Chapter 5:

The Ugly Bug Brawl

Location: Santalune City

"Alrighty then," I told the gang. Chespin, Fletchling and Zigzagoon; my entourage for my (hopefully) first Gym victory.

"You'll be among the greats!" Tierno said. "Just need to get everyone stronger and you'll be Champion of Kalos in… well, not no time. Take your time!"

"Well, I still can't wait for today!" I said.

"Keep going," said Alexa, holding her camera up.

"HEY!" I told her. "Did I ask you to film?"

"Nope, we did!" Shauna said, as she and Serena giggled.

"HEY!" I shouted. "I mean, yeah! I'm excited!"

"And that's all the footage we need!" Alexa said. "Please sign this documentation to let you know I'm-"

"I'M NOT!" I said. "Next time, please ask me if I'm free."

Alexa smiled. "Of course. By the way, say hi to my sister in the Gym please."

I put my thumb up. "I will! Wish me luck guys!"

Location: Santalune City Gym

I walked into what seemed more like a photo gallery than a Gym. I mean I was in the right place; the Gym logo was on a pedestal next to the Gym Guide.

"Bonjour," he said. "Bienvenue to the first Gym of your campaign through the Kalos region. My name is Louis, and I will be your Gym Guide. Our Gym Leader uses Bug Type Pokémon, and word on the street is you chose a Grass Type to be your partner. This might be difficult, but as long as you have Rock, Fire and Ice Type moves handy, you might be able to get through. Not easily though!"

After he said this, a giant hole opened up in the floor and a rope came down from the ceiling. I grabbed the rope and slid down it.

I emerged on a giant web. All around me were large leaves; it felt like I was a Bug Type myself.

Thankfully, the web was sturdy. So, I ran around and came across a Trainer; a Youngster specifically.

"I feel so small here! Let's battle!"

Calem Vs. Youngster David

"Okay Fletchling, you'll be the star of the show today!" I threw my Pokéball and Fletchling fluttered above us.

"You won't be the only Flying Type here today. Ledyba, go!" David sent out a round-red Pokémon that was flying. It had black spots on its back and six arms with white hands.

Ledyba (Coxy)

#074 (Central)

Bug/Flying Type

Five Star Pokémon*

1 m (3'03")

10.8 kg (23.8 lbs)

It is timid and clusters together with others. The fluid secreted from its feet indicates its location.

*Those are spots, not stars Pokédex.

"Okay Fletchling, Quick Attack!" Fletchling dashed into Ledyba quickly.

"Ledyba, Aerial Ace!" Ledyba flew into the air, then flew back down quickly into Fletchling.

"Okay Fletchling, one more Quick Attack!" Fletchling charged into Ledyba once more, this time knocking it out with a Critical Hit.

"Oh man, now I feel even smaller!"

Fletchling flew down onto my arm. "Nice one Fletchling! You WILL be the star of the show today! Keep it up!"

I continued running along the giant web. Water droplets fell into the abyss below as I ran over them; the theming was amazing.

I ran into the next Trainer; another Youngster.

"I caught this Spewpa fresh from the forest!"

Calem Vs. Youngster Zachary

"Chespin, go!" I shouted.

"Spewpa, I choose you!" From the other side came a Pokémon covered in a white cloak.

Spewpa (Pérégrain)

#021 (Central)

Bug Type

Scatterdust Pokémon

0.3 m (1'00")

18.5 lbs (8.4 kg)

It lives within thicket shadows. When predators attack, it quickly bristles the fur covering its body in an effort to threaten them.

Scatterbug -Lv 9- Spewpa

"Chespin, Rollout!" Chespin curled up into a ball and charged into Spewpa. It did a lot of damage.

"Come back with Harden!" Spewpa hardened itself, raising Defense.

"Use another Rollout!" Chespin continued its rolling. It hit Spewpa and finished it.

"Ah! I should have caught a Scatterbug then evolved it to get some attacking moves!"

