Chapter 4:
Fairly Odd Pokémon
Location: Route 3
"Rise and shine!" I yelled. "Look out Kalos; we're coming for you!"
"Yeah," Tierno said. "But you don't need to wake up the rest of the region whilst we're at it."
"If it means seeing some new Pokémon," Trevor said, "I'm fine with it!"
Shauna and Froakie got up next. "What a good nights sleep," she said. "This time, no sticks and stones to break my bones from under the tent!"
Finally, was Serena. She was already dressed. "If we leave soon, we'll be in Santalune City by this afternoon!"
"Hey," I said to Serena. "We should go together, just you and me!"
"Actually," Shauna said suddenly. "We can all go together! We're all up after all!"
I guess I couldn't say no, so I agreed.
Within 30 minutes, we had our breakfast, packed up our tents and hit the road.
"Hey, look!" Trevor said. "Tall grass!" He ran into it and a Pokémon jumped out. It was grey and covered in leaves.
Burmy (Cheniti)
#044 (Central)
Bug Type
Bagworm Pokémon
0.2 m (0'08")
3.4 kg (7.5 lbs)
To shelter itself from cold, wintry winds, it covers itself with a cloak made of twigs and leaves.
"I've heard that Burmy's cloak changes with its environment!" I said.
"All the more reason to catch it then. I choose Panpour!" Trevor shouted. "Water Gun!" Panpour spat water at Burmy, but it protected itself with Protect. "Another Water Gun!" Panpour used another Water Gun, but Burmy protected itself again.
"He can't just keep spamming Water Gun," Serena said.
"But he can," Shauna replied. "He's planning something, and I know what it is!"
"Another one!" Panpour shot more water at Burmy. It tried using Protect again, but it failed! The Water Gun hit! "Okay Pokéball, go!" Trevor threw a Pokéball at Burmy and it went inside.
One.
Two.
Three…
CAUGHT!
"A new Pokémon!" Trevor shouted.
"I wonder what cloak your Wormadam will get?" Shauna said.
"It's not going to be Wormadam," Trevor laughed. "This Burmy is a male, so it will evolve into Mothim. The type of cloak won't affect what it is."
"Oh," Shauna said. "Shame."
"Don't worry! I plan on catching all the Pokémon of the Kalos region, so I can guarantee I'll get a Wormadam eventually! In fact, I better look for a female Burmy to. Three to be in fact; I want to have all the cloaks!"
Before that though, I walked in front of a Trainer.
"Hey, I know you! You're-"
Calem Vs. Preschooler Oliver
"Caterpie, go!" Oliver shouted.
"I choose Fletchling!" I replied. "Use Tackle!" Fletchling flew into Caterpie beak first and took it down in one.
"Calem's Fletchling has really gotten strong," Serena said.
"I'm not finished. Azurill, I choose you!" Oliver sent out a blue Pokémon with a large-round tail that it was bouncing on.
Azurill (Same as English name)
#041 (Central)
Normal/Fairy Type
Polka Dot Pokémon
0.2 m (0'08")
2.2 kg (4.4 lbs)
A Pokémon that lives by the water. It moves quickly on land by bouncing on its big tail.
Baby Pokémon.
"Trevor!" I shouted. "A Fairy Type! Just like you said! Who would think that this cutie can't be harmed by Dragon Types? But that's not this battle. Okay Fletchling, Quick Attack!" Fletchling dashed into Azurill for half damage.
"Azurill, use Water Gun!" Azurill fired a jet of water at Fletchling, who took the hit fine.
"One more Quick Attack!" Fletchling dashed into Azurill once more, dealing the final blow.
"What? I was about to say you were the one who beat my friend outside the forest! He said you like being called the son of… nevermind."
"Nice one!" Trevor said. "Listen, I might lag behind a bit. I want to try and capture three female Burmy."
It was at that point we realized how serious Trevor was about his dream. We weren't going to stop him.
About a mile later, we came across another Trainer.
"Can I take on this one?" Shauna asked.
