Trainers, which Pokemon is Servine at a disadvantage at?
a) Watchog
b) Liepard
c) Trubbish
Across Route 4, Nate and Rosa found themselves in Nimbasa City. While Castelia City offered the illusion of grandness by being filled with skyscrapers and small alleys, Nimbasa was huge on the more practical scale. There were large streets, and buildings were lain along in a haphazard formation. The Nimbasa Amusement Park was separate from the rest of the city, offering an illusion that the city was organised. A very weak one, but still an illusion.
"Where do you think the Gym is?" Nate asked. Rosa looked around the city. The more laid-back town was doing wonders for Rosa.
"That one," she said, pointing at a large building placed smack-dab in the centre of this part of Nimbasa. Considering the other parts were more recreational, her choice made sense.
"Yo, yo, yo! He-yo!" a voice called out. Nate and Rosa investigated. Four people were standing in front of the building. The people on the building's steps wore attire befitting a train conductor, one in white, and the other in black. The two people they faced were a boy and a girl. The boy wore a hat and a vest in very cyber-style colours, while the girl was dressed in cute, modest, white attire.
"Yancy! Curtis! Here for another challenge?" one of the conductors asked.
"I've been on a trip to a faraway region called Osali, and got introduced to a rather fun, though hectic, battle. They took Triple Battles a step further. Quadruple Battle. Wanna try?" the boy asked.
"Quadruple Battle? Next you'll be telling me there a Quintuple Battles in some region with a weird name like Kalos, or something… All right, I'm in," the black conductor stated.
"Count me in too, bro. You game, Yancy?" the white one added.
"…I will try," the girl, Yancy, said. She turned away, blushing slightly, and saw Nate and Rosa looking between the four combatants.
"Interesting challenge, Yancy. Glad you thought of it. Though, keep in mind, we have 7 wins to your 2. Want to take the risk?" the black conductor said.
"Ingo! Shame on you! Yancy, you are fine. You two, come have a six-trainer duel!" the white conductor said. The six trainers looked between each other. The conductors snapped their fingers, and six Poké Balls appeared at their sides. Curtis and Yancy flicked a switch on their clothes, and their Battle Rings opened up to reveal five Poké Balls total. Rosa took pity on Yancy's missing slot, and passed her one of her own Pokémon.
Nate, Rosa, Yancy and Curtis are challenged by Subway Boss Ingo and Subway Boss Emmet!
Subway Boss Ingo sent out Gurdurr and Tynamo!
Subway Boss Emmet sent out Boldore and Dwebble!
Reporter Curtis sent out Shellos!
Idol Yancy sent out Flaaffy!
Go! Dewott!
Go! Pignite!
Eight Pokémon stood, four to a side. Pignite opened with an Arm Thrust into Boldore, leaving Dewott to use a Razor Shell on the Dwebble. Curtis used his Shellos with confidence, sending a Water Pulse at Tynamo. Yancy was left to use Flaaffy's Thundershock on Gurdurr. Gurdurr swung with his girder, slamming Flaaffy to one side, also taking down Tynamo.
"You idiot, Ingo!" Emmet shouted.
"My bad…" Ingo sighed.
Subway Boss Ingo sent out Trubbish!
Subway Boss Emmet sent out Klink and Litwick!
Idol Yancy sent out Kirlia!
Kirlia opened with a bone to pick. She lifted Gurdurr off his feet, and threw him well clear of remaining allies. Shellos and Dewott teamed up, pairing a Water Pulse to send at Litwick. Litwick gave an explosive pulse of darkness, interrupting the Water types, and shutting them down. Pignite gave a short explosive snort, and Flame Charged the Klink. Trubbish began stockpiling, creating a lot of trash around him.
Subway Boss Ingo sent out Drilbur!
Subway Boss Emmet sent out Joltik!
Reporter Curtis sent out Snorlax!
Go! Petilil!
Kirlia took note of the Trubbish's stockpile, and launched a beam of psychic energy. Trubbish easily sidestepped the blast, and Kirlia's blow missed. Litwick sent a Shadow Ball into Kirlia's back. Petilil and Drilbur jumped into each other, in a big ball of sand and petals. Pignite tried to flame the Joltik, but wound up with a face full of electricity, stunning him long enough for Snorlax to entirely flatten both of the opponents into pancakes.
Subway Boss Emmet sent out Archen!
Idol Yancy sent out Mawile!
Go! Vaporeon!
Vaporeon took stock of the situation. He began humming, before swamping the arena in a tidal wave large enough to be a threat to the entirety of the city, were it not in the middle of a battle. As it was, it dealt with most of the Pokémon on the field. Archen flew away from the blast, however, and picked off the resistant Petilil.
