Chapter 20:

New News, Different Views

Location: Driftveil Drawbridge

I had kept Servine out with me just in case any naughty Ducklett try to steal my belongings. Already, I could see those naughty things staring down at me from the top of the steel bridge.

Ducklett (コアルヒー)

153

Water/Flying Type

Water Bird Pokémon

1'08" (0.5 m)

12.1 lbs (5.5 kg)

They are better at swimming than flying, and they happily eat their favourite food, peat moss, as they dive underwater.

"Leave me alone, leave me alone, leave me alone," I murmured as I walked quickly across the bridge. The problem was I didn't see where I was going and walked under a shadow, which led to a Ducklett attack. "No, you don't!" I said, hugging my bag like it was my baby. "You are not getting anywhere near this! Servine, attack!" Servine ran over to Ducklett and slammed it with its tail. "That's Slam! Alright Servine!" It did a lot to Ducklett. Ducklett came back with Water Pulse, which didn't do much. "Okay Servine, Leaf Tornado!" Servine fired a cyclone of leaves at Ducklett, finishing the job. "Great job Servine! Looks like nothing was stolen!"

Location: Driftveil City

"We're here!" I said as I finally crossed the bridge and the garden to the port settlement of Driftveil. A city that had gone through a lot more changes that Castelia to put it lightly, as it had the end of a tunnel to the north and the PWT to the south, which replaced the Cold Storage. "This is it, the sight of our fifth Gym battle. We've come so far. Thanks guys."

"Rosa!" It was Hugh. He looked sad. "Those tyrants from yesterday made their escape. I'm so mad. This was on me."

"Don't blame yourself," I said. "You did your best. And at the very least, we beat them. Let's not try to think about it too much; we're in Driftveil City. Why don't we train for our next Gym battle? Servine learned Slam on the way here!"

Hugh sighed. "Fine. But I will take down Team Plasma!"

"Oh, will you now?"

Behind him was someone I wasn't expecting to see just yet. He was wearing a gold robe with a white beard.

"Are you…" I asked. "Rood? Of the Seven Sages?!"

"No," he said. "But I am Rood. I just don't want to be called one of the Seven Sages anymore."

"You…" he said. "Your people stole my Sister's Purrloin! Go, Pignite!" Hugh shouted. "Use Flame-"

"Stop stop stop!" I said, getting in the way of Pignite's move before it could use it. "Rood's the good one! He's against Team Plasma's actions to!"

Hugh tilted his head to one side. "Really? How do you know?"

"She knows…" Rood said. "Because… actually, I'll tell you if you beat me in a battle. Does that sound fair?"

I couldn't pass up an opportunity to battle the Sage that fought alongside Hilbert. "Sounds fair! Let's do this!"

Rosa Vs. Rood

"Okay Herdier, go!" Rood shouted, sending out his Normal Type.

"And I choose Servine!" I replied. "Start with Slam!" Servine slammed its tail down onto Herdier's face. Herdier shook it off.

"Herdier, Take Down!" Herdier ran into Servine at full pelt, doing some recoil damage to it.

"Leaf Tornado!" Servine span around and fired leaves at Herdier, knocking it out.

"Impressive. But how will you deal with Swoobat?" he asked, sending out his Flying Type.

Swoobat (ココロモリ)

067

Psychic/Flying Type

Courting Pokémon

2'11" (0.9 m

23.1 lbs (10.5 kg)

It shakes its tail vigorously when it emits ultrasonic waves strong enough to reduce concrete to rubble.

Woobat -Happiness- Swoobat

"I choose Trapinch!" I shouted.

"Swoobat, Air Cutter!" Swoobat fired streaks of air at Trapinch. Trapinch stood its ground.

"Come back with Rock Slide!" Trapinch made rocks fall from the sky. They hit Swoobat and did lots of damage to it.

"Now use Heart Stamp!" Swoobat flapped over to Trapinch and stamped its heart shape nose on Trapinch. It didn't do much.

"Another Rock Slide!" Trapinch made another rockfall that knocked out Swoobat.

"Yes, that was a fine battle."

"Okay," I said. "How do you know?"

"Because you have Hilbert's Journal."

Me and Hugh gasped. "But… how did you know?" Hugh asked.

"It's thanks to me!" Nate and Dewott came round the corner.

