Pokémon Journey: XYZ
Hey guys Paradox here and welcome to Chapter 106 and Chapter 23 of XYZ. We continue with the filler and development as the group continues to Snowbelle City. It'll be simple and on another thing is that great change will come soon and I'll explain that on my final notes. For now, just enjoy this little stroll.
"Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe."-Voltaire
Chapter 106: A Walk in the Park
In a secluded area of the woods lies a small offering alter made of old bricks. Inside it was a plate of macarons meant for the Pokémon who live in there. That is until a certain group of troublemakers wandered in the burrow, saw the macarons in the alter and thought it was lunchtime.
"Mmm, these little puppies are delicious." Jessie said. "I can't believe anyone would just leave these in the middle of no where." James added. "Hey when it comes to goodie treats, it's first come first serve." Meowth finished as Wobbuffet agrees as well.
Suddenly then their lunch was disturbed by the laughter of children. "Hey what's that?" James asked. "Who's there? Show yourself!" Jessie demanded. Inside a tree a set of six pairs of eyes peaked through the darkness and appear before Team Rocket. There floating were six shadowy figures with a log covering their faces with horns on the sides. One of them had a white log compare to other five who had regular brown ones. "What are these guys?" Jessie asked as James took out a scanner to scan the leader.
"They're Phantump. A Ghost and Grass type." James concluded as suddenly all five began to yell at them angrily. "Meowth translate please." Jessie asked. "They say they won't take lightly to us eating their offerings that were left for them." Meowth said. "Well I don't see their names anywhere on them. Therefore it's first come, first serve." Jessie argues as she tries to take a bite of another macaron when suddenly the leader try to prevent her hand from reaching her mouth. "Hey, let go!" Jessie struggles against the Phantump.
Not wanting to see their friend in trouble the other Phantump decided to charge up a Shadow Ball together, aim, and fired at Team Rocket. The force was enough to send Team Rocket on their way through way across the sky but along with another flier with them. Both Jessie and the shiny Phantump still held on to the macaron and fighting over it. In a last attempt, the Phantump used its ghostly tail to tickle Jessie's nose, causing it to inch and for her to finally sneeze away the Phantump away with the macaron in hand. "No, my macaron!" Jessie cries as Team Rocket blasts off once more.
On the main road, the gang continues down Route 19 to Snowbelle City as everyone was conversing about what Ash-Greninja's performance the other day. "Okay guys, can we please stop talking about this." Ash argues after not hearing the end of this since his accident. "No Ash, we all agree to help you with this." Serena said. "You could finally able to tap into the form but you can't control it." Drake said. "Drake's right, during your battle with Alain your Synergy wavelength was starting to disconnect from Greninja, thus sending your power into flux." Clemont said. "Okay...I think I get what you mean." Ash scratched his head. "I mean that there is something you did or didn't do that cause the flux." Clemont adds.
"Clemont maybe on to something. If you just remain true to yourself, you might be able to control it." Rene said. "Now that just sounds like using hope as a tactic." Ash said. "Who knows? Maybe you could try it." Bonnie suggested. Ash would've responded back until the group suddenly heard whistling coming down on them like a bomb dropping. Ash looks up but gets blocked by the sun until he blindingly sees a shadow approaching him until.
Thud
Something lands on his head. "Ash!" Serena yells when she sees Ash fall down. Drake snickers when he saw Ash get his bell rung. "It's not funny!" Serena argues. "It kinda is." Drake said laughing abit. "Oh leave it honey, I'll laugh at him the next time he set himself on fire." Ash said. "Yea that hasn't happened in awhile so, you're gonna have to wait for that." Drake said. "Guy's what is that?" Bonnie pointed to the mysterious thing that was next to Ash.
Looking up Phantump focused to another group of humans with curiosity. "Hey its a Phantump." Rene exclaims while Ash decides to scan it.
