Episode 95: Cherry, Cherrygrove
A little while after they had their meal in the Happy Town Pokémon Center, Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, Angel, and Togepi are currently heading into Cherrygrove City on the way to Violet City. As they arrived, they spotted several Quagsire gathering round objects from various locations.
"Hey, those are Quagsire," Sora said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
"But what are they doing?" Kairi asked.
"You mean you don't know?" A voice spoke. They turned to see it belonged to a boy around their age approaching the couple. "Every year at this time of year, the Quagsire living in the area gathers round things and bring it to Blue Moon Falls."
"We're not from around here, but why do they do that?" Sora asked.
"That I don't know really, but what I do know that the Quagsire grabs the round stuff and swims down to Blue Moon Falls. And then the round stuff comes right back on the very next morning," the boy explained.
"Wow," Sora said with awe.
"Is there something special about it?" Kairi asked.
"Uh-huh. It is said that the Quagsire brings good luck with the round stuff. Also, the last thing to come back is particularly lucky," the boy said.
"Wow. Quagsire are living, breathing good luck charms," Kairi said.
"Toge, Toge," Togepi chirped.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"That's one way to put it," the boy said. A Quagsire approached the boy and the Quagsire. He laughed. "I got what you need." He hands it a ball. The Quagsire takes the ball and heads right toward a river and jumped right in. "If you have something round, I would suggest that you lend them one. See ya." He takes off.
"Quagsire bringing good luck," Sora said. A Quagsire came up to the couple, making them notice very quickly. "Hey, Quagsire."
"Quag," Quagsire said.
"He seems really friendly," Kairi said. Quagsire jumped right on Sora's face.
"Hey! You're so slimy! Get off me!" Sora yelped. The GS Ball fell right out and Quagsire spots it, but Kairi quickly snatches it.
"Sora, you've got to be more careful. The GS Ball is really important," Kairi said. Quagsire was eyeing the GS Ball. Kairi hands the GS Ball to her boyfriend but Quagsire kept eyeing the GS Ball. Sora saw the Water Fish Pokémon looking at the GS Ball.
"I think Quagsire is interested in the GS Ball," Sora said.
"What makes you say that?" Kairi asked. Sora answered her by moving the GS Ball around. Quagsire followed the movements of the GS Ball. "I see."
"Quagsire is attracted to it like a magnet to metal," Sora said. Quagsire than snatches it from Sora's hand. "Make sure you don't lose that! It's important!"
"What's important?" A familiar voice asked. Sora and Kairi turned to see Lyra and Marill walking up to them.
"Lyra!" Sora and Kairi both said at once.
"Good to see you after a little while," Sora said.
"Likewise, Sora. So what did say not to lose?" Lyra asked.
"Just the GS Ball," Sora said.
"GS Ball?" Lyra asked.
"Marill, Marill?" Marill asked.
"It's a Pokéball that we're bringing to Azalea Town after we hit Violet City to someone named Kurt," Kairi said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"Is that right? Wow, so you're taking part of the Blue Moon craze?" Lyra asked.
"That's what it is. So we might as well stick around and wait for it to come back," Sora said.
"You know, I was always curious about the whole Blue Moon craze ever since I was little," Lyra said. "We could follow the Quagsire down the river and see it for ourselves."
"You know, that sounds like loads of fun," Sora said.
"Pika, Pika," Pikachu said.
"It's worth looking into," Kairi said.
"Toge, Toge," Togepi chirped.
"Eevee, vee," Angel said.
"Okay, we'll follow them tonight," Sora said.
"Yeah!" The girls said. Just then the Heartless suddenly appeared out of the blue. The Heartless consists of Shadows, Soldiers, Bandits, Pirates, Air Pirates, Tornado Steps, Flutterings, Crescendos, Minute Bombs, Hammer Frames, Aeroplanes, Hot Rods, and a few new Heartless.
One kind of Heartless is short in stature, with a large red hat that covers its yellow eyes, a navy outfit, big white gloves and yellow shoes, a dark gray quiver strapped to the belt, a white scarf, and a silver bow placed vertically when firing arrows. This Heartless is known as the Bizarre Archer.
Another is a Heartless that resembles a large flower like the Creeper Plant. Its base is green and is surrounded by four light green leaves, the same color as the stem. Its hexagonal face is green with yellow border. Its mouth is jagged and its eyes are glowing yellow. Its face is decorated by four pink flower petals with white edges. The Heartless emblem is emblazoned on the lower half of its body. This Heartless is known as the Dire Plant.
