Diary entry, June 31st, 2007
So nothing much is happening right now. The excitement sort of died down after the Floraroma Town Contest.
Lyssa, Diana and I decided to stick around for another day or so; to take a little break before heading towards Eterna City. Mom and Taylor left earlier this morning so that they could go back home. It was really great seeing them again, even old lady Dewott. I have missed them. It's hard to believe that I only left home two weeks ago.
Diana decided to use our mini vacation as an opportunity to become a better coordinator. She ran into our room at the Pokémon Center, holding a flyer for free poffin making lessons, I really wanted to complain. Cooking just didn't seem like a fun way to spend the time, but she seemed so psyched about it... I just said I would go instead... argh. It's to early in the morning for this.
Diana dragged me, Lyssa, Chimchar and Oshawott and the rest of our pokémon to this cooking lesson. It was taught by an older woman named Forsynthia, who seemed to be really enthusiastic about it. Nice girl but... really? Who gets do happy about cooking at 8:30 a.m.? Sigh.
At least Lyssa looked as tired as I felt. That means I'm not the only one who would rather be in bed.
The pokémon had a ball playing with the pokémon outside of Forsynthia's. They seemed to have made friends with one pokémon in particular known as a Roserade. I had to use my pokédex to vet some info about it.
Roserade- the Bouquet Pokémon and the evolved form of Roselia. It distracts enemies with its sweet aroma, and attacks with dancer- like elegance.
Sounded really interesting. I walked up to it and Roserade went from smiling happily to frowning tensly. That Rosersde didn't trust me at all. Forsythia didn't seemed surprised when I commented ad much. It must do that a lot then.
Finally the lesson began. It was weird at first because we had to stir the poffin batter at a certain speed. Too slow and it will burn. Too fast and it'll spill over. I learned all of that the hard way.
Eventually I got better at making poffins and my first good batch to my pokémon. I made it with the extra Pecha berries we had packed before we came to Floraroma Town. I recieved mixed results.
Chimchar and Cherrim wouldn't even try them; they just wouldn't eat them. Altaria ate some, but he didn't seem to care about what he was eating.
The only one who seemed to really enjoy them was Oshawott. He ate and ate like a little glutton; he couldn't get enough of them. I decided that I would keep the recipe.
I continued the process. Forsythia gave us permission to user the berries in her garden. I made progress.
I found that Chimchar liked her poffin to be really dry and bitter. She really liked the Oran and Razz berries to be mixed in. Cherrim liked them really spicy. Forsynthia had something called Liechi berries. I had never heard of them, but Forsynthia said they were very rare so that makes sense. She said to take as many as I wanted.
Altaria just seemed to eat any poffin I put in front of him. Guess he didn't have a favorite. Or if he did, I have yet to find it.
This was pretty fun, but so can't wait to get back on my journey.
-Kori
July 1st, 2007
Kori just packed the last of her supplies into her bag. "Okay. It looks like I've gotten everything I need." Kori grabbed her bag and finally looked at the two pokémon sitting on the bed. "Are you two ready to go?"
"Chimchar!"
"Oshawott!"
"Then let's get this show on the road." Both pokémon nodded and jumped on Kori's shoulders. Kori walked out of the room, to meet her friends downstairs. It was finally time for them to leave Floraroma Town for Eterna City. It was definitely time for Kori to get her next gym badge. So Kori walked down the stairs. Lyssa and Diana sat patiently at a table in the Pokémon Center. They got up when Kori came down the stairs.
"Finally!" Lyssa yelled, "Let's get out of here!"
"Alright," Kori answered back. "Just calm down." Although Kori couldn't hello but to agree with Lyssa's sentiment; it really was time for them to go. It felt like they had been in the same place for too long. She was anxious to leave.
All three girls walked towards the door, ready to begin their journey anew.
"Wait just one moment!" A voice called. The three girls turned away from the doors, towards them in an irritated, almost angry fashion. She support right in front of Kori. "You ought to be ashamed of yourself."
Kori raised her eyebrow, irritated she was even being spoken to this way. "I'm sorry?"
"A few nights ago, your pokémon on your shoulder," Nurse Joy pointed to Oshawott, "came into the Pokémon Center and dropped off an Altaria and Duskull that needed healing."
