A/N: Hello everyone and welcome back to Nanka's Pokémon Miiverse Adventure! I had a short break wherein I both didn't get as much done as I wanted to and I did. I'm at least ahead with the writing, though not as much as I wanted, but I have tackled the lengthiest edit I was going to have for a while. I'll be sure to talk about it when I arrive at that chapter. I was unable to go back and do the edits to the previous chapters that I wanted to, but I don't see that as a huge problem; I'll see if I can sort that stuff out per my next break.
In any case, let us get on with Act 3 of NPMA... which is the 5th chapter per it's fanfiction upload!
Nanka's Pokémon Miiverse Adventure Act 3!
The story so far!
Nanka, a polite young girl from Pallet Town, began her Pokémon adventure alongside her rash and battle loving Pikachu, Jolt. Through two weeks of travelling, the two of them had become friends, along with other Pokémon such as Arid the playful Sandshrew and Devourer the ever-hungry Bellsprout.
Their journey took them through the wondrous Mt. Moon that was unfortunately beset by villains of the villainous organisation; Team Rocket. Fighting their way past these evil-doers, defeating her rival and childhood friend at Nugget Bridge, meeting the inventor of the Pokémon Storage System and obtaining the Cerulean Gym badge were but a few of the things Nanka and company had done within their 2nd adventurous week.
Things took a turn for the worse though, as after obtaining her 2nd Gym badge thanks to Devourer and Jolt, Arid was Pokénapped by a Team Rocket Thief.
Pursuing said thief, Nanka was able to take down the thief and reclaim her stolen items and Pokémon, thanks to Venom and a surprise attack from Arid. Due to this battle taking place in the chilling rain though, Nanka found herself with a feverish cold, spending the last couple days resting up.
"Y-you shouldn't have." Nanka said, trying to protest the gift, but unable to suppress the large smile beaming across her face.
"Now sweetie, you've been stuck here with a fever because of the cold weather, so this coat should really help prevent that." Mrs Phthalo insisted with a smile.
"Thank you very much." Nanka finally accepted with a short bow of her head, as she then proceeded to put on her warm blue winter coat.
Garbed in her winter coat, Nanka did a little twirl, admiring the yellow hemmed clothing. In response, Mrs Phthalo squealed, running over to and hugging Nanka.
"Awww, aren't you just the sweetest!" Mrs Phthalo squealed, hugging Nanka tightly to her chest. "I hope any kid I have is as nice and sweet as you."
As Mr Phthalo spluttered out his morning coffee in the back of the room, Nanka blushed brightly from the affectionate hug, murmuring, "O-oh, ummmm… thank you."
"Y-yes! I-It's been a delight having you here, Nanka." Mr Phthalo stammered out as he walked on over, trying to dry out his coffee soaked beard with a towel. "Y-you're welcome here anytime y'know!"
Having said their goodbyes, to Mr and Mrs Phthalo, Nanka and Jolt continued their Pokémon adventure. The November chill was fairly weak, Kanto being a fairly warm region most the year, aside from its rainy days.
The duo found that Route 9 was blocked off by an array of brambles and so they headed off on the road to Vermillion City; Route 5. As they leapt over ledges, a nearby building caught their attention.
Curious about the lone building on Route 5, Nanka decided to knock, "Hello. Is anyone there?"
"Why yes, come on in." A voice called out from within. "We're open, child."
Nanka timidly stepped inside, greeted by a room of bright blues and yellow. Shelves were lined with books, toys and Pokéballs, with pillows and plant pots all about the floor.
"Welcome to my Pokémon Day Care, miss."
A sun-hat wearing man was the one to greet her, a tired but content smile across his face.
"Pokémon Day Care?" Nanka repeated inquisitively. "So this is a place where you look after other people's Pokémon for the day?"
"An sometimes longer than that." The Day-Care Man answered with a nod. "Would you like me to care for one of your Pokémon? I'll even help train them a bit, if you'd like."
Nanka put a finger to her lip, considering the offer in head.
'It would make things easier if I had someone helping me train my Pokémon,' Nanka thought to herself, as she briefly glanced down to the four Pokémon contained Pokéballs in her bag, 'but I'm sure I can train up five Pokémon just fine… even if Arid can be a handful.'
