Savoir-faire – To Know and To Do
Okay, in preparation of this, I read through the notes over at TV Tropes. Why I posted a note on spoilers on Pokémon X and Y is because: there WILL be spoilers.
Notably, I will try to blend the animé and game rules; Pokémon can have more than four moves, and the danger will be highlighted. This fic is also aimed to solve that version of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Problem that the Pokémon franchise has; world-building. I will be referring to the Pokémon XY fanfics already floating around, plus the fanfic Pokedex by birdboy, to write this out. Reference may also be made to A Beginner's Guide to Pokémon by Thanos6 mouthing as Professor Kudzu.
On that note, I hope readers enjoy reading!
LLS
IV: Combattre – To Fight
Day 5: Serena managed to win by a nose against Viola's Vivillon with a sudden Flame Charge. She is waiting for Donar to battle Viola, at which the decision shall be made. The boy has thrown into his training with full determination, such that I believe that his battle lust would awaken only when facing a battle. He is quite rational otherwise, much unlike Serena...
"Okay, guys," I heard Donar say. "Our aim this time is on Viola. We saw that Surskit's moves, so I think it's best that Fletchling goes first. Fletchling can frustrate it from the air and possibly knock it out, before facing Vivillon. Vivillon is probably going to try for an Infestation attack, which can be avoided more easily by you, Fletchling. We're going to depend on speed here to hit that thing hard and fast. If you can, take it down with a Quick Attack after a Peck, and if not, make it chase you around the field. Froakie, you're going second here. Not that there's anything against you, but you saw that Infestation. We're going to have to exhaust that first before you can use Water Pulse."
His Pokémon croaked, rolling its eyes. Fletchling chirped in agreement, her breast swelling with pride.
"Are you going to be fine?" he asked. It nodded immediately. "No pressure, alright? You guys are great help."
Fletchling preened as Froakie looked vaguely pleased with itself.
"You do know Vivillon's ability, right?" I mentioned as she followed me to the Gym the next day.
"Erm... yeah?" he paused.
"Shield Dust is going to ensure that Water Pulse doesn't confuse it."
He gaped at me. "Okay, I'll bite. Are you psychic?"
"I possess ears," the reply was swiftly delivered with a side of sarcasm. "When someone talks in the main lobby of the Pokémon Centre, I will hear it. Wear this." I handed the bundle to him.
He gingerly unfurled the hat. "What for?"
"The Kalos sun has ensured many Trainers fall to sunburn," I replied as he put it on. "They are cheap in Santalune."
"Erm... thanks, then." he swallowed, clearly nervous. "Do you have advice?"
"I should not give any. It is your battle."
"As you say," he shrugged.
"You seem to have the matter well in hand, anyway," I continued. "But if you can, tell Froakie to tackle that Vivillon when it falls."
We made it to the elegant Gym building and declared my challenge. Stoically, I waited by the sidelines, scanning the field.
"This is the Santalune Gym Battle between challenger Donar Oak and Gym Leader Viola for the Bug Badge!" the referee called. "Each Trainer can use two Pokémon. The battle ends when both Pokémon are out of commission! Begin!"
"Go, Surskit!" Viola called, unleashing her water-skater first.
"Fletchling!" Donar rebutted as he flung his own Pokéball. "Use Quick Attack!"
Fletchling dived down, giving a sharp scratch before drawing back up on its wings, circling Surskit's head.
"Bubble," Viola tersely replied, clearly annoyed at having lost the first move.
"Double Team!" Donar rebutted as several copies appeared. "Then Peck!"
Surskit's bubbles popped harmlessly against the copies, before Fletchling pecked it and then dodged back up to the air, curving into a Flail against the Surskit as it descended in a circle. Surskit fell off of its feet, and remained down.
"That determined expression… That glint in your eye that says you're up to the challenge…" Viola recalled her Surskit. "Very well. I shall use this Gym's pride; go, Vivillon!"
The Meadow-pattern Vivillon appeared, smiling.
"Use Gust!" Viola ordered.
