Wow! A second chapter in 1 month's time? That's a rare oddity. I have very little updates other than the next chapter will definitely be next month depending on how busy my business trip is going to go. I am sure you are just ready to continue. Without further ado…
…
Chapter 8
Route 5 continuously climbed uphill with gullies off to the left and right of the path that boasted large patches of lavender, and other seasonal flowers. The purple and pink flowers contrasted nicely with the dull orange glow of the setting sun. It was at the crest of the next hill that the party stopped to take a short break. They had been hiking uphill all day and had grown a little weary.
The next town could be seen roughly a half a mile away. It seemed small, with medieval stone buildings surrounded by walls and a castle to top it all off. The grey stone buildings were set among the deep green hue of the surrounding woods.
"There she is, Camphrier town." Said Shauna. "I am kinda excited!"
"Huh?" Trevor sounded confused. "Last I checked, Camphrier is kind of a back water town. No gyms, no stores really, and kind of laid back."
"Sounds like my kind of place after all this walking." Said Serena.
"It may be small but Camphier is home to Shabboneau Castle. It once was a real castle with knights, and kings and Queens. Its very romantic." Said Shauna. "And look, there it is in the center of town."
The castle stood proudly above all the other buildings in town surrounded by a moat. The castle was impressive, but its age was showing.
Calem stared blankly off at the town ahead of them. He had spoken very little on the road up to this point as Korrina's and Sycamore's words weighed on his mind.
"You aren't ready yet. You aren't strong enough yet. I thought you would be stronger." Calem recalled what they had said. It was hard going from strong to nothing again and having people remind you constantly of the strength you had lost. To say he didn't feel the best was an understatement.
Serena could see he was in a bad mood. He was distant which was unfortunate considering what yesterday had been like. He promised he would come to her and tell her everything when he was ready and she relied on that statement. All she could do is wait. Her attention focused on Trevor who was sitting next to her with a strange jar in his hands.
"What's that, Trevor?" Serena asked.
"Not sure, the professor gave it to me and said to try it on route 5." He replied.
"It kind of looks like…. Honey?" Said Serena, confused.
Calem, who was sitting away from them, snapped to attention and turned to Trevor. "Hey! Don't open that right…."Calem was too late.
"What? Why?" Trevor asked. He had the jar open on his lap. "It's just honey I think." Said Trevor.
Suddenly, the trees and tall grass around them began to shake all around. Small forms could be seen moving within.
"Honey attracts wild pokemon!" Calem said as he sprung from his sitting position. His hand snapped to his waist and he sent Braixen into battle.
Serena sent out Frogadier in much the same fashion as the five of them backed up back to back. All around the grass shook until a bunch of green, blobby looking pokemon emerged.
"Gulpins… great." Said Calem as he pulled his hat low. "Braixen! Use psybeam!" A stream of colorful waves that distorted the air around them shot from Braixen's wand and impacted on the first Gulpin, sending it back to the grass.
The other Gulpin saw Braixen as a threat and let loose a sludge attack. Braixen couldn't dodge it and just braced for the purple explosion that enveloped her in a thick poison mist. She came out on the other side looking pale and a little sick.
"Damn, she's poisoned." Thought Calem.
"Stay strong Braixen!" Said Calem. Braixen gave him a determined look and blasted another Gulpin away with a psybeam.
On Serena's end, Frogadier was holding his own. He had managed to avoid poison thus far and had taken out two Gulpins.
The Gulpins formed together again to produce another sludge bomb and launched it at Braixen who was now slowed due to the poison. The impact was extremely strong and sent Braixen tumbling along the ground. As she fought to regain composure, the poison sent her back down unconscious.
"What?" Calem thought. "Wild pokemon… defeated me. They defeated Braixen?"
He was honestly bewildered as he sent out Riolu.
Serena and Frogadier did most of the rest of the work until the rest of the Gulpins turned tail and ran. There had been a horde of about 15 or so. They all were unhurt for the most part besides Braixen who Calem extensively gave antidote to cure the poisoning.
