Episode 92: Good Quil Hunting
Before we begin this chapter, I would like to announce that I plan on having Kairi catch her own Cyndaquil, and that one will evolve into a Hisuian Typhlosion during the Hisui arc. Anyway, enjoy.
A few hours came and went since adding Chikorita to the team, and since then, Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, Angel, and Togepi, all continued on with their journey towards Violet City for Sora's first Johto Gym battle. But they are unaware of Gliscor and the Gligar pack following the couple.
Pikachu's ears perk up when he heard the sound rustling in the woods.
"Pika?" Pikachu turned around and saw nothing.
"What's wrong, Pikachu?" Sora asked his partner.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
Sora turned his head and he saw nothing there.
"There's nothing and nobody there, Pikachu," Sora said. "You were probably just hearing things."
Pikachu wasn't the least bit sure about that. He was certain there was something following them; and it sure wasn't Team Rocket or the Heartless.
Just a little while later, the couple were encountered by a boy in a bandana. He approached Sora for a challenge.
"Hello there! I'm looking for some tough Pokémon trainers to battle! You pretty tough?" The boy challenged.
"Care to find out?" Sora asked taking out a Pokéball.
"Gladly!" He said also taking out a Pokéball. "Mareep! Go!" He threw the Pokéball letting out a Mareep. Sora took out his Pokédex and scanned it.
Mareep, the Wool Pokémon
Type: Electric
Mareep's fluffy coat of wool rubs together and builds a static charge. The more static electricity is charged, the more brightly the lightbulb at the tip of its tail glows.
"So it's an Electric Type," Sora said taking out a Pokéball. "This one will do. Let's go, Chikorita!" Sora threw it letting out his new Chikorita.
"Chiko!" Chikorita said twirling her leaf.
"So it's a Grass-type against my Mareep huh? Types alone don't win Pokémon battles!" The boy said.
"Let me see what your Mareep can do! Chikorita! Tackle!" Sora ordered as Chikorita charges towards the sheep Pokémon.
"Mareep! Use Cotton Spore!" The boy ordered. Mareep lets out multiple, fluffy cottonballs from its wool. The cottonballs quickly surrounds Chikorita. That did slow the leaf Pokémon down a bit, but that wasn't enough to stop her.
"Cut on through with Razor Leaf!" Sora called out. Chikorita fires Razor Leaf, cutting through the cottonballs. "Now smack it with Vine Whip!" Chikorita gives Mareep a few hits. "Now use Sweet Scent!" Chikorita sends out a sweet smelling scent towards Mareep. The sheep Pokémon became intoxicated with the aroma.
"Mareep! Fight back! Thunder Wave!" The boy ordered. Mareep couldn't do a thing due to the Sweet Scent affecting it greatly.
"Now finish up with your Tackle!" Sora called out. Chikorita charged towards Mareep and lands a critical hit. Mareep was knocked out. "Way to go, Chikorita! Not bad for your first battle, right?" Chikorita rushes over to Sora and nuzzles his leg.
"Your Chikorita is pretty cool!" He said calling back his Mareep. He took out another Pokéball. "Let's see how you do well against this one! Geodude! Go!" He threw the Pokéball and it lets out an Alolan Geodude.
"An Alolan Geodude?" Sora questioned. He looked to Chikorita. "You still up for another rumble, Chikorita?"
"Chiko!" Chikorita nodded.
"Great! Vine Whip!" Sora ordered. Chikorita sends out Vine Whip to strike the Alolan Geodude.
"Geodude! Dodge it!" The boy ordered. Geodude avoids the attack. "Move in with Fire Punch!" Geodude strikes Chikorita hard with a fiery punch. "Now use Explosion!" The Alolan Geodude lets out an explosion. Chikorita didn't have enough time to dodge it and got hit bad. Both Pokémon were down and out.
"Hey Chikorita!" Sora ran up to his fallen Pokémon picking her up. "You okay?"