"Fletchling, follow it!" he called. I sat there, watching the tiny robin follow the winds to curve around the walls the perimeter of the field... and building up speed.
Viola also caught on, clearly aware that if Fletchling unleashed Peck at that speed, Vivillon would be in a bad place. "Vivillon, use Infestation!"
Bugs escaped, gathering around the curling Fletchling as it turned another corner and headed... straight for Vivillon... then it turned up and away. The Bug was too large to move quickly before its own attack hit it. Unfortunately, it also meant that the Fletchling was caught in the bug infestation, and it ended up trapped on the field and hopping about.
Donar recalled the Pokémon, immediately releasing the grimly determined Froakie. "You did good, Fletchling. Now, Froakie... bring the house down."
Froakie croaked.
"Vivillon," Viola tersely ordered. "use Solar-"
Froakie spat a pulse of water at it. The Flying Pokémon shrugged the blow off easily, but was nonetheless soaked. Water weighed on its wings, adding further weight as the Froakie launched itself into the air with grim determination, its light and strong build allowing it to launch directly at the Vivillon like some Pokémon cannonball. Its head collided with the glowing Vivillon, and the butterfly Pokémon screamed as the Froakie held onto its body and then licked it.
"Oh," I said as the Vivillon drooped, clearly depressed between disgust and the ghostly energy of the licks. "Lick."
"Erm..." the referee stared as Vivillon gently floated down, Froakie riding it like a conquering knight. "Vivillon is unable to battle, challenger wins..."
"That was..." Viola gaped. "Well, that was... a novel strategy... wait, Vivillon's Shield Dust!"
"Dust implies that it's gotta be dry first," Donar replied. "Erm, Ma'am."
"Viola is fine," Viola insisted. "Magnificent! You and your Pokémon have shown me a whole new depth of field! As you have proven yourself worthy, I hereby present you with the Bug Badge. And here! This TM commemorates your win against a pro photographer like me."
"Technical Machine?" the boy echoed as he recalled Froakie.
"Using a TM like that one there lets you teach your Pokémon some new moves quicker than a shutter set to 1/1000 can snap shut!" Viola animatedly replied. "TMs are some of the best gear around. They're point-and-click easy, and you can use them over and over again! Now, the TM that I just gave you is for a move called Infestation. Use it, and it'll be impossible for your opponent to flee from battle!"
I saw Donar blanch, gingerly putting the disc away into his bag. "Erm, thank you."
"So you're going to Cyllage, yes?" Viola asked. "For the next Badge?"
"Yes," I answered for him at the same time that he replied "No."
His face blanked. "I thought the next Gym was at Lumiose? We're going to Lumiose after this, right?"
"Erm, Donar..." Viola giggled. "In the Kalos circuit, the next Badge is at Cyllage City. The Lumiose Gym doesn't allow anyone with less than four Badges in to battle the Gym Leader."
"What?" he groaned. "That's... that means... how far is it?"
"From here to Cyllage?" Viola frowned. "You'll have to walk Parterre Way to Lumiose, then switch to Versant Road to Camphrier, then walk through Rivière Walk and the Connecting Cave that opens at either Ambrette Town or Cyllage City. But, I heard that the Cyllage route is often blocked, so you could take the straightforward Ambrette route and walk the Muraille Coast."
"Routes four through eight," I clarified for the confused boy. "Route numbering is a Kanto tradition meant to guide Trainers along to Victory Road and the League headquarters. That's why, on a Pokémon journey, most would choose to start around Santalune, both to begin with the first Gym in the Kalos circuit and to make later navigation easier."
"So why name all the paths?" he complained. "Kanto just uses route numbers. Is this a Kalos tradition or something?"
"The world you see through a lens, and the world you see with a Pokémon by your side..." Viola reflected. "The same world can look entirely different depending on your view. Of course, only time will tell, isn't that so, Professor?"
I glanced towards Viola. So far, she had not aged seemingly, but ten years had passed. It would have taken her only a moment to recall that face, and wonder...
"You..." she asked, her brow furrowed. "Did you know Daisy Linden?"