Nanka shook her head a little, looking back to the Day-Care Man with an answer in mind.
"Thank you for the offer, but I think I'll decline." Nanka answered.
"Fair enough." The Day-Care Man replied. "If you ever need a Pokémon looking after though, you know where to find me."
"Oh yes, I'll be sure to consider it." Nanka assured, proceeding to leave the Day-Care with all of her Pokémon accompanying her.
Nanka had only just entered the Underground Path's lobby, when a young girl ran up to her, shouting out with starry eyes. "Hi! Do you have a Cubone?"
Nanka didn't have the chance to reply before the girl continued shouting excitedly, "Want to trade for Machoke!?"
"I'm sorry, I'm afraid I don't have a Cubone." Nanka replied, guilt hitting her as a downtrodden look popped up on the kid's face.
It wasn't long since exiting the Underground Path and arriving at Route 6 that Nanka was challenged to a Pokémon battle.
It was kind of exciting seeing the Bug Catcher send out a Weedle, the large horned Bug type being strangely absent from Viridian Forest the last couple years. It was also an exciting opportunity to test out some new moves of her Pokémon.
Nanka sent out Arid, whom immediately began putting Mr Phthalo's TM to good use, starting off the battle with Dig. Given the abundancy of holes after the battle, it appeared her Sandshrew might've been putting Mr Phthalo's TM to a little too much use.
"Awww, it's adorable!" Nanka swooned and squealed as the pink balloon Pokémon skipped out of the grass.
This was the second Jigglypuff Nanka had encountered, but the last one was in the possession of a lass. This Jigglypuff was wild!
"I'm going to catch you, Jigglypuff!" Nanka declared with eyes burning with determination. "Let's do this, Jolt! Dusty!"
Jolt and Dusty shied away from their trainer's… intense energy.
All of her Pokéballs. It had taken all of her Pokéballs, but Nanka had managed to catch the Jigglypuff.
"We caught a Jigglypuff!" The girl squealed with delight, holding up the Pokéball containing the adorable Pokémon as if it were a sacred treasure and giggling with joy. "Hey, hey; Jolt! Dusty! How about Melody? Do you think Melody would be a good name for our sweet little companion!?"
The two Pokémon nodded hesitantly, still unsure how to feel about their trainer's level of… enthralment.
As typical for a Pokémon trainer on an adventure, Nanka found herself challenged to numerous Pokémon battles along Route 6. After besting an upset Bug Catcher, a lovey-dovey couple in training, a fellow Butterfree trainer, a Junior who wanted to get stronger and a trainer with a Ratticate; Nanka finally arrived at Vermillion City.
Night was still quite a ways off, but after so many battles, Nanka wanted to do nothing more than rest the remainder of it away. Jolt of course wanted to do even more fighting.
"Awww, you are just so adorable." Nanka cooed to the flattered Jigglypuff, hugging her little pink Pokémon.
Jolt rolled his eyes at his girly trainer, who had been spending the last hour gushing over the Jigglypuff newbie despite having long since prepared herself for bed. Having had enough of the gushing, Jolt ran up to the two of them to ask the important questions.
"Pika, Pikachu?" Jolt asked as he did a bit of air-boxing, and then pointed to Melody.
"Ooohhh, I think I know what you're saying." Nanka replied, as she turned to the smiling Melody within her arms and asked. "Say Melody, what moves do you know?"
"Jig-gly puff, Jig-jig, J-Jigglypuff." Melody sung sweetly, though the move missed Jolt and Nanka seemed unfazed.
"Anything else?" Nanka asked with enthusiasm, though as Melody shook her body, Nanka's smile dropped. "Oh… oh dear."
"Oooh, I'm going to miss you!" Nanka said as she hugged her Jigglypuff tightly to her chest.
It pained Nanka to part from her adorable Pokémon so soon after catching her, but it was for the best. Melody was a rather young Jigglypuff, an whilst perhaps around or even a bit older than Arid… seemed to only know Sing. She would struggle against the wild Pokémon within the area, let alone the trainers. Melody needed training and a safe place; the Day-Care was the best place for her to be for now.