"Sure!" I said. "It's only fair!"
She walked in front of the girl.
"Hey, check out my cute Pokémon!"
Shauna Vs. Preschooler Ella
"Froabble, come out!" I shouted.
"Go Pichu!" replied Ella. She sent out a smaller Pikachu with bigger ears.
Pichu (Same as English name)
#035 (Central)
Electric Type
Tiny Mouse Pokémon
0.3 m (1'00")
2 kg (4.4 lbs)
It is not yet skilled at storing electricity. It may send out a jolt if amused or startled.
Baby Pokémon
"AWWWW! That Pichu is adorable!"
"KEEP AN EYE ON THE BATTLE SHAUNA!" I shouted. Shauna needed to as well. Being a Water Type, Froakie was weak to Electric Type moves.
"Froabble, Bubble!" Froakie shot bubbles at Pichu. It did just under half damage.
"Use Thundershock Pichu!" Pichu fired a small jolt of electricity at Froakie.
"Use Bubble again!" Froakie shot more bubbles at Pichu, almost knocking it out.
"Another Thundershock!" Pichu shot another small zap at Froakie, almost finishing it. However, Froakie was also paralyzed.
"This isn't good," I said. "Paralysis lowers speed, and Froakie is almost down."
"Don't worry!" Shauna said. "Froabble, Quick Attack!" Froakie darted forward and punched Pichu, delivering the final blow.
"Awww, that was my only cute Pokémon!"
"Hey," Shauna said. "You battled hard. "
"Really?" Ella said, holding the Pichu in her arms.
"Of course. How about we go to the Pokémon Center? Is it alright if I meet you all there?"
"Fine with you!" Serena said. As they went away, I thought I could see Shauna looking at me a bit funnily. Not in a nasty way or anything…
Me, Serena and Tierno walked down the stairs. Santalune City was getting closer and closer.
"We're making better progress that I thought!" Tierno said. "Hey, I'm gonna battle the next Trainer!" He went off the path to find another one.
"We have to watch this," I said as Tierno walked in front of a Schoolgirl.
"Hey, I love to dance! But also battle!"
Tierno Vs. Schoolgirl Bridget
"Really? I love to dance to! Let me show you my moves!"
"JUST PICK YOUR POKÉMON!" me and Serena shouted.
"Oh, right. Corphish, go!" Out came Tierno's partner.
"Bidoof, take the stage!" Bridget sent out a brown Pokémon with two buck teeth sticking out.
Bidoof (Keunotor)
#038 (Central)
Normal Type
Plump Mouse Pokémon
0.5 m (1'08")
20 kg (44.1 lbs)
With nerves of steel, nothing can perturb it. It is more agile and active than it appears.
"Bubble Corphish!" Corphish shot bubbles at Bidoof, and its speed was lowered.
"Bidoof, Tackle!" Bidoof charged forward.
"Leap out the way!" Corphish jumped gracefully out the way. Like Pokémon like Trainer, I guess. "Another Bubble!" Corphish shot more bubbles at Bidoof, this time landing a Critical Hit.
"Tackle again!" This time, Corphish stayed put. Bidoof charged into it, but it would take a lot more than that to get through its hard shell.
"One more Bubble!" Corphish finished of Bidoof with one more Bubble barrage.
"That was amazing! Show me what else you can do!"
"I'll happily show you!" Tierno said. "I'll catch up!"
"Well," I told Serena as we stood outside the gates to Santalune City. "Here we are. Just the two of us."
"Yeah," Serena said. "Well, shall we-"
"COMING THROUGH!" That was the only warning we got from some girl on roller skates that darted by us.
"WATCH IT!" I shouted.
"Don't worry!" Serena said. "I forgot to tell you. Roller skating is really popular in the Kalos region! It's quicker to get around! But yeah, some people can be a bit reckless. But it's a lot of fun! And Santalune City might be the place where you start! Come on!"