Along the web I continued. The thought of a Gym battle got me giddy. An actual Gym battle. Never would I have thought I would be doing it instead of being forced into stupid races.

Next and last Trainer; a Lass.

"I'm the only one stopping you from getting your picture taken!"

Calem Vs. Lass Charlotte

"Zigzagoon, come out!" I shouted.

"Kakuna, join the party!" Charlotte sent out a yellow Pokémon with black eyes.

Kakuna (Coconfort)

#027 (Central)

Bug/Poison Type

Cocoon Pokémon

0.6 m (2'00")

10 kg (22 lbs)

While awaiting evolution, it hides from predators under leaves and in nooks in branches.

Weedle -Lv 7- Kakuna

"Okay Zigzagoon, Tackle!" Zigzagoon charged forward into Kakuna. It fell over.

"Kakuna, Poison Sting!" Kakuna fired a purple spike at Zigzagoon. It hit and Zigzagoon was poisoned.

"That's enough," I said, recalling Zigzagoon. "Fletchling, go!" I knew Fletchling could do better.

"Poison Sting!" Another shot, but at least it missed.

"Quick Attack!" Fletchling dashed into Kakuna. It hit for about quarter damage.

"Poison Sting again!" Another hit, but not a poison one.

"More Quick Attack!" Fletchling used another Quick Attack. Another Critical Hit!

"Poison Sting more Poison Sting!" Kakuna got another hit in, and Fletchling was poisoned.

"One more Quick Attack!" Fletchling dashed again, this time fainting Kakuna.

"Oh no! Okay then, go Combee!" Charlotte sent out a Pokémon that looked like yellow honeycomb. It had a face on each.

Combee (Apitrini)

#076 (Central)

Bug/Flying Type

Tiny Bee Pokémon

0.3 m (1'00")

5.5 kg (12.1 lbs)

The trio is together from birth. It constantly gathers honey from flowers to please Vespiquen.

"Okay Chespin, go!" I yelled. "Use Rollout!" Chespin rolled fast into Combee for massive damage.

"Gust attack!" Combee flapped its wings creating a brief wind. But Chespin was fine.

"One more Rollout!" Chespin rolled forward into Combee again, knocking it out.

"Well, good luck with the photoshoot!"

"After I heal!" I said.

Location: Santalune City

After I came out of the Pokémon Center, Alexa was waiting for me.

"I didn't consent to filming yet. And no, I haven't beaten the Gym Leader yet. I need to heal."

Alexa put away her equipment. "Oh, sorry. Ah, yes. I should mention. My sister is no-"

"Coming through!" The same skater from yesterday came dashing passed me.

"HEY!" I yelled. I had had enough. "What's the big idea?"

"Sorr-"That's all the Skater could do before crashing into a signpost; served him right.

"Watch it!" I said. "That's the second time you almost crashed into me! Social distancing dude!"

"Sorry," he said. "Hey… I know you. You're Calem Yvonne, son of Rhyhorn Rac-"

If this guy wasn't annoying enough, he had to bring that up. I covered his mouth with my right hand. "Shut up!"

He forced my hand away. "Okay, okay. Here, could this be a sorry?" From his backpack, he took out some roller skates. "These are for you…"

He gave them to me. "But I don't know how to."

"I'll teach you!" Alexa said. "Tomorrow of course. For now, I should stop delaying you! You have a Badge to win!"

Location: Santalune City Gym

I finally got to the end of the web to see my opponent. She wore cropped white vest and green trousers. Hung around her neck was a camera, the brand being Flash Canon.

"Welcome to the Santalune Gym! My name is Viola, and I will be your creepy crawly opponent! Say, I believe you've met my sister. Oh Alexa, she's a real… something. Anyway," she said. She stepped to one side to show a portfolio of Trainers and their Pokémon. "Give me a good battle and you can go up on my wall! Let's do it!"

Calem Vs. Gym Leader Viola

I took a deep breath. "I've got this. No, we've got this! Zigzagoon, go!" My Normal Type came out onto the wooden platform.

