Trainers, which of the Sinnoh starters would you pick last to fight a Rock-Ground Pokemon?
a) Turtwig
b) Chimchar
c) Piplup
Lucas and Dawn decided to press onward, having taken their share of the town.
"Though I'll never get used to this dang Pokétch."
"I'm sure you'll get the hang of it. I just wish it had a Battle Ring app." Dawn, for the fiftieth time, adjusted her Battle Ring so it no longer slipped over her Pokétch.
The two stepped outside Jubilife City, to be run into by Barry.
"Whoops! Sorry, there, Lucas," Barry said. "Hey, wasn't this that girl that was with Rowan? What's she doing with you?"
"It was her idea. She wanted to hang around me."
"You crushing on him?" Barry asked. Dawn shook her head uncertainly.
"…Well, how about a battle? C'mon, Lucas! I've toughened up! I'm a threat!"
Lucas is challenged by PKMN Trainer Barry!
PKMN Trainer Barry sent out STARLY!
Go! CHIMCHAR!
"Wait, Dawn's even letting you use her Pokémon?"
"I'm sure he'd do the same for me."
Chimchar scampered forward, and analysed his foe. He waited as the Starly came charging, before jumping to one side at the last possible second and dealing a critical hit with an Ember. Starly got back up, and pursued the Chimchar, more slowly this time. Chimchar scampered up a tree, trying to solve his trouble.
He leaped from the branch, and shot an Ember over his shoulder. Starly turned to avoid it, and went directly in its path.
"You gotta think first!"
PKMN Trainer Barry sent out PIPLUP!
Chimchar leaped onto Lucas's shoulders, and tagged out to Turtwig. Piplup used a Bubble, which Turtwig absorbed right into his mouth. With another Absorb, Piplup went down.
Lucas defeated PKMN Trainer Barry!
"You're getting good at this, Lucas."
"Same to you, Barry."
"Well… last one to Oreburgh is a Bad Egg!"
Lucas, Dawn and Barry arrived at the Oreburgh Gym, and looked around. The man in the centre of the room jumped unexpectedly.
"Oh, challengers? I was about to go mining!" Roark had jumped upon their entrance.
"So we'll make this quick."
Lucas is challenged by Leader Roark!
Leader Roark sent out GEODUDE!
Go! TURTWIG!
Turtwig used a Razor Leaf to take down the first foe. Roark tried his Onix, only to have Turtwig Absorb.
Leader Roark sent out CRANIDOS!
Cranidos used Headbutt, and Turtwig couldn't do a thing. Another Headbutt and Turtwig was down.
Go! CHIMCHAR!
What? CHIMCHAR is evolving!
Time stood still, as Chimchar leaned forward. His scrawny arms grew a thick coat of fur, and possibly even became thicker. Blue lines creased his forehead, and his fur became a darker tint of red.
Congratulations! Your CHIMCHAR evolved into MONFERNO!
Monferno had sprung from his initial position, and extended his arm. With a speedy Mach Punch, Cranidos was pushed down.
"I had no idea power was this awesome!"
Monferno leaped from Cranidos' head, and came back down to deal the final blow.
Lucas defeated Leader Roark!
"I don't believe it! Wow… you didn't have any Badges, but you used your Pokémon's potential to the fullest. You have well and truly earned this:"
Lucas received the Coal Badge from Roark!
"The Coal Badge will allow you to smash rocks in your path."
"And you go to your mining."
"Hey, what about my challenge?" Barry asked.
Lucas and Dawn returned to Jubilife City, where they met Professor Rowan. He was being accosted by two oddly dressed men. Their outfits would not have looked out of place in the 60s, if the men were space enthusiasts at the time.
"I've told you a million times, Professor. All we want are all your research findings. In return, we'll not break your bones."
"Ah, Dawn. Impeccable timing. If you don't mind, would you fight off these lunatics, please? I know your Chimchar is more than capable."
"Lucas, can you help me? Please?" Dawn asked, shivering. Lucas stepped forward, and held out his Poké Ball.
"Two kids? Professor, you need to step up your game."
Lucas and Dawn are challenged by Galactic Grunt and Galactic Grunt!
Galactic Grunt sent out STUNKY!
Galactic Grunt sent out GLAMEOW!
Go! STARLY!
Go! TURTWIG!
Turtwig spread a Razor Leaf across both foes, doing some big damage to Glameow, but not to Stunky. Starly did a loop, before rectifying this. Both foes charged, and Starly flew into the air to dodge. Turtwig held his head strong, holding back the Stunky. The Glameow attempted to stop Turtwig.
STARLY used Wing Attack!
Starly's attack caught Glameow by surprise. What was previously assumed to be a dodging tactic was actually a predatory attack. The Glameow went down, and the Stunky was finally knocked back into it.
Lucas and Dawn defeated Galactic Grunt and Galactic Grunt!
"Wow, these two are cool."
"Uber cool."
"We have to warn the boss! The boss must be warned!"
"You mean we warn her?"
"Yes, her. What, you think I meant Him?"
"…No. No. Not at all."
"Lucas, Dawn, I must commend your bravery and talent alike," Professor Rowan said as Dawn was congratulating the efforts.
"You can count on me, Professor. I'll keep you and your aide perfectly safe," Lucas assured him. Rowan nodded, and headed back in the direction of home. He was replaced by Looker.
"Lucas, and Dawn, too! How extraordinaire that we have met. I kept ear on ground, heard about Team Galaxy! Did you meet them?"
"Yes. They were very interested in Rowan's research on evolution. And according to the Battle Ring, their name is Team Galactic."
"Knowledge. Knowledge is the key to fighting bad men. You have acquired plenty knowledge. I implore you, then, to acquire more. Many more. I shall acquire knowledge, too. Together, Team Galactic will not stand against Looker of International Police, Lucas of Twinleaf, and Dawn of Sandgem." Looker held his coat in front of him, and vanished.
"He's cool."
"He could never run an army, though," Starly pointed out.
"He's not supposed to."
The correct answer is b) Chimchar.
Next time, on High Road to Giratina, we fight Team Galactic for the first, and most likely second, time.