Kori instantly remembered. It was the night she battled against Juno. Only Lyssa and Diana didn't know that. Kori needed to get rid of them now. "Hey guys," Kori said lightly. "It the Oshawott is in trouble for something. Can you both take Chimchar with you and wait outside? This won't take too long."
Lyssa and Diana exchanged louts before shrugging awkwardly. Diana took Chimchar from Kori's shoulder.
"We'll be waiting then." Chimchar waved as the two girls walked out of the Center. Kori turned her attention back to Nurse Joy.
"Okay now," she started. "It was Oshawott who came in with Altaria and Duskull that night. Is there a problem?"
Nurse Joy put her hands on her hips. "Well you have some explaining to do." The nurse led back to her station. "You remembered to pick up Altaria rather quickly, but poor Duskull has been here for three days now. And now you're about to leave?" Nurse Joy growled. "It's unacceptable for a trainer to behave in this way!"
What? Kori thought angrily. Kori knew for a fact that Juno had left Floraroma Town already. If she left without even remembering to take her Duskull with her, that's downright negligent. Now she was just as pissed as Nurse Joy, who seemed to think she was Duskull's trainer. Time to set her straight. "You've got it all wrong Nurse Joy," Kori stayed. "I'm not Duskull's trainer." She quickly told Nurse Joy about the night she battled Juno and the reason why Altaria and Duskull needed to be taken to the Pokémon Center.
The nurse gasped. "I'm so sorry about the mistake," Nurse Joy said, bowing profusely. "I just can't stand it when a pokémon is treated so carelessly by a trainer.
Kori held her hands up, embarrassed. "It's okay. I totally agree with you. Now please- no harm done, right Oshawott?"
"Oshawott." Oshawott nodded.
"Thank you." Nurse Joy smiled. "But I need to get in contact with the trainer as soon as possible."
Kori frowned. "That may be easier said than done. Juno left Floraroma Town before the Contest began."
"Oh no," Joy gasped. "Now what can I do for Duskull?"
Kori felt so bad. Nurse Joy and Duskull were put in this position because Juno was being irresponsible as a trainer. Now Duskull may have to wait in this Pokémon Center until Juno comes back. That wasn't right.
"I might see her again on my journey," Kori started slowly. "If you give me Duskull, I'll be sure to give it back to Juno if I see her again. And that's bound to happen."
The Pokémon nurse smiled. "Thank you! I would certainly appreciate it." Nurse Joy walked around the counter before she handed Kori Duskull's pokéball. "Now Duskull is completely healthy," Joy started, "but the few times it has been let out of its pokéball..."
Kori was confused. Whatever Nurse Joy stopped herself from saying didn't give her a good feeling about all of this. "What is it?"
Nurse Joy hesitated. "I just have to warn you that Duskull is a little jumpy at times. It just doesn't seem to be good with other people or pokémon."
"Is it likely to attack anyone?" Kori asked urgently.
"What?" Joy asked, shocked that the younger girl jumped to that conclusion. "No! If anything, it's more likely to hide or run away from you. If you're going to approach it, don't make any sudden movements and speak to it gently."
Kori was sure- she just knew- there was more to it than that. There had to be, or else why would Nurse Joy look so nervous? It didn't matter anyway because she already agreed to take Duskull off her hands.. "I'll be sure to remember that." Kori pocketed the pokéball and left the Pokémon Center. "Goodbye Nurse Joy."
Nurse Joy waved. "Thank you."
Kori absently petted Oshawott. "Looks like we're giong to have a new friend travelling with us for a little bit."
Oshawott nodded sternly. "Oshawott wott," he muttered.
"Hey," Kori said defensively. "It's not my fault that Juno has such a character flaw. Someone has to look out for Duskull now."
Oshawott just gave her a look and she knew exactly what he thought. That this isn't a good idea. Kori wasn't sure she disagreed with Oshawott but that didn't change the fact that Duskull needed someone to care enough to do right by it. So what if that person happened to be her?
Anyway, when Kori met up with her friends outside, Chimchar jumped on her spot on Kori's shoulder. "Chimchar!"
Kori smiled at the fire chimp. "Good to have you back."
"So what did Nurse Joy want?" Diana asked.
