Route One connected Nuvema Town to Accumula Town, and off to the west past a large body of water, Route Seventeen. Route One was home to few types of Pokémon even though most of it was made up of trees and grass. What types did live there were numerous however, and were often a pain for travelers.
Heather and Neil walked along chatting, their Pokémon playing together was they went. The group avoided as much as the grass as they could as they started out, knowing that the wild Pokémon usually stayed in it and that they would have to walk in it later. Both trainers wanted to test their new partners skills in battle, but both knew that tiring them out right away would do no good. Heather pulled out her Pokédex and scanned the two Pokémon, looking over her partners moves.
Snivy, The Grass Snake Pokémon
Type Grass
Height 2′0″ (0.61m)
Weight 17.9 lbs. (8.1 kg)
Ability: Overgrow
It is very intelligent and calm. Being exposed to lots of sunlight makes its movements swifter.
Known moves: Leer, Tackle.
Oshawott, The Sea Otter Pokémon
Type Water
Height 1′8″ (0.51m)
Weight 13 lbs. (5.9 kg)
Abilities :Torrent, Shell Armor
It fights using the scalchop on its stomach. In response to an attack, it retaliates immediately by slashing.
Known moves: Tail Whip, Tackle.
A few minutes later had them having to walk through the taller grass, the two Trainers keeping their Pokémon close by. Almost immediately a canine like creature made an appearance, both the teens ready to command their partners. The small Lillipup just continued to walk past, making the two stare after it blankly.
"So much for, 'It's dangerous in the grass, Pokémon will attack you' more like they'll ignore you..." Heather mumbled with a frown, shrugging and carrying on. Right after they started to walk, the pup jumped out, looking ready for a battle. On the other side a Patrat popped up, both trainers ready to go.
"Lark, lets go, show me what you can do!" She spoke confidently, Neil right behind her with Otty facing the Patrat. "Otty, lets start this off with a Tackle!" "Lark, Leer!"
The Grass Snake gave the Lillipup a fierce Leer which made it shrink back before running in for a Tackle, Heather quick to act.
"Use your vines to jump over the tackle and use the momentum to tackle it!"
Lark let his vines come out from the blades on his neck, using them to help him jump over the Lillipup, who skidded to a stop under him. Using gravity to his advantage, the Grass-type let himself drop, Tackling the canine from above.
Meanwhile, Otty and the Patrat were exchanging Tackles, Otty's high defense making it clear who would lose. Neil told his Pokémon to break away and give the Patrat a Tail Whip, Otty doing just that. With the rodents defense lowered, the Sea Otter ran in for another Tackle, the Patrat giving a cry as it flew back a few feet. Deciding it was was wounded enough and clearly beaten, the rodent ran off, followed by the Lillipup that Lark had smashed into the ground.
A quick check over to make sure their Pokémon could go on, and the group was once more on their way, battling a few more wild Pokémon with similar ease. By the time they reached Accumula, they were ready for some lunch and a bit of healing, heading straight to the Pokécenter.
Inside, behind the counter, stood a young girl with pink hair and a name tag reading 'Nurse Joy', a friendly smile seemingly glued to her face. Both teens thought she was far too young to treat Pokémon, however, the Joy's were known to do the best job, something that didn't escape the teens heads. The building itself was two floors, the first floor made up of tables for people to eat and sit, or wait for their pokemon, as well as a few video call computers, and a Pokémon PC for trainers to access their Pokémon storage with a TV in the corner to keep people occupied. Currently playing was a show about the gym leaders, the two watching it for a few minutes.
On the top floor there was a restaurant, more tables, and just beyond that, a big metal door labeled 'Rooms' which were used for traveling Trainers who couldn't pay for a hotel, or who were waiting for their Pokémon to be taken care of. Most times though, the hotels were full, and some cities lacked any. Over all, the Pokécenter was a safer bet.
With it still being early, the two trainers gave their Pokémon over to Nurse Joy to heal, and went upstairs to get some lunch. Heather ordered for herself, and got a large fruit cup for her Snivy who she went down to get after they'd gotten their food.