"Surskit, snap it up!" Viola sent out a four-legged blue Pokémon.

Surskit (Arakdo)

#047 (Central)

Bug/Water Type

Pond Skater Pokémon

0.5 m (1'08")

1.7 kg (3.7 lbs)

They usually live on ponds, but after an evening shower, they may appear on puddles in towns.

"Surskit, start with Bubble!" Surskit fired multiple bubbles at Zigazgoon for little damage.

"Come back with Headbutt!" Zigzagoon charged forward and butted Surskit for about half damage.

"Well well well, interesting move. Okay Surskit, Struggle Bug!" Surskit seemed to be struggling, then attacked Zigzagoon. It was getting weaker.

"One more Headbutt!" Zigzagoon charged forward and headbutted Surskit, finishing it off.

"Well, one down and one to go. And the other one is Vivillon!" Viola sent out a Pokémon with pink wings.

Vivillon (Prismillon)

#022 (Central)

Bug/Flying Type

Scale Pokémon

1.2 m (3'11)

17 kg (37.5 lbs)

The patterns on this Pokémon's wings depend on the climate and topography of the world. It scatters colorful scales.

Scatterbug -Lv 9- Spewpa -Lv 12- Vivillon

"Vivillon, Gust!" Vivillon created a small burst of wind that finished off Zigzagoon.

"No!" I shouted. "Hopefully I have this. Go Fletchling!" Out came my Flying Type. And this time, I had a newly learned Flying Type move handy.

"Use Stun Spore!" Vivillon flapped its wings and created orange powder. Fletchling breathed it in, and it was paralyzed.

"Can you get a Peck in?" I asked. Fletchling couldn't do it.

"Now use Infestation!" Vivillon flapped its wings sending small black dots to circle around Fletchling. "Now you can't escape, and Fletchling will also take damage!"

"Peck!" Fletchling flew forward (try saying that five times fast) and stabbed Vivillon with its beak. It did half damage.

"Now use Gust!" Vivillon created another gust of wind that almost finished of Fletchling. What's worst, Fletchling couldn't move that turn. "Final Gust!" Vivillon did just that; another wind burst fainted Fletchling.

"One last chance. Chespin, go!" I shouted. "And don't try Stun Spore. Recently, Grass Types have been shown to be immune paralysis!"

"Then we'll use broad power! Gust!" Vivillon flapped its wings and blew Chespin of its feet. But it was okay.

"Rollout!" Chespin curled up into a ball and charged into Vivillon. It was a Super Effective hit. Vivillon was down!

"Congratulations!" Viola said. "You have beaten me! You have your first Gym Badge! You should be so proud of yourself!"

"I don't believe it!" I said. "My first Gym Badge ever!"

"And here it is!" Viola said, handing me a Badge that was shaped like a Ledyba.

I obtained… the Bug Badge!

"That's not all! Here!" Viola gave me a TM. "This is TM83, Infestation, which you saw Vivillon use just now. It does damage repeatedly and prevents Pokémon from escaping. It's like a Bug Type version of Fire Spin! And finally, this was a great battle!" She set up a tripod. "Send your Pokémon out!"

I did. They were battered, but with some Revives from Viola, we all got in for a photo.

"Say… Weedle!"

"Weedle!" We all smiled as our picture was taken.

"And I'll send an extra one home to Grace!"

Location: Santalune City

"And let's hope that our new Trainer, Calem Yvonne, continues this winning streak! And… cut!"

"Thanks Alexa!" I said. "Man, I'm beat."

"I bet you are!" she said. "It's not everyday you win a Gym Badge, let alone your first one."

"And what's more, Viola put my picture up on her wall!"

Alexa beamed. "Then it must have been a great battle! It's not everyday that happens either! You should be proud of yourself! And hey, I'll teach you skating tomorrow!"

"Thanks!" I said, before looking north. In the distance, I could see Lumiose City starting to welcome me. Well, I tried to. For some reason, it wasn't shining as much as usual.