Taking her mind off worrying about her Jigglypuff, though she had no reason too but it was simply typical behaviour from her, Nanka decided to stroll around Vermillion City.
The port of exquisite sunsets was a beautiful place, the scent of salty sea water flowing along the gentle breeze; the numerous folks walking about the city enjoying relaxing warmth in the November times. To further prove the city's beauty was how cleanliness was a priority; Nanka seeing not a speck of litter and any which dropped was quickly disposed of by a considerate citizen.
The day spent in Vermillion City had been pleasant and peaceful; enjoyable but uneventful. Nanka certainly did not mind the more relaxed day, particularly after her recent days of Rocket troubles, but she was surprised to see Jolt enjoying himself. The action-loving Pikachu had been content enough to walk alongside her and join in sight-seeing.
That was until a particular building caught his eye and Jolt's usual unrestrained curiosity kicked in; the Pikachu darting away from his trainer at full speed.
"Jolt!" Nanka called out as she ran after her Pikachu into a building filled with fishing equipment. "I-I'm very sorry to intrude."
A chuckle came from a green jacketed man, whom was showing a lure to a strangely quiet Jolt, "Don't be sorry, kiddo. I'm always happy to welcome folks to my fishing store."
"O-oh." Nanka uttered, surprised but also relieved that she and Jolt hadn't barged into someone's house.
The store owning fisherman placed his lure onto the nearby table, leading Jolt to jump up onto said table to continue inspecting the lure.
"I'm the Fishing Guru!" The Fisherman proclaimed. "I simply looove fishing!"
Nanka was unsure how to respond to such unbridled enthusiasm and so simply nodded quietly.
"So much, that I wanted to share it with others!" The Fishing Guru explained as he threw out his arms, motioning to his store's wares around him. "Do you like to fish?"
"I… haven't really fished much before… I think." Nanka replied, trying to remember if she had ever fished before, only getting vague memories of playing by a pond when she was younger.
"I see." The Fishing Guru noted as he looked over to Jolt, who was staring wide-eyed at the various fishing rods about the room, whilst carrying the lure that had intrigued him so much. "But your Pikachu here seems interested."
The Fishing Guru scratched his chin for a second, before chuckling, "I know, I'll give ya a freebie!"
"Pardon?" Nanka asked, as the Fishing Guru retrieved a small and old fishing rod from a drawer.
"You two can give fishing a try with this old thing, see if it's to your liking, young one."
As Jolt snatched up the Old Rod eagerly, Nanka bowed her head in gratitude, "T-thank you so very much, sir!"
"Hmmm, where should we go next?" Nanka asked aloud, then looked down to her nearest Pokémon; Venom. "Should we see about boarding the S.S. Anne now or later?"
Venom lazily looked up to her trainer, then over to this 'S.S. Anne.' Upon spotting the large docked ship, the Nirdoina shook her head fiercely.
"No? Well I guess that leaves us with Route 11 or Diglett's Cave." Nanka remarked as she looked to her other Pokémon, whom had already begun running over to said areas. "Not that I appear to be getting a choice."
"Notice! Route 12 may be blocked off by a sleeping Pokémon. Detour through Rock Tunnel to Lavender Town – Vermillion Police." Nanka read off the sign. "I wonder what sleeping Pokémon could manage to block off an entire road."
Jolt shrugged, unknowing and uncaring, proceeding to instead tug on his trainer's sock and point further along the route.
"Jolt, there's no need to rush." Nanka commented with a chuckle, as she and her Pikachu set off to explore Diglett's Cave.
Nanka had always wanted to visit Diglett's Cave. As she would attend Viridian School each day, she would often glance at the distant cave, curious as to what it was like inside.
Now, after many years, she was there. Whilst nothing inside the cave seemed exciting, she found it exhilarating just to be there, fascinated by how well-crafted the tunnel was by numerous Digletts overtime.
As Nanka and Jolt journeyed through the long and winding tunnel, they were constantly hearing faint growls and shifting soil. Their attention was spread across the entire cave, so when a Diglett popped out before them, it was no surprise that it caught them by… surprise.
"A Diglett!" Nanka screamed out before both her and Jolt fell over backwards, dust and dirt flinging up as they hit the ground.