"Phantump, the Stump Pokémon, According to old tales, these Pokémon are stumps possessed by the spirits of children who died while lost in the forest."
"That's just an old wives tale." Rene disagrees with the Pokédex. "Yet most ghost stories have been true so far." Drake said. "This Phantump's color is weird compared to the Pokédex." Bonnie said as Dedenne and Squishy examine it with curiosity. "It must be a Shiny one. Those Pokémon are considered rare." Ash said. Meanwhile Phantump couldn't understand what it's situation was pertaining to these people.
"It's so cute." Bonnie shrieks and tries to approach it. Taking it as hostile, Phantump was startled and use the forest's power to summon purple vines to encase the group. "What the!?" "What is this?!" The group yells. With them inside and trapped, Phantump took his moment to leave them and hide.
"I don't suspose anyone's got a plan to get out of this!" Serena yells. "I'm on it." Drake said he unsheathes his sword and slashes through the vines with ease, freeing everyone. "What move was that?" Ash said as he stretches his arm out. "I believe that was Forest Curse." Clemont concluded. "Perhaps but Forest Curse isn't used like an offensive move. It shouldn't even be able to sprout out vines." Rene said. "Well...it seems this Phantump can use Forrest Curse differently." Drake said. "What is Forrest Curse?" Bonnie asked. "It's a stats move, it adds a Grass type status to an opposing Pokémon, that's all." Drake explains.
"So where do you think Phantump went?" Ash asked. "Probably as far away from us. It was just startled." Drake said. "You think we should look for it?" Bonnie asked. "Is there a reason we should? We're still ways away from the next Pokémon Center and we should keep moving." Drake said. "Actually I heard stories from the locals of how children get lost in the forest and are never to be seen again." Serena said. "I thought you never believe in ghost stories honey." said Ash. "I don't but more to add is that there is a small shrine that the locals put offerings in to please the lost spirits of the children." Serena said.
"And?" Rene asked.
"It just so happens that the shrine is nearby in an isolated part of the forest." Serena said. "It makes sense. Phantump prefer deep, abandoned parts of the forest away from other Pokémon." Clemont adds. "So you guys are saying you want to go to this shrine and get haunted by a bunch of dead kids." Drake said. "Hold on! We didn't say anything about going there exactly!?" Clemont began to panic. "I wanna go get haunt by dead kids." Bonnie cheers. "Only you would be excited by something like that Bonnie." Serena said unamused as she too didn't want to be scar for life by going to a haunted shrine.
"So are we..." Rene was interrupted by a loud growling sound as the group shut up for a moment. It happened again and everyone turn to Ash to see that the sound was his stomach. "What? I haven't eaten anything since breakfast." Ash said. "We're trying to have an important conversation here." Drake said. "It's alright Ash. Here have a muffin." Serena offers from her bag to her boyfriend. "Oh thanks sweetie." Ash took it immediately and tries to take a bite out of it but only to have it snatched away.
Still hungry, Phantump couldn't help but zip the muffin out of the human's hands and immediately start to devour it and enjoy its sweetness. "Hey, it's the same Phantump." Bonnie pointed out as Phantump could only munch on the muffin in front of the group. "I think you should give it another one." Rene suggested as Serena took out another muffin. "I'll do it." Bonnie said as she took said muffin and offered it to Phantump.
Enjoyed by the gesture, Phantump happily took it and immediately began eating. "Okay, now that's settle. Where'd you come from little guy?" Drakes asked as he slowly approached it. Phantump spoke up but only muffles came out due to the food in his mouth. "Okay, but can you shallow the food first then talk?" Drake said as Phantump swallows first then tries again, and speaks in its own tongue.
"So you do come from the shrine at the abandoned part of the forest." Ash said as Phantump continues. "So what brings you away from home?" Serena asked as Phantump continues on about the skirmish with Team Rocket. "What did it say?" Clemont said. "He said he and his friends got into a fight involving two humans, a Meowth and Wobbuffet over their offerings...it definitely rings a bell." Drake groaned.