"Nate!" Rosa cried out.
"Probably a bad idea…" Nate began to ponder, looking where the water had come from.
Subway Boss Ingo sent out Durant and Axew!
Reporter Curtis sent out Donphan!
Go! Diandra!
Diandra leaped into Rosa's arms at the first opportunity, keeping one eye on the battlefield. It was shuddering in anticipation. Donphan rolled in the direction of Archen, and began a game of cat and mouse. The Durant ran up to Vaporeon, and ran inside his ear. Vaporeon giggled, allowing Axew an opportunity to Dragon Claw the Vaporeon.
Go! Braviary!
Braviary stood in front of Durant, and pecked at it. Durant looked confused, before Braviary took it, and swallowed it whole. It was flattened by Donphan and Archen's roll soon after, with Donphan falling into the risen tide of water. With Braviary out of commission, Nate was able to go over to this water source. Diandra, the only Pokémon between Nate, Rosa, Yancy and Curtis left, leaped out of Rosa's arms.
What? Diandra is evolving!
Time stood still, although Diandra ran a crescent shape around Axew. Her eyes were closed, as her chalk-white fur turned green. Her fluffy tail turned into a forked one, and her small ears became longer, seemingly attuned to the environment. A spoon symbol appeared on her forehead, as the red jewel began to form. A golden circlet sprouted from the jewel.
Congratulations! Diandra evolved into Espeon!
I know what I must do. By the will of all that purrs, I shall do what my brother has done for me. Protect my friends. I am an Espeon, one of the most powerful of the Eeveelutions, no matter my colour. I am not a princess to be coddled purely because of my alternate colour. Psychic Beam… Smash!
Diandra unleashed a powerful Psychic-typed attack, taking down the Axew.
Nate, Rosa, Yancy and Curtis defeated Subway Boss Ingo and Subway Boss Emmet!
"You were right about that, Curtis! Man, I had no idea what was going down in that battle! Why do the Osalites enjoy it so?" Ingo asked.
"If you visited that region, you'd understand," Curtis said, rubbing his temples uncertainly. Ingo and Emmet bowed, and entered the building.
"So who are you guys?" Nate asked. The hole that Vaporeon had made had been fixed, and Nate and Rosa had been escorted into Yancy and Curtis' home.
"I am Christoph, but my friends call me Curtis. This here is Nancy, or Yancy to her friends. We are a winning combination of reporter and idol that make it big wherever we go!" Curtis explained.
"You sound like quite the dream team…" Nate said. Rosa sighed, and nuzzled herself into Nate's shoulder.
"Yes. It still amazes me to think that we met right here, in Nimbasa City. I had dropped my Xtransceiver amongst a mob of fans. Curtis found it a few days later, and we found each other at the Rondez-View Wheel. Curtis asked me if we could ride it. I always wondered what it would be like…" Yancy said, reminiscing about their encounter.
"We fe- became good partners following that meeting. It only took a week for our respective careers to merge. Now we are inseparable even to the most meddlesome of executives," Curtis said. Rosa sighed, looking at Nate.
"So who exactly were Ingo and Emmet?" Nate asked.
"They are the bosses of the Battle Subway. We like to challenge them every time we pass by this city. Thanks to our travels, we are able to see many foreign battling styles, and apply those rules against battling experts," Curtis explained.
"We're not actually the best battlers…" Yancy added, sighing. "And the Quadruple Battle was worse than we anticipated. If it weren't for your Eevee evolving, we would've lost again."
"Oh, Yancy… come here," Curtis said, pulling Yancy into a tight hug. Nate subconsciously did the same to Rosa.
"Anyway, Nate… where did you get your hands on a Shiny Eevee?" Curtis asked.
"Castelia Park," Nate said flatly.
"You mean to say you tamed that beast and made the Shiny Eevee comfortable in human presence? I thought it impossible!" Curtis said in shock.
"Credit goes to Rosa here. Most of our team is thanks to her kindness to the Pokémon we meet," Nate explained. Rosa had fallen asleep by that point. "I, on the other hand, just do the actual fighting. That was Rosa's se-first battle."
"A fighter, eh? Then why not challenge the Nimbasa City Gym? You can find it directly next to the Rondez-View Ferris Wheel," Curtis suggested. Nate nodded, stirred Rosa awake, and turned to leave.
"Nate," Yancy said, standing up. She ran up to Nate, and gave him a quick hug in gratitude. She also went to whisper in Nate's ear.
"Make sure you take Rosa over the Ferris Wheel," Yancy told Nate. The still groggy Rosa nudged Yancy off Nate. As Nate and Rosa left the building, Curtis gave one last word.
"Have you considered a career in acting?" he asked, almost entirely out of left field. "Because it would be nice to have reason to see you guys again…"
Nate turned to Curtis, eyes narrowed.
