Chapter 4
The next day, Alice arrives at the first gym, Hadwarf City Gym, and she finds a gym guide, he says, "Welcome to Hadwarf City's Gym, young Trainer!"
Alice feels this man is a little creepy, and she asks, "Who are you?"
"What? You want to know who I am? And why?" The guide asks with a mock hurt tone. "All you need to know is that I'm cheering for you!"
Alice still has her guard on, not going to fully trust the man, and the man says, "Basil, the Gym Leader, specializes in Grass Type Pokemon...could you tell? Heh heh! Try to turn them to ash with the burning passion of Fire Type Pokemon."
Alice says, "Grass Type...that means Trishout and Sparkowl are going to be good...even Elekid as well."
As they walk forward, she finds a place with three grottos, she goes into the middle, and she sees a scary-looking Trevenant. "Oh no..."
Then the Trevenant chases her out of the grotto, and Alice sighs, "I guess if I go in the wrong one, I might be chased out by Trevenant..."
Then she decides to search for some clues, and eventually she finds the stone tablet that says "o, x, x" Alice says, "So I should go into the left one..."
After getting to the left one, she finds a Gym Trainer who uses Oddish and Morelull to battle her, she uses Trishout and Masgot to battle the two Pokemon and eventually win against them. Then she finds another three grottos, and the right one is the correct one. He battles a hipster with the Phantump, and wins against him.
"We're here...so that must be Basil..." Alice says as she notices a man sitting on a rock that looks like he is sleeping.
"Pray tell, who might you be?" The man named Basil says while opening his left eye. Alice says, "I am Alice, and I am a trainer that wants to challenge the badge."
"A trainer, possibly? I am Basil, I am the Gym Leader of this Hadwarf City Gym. As an ancient oak tree, my mind is as peaceful and calm in every situation...Only one thing that makes me rage erupt - getting interrupted while meditating!"
Alice is panicking and she bows, "I'm sorry!"
Basil knows that he might have scared the girl in front of her, and he says, "It'd be wise not to defy me when this happens, but what's done is done! Bring it on, Trainer!"
Basil sends out his first Pokemon, which is a Morelull, Alice says, "It is also a Fairy Type, that means maybe Trishout might be a perfect choice as it is a Sound Type."
As Alice sends out her first Pokemon, Basil says, "Trishout is not that common around the region...very well. Give it an Astonish attack!"
As the Pokemon uses the move, Trishout is spooked and it is not moving. Alice says, "Use Babble!"
Trishout roars, and it hits Morelull as it is super effective. "Now use Tackle!"
"Grass Knot." Basil says as Trishout falls from the leg being tripped.
"Grass Knot...I never knew that he would do that..." Alice mutters.
"I live in this natural kind of place, that means you'll have to go with nature if you want to win. Use Astonish again!"
Trishout flinches again, and Alice is a little frustrated. "So that is why Dad is a good battler...he is capable of winning any matches...but I have a type advantage, I shouldn't lose. Use Ember!"
The Pokemon fires the move, and it destroys the Grass knot and also hits Morelull, and it goes for Babble again, and this time it knocks Morelull out.
"Very well, you have done a good job with my first Pokemon. But your luck is not going to work for my second Pokemon." Basil sends out a Spiritomb, but something is not right, as it is white-colored.
"I think that is an X Spiritomb? Because Spiritomb is usually Ghost and Grass Type..." Alice mutters.
And Spiritomb is using Confuse Ray, which causes Trishout to get confused. Alice says, "Trishout, snap out of it and use Ember!"
Trishout tries to do it, but it hits itself in confusion. Alice groans, and Spiritomb goes for Shadow Sneak, knocking Trishout out.
"I'm sorry, Trishout...you did a good job, take a rest." Alice says as she recalls the Pokemon. She takes out another Pokeball and says, "Dad, please lend me your power."
She sends out Swellow as her next Pokemon, Basil says, "Swellow...which means Shadow Sneak is not going to be good against it. But there is a reason why this place is full with trees."
Then it goes for Grass Knot, and by growing on the trees, it manages to trip Swellow to the ground, and the Vine Whip is attacking Swellow as well.
"Oh no...what should I do..." Alice looks at how Swellow is hit by the vines, and she says, "Swellow. Hang in there and use Air Slash!"
Swellow gets back and it uses the move, dealing more and more damage to Spiritomb, and eventually, the X Pokemon is knocked out.
"We won!" Alice hugs Swellow as she can't believe she won her first gym battle. Even though she had help with her father's Pokemon, but she still won.
"You snapped me like a twig." Basil says as he recalls his Spiritomb. "My mind was corrupted by wrath and so you got the better of me. Your pure spirit is worthy of my forgiveness, your ability deserves the Root Badge. Here, it's yours now."
Alice takes the green-colored badge that shapes like a root of the tree and thanks him, he adds, "Our battle today has shown me how far I am from my ideal destination, the utter steadfastness of the soul...I'm going to meditate now, but I'll pray for the spirits to keep an eye on your journey, young Trainer!"