"Chiko," Chikorita nodded sadly.
"You did a great job, Chikorita," Sora said kindly. He pulls out her Pokéball. "You should rest up for a while." Sora calls back Chikorita to her Pokéball. "Hey, not bad. Anymore surprises?" His opponent smirked.
"Do you have to ask?" He pulled out a Pokéball with yellow lightning bolt on the top and yellow half-circles on the side; this one is a Fast Ball. "Aipom! Go!" The Fast Ball lets out a simian Pokémon with a three-fingered hand at the end of its tail. Its fur is purple, while the skin of its face, inner ears, belly, feet, and the tip of its tail are beige. Its face usually has a cheeky smile and round, blue eyes. With its round ears, Aipom's head is disproportionately large compared to its body. Atop its head is a cowlick that is longer on females than males. Unlike its feet, the Pokémon's arms are simple, purple stubs. Sora took out his Pokédex and scanned the Pokémon in front of him.
Aipom, the Long Tail Pokémon
Type: Normal
Aipom's tail ends in a hand-like appendage that can be cleverly manipulated. However, because the Pokémon uses its tail so much, its real hands have become rather clumsy.
"Sounds to be very handy to me," Sora jokingly said, putting his Pokédex away. He took out a Pokéball and threw it. "Hoothoot! Go!" Sora threw his Pokéball and it lets out his Hoothoot. Stars swirls around Hoothoot upon entry.
"Hoothoot!" Hoothoot hooted.
"Okay Hoothoot! Wing it with Tackle now!" Sora called out. Hoothoot charges at Aipom with a full force of his body.
"Dodge it, Aipom!" The boy ordered. Aipom jumps out of the way before Hoothoot could land a hit. "Now use Ice Punch!" Aipom's appendage clutched into a fist and it emitted ice. Aipom moves it to hoped it lands a cold hit.
"Hoothoot! Dodge it!" Sora called out. Hoothoot manages to avoid the hit. "Now use Wing Attack!" Hoothoot strikes Aipom hard with Wing Attack. Aipom tried to strike hard at the owl Pokémon, but he was just too fast. "Now use Peck!" Hoothoot pecks at Aipom, knocking it out.
"No way! I just lost!" The boy said in disbelief calling Aipom back. "Just who is this guy?!" Sora went up to the boy and held out his hand.
"That was a great battle. You raised your Pokémon right," Sora complemented.
"Thanks a lot," the boy said. "You're a pretty awesome Trainer."
With that done, the boy took his leave as did the couple. Gliscor and the Gligar pack watched the battle closely. Gliscor was mighty impressed.
"That one human is better than I remember." - Gliscor subtitle.
"So let's rush em!" - Gligar 1 subtitle.
"No! Not yet! we'll wait for them to let their guard down and then we'll strike!" - Gliscor subtitle.
"Good idea, boss!" - Gligar 1 subtitle.
"You have all the best ideas! That's why you're the boss!" - Gligar 2 subtitle.
"Of course I am! Now, let's get tracking!" - Gliscor subtitle.
The pack continues to follow them further down, not making a sound. That one particular Gligar snoozes again and then quickly wakes up and rushes to catch up with them.
A short time later, Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, Angel, and Togepi stopped to take a small break.
"So glad we made a stop. You holding up okay, Kairi?" Sora asked.
"I'm okay, Sora, but thank you for asking," Kairi said. "We should almost be near Violet City by now, right?" Sora checked the map.
"Yeah, if we keep going through these woods," Sora said. "And here's something interesting. This part of the woods is said to be filled with wild Cyndaquil," Sora said.
"Cyndaquil? Like the one Ethan has? I would like to have one of those. Cyndaquil are very cute!" Kairi said.
"You and me both. I also wanted one ever since I saw Ethan's. So, we find a Cyndaquil and we each keep one for ourselves. Deal?" Sora asked.