Wincing from pain, it took a moment for Nanka to collect herself and realise it was a wild Pokémon that had surprised her to the point of falling over. Scrambling to her feet, Nanka saw that the Diglett was speedily making its get away in a seemingly often practised manner of movement.
With no chance of catching up to it, Nanka threw out a Pokéball and yelled out, "Devourer! Please Wrap that Diglett!"
The moment her Bellsprout came out of his Pokéball, he did just that.
Even when wrapped up in Devourer's vines, the Diglett continued to try and run. The small Pokémon's surprising strength led to it dragging Devourer along with it, the two Pokémon speeding through the caves many twists and turns. It was only thanks to Devourer's ever tightening vines that the Diglett eventually stopped, worn out.
Nanka had been sprinting after the pair for a while now, and having caught up to them at last, saw her opportunity. With a simple toss of a Pokéball, Nanka caught the tired Diglett.
"Thank you, Devourer." Nanka said as she knelt down to her muddied Bellsprout.
"Ahhh." Nanka winced as she emerged from her brief trip into Diglett's Cave, the sunlight stinging her eyes. "T-thank you for guiding us out, Popper."
Popper the Diglett moved up alongside Nanka and Jolt, his own eyes firmly shut as he replied, "Dig, Lett, Dig!"
Nanka looked back and smiled at her rigid Diglett, body as rigid and vertical as possible, 'He's… he's kind of like a toy soldier.'
Nanka had no idea that there was a house behind the large cluster of trees surrounding Diglett's Cave. She also had not known that the local councils had been under-staffing gardeners, or she assumed this as least, because there were numerous brambles blocking her path to Viridian City.
Her hopes of a quick trip home to see her Mum were dashed as any and all attempts to proceed were met with pricks and cuts.
She would have to turn back.
"It's a shame we can't just cut down those brambles…" Nanka grumbled as she and Jolt started their return trip through Diglett's Cave, guided once again by Popper. "…and by the time we get back, it will be too late to do anything else."
"Dig-dig?" Popper asked, turning to Nanka only briefly before continuing his march.
"Um… y-yeah, there is always tomorrow." Nanka replied, unsure as to what Popper had asked given the language barrier between human and Pokémon. "We could board the S.S. Anne, have a stroll along Route 11… oh! We should go to the Day-Care in the morning and pick-up Melody!"
Early next morning, or at least what Nanka considered early, the Pallet Town Pokémon Trainer headed back to Route 5's Day-Care centre. Despite having left her in qualified hands, Nanka had been fretting about Melody the Jigglypuff ever since dropping her off… as well as how much a day at the Day-Care actually cost.
The Day-Care Man greeted Nanka with a proud smirk, "Hello, Nanka. Here to pick up, Melody? She's grown a lot already."
"Yes sir, and that's wonderful to hear! Thank you very much."
After paying P800 for Melody's day-care, Nanka was reunited with her adorable travelling companion.
"Jiggly!" Melody called out as she leapt into Nanka's arms, cuddling up against the trainer with a broad grin.
"Awww, I missed you too, Melody." Nanka said as she returned the hug, pleased to see her fairly recent addition to her team was so affectionate towards her.
Meanwhile, Jolt stared at the Jigglypuff, rubbing up against his trainer. He found Melody's large, drooling smile to be… suspicious.
Continuing on with her pleasant time in Vermillion City, after introducing Melody the Jigglypuff and Popper the Diglett to one another, Nanka decided a stroll along Route 11 would be nice.
She knew there would inevitably be trainers there wishing to battle, but that would actually be a good thing, allowing her two newest travelling companions to gain some extra experience. A little walk and a couple battles; surely a guaranteed fun time.
Unfortunately it was not only a couple battle and the walk was longer than expected. What was supposed to be a pleasant trip with the occasional battle was anything but pleasant for Melody and Popper.
"I'm sorry, Popper." Nanka apologised to the fainted Diglett, knocked out by a single Slash from the opposing Sandshrew. "The trainers here are far tougher than I expected."
As Nanka withdrew Popper, she pondered to herself, 'Perhaps we should train a bit more for the rest of the day.'
"What was that?" Nanka asked aloud, though Melody and Jolt seemed just as unknowing.