"That means Team Rocket is nearby." Rene said. "Great, so we'll keep our eyes peel for them." Ash said. "Your friends must surely miss you." Bonnie told the ghostly stump as Phantump could look at the ground in sadness. It too misses its friends. "Well what if we could take you home." Serena asked it. "Yea, and I'll keep your belly full of treats until we get there." Bonnie offers. "What'd you say?" Ash asked. Phantump was stroke to have more treats to eat but also to find a way home with these people leading the way and accepted.
The group got to moving as Phantump was more intrigued by its new surroundings. "He sure is a curious little fella." Drake said. "Phantump do prefer isolation and away from other Pokémon. So it's understandable why they're always curious about this." Clemont said. By the road was a Diglett and Dugtrio who wave (or smiled since they don't have limbs) hello as Phantump smiled back. Up next was a wild Helioptile who offered Phantump an Oran berry which it accepts. "Talk about being neighborly." Rene smiled.
Suddenly Phantump saw a shed of bright light ahead of it and dash away from the group. "Hey Phantump, where are you going?" Bonnie asked as the group chase it down. Racing up a small hill, the group got to a cliff edge where Phantump stare at the openness of nature. "Now this is a view." Drake said. "Of course you say that." said Rene. Suddenly the group the heard another growling sound and turn to Ash once more.
"Hey it wasn't me this time." Ash backed away. There the group heard it again and this time it was from Phantump. "Essh this little guy's got a bigger stomach than you Ash." Rene said as the group laughed. "Well I'm all out of muffins but I do have these tasty macarons instead." Serena said as she took out a basket and opened to have it full of tasty macarons. Clemont's trainer belt suddenly rumbled and one Pokéball open to reveal Chespin.
"Chespin why are you out?" Clemont exclaimed. "Only Chespin's nose could sniff out a good snack." Ash said as Chespin tries to swipe a macaron from Serena's basket but to have its paw slapped away by Bonnie. "No Chespin, manners first and let Phantump take the first one." Bonnie scowls as Chespin simply stands aside while the floating stump happily takes two macarons and stuff them in his face. "Mind if I get one too?" Ash asked as Serena simply handed one to her boyfriend. Bonnie finally decided to let Chespin take just one much to the latter's greed of his stomach. Meanwhile in another part of the forest, Phantump's friends continue to look for their friend but to no avail.
A ten minute break come to pass and the group was ready to get back on the road with traveling Eastbound. "Exactly how much farther until we get to this haunted shrine?" Clemont asked as Serena took a look at her map. "We're two miles away. It shouldn't be long now." Serena said as Clemont drew a breath of relief. Not far from the isolated area, Team Rocket waited as they track the twerp's direction and the pesky stump with them and formulated a plan.
Along the way near the destination, the group saw four oddly shaped Phantump trying to attract their attention. Being curious Phantump happily approached them not being the wiser but the others however grew weary of them. "Is it me or are those weird looking Phantump?" Bonnie asked. "I have a hunch. Just follow my lead." Drake spoke as the group the four Phantump. With a straight face Drake smile as he touch one of them then quickly pulled a mask off to reveal James.
"Aha!" Drake pointed and laughed. "You twerps!" Jessie pulled off her mask angrily. "Hey we're not the idiots who thought we could pull off a real Phantump despite the very obvious...size differences." Ash spoke. "I knew we should've gone with the Ralts, Kirlia and Gardevoir costumes instead." James grumbled. "You probably should've. You would've had a better chance at not being made much quicker." Rene added. "Not that it would've worked, so shall you make your way via the ground or to the skies in humiliation?" Drake asked.
"There is a third option." Jessie said as Team Rocket jump good (guess where I got that) backwards and disappeared but only to have another Meowth bot rise out of the ground. "Your humiliation twerps! How's that?" Jessie mocked. "I'd say...outstanding." Drake smiled which ticked off Team Rocket. Meowth pushes a button which fired twin torpedo that shot out nets.
