomach. She looks around quickly, trying to find the source of the attack. She spots a face in front of her, a tiny, frail-looking creature clinging on to a flower. It is pale and looks sweet, and Isobel recognizes it as a Flabébé, a Fairy-type Pokémon. Isobel knows quite a bit about it since she used it once or twice in her battle simulators. The battle simulator's producers were very greedy, because to get all of the Pokémon in the simulator you needed to buy expansion packs with Pokédollars, such as the Fairy expansion pack, which included Flabébé and many other Fairy-type Pokémon, and lessons on their strengths and weaknesses.

Isobel very carefully lifts herself off the ground but Flabébé is watching her with a curious expression. She slowly takes Fletchling's Poké ball from her bag and releases it. "Fletchling," she whispers, "use Quick Attack on that Flabébé, and make sure you let up so it doesn't faint."

Fletchling lashes out with its attack, striking the enemy but holding back as it was told. Flabébé doesn't attempt to avoid the attack – not like it had much time to react to the swiftness of the blow – and it fell over while clinging to its crimson flower tightly. Then suddenly it moves and whips up a gust of wind and a light pink dust along with it that blows Fletchling back a fair distance. Though Isobel isn't fazed by the wind, a vine comes from Flabébé's flower and hits her in the stomach again. Despite how fragile and graceful the flower Pokémon looks, it packs a punch.

"Ow..." Isobel grumbles, holding her stomach again. "You're a fighter, huh?"

She withdraws Fletchling and takes out an empty Poké ball. She has three of them left. She throws it but Flabébé swiftly floats out of aim and it misses. Taking another, Isobel throws it and this time it manages to capture it. Rather than rocking three times, the ball instantly clicks, which surprises Isobel – she didn't know that could happen, but it doesn't matter that much, because she has a Flabébé, and it brings a smile to her face. She picks up the Poké ball and makes her way out of the flowers. As she does so, she sees a gardener who is glaring at her.

"Ya messing up the flowers!" he snapped angrily.

"Huh? I didn-" Isobel gazes at the patch of flowers she was in just moments ago and a few of them were flattened. "Oh, I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

But the gardener doesn't look like he is going to accept that apology. He takes out a Poké ball and sends out a Corphish that snaps its pincers. Isobel realizes this is a good way to test out her Flabébé so she takes out a Poké ball of her own and her own Pokémon comes out.

"Okay, kid, here's the deal. You win and I let you go, no hassle. If I win, you pay me fer the flowers. Fair enough?" The gardener narrows his eyes.

"Okay." Isobel replies hastily. Are all of the gardeners like this? She wonders.

"Flabébé, are you ready? Use Fairy Wind."

Flabébé lowers its flower and a blast of pink wind shoots towards Corphish, blowing it back.

"Use Vice Grip!" The gardener shouts, but Corphish is unable to get close enough to use the attack on Flabébé. Then it digs in its claws in the ground and starts to make its way towards its foe, fighting off the attack.

"Vine Whip, let's go!" Isobel shouts when Corphish is close. Vines extend from Flabébé's flower. Corphish is ordered to use Vice Grip again. The vines clash with the pincers of the ruffian and they fight as though they are using swords, with Corphish's pincers trying to slash the vines off. It succeeds and Flabébé is struck. It falls over, barely holding on to its flower as it does so.

"Flabébé, don't faint. Use Tackle."

Flabébé smacks into Corphish but it doesn't appear to faze it. Before Corphise can counter it with an attack of its own, Flabébé drifts away from it and uses Vine Whip.

Without its trainer's order.

Corphish falls over and tries to scurry back up. Then another Vine Whip hits it in the stomach and it's out for the count. The gardener scowls at it to get up then sighs and withdraws it. Then he glares. "You're still paying!" He snaps angrily.

"I wouldn't break our deal if I were you, I mean, Flabébé will be more than glad to teach you a lesson if you do." Isobel says, though she is nervous hearing his words. The gardener, having no Pokémon left to fight, huffs and turns away, not wanting to risk it. Then Isobel turns to her new Pokémon and raises a brow. "You dodged that Corphish's attack and used Vine Whip and I didn't even tell you to?" She asks.