"A deal I like very much!" Kairi said. She Angel, and Togepi went off to find a Cyndaquil as are Sora and Pikachu.
The couple took off in their seperate ways, each looking for a Cyndaquil of their own. Kairi, Angel, and Togepi searched hard for any signs of Cyndaquil. She stopped when she heard a light squeak.
"Quil," A voice said. Kairi looked and she gave a light gasp when she saw a Cyndaquil eating a piece of fruit.
"A Cyndaquil. Oh, he's so cute. I have decided! I'm going to capture Cyndaquil!" Kairi said, taking out a Pokéball and threw it. "Go! Mareep!" Mareep came right out to battle. Cyndaquil stopped and turned. Flames erupted on Cyndaquil's back and charges with a Tackle. "Use Tackle!" Mareep charges at Cyndaquil, dealing a heavy Tackle. "Use Thunder Shock!" Mareep sends out a jolt of electricity, hitting Cyndaquil on the spot. "Use Signal Beam!" Mareep fired Signal Beam, heading right at Cyndaquil. The Fire-type Pokémon didn't have reaction time, so he got hit hard. Cyndaquil was down. Kairi took out a Pokéball and threw it. Cyndaquil flowed inside and the Pokéball wobbles around and around. Stars swirls around the Pokéball to confirm the catch. "Yay! I have my own Cyndaquil!"
"Eevee, vee!" Angel cheered. Kairi has let her Cyndaquil. He looked right her.
"Hello, Cyndaquil. My name's Kairi. It's very nice to meet you," Kairi said.
"Quil," Cyndaquil said. She pets him on the head and she giggled. "You and I will be a great team from now on."
"Eevee, vee," Angel said.
Gliscor and the Gligar pack split up to follow the group. Gliscor followed Kairi and the others that went with her. The same for that one Gligar, who for some reason seems connected to Sora in some way.
Sora and Pikachu searched the forest for any signs of a Cyndaquil; any burn marks, or a nest, or anything for that matter. The checked the shrubs, but they found nothing.
"Any luck, Pikachu?" Sora asked his partner.
"Pika," Pikachu said, shaking his head.
"Better keep looking," Sora said.
Elsewhere, some of the Gligar were searching for Kairi, Angel, and Togepi when they spotted an arrogant looking boy and his Sandslash. They decided to have a little fun with him.
"There has to be a Cyndaquil around here somewhere. And anyone who gets in my way is in big trouble," the boy said. Without warning, the Gligar swoops down and attacks him and his Sandslash. "Hey! Get away from me! Get out of my way!" The Gligar just kept coming. Sandslash tries to swipe them with its claws, but they were just too fast. "I said get out of my way!" He tries to swat them away. One of the Gligar clings to his face. "Get off my face, you little bastard! I said get off!" A couple of the Gligar bites him on the leg. "OW!" He yelps. The Gligar gets off his face. The boy growls as the Gligar just laughed. He was now really pissed off. "I'll teach you to bite me! Sandslash! Use Slash now!" Sandslash tried to fight back, but they were too fast. One of the Gligar dove in with Steel Wing and struck Sandslash hard. The spiny mouse Pokémon fell to the ground, exhausted. "Get up, Sandslash!" Sandslash struggles to get up, but the Gligar gave him a push. He calls back his Sandslash and starts running. "Screw this! I'm getting out of here!" The Gligar then started laughing and taunting their victim. One of them blew a raspberry at him as he ran just like a scared dog with its tail between its legs.
Not too far, Kairi, Angel, and Togepi were looking for Sora and Pikachu and show them the Cyndaquil they have just caught when they saw a boy who appears to be a total mess. He spots Kairi and runs up to her.
"You didn't see any Gligar around here, did you?" The boy asked.
"No. Why?" Kairi asked.
