Chapter 57:

A Tale of a City and Forest

Location: White Forest Pokémon Center

My hope for a sleep in sadly wasn't to be when I was woken up by a bunch of shouting outside. I opened the curtains to see a group of people arguing.

"No! This forest is home to many Pokémon! Don't tear it down!"

"We need expansion! Let us have a little bit!"

I took a wild guess and thought this is what Bianca's filler plot back at the Desert Resort was like. I knew it was my turn.


Location: White Forest

I walked outside of the Pokémon Center and came in between the people.

"Fellas, fellas. Can we talk about this calmly?"

"We would if they leave the Pokémon here alone!"

I knew this would take a day to solve. "What's going on?" I asked.

"Those greedy people from Black City want to tear down some of the White Forest to expand! Yet Pokémon live in harmony in White Forest! They can't live in apartment buildings!"

"Yes, but business is growing. We need more jobs and people living in the Black City."

I didn't know whether it was worth dealing with or not. "Okay. I need to know what's happening."


As well as a Pokémon Center, the only other building in White Forest was a small hut. The residence was a woman in her late 30's named Stacy.

"Oh my, the Hero of Unova. Come on in Hilbert," she said as I went in and made myself comfy.

"What is going on?" I asked. I looked out the window to see the people continue to squabble.

"Black City and White Forest have always had this rivalry, but the leader of Black City, Mayor Ferguson, doesn't help matters. He is always threatening to expand Black City over the White Forest. I'm not on either side; I just want everyone to get on."

I wasn't quite sure what to do. I looked out the other window and saw multiple Pokémon playing in their own environment. Over the trees I could see the tall-black towers of Black City.

"I'm going to have a talk to this Ferguson guy," I said.

"Careful," she said. "He's not easily convinced."


Location: Black City

Completely different to the White Forest, the Black City had black buildings towering above me. It wasn't as peaceful as the White Forest, but it kept Unova's business intact. People were arguing here to.

"No more expansion! We've let you go far enough!"

"Business is booming. We need to go further!"

I sighed. "Fellas, please. Calm down."

"Not until he stops his actions!" shouted one man pointing to another in the opposite crowd. "People needs jobs, I get that. But they can just go work in Castelia City or somewhere. We've done enough damage to the environment without Mayor Ferguson."

"I'd like to meet him," I said.

"Good luck," a woman said. She pointed to a building to the tallest building in the City. "He's in there."


I went inside the building and up the elevator. On the top floor was Mayor Ferguson. He was wearing an expensive purple suit and had lots of gold rings on his fingers.

"Well, if it isn't Unova's Hero. What can I do you for?" he asked, just as two burly security guards appeared from behind me. "If you're trying to save the White Forest, we will give you two options. Either leave in peace, or we will toss you out."

"Listen," I said. "You need to stop this stupid rivalry. You're tormenting the people and Pokémon of White Forest with constant threats of expansion that you don't really need. This is the Unova region we live in. Business is abundant."

"We need more," he told me. "Okay. You have two options. Either you leave now or leave in bruises."


Hilbert Vs. Mayor Ferguson

"Luxray, go!" Mayor Ferguson sent out a black and blue Pokémon with a star on the end of its tail.


Luxray (レントラー)

405 (National)

Electric Type

Gleam Eyes Pokémon

4'07" (1.4 m)

92.6 lbs (42 kg)

It can see clearly through walls to track down its prey and seek its lost young.

Shinx -Lv 15- Luxio- Lv 30- Luxray


"Zekrom, go!" I shouted. "Start with Dragon Claw!" Zekrom swiped at Luxray.

"Luxray, Crunch!" Luxray chomped down on Luxray's wing.

"Enough," I said. I recalled Zekrom and sent out Excadrill who took another Crunch. "Now use Earthquake!" Excadrill made the entire building shake and knocked out Luxray in the process.

"Why must you get in our way? Go Exploud!" Exploud was a purple Pokémon with large holes all over its body and a gaping mouth.


Exploud (バクオング)

295 (National)

Normal Type

Loud Noise Pokémon

4'11" (1.5 m)

185.2 lbs (84 kg)

Its howls can be heard over six miles away. It emits all sorts of noises from the ports on its body.

Whismur -Lv 20- Loudred -Lv 40- Exploud


"Fire Fang!" Exploud's teeth caught fire, then it chomped down on Excadrill for lots of damage.

"Use Earthquake!" Excadrill made the ground shake again, taking a lot of HP away from Exploud.

"Now use Focus Blast!" Exploud made a ball of energy between its palms. It fired it at Excadrill, knocking it out.