Kori panicked a little. She hadn't thought of a lie for this situation. Now she had to think of something on the sly. "Well...," she started. "There was a misunderstanding in there and I just had to clear it up with Nurse Joy."They had started walking towards that closest towns exits.
Lyssa looked like she had her doubts. "What sort of misunderstanding?"
Kori and Oshawott shared a look.
Lyssa raised an eyebrow. "Well?"
"Well," Kori hesitated. Time to tell a convincing story, she thought. She didn't want to mention Juno at all, especially not in front of Diana. "You remember that night I took a walk with Oshawott?"
Lyssa nodded. Diana and Chimchar, both having no idea what she was talking about, just looked confused.
"It was the night before the Contest," Kori quickly explained. "Me and Oshawott couldn't go to sleep, so we went for a walk. Anyway, at some point, another trainer challenged me to a three- on- three battle. So the first battle was between Swablu and a Duskull. It was a really tough battle, both pokémon were really injured. Swablu evolved into Altaria and won. After that first battle was over, they both needed to be taken to the Pokémon Center. Oshawott took them there so we could continue battling. And that stupid trainer left after the battle was over, forgetting to take Duskull back. That's why Nurse Joy was so mad, she thought I was Duskull's trainer because she recognized Oshawott."
"Oh," Diana gasped. "That's so horrible. How can someone just leave without their pokémon?"
Kori knew the answer. Apparently it was someone like Juno, she wanted to say. Even she was still angry about it.
Lyssa looked just as worked up about it as she felt. "I can't believe someone is that irresponsible," she growled. Chimchar yelled in agreement.
"Yeah I know," Kori said. "But I promised Nurse Joy that I would find Duskull's trainer."
"What?" Lyssa angrily spat. "Why the hell should we do that? Sounds like Duskull may be better off without a trainer like that!"
Kori couldn't help but agree. Lyssa couldn't even begin to know how close she was to the truth; and she didn't even KNOW Duskull's trainer was actually Juno, but she couldn't make that decision for Duskull; who knew what the requiem pokémon wants for itself. Kori even told Lyssa as much.
Without much for anyone else to say in response, they all finally left Floraroma.
In the sky, a dark aircraft flew above the clouds. The people on the aircraft listened to the shadowed face of their leader on the computer monitor.
"Your mission is to either retrieve that prototype or the data connected to it and bring it back to headquarters," the leader said. "I am depending on you both, Mars and Charon."
"A young woman, with bright red hair to match her bright red eyes smiled. She folded her arms over her strange outfit with a G symbol. "Won't be a problem sir."
An older, shorter man, with wrinkles and hair that have long since lost their original color, adjusted his glasses with a cruel smirk. The woman found herself wanting to wipe that smirk off of that arrogant prick's face.
"With my intellect, there will be nothing to worry about." The man, Charon's glasses gleamed maliciously. "Everything will go according to plan."
"I expect nothing less." The leader disconnected the line, leaving the monitor blank.
Those of Team Galactic had their orders. They were now ready to proceed with their nefarious plot.
"Alright," Lyssa said, unpacking various pots and pans. "I think it's time to get ready for lunch."
Diana and Kori nodded. They released their pokémon out of the pokéballs. They all gave a cry as they were released."
"Altaria!"
"Cherrim!"
"Turtwig!"
"Shinx shinx!"
Lyssa paused from cutting up the vegetables and released her two pokémon. "You can come out too!" The next two pokémon were released.
"Corsola!"
"Bidoof!"
Kori pulled out another pokéball. Duskull's pokéball. Time to see what Nurse Joy was so worried about. She thought grimly. "Okay Duskull." Kori thought the pokéball. "Come out for lunch."
Duskull was released. The ghost- type twirled around, not recognizing his surroundings. "Skull?" How did he get here? He noticed the strangers that seemed to surround him. Duskull tensed. So many strangers.
"Hello Duskull." Duskull quickly turned to the speaker. She looked familiar. Had he seen her before? "It's nice to finally meet you." The girl knelt down, moving closer to Duskull.
Of course. It was so obvious now, Duskull thought. This girl...
FLASHBACK- DUSKULL'S POV
He had been released from his pokéball. His trainer had demanded he battle against another pokémon. The other pokémon, Swablu. The other pokémon's trainer was another girl with short hair.
