Hey ladies and gents, and welcome back to XY: Kalos! There is a lot going on in this episode in quite a short time span, so let's get to it.
Ep 8: Garden of Mishap
"Now Froakie, use Water Pulse!" I commanded Froakie. He looked at me unsure but I gave him a 'go on' look and he attempted to create the water sphere, which instantly imploded. The water flooded all around us, which actually did good since we were in amongst flowers and hedges on Route 4.
"Fro," he groaned as he hung his head low. I kneeled down to Froakie and gave him a soft pat to try and make him feel better.
"Excuse me young man, care for a battle?" I looked up and saw an old gardener and his Corphish staring at me. He looked roughly 50 years old, but was still out in the garden and still had the spirit to battle, so how could I decline?
"I accept your challenge!" I told him energetically.
"Well, will it be a Water-Type battle then?" he questioned, looking over at Froakie.
"Oh, no…" I muttered as I looked at him. "I'll be battling with Chespin!" Chespin hopped off of my head, where he seemed to like to sit, and down in front of the man and his Corphish.
"Type advantage doesn't always make you win," he reminded me with a heavy chuckle at the end. "Corphish, let's start this off with Vice Grip!"
"Phish!" Corphish screeched as he came racing for us with his sharp claw open. I guess having that sharp claw would be good help in gardening.
"Chespin, dodge and then use Tackle!" Chespin jumped into the air, making Corphish immediately stop and look up, before he surged down onto the Corphish, sending him rolling through the flowers.
"Bubble Beam," the man countered. Corphish put one claw out and fired and barrage of bubbles that looked much more powerful than an ordinary Bubble attack.
"Chespin, hide in the flowers and then use Rollout!" I yelled, using the field around us to our advantage. However I noticed the man smile as soon as I called it. Chespin ducked into the flowers and the Bubble Beam went straight over its head, however just as he was going to use Rollout the man called another command.
"Use Vice Grip on all the flowers to cut them down!" I stood there open mouthed as I wasn't expecting him to use his gardening skills in battle. Corphish started to sprint around the area we were battling, chopping off all the flowers to their roots, so Chespin would quickly be found. We had to make a move now.
"Chespin, use Vine Whip!" Chespin's vines appeared from a spot in the un-chopped flowers and went rushing at Corphish, although they knew how to counter it.
"Now, Vice Grip those vines!" the man retaliated. Corphish immediately stopped what he was doing and grabbed a hold of Chespin's vines with a single claw. "Now throw Chespin!" Corphish tugged on the vines and used them to throw Chespin in the air. "Bubble Beam!" I was caught off guard and Chespin was hit with dozens of powerful bubbles, relentlessly, and Corphish wasn't stopping.
"Chespin use Rollout!"
"Pin!" Chespin nodded and started to roll, deflecting the bubbles. He then came bolting down with a lot of haste and collided with Corphish, though he dug his sharp feet into the ground so that he wasn't sent flying.
"Corphish, finish this with Knock Off!" the man ordered. Corphish's right claw started to shine a deep brown and it whacked Chespin right on the head, sending him flying back at me. I looked down at him and he was out for the count. "Corphish, come back, you were brilliant." Corphish ran back to the man's side and I just stood there in shock. "You fought valiantly young man, and I can see you're a great trainer. Corphish here and I are unfortunately, for you, just a little stronger, but you'll get there."
"Thank you," I said as Chespin and I both bowed to the man.
"We're also training for the Lumiose City, Southern Boulevard Pokemon Contest, so if you're headed there, it would mean a lot to me if you watched," he suggested. The gardener had brown afro-like hair and empty brown eyes. He wore gardening attire, but those were obviously his work clothes.
"Oh, you're entering the contest…?" I questioned, a bit puzzled.
"I know, it must be weird seeing a man of 48 doing contests, a lot of people would call it a mid-life crisis, but it's been my dream. I never got around to it because I grew up in a poor family, and I've had to work to feed them ever since I was a young boy. Sadly my mother passed away a few months ago, but this is also my chance to follow my dreams," he explained.
"I respect you for that, sir. I promise you I'll be at the contest," I assured him. He smiled and waved as he and Corphish got back to work. "Well that was heart-breaking…" I muttered to Chespin. He nodded and we walked back over to the area where we were training before with Froakie and continued. "Ok Froakie, let's try a Water Pu-" I suddenly heard someone running and when I just started to look to my right… "AHH!" THUD!
"Ooh, I'm so so so so so sorry!" the girl apologized all in about a second. First impression: chatter box. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," I told her as I picked myself up off the ground. I put my hand out to her to help her up and she smiled up at me, quickly taking my hand.
"Thank you," she blushed. I saw her giggle before stopping and looking like she forgot something. "Ooh, I forgot my name. My name's Tori!"