Anotyer is a Heart that has a smooth, conical, black body that is red at its base and has a Heartless emblem emblazoned on its chest like the Red Nocturne's, Blue Rhapsodies, Green Requiems, and Yellow Operas. The top of its body flares outward and forms a jagged, orange "collar" below the Heartless's spherical, pitch black head. It also wears a conical, orange hat that has a jagged brim and a thin, curled tip. Like many Heartless, this has glowing yellow eyes. Its seemingly useless feet sport three small, thin toes. This Heartless is known as a Scarlet Tango.
Another is a Heartless that has a spherical, black head with glowing, yellow eyes and a jagged mouth. Its head is surrounded by a large, two-pronged, beak-like helmet that sports a black spike on either of its sides. The helmet itself is orange and the Heartless emblem is on its top. Its body is also spherical, black, and only slightly larger than its head. It lack arms, and its legs are thin and do not have distinct digits. It has a propeller attached to its rear that it uses to fly. Its neck and body are separated by a thin, cyan line. This Heartless is known as a Rapid Thruster.
Another is a centaur-like creature with a black, equine lower body with red hooves. Its upper body is muscular, vaguely humanoid, and has black skin. It wears grey Chinese armor over most of its body, as well as a small, conical, silver helmet with two curved, golden feathers and a red cape. Its pitch-black face is almost entirely obscured by its helmet, though its glowing, yellow eyes are visible. It carries a long guan dao with an angular, gold blade, a silver handle, and a red horsehair tassel at the base of the blade. This Heartless is known as an Assault Rider.
Another is a Heartless that has a spherical head with a jagged mouth and glowing, yellow eyes with black rings around them. Its skin is sky blue, and its arms are always held stiffly out in front of its body. It dresses in high-collared, purple robes with hand blue and yellow lining on the loose, furisode-esque sleeves. The front of these robes is magenta with yellow lining. It also wears a wide, flat-topped hat that is purple on top and magenta near the base, with the two colors being separated by a yellow, zig-zagging line. It also seems to wear pointed shoes, though because they are the same color as the Heartless's skin, they may simply be its feet. Its Heartless symbol is printed on a small, yellow piece of parchment stuck to its forehead. This Heartless is known as the Nightwalker.
"Sora!" Kairi exclaimed, summoning her Keyblade. Sora does the same thing, summoning his Keyblade. Lyra and Marill were stunned to seeing thr Heartless suddenly appearing.
"Not now!" Sora exclaimed.
"What are they?" Lyra asked.
"Heartless!" Sora said.
"Heartless?" Lyra asked.
"Marill," Marill said, feeling scared.
"Take Togepi and keep him safe," Kairi said, handing Togepi to Lyra.
"Sure," Lyra said, taking the Spike Ball Pokémon in her arms. She was also scared of the Heartless. But at the same time, she was amazed by the giant keys that suddenly appeared in their hands. They held them like they were swords.
Sora and Kairi engaged the Heartless as Lyra, Togepi, and Marill could only watch. The couple slashed through the creatures of darkness. The Scarlet Tangoes fired fireballs at them, but Pikachu swung at a fireball with Iron Tail as did Angel. Angel fired Swift at the Flutterings, destroying them. Lyra looked at Sora and she was amazed by his swordsman skills. She remembered that he is descended from knights, and she instantly saw an image of a knight.
"Sora, behind you!" Kairi called out. Sora quickly turns and slashed through a Crescendo hopping toward him.
"Thanks, Kairi," Sora said. Kairi casts a new spell at the Heartless. She shrank some of the Heartless, making them the size of peas. She stomped on the shrunken Heartless. Sora has cast a new spell as well. Sora summoned a tornado, taking the Heartless in it. The couple slashed through Heartless until there weren't any left. "They sure knew how to show up when they're not wanted, just like Team Rocket."
"Some things just can't be helped, Sora," Kairi said. The couple dismissed their Keyblades and they looked right at Lyra. She was still shocked by what she witnessed. "You okay, Lyra? You weren't hurt, were you?"
"No, thank goodness. Just what were those things and what were those keys you were just carrying? And was that magic you were just using?" Lyra asked.
"Let's find a place to talk in private," Sora said. So, Sora, Kairi, Lyra, Pikachu, Angel, Togepi, and Marill found a place to talk about what had just happened. "Okay, let's talk about what you just witnessed, Lyra."
"That's what I am wondering right now," Lyra said.
"Think we should tell her, Kairi?" Sora asked.
"We should, because it was going to come out rather if we want it to or not," Kairi said.
"Okay. Let's get started on the subject," Sora said.
"Let's start with those things. You called them Heartless, right?" Lyra asked.
"Marill," Marill said.
"That's exactly what they're called. Those were Heartless," Sora said.
"What are the Heartless?" Lyra asked.
"The Heartless are monsters that come from the darkness in the hearts of people. There's more like them, probably bigger and meaner than the ones we just fought," Sora said.
"Pika," Pikachu said.