Swablu had evolved into an Altaria during the battle. His cruel trainer had ordered him to use Dark Pulse on the opponent and he did as commanded.
Altaria managed to dodge the attack, but also defeated him with his own attack. Diskull remembered falling unconcious. He felt himself be sucked into his pokéball.
He even remembered hearing his trainer's voice, calling him worthless. He knew that pain would be coming soon. Fear became a painful reminder in Duskull's being.
PRESENT
Kori watched as Duskull seemed to flinch and fold within itself Kori walked closer to make sure Duskull was alright, but as soon as she took a step closer. Duskull fled as quickly as it could/ Kori completely halted her actions. She didn't want to completely scare it away. She decided that now would be a good time to get some help.
"Chimchar! Oshawott!" Kori yelled. "Cherrim and Altaria! Can you all come and help me?"
All of her pokémon nodded and ran towards her.
Kori kneeled down to their level. "It looks like Duskull may be a little scared," she whispered, while pointing at the aforementioned pokémon. "Please go over their and try to talk with Duskull. Please go slowly okay? Nurse Joy did say that Duskull was easily startled."
All of Kori's pokémon seemed to understand and began to whisper amongst themselves. They all agreed that only one of them should try to speak with Duskull. That way, the other pokémon wouldn't feel as intimidated.
After careful deliberation, it was decided that Chimchar shouldn't be the one to approach Duskull. The fire- type could be too hyper at times and very sociable. They wanted Duskull to not be startled.
Oshawott wouldn't be going either. The water- type was still very young and may not know how to handle something like this either. Which now left Altaria and Cherrim left. Altaria told everyone he didn't think he should go; his evolution made him bigger and taller than Duskull. That may intimidate the other pokémon.
Everryone else seemed to have bought that, but it really wasn't it. Truth was, Altaria recognized Duskull from their previous battle and Altaria just didn't want to be recognized by the other pokémon, especially since Chimchar wasn't allowed in on that secret.
With that process of elimination done, Cherrim was the only choice left. She very calm, as grass- types are naturally. She was also closer to Duskull's size, if not a little smaller than the other pokémon. So she slowly walked over to Duskull. Kori and the others watched as Cherrim began to slowly speak with Duskull. The other pokémon stayed to the background hopeful that Cherrim seemed to be making some progress. The wait seemed to drag on. Eventually, even Diana, Lyssa and the other pokémon seemed to notice the suspense. Finally, Cherrim eventually walked back, leaving Duskull where it was. Kori knelt, impatient to know what Cherrim would report back.
"So what did Duskull say?" Kori asked excitedly.
Cherrim's eyes, that was covered by her overcast form, seemed stare intensely her trainer. "Cherrim cher cherrim," she said, gesturing to Duskull and then back to the camp.
While Kori was trying to understand what Cherrim was trying to say, it really wasn't working so well. Kori was about to ask the grass- type to explain more slowly, but Chimchar came out with two bowls of pokémon food in front of Kori. Kori tilted her head, while Chimchar pointed towards Duskull. The lightbulb went off in Kori's head. Duskull and Cherrim must want eat with each other. Kori nodded and grabbed the bowls. Cherrim led Kori to the spot, a patch of grass that was a little closer to the tree Duskull continued to hide behind. Kori wanted to venture closer, but she knew that Duskull would just run away. She sighed and retreated, leaving. Cherrim and Duskull alone while she and the rest of the pokémon ate with the group.
A man in his mid- thirties was typing on his computer, grinning. He was just about finish his work and now because of it, Valley Windworks will be able to gather energy more efficiently. Life really couldn't be any better right now. A laugh pulled the man out of his thoughts. A little girl with long brown hair in a braid, bid brown eyes and wearing a yellow sundress ran into the room. She was followed by a round, purple creature that resembled a balloon. It had two stringy arms with yellow heart shapes on the end. Big black eyes had a yellow x- shape on its face.
"Daddy!" The girl yelled happily. "Come play with us!"
"Drif!" The pokémon yelled in agreement.
The man smiled. He had just finished his project ahead of schedule and he could spend his time with his daughter. He got out of his seat, causing the pair in front of him to cheer with happiness. The man allowed his daughter to drag him out of his office and towards the door, until he noticed something that finally took the smile off of his face.