"Tyler," I replied as I pointed at myself. I scanned the girl up and down. She had brunette hair that was let down, except for her fringe that was completely clipped back, showing her entire forehead. She has blue eyes and quite tanned skin, with black rimmed sunglasses placed above her forehead. She wore a pale blue top with a white cardigan, with sleeves that only went to her elbows. She then wore tight, black vinyl short shorts and some pale blue and white trainers. She also wore a black metallic bracelet and also a white metallic bracelet.
"I'm sorry about before," she said again.
"That's ok. What were you in such a rush for anyway?"
"Oh, well… I saw this shiny blue flowered Flabébé a few days ago and I've been chasing it ever since. I just saw it for the first time today so I went chasing after it, but with no luck," she moaned with her head hanging low. "Hey, maybe you could help me. I know if you do I can give you a TREMENDOSLY special prize!" A prize she says? I can never say no to a prize.
"I'm in."
"So do you have any idea about where this thing lives or likes to go?" I asked her.
"I often see her drinking from the Clampearl fountain, but I've also seen her twice dancing around the big oak tree to the east of the fountain," she explained, trying to remember all the times she'd seen the Pokemon.
"Do you have any Pokemon to battle it with?" I asked, making sure.
"Of course I have a Pokemon! Fennekin, go!" she screamed as she threw her Fennekin's pokeball into the air.
"Kin!" the tiny fox Pokemon squealed. She was a lot different to Bree's Fennekin; smaller, higher-pitched voice and arguably cuter.
"See, isn't she a doll!" Tori exclaimed as she and Fennekin embraced in a hug, both giggling and smiling. They seemed to match each other perfectly. I nodded awkwardly as I looked back at Chespin and we sort of just stared at each other, wide eyed, a bit freaked by the girl. "C'mon Tyler, let's go to the fountain!" I followed after the girl – Chespin on my head, admiring the view – until we reached the beautiful Clampearl Fountain.
"I don't see it…" I muttered as I was looking out for a blue flowered Flabébé.
"Shh!" Tori hissed as she focused on one spot, obviously the spot that Flabébé usually comes to. "Nope, she's not here…"
"How do you know it's a girl?"
"A girl just knows Tyler," she sighed as she got up and started walking to the east. "To the giant oak tree!"
"So what do you want to do on your journey?" I questioned.
"I'm a Pokemon coordinator. I just love the beauty of Pokemon, I think it's wonderful! But the only way to make a Pokemon beautiful is to bond with it and love it."
"That's the same way I feel about the power of a Pokemon. To bring out a Pokemon's potential you need to be loving and give it lots of attention; bonding!" I exclaimed.
"So I guess you're into gym battling?" she quizzed.
"Of course. I wouldn't mind doing contests but I just get so fired up in battle, I truly feel alive…"
"I feel the same way when I'm performing," she agreed. "So where are you from?"
"Santalune City, but I live in Lumiose City. Well at least my family does. I guess I live on the road now," I shrugged. "Where are you from?"
"I'm from the Sinnoh region originally, but I moved here just last year. I'm loving it here; my home, Laverre City, is especially beautiful, with all its nature and Fairy-Types!" she giggled. We both smiled, I felt more comfortable around her now that I knew more about her; I realised she wasn't crazy, just bubbly. I stared ahead and noticed the big oak tree, with a small Pokemon dancing around it. "That's it, Flabébé!"
"Shh, quiet," I warned her, but Flabébé had already seen us and started to run away.
"Come back, Flabébé!" she screamed as we started to run after the small Pokemon. We could see the small Pokemon floating ahead of us. She was beautiful; a white and purple body in her shiny form as well as a beautiful blue flower, I could see why Tori wanted her. We were chasing after Flabébé and getting deeper and deeper into the forest until we reached a clearing and saw a massive flock of Fletchling and Fletchinder. I gasped as I recognized that flock; it was Fletchling's flock!
"Bé!" Flabébé cried as she realised she was cornered. But she was the least of our worries right now which Tori didn't realise as these Fletchling and Fletchinder were tough.
"Flabébé, please, don't be scared," Tori told the Pokemon but you could see her shivering.
"Fletch!" all of the Pokemon in the flock started to fly towards us, recognizing me and wanting to get at that flower!
"Fletchling, come on out and calm down your flock!" I threw Fletchling's pokeball straight for the birds and Fletchling appeared, looking nervous to be around the members of her old flock. "Fletchling, please try to talk to them and calm them down!" Fletchling started to speak in Poké-Language to the other birds but they just kept on flying towards her, disregarding what she was saying.
"Ling!" Fletchling cried as she started to get pummelled with countless Quick Attacks. I heard one of the Fletchinder chirp loudly which made all the Fletchling stop their attacks, and he went over and spoke to Fletchling. She looked back at me with sadness in her eyes but nodded, and I didn't know what was going on. The Fletchling, including mine, then proceeded to attack again but all were attacking Flabébé.