Nanka and Melody had just resumed their training, with Jolt sitting nearby and watching other trainer battles occurring on the route, when a yellow dozing Pokémon teleported between them. It snored twice in front of the surprised trainer and her Pokémon, then teleported away again before even the swift Jolt could dash over to it.
"…M-maybe that was the 'sleeping Pokémon' the police note warned us about…" Nanka mumbled, as she looked around nervously for any sign of the vanished Pokémon, "…but it was far too small to block off a whole route."
The day was over.
Thankfully, Nanka ended the day with a smile, her concerns that Popper and Melody weren't strong enough put to ease. The remainder of the day had been spent training and at last it seemed her two newest travelling companions could keep up with the others.
Tomorrow she and her team would have an actual nice time walking through Route 11… with the odd battle here or there.
In less than a month on her Pokémon journey, Nanka had learnt that trainers would use the slightest of reasons to have a Pokémon battle and little would get in the way of said battle.
Earlier Nanka had guessed a dice roll correctly. The prize the Gambler gave her; a Pokémon battle!
An Engineer warned her of cables he was laying down. She thanked him and in returned he challenged her to a Pokémon battle.
"Atcha!" The Gambler yelped as his Horsea was pounded to the ground. "Didn't go my way!"
"Great job, Melody!" Nanka called out as her Jigglypuff skipped over to her with wide open arms.
Nanka wasn't sure why, but Melody liked hugs a lot; not that Nanka minded giving them to her cute balloon Pokémon. Besides, at that moment, Melody deserved the hug. Her training had been a success, as proven by Melody's first lone victory over a trainer's team.
Having defeated every trainer on Route 11 and having walked along every turn of the pathway, Nanka decided it was finally time to take a well-deserved break at the nearby rest stop.
She wasn't exactly sure how, but whilst her Pokémon was let out to play or nap, she ended up in a conversation with the security guard. From him, Nanka learnt that there was apparently a man in Lavender Town whose job was rating Pokémon nicknames. It certainly sounded like an easy-going life.
With Devourer, Venom and Melody content downstairs to snack, nap, or chat with others respectively, Nanka and her other three Pokémon headed upstairs.
Jolt, Dusty and Popper made a beeline towards the windows; though the latter checked the floor first for traps, gazing out at the expansive water filled route that lay beyond. Nanka followed suit, joining in with her Pokémon excited viewing of the river and hills in sight.
A pair of mounted binoculars nearby, Nanka decided to take a look through them, surveying the landscape in greater detail. Through these binoculars she could see folks fishing on a bridge, the eerie Pokémon Tower, the vast tunnels of Rock Tunnel and… something on the nearby path.
Whatever it was, it looking like a sleeping Pokémon though not one she'd seen before, it was huge. Huge enough to indeed block off the entire path to Route 12.
As Nanka tried to make out what Pokémon was blocking the path, Jolt picked up a slightly familiar sense and decided to pursue it.
"Hi! Aren't you Nanka's Pikachu?" A somewhat familiar voice asked the Pikachu.
Upon hearing her name, Nanka pulled herself away from the binoculars and turned to see a sort of familiar man in a lab coat, kneeling down and addressing Jolt.
The man looked up from her Pikachu, and upon noticing her, waved as he called out, "Hi, Nanka! Remember me?"
Nanka froze. She thought she knew the guy, feeling she had at the very least seen him before, but couldn't remember where. She racked her brain trying to recall when and where she had met the plain, spectacled man greeting her so friendly.
"I'm Professor Oak's Aide!" The Aide introduced himself enthusiastically, oblivious to Nanka's confusion.
"O-oh, yes sir, I… I remember you, of course!" Nanka lied with a forced grin. "H-how are you?"
"Splendid!" The Aide answered joyously. "An even better now that I've found you."
"Y-you were looking for me." Nanka replied uneasily, feeling a further pang of guilt for not remembering the assistant before her.
"Of course! If you have thirty kinds of Pokémon, I'm supposed to give you an Itemfinder!" The Aide explained as he brandished two dowsing rods with little glowing orbs on the ends.
Nanka frowned, yet further guilt striking her as she replied, "I'm sorry… I haven't come close to catching thirty kinds of Pokémon."