"I am sorry Braixen." He helped his pokemon to her feet. Braixen, despite being knocked out seemed fine and even touched Calems arm as if to say "It's ok."
Calem returned Braixen to her pokeball and took a few steps off toward town.
"Everyone ready to get going?" Calem said.
The party continued till they got to Camphrier Town just as the street lights began to turn on. They rested at the pokemon center, having dinner and talking amongst themselves late into the evening where Calem retired early once again in an effort to clear his mind. Having Braixen, currently his best pokemon, lose to a bunch of wild pokemon solidified what Korrina and Professor Sycamore had said earlier. That he wasn't good enough or strong enough. His one semblance of peace this night was found in the quiet and darkness of his room.
…
Morning came early. Just as the sun rose high enough to begin melting the dew off of the leaves, Calem found himself strolling through town. The people here seemed nice as they set up outdoor markets for the day on the town square. He felt better than he had yesterday. There was no sense in melting down over every little loss. He was probably just sensitive from things that had happened recently. It had only been roughly 10 days since they set out on their journey through Kalos. The events prior to that weighed on his mind.
It was odd how things moved on and changed so quickly. One day he was in Unova and the next he was in the middle of a journey through Kalos. He needed to tell Serena about what Korrina had said.
"I will do that in time. What am I doing here?" thought Calem.
"Excuse me!"
A voice called out to Calem.
"What?" He turned to find a woman at an outdoor stall beckoning him over. The stall was covered in big platters of baked goods and other sweets.
"Young man, you seem to be down on your luck. I think you need one of these." She handed him a small chocolate heart that was wrapped in a sort of paper covering.
"Thank you." Calem smiled a little at the gesture as he reached for his wallet.
"Oh no need for that, honey." She said. "Just make sure you enjoy it and try to smile a little today. We don't get many visitors here and its good to see a new, young face around."
Calem could scarcely believe the people here were so kind. He continued through the town square and put away the sweet heart. At the center of town was a sleepy, brick well and clean water flowed from the well into a mossy brick basin. On the edge of the basin sat a familiar face.
"Heey!" Shauna gave her usual hello as he approached. "What are you doing up so early?" She asked.
"I guess I could ask you the same thing." said Calem.
"Isn't it obvious?" She said. "I'm off to Shabboneau Castle to visit. I said I would yesterday."
"Oh, right." He glanced off toward the castle. Its proud parapets stood tall against the early, grey morning.
"It seems like you didn't sleep well." Shauna said.
Truth is, he hadn't slept well. He was tormented all night by visions and false memories fabricated for the sole purpose of keeping him awake. They all had to do with his final battle with N but instead of N there was another shadowy figure. One far more sinister. The identity escaped him.
"Come with me to the castle." Shauna said. "Looking at all the old junk may just bore you enough to get your mind off of things."
"Maybe she is right." Calem thought. He hadn't ever really spent time with Shauna alone before. He knew she was very energetic which is why he found it odd that she wanted to visit an old, dusty castle.
"Sure, why not. I think Trevor and Serena are still asleep. We travelled a long way yesterday, so I don't blame them. Let's get going."
…
The approach the castle showed its age with moss and foliage growing amongst the ruins. The draw bridge looked to be permanently down leaving the front door wide open. Modern signs placed here and there directed them inside the castle to the main foyer. Between the white tiles floor and tall vaulted ceilings. The room was bare except for a few display cases here and there.
"Huh?" Said Shauna. "This isn't what I expected at all."
"It looks like the place is empty." Calem said. "I didn't expect this either."
Footsteps were heard down the hall until what appeared to be a standard businessman in a fine silk suit entered the foyer and approached them.
"My… My…. Two visitors to Shabboneau Castle? I can't remember the last time we were so busy.
"You must not get a lot of business then." Calem replied.
"Why not? This is a castle. I'm positive that somebody has to be into this sort of stuff." Shauna said.
