Vs Plusle & Minun
You can always learn new things, even when you think you know everything there's more to learn.
"One, two, one, two, one, two, three, four." Marcellus clapped with his Whismur dancing in rhythm at the flower field near Verdanturf.
"I gotta say, you've been doing great work with Whismur." Richard said while focused on the duo's routine.
"Ha thanks, you really think so?" Marcellus smiled.
"Of course fam, I'm smitten by her cuteness." Richard dazed by Whismur's performance.
"Glad you think so, I think her naïve nature adds to her charm." Marcellus stated while Whismur stopped her performance and blushed from the praise.
"Are you sure she's naive? She seems more bashful right now fam." Richard laughed
"But really I do mean it. Even though you might have gotten destroyed in your first contest." Richard gave an honest look.
"I'm still surprised that Vigoroth didn't enjoy performing." Marcellus sighed.
"Yeah fam I am too. I thought he had a lot of promise first time I saw him."
"But anyway I apologize that I didn't give Whismur enough credit when you introduced me to her. She aboslutly swept the competition." Richard smiled as he clenched his fist
"Aha you're right about that." Marcellus picked up Whismur and gestured to a solid pink ribbon that Whismur had on. Richard's smiled soon turned into a frown.
"…Anyway I'm sorry to say this, but I have to go." Richard sadly said as turned his back to Marcellus.
"What why...?" Marcellus not believing what he heard.
"Something important came up and my friends me. I need to help them." Richard started walking.
"Okay I understand" Marcellus looked down.
"Don't get so upset. I expect to see you at another contest." Richard shouted as he waved Marcellus goodbye.
"Cya… fam..." Marcellus whispered to himself as he walked the other path.
"It sure is quiet." Marcellus said after a few minutes of walking. Whismur looked to him concerned
"Hmm." Marcellus saw a large wooden sign.
"Looking for helpers at the Pokémon Day Care for only one day. You'll be paid with knowledge and experience." Marcellus pondered reading the sign.
"Wasn't Richard a Breeder? I wonder if he got his knowledge of Pokémon from working at the Day Care. I might be able to learn a thing or two." Marcellus smiled as he walked inside the red roofed building nearby the sign. The interior of the building consisted of a blue tiled room with plants, a green carpet with a dining table on top, and a counter behind which an elderly lady stood.
"Yes how may I help you?" An old lady said at the counter.
"I came to see if you still need help." Marcellus said.
"Oh thank goodness you're here I didn't expect anybody to come." The old lady smiled as she waved Marcellus over.
"So what's the deal you gonna give me one of those breeder outfits that'll stick to my body and I'll never be able to take it off?" Marcellus jokingly pretended to struggle pulling off his outfit.
"Oh no dear you only have to do a few things." The old lady laughed as she handed Marcellus a small list.
"Feed, clean, play, sleep, battle, counter, outside." Marcellus read the list out loud.
"Easy enough right? We usually have no trouble but our granddaughter is out of town and the other breeders already have their hands full with other matters." The old lady said.
"No need to explain yourself I'll handle everything you relax." Marcellus put down his backpack and began to stretch.
"Again thank you very much, everything is pretty easy to find but if you need any help don't be shy." The old lady walked back to the counter.
"Alright time to see what I'm working with." Marcellus continued inside the daycare and soon found a bright light at the end of the hall.
"Wow." Marcellus stepped outside to see a large open field with berry plants as far as the eye can see, Pokémon of all types frolicking around, bug types sleeping in the few trees that were scattered around and a very large lake full of water type Pokémon.
"Wow so many Pokémon, I'd say there's at least fifty." Marcellus looked around in amazement.
"Let's get started." Marcellus shouted as he ran into the open field and started playing with each Pokémon. Every once and a while he would look at all the different types berries he had never seen before and finally after playing with the Pokémon for a while he noticed they started getting hungry.
"Ah man I better get started cooking before I become there next meal." Marcellus laughed as he started picking a variety of berries and went back inside to look for the kitchen.
"Hmm. Where's the Berry Blender?" Marcellus looked around the kitchen.
"Oh no dear we make Pokéblocks by hand. It's faster that way since we have so many Pokémon." The old lady came out of nowhere scaring Marcellus.
"I don't really know how to make Pokéblocks by hand." Marcellus scratched the back of his head with a confused look.
"Don't worry dear I'll teach you, but tell me what you do know while we work." The old lady asked as she began to get everything ready. Marcellus explained that Pokémon like Pokéblocks depending on their nature, that depending on the berries you use it decides what flavor the Pokéblocks are and that if you feed them it regularly their appearance will show it. He even explained which berry turned into what flavor.
"You certainly know a lot about berries and Pokémon." The old lady wondered.