It was at this moment that Nanka realised that she had almost entirely forgotten about the Pokédex and in turn had filled very little of it. She begun to worry about how this would disappoint the Professor to hear, as well as the Aide that had travelled all the way to Vermillion to give her a reward.
"Oh, I see." The Aide replied with only the merest hint of a frown, before a happy expression sprung back up on his face. "Nothing to worry about though. When you get thirty kinds, be sure to come back for an Itemfinder."
Her own frown lifting, Nanka replied, "Yes, sir! I'll be sure to try and remember to!"
"It's gigantic!" Nanka blurted out in utter shock, Jolt nodding in agreement beside her.
With the police warning, the overheard conversations and even a distant sighting of it, Nanka's curiosity about the sleeping Pokémon supposedly blocking Route 12 was at max. She simply had to check it out herself.
Well she was looking at it right now; and there was no mistake that the dark turquoise Pokémon towering over her was the one warned of. Even after her shocked shout, the dozing Pokémon did not stir, slumbering away peacefully.
It hadn't been long since Nanka had seven Pokémon with her, but as she made preparations to board the S.S. Anne, she realised quite what having seven Pokémon meant now. She couldn't take all of them with her on the cruise ship; someone would have to stay behind in the PC.
Thankfully, when breaking the news to her Pokémon, Venom was quick to volunteer.
"Are you sure, Venom?" Nanka asked, feeling bad that at least one of her Pokémon was going to miss out on this new and exciting experience.
Her Nidorina nodded unusually swiftly; eager to 'not' board the ship.
For once, Nanka was outpacing Jolt. For once, it was Jolt who was standing around; mesmerised by something new. For once, it was Nanka who couldn't keep still and was eagerly heading towards her destination.
The thought of ever boarding a luxury cruise ship had of course passed through her mind before, but given her family's low income status, only considered such thoughts possible within her dreams. She never expected to ever be able to board one herself; to experience it. Bill had truly given her a great and thankful gift.
"C'mon, Jolt! Hurry up!" Were also words Nanka never expected to say and Jolt never expected to hear.
As Nanka and Jolt reached the end of the harbour, they were greeted by… a queue. After a few minutes of waiting in the queue for the popular cruise ship, Nanka excitedly bobbin up and down the entire time, they were greeted by a sailor man.
"Welcome to the S.S. Anne!" The Sailor Man greeted in a clear and booming voice. "Do you have your ticket, miss?"
Nanka pulled out her ticket in a flash; waving about it triumphantly.
With her entry approved and a few, perhaps over joyous words of thanks, Nanka and Jolt boarded the S.S. Anne.
The luxury cruise ship rested smoothly on the calm sea, the large chandeliers hanging from the ceiling chiming ever so slightly. A sense of grandeur flourished from all parts of the ship.
With an eager, happy smile, Nanka set out to enjoy herself on this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
A/N: Did you know that I also wrote up trivia posts and character profiles during the original run of NPMA? I'd love to include them with this story, but there are too many for the author notes, so if they are featured, it would have to be at the end of the story. I was just thinking about that, as whilst editing this chapter here, I remembered the funny bit of trivia concerning how Melody the Jigglypuff was an accidental capture.
I had originally planned to have Nanka catch a Jigglypuff only under certain conditions, following a question I would later asked, however I accidentally strayed into the grass on Route 6 and encountered a Jigglypuff the moment I stepped into the grass. I decided to roll with it; Nanka's love for the adorable Pokémon meant that if she saw a wild one as she did, she would try to capture it. I'm glad in the end, for in my opinion, Meldoy was of my favourite Pokémon character-wise in this adventure. She brings a lot of humour to it.
Other things to remark upon... well on a broader term, I decided to create NPMA in the first place because I wanted to do a Pokémon playthrough wherein, thanks to reader's choices, I would use Pokémon I hadn't used before. Funny enough though, only a handful of the Pokémon Nanka catches in this series are ones I hadn't used before. A lot of them were classic favourites of mine such as Diglett; my favourite Kanto Pokémon and my favourite Ground-type Pokémon. This chapter also marks the start of Jolt's hobby outside of Pokémon battling; fishing!
Anyway, this Author Note has got a tad too long, so until the next chapter this following Sunday, cheerio!