"This is a castle, more of a chateau if you will. It was once the home of a noble family. It may be a little run down now but that's because there's history to this place. The last owners of this estate gave many of the artifacts and heirlooms away which is why most of it lies empty." The man said. "I do apologize for the inconvenience."
"That's ok. Do you have anything on Mega evolution by chance?" Shauna asked.
Calem was surprised by this question. "Was this why Shauna wanted to come? This might be her way of contributing to the Mega Evolution research project." Calem thought.
The man looked bewildered at such a term as "mega evolution." It was a little silly but Shauna was genuine in her curiosity.
"Erm… what is a mega evolution?" The man said. "I don't believe I've ever heard of such."
Shauna turned to Calem with a slightly frustrated look. Calem gave a slight smile and shrugged in return.
Another voice rang out in the echoey foyer.
"SIR!"
The man looked past Shauna and Calem as a younger blond man in his mid-twenties came dashing into the room. "Sir, its back again."
"What? Back again already. There's nothing I can really do about it now I am afraid." He stepped past Calem and Shauna "I must go to route 7 but if you'd like, please have a look around." The two men left the castle in a hurry off toward the direction of route 7.
The castle fell ominously silent.
"What do you think that was all about?" Shauna said.
"I don't know. It sounds like trouble is going down on route 7." Calem said.
"Why don't we go down to route 7 as well?" The two of them made their way out of the castle and joined a dozen or so people moving to the edge of town.
"Something must be up for the town to stir like this. They were so peaceful before." Said Calem
"There they are!"
Serena, Tierno and Trevor joined Calem and Shauna.
"What's going on? Why is everyone headed toward route 7?" asked Serena.
"We are about to find out." Said Calem.
…
"That is a huuuge Snorlax." Said Shauna.
It was indeed a rather large Snorlax that had fallen asleep seemingly in the middle of a narrow wooden bridge that crossed a semi-wide river. The wooden bridge obviously sagged under its weight. A few townsfolk including the two men from before in the castle gathered near the slumbering mass. The party pushed their way up close to the sleeping behemoth to hear the men's conversation.
"Oh, here we go again. It's sleeping so soundly, the end of the world wouldn't wake it." The man in the suit said.
"It's enormous and blocking the road completely. Come now sir, use the pokeflute… oh wait do you even have it anymore?" the blonde man said.
"Nope, I handed it over." The man in the suit said with a sigh.
"Well you could say it was taken by force…" the blonde one grumbled but turned to the party.
"Oh, you two from before. Are these your friends?"
"Yep!" Shauna answered them. "What is a pokeflute?"
"Ah, yes. Well, a pokeflute is what we need to wake Snorlax and the owner of the palace down the lane owns it now. He's the one that's been buying all of the artifacts from Shabboneau Castle."
"Sounds like you need someone to go get the pokeflute from the owner of the palace." Said Shauna.
"Good luck trying to talk the owner of Parfum Palace into letting you borrow the pokeflute. He is a bit uptight and stingy." The blond man said.
"Hey, if we all go and tell him its an emergency then maybe he will let us borrow it!" Said Tierno. "Come on, lets go to route 6!"
Trevor, Tierno, and Shauna eagerly set off down the road. Serena and Calem followed closely behind.
"Goodmorning, how are you today?" Calem asked with a bit of sarcastic humor in his voice. They hadn't really had time to make conversation that day.
"I am doing very well, thank you Calem." She gave a soft laugh. "Do you have any idea what's going on?"
"Not really. I am just going with the flow." Calem said. "It seemed like earlier, Shauna said she wanted to hopefully find something pertaining to Mega-Evolution in the castle. I figured it was her way of contributing to the project."
"Oh, that makes sense." Said Serena. "I say let her have this. I think it'll be fun anyways to visit Parfum. Its supposedly a lot more grandiose than the castle in Camphrier."
With that, the party made their way down route 6.