Nurse Joy gladly handed Heather the Pokéballs of her Snivy and Neil's Oshawott, the teen taking the stairs two at a time to return to their food. The two trainers released their healed Pokémon and fed them, leaving the center once they were done.
x—x—x—x—x—x
Accumula Town, unlike most others across Unova, had fairly little to explore. The town was mostly resident houses, the Pokécenter the only real reason trainers stopped there while passing through. Outside the center, two men were talking about something happening just past the center, walking over to it with Heather and Neil on their heels, interested by their eager voices. On a strip of grass above the road with a few benches for people to sit stood several men and women dressed in odd white suites. On either side of the group stood a pole with a banner, one half black, the other white, a blue 'P' in the middle with a sort of blue lightning bolt behind it.
In front of the odd suited people stood an older man with light green hair, a strange red monocle-type contraption over his right eye, and a puffy gown of sorts with intricate designs of all colours. Captivating the towns people with his deep voiced intro, Heather and Neil stood to the side, enticed with curiosity as he paced a bit.
"Ladies and gentlemen, if I may have your attention. My name is Ghetsis of Team Plasma, and I would like to talk to you today about Pokémon liberation."
"Liberation?" Whispered Heather to Neil, the boy shushing her as Ghetsis continued.
"Most of you, if not all of you, believe that Pokémon and us humans are partners, that we have... Come together, to live side by side because we want, and need, each other. However... Is that really the truth? Perhaps we, as humans, only assume that we need Pokémon, and that they need us.
"Pokémon are used by trainers, get pushed around and are selfishly commanded by their "partners" to do what is demanded of them. They are locked in Pokéballs until their trainers need them for battle. Can anyone here say what I speak of is not truth? Can you say that we treat Pokémon fairly?
"Now, Pokémon are different from us humans. Within them they contain so much power and unknown potential, living beings that humans can learn so much about without needing to control them. What responsibility do we have toward Pokémon?
"We must liberate the Pokémon! Then, and only then, will Pokémon and humans stand as equals. Today, I end my speech by imploring you to think about, and consider, the relationship between people and Pokémon, and how liberation can put us on even ground. We sincerely appreciate your attention."
As the white suited group made formation surrounding their presumed leader, taking the banners with them, the towns people were left to think over everything said, most making their way back to their houses with friends who discussed it with raised voiced. Heather and Neil remained standing where they were, Heather floored that people would ever consider giving up their Pokémon. Neil on the other hand, seemed to give it thought.
"Don't tell me you're thinking about it!" Heather hissed to her friend, kneeling down to pick up her Snivy. Neil looked to her sheepishly, shrugging his shoulders which made Otty grab onto Neil's jacket.
"He had a bit of a point, just with us keeping our Pokémon in Pokéballs. There is no reason they should be contained like that. Though, it doesn't mean I'll give up my friends." The boy stated as he plucked the Oshawott from his shoulder, giving the otter a gentle squeeze.
"Well, I don't plan on keeping mine in their balls all the time, so none of that effects me. I think it's a horrible idea, ripping Pokémon from humans." Heather snapped, stroking the head of her Snivy who happily rested in his trainers arms.
"You don't agree with the liberation?"
Startled, Heather whipped around, sapphire hues landing on a boy no older than her. Teal green hair trailed down his back, a black and white ball cap snug on his head. Blue-gray eyes seemed to stare right through her as he thought about she assumed, what she had said, focusing on her own blues a second later. Dressed in a black undershirt that covered most of his neck with a white button up over top, tan slacks and an almost lime green shade of runners, he looked fairly handsome, though Heather was sketchy.
"No, I don't. I wouldn't push my human friends away, why would I push my Pokémon friends away?" Heather stroked her Snivy's head which brought the boys orbs down to it, his smoky eyes narrowing a bit.
