Trainers, which of the following types is hard to obtain prior to fighting Gardenia?
a) Poison
b) Bug
c) Ice
Lucas and Dawn made their way forward, in the direction of Eterna City. They found that any other direction would either be backtracking or doomed to failure. While north would not lead to failure, it would lead to complications…
"Help! My father has been kidnapped by bad men!" a young girl was shouting through the streets of Floaroma Town, a town north of Jubilife that was dedicated to flowers.
"Settle down, my child, and tell us the tale," Lucas asked.
"Well, my father and I were doing fine, when bad men in weird space suits charged in. They told Daddy to give them all of the wind power, and locked me out. And that's how I came here!"
"Wait, just Galactic Grunts?" Dawn asked.
"Just blue haired men… oh, and a woman with red hair. She was bossing even blue-hairs."
"A leader! Dawn, this is a big chance!"
*SMASH*
Monferno withdrew his fist from the door. Lucas and Dawn carefully entered, sure to not step on or graze past any glass. Monferno punched the door again, making it easier for him to get in.
"Show off."
Lucas and Dawn sneaked past as many grunts as possible, and met the red-haired leader of the attack.
"Hello there. Your arrival means I get to fire some people. But first, there is the little matter of your delusions of accomplishing anything."
"You're the deluded one!"
"Oh, am I? Well then, if that's the case, I will make you a proposition. If I win, you leave. If you win, then we, Team Galactic, will leave."
Dawn is challenged by Commander Mars!
Commander Mars sent out ZUBAT!
Go! STARLY!
Starly zipped forward, and pierced the Zubat. He looped around, and charged again. Zubat nimbly hopped to one side, and Starly found himself smashed into the ground.
Go! MONFERNO!
Monferno spun in circles, generating a whirlwind of flame. The Zubat shot a poisonous shot at the Monferno, badly poisoning him. Consequently, Zubat did not dodge the flame wheel. He went down.
Commander Mars sent out PURUGLY!
Purugly used a Fake Out, stunning Monferno. Purugly then followed up with a Scratch, and Monferno was easy pickings for the poison.
Go! TURTWIG!
What? TURTWIG is evolving!
Time stood still, as Turtwig's shell began to expand. Bushes grew along Turtwig's back, which was now a bright yellow colour. Turtwig's child-like jaw was now a much larger one instead, and he… still looked cheery.
Congratulations! Your TURTWIG evolved into GROTLE!
Grotle used a Razor Leaf to deal some big damage to the Purugly. Purugly responded with a Faint Attack, which Grotle easily shrugged off. It also wasn't helping that Grotle used Absorb to drain all of the energy right back.
Dawn defeated Commander Mars!
"You did not deserve that victory!" Mars charged at Dawn, fury in her eyes. Lucas stepped between them, and held off Mars.
"Grr… you listen, little girl. And listen well. One day, your boyfriend won't be around to protect you. And when that happens, I'll be right there."
Having freed the Valley Windworks from Team Galactic's grasp, Lucas and Dawn were prepared to travel along the road once more. Dawn began to shiver.
"What's wrong, angel?"
"It's what Mars said… what will I do if something happens to you?"
"I never get sick. When the whole town is afflicted, I alone am immune. I've never had a broken bone in my life. And I made a promise to myself that you would never be harmed. I don't think 'something happening to me' is all that likely."
"You do?"
"I bet my life on it."
Lucas and Dawn arrived at Eterna City. They almost immediately bumped into a girl clad entirely in black, with long golden hair.
"Hello," she said.
"Um… sorry for crashing into you?" Dawn asked.
"That's alright." Dawn's eyes moved from the girl to a still spinning Egg.
"Oh my goddess! Little child, are you OK?" Dawn asked. The egg made wobbling motions as if it were responding. But Eggs couldn't talk, right?
"Yeah, I've been looking for someone who'd want an Egg. You'll take it, though, won't you?" the girl asked.
"Without a doubt," Dawn found herself saying.
"Lovely. Well, my name is Cynthia. I'm a humble Trainer, listening along the wind to make sure that all troubles are eased, and all good times are enjoyed."
"So… you're a psychic?" Dawn asked.
"No. A friend is, though. But I can get a feel for significant events. But not far enough in advance to take significant action."
"A man often meets his destiny on the very road he took to avoid it," Dawn quoted.
"Yes, well… see you guys around. Have a good journey, and let me know when you meet Professor Rowan!"
"But we already-" Cynthia was gone.
"Darn."
"Challengers! Welcome to the Eterna Gym!" the Gym's Leader called out from the other side of a giant clock. Lucas and Dawn stepped forward, and the Leader nodded.
"So, let's have a little challenge! Let's see if you can outlast a confounding amount of tricks!"
Lucas and Dawn are challenged by Leader Gardenia!
Leader Gardenia sent out TURTWIG!
Go! MONFERNO!
Turtwig took a risk, and used Sunny Day. Monferno capitalised on this risk, dealing a Flame Wheel, and punishing Turtwig for this decision.
Leader Gardenia sent out CHERRIM!
With a tuft of energy, Cherrim's petals opened, revealing a pink flower on the inside. Cherrim immediately used the move Leech Seed on Monferno, and begun to slowly drain his health. Monferno tried a Flame Wheel, but just barely failed to defeat.
"What happened? That should've worked!"
Cherrim used a Magical Leaf, and knocked out Monferno.
Go! STARLY!
Starly's acceleration was like that of an arrow. He shot directly through Cherrim, just as the sun began to fade away.
Leader Gardenia sent out ROSERADE!
What? STARLY is evolving!
Time stood still, as the ever-accelerating Starly begun to change. His feathers elongated, as his face slightly shrunk. Starly's crown grew longer, and he became a lot tubbier.
Congratulations! Your STARLY evolved into STARAVIA!
Staravia slowed down slightly, but his eyes glinted still. He charged through the Roserade, but the Roserade was prepared. Roserade dodged, but didn't quite plan for Staravia's newfound bulk. Roserade tried a Poison Sting, but shot way too far in front, and Staravia could finish the Roserade.
Lucas and Dawn defeated Leader Gardenia!
"Spectacular effort, applause to Staravia. That was the best battle I've ever been a part of! And the fastest I have ever seen a Pokémon move. Your Staravia is one of a kind."
"Yeah, tell that to the idiots I have to listen to."
"Staravia, I'm sure they try their hardest. You can't keep insulting them like this."
"What am I supposed to do, praise them? At that rate, we'd be doomed to extinction?"
"Have you tried encouraging them?"
"Once. That didn't end well. Poor Charlie…"
The correct answer is c) Ice. Poison and Bug appear in the Eterna Forest and in Zubat.
Next time, on High Road To Giratina, we will fight Galactic again. And even get some new team members.