…
"The route was a narrow dirt lane lined by hedges and trees planted in rows. Tall grass grew wild and undisturbed in the lowlands to the left and right of the paths. The dappled light from the trees overhead danced on the foliage below. In the distance, a massive golden palace could be seen with all of the ornate details expected of an extravagant spender.
Calem's mind was elsewhere as he stared off the path into the thick underbrush. He could see something moving in there and felt the urge to go after it.
"Hey Serena?" he said.
"What's up?" She said.
"Would you like to help me catch a pokemon?" Calem asked.
"Of course! Just gotta let me know when."
"How about now?" Calem said.
"Now?!" Serena said as Calem jumped over the shrubs to the right of the path and disappeared into the tall grass. He could still be seen as a streak of red in the sea of green.
"Waaait! Calem!" Serena called after him. She turned to the rest of the party. "You all go ahead. He wants to go catch a pokemon. We will meet you at the palace gates when we are done." She leapt over the bushes and ran as fast as she could into the tall grass following in Calem's footsteps.
"Calem… as unorthodox as ever." Said Trevor.
"Aw come on. You can't judge him too much." Said Tierno. "That guy flies on his own rhythm."
"Let's keep going guys! We are on a mission! Stay focused." Shauna gave both of them a push toward Parfum Palace.
"Calem?" Serena called into the air. The tall foliage around her towered a good foot and a half to over her head meaning her vision was impaired to what was in her immediate vicinity. Somewhere along the way, she had lost track of where he was.
"Now where did he go?" She put her hands on her hips. Telling Calem to wait seemed like an utterly fruitless venture when he set his mind to something. "Calem! Where'd you go?!" Called Serena.
Suddenly a mysterious hand grabbed Serena's arm. "AH!" She nearly jumped out of her skin. The hand was Calem's and he stepped out of the brush toward her. He held his finger to his lips as if to say "Shhh" and beckoned her into the thick foliage.
Serena followed him as quiet as she could. Calem kept getting lower and lower to the ground until the both of them were basically crawling and duck walking.
They continued abreast for roughly 20 feet, coming to the edge of the tall grass and vegetation overlooking an open clearing surrounded by flowering trees. Serena and Calem knelt underneath a small overhang of branches that almost completely concealed them.
The space could only be described as "intimate" in scope as Calem and Serena's arms brushed past each other in order for both of them to get a look into the clearing.
"Look out there." Calem whispered.
In the clearing, two pokemon could be seen in the middle of a battle. A small grey, fuzzy pokemon with big purple eyes shot off psychic moves at what appeared to be a floating sword with a blue stone inserted into its hilt. A blue, fabric like arm and hand flowed out of the back of the pommel like some sort of energy.
"What is that?" Serena whispered.
Calem took his hat off and swiped a hand through his dark hair. This was the first she had seen of him without his hat. She couldn't help but stare.
"Hm, the pokedex said it was a Honedge. And that one over there." He pointed to the small fuzzy pokemon. "That is an Espur."
"It's kina cute! Is that the one you want?" Serena asked.
"No, the Honedge is what I am really after."
"In that case!" Serena pulled out an empty pokeball and confidently met Calem's eyes. "I'll catch the Espur."
Calem wasn't surprised by this. Not one bit. It actually made him laugh a little bit until he remembered the old woman back at Camphrier who gave him the candy heart.
"Try to smile a little today."
Calem returned the gesture. He put his hat back on and pulled out an empty pokeball and met Serena's gaze with a confident smile.
"Let's do this."
…
Calem and Serena both catch new pokemon! Honedge was rather popular in gen 6 being a ghost and steel type so I decided to give Calem one to compliment his fire type and fighting type. Serena normally catches a Espur when she's your rival so it just seemed fitting. Have any of you noticed that she has a Fletchling in the beginning of the game but it isn't on her final team of 6 pokemon? Very strange. Surprisingly, this endeavor is making me appreciate gen 6 some more even for its shoddiness. I appreciate you giving this a read and listening to me babble on. I hope you enjoyed.