"Darkness in people's hearts?" Lyra asked, feeling worried.
"Yeah, and there's darkness in every heart," Sora said.
"That's really scary," Lyra said.
"What makes them scarier is that they steal the hearts out of any living thing that crosses their path," Sora said.
"That I didn't want to know," Lyra said.
"Rill," Marill said, feeling scared.
"What happens to the heart that they steal?" Lyra asked, feeling even more scared.
"They turn into Heartless," Sora said.
"We know because we've seen it happen," Kairi said. She remembered seeing it happen to Damian and Rose. And there was also the maiden. Lyra didn't like the idea of being turned into a Heartless.
"Also, there are white monsters called the Nobodies, so you should keep your eyes opened for those," Sora added.
"Just what were those giant keys you just used? And how come you used them like swords?" Lyra asked.
"They're called Keyblades," Kairi answered.
"Keyblades?" Lyra asked.
"Yes. The Keyblade is what we use to fight off the Heartless," Kairi said.
"The Keyblade is the only thing the Heartless are afraid of, so that's why they came after us," Sora said.
"That's amazing," Lyra said. "Also, what was with the tornado and shrinking the Heartless?" Lyra asked.
"It was magic," Sora said.
"Magic is what comes with being a Keyblade wielder. We use different spells to fight them off," Kairi said.
"That explains a lot. Ethan and Kris wouldn't believe this," Lyra said.
"We would appreciate it that you keep the Keyblades a secret. We just don't want to draw some attention to us," Kairi requested.
"I don't think anyone would believe me even if I did, but I won't tell anybody about it," Lyra said.
"Marill," Marill added. Lyra then realized something.
"Oh! I think I forgot something!" Lyra said. She reached into her bag and pulled out two PokéGears for the couple. "Take these."
"What are they?" Sora asked.
"They're the PokéGear. Trainers in Johto uses them to contact with others much like cellphones," Lyra explained. "I put in the numbers of Ethan, Kris, and even my own in it. That's what I ordered for the both of you." Sora and Kairi accepted the PokéGears and placed them on their wrists.
"Thanks. These will come in handy," Sora said.
"They sure will," Kairi agreed. "It was very nice of you."
"I'm glad you like them. I had them ordered for you just before I bumped into you," Lyra said.
"We really appreciate it, Lyra. And we'll gladly take them since you went through all that trouble just for us," Lyra said.
"That's what friends are for," Lyra said.
Hours later, the sun was setting as Sora, Kairi, Lyra, Pikachu, Angel, Togepi, and Marill started to follow the wild Quagsire in the forest that they lived in. Some of the Quagsire had smaller fins than the others.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"This is really exciting," Lyra said. "We're about to witness Quagsire's activity," Lyra said.
"Well, you were the one who was curious, Lyra," Sora said.
"And we're really curious about it, too," Kairi said.
So, Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, Angel, Togepi, and Marill followed the wild Quagsire through the forest and stopped when the sun has fully set and arrived to Blue Moon Falls. It got that name on the account that the moon was blue. The Quagsire all gathered and held the objects that they have gathered and spewed Water Gun, sending them up the falls. It was an amazing sight to beheld. The round objects floats down the river after being shot up.
"What are they doing?" Lyra asked.
"They're shooting Water Gun right on the round objects right at the waterfall, but why?" Kairi asked. As they watched, the water gave off sparkles. Sora then got an idea.
"Wait a sec. It must be a contest. A contest to see which one of them can get it the closest to the moon," Sora said.
"That's amazing. Professor Elm would be impressed by what we discovered," Lyra said.
"The same for Professor Oak," Sora said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
"Vee," Angel said.
"They're making it look so beautiful," Kairi said.
"Toge, Toge," Togepi chirped.
"There's one left," Kairi said. And it was the Quagsire with the GS Ball. It tossed the GS Ball and spews Water Gun, sending it flying. It has gone even higher than the others.
"Quagsire!" The Quagsire all chanted. The GS Ball floats down the river, following all the others.
"The GS Ball!" Sora gasped, running after it.
"It's floating down river!" Lyra said.
"Don't let it get away!" Sora exclaimed.
They chased after it all through the night.
On the next morning, Officer Jenny and the citizens were standing on the bridge, waiting for the objects to return to them.
"Look, here they come," one man said.
The round items floats down the river, and the people have come to retrieve them.
"My ball!" A boy said.
"My earrings are back," a woman said.
"Welcome back, ball. Ready for another lucky year?" The local chef asked.
"Please return to the shore once you have reclaimed your belongings," Officer Jenny instructed. The people have come back on shore with their belongings.
"Look, there's one left," a man said. The GS Ball comes floating down the river.
"Whose is that?" Another man asked.
"It's not mine," a girl said.