Alice nods, and Basil says, ""Gym Leader will shake hearing your name"...This is what the voices of the woods whisper."
When she comes out of the gym, Aster is rushing towards her and says, "Oh, Alice! I thought for sure you would have taken my advice! So, how was the gym?"
"I won my badge." Alice says as she shows him the badge.
"You won?! I knew it was such an easy ride for you!" Aster laughs. "By the way, I've been looking for you. I have to ask you a small favor..."
"What is it?" Alice asks in confusion.
"Some time ago, I gave the Xeno Ball's enhancement task to one of my researchers, but he retired to Proxim Island without updating me anymore...That's why I want you to go there, to check his progress. Would you kindly?"
"Sure...but how do I go there?" Alice asks.
"On the beach, you should find some good sailors willing to take you there. Just tell them I'm sending you." Aster says as he turns around. "When you're done, just join me at the lab, I'll know how to reward you properly!"
After seeing him leave, she goes to the beach, they find a captain, but he said that his boat is maintaining, so he can't take her to Proxim Island. As Alice is about to be sad, another sailor comes and he says, "I love sailing, but no one has joined me for years now...What did you say? You have some business to attend on Proxim Island for Aster?"
"Please do, um...who are you?" Alice asks.
"Oh, my name is Mr. Briney, and this is my Pelipper Peeko." Briney says. "You come to the right man! I would be happy to have some company after all this time..."
After getting on the ship, they ride towards Proxim Island, which has a lot of houses to explore.
As they enter a house, they find a scientist bragging to a man, who doesn't even understand what he is talking about. "Who dares disturb the one and only genius Rem?"
"I guess it is you, Aster asks me to come and ask for the Xeno Ball's enhancement." Alice says.
"E-Excuse me?!" The scientist is in a panic. "Aster wants news on my work? It's um..."
He takes out a Xeno Ball and says, "Take this and go away!"
As Alice takes the ball, he says, "That wasn't an easy task! I didn't take too many holidays! I swear!"
Alice somehow feels like the man is lying, but she doesn't say anything and she rides Mr. Briney's boat back to Hadwarf.
After getting into the lab, Aster says, "Alice, I've been waiting for you! Did my researcher give you anything? Let me see!"
Alice hands over the Xeno Ball, and Aster says, "But this - is a simple Xeno Ball!"
His face turns into a rage and he says, "That layout didn't make any enhancement! He's only squandering our money on his vacation! I'm gonna tell him off!"
Alice is surprised to see Aster this angry, and Aster says, "Alice, tell me...who took you to Proxim Island?"
"It is an old sailor named Mr. Briney." Alice says. But Aster laughs a little and says, "What did you say? Mr. Briney took you there? Not you too, Alice. That old man left us many years ago now."
Alice suddenly feels the creeps, or perhaps Aster doesn't know that he is still alive. Aster says, "I'm going to find another way to give that slacker the scolding he deserves!"
He takes out a glove and says, "Anyway, I promised you a reward, so...here is your PokeWES!"
As Alice wears the glove, she asks, "What does this do? It is just a regular glove..."
"This invention will be available to purchase soon...You are one of the lucky testers! Basically, this glove device incorporates all the necessities for Trainers...Town Map, Pokedex, Achievements, and, last but not least, HM Services!"
"That's amazing! But how do I use it?" Alice asks.
"Using a particular process, PokeWES creates the Holograms, the Holo-Pokemon. They can devour rocks or cut down the trees on your path! And there's more! You may also call actual Pokemon for help, to fully explore the environment of the Eldiw Region! It's not a coincidence that "WES" stands for "Wide Exploration System"! Hahaha!"
"That's cool..." Alice says.
"However, this specific process requires particular stones, the H-Minerals, I do not own right now...But I can tell for sure you're gonna find them during your journey! I also upgraded your Pokedex, installing a dedicated "Xenoverse" category. You'll be cataloging X-Pokemon data in there, giving you support to the research. Speaking of which, here are some extra Xeno Balls!"
Aster gives her more Xeno Balls, as she puts them into her backpack. Aster says, "And this is all I want you to know. All I can do for now is wish you the best of luck!"
"Okay, see you Aster." Alice says as both she and Pikachu are going to check if the ship is ready so she can move on her journey to find her father.
Here is a new chapter, and Alice beats her first gym, and also she is given the PokeWES. Alice will be getting her father's Pokemon when she continues her journey, and she will be using one in the Gym Battles. Mr. Briney from the Ruby and Sapphire game is also here, that sure surprises me a lot, you can see the reaction from TyranitarTube as you know, Peeko. I hope you like this chapter, and the next one will be the ship wreck and getting to Darkhole Island.
New Pokemon: Trishout, Sparkowl, Yemin, Bremand (Guitar), Masgot (Fighting), X-Elekid