Flabébé cowers behind the flower, but then Isobel leans down and suddenly pats its head gently, since it looks so delicate. "Don't worry, I think that was impressive. You did really well, good job! Just don't start taking control of the battles we do together, or I won't really be a Pokémon trainer, just someone who keeps you around." Isobel laughs softly. Flabébé gazes at her and it looks very happy with itself, and eagerly nods. Isobel then sends out Fletchling.

"Fletchling, meet Flabébé, your new friend."

Fletchling chirps and hops over to the little creature on the flower and Flabébé reaches out with one of its stubby hands, giving the bird a small tap on the head. Remembering Viola's words, Isobel decides she should do further training with Fletchling and Flabébé.

Fletchling needs less training but it didn't succeed in that battle against Surskit so Isobel decides to train it in agility to improve its speed. As for Flabébé, Isobel isn't quite sure how she should train that one, but she isn't going to let it go untutored – she gets it to battle many Pokémon around the area and it's successful. Isobel learned that due to slowness, Flabébé is better off dealing as much damage as possible rather than dodging. Well, until she invents a strategy. Flabébé can move itself quicker than it usually can by using Fairy Wind consecutively, so it's not as much of a problem anymore. Isobel practices the "special Quick Attack" with Fletchling and teaches Flabébé to master Fairy Wind. Every now and again, a gardener appears but they don't seem to be that bothered. One or two challenge Isobel to a battle, where their Corphish is taken out unusually quickly. There is also a very interesting variety of Pokémon around. Ralts, Skitty, Budew and other things.

After training, Isobel heads back to the city where she takes in the scent of coffee, and follows it to a little café with virtually no people in it (there is an odd-looking man with blond hair and a ponytail sitting at one of the tables and he appears to be staring off into space), with her two Pokémon following closely behind. She decides to get herself a chicken mayo sandwich and then asks if they sell food for Pokémon. According to the woman behind the counter, Pokémon are fine with eating the same food as humans (so that's a "no") most of the time. Isobel gets Fletchling a piece of bread and Flabébé some berries and they eat them quickly and hungrily. Both of them stare at Isobel's sandwich so longingly after they finish their own food so she can't do anything else but pull of bits of bread to feed them more. Then Isobel decides to withdraw her Flabébé and Fletchling, have a coffee and some time to think.

After a few minutes later, the man who appears to be alone stands up and walks over to Isobel. He greets her with a "Hello". Isobel doesn't greet him back in a friendly manner but he doesn't mind. The man waits for her to say something, but she doesn't have anything to say. Then he speaks again. "I know you have lost something."

Isobel glances at him.

"You have got a "lost look" in your eye." He continues.

Isobel says nothing.

"What have you lost?" The man presses. "It's unbearable, you know."

"What do you mean?" Isobel asks, gazing down at the swirling brown liquid in her cup.

"Seeing another person like this...it just...it hurts me. I usually see trainers so joyful, but you don't look happy at all."

Isobel lifts her head up and returns his gaze with a slightly cold and sullen one of her own. "I lost my Chespin. It was stolen from me by a man with a scarf, a suit and sunglasses. Have you seen him?"

The man pauses for a moment and holds his chin, thinking. Then he shook his head gently. "I have not seen such an individual...I'm sorry...I don't think I can do anything."

Isobel lowers her gaze again, expecting the man to leave, but instead from the corner of her eye she sees him put something on the table. "Maybe this could help take a bit of the sadness away from your eyes?"

Isobel looks at the "something". It's an odd device – a glove of some sort – covered in metal plates. Symbols and buttons decorate the bottom of it, all of which glow a bright blue. She turns at the man and questions him with a look. "What's this?" she asks, an inquisitive look replacing the forlorn one. It looks like something that belongs to the future or something from outer space. It's a piece of technology, that's for sure, but she doesn't know what it is, or what it does.

"I think it's very good for catching Pokémon and other things, like learning. You will have to try it some time. Ciao, and good luck finding your Chespin." The man smiles and waves, turning to leave.

"Wait, what's your name?" Isobel asks.

"Oh, uh...Peter."

And that's that.

