Castelia Arc: Reaching For New Gates

"Now's our chance, Absol!" Jacky stretched her arm forward. "Psycho Cut! Over and over again!",
"Sol!" Absol's horn lit up and it kept maltreating its opponent with brightly glowing blades. It kept aiming at the same spot and slowly but surely, Whirlipede's shell gave way. After a while, it collapsed to the side, defeated. "Mh... Not bad", Burgh commented, withdrawing his Pokémon. "Yay!" Jacky exclaimed with relief.
"You really have talent." He pulled out the next Poké Ball. "And an eye for detail. But now it's going to be tough. Vespiquen, let's go!" Another Pokémon appeared on the field. Jacky scanned it with her Pokédex. 'Vespiquen- The Beehive Pokémon. Evolved form of Combee. It houses its colony in cells in its body and releases various pheromones to make those grubs do its bidding', the device buzzed.
"So it doesn't attack itself...? Hmm..." Jacky put the device away again. Then, she looked at Absol. "You were really great, Absol. Come back." She withdrew it. "Noibat, fly with me!" The little bat appeared on the field.

"Ready for round two?" Burgh asked, and Jacky nodded. "Yes.",
"Good. Vespiquen, Attack Order!" Suddenly, Vespiquen was surrounded by a swarm of Combee that mercilessly went after Noibat.
"Heat Wave!" Jacky commanded, and Noibat waved its little wings to let heated air stream at them and their host. The bees retreated again. "Air Slash!" Burgh shouted, and Vespiquen's arm glowed as it formed a blade out of the air and launched it at Noibat.
"Dodge it!" The little dragon Pokémon fluttered to the side. "Healing Order!" The little bees buzzed around Vespiquen, enveloping it in a cool light. Shortly after, the burns it had suffered from the Heat Wave were completely gone.
"It regenerated..." Jacky murmured. "So it can attack and be healed...",
"Air Slash!" Again, Vespiquen attacked and the blade hit Noibat.
"You okay?" Jacky asked and Noibat nodded as it flapped its wings eagerly. "Okay, then use Tackle!",
"Raaawr!" It shot forward.
"Dodge it!" Burgh advised, and Vespiquen floated to the side. "Now Attack Order!",
"Gust!" Noibat kept the bees away from it by creating a harsh headwind. Vespiquen sent a blade of air at it, which it dodged. "Fly to the side! Around Vespiquen!" Jacky shouted over to her Pokémon, and Noibat began to glide around its opponent. "Fly up, Vespiquen!" Burgh told it, and the bee rose higher into the air. "Now, show them you're not so easy to bring down! Destiny Bond!" Shadowy chains wrapped around Noibat before disappearing again. "Noibat, Tack- wait, Destiny Bond?",
"You heard me right." Burgh nodded.
"Noibat, watch out! Don't attack!" The bat fluttered in confusion.
"Take advantage of it! Attack Order!"
This time, Noibat was hit by the attack. It crashed into the ground and was already struggling to get back up. "Finish it off, Vespiquen! Air Slash!",
"Get up, Noibat! Please!"Jacky almost pleaded. Noibat managed to get back to its feet and jumped to the side, the Air Slash hitting right where it had been until a few seconds ago.
"Don't let it get away! Attack Order!"

Noibat fluttered off, dodging the bees already visibly exhausted. "What should I do? Vespiquen is way too strong for Noibat... No, not Vespiquen. His helper bees. If only I could..." Vespiquen sent another Air Slash at Noibat and it dodged so narrowly that the blade almost touched its wing. "Fly higher!" Jacky shouted, and Noibat swung up. "Go after it!" Vespiquen pursued Noibat.
"Gust!" A gust of wind hit the queen bee and it backed off. Its bees swarmed again to heal it. "Tackle, quick!" Noibat dropped and whizzed through the bees, straight at Vespiquen and hit it. It staggered back, then retaliated with an Air Slash. Noibat dodged again, albeit with difficulty. It folded its wings and zoomed toward Vespiquen close above the ground. "Tackle, again! Let's finish it!" Burgh realized Vespiquen wouldn't be able to dodge, but grinned nonetheless. "Destiny Bond!" As Noibat hit its opponents, Vespiquen hit the ground, unconscious. At the same time, Noibat's strength all left it and Jacky made a dash to catch it before it, too, crashed into the ground. Burgh had made a pretty dignified exit, that much he should get credit for.

He withdrew Vespiquen and applauded. "Congratulations. You won." Jacky looked up and smiled. "Thanks a lot, Burgh!" He waved it off. "I don't deserve any thanks. You've done valiantly." He walked up to her and handed her the badge. "For skipping a badge, you're doing pretty well. You can be pleased with yourself. I don't often see trainers with as much potential as you two. The last one I gave credit to was a young trainer who came here to challenge me a few weeks ago. You remind me of him, he, too, had an amazing eye for detail. Even though... he seemed like he got an own package to carry. It pleases me to see what the youth of today can accomplish.",
"Noibat, you take it." Noibat reached out its small hands in exhaustion and accepted the badge. It held it triumphantly into the air, making Burgh smile warmly. Mari came to them. "Well done! It was really fun watching you guys!" She patted Jacky on the shoulder. "You three were great! Congratulations on your second badge." Jacky laughed as Noibat bounced on her head and held up the badge once again with pride. Then, she turned to Burgh once again. "The trainer you mentioned... Who is he?",
"I'm afraid I don't remember his name. It was a very unique one, though. However, his silver hair and pale skin have stuck in my mind. His skin looked like alabaster, that's how fair it was. You don't see someone like him very often. Actually, it's the first time I've seen someone looking this conspicuous. It's memorable."
Jacky nodded. "Hmm... Maybe I'll run into him sometime. He sounds like an interesting trainer, maybe I can challenge him sometime.",
"For sure." Burgh smiled at her and they said their goodbyes.

At the Pokémon Center, Jacky was flipping through a magazine again. That, meanwhile, was common practise. Mari was rocking back and forth in her chair. "Well, the Nimbasa Gym is next on the list then!",
"Isn't that Elesa's gym?" Jacky asked. "You know, the famous top model?",
"Very true." Mari nodded. "I'm looking forward to meeting her. She's really pretty and very personable. You know, there are also many sights in Nimbasa. I heard the gym was in the big Nimbasa amusement park.",
"Really?" Jacky's eyes widened. "A gym in the middle of Ferris wheels and roller coasters?",
"It sounds strange, but if it's true, that would be really cool, wouldn't it?",
"Absolutely!" Jacky nodded. "How about we head out today? If we're quick, we can even make it to Nimbasa before dusk.",
"Hate to break it to you, but... between us and Nimbasa is Route 4. And that one runs through the desert.",
"Oh... OH. Um..." Jacky twirled a strand of hair around her index finger.
"We'll have to go through there either way." Mari sighed. "So it would be better if we get it over with quickly.",
"Sounds like a solid plan." Jacky nodded and threw on her bag.

The two set off. They walked through Castelia's roads, but avoided Slim Street. They passed a small square with a fountain. "Back there is the gate to the route," Mari informed her friend, pointing ahead.
"Well then! The devil makes the hindmost!" Jacky ran off. Mari followed her.