Chapter 38:

A Message from Virizion

Location: Route 11

"Almost at Opelucid City," I said. The only thing between me and there was Route 11, a straightforward path with a waterfall. Well, I say it was straightforward as there were two Trainers that I had no choice but to battle (but I wasn't complaining!)

The first foe I was up against was a Breeder.

"Oh my, this equipment is heavy. Let's put it down for a bit."

Rosa Vs. Breeder Magnolia

"Vibrava, go!" I shouted.

"And I choose Emolga!" Magnolia replied. The good news was that Emolga's Electric Type moves wouldn't work against Vibrava. The bad news was that Vibrava's Ground Type moves wouldn't work against Emolga. "Emolga, Acrobatics!" Emolga tossed and turned everywhere and kicked Vibrava.

"Vibrava, Dragonbreath!" Vibrava fired purple energy at Emolga. It was a Critical Hit.

"One more Acrobatics!" Emolga flipped into Vibrava a second time, taking it out.

"You did well," I told it. "Okay Cinccino, go!" I shouted. "Use Tail Slap!" Cinccino slapped Emolga across the face five times. But at a price; Emolga had the Static Ability, which meant there was a chance of Cinccino getting paralyzed from a direct attack. And when you've hit a Pokémon five times, yeah. Cinccino got paralysed.

"Now use Electro Ball!" Emolga fired a yellow ball at Cinccino. Since Emolga was fast, it did quite a bit. Under half in fact. "And again!" Emolga attacked with another Electro Ball, almost finishing Cinccino.

"One more Tail Slap!" Cinccino slapped Emolga enough times to knock it out.

"You did well Emolga dear. Okay Altaria, go!" Magnolia sent out a blue Pokémon with fluffy cloud-like wings.

Altaria (チルタリス)

247

Dragon/Flying Type

Humming Pokémon

3'07" (1.1 m)

45.4 lbs (20.6 kg)

On sunny days, it flies freely through the sky and blends into the clouds. It sings in a beautiful soprano.

Swablu -Lv 35- Altaria

"Altaria, Dragonbreath!" Altaria fired its own Dragonbreath at Cinccino, knocking it out.

"No!" I shouted. "Okay then. I choose Growlithe!" I know Fire Type moves aren't the best against Dragon Types, but this battle was surprisingly tough.

"Altaria, Dragon Dance!" Altaria started dancing as purple energy swirled round it. Its Attack and Speed rose.

"Careful Growlithe," I said. Growlithe suddenly jumped into Altaria and chomped down on its wing. Upon impact, Altaria's Defense fell. "Hey, that's Crunch!" I shouted.

"Now use Take Down Altaria!" Altaria slammed its whole body into Growlithe, almost finishing it.

"Use Crunch again!" Growlithe chomped down on Altaria. Thanks to the Defense drop, Altaria was finished.

"Oh great, not I have to pick up this equipment again."

I was making good progress, so I wanted to take on the Pokémon Ranger next.

"Please do not go swimming in this river; it's freezing."

Rosa Vs. Ranger Crofton

"Serperior, go!" I shouted.

"I choose Tympole!" Crofton said. Luck was on my side; a Water Type!

Tympole (オタマロ)

228

Water Type

Tadpole Pokémon

1'08" (0.5 m)

9.9 lbs (4.5 kg)

By vibrating its cheeks, it emits sound waves imperceptible to humans and warns others of danger.

"Serperior, Coil!" Serperior coiled around, raising its Attack, Defense and Speed.

"Tympole, Hydro Pump!" Tympole breathed in, then fired a large pillar of water at Serperior. Serperior took it well enough, but it was a strong move nonetheless.

"Now Leaf Blade!" Serperior swiped Tympole across the face, knocking it out.

"Oh no. Okay Palpitoad, I choose you!" Tympole's evolved form was also a Ground Type. This spelled trouble for my opponent.

Palpitoad (ガマガル)

229

Water/Ground Type

Vibration Pokémon

2'07" (0.8 m)

37.5 lbs (17 kg)

It lives in the water and on land. It uses its long, sticky tongue to immobilize its opponents.

Tympole -Lv 25- Palpitoad

"Leaf Blade again!" Serperior slashed at Paliptoad, also knocking it out in one blow.

"Well, you seem like you have common sense anyway."

Soon, I reached the gate of Opelucid City.

"Here we go," I thought. "My penultimate Badge."

Before I went through however, I felt as though I could feel something in the undergrowth. And then, it jumped. Something green and big. It appeared in front of me; it was…

Virizion (ヴイリジオン)

227

Grass/Fighting Type

Grassland Pokémon

6'07" (2 m)

440.9 lbs (200 kg)

Legends say this Pokémon confounded opponents with its swift movements.

Legendary Pokémon

"V…Virizion," I said. "What are you doing here?"

"Come to warn you," it said. "Cobalion said that Team Plasma's plots are coming along fast, and that Opelucid City might have something to do with it."

"Oh," I said. "But… what do we do? We could take down the castle! Just go down Route 10 and-"

"That won't do," it said. "Aside from the fact that it's in Victory Road, which you need eight Badges to get into anyway, Route 10 suffered a land slide that has blocked it off completely. No. We're going to have to head for the Frigate."

"But how?" I said. "It's in the sky!" I was stressing out. "I knew I shouldn't have wasted my time at the Abandoned House and on the Village Bridge. What am I to-"

"Me…Me Me looooo…"

I heard familiar singing. "Is that?" I asked.

Suddenly, it appeared in front of me. Meloetta. "Hello." Virizion said. "What's your name?"

"This is my friend, Meloetta," I said. "It's singing has the power to make anyone feel at ease, but I've yet to see its battling capabilities yet."

Virizion walked up to Meloetta. "Would you be a valuable asset… to calm down Kyurem?"

That word hit me luck a Hyper Beam. "Did you just say…"

"Yes," said Virizion. "Kyurem has mysteriously disappeared from the Giant Chasm. I hope I'm wrong, but I believe that Team Plasma might have something to do with it."

"Oh no," I said. "Okay, I better get to Opelucid City then. Tomorrow, I will obtain my next Badge which will help me get stronger. Meloetta, you coming?"

Meloetta nodded and turned invisible. "Stay out of sight Meloetta," Virizion said.

Location: Opelucid City

The futuristic buildings of Opelucid City stood tall above me, but I was too busy to be amazed. I wanted to get a good nights sleep to take on the Gym first thing.

"Rosa!" Hugh said. "I won, but no sign on Team Plasma."

"I know," I said. "But I fear that they make a cold comeback soon…"

Virizion's warning has me very scared, but if I work with Hugh and my new friend, Meloetta, we will take down Kyurem! But first, it's time to take down Drayden and get the Rising Badge!