EXT./INT. VARIOUS - MONTAGE
CUE - "ROAD TO VIRIDIAN CITY" FROM THE SUPER SMASH BROS. BRAWL SOUNDTRACK.
HILBERT and IRIS arrive in NACRENE CITY. ESTABLISHING SHOT of the tiny, quaint little city.
HILBERT (V.O.)
The Nacrene City gym is rather annoying. Find one book in the massive library, it asks you to find another. Rinse and repeat for about an hour and then you can finally present your findings to the pleasant fellow at the staircase-
Hilbert carries a huge stack of books, barely able to stand as he holds them, while Iris looks amused. A buff guard stood at the staircase counts the books mentally, then gives a gruff nod. Not even a moment later, Hilbert collapses, all the books falling over, and his legs sticking up in the air. Iris giggles.
HILBERT (V.O.)
Then it was time for the battle.
Hilbert sends out his SEWADDLE.
We get QUICK CUTS of LENORA, the dark skinned gym leader, a pretty, sassy woman in her 40's, commanding her LILLIPUP, a tiny puppy Pokémon. Sewaddle battles the puppy. They exchange blows.
Sewaddle lands the KO hit with a powerful Razor Leaf. Lenora recalls her Lillipup and sends out a tall WATCHOG, with creepy eyes that dig-into-your-soul. ECU of Hilbert's facial expression, he looks horrified. Trying to hide it, but not doing a fantastic job.
HILBERT (V.O.)
Watchog's have always scared me. I think it's those eyes. When Lenora sent hers out, I nearly crapped my pants.
Watchog lands a hit on Sewaddle, KO'ing it. Hilbert calls in Sewaddle and looks back at SHELDON, who stands at the wall with IRIS, nodding for the DEWOTT to come out and battle. Iris WARMS her egg by breathing on it.
HILBERT (V.O.)
When it knocked out poor Sewaddle, I knew I couldn't send out Pikachu, he'd just zap me and take a nap. Sheldon was my last hope.
QUICK CUTS of Sheldon the Dewott using his DUAL RAZOR SHELL attack to slash at Watchog and knock it out. Lenora hands over the BASIC BADGE to Hilbert, he grins at it.
HILBERT (V.O.)
Another badge to my roster. Six badges left, and six days left to do it. So far so good...
(beat)
...Right?
Hilbert with Sheldon at his side, and Iris with AXEW in her hair, move through the beautiful PINWHEEL FOREST, filled with plenty of MONSTROUS-SIZED, but nonetheless gorgeous, TREES acting as a canopy over their heads.
HILBERT (V.O.)
We made it through Pinwheel Forest quicker than we anticipated...
The group travels across the massive, breathtaking SKYARROW BRIDGE, heading toward a city with an amazing skyline, filled with towering skyscrapers and the usual hustle-and-bustle noises and congestion of a busy city.
HILBERT (V.O.)
...Leading to the Skyarrow Bridge and Castelia City. The bridge and that city are just so amazing. A country boy like me only dreamed of the neon signs and business lifestyle that goes on in cities like Castelia, and it was everything I expected.
EXT. CASTELIA CITY - SUNSET
HILBERT, SHELDON, IRIS and AXEW arrive in CASTELIA. Hilbert is AMAZED, completely BREATHLESS, at the huge city. He just tries to take it all in, staring at the towering buildings ahead of him.
HILBERT (V.O.)
I decided to get some training in when some random bystanders asked me and Iris to a double battle.
CUE - "WILD POKéMON BATTLE" from BLACK & WHITE OST.
CUT to Hilbert and Iris stood side-by-side, across from another pair of trainers. Hilbert has his PIKACHU out, Iris her SERVINE. Pikachu glares at Hilbert angrily, cheeks sparking, but a grass cloud-like Pokémon called WHIMSICOTT swoops in to smack Pikachu with a VINE WHIP.
This snaps Pikachu's attention toward his opponent. Hilbert shouts a command and Pikachu unleashes a powerful electric discharge, shocking the two Pokémon - WHIMSICOTT, and a chubby two-legged fire-type pig called PIGNITE.
Servine swoops in and uses a Vine Whip across Whimsicott's face. Pignite charges forward and releases a blast of fire from its snout, only for Pikachu to jump forward and land a life-risking tackle onto the pig. Pignite is knocked out!
Iris commands her Servine to rush at the Whimsicott, it does so and starts dancing. Sharpened leaves shoot out of Servine, like a swirling tornado, the petals sharpening and cutting and slicing at Whimsicott as they blow a round crazily. When Servine quits spinning, Whimsicott drops, unconscious.
Iris and Hilbert high-five. Servine leaps at Iris happily, wrapping her in a big hug. Hilbert and Pikachu share glances, Hilbert gives Pikachu a thumbs-up, Pikachu just turns his head. Hilbert sighs and returns Pikachu into his Poké Ball.
HILBERT (V.O.)
Sheldon and Sewaddle were getting along with me fantastically, but Pikachu? Not so much. I tried my best to do some bonding with him while we chilled in Castelia for a bit, but it never worked.