Isobel stares after him as he leaves, somewhat dumbfounded, then she gets up and leaves her coffee. She picks up the glove (it's heavy) and curious, she puts it on her hand. There's a dark screen on the palm that she didn't realize before, and she touches it, just to feel it, but then it lights up and she nearly jumps. An icon of a Pikachu sits in the middle of the flashy screen, smiling at her. Unsure of what she's supposed to do, Isobel taps at the screen repeatedly but the Pikachu just keeps smiling and staring. Then, big bold words appear on the screen, just above the Pokémon's head: "All clear!" And the device speaks these words as well with a monotone male voice.

Isobel stares quizzically. This device must be good for detecting Pokémon or something. But it's hefty and doesn't feel comfortable on her hand, so she puts it in her bag and leaves the building, heading towards the gym.

When she enters, she sees Viola at the end of the room of trees, stretching and then turning to greet her once again. Isobel takes a deep breath and approaches her. "I want to battle right away." She says almost forcefully, a strategy beginning to form in her mind. Viola crosses her arms over her chest.

"Wow, you want to jump to a fight so quickly? I hope you kept my advice in mind." she says. Isobel nods, "I certainly did."

Then she takes out her first Poké ball, releasing Flabébé onto the battlefield. It would be risky to use Fletchling as Surskit knows Ice Beam. A grin breaks out on Viola's face and she sends out Surskit as predicted. She makes the first move. "Alright then, Surskit, use Bubble."

The pond skater Pokémon shoots large, powerful bubbles at Flabébé.

"Use Fairy Wind to dodge!" Isobel shouts. Flabébé creates a force below itself to leap into the air, floating out of harm's way. As the bubbles pass underneath it, Isobel orders Flabébé to use Vine Whip. Flabébé moves towards Surskit and the vines lash at it, but the enemy is fast and dodges without a sweat. Then a Quick Attack from Surskit strikes Flabébé and knocks it over.

Isobel feels herself getting angry and frustrated at this, but decides it'd be best to try and keep her cool, or else she will make rash decisions and she definitely will lose because of that.

"Alright, Flabébé. Use Fairy Wind, okay? You can do this. Think of the training, the strategies we used." Isobel calls. Flabébé turns its head slightly and gives a nod, then the blustery force blows Surskit up into the air. It watches as its foe squirms to try and find the ground; it looks like it is in a bad position. Flabébé floats upwards and uses vines that grab Surskit, then turns and throws it. The Bug-type hits a tree and scurries back up. It's still up albeit weak.

"Hm..." Viola murmurs. "Use Ice Beam!"

Surskit shoots a light beam towards Flabébé. Isobel orders it to move out of the way and as it does so, the tree behind it is frozen solid. That attack sure doesn't look friendly, so Isobel makes a note not to let it hit any of her Pokémon.

"Flabébé, use Fairy Wind." Isobel says. By using this force, Flabébé blasts Surskit against the tree and then drifts closer. "Vine Whip."

"Ice Beam!" Viola calls. The beam launches at Flabébé and though she had told herself just moments ago that she shouldn't let Ice Beam hit, it does since the flower Pokémon has gotten so close. That attack by itself, a certain Isobel thought, wouldn't have been able to knock Flabébé out. But it doesn't matter, and the reason why is because Flabébé is sitting there confined to a block of ice. Frozen solid.

"Flabébé?" Isobel calls. She hurriedly withdraws it and sighs as her temper nearly controls her, but she manages to keep a clear head for just a little longer.

Then she takes out her second Pokémon, murmuring to it, "Let's do this as quickly as possible". Fletchling chirps in agreement and then takes to the air.

"Now, Fletchling, use your special Quick Attack, right now."

Fletchling launches itself forwards and a very weak Surskit prepares itself to use Ice Beam as Viola orders it do to so. Isobel closes her eyes.

I can't believe I let this happen, she thought. I can't believe I just lost my two Pokémon to Ice Beam...

Then she opens her eyes as Viola doesn't announce any winner at all. Surskit lays there, knocked out clean. Thanks to Fletchling's speed, it took out Surskit before it could even use Ice Beam. Isobel laughs out of relief and Viola withdraws her Pokémon.

"I think that one went well, don't you think?" She asks. "Your Flabébé getting frozen was just bad luck, but Fletchling astonished me! Well, we're not done yet, so no time to celebrate. It's time this battle becomes serious. Let's go, Vivillon!"

Viola sends out her second Pokémon; Vivillon. Isobel swallows as a deeper sense of dread than last time overcomes her then she shrugs it off. If Fletchling defeats Vivillon as swiftly as possible, then...