"Yeah I used to read about them all the time as a kid since Kyle always went out to battle and mom made me come along. He always stayed out for hours so guess I got addicted." Marcellus sighed.
"Oh my no wonder you know so much." The old lady laughed.
"I wouldn't say that. There's still a lot I don't know about this region. There's so much new stuff that I'll probably never see." Marcellus sadly admitted.
"Oh don't worry about stuff like that if you keep traveling I'm sure you'll see everything Hoenn has to offer." The old lady said as the Pokéblocks finished.
"Now help me take these out will ya." The old lady pushed a bunch of Pokéblocks that varied in color outside with Marcellus helping her. The Pokémon came running out at the smell of the food and Marcellus passed them out accordingly. Each Pokémon greatly enjoyed the food.
"Impressive. Not many people can figure out the nature of a Pokémon in just half a day. Did you read about this as well?" The old lady said impressed.
"No this came through trial and error. I don't like to battle so when Pokémon attacked during my job I offered them Pokéblocks instead. Of course if you give them the wrong one they'll get mad and attack." Marcellus laughed as he casually scratched the back of his head. The old lady smiled.
"Once they get done eating help out with the counter." The old lady said as she walked.
"In the meantime." Marcellus called out Vigoroth and Whismur.
"Spicy for you Vigoroth and sweet for you Whismur. Just how you like them." Marcellus handed them their own trays which they happily ate.
"Sorry I didn't call you out all day guys I've been pretty busy, but I promise you can play for the rest of the day." Marcellus patted both of them on the head. He then continued the day cleaning the Pokémon that got dirty playing and planting berries that he had picked earlier. He also worked the front desk as-well as the outside of the Day Care where he returned trainers their Pokémon and eggs. It was hard for the sole purpose that the Pokémon ran away assuming he was playing and that the parent Pokémon didn't give up their eggs so easily.
"Did you sleep well?" The old lady looked down at Marcellus who had fallen asleep from having worked too hard. He was surrounded by Pokémon who also fell asleep.
"I am so sorry I dozed off" Marcellus opened his eyes and jumped up as he apologized.
"It's okay we've already closed for the day." The old lady said.
"So, do you need me to do some last minute touches?" Marcellus was still ready to work.
"Oh no everything is fine, but there's still one thing on the list you haven't done" The old lady pulled out two Poké Balls.
"Wait, what, but all the Pokémon have already battled each other throughout the day." Marcellus frantically said.
"Yes but there's a new battle style I wanted to show you as a reward for today. Let's go out back." The old lady insisted and began walking.
"Fine but just one battle, Vigoroth, Whismur come here real quick!" Marcellus shouted as his Pokémon woke up and ran to him. He then bent down and handed his Pokémon something then followed the old lady outside.
"Here take this." The old lady handed Marcellus an umbrella.
"What for? The skies clear." Marcellus reluctantly took the umbrella.
"Alright this will be a Double Battle." The old lady threw out two Poké Balls at once. What came out were a pair of similar looking cream-colored Pokémon. They were both small, bipedal and mouse like. However one was red tipped on his head and ears. Whereas the other was blue tipped on hers. Electricity then began sparking from the cheeks of the two Pokémon connecting between them.
"Battling with two Pokémon at once? As if one wasn't enough." Marcellus sighed as Whismur and Vigoroth ran out to battle.
"Wait a minute… Wow is that a Shiny?" Marcellus was surprised after looking closely at the two Pokémon that looked nearly alike.
"You'd think so at first, but they're actually separate Pokémon." The old lady chuckled.
"Really. That's disappointing." Marcellus frowned.
"Anyway I'll make the first move. Vigoroth use Slash on the red eared one." Vigoroth charged forward readying its claws.
"Not so fast. Plusle Protect yourself." The red tipped Pokémon readied itself and rose his arms forward. Vigoroth's attack then collided with a force field which shielded Plusle. Pokémon soon began gathering as the sounds of battle were attracting them. People also began to gather outside the gate.
"Now Minun, Rain Dance." The blue tipped Pokémon rose and waved her hands skyward. Then she began jumping. Clouds soon formed from the attack and rain then showered the battlefield and those around it.
"I hope you don't mind rain sonny." The old lady smiled and pulled her umbrella out.
"I didn't know there were moves that could change the weather." Marcellus had a surprised look as he opened his umbrella.
"There's a lot more to battling then you realize." The old lady smiled with a cheerful look.
"There certainly is, but enough of that for now. Whismur, Return on Minun." Whismur ran towards Minun and tackled her full force.
"Minun assist Plusle with Helping Hand." Minun began cheering and dancing. Sparks began flying out from her which were landing on Plusle and covering him in an electrical aura.