Hilbert lets Pikachu sit on his shoulder as they walk thrugh Castelia, through a crowd of people. Pikachu just smirks and unleashes a huge burst of electricity, SHOCKING Hilbert.
Steam rises from his body and he sighs as passing people laugh. Even Iris giggles a little, he just gives her the finger and she helps him up with the roll of her eyes.
PROFESSOR JUNIPER (O.S.)
Hilbert, it seems that every time we see each other you're being electrocuted.
It's that instantly recognizable sly tone. Hilbert sees PROFESSOR JUNIPER stood a few feet away, stood next to a woman with long black hair who looks permanently stuck in a dreamy state.
HILBERT
(grumbles)
Good to see you too, professor.
PROFESSOR JUNIPER
There's been a bit of a problem...
FENNEL
Thieves! Thieves, I tell you.
PROFESSOR JUNIPER
This is Fennel, a fellow professor and friend of mine. She found a way to revive extinct Pokémon. One of the ones she managed to bring back was an Archen.
Iris looks up from admiring her Pokémon Egg-
IRIS
I've heard about those. The bird that couldn't fly.
Juniper nods.
PROFESSOR JUNIPER
Well, Team Plasma decided they wanted it without asking -
HILBERT
What way did they go?
PROFESSOR JUNIPER
Don't do anything stupid, Hilbert, I've already contacted the Castelia City authorities...
HILBERT
Which way, professor? You can't risk them getting away!
PROFESSOR JUNIPER
You're right. They went for the docks. We could all separate?
Hilbert nods. SHELDON, his Dewott, leaps onto his back, arms wrapped around Hilbert's shoulders. The four of them take off through the streets, pushing through the rampant crowd of faceless faces.
EXT. LIBERTY PIER - DAY
IRIS marches along LIBERTY PIER, looking through the faces in the crowd. AXEW sits on her shoulder, both search for anyone in TEAM PLASMA garb.
EXT. CRUISE DOCK - DAY
FENNEL has her MUSHARNA floating over her shoulders, a big purple curled-up psychic Pokémon with an eerie lavender smoke floating from its head.
EXT. UNITY PIER - DAY
HILBERT and SHELDON shove people around on the pier. They look at them with odd looks.
HILBERT (V.O.)
Okay, maybe we were a little direct with people. But I really wanted these Plasma jerks to get what was coming to them. Who could blame me, right?
Two figures in Team Plasma robes are climbing into a tiny black boat up ahead. Hilbert locks his eyes on them -
TARGET SIGHTED.
EXT. PRIME PIER - DAY
PROFESSOR JUNIPER hears shouts from the next pier over. She instinctively spins around -
PROFESSOR JUNIPER
(exasperated)
I told those kids to stay behind...
She rushes in the direction of Hilbert's shouting voice.
EXT. UNITY PIER - DAY
HILBERT stands at the edge of the pier - the two Plasma agents desperately try to start the motor boat. In a cage nearby is the ARCHEN. A scrawny little bird. It squawks pathetically.
Hilbert looks at Sheldon - they both nod to each other. With a running LEAP, they stick the landing - The boat rocks as their heavy weight crashes down on it, they balance it out quickly so they avoid toppling in. The Archen's cage tips and ROLLS right out of the boat.
ON THE PIER; PROFESSOR JUNIPER charges through the pier, pushing through gossiping passerby. She stands there, SCREAMS.
PROFESSOR JUNIPER
HILBERT, YOU'RE INSANE!
BACK on the boat; The two Plasma grunts look surprised as the boat starts to speed away - they glower at Hilbert as Sheldon DIVES into the water -
GRUNT 1
You ignorant child... You've been a thorn in our side for a while.
HILBERT
And whattya gonna do huh? I thought Team Plasma was all about peace.
GRUNT 2
That bird was never meant to be alive. It was extinct for a reason, it doesn't BELONG here. We are gonna put it out of its misery, kid!
HILBERT
Out of its misery?! You were gonna KILL it?!
GRUNT 2
Re-fossilization. It's humane.
IN THE WATER, Sheldon uses his twin scalchops to slash at the cage, but it starts to sink. Archen flails around, weakly chirping.
Sheldon tries to get the bird to calm down, but it won't. As Sheldon finally slashes open the lock and the door to the cage opens, Archen shimmers in a white glow.
IN THE BOAT; Hilbert and the grunts' attention is drawn to the white glow in the ocean. TIGHT on Hilbert's face as the wind picks up and he's forced to hold his hat down with his hand...
ON UNITY PIER; IRIS and FENNEL run up, joining PROFESSOR JUNIPER on the dock. They watch in awe...
BACK IN THE WATER; the cage EXPLODES in a FURY of METAL and WATER. A large, hairy, monstrous BIRD rises from the water, giving a vicious roar. Archen has evolved into a fierce ARCHEOPS. Raises into the sky, spreading its wings victoriously, water splashing around it.
BACK IN THE BOAT; Hilbert wrestles with the grunts as they try to hold him down.
HILBERT (V.O.)