"Fletchling, how could you?" I scowled as I realised she was going back to her rebellious ways. "Alright Chespin, use Leech Seed on the Fletchling!" Chespin nodded as he jumped off of my head and sent out hundreds of seeds, wrapping up a dozen Fletchling with vines. But that still left about half the flock, including the 4 Fletchinder and my Fletchling. All the remaining Fletchling started to use Aerial Ace at Flabébé and the Fletchinder were using Ember.
"Oh no you don't, counter that Ember with your Ember Fennekin!" Tori yelled with determination. I noticed Flabébé look up at Tori in awe as she saw how determined Tori was to save her.
"And Vine Whip those Fletchling out of the sky!" I ordered Chespin. Fennekin's and the Fletchinder's Embers all collided, cancelling each other out whilst Chespin started to whip his vines, knocking down Fletchling after Fletchling, but there was one survivor; my Fletchling. She was still determined though and was going to use Aerial Ace on that Flabébé!
"No!" Tori cried as she took the hit from Fletchling for Flabébé. Tori was sent rolling along the ground and I saw Fletchling tear up a little.
"Tori, are you ok?!" I screamed.
"I'm fine, just protect Flabébé…" I wasn't going to disobey orders, so I needed to stop the flock. And Fletchling was the only way I could.
"Fletchling, you don't have to do this… Don't let your rebellion take over," I edged Fletchling. She was looking around confused, not sure who to side with. "You're my Pokemon, we have a bond. You can't abandon that!"
"Ling!" she screeched out as suddenly her wings shone a bright light, sending out arches of mystic blue power.
"Razor Wind!" I gasped as I saw Fletchling unleash her inner blaze. I looked at her with a proud smile, and I realised that Fletchling was more powerful than I thought, meaning that I wasn't going to let her get away. "Fletchling, please!" Fletchling looked down after she unleashed the Razor Wind and stared at me. She nodded. "Alright! Use Quick Attack around the flock to distract them!" Fletchling used a similar technique to what she used in our first Santalune Gym battle and zipped around all of the flock with Quick Attack, making them unsure where Fletchling was. "Now, Razor Wind and Vine Whip!"
"Pin/Fletch!" my Pokemon cried as they released two special attacks which put the flock on the verge of fainting.
"Now, Rollout and Aerial Ace!" Fletchling started to bolt through the air as Chespin steam rolled for them on the ground. Fennekin joined in with a roaring Flame Charge and together, they sent the flock flying high into the air; landing point, unknown! I grinned as I had a feeling that would be the last I saw of that flock. My attention quickly shifted to Tori and as I walked over to her I noticed Flabébé by her side, talking to her; I assume seeing if she's ok. Tori sat up and looked at Flabébé, who seemed happy she was up. Tori proceeded to pat her head and Flabébé remained happy. "Looks like you've got a fan."
"Yeah, it seems so," she giggled, looking at the beautiful Pokemon. Flabébé dug into her pocket and got a pokeball out which rolled onto the floor. She enlarged it, tapping the pokeball in its centre before jumping onto it, which made her get sucked into the pokeball. 1 shake, 2 shakes, 3 shakes and PING! Tori giggled, before she got up and yelled… "Alright… I just got myself, a Flabébé! And a shiny one too!"
"Congratulations Tori, nice job!"
"Thanks, now I can't lose in the Lumiose City SB contest!"
Tori and I were now at the Pokemon Centre at the end of the garden, where after that there was a small route until Lumiose City. It was the next morning and it was a beautiful day. We stepped out of the doors and it wouldn't be long until I was back home, but then I suddenly remembered…
"Wait, what's my prize?!" I groaned.
"You're prize, my good friend, is to watch I and Flabébé the magnificent perform in the Lumiose City Pokemon Contest!" I stared at her blank faced, with slight anger.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" I roared, but she just giggled, and somehow I did too. "Fine then, but you better win!"
TO BE CONTINUED…
NEXT EPISODE: SYCAMORE STUDENTS
There we go, Episode 8 done and dusted! So, in this episode Tyler battled an old gardener and lost, and also met a new friend, Tori, who he helped get a shiny Flabébé! Next episode will be the return to Lumiose City and a special three-way battle. After that I have an episode I'm really excited about, so I hope these next two weeks go by quick!
Tyler:
Chespin: Lv.16 (m) – Tackle, Vine Whip, Rollout, Leech Seed
Fletchling: Lv.16 (f) – Quick Attack, Peck, Aerial Ace, Razor Wind
Froakie: Lv.15 (m) – Quick Attack, Bubble, Water Pulse, Acrobatics
Quick Questions:
1. What do you think of Tori?
2. Are Tori and Tyler rivals? Friends? Something more?
3. What are your predictions for the Lumiose Southern Boulevard Contest from the two coordinators that have been introduced so far?
Until Next Time – MonfernoFreak
PS: If you have any questions or ideas, some feedback or criticism, don't forget to leave a review. I'm going to start and try to address some reviews in the beginning A/N {stolen from El Torro :3}