"My Sandslash and I were just attacked by some Gligar just a little while ago," the boy explained. "I was looking for some Cyndaquil to catch and then out of nowhere, they just attack me!" Kairi had a bad feeling about they were just told. They had a recent encounter with a pack of Gligar not too long ago. They had to make sure.
"Was there by any chance a Gliscor with them?" Kairi asked.
"A Gliscor? No! It was just some Gligar," he told her.
"You sure?" Kairi asked.
"Very sure!" The boy said to them. "And those Gligar are crazy! So if I were you I'd get out of here while you still can! And that's what I'm going to do!" With that said he ran off as fast as he can run.
"This can't be good," Kairi said. "If it's the same pack, then Sora might be in trouble."
"Eevee," Angel agreed.
"We better find them, just in case it is those Gligar and that Gliscor," Kairi suggested.
"Eevee!" Angel said as she nodded. Kairi, Angel, and Togepi took off to search for Sora before something bad could happen.
Meanwhile, over to Sora and Pikachu they made it to a series a rock wall dotted with many small caves.
"Okay, there should be a Cyndaquil around here somewhere. Here quilly, quilly, quilly. I know you're around," Sora said. As they kept looking, Pikachu's ears perked up and he saw something above them.
"Pika!" Pikachu said pointing at something.
"What's up, Pikachu?" Sora asked. He looks at what Pikachu was pointing at. It turns out to be a wild Cyndaquil. "A Cyndaquil! Good work, buddy!" He chuckled. "Kairi could call that little guy cute." Sora took out his Pokédex to see what information it has about Johto's Fire Starter Pokémon.
Cyndaquil, the Fire Mouse Pokémon
Type: Fire
Cyndaquil are normally timid and they curl up into a ball. Cyndaquil protects itself by flaring up the flames on its back. The flames are vigorous if the Pokémon is angry. However, if it is tired, the flames splutter fitfully with incomplete combustion.
"Okay, time to make the catch!" Sora said, putting his Pokédex away. He turns to his partner. "Ready Pikachu?"
"Pikachu!" Pikachu confirmed.
Sora climbs up with Pikachu on his back. He manages to reach the Fire Mouse Pokémon.
"Now I have you right where I want you," Sora said. He looked over to Pikachu as he jumps off his shoulder. "Okay Pikachu. Let's go!"
"Pika!" Pikachu takes his position to battle. "Start up with Quick Attack!" Pikachu charges at Cyndaquil with his speed attack. It hits Cyndaquil on the mark.
"Quil! Cynda, Cynda, Cyndaquil, QUIL!" Cyndaquil's back starts flaring up in flames. Cyndaquil charges towards Pikachu with a Tackle.
"Dodge and use Electro Ball!" Sora ordered. Pikachu forms a ball of electricity and sends it to Cyndaquil. The attack hits Cyndaquil hard as the flames go out. Cyndaquil's back flares up again and fired Flamethrower right at Pikachu. Sora ducks out of the way before he could get cinged. "Pikachu! Thunderbolt!" Sora called out. Pikachu sends out Thunderbolt at it hits Cyndaquil hard. "Great! Finish up with Quick Attack!" Pikachu charged at Cyndaquil once again and hits him on the mark. Once Cyndaquil is worn out, Sora takes out a Pokéball and threw it at the exhausted Cyndaquil. The Fire Type Pokémon flows inside the Pokéball and starts to wobble around and around. Stars swirls around the Pokéball confirming the catch. "Gotcha! I got myself a Cyndaquil!"
"Pi, Pikachu!" Pikachu also cheered. Sora picked up the Pokéball and climbed down along with Pikachu.
"Okay, Cyndaquil! Come on out!" Sora said as he threw his Pokéball letting out his newest Pokémon.
"Quil!" Cyndaquil yawned. He looked at the other new people around him.
"It's great to meet you, Cyndaquil," Sora said. "I'm Sora."
"Cyndaquil!" Cyndaquil said with another yawn. He picked up his new Pokémon and chuckled.