Location: Santalune City
Cased inside the stone walls were many old buildings on the stone-cobbled path. There was a fountain with a Roselia statue in the very middle of the city. The best way I could describe the city was 'welcoming.'
"Amazing!" I said. "We don't have cities like this in the region where I'm from!"
"Well, we don't have to rest up yet!" Serena said. "It's still the afternoon, but let's go to the Pokémon Center. Then there is something I would like to show you!"
Location: Santalune City Pokémon Center
"You guys made it!" Shauna said.
"Oh hey!" I said. "Is your new friend's Pokémon alright?"
"Don't need to ask!" she said. "This is the Pokémon Center after all! Just go up to the counter and give your Pokémon to Nurse Joy! She'll have your friends patched up Lickitung split!"
I walked up to the counter to the red-haired nurse in the pink dress.
"Hello, and welcome to the Pokémon Center! Would you like to rest your Pokémon?"
I said yes and handed Nurse Joy my Pokémon.
"Thank you!" She put them in a machine. "All done! Chespin, Zigzagoon and Fletchling are all healthy! It's not easy getting through Santalune Forest without any Gym Badges. But you're the son of Rhyhorn Racer Grace, so-"
"Thanks!" I said, running out. "Oh wait, Serena, you wanted to show me something?"
Serena started getting all excited. "Of course. One of Kalos' specialties…"
Location: Santalune City Boutique
"Shopping!" Serena and Shauna (who insistently joined in) yelled, grabbing everyone's attention.
"Clothes shopping?" I said. I didn't enjoy doing it with Mum, I certainly didn't want to do it with, well actually I was contempt with doing it with Serena. "You know, you're kind of forcing me to spend my own money."
"We can try some clothes on though," Shauna said. "People of the Kalos region are amongst the most fashionable in the world. Since you're new here, we might as well give you a special introduction!"
I decided to scan the shelves. I found an orange Knit Cap and tried it on. I looked in the mirror. "Hey, this actually suits me!" I said.
"Excuse me," said an employee. "May I suggest trying it with a button accessory?" She took out a green button that she put in my hat.
"Sold!" I said.
"Looks great!" Serena said. "You're adapting to Kalosian culture quickly!"
"Yeah," I said. "This is fun. And tomorrow, I will be battling for my first Badge!"
Location: Santalune City
As I walked out the door, I was greeted by a woman in a red and black shirt with long-grey jeans. Her brown hair was tied up and she had a camera with her.
"And here we have him, Calem Yvonne himself! His Mum, the one and only Grace Yvonne, has recently moved to the Kalos region to further her career in the art of Rhyhorn Racing!"
"And I want no part of it. Get that camera out of my face, I don't do news reports. Those Gabby and Ty duo were bad enough."
However, the woman wouldn't stop filming. "Cut it out and leave him alone!" Serena said. "He's a Trainer who wants nothing to do with his genetic fame."
"Oh," she said, turning of the camera. "Hey, sorry! I've finished recording! I'll delete the footage!"
I stopped, then turned back around. "What is your deal?"
"She apologized," Shauna said. "But yeah, I can understand your attitude. She never really got your permission, and we never got your name. What is it?"
"Oh, I'm Alexa! I'm a news reporter for Kalos 24. When I heard that Grave Yvonne was moving here, I just wanted to speak with her son. But now I know what he thinks, yeah. I had no idea."
"Hey!" Tierno and Trevor appeared at that moment.
"Oh, guys!" I said. "Alexa, you've met Serena and Shauna. But these are my other two friends. Tierno wants to become a dancer!"
Tierno danced on the spot. "I like to show off my moves!"
"And I'm Trevor. I want to fill out the Kalos Pokédex. Recently, I've caught three Burmy. Three female to evolve into all the Wormadam forms and one male to evolve into Mothim!"
"Amazing!" Alexa said. "I would love to interview you!"
"I'll meet you back at the Pokémon Center!" Trevor said. "We need our rest for tomorrow!"
And he was right. Because tomorrow would be the first big step to becoming the new Champion of the Kalos region…