I nearly winced at the mention of my old name. "The former Kalos Champion who left ten years ago?"
"Ah, I see..." Viola frowned. "A coincidence...?"
I silently thanked fortune that I had never allowed Viola to approach with a camera. It would have been awkward to explain why a former Champion had switched career paths, never mind about the decimation of the team. Nevertheless, it was with reluctance that I led the boy out of the Santalune Gym with his shiny new Badge, resolving to decide on a test.
It was going to be extreme. Augustine was going to flip out. I might lose both subjects.
It was still a risk to take.
I won. I had won. My first Gym battle, and I had won. If that was so... the Gym Leader didn't go easy on me, did she?
I voiced my concern to Dr du Bois, and was met with a secretive smile. "She did. Even as a Gym Leader, she has the right to award the Badge based on how any Trainer performs. Winning is just one way to go about it. Other Gym Leaders do it differently, but they do try to encourage Trainers to stay on this career path. Though why, when the truth is often hard to accept, is questionable."
Even so, it was exciting, watching Fletchling put that strategy we concocted into practice. Froakie got a Berry candy from Dr du Bois for his strategy, and he spent that time chewing the softened bonbon.
Quietly, Dr du Bois followed me out of the Gym and to the Forest, where Serena was already waiting, arms crossed.
"Finally!" she exclaimed. "So, result?"
I grinned, holding up my case. "Bug Badge."
"How?" Serena gaped.
"Froakie made like a Poké-cannonball."
We went to the Pokémon Centre. As I waited for Nurse Joy to finish checking on my partners, Serena was given a full analysis of how the battle went. Fletchling chirruped as she fluttered to my side, rewarded with an absent path on the head.
"So, Dr du Bois?" I asked the hitherto silent professor as we stepped out of the crowded foyer. "Have you decided?"
"I don't know," she replied quietly. "Neither of you seem capable of handling Ghosts."
Serena bristled. "Well, why'd you have to catch such weird Pokémon?"
Dr du Bois glared back, the gesture surprisingly fierce and violent. "You will meet Ghosts, especially in the Winding Woods of Snowbelle on the way to Victory Road. I recommend you refrain from offending any Ghosts lest they take offence to you. I also recommend that you get used to Ghosts in dark places, since Victory Road has a surprisingly large population of Haunter."
The mention of Kanto's second-most populous ghost – the most populous being Gastly – was enough to draw a wince.
"Kalos is home to Ghosts such as Honedge and its associated forms, along with the Pumpkaboo and Phantump," Dr du Bois elaborated. "The latter two are Ghost/Grass dual-types useful for battle, and the former is the only known Ghost/Steel combination. I recommend you get over any aversion to Ghosts."
"Well, I can get over it when we're battling them!" Serena retorted. "I'm just not used to things jumping at me from the dark! Besides, aren't Ghost-type Pokémon supposed to be credible dangers to inexperienced Trainers? You're placing us at risk!"
"I am a competent enough Trainer," Dr du Bois frostily replied. "The fact that you fear what you do not understand does not bode well for you."
"Fine," Serena glared. "We battle. If I win, I can choose to veto your choice to follow me. If you win, you can choose."
"The fact that your wager is on this suggests many things. Least of all that you have no inclination of being followed."
"Serena, enough," I persuaded, hoping to separate her before things got ugly. "Dr du Bois, I think... erm, well, none of us had a good first impression of your Ghosts, you see. Serena doesn't feel safe."
Green eyes stared at me, calm and placid, and I realised in that look of acceptance, that Dr du Bois had intended for us to fear her Ghosts all along. "She is not meant to feel safe."
"You can't expect us to be on guard all the time!" Serena protested.
Dr du Bois just stared at her. "For those who aim for any League championship, this is a way of life. The path is rocky, dangerous, and often there is no reward worth the cost of attaining the throne of Kalos. I was right."
"Right?" she blinked. "What about?"
"Does it matter?" Dr du Bois wondered. "If you don't want me to follow you, then leave. This is not compulsory. You always have a choice."