We'll have to see. Isobel feels nervous, but she remembers that last time, her nervousness contributed to her defeat. It had to. She just didn't fight logically back then. So she breathes slowly then gives Fletchling its first order. "Use Agility, then Peck."

Fletchling learned Agility earlier during its training. It's very useful for outpacing enemies. Fletchling speeds towards Vivillon, moving incredibly fast. Vivillon hasn't got much time to react and even though Viola shouts it an order it is struck by the super-effective Peck attack before it can do anything. It is thrown back quite violently but recovers itself in mid-air, straightening itself out.

"Vivillon, use Energy Ball!" Viola calls. Vivillon responds by creating a sphere of green light, then the sphere grows in size. Then, it throws the sphere towards Fletchling. It hits and Fletchling hits the ground. It gets up on to its feet, looking a bit woozy. Isobel is tempted to go over to Fletchling and send it words of encouragement, but she decides to shout them instead: "Come on, get up! We can do this, you've gotten so far! You're the bird, it's the bug, it's your prey, so you will not lose to it!"

Fletchling feels these words strengthening it and it flaps its wings, becoming a master of the skies for just a moment more as it soars after Vivillon. Viola points. "We're not prey to any kind of bird. Solar Beam!"

"That sounds deadly," Isobel murmurs, "okay, Fletchling. Dodge this attack. Don't let it hit you at any cost. I believe you can do this. I know you can."

Fletchling swoops through the air and Vivillon forms a green ball of energy, which shoots out into a large beam that expands in mass. The attack is so bright that Isobel has to close her eyes. When she opens them again, Fletchling looks relatively unharmed. Any other Fletchling would have probably gone down now; that training has paid off.

"Right. Quick Attack, then use Peck!"

"Dodge it, Vivillon! We're not going to lose!"

Vivillon evades the Quick Attack swiftly but then Fletchling lunges and hits its second attack, Peck. The butterfly flutters down to the ground, and its attempts to remain airborne fail. Viola orders it to get up from the ground but it stays there for a while and suddenly topples over onto its stomach. For a moment there is silence, and Isobel is not sure what's going on. Then Viola withdraws her Pokémon and gives a half-smile. "Vivillon fainted. I've got no more Pokémon left to fight...so, I guess that leaves you the winner. Very impressive."

Isobel grins. "I really did win?" She asks. The feeling of pride swells up inside, like a balloon of happiness. This feeling, the feeling of feeling victorious, the feeling of accomplishment over a challenge, it is certainly going to be addicting for Isobel in the future.

"Yes. I had another card up my sleeve that was going to guarantee my victory, but I didn't have much of a chance to pull it out. I'm sure I could have won, but the outcome of a battle can't be controlled all the time; your Fletchling is a lot stronger than it used to be. And that Agility! Wow." Viola laughs softly. Then she reaches into her pocket and takes out something shiny.

"What's that?" Isobel asks as her bird Pokémon flutters on to her shoulder. She pets it lightly and approaches Viola hesitantly.

"This, I believe, is your first gym badge. Do you know what they are?" Viola tilts her head questioningly.

Isobel gives a nod. "Yes, I think. They're a sign of your victory over a gym leader, right?"

"Indeed they are, and if you collect all of them, you can take on five of the strongest trainers in the region: the Elite Four, and then, finally, the Champion of Kalos!"

Isobel smiles slightly. "Hmm? That sounds interesting."

Viola passes her the badge. She then reaches out a hand and Isobel gazes at it, seemingly confused, then she realizes what she's trying to do. She takes Viola's hand with her own and they shake and Viola wishes the new victor the best of luck as she leaves.

Isobel heals her Pokémon at the center quickly, before complimenting them on how well they did. Flabébé looks a bit disorientated and even angry that it got frozen in that battle, then it tries to go back to the gym to take on Viola again, but Isobel manages to keep it back. "We've already won," she reminds it. Flabébé nods, as disappointed as it looks. Fletchling is proud of itself; it struts back and forth and shows off to nearby Pokémon, much to Isobel's amusement. As a treat for working so hard, she buys the two a lot of food. Fletchling gets a lot of raisin bread, and Flabébé gets lots of sweet berries. Afterwards, they leave Santalune City and past the gardens to their next destination: Lumiose City.