"That doesn't look good. Vigoroth use Slash again on Plusle." Vigoroth was charging forward once more. His claws glowing white and landing a fierce slash on Plusle knocking him backwards.
"Plusle strike him back with your supercharged Thunder attack." The Pokémon launched a crackling bolt of lightning into the cloud filled sky electrifying it. The thunder clouds then stuck down on Vigoroth which caused massive damage and startled the on looking Pokémon. Following the attack Vigoroth was surrounded by electricity.
"Looks like your Pokémon is paralyzed." The old lady smirked.
"I'm not too sure about that." Marcellus smirked back. Vigoroth pulled out a green berry and ate it. The electricity immediately subsided and Vigoroth returned to normal.
"Hmm. A Lum Berry." The old lady nodded to herself.
"Sorry I was hoping you didn't mind me borrowing some. They're extremely powerful and I wanted to be able to grow a few myself." Marcellus was juggling three Lum berries while talking.
"It's fine. They take a long time to grow, but as you saw for yourself we have plenty." The old lady assured Marcellus.
"Thank you. So as thanks I'll give you a little show." Marcellus stopped juggling.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" Marcellus shouted as all eyes were on him.
"As you can see we're in a pickle with these two Pokémon's awesome combinations, but if you stay tuned we'll turn this fight around with only three moves!" Marcellus amazed the audience with what he said.
"Don't get cocky sonny." The old lady glared.
"I see I'm not believed. I guess actions speak louder than words. Now, it's show time." Marcellus snapped his fingers.
"Whismur use Attract on Plusle." Whismur danced around on one foot which created hearts around her. The hearts then flew to Plusle which infatuated him.
"Vigoroth use Slash on Minun this time." Vigoroth, battered but still full if vigor made way for Minun. His claws which were glowing white stuck her critically; knocking her out.
"Rest easy Minun, you did well." The old lady took out a Poké Ball and called back Minun.
"Plusle finish off Vigoroth with one more Thunder." The infatuated Pokémon hesitated for a second, but called down another bolt of electricity from the skies. The attack connected and knocked Vigoroth out. Marcellus returned him to his Poké Ball.
"Whismur, finish this with Uproar." Whismur grew angry. She began yelling and stomping around; launching a sound wave at Plusle. The sound wave struck him and ended the battle.
"You've all been a wonderful audience." Marcellus bowed as everyone began to clap; having been impressed he won in three moved. As they clapped Whismur started to glow white.
"Looks like there's an encore." Marcellus said as Whismur transformed into a Loudred. Loudred looked around at everyone watching then felt her face.
"Impressive. You've beat Mrs. Daycare over here." A large pale old man said as he walked up from the back of the crowd. He was wearing a yellow jumpsuit with a brown sweater over it. The sweater had a lightning bolt on both sleeves and a dark brown trim on all the edges. He had a spiky white beard and hair.
"She may not look it but she used to be the Mauville City Gym Leader." The old man had a hardy laugh.
"Wow really? That's amazing!" Marcellus said.
"Yes, but that was a long time ago." The old lady closed her eyes with a smile.
"Huh where's Loudred?" Marcellus looked around and found Loudred looking at herself in the pond.
"There you are." Marcellus smiled as Loudred turned around with a sad look in her eye.
"Loudred..." Marcellus whispered as she continued to look down.
"You're even cuter now!" Marcellus shouted with excitement as he gave Loudred a hug, she gave him a very shocked look.
"Look at you. I love your new color. Purple really suits you and don't get me started on those ears!" Marcellus smiled as he turned to look at the pond.
"You'll always be my little Whismur no matter if you evolve again or not and you'll always be the cutest Pokemon in my eyes. So don't ever run away thinking I'll reject you for how you look cause that'll never happen." Marcellus gently patted Loudred on the head after she gave him a tight hug and started to tear up.
"This kids is real interesting." The old man laughed.
"Yes he is." The old lady said as she walked into the daycare. The old man's PokéNav then began to ring.
"Hello yes this is Wattson… I see… No I'm sorry I won't be able to help. I'm busy with New Mauville, but I do have someone in mind." Wattson said as he looked at Marcellus and Loudred hugging.
"Here you go sonny." The old lady came out holding a large egg with green spots all around.
"A Pokémon egg?" Marcellus looked confused.
"Yes, the trainer didn't want it and I have a feeling it'll be in good hands with you." The old lady handed Marcellus the egg.
"Thank you for everything today." Marcellus humbly said.
"By the looks of it the days not over." The old lady pointed to Wattson who was holding up a shiny object in his hand. "
Can Marcellus's care free life last forever or will his peace be destroyed?