I had to weigh my options... Stay here and get kidnapped by some random weirdos wearing K-K-K outfits... Or leap into the water and get my clothes all wet. Honestly, I couldn't choose what to do.
Hilbert stares into the sky and sees the Archeops FLYING toward the boat, a purple FLAME glowing in its beak. It opens its beak as it swoops over the boat - WHOOOOSH -
The flame shoots out in a streak of light, hitting the boat's motor. It explodes. The grunts and Hilbert are sent flying through the air.
HILBERT (V.O.)
I thought at that point I was going to die.
Hilbert has his eyes shut as he HURTLES through the air - only for him to stop falling abruptly - his eyes FLUTTER open and he looks up -
He's being carried by the Archeops, its feet wrapped in Hilbert's hood and carrying him by it. The grunts are left in the water, yelling for help.
HILBERT (V.O.)
But, obviously I wasn't. I mean, that woulda been anticlimactic, amiright?
Archeops swoops around and FLIES into the city...
HILBERT
Whoa, whoa, whoa, big bird. You could set me down at the pier...
The Archeops interrupts with a loud SQUWAK and continues FLYING...
EXT. CASTELIA CITY - CITYSCAPE - CONTINUOUS
ARCHEOPS carries HILBERT with it, Hilbert looks worried as he peeks around. Archeops CRASHES through an office buildng - dragging Hilbert in with it.
INT. CASTELIA CITY - OFFICE BUILDING - CONTINUOUS
ARCHEOPS gives a victorious squwak as it flies through the office, tearing through desks. People shriek and panic, running away in fear as poor HILBERT is dragged across the ground, his legs smacking around the floor and walls with every turn, and his body being hit by numerous objects. Archeops CRASHES through the window on the opposite side of the building, GLASS explodes everywhere -
EXT. CASTELIA CITY - CONTINUOUS
ON THE GROUND; IRIS throws out a Poké Ball, letting her DUCKLETT out. FENNEL and PROFESSOR JUNIPER follow her.
PROFESSOR JUNIPER
Where did it take him?
IRIS
I don't know, but Ducklett's gonna find him. Right!?
Ducklett gives a salute with its left wing and flies off.
IN THE SKY; TRACK SHOT of Ducklett as the tiny blue duck soars through the skies, spotting Archeops on a building...
EXT. CASTELIA CITY - ROOF - CONTINUOUS
HILBERT lies flat on his back on the roof of this building - the enormous prehistoric bird stood in front of him, walking toward him. ARCHEOPS nudges Hilbert's trembling legs with its massive mouth, giving a tiny little growl.
HILBERT (V.O.)
Yeah I was scared. But so what? Who wouldn't be, that enormous thing made me want to soil myself.
Archeops sniffs Hilbert's face - he closes his eyes -
HILBERT
Down boy, down...
Archeops roars angrily. Hilbert backs up.
HILBERT (CONT'D)
Girl then? You're a girl?
Archeops quiets.
HILBERT (CONT'D)
I take that as a yes then...
Hilbert starts growing more comfortable with Archeops, leaning in to pet her head softly, stroking her fur. Archeops in turn sniffs Hilbert's hat. He laughs. Ducklett flies over and lands on Hilbert's shoulder, giving an angry glance at Archeops.
HILBERT (CONT'D)
No no no, Ducklett, everything's fine, we're fine...
Hilbert takes out a Poké Ball. Holds it up. Archeops sniffs it curiously.
HILBERT (CONT'D)
Do you... Do you want to relax? Take a little rest?
Archeops taps the ball with its face and is suddenly wrapped in a bright red light and DRAGGED into the Ball. It barely shakes before LOCKING in place. Archeops is officially Hilbert's now.
EXT. CASTELIA CITY - OUTDOOR CAFE - DAY
HILBERT, IRIS, PROFESSOR JUNIPER and FENNEL sit at a nicely-decorated outdoor cafe. Hilbert hands Archeops's Poké Ball over to Fennel.
HILBERT
Archeops is yours right?
Fennel shoves the Ball away quickly, back toward Hilbert, who's taken aback.
FENNEL
Archen was panicking, scared when I had her. She didn't belong in this era but with you she relaxed. She trusts you because you saved her life.
(beat)
She's yours, Hilbert. Take care of her, okay?
HILBERT
Tha-Thank you so much.
Iris joins them at the table, sipping her Moo Moo Milk. She pours a bit of it onto her Pokémon Egg, hoping for it to warm up and hatch.
IRIS
(to herself, softly)
Gosh, this egg requires a lot of work...
(shaking her head)
Whatever happened to those Plasma punks?
PROFESSOR JUNIPER
They're in the local jail right now.
They all carry on with a chat together but their dialogue's muted. All we hear is the narration;
HILBERT (V.O.)
That was a tremendous accomplishment for me. I mean, a Pokémon that's been dead for thousands of years in my possession? Talk about insane!
Thank you to everyone who has left feedback thus far, it's greatly appreciated! Hopefully the story is plodding along nicely. Lots of set-up and team building lately, but it'll pick up. Hope you guys are enjoying.