"Excadrill!" I yelled. "You did well, and that's all I could ask for. Chandelure, go!" I replied.

"Crunch!" Exploud bit Chandelure, taking away a lot of HP.

"Counter with Flame Burst!" Chandelure fired an exploding flame at Exploud, knocking it out.


"You pest. Security! Seize him!"

Before I could run, the two guards took me by the arms. They then threw me out the right window.

"Gothitelle, Psychic!" I sent out Gothitelle on the ground who stopped me from any kind of messy impact. It used its mind to lift me down. "What would I do without you Gothitelle? And what are we going to do about that Mayor?"


Location: White Forest

"I tried," I told Stacy. "But there is no getting through to him."

Stacy shook her head. I sat down ready for the cliché backstory. (Bet you 200 Pokédollars Bianca had to sit through this in her filler plot).

"What? He's always preferred business over nature. But he's just got greedy."

Oh, there we go then.

Just then, the TV that was on had an announcement.

"Hello White Forest, I am Mayor Ferguson. I will have you know that construction on a new district of Black City will begin today! There will be construction equipment arriving soon! Residents of the White Forest, I will give you one hour to pack your things. Ta-Ta!"

I clenched my fist. "That jerk."

"What are we going to do?" Stacy asked.

"Well, if Mayor Ferguson can't see that the Pokémon live here, then we will simply show him."


I got four species of Pokémon that were appearing at the time together using some special feed that Stacy had to attract them. There was Lotad (like I explained yesterday). There was a small, grey muscly Pokémon named Machop.


Machop (ワンリキー)

066 (National)

Fighting Type

Superpower Pokémon

2'07" (0.8 m)

43 lbs (19.5 kg)

Though small in stature, it is powerful enough to easily heft and throw a number of Geodude at once.


There was some small red Bug Types called Wurmple.


Wurmple (ケムッソ)

265 (National)

Bug Type

Worm Pokémon

1'00" (0.3 m)

7.9 lbs (3.6 kg)

Often targeted by bird Pokémon, it desperately resists by raising up the spikes on its rear.


Finally, there were some red Pokémon with some spiky jaws.


Trapinch (ナックラー)

328 (National)

Ground Type

Ant Pit Pokémon

2'04" (0.7 m)

33.1 lbs (15 kg)

It makes a conical pit in desert sand and lies in wait at the bottom for prey to come tumbling down.


With the Pokémon were different Trainers. With the Machop was a Black Belt named Ryder. The Wurmple were led by a Schoolgirl named Silvia, who was also Stacy's daughter. Ranger Ralph was with the Lotad and his girlfriend, Ranger Eliza, was with the Trapinch.

"Those machines will start appearing any minute now," I said. "We know what we're doing?" I gave them all walkie talkies. "Good luck to all of you."

My walkie talkie started going off. It was Stacy. "Hilbert, they're coming."

"Okay everyone, assume positions!"

A bulldozer started charging through the undergrowth. Ryder and his Machop appeared and, with all their power, tipped over the giant machine. "We got her," Ryder said.

The next bulldozer came along. It fell in a giant pit of sand made by the Trapinch. "He's not going anywhere!" Eliza told me.

The Lotad shot water at one of the other bulldozers. The driver couldn't see where he was going and drove into the sandpit.

The final bulldozer was pulled back by the multiple String Shot from the Wurmple. The engines couldn't take it; the bulldozer exploded.

"We did it!" I shouted.


Later that day, the Police came to arrest Mayor Ferguson.

"I was just doing what was right," he said.

"Yeah yeah," Officer Jenny said. "You also almost cost the Pokémon their home. Come on, down to the precinct."

The residents of Black City were lost. "But, without him, who will be Mayor?"

Stacy put up her hand. "I will. I have a good relationship with White Forest and understand the value of both that and Black City. I will run so we can live in actual harmony."

The residents seemed to be in agreement. "We're sorry for everything," said a random woman from the crowd. "Come on, let's get you into Office."

I watched the crowd with Stacy go off.

"Mr Whittaker," said Officer Jenny. "There's something I need to tell you."

I was all ears.

"I had a message from Looker. One of the Sages was at the Cold Storage and he, well, got away."

"What?!" I said. "Who?"

"It was Zinzolin," she said.

I told Officer Jenny all about Zinzolin and his apparent ice obsession. Out of the lot, I was honestly the most concerned about him getting away.

"Thanks. Looker sends his apologies and says he will simply look out for the Grunts. He just wants you to confront them. We don't want you to worry about this too much. He is still on the lookout."


Well, this was a turn of events. I saved a bunch of Pokémon, but now it seemed that Team Plasma are still properly on the run like this. I can't help but feel a bit scared…