Chapter 3:

Team Plasma's Ambitions

Location: Accumula Town

I felt the sun hit my eyes as someone flung open the curtains, then yanked the quilt off my bed. I slowly opened my eyes as I was trying to comprehend everything going on. Was I late for School? No, I was on my journey.

I was completely awake when my clothes were thrown onto me.

"Get dressed" Bianca hurriedly told me. "Something's going on at the Accumula Town Park. Don't ask questions, they're setting up. It could be something big."


I was downstairs and outside in about 15 minutes after getting washed and dressed. Bianca ran to me at the Pokémon Center doors.

"Bianca you're only ever in a hurry when you're late."

"No time for joking" she told me. "Cheren's over there to." She grabbed my arm and took me to the Park where Cheren was. He was in a murmuring crowd.

"Hilbert" he said. "Thought you would never make it. I'm not sure what's up, but I don't think its good."

In the park were multiple people dressed in white knight like outfits with black trousers and a black belt. On the flagpoles was a flag, depicting a shield that was black on one half and white on the other. It had a blue lightning bolt across the shield with a giant blue P on it.

Just then, from out of the group of white dressed people, came a man with long green hair. The most striking part of his appearance was a giant robe that had eye patterns on them. One side had a yellow eye with navy in the background, the other the opposite colours. At the top of the robes was what looked like a crown with blue around it and the flag symbol on it. Over his eye, he had a white triangular monocle with red lens.

"Citizens of Accumula Town." His voice sounded high authority, but evil at the same time. "My name is Ghetsis Harmonia, and this group is Team Plasma."

Immediately murmuring was all around.

"Team Plasma?"

"Oh no, here we go again."

"I'm scared mommy!"

"You may be wondering why I'm here; it's all of you." As he spoke, he walked from one end of the park to the other. It was a small park so everyone could hear anyway, even without a mouthpiece or microphone. "All of you that have trained Pokémon, have been abusing them. Making them fight for your own personal gain."

Murmuring came up once more.

"What is he talking about?"

"But Pokémon are our friends."

"I am here to urge you to follow my plea; release all your Pokémon. End their suffering and let them live a happy free life."

"Is he serious?"

"Maybe he's right."

"But, I'm close to them."

I couldn't take much more of this. "Why should we?" I shouted.

"I don't think guy is the best person to argue with" Cheren told me. "Might want to cool it."

It was too late. I had already caught his attention. "No no" Ghetsis said to Cheren, then turned his head to me. "Tell me, why do you think this?"

I got out Oshawott's Pokéball, then summoned my Water Type. "My name is Hilbert Whittaker. The other day, I received this Oshawott as a present so that I may go on a journey. The two of us battle so they we may grow bond, become stronger and potentially evolve."

Ghetsis slowly walked over. He knelt down to Oshawott's level. Oshawott stepped back slowly from fear. However, Ghetsis just stroked its furry head. "What has he done to you?" Ghetsis asked it. Oshawott immediately hid behind my right foot.

"It's okay little guy." I told him assuringly. "Listen, do you expect all Pokémon to be kept as pets? Many people don't see them that way! How do you think you're going to liberate each and every one?"

Ghetsis walked away from me, back to the park. He then spoke up. "Imagine being beat up by your brothers then. And let me make that clear to the lot of you! If you don't release your Pokémon, Team Plasma will still them and do it for you! Either way, you've lost. Plasma, make haste. Our work here is done. Team Plasma will prevail." The Team Plasma Grunts took down the flags and they all made their leave, surrounding Ghetsis as they walked away.

Upon leaving, I went to the middle of the park where he stood and tried making an announcement myself.

"Don't listen to them" I mentioned. "What does Ghetsis even think he's saying? Battling is something that humans have done with Pokémon for centuries, why stop it?"

I could clearly see thought that Ghetsis's speech had had an effect of the crowd. The crowd were ignoring me and separated, lost in thought. I wasn't too sure what to say.

"They could be bluffing" Bianca said.

"I dunno" Cheren noted. "That Ghetsis seemed pretty sus. Anyway, I should head off. I want to take on Striaton City's Gym ASAP."

"Me to" Bianca told me.

"I'll join you guys when I can" I told them.

As my two friends walked off, they passed a man with long green hair. He had a black and white cap, white shirt, grey trousers and a gold cube key chain coming out of his trouser pocket. He noticed me immediately and walked over. Cheren noticed, and watched. He told Bianca to go on ahead and watched us from a distance.

"That was… quite the feat to do" the man told me. "Standing up to Ghetsis, few have that courage."

"I couldn't just say nothing" I replied. "I disagree with him."

He noticed Oshawott, who was still out. Unlike Ghetsis, Oshawott reluctantly went over to him and let itself be stroked, yapping gleefully as his hand ran over Oshawott's fuzzy white fur. "You feel, happy with Hilbert don't you" he asked it, to which Oshawott nodded wildly. "I do believe that I haven't introduced myself. My name is N. I have the ability to read Pokémon's emotions."

I saw this as an opportunity. "You could use this to take down Team Plasma!" I told him. "Show what Pokémon truly feel!"

N turned his back. Not rudely or anything. I had no idea what was going on in this whack jobs head. "I… refuse."