"You look like a strong Pokémon. Especiallythe way you fired your Flamethrower. I can make you even stronger than you already are when we do some training," Sora said. He started to wonder if Kairi had caught her own Cyndaquil yet, but his thoughts were interrupted when the Gligar pack from before launched their assault again. Sora knew it was the same pack. "Aw, man! Not them again!" Sora figured that they must have been following them, looking for some payback for beating their leader.
One of the Gligar made his way over to Sora, but Pikachu smacks the Gligar with Iron Tail before he got close. It was the same lay back Gligar, he just retreated into the shrubs. Gliscor just shook his head. Gliscor flew down towards the group. Cyndaquil's back flare up and he fires Flamethrower right at the large Pokémon. Gliscor uses his wings to block the attack.
"Quil, Quil!" Cyndaquil said. Sora was surprised to see this.
"Cyndaquil?" Sora questioned. "You wanna battle?"
"Cynda," Cyndaquil nodded.
"Then go for it!" Sora said. "Tackle!" Cyndaquil charges right towards Gliscor. The fang scorpion Pokémon slams his tail to the ground. Cyndaquil gets caught in the debris and is sent flying. "Flamethrower!" Cyndaquil fires Flamethrower right on the large Pokémon right on the face. Gliscor moves towards the fire mouse Pokémon to strike. "Use Smokescreen!" Cyndaquil fires smoke from his mouth. The smoke concealed Cyndaquil as he moved through the smoky veil. Gliscor used his claw to blow away, but he sees Cyndaquil is gone. The Gligar warns their leader of where the Cyndaquil is. Sora had to act fast. "Cyndaquil! Flamethrower! Let's go!" Cyndaquil fires Flamethrower right at Gliscor. Gliscor flew upwards.
Kairi, Angel, and Togepi have shown up as Kairi took out a Pokéball and threw it.
"Go! Cyndaquil!" Kairi called out. Kairi has sent out her own Cyndaquil to join Sora's Cyndaquil, side-by-side. "Use Tackle!" Kairi's Cyndaquil charges at Gliscor and lands a Tackle.
"Looks like you have your own Cyndaquil, Kairi!" Sora said.
"I sure do! And we make double-trouble for that Gliscor!" Kairi said.
"You've read my mind! Cyndaquil! Use Flamethrower!" Sora ordered.
"You use Flamethrower, too!" Kairi ordered.
Both Cyndaquil fired their combined Flamethrower attacks at Gliscor, engulfing him in flames. Gliscor hits a tree. Gliscor came at the Cyndaquil with a Night Slash, ready to strike.
"Dodge it!" Sora and Kairi called out. Both Cyndaquil dodges Gliscor's Night Slash. They jumped up and down. Gliscor was growing frustrated by their refusal to hold still.
The lone Gligar watches from the trees on the opposite side. He was scared to show his face to his pack because he bungled up, so he knew Gliscor will chew him out for it, and he was amazed by how Sora and Kairi were able to take him on, especially Sora.
"Cyndaquil! Use Smokescreen!" Sora ordered. Sora's Cyndaquil spews black smoke from his mouth, covering the surrounding area. Both Cyndaquil move around, making it hard for Gliscor to see them, Gliscor is able to find them just by listening to their movements. Gliscor strikes Kairi's Cyndaquil with his tail and strikes Sora's Cyndaquil using one of his pincers. The smoke clears. "So much for Smokescreen."
"Let's combine our efforts just like before!" Kairi said.
"When you're hot, you're hot!" Sora said.
"Use Flamethrower!" Sora and Kairi ordered. Both Cyndaquil fired Flamethrower, hitting Gliscor once again. The flames grew more intense and hotter than before. Gliscor was completely engulfed in flames. Gliscor fell on the ground, beaten. Both Cyndaquil ceased fire and Gliscor is seen covered with burns. Gliscor got up and started to retreat. The Gligar followed their leader right into the forest.