"We got this." Rene said as she and Ash took their weapons and fired an Aura Wave that cut the nets in half. Drake jumped in by then destroying the two torpedos with an Aura Wave of his own. "Pikachu use Thunderbolt." Ash calls as Pikachu jumps from Ash's shoulder and deliver a powerful bolt of electricity. But the Thunderbolt didn't have its intended effect and merely absorb into the mech. "Thanks for the juice twerps. Let us repay you." Jessie said as Meowth pushes another button take reveal two testa coils on the ears and unleash a powerful electric blast. "Move out!" Drake called as everyone ducks for cover as the blast went pass them and struck the ground.
"It's insulated." Clemont said. "We'll try something else. Hawlucha come on out." Ash release the Wrestling Pokémon to come out. "Use X-Scissor." Hawlucha rushes ahead with an x cross motion and struck it in the chest but didn't seem to have an effect either. "It's reinforced as well." Clemont said. "What else can we do?" Serena asked. Phantump watch as these people were having trouble fighting this machine and knew it could help out and decided so.
Phantump used Forest Curse to summon purple vines to wrap around the mech and began to squeeze the mech that it was starting to make dents. "We can't much more damage." James cried. "Meowth do something!" Jessie yells as Meowth pushes the tesla coil button once more and having the mech shoot out another electric blast, nailing Phantump and ceasing the vines assault. "Phantump!" Bonnie runs under Phantump and catches it before it hits the ground. "You're gonna pay for that!" Ash vows as suddenly the heard more cries.
From behind them, five normal Phantump came to their aid and use Forest Curse as well. Together the strength of the vines was enough to completely restrain the mech's movements. "This is trouble!" Jessie said as the Meowth bot's armor cracked and groaned until parts of it expose the inner workings. "Guys one well place attack could blow the whole machine." Clemont said. "I'm on it. Pikachu aim at the expose parts and use Thunderbolt." Pikachu jumps, aims and fires a bolt of electricity at one of the expose area, setting off a chain reaction and causing an explosion.
"Isn't this shocking?" James asked.
"No it isn't." Meowth said.
"I agree." Jessie rephiled.
"WE'RE BLASTING OFF AGAIN!" Team Rocket cried as fly to the horizon.
The shiny Phantump look up to see its friends and grew happy. The other Phantump happily hug their missing friend which Bonnie shed some tears for.
A small walk later and the group finally got under a huge tree where the haunted shrine was. "This seems cozy." Ash said. "I thought it be bigger." Rene said upon looking at the shrine. "Here to thank you guys for saving our skins, take these tasty macarons." Serena said as she place a plate of macarons in the shrine. The next moment the Diglett, Dugtrio and Helioptile from before followed them and offered them some berries and place them in the shrine.
"Like I said, being neighborly." Rene said. Soon the group figure it was time to go and wave goodbye to the wild Pokémon. "Take care everyone." Bonnie said as the group finally left. "So we are we close to a Pokémon Center?" Ash asked. "We're...actually aren't. Guess this means we're camping out." Serena said. "Okay, next open field will be a great place to camp for the evening." Drake said. "Good, everyday we get closer and closer to Snowbelle City." Ash said as the group walks down the road as the Journey continues.
And done, honestly guys I've spent the last few days brainstorming and this is all I got. It also doesn't help being a tiny bit under the weather so I hope you guys really enjoy this chapter. Otherwise I could say this isn't my best work and that I could've made it more interesting but no. This chapter moves along the story and adds more development. So I hope you enjoy it.
Now next chapter is something I'm intrigue to do. It will add significant change to this sega or arc, however you want to call it, but I'll explain once we get there. It's all part of the plan so I won't spoil anything for now.
So Like, Comment and thanks for reading. This is Paradox signing off. Goodbye.