I was about to speak up, but the more I thought about it, the more N was right. I weirdly believed N could read emotions, but who's to say everyone else would? He would be a laughingstock to the entire Unova region and, even worse, and a target for Team Plasma.

There was one way to put his skills to the test.

"N" I said, as he quickly turned back to me. "I challenge you to a battle!"

N gave a grin. "So be it. I will read the feelings of your Oshawott as we clash."


Hilbert Vs N

"Go Oshawott!" Oshawott was still out of its ball, so it just ran into battle.

"Go Purrloin!" N shouted. He sent out a black feline Pokémon with bits of yellow all around it. It had sharp green eyes.


Purrloin (チョロネコ)

015

Dark Type

Devious Pokémon

1'04" (0.4 m)

22.3 lbs (10.1 kg)

They steal from people for fun, but their victims can't help but forgive them. Their deceptively cute act is perfect.


"Oshawott, give it a Tackle!" Instead, Oshawott breathed in. It then squirted water at Purrloin. Suffice to say, it didn't like it. Purrloin shook off the water. "Oshawott, that was Water Gun! Alright, you've learned a Water Type move!"

"You're Oshawott feels… happy" N told me. "Purrloin, use Scratch." Purrloin came up to Oshawott and scratched it in the face. Oshawott rubbed it off quickly.

"Use another Water Gun!" I yelled. Oshawott squirted water once again, finishing Purrloin.


"Interesting" N told me as he recalled Purrloin. "Your Oshawott still seems rather proud."

Oshawott came up and high fived me with its Scalchop. "You don't even need a special ability like yours to see that. Oshawott's my best friend!"

"But does Oshawott think the same?" N asked. "I don't know, I can only sense emotions, not complex thoughts." Without even a goodbye, he walked off the same way Team Plasma went. Like before, it didn't seem rude, rather it added to the mystery of this new friend (?) of mine.

"Who was that?" Cheren asked.

I had no reply, to which Cheren understood. What we did know was that we would be heading to Striaton next after a Center heal.

"Go on ahead" Cheren said. "I'll catch up."


Location: Route 2

It was a beautiful afternoon on Route 2. You can see this Route from one of the Accumula buildings, though it's just trees with a path running through it. Route 2 isn't even that long; if I were to make it to Striaton City quickly though getting a move on would be the objective.

On my way down the grassy path, I was spotted by a Youngster. I knew what to do here; battle him.

"Hey, you're in my line of vision! Now you have to battle me!"


Hilbert vs Youngster Jimmy

"Oshawott, go!" I shouted as my Water Type entered the battle.

"Go Patrat!" shouted Jimmy, sending out the brown Normal Type.

"Oshawott, Water Gun!" Oshawott squirted water at Patrat. It knocked it into a tree and an apple fell on its head.

"Patrat, Bite!" I was interested to see how powerful this Bite was. Patrat took the apple and bit down on it in one; that more than proved its power. Patrat ran up to Oshawott and bit down on it. Oshawott screamed in pain.

"Oshawott, Water Gun!" Oshawott shook Patrat off and shot water at it. Patrat went flying through the air and landed on the ground with a thud. It was down.

"Thank you" Jimmy said, recalling Patrat and running back in the Acummula Town direction.


I continued to walk down Route 2, battling Trainers and wild Pokémon. It felt like forever, but the buildings of Striaton City soon came into view. Then, the entrance the City. There was no more tall grass, but one more Trainer…

"Hilbert!" Bianca said. "I've been waiting for you forever; I knew you'd make it!"

"I had… business to attend to" I replied, before looking over at her shoulders. "Striaton City. I'm gonna take that Gym down!"

"But… you only have one Pokémon" Bianca pointed out. I mean, she had a point. But what was available? Three Pokémon I've seen and none of them looked interesting to me personally.

"Well, I've already caught one, and I'd like to show it to you! Come on, it's not like we can wreck a room this time!"


Hilbert vs Bianca

"Oshawott, go!" I shouted.

"Go Lillipup!" Bianca replied, sending out the furry brown Pokémon.

"Oshawott, Water Gun!" Oshawott sprayed water at Lillipup. Critical Hit! Lillipup was taken aback by this move.

"Lillipup, Tackle!" Lillipup came dashing into Oshawott. Oshawott stood its ground.

"Show it you're Tackle!" Oshawott charged into Lillipup, finishing it.

"Oh no!" Bianca panicked. "Okay, just relax. I've still got this. Go Tepig!" Out came her orange partner.

"Oshawott, Water Gun!" Oshawott attempted to put out Tepig; it almost finished it.

"Tepig, Ember!" Tepig shot a single flame at Oshawott; it wasn't very effective. "Oh no, I forgot about Type disadvantages!"

"One more Water Gun!" Oshawott used a Water Gun and Tepig was quenched.

"That was tiring" Bianca said recalling Tepig, before looking at the path that lay in front of us. In front of the setting sun was Striaton City. "Well, what are we waiting for?" She grabbed me by the arm and started pulling me to the City entrance. "Let's go win our first Badge!"


Location: Striaton City

And so, I have reached my first big location; Striaton City. I won't take on the Gym tomorrow though; Bianca was right. I need to catch another Pokémon. What if the next Gym is a Grass or Electric Gym? Well, seems I do need something. But I'll worry about that tomorrow.