Serena drew herself back, glaring at me as if I had dared to speak a word before sauntering off with Elmo at her heels.
I looked from Serena's retreating back towards the tired-looking Dr du Bois. "You know that she's aiming for the Pokémon League, right? You didn't have to insult her dreams."
"Why does anyone?" Dr du Bois pondered.
"Years ago, a young girl seized the championship, beating the record for Champion Iris of Unova and Kanto's Lance." I explained. "The legendary champion might have disappeared in the last major strike against Team Flare, but people are sure that she would appear at the Kalos Conference. Heroes inspire Trainers to follow their paths."
"Daisy Linden was a failure as a Champion," Dr du Bois replied. "And it was thankful that Diantha took over from her. She would have driven Kalos to destruction. What else could you expect from a young girl who effectively rules Kalos's answer to the old monarchy?"
I didn't reply, though her words made sense. Under my hand, Fletchling chirped, nuzzling itself before affectionately pecking my hand. "It's just a desire to be the best. Even without ambition, I can understand that feeling, you know?
"Hmm..." Dr du Bois did not move. "It looks like we will be travelling alone here. Donar."
"Yes, Doctor?" I asked. Behind me the doors of the Centre opened, and Froakie hopped out, affectionately nuzzling my leg. The Nurse Joy about to grab Froakie took one look and left.
"Remind me to ask Augustine why all of his starters seem so close to evolution."
"Er, yes?" I gaped as Dr du Bois actually plucked Froakie for a closer examination. "Y- You're not serious?"
"Always." Dr du Bois glared at Froakie critically as she hefted it gently in the crook of one arm, the other hand reaching to smooth over Froakie's head and check its belly. Froakie squirmed and giggled as she did so. "It should not have been that fast in that Gym battle. Furthermore, a Froakie weighs about seven kilograms on average pre-evolution. This is definitely heavier. If it evolves at this rate, you might have problems. Frogadier can throw bubble-covered pebbles with precise control, hitting empty cans up to a hundred feet away, and amongst the Water Pokémon of Kalos, its swiftness is unparalleled. It can scale a tower of more than 2,000 feet in a minute's time."
"T- that's good, right?" I asked. "I mean, the next Gym is Rock-type, isn't it?"
"Yes. I am surprised," Dr du Bois looked at me. "How did you know the speciality of the second Gym, but not of the first?"
I looked away.
"Well?"
"I... I watch Gym Freaks," I admitted sheepishly.
Dr du Bois sighed, although more with something close to fond exasperation rather than any disappointment. "Not often enough, I see. Very well, so you caught the segment on Grant, but not enough to catch his location."
I whistled aimlessly.
"Are your supplies ready?" she archly enquired.
"Ye- Hang on!" I grumbled, mentally tallying the contents of my backpack. "We're good."
"Très bien," Dr du Bois nodded, before she lifted her fingers to her lips and whistled. I spotted her sleeve fall, revealing a gleaming black bangle with a rainbow jewel set in the centre. Yet, before I could ask about it, the blue-black blur arrived upon the pathway leading from the Santalune City First Pokémon Centre to form a Lucario. Her Altair, then. It was wearing a red and yellow scarf.
"Shall we go?" Dr du Bois murmured. "Or shall we stay, Donar?"
"Erm... I think I'll stay first," I hesitated. "I mean, there's no rush, right? And Dr du Bois... you look kinda tired. Are you sure that you don't want to go back to the Pokémon Centre?"
"Perhaps... I merely possess a different view," Dr du Bois reflected, as mysterious as the people of Johto in that respect. "Yes, perhaps I do. I appreciate the sentiment, Donar, but I am not tired. Altair will be on hand to help me."
"But he's a fighter!" I insisted. "And... and since my partners won against Viola with his support, I'm sure Altair deserves a break!"
At this, Dr du Bois slowly considered her Pokémon. "His support?"
"If Altair didn't kick away that Weedle, I wouldn't be alive," I insisted. "That gave me a respect for Pokémon I wouldn't have gotten in Kanto. I won the respect of Fletchling and Froakie because of him. That's why he deserves a break too, Professor!"