"It ain't mine neither," another boy said.
"That's mine," Sora said, showing up. Officer grabbed the GS Ball and held it to Sora.
"Since it's yours, it looks like you're the lucky one. You'll have the best luck of any of us here," Officer Jenny said.
"Lucky me," Sora said.
"Pika, Pika, Pikachu," Pikachu said.
The townspeople applause Sora for his luck. He felt a little embarrassed. He wondered what would happen when they hear that he's Champion of the Indigo Plateau Pokémon League.
Unknown to anyone, Vexen, Lexaeus, and Zexion were watching.
"Good luck from one object? How illogical can it sound?" Vexen scoffed.
"It seems rather illogical to you, but it seems rather interesting to say," Zexion said.
"Luck has been on their side all the same," Lexeaus said. "But eventually, their luck shall run out. And we must be ready."
"How right you are, Lexeaus. Lady Luck shall abandon the two of them, and they shall succumb to the darkness," Vexen said.
"Just as Sora did before," Zexion added. "The Heartless and Nobodies shall continue to make good work."
"I shall insist that I carry on with my experiments. My Pokémon replicas shall make good work of the two of them," Vexen said.
"That will be difficult to do so without Lord Xemnas's approval. He thinks highly of your replicas, but he feels that they're not ready yet," Zexion said.
"We have no feelings in case you have forgotten, number VI," Vexen pointed out.
"Vexen is right. We have no feelings, nor we have hearts," Lexeaus said.
"So, what shall we do for now?" Zexion asked.
"We must be patient for a little while longer before we strike," Lexeaus said.
"A solid plan, number V. The experiment will have to wait for the moment," Vexen said.
Meanwhile, Leaf sat by herself in her bedroom. She held out her hand and summoned a Keyblade. This Keyblade is shaped like a vine. The teeth are shaped like Venusaur's flower. The guard has the design of leaves all around. The Keychain token has a miniature Venusaur on it. This Keyblade is known as Leaf Green Venusaur.
"I didn't ask for this thing," Leaf said.
(Flashback)
We see Leaf being surrounded by a horde of Dusks. Venusaur tried to fight them off, but they were too agile for her.
"Try Leaf Storm again!" Leaf ordered. Venusaur tried, but the Dusks slipped through her attack and struck her hard.
"Saur!" Venusaur groaned in pain.
"Venusaur!" Leaf exclaimed in shock. She held her arms out. "You stay away from her, you horrid creatures!" The Dusks then lunged at her and Venusaur. She shuts her eyes when something appeared right in her hand. The Dusks jumps back. Leaf opened her eyes and saw the Leaf Green Venusaur in her hands. She gasped in shock. "Is this a Keyblade? Like Ash, Kairi, and Sora." The Dusks came at her again, so Leaf struck them down, making them vaporate into nothing. "Wow."
"Not bad, not bad," a voice spoke. She turned to see a hooded figure clapping his hands. "Your life starts flashing before your eyes and poof! A Keyblade jumps right in your hands."
"Who are you? And what do you know?" Leaf asked. The hooded figure removed his hood and revealed himself to be Xigbar.
"Just someone who has an eye for talent. And it don't look like you have any to spare when it comes to wielding a Keyblade. You deep-sixing those Nobodies was just beginner's luck," Xigbar said.
"Nobodies? Is that they're called? Did you send them to me?" Leaf asked.
"You expect me to give you an answer and you'd be satisfied, right? As if. What I give is what you get, sprout," Xigbar said.
"I don't even know you, and I already don't like you! You with Team Rocket?" Leaf asked.
"As if! Why would I associate myself with those putzes? Team Rocket is already pretty close to the darkness, just like your friend Sora," Xigbar said. Leaf gasped.
"How do you know about that?" Leaf asked.
"Oh, looks like I struck a nerve there," Xigbar said. He laughed. "I'm starting to wonder if you would have struck Sora down when he was briefly a Heartless. Then again, I could say the same about Ash and Kairi. Or maybe the power will go to your head and use it 24/7. And you'd push your best friends away." Leaf was clearly not buying it.
"Are you trying to drive us apart? That isn't going to work! I don't care what you say and what you're trying to do, bit our friendship is just as strong as ever! I'm not going to push anyone away! Not Kairi! Not Sora! Not Ash! Not anyone!" Leaf said.
"If you say so, but will your friendship with them survive?" Xigbar asked. "Be a good girl now, sprout." Xigbar vanishes in a corridor of darkness. Leaf clutched her fist, letting his words sink in.
(Flashback ends)
"What if he's right. What if our friendship won't survive this?" Leaf asked.
Leaf is feeling uneasy about using her Keyblade. She wondered if he was right. She couldn't help but worry about her friends and she wished them luck and to be safe from the darkness.