"…I hope we meet again too. But never talk about the a-word around Rosa. And possibly me."
Nate walked along the Amusement Park, a road filled with happiness, joy, and excitement. Several rides dotted the street, and kids and adults alike ran around in jest. But after Curtis' closing remark, the sight was a lot less happy.
He had no reason to know…
He looked at Rosa, who was holding onto his hand, and laughing at all of the sights. Many of the people who saw her laughed with her.
She's not worried. So why am I so bothered…
Nate looked up. Dead ahead was the Rondez-View Ferris Wheel. Looking down was what was conceivably the Nimbasa City Gym. He looked over at Rosa, who had let go of his hand to go rolling in the dirt with a little boy.
Maybe… but no… she's my ward, nothing more…
Nate looked up at the Ferris Wheel again, and then back at Rosa. He walked over to her, and knelt down. Rosa let go of the child, and he ran off, looking for something else to do.
"Rosa, I was thinking about what Yancy said, and…" Nate started, before faltering. He scratched the back of his head uncomfortably, looking around Rosa.
"The Ferris Wheel? I heard her. Yes, I would love to go with you, handsome," Rosa said, nodding enthusiastically and grabbing Nate's hand. "Did I just say that out loud?" she muttered.
"Nobody can hear you anyway, Rosa. You don't have to whisper," Nate reminded her.
Nate and Rosa sat side by side on the giant Ferris Wheel. As they rose higher, higher and higher still, Nate began to swallow the view that the Wheel offered. Unova reached as far out as the eye could see. Beautiful forests sprawled across the majority of it, dotted perfectly by the cities and landmarks that made up the Unova League. From that high, Nate could see wonders like a star attraction in Driftveil, an airport in Mistralton, and a flying ship flying above Icirrus.
"Nate…" Rosa said, sighing. Nate turned from the view to look at her.
"Tell me about the day we first met," she asked, changing positions to lay down as if in exhaustion.
"Day we first met?" Nate asked. Rosa nodded enthusiastically.
"First try! OK, let me think… I seem to recall men in grey suits, not unlike that of knights, running into the city. They had done something horrible… but I don't quite remember what. I was chasing after them, Hugh by my side, when I tripped over a tree branch. Hugh was running far ahead of me, and I knew I would never catch up to him. But I heard a small shriek from the woods right next to me. I decided to crawl in and see."
Rosa was hooked onto his every word. She knew the tale well, but she never got tired of hearing it.
"It was a little girl, around about the same age as me. What little clothing she had was blazoned with a sinister crest, like a blue P on a black and white background. She was breathing inconsistently, and obviously sickened. She didn't have long to live. I grabbed her, pulled her from the woods, and rushed home to my mother.
"My mother didn't ask questions. No Nurse, retired or otherwise, would refuse aid to a sick being, human or Pokémon, unless it was impossible to provide aid. She acted without hesitation, and the girl was placed on the road to recovery. From that day, she never left my side, despite her condition becoming much greater. But she never spoke a word…" Nate narrated. Rosa swooned. Although the goal Nate had originally pursued had been forgotten in the face of Rosa's plight, Rosa still saw it as the ultimate act of courage on Nate's part. Nate turned to see the beautiful beaches of Undella Town, as well as the walls of Lacunosa Town.
"I fell in love with you after two years. My condition was long since improved well enough to leave your home, but I couldn't bring myself to leave without saying thank you. By the time you would have understood, I couldn't bring myself to leave you, period," Rosa admitted, her hands folded in front of her, her eyes down. Nate pulled her into his arms.
"Thanks, Nate. I know in my heart that you may never know how I feel. But you never fail to let me down despite that," Rosa assured Nate.
After the ride finished, they next proceeded to the Gym. Rosa walked into the Pokémon Gym first, Nate walking behind her. They were almost blown away by the sheer visuals that formed up the modelling studio. From the opposite side of the room, they could see the Gym Leader Elesa.
"Greetings, challengers!" she called out, before gesturing for them to walk to her. Rosa stepped onto the catwalk, and walked with confidence right to face Elesa.
"So… are you ready to face the dazzling power of Electric Pokémon?" Elesa asked.
"I have the courage to face any Pokémon type bar Poison, and the wisdom of what occurs over an entire battlefield. We shall see about how much power I have to fight with."
"…Well said… I think. We shall see who's star shines brightest!" Elesa called out.
Rosa is challenged by Leader Elesa!
Leader Elesa sent out Emolga!
Go! Flaaffy!
Flaaffy Charged up some power. Emolga used a Pursuit, confused as to Flaaffy's plan. Flaaffy shot out a Thundershock will a bit of might behind it, fainting the Emolga.