"You!" I said. "Why did you tell Team Plasma? Rood or not, Team Plasma are still the enemy? I don't even know anymore."

"Oh, are we?" Rood asked. "Follow me, all three of you."

Rood took us through the streets. It was weird; there was a previous Team Plasma Sage yet no one batted an eye. It was like with Alder back at Floccesy Town, except this was someone people hated at one point.

"Why did you tell them?" I snarled quietly to Nate.

"You'll find out," Nate said clearly. "Don't be so suspicious."

Rood took us to a large house made of wood, though the rood was nice and sturdy.

"This is your home?" I asked.

"One way of putting it," Nate said. "This is, in essence, Team Plasma's new base. Nowhere near as fancy as the Castle they once had, but it's nice and cosy."

Rood knocked on the door. A part of the door opened so that only eyes could be seen. "Password," came a voice from the door.

"Password," Rood said.

"Clarified," replied the voice.

"That's the password?" Hugh asked. "How have more people not got in?"

"Obvious is not obvious," Rood replied as the door opened. (I really hope he never works in IT if that's the quote he lives by).

Inside this house were Team Plasma Grunts. Except, they were not dressed up like the Grunts we had been used to. They were in white robes. They were dressed like…

"The ones that stole my Sister's Purrloin!" shouted Hugh. "You guys did it!"

"Hold on!" I said. "Yes, they are dressed the same. But ARE they the same?"

"What is it?" one of the Grunts asked.

"Allow me to introduce you to Team Plasma," Rood said. "Within the two years since Hilbert's disappearance, Team Plasma split in two. A large part has a new goal which we are trying to figure out. I lead this smaller section who take care of wild Pokémon that are weak."

The thought of Team Plasma doing good was such a weird thought. But at least they had learned the error of their ways. Their apparent goal was originally to steal all Pokémon and then release them, but this was just a cover up to have Ghetsis be the only one in the world to use them. It made me sick to my stomach that he almost succeeded, and I am so glad that Hilbert swooped in on Zekrom at the last minute to take care of things.

"I still don't trust you!" shouted Hugh. "Return the Purrloin!"

"We don't have it!" Rood replied. "It might be with Neo Team Plasma. Listen. We are on your side now. We can help you take down the new team."

Hugh stayed silent for a minute.

"This isn't a take it or leave it situation," Nate said. "We need all the help we can get."

"Fine," Hugh said. "But one double cross and you will answer to my Pokémon, and you don't want to do that I can assure you."

"You don't need to worry about that," Rood told me. "Now. If I may see the Journal."

Whilst hesitant, I showed Rood the Journal. He flicked through. "Well?" I said. "What do you think?"

"Fascinating. And you are using this as a guide on your journey? I do remember this time in Lostlorn Forest, and I have proof. Zorua! Zorua!"

A small black and red Pokémon scampered out from behind a sofa.

Zorua (ゾロア)

151

Dark Type

Tricky Fox Pokémon

2'04" (0.7 m)

27.6 lbs (12.5 kg)

It changes so it looks just like its foe, tricks it, and then uses that opportunity to flee.

"Could this be?" I asked. "The same Zorua that…"

"Yes," Rood said. "My concern was true, and this Zorua came to us an orphan."

Zorua, hearing the conversation, rubbed a tear from its eye.

"It was good friends with N," Nate said. "But we want it to friends with you!"

"What?!" I shouted. "You're giving Zorua to me?"

"It's obvious!" Hugh said. "You two would make a great team! If anything, it might help Hilbert remind him of his journey and that he can trust you!"

"I guess so…" I said. "Okay. I'll take it."

Nate went into a drawer and took out a Pokéball. "Take good care of it. It knows the moves Fury Swipes, Faint Attack, Scary Face and Taunt."

"You'll be- what?"

Zorua had transformed into me!

"Stop that!" Rood said. Zorua changed back into, well, Zorua. "That might be something you'll need to get use to."

"I will," I replied. "And so will my foes, because Zorua will become a strong Zoroark in no time!"

Now that I have Team Plasma to take on, well, Team Plasma, as well as a new Pokémon, I feel like a lot of progress will be made! Now that I'm in Driftveil City, I will also give Clay a match that he won't forget! Hugh will be going before me though.