Chapter 4:
Petal to the Medal
Location: Floccesy Town
"Do you think Alder will believe us?" I asked Hugh as we walked to his house.
"I hope he does," Hugh said. "Team Plasma have some nerves coming back. The Champion will show them who's boss, I know it!"
We knocked on the door to the small house. Alder opened the door. "Well, if it isn't you two again!" he said, joyfully. "Come on in!"
We both entered his house. It was like any other house we had been to. Art on the walls, pictures everywhere and some photos of Alder with a baby and what seemed to be a Larvesta with him. I looked in his bin; just some old bits of paper.
"Inside the former Champion's house," I said. "Unbelievable."
"Let's cut to the chase," Hugh said. "Alder, we have a serious situation. It seems that-"
There were some frantic knocks on the door. "Hold that thought," Alder said as he went to open it. Hugh was getting stressed.
"Calm down," I said.
Two Schoolkids came in. One boy and one girl.
"Hello Mr. Alder!" they said.
"Seymour, Cassie, glad you could make it. We have some special guests today; Pokémon Trainers!"
I gave a nervous wave. Hugh however was tapping his right foot impatiently.
"Are you on a journey?" Seymour asked.
"Yes, and we need you to go so we can ask Alder some-"
I elbowed him. "What is wrong with you?"
"Okay. I have a task for both of you. You are going to battle these Trainers. Rosa, would you like to go first?"
I of course agreed. I wanted to see how these Youngsters show their skills.
"Me first!" Seymour said. "I'm going to give you a battle you won't forget!"
Rosa Vs. Schoolkid Seymour
"I choose Snivy!" I shouted.
"Panpour, you're up!" Seymour yelled, sending out the Water Type.
Panpour (ヒヤツプ)
021
Water Type
Spray Pokémon
2'00" (0.6 m)
29.8 lbs (13.5 kg)
The water stored inside the tuft on its head is full of nutrients. It waters plants with its tail.
"Snivy, start with Vine Whip!" Snivy whacked Panpour with its vines for Super Effective damage.
"Panpour, Lick!" Panpour came over to Snivy and licked it. It was a Critical Hit.
"One more Vine Whip!" Snivy summoned its vine once more, hitting Panpour. It was down.
"Nice Grass Types moves!" Seymour said.
Seymour recalled his fainted Panpour and shook my hand. "Thank you, Mrs. Rosa. Hey Cassie, do you want to go next?"
"Just finish it!" Hugh shouted.
Cassie skipped over. "I'll have you know that MY Pokémon is actually strong against Snivy!"
Rosa Vs. Schoolkid Cassie
"Snivy, come back out!" I shouted.
"I choose Pansear!" Cassie sent out essentially a red Fire Type Panpour.
Pansear (バオップ)
019
Fire Type
High Temp Pokémon
2'00" (0.6 m)
24.3 lbs (11 kg)
Very intelligent, it likes to roast berries before eating them. It likes to help people.
"Snivy, come out!" As my Grass Type entered, it ran over to Pansear and wrapped its body around it. It started squeezing Pansear. "Hey, that's Wrap! A new move! Nice one!"
"Incinerate!" Pansear fired a flame at Snivy, sizzling away a lot of its HP. Pansear kept taking damage from the Wrap.
"Use Tackle!" Snivy let go of Pansear and rammed its body into it.
"One more Incinerate!" That was the last Incinerate before Snivy fainted. I thanked Snivy and recalled it.
"Azurill, finish it off!" I shouted. "Let's start with Water Sport!" Azurill started shooting water everywhere.
"Incinerate Pansear!" Pansear used another Incinerate, but it was weaker. That's because Water Sport weakens Fire Type moves.
"Now use Bubble!" Azurill fired bubbles at Pansear. Critical Hit! Pansear was down!
"No fair, I beat Snivy at least!"
"Great battle!" I told the Schoolkids.
"Thank you," they both told me before running out of the house.
I gave Hugh and angry look. "What was that for? Listen, I know this is important but that was unneeded."
"I agree," Alder told him. "Rudeness like that belongs with Team Plasma, not a capable Trainer like yourself. I'm disappointed with you."
"Actually," I said. "That's what we came to see you about. Alder. Team Plasma have returned."
Alder went from anger to shock. "Tell me you're lying."
I told Alder about what happened at Floccesy Ranch, about Herdier and about the new situation these Grunts are in. They're back, but with different ambitions.
"Well, if what you say is true then we need to take this matter seriously. I will visit the Ranch tonight and ask them about what happened. It's closely monitored with security cameras, so they should have caught some footage I do believe you.."
"Alder," Hugh said. Tears started rolling down his cheek. "I'm sorry. My Sister's Purrloin was stolen by Team Plasma two years ago, and I've had a hatred for them ever since. That's why I wanted to tell you!"
Alder came over and gave Hugh a hug. "There there. I lost a good friend to. Not to Team Plasma per say, but I know how it feels. Don't worry, I forgive you. Just try not to be too rude next time, okay?"
Hugh rubbed his eyes. "Okay. Alder, will you help us?"
Alder nodded. "Any help that you need. But you two are going to need to get stronger. Take on the Gyms, get Badges and prove your worth."
"Then take down Team Plasma!" Hugh said. "Come on Rosa, let's head back to Aspertia! Mr. Cheren will give us a good battle!"
I put my thumb up. "Let's do it. Thanks Alder!"
As soon as we walked out of the house, we were greeted by a man in a white suit with a thick-brown moustache. He had really round glasses with red rims.
"Would this happen to be Rosa and Hugh?" he asked. He sounded very upper class with a slight tinge of nerdy to it.
"Yes," I said.
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Mr. Medal. I am part of a programme that awards Medals to Trainers who complete various tasks. Would you like to be part of our programme?"
"Sure!" I said. Honestly, I was unsure of what to say, but it sounded fun.
Mr. Medal gave us each Medal Cases. "I have included the First Step Medal inside as a starting point. Okay, I wish you luck!" Mr. Medal walked away.
"What was that?" I asked. "Anyway, let's head to the Pokémon Center before we go home."
Location: Floccesy Town Pokémon Center
"We hope to see you again!" said Nurse Joy as she handed back my healed Snivy and Azurill.
As we turned around, there was Mr. Medal, just standing there in front of us.
"Congratulations!" he said. "You get a new Medal: The Trash Master Medal!" He handed me a brown Medal with a ribbon pattern on it. "You looked in a bin on your journey!"
"How did y-" I asked. "Wait, were you spying on us at Alder's House?"
"GottagogoodluckwithMedalcollecting!" he yelled, running out of the Pokémon Center.
I looked at Hugh awkwardly, wondering what I had got us into.
Location: Aspertia City
"I talked with Mr. Cheren," I told Hugh later that day. "We're both booked for tomorrow! Alder told him the situation, so he's fine to have two challengers tomorrow."
"Listen," Hugh said. "I apologised to Alder earlier, but I didn't to you. Sorry about my behaviour earlier. I just really want that Team Plasma to be taught a lesson."
I gave him a friendly nudge. "Don't sweat! I know what you mean. Let's start getting serious tomorrow though. Alright if I go first tomorrow?"
Hugh nodded. "Go for it Rosa!"
With Alder on our side and my Gym battle with Mr. Cheren tomorrow, things have really started to become interesting on this journey. I just hope that Medal creep doesn't' spy on us again. I swear I will call the police if this keeps up.