Leader Elesa sent out Flaaffy!
Elesa's Flaaffy used a Confuse Ray, confusing Rosa's. Rosa's smashed into Elesa's in a pathetic shadow of a Take Down, only to be met by Elesa's Take Down. The two Flaaffys wandered into each other repeatedly, and one of them fainted.
"If you're my Flaaffy, raise your right hand. If you're Elesa's, your left will do," Rosa suggested. The left hand was raised.
Go! Diandra!
Diandra picked up where Flaaffy left off, and used a Psybeam attack.
Leader Elesa sent out Zebstrika!
"Any truly inspiring battle should electrify its audience!"
Zebstrika used a Flame Charge, and became faster.
"I've got to get you out of there, Diandra!" Rosa panicked. The warning had a negative effect, as Zebstrika chose to use Pursuit. The fast blow took Diandra out anyway.
Go! Petilil!
What? Petilil is evolving!
Time stood still, as Petilil spun in circles at the sight of Rosa's Sun Stone. The sunny disposition in Rosa's face remained evident, as Petilil began to ascend, the area beneath her cloaked in petals. A body appeared from within that cloud, one that could put Elesa's modelled outfit to shame.
Congratulations! Your Petilil evolved into Lilligant!
Lilligant gave a smile. Still spinning in circles, the petals remained cloaking her body. Zebstrika charged with a Flame Charge, to be bounced back by Lilligant's petals. Continuing her Petal Dance, she stepped forward, bringing the petal cloud to face the electric zebra. The zebra went down, and Lilligant brought the petals together in a beautiful cloud.
Rosa defeated Leader Elesa!
"Listen, citizens of Nimbasa City! You have just witnessed a girl with some sort of mental difference take down one of the greatest Trainers in Unova! Who here can say she does not deserve not only the Bolt Badge, but the respect of this region?" Elesa called out.
"Not me!" was answered in the crowd around the catwalk.
Rosa received the Bolt Badge from Elesa!
"Thank you, Elesa. Thank you, citizens of Nimbasa. Thank you… Nate…" Rosa said, blushing at the last statement. She walked back down the catwalk, and smiled at Nate, who was nonplussed at her sudden confidence.
"Oh, don't look so shocked. It's thanks to you, you know," Rosa teased, smiling. Nate gave a nervous giggle, before taking her hand and leaving Nimbasa Gym.
Nate and Rosa walked towards Nimbasa City's west exit. In the last of Nimbasa City's areas, a row of big buildings that held varied attractions, Nate and Rosa bumped into Hugh glaring daggers at three Team Plasma Grunts.
"What did we do?" a Grunt asked.
"Oh, I doubt that you in particular did any dirty work that I'm annoyed with. But anyone who bears the Plasma emblem is my foe. I… am about… to unleash… MY RAGE!" Hugh roared. His red aura circled him again. Nate and Rosa stepped either side of him, and lifted up a Poké Ball apiece.
Nate, Rosa, and Hugh are challenged by Team Plasma Grunt, Team Plasma Grunt and Team Plasma Grunt!
Team Plasma Grunt sent out Trubbish!
Team Plasma Grunt sent out Liepard!
Team Plasma Grunt sent out Watchog!
PKMN Trainer Hugh sent out Servine!
Go! Pignite!
Go! Dewott!
Servine stepped forward, a red aura surrounding it. Hugh's rage had infected it.
"Pignite! Dewott! Step back a little!" Rosa commanded. They complied worriedly. Servine pulled twin whips from his sleeves. One whip came crashing down, slamming into Liepard. The other was brought sideways in a quick motion, tripping Watchog over. Trubbish looked at his companions worriedly, and spat out some Clear Smog at the Servine. Servine glared at it, and snapped his vine through it. It dissipated.
"What?" Nate called out. He looked at Hugh. His eyes were pure malice. He swung with his arm. Servine swung with his tail. The massive Iron Tail swung right through all three opponents at once, leaving them in a pile not unlike a Trubbish in shape.
Hugh defeated Team Plasma Grunt, Team Plasma Grunt and Team Plasma Grunt!
The grunts returned their Pokémon, and ran like the Houndooms of the Distortion World were at their heels. Hugh snarled at their retreating backs.
"Team Plasma… stole my sister's Purrloin… and they think they can get away? Nothing is safe from justice. I will find that cat, even if I have to tear apart everything they hold dear one brick at a time." Hugh said, his aura flaring, before going out like a light.
The correct answer is c) Trubbish. A Poison type and a Grass type going against each other rarely goes well for the Grass type.
Next time, on Revenge is a Dish Best Served Ice-Cold, we look at several things beginning with the letter 'P', and several things that do not.