"Good work, Cyndaquil. You were amazing," Kairi said, picking up her Cyndaquil with a smile.
"Cyndaquil," Kairi's Cyndaquil said.
"That was a red-hot battle, Cyndaquil," Sora said, picking up his Cyndaquil. He smiled.
"Quil," Sora's Cyndaquil said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
The couple each had a Cyndaquil to call their own. They couldn't be happier to have a Pokémon they both wanted.
That night, both Cyndaquil slept close to their Trainers, so Kairi's Cyndaquil was having a dream. Standing before Cyndaquil is a Pokémon.
It is a mustelid Pokémon with a bulky, yet long and agile body. It is classified as a quadruped, but it is capable of bipedal movement. Most of its body is cream-colored, but its back and the top of its head are a dark green-blue. It has a short, rounded snout and small, triangular eyes and ears. When its mouth is open, its sharp canine teeth and thick tongue are visible. Each of its paws has five digits and there is a coarse, spiky fringe of fur along its rear. Across the back of its neck, there are several red spots that can produce fire. This Pokémon is known as Typhlosion. The Typhlosion vanishes only to be replaced by another Typhlosion, but it was different from the first one. Its ears droop beside its head. The fur on its back is a purplish-blue color, and extends to the front of its neck, forming a collar pattern. It has fire-producing spots all around its neck, covering the collar pattern, and these spots produce flames that wisp in a bright magenta-red color. This is a Hisuian Typhlosion. Kairi's Cyndaquil looked at the Typhlosion with interest and sniffed it. The Hisuian Typhlosion transforms into a magneta-red orb of light and flows into him. His whole body off the same magenta-red glow. Kairi's Cyndaquil knew this was a sign.
Meanwhile on the very next morning, Riku, Naminé, and Eevee continued to follow the trail that Sora and Kairi have sent. He knew he was getting close.
"Do you think Organization XIII have already made their move yet, Riku?" Naminé asked.
"I don't doubt it for a second. But we should be close to their position soon enough," Riku said. Riku made a sudden stop, startling both Naminé and Eevee. They saw a Snubbull wearing pink ribbons running across from them. Riku looked at the Snubbull for a moment. "No way. Reggie?" The Snubbull didn't respond, so instead, she just kept on running. Naminé was a bit confused.
"Riku?" Naminé asked, snapping her boyfriend out of his trance.
"Huh? What?" Riku asked. He turned to see Naminé looking at him.
"You looked like you were spacing out for a moment, and that's not like you," Naminé said.
"You're right. Sorry if I made you worry," Riku asked.
"Who's Reggie?" Naminé asked. She wondered if this "Reggie" was a girl, so she puts on a jealous face. "Could that be a girl?"
"Don't be jealous, Naminé. Reggie was the name of a Snubbull I met when I was a little kid," Riku said.
"A Snubbull? Just like the one we just saw?" Naminé asked.
"Yeah. When I was a little kid, I found a Snubbull wondering the streets, and that one had a big red bow. I brought her home to my house. My mom wasn't too thrilled with me for bringing Snubbull back home because I was too young to have a Pokémon of my own. I told her I was going to take good care of her, so I managed to do so by playing with her. We kept up until her owner came. So, I had to give Reggie back to her," Riku said. Naminé could tell he was really fond of that little Snubbull. "Ever since then, I wanted a Snubbull of my own."
"I see. But why did you let that one go by?" Naminé asked.
"I figured it belonged to someone else, so they're probably looking for it," Riku said. Naminé smiled warmly and she took him by the arm. "What's that for?"
"I'm just happy that I got to see a side of you I never seen before, and I like it," Naminé said. Riku smiled back and kissed her on the cheek.
Riku, Naminé, and Eevee continued onwards to warn Sora about the Nobodies and Organization XIII. How will Sora react to hear about these new enemies? Just wait and find out.