Slowly, Dr du Bois nodded. "True... but, what about his training? I was intending to take him along Parterre Way. Ah!"
I blinked as Dr du Bois reached for her travel purse. "Y- Yes?"
"Tea," Dr du Bois insisted. "One experience in Santalune is to sit by the Roselia Fountain and drink tea. And since you won your first badge with Altair's help, then I should treat my Pokémon as well."
Tea turned out to be a wide spread of tiny desserts that Froakie and Fletchling immediately launched themselves at. Altair accepted a wide saucer-like cup meant for paws and insulated to prevent burning, into which Dr du Bois poured him a cup. In contrast to the coffee I opted for, she took her tea without sugar or milk. Beside our table, the fountain burbled as jets of water shot out of the stone Roselia's roses. It was the late afternoon, and the weather felt clement and calm, rather like Kanto's constant sunny climate brought about by the Legendary Birds.
"Is that... alright?" I mumbled at my partners fighting with my hands for a macaron. "I mean, it's human food..."
"Why not?" Dr du Bois murmured. "Well, even though chocolate is not part of Altair's natural diet, honey is a treat, and this tea contains what must be an entire hive of Combee honey."
Fletchling dived for the teapot at that, squawking in shock as Altair merely took a paw and shifted its tiny form away from it. Froakie croaked as I gave him a saucer of the apparently honey-saturated tea to share with Fletchling; they seemed satisfied enough.
A group of musicians set up a band, led by a Kricketune and its Trainer, plus an accordion. The haunting melody, echoed by its masterful conductor's singing, echoed around the square and the Roselia fountain, so much that my quarrelling Pokémon actually quietened in the face of such art.
"What are they doing?" I echoed quietly as dancers congregated.
"Oh, it's the time of the year," Dr du Bois checked her watch. "May Day. That song is performed in the Kalosian valse-musette style, meant for dancing slowly with partners. This is just the beginning dance; there would be more later as night approaches. However, there is a history behind this celebration. For example, you noticed that the Santalune Gym looks like a palace, correct?"
"Yeah!" I realised. "Now that you mentioned it... it looked very elaborate."
"That is an old palace," Dr du Bois related. "It existed even before the statue of the Roselia was placed. In the XVI century, the Kalosian king's hunting lodge was placed in Santalune. The forest existed for the king to hunt. The king was very rich and powerful, but he was very alone.
"One day, all the humans and all the Pokémon of Santalune gathered for May Day and celebrated. Within that dance, a Roselia climbed to the top of that fountain and began dancing. Surrounded by the leaves and forests, its power over nature inspired the king to reward that Roselia with any gift in his treasury. That Roselia's Trainer took it back, and the king fell for her in that instance when moonlight shone upon her in her plain gown, her inner strength beyond that of the court's decorations. The Roselia attacked, and it escaped the dance with the jewel of the king's crown, towards the forest, never to be seen again. That's why till today, people seek the blessing of that Roselia by dancing its circular, floating dance around its statue."
"Oh," I frowned. "Erm, are you pulling my leg? The statue doesn't look that old."
"The architecture is even older than you are, than even I am," Dr du Bois reflected amidst the masquerade of dancers. "Cities in Kalos all have their own festivals that celebrate or involve Pokémon. Pokémon have become icons of human life, that we construct our beliefs around them, that we think that they think like us, and vice versa. Yet, it is not the Alakazam that rules the food chain, but humans. Life is, in the end, infinitely stranger than anything the modern mind can invent."
…in the end, Donar Oak has become my case study.
Before we were to set out, the May Day celebrations began in Santalune, including waltzes around the Roselia stone. The boy's Pokémon, lured by the performing Kricketune, began dancing, and Altair, my Lucario, followed.
As Trainers, we were naturally lured to participate, and as our Pokémon led us into a waltz, I could sense that, once the harsh start of the first Gym battle was over, that the hope of young Trainers would begin to rise once more from the falling rush of victory.
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