A group of people he had never met before, wearing very strange clothing were standing in the building. They were using pokémon to battle the Magnamite that guarded the Valley Windworks. One of the strange people was tying up the security guard, Ben in his chair. This wasn't good at all.
One of them, a young girl with red hair seemed to finally notice him and his daughter. She pointed towards them. "Hurry and apprehend them!" Some of them went to follow her order. The man carried his daughter and ran back into the office, followed by her pokémon friend Drifloon.
"Daddy what's happening?" The scared girl asked. The man put her down before he locked the door and moved one of the desks in front of it. It wasn't going to hold those people out forever, but it will have to do for now.
"Daddy I'm scared," the girl whimpered.
"I know Adley," the man answered soothingly, "but I'm going to get you out of here quickly." The man carried his daughter to one of the nearby vents. He knew his daughter could certainly fit in there with Drifloon. He opened it and carried her inside.
"Daddy what's happening?" Adley asked, tears coming down her face.
"There isn't much time to explain sweetheart," the man quickly. "I need you to go through this vent." The man gave a startled flinch when he heard banging on the door. "Go through the vent with Drifloon and get help. Tell them that really bad people broke into the Valley Windworks."
"But what about you?" The little girl asked, panicked. The banging was getting louder. There was no way that door would keep holding.
"It'll be alright." The man looked at Drifloon. "Please keep her safe Drifloon."
The pokémon seemed to nod. "Drif." The door was given one final bang before finally, it broke apart. Only the table was left to hold the intruders. Time was running out.
"Now go!" The man quickly put the vent back in. There was no way that he was going to let these people anywhere near his daughter. It wasn't too long before he heard her and Drifloon move away, closer to the exit. The strange people have already managed to demolish the table that blocked their way inside. While this all happened, Adley and her Drifloon quickly escaped through the vent outside of Valley Windworks, desperately trying to follow her father's direction.
Our group of travelers had just finished their lunch and were now ready to continue towards Eterna City. The girls were packing their belongings and returned their pokémon into their pokéballs. Kori quickly returned Duskull before he noticed her. They all- Kori, Diana, Lyssa, Chimchar and Oshawott walked farther and farther from Floraroma Town and onto route 205. They had been walking for about a few minutes, before something really fast knocked Kori down on the ground.
"Ow," Kori whined, rubbing her stomach. "What hit me so hard?" She opened her eyes and noticed her friends, comforting a crying little girl. "Hey she didn't get that hard did she?" Kori asked concerned. She then noticed a pokémon she had never seen before, floating next to the girl. Kori pulled out her pokédex.
Drifloon- the Balloon Pokémon. Drifloon is filled with air and can either expand or shrink to express its feelings. It also likes damp weather. Because of the way Drifloon floats aimlessly, an old folktale calls it a "Signpost for wandering spirits".
"Please," the little girl coughed, tears made it hard to understand her. "Please help my daddy. The bad people have him." Kori's hair stood on end. Something was terribly wrong.
But no matter what the problem was she knew she would help this girl.
Kori's Pokemon
1. CHIMCHAR (female): (EMBER, ACROBATICS, IRON TAIL, TAUNT, FLAME WHEEL)
2. ALTARIA (male): (SING, STEEL WING, AERIAL ACE, COTTON GUARD, MIRROR MOVE)
3. OSHATWOTT (male): (SCALD, AIR SLASH, RAZOR SHELL)
4. CHERRIM (female): (MAGICAL LEAF, PETAL DANCE, SUNNY DAY)
5. DUSKULL (male): (MEAN LOOK, DARK PULSE, NIGHTSHADE, WILL-O-WISP)
Lyssa's Pokemon
1. CORSOLA (female): (WATER GUN, ROCK BLAST, BUBBLE)
2. BIDOOF (male): (MOVES UNKNOWN)
Diana's Pokemon
1. TURTWIG (male): (RAZOR LEAF, EARTH POWER, BITE, ENERGY BALL, SYNTHESIS)
2. SHINX (male): (SWIFT, TACKLE, THUNDERSHOCK, SCARY FACE, SPARK)
The Friends
Adley's Pokemon
1. DRIFLOON (male): (MOVES UNKNOWN)