"Your Pokémon says it likes you." He stated, looking back up to Heather, ignoring Neil completely as the boy puffed his chest a bit in intimidation. The green haired boy looked shocked at what the Pokémon had said, his eyes wider then they were before.
"Excuse me?" Heather asked, taken aback by his odd comment. Neil straightened up beside her, stepping forward, between them just an inch protectively after seeing an odd look cross the boys eyes. "We should go now, Heather. By the time we reach Striaton, it'll be dark." He nudged her to begin moving which she hesitated about, taking a step toward the towns exit with her eyes locked on the boys smoky blues.
"I have a feeling we'll meet again, Heather. Your views, and your Pokémons, clash against my own. It's only polite to share my name; please, call me N."
With that, the boy gave her one last long, calculating look and walked away, Neil pushing Heather to do the same.
Once he was out of sight the two headed West, entering a travelers terminal. Heather's mind lay in turmoil about N's ideas against her own, his smoky blue-gray eyes fresh in her mind. Shaking her head after Neil gave her a look, she decided to dwell on it later.
"Oh! Look Neil, there's a TV here showing the news." The two watched it for some time, checking the weather and any other important events. A lady behind the counter on the side advised them to watch out for swarms of Pokémon, waving goodbye as they left the terminal onto Route Two.
Route Two had no way around the deeper Pokémon inhibited grass on the way to Striaton, only on the way back. The trainers kept their eyes open for wild Pokémon to battle, hearing a sort of meowing from the trees that bordered the path. The two looked at each other curiously, and got their Pokédex's out, readying it for if the creature came out.
Another minute or so of walking, and they were stopped by another meow, as well as a flash of purple. "Lark, see if you can lure it out to fight." The Pokémon nodded and walked from Heather's side forward, using his vines to try and lure out the feline.
Almost immediately after Lark started, a purple blur jumped at his vines, Heather and Neil using their Pokédex's to find out what it was.
Purrloin, the Devious Pokémon.
Type Dark
Height 1′4″ (0.41m)
Weight 22.3 lbs. (10.1 kg)
Abilities : Limber, Unburden
They steal from people for fun, but their victims can't help but forgive them. Their deceptively cute act is perfect.
"A Purrloin! Lets fight it Lark!" The Grass type brought its vine away from the Devious Pokémon and gave it a Leer, the feline Growling and getting ready to pounce.
"Lark, Vine whip it! Keep it away from you! Its claws are super sharp." Heather grinned and watched as her Pokémon used its vines to push the feline back, catching its shoulder and spinning it around. Without missing a beat the Dark-type Pokémon sprung and dragged its claws down Larks side, hissing in anger at being hit.
"Lark!" Heather cried as blood was drawn on her Pokémon, furious at the cat for harming her partner. Without waiting for a command Lark knocked the cat off with his vines and tossed it a few feet away, bringing a vine across the cats face with power.
"Purr! Purrloin, loin!" The cat hissed angrily, glaring at Lark for injuring it. Lark returned the glare and brought his vines up, ready to use them, equally as angry. He winced a bit as the scratches stung, not giving up though.
The Purrloin got back into a springing position and jumped at Lark, the Grass-type having none of it. He looped his vines around the cats two front paws and held it tightly, swinging the feline into a tree. Letting it drop, the cat swiftly got up and limped away as fast as it could, hissing.
"Great job buddy!" Heather praised as she walked over to her companion, frowning at the deep scratch marks on his side. Digging around in her bag, she brought out a potion, spraying it carefully on the wounds. "You did great, take a rest."
She scooped up her Pokémon and carried him in her arms, letting him relax after the battle. Since the potion was weak, the cuts still bothered him, mostly just having cleaned them. Neil congratulated him as well on a job well done and petted his head, smiling warmly.
Up ahead in the darkening sky were lights of a city, presumably Striation. Evening mist began to creep in, rolling over the grass and making the dark path quite eerie. The teens walked closer together, exchanging a nervous glance, a scream following as a loud crashing was heard to their right, something barreling through the trees straight at them.