xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Virbank City, 9:12 a.m. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Within Virbank City stood the towns Battle Club, a facility owned by the Don George family, a large grouping of men with short black hair, a large moustache and wearing black martial arts attires with different colored sashes and arm bands. Walking down a hallway within in the club was the Virbank City Don George, dressed in the afore mentioned outfit but with an orange pair of armbands and belt.
"Haaaawwww..." Don George yawned as he stretched his arms, walking towards the entry foyer of the Battle Club.
"Good morning, Don George." An employee of the Battle Club said whilst sitting in a chair behind the front desk.
"Morning. Just woke up a moment or two ago. "Another day, another battle."' Don George said with a smile hidden behind his moustache. "Any scheduled matches for today?" He asked.
"Not currently... But..." The employee said until forming an embarrassing expression as he turned his head in the direction of the front electronic sliding doors. "We've got a visitor..." He said as Don George looked over towards the doors.
Continuing to open and shut via the motion sensor, a certain husky framed young man with a chin beard and carrying two messenger bags over both shoulders kept shifting through the doors and back outside on repeat.
"Okay... This time for sure..." Keats said to himself as he walked through the doors. "No! No... Not like that..." He said to himself as he turned back around and went outside again.
"Hmmm?" Don George muttered in confusion as he looked at his employee who merely shrugged in response.
"He's been doing that for about seven minutes." The employee said as he scratched his head at Keats' odd actions.
Once again stepping inside, Keats turned back around and proceeded to walk out back into the streets again, slapping himself in the face with both hands before putting his face into his palms and bending over.
"Gaaahhhh!" Keats screamed internally with his hands in his face. "I'm finally here and I can't figure the right way to walk through the damn door and ask!" He thought as he paced around, the random strangers on the sidewalk passing him with confused looks.
"Excuse me." Don George said as he stepped outside, catching Keats' attention. "Are you alright?" He asked as Keats looked around.
"Uhhhhh..." Keats mumbled.
"Are you wishing to join the Battle Club?" Don George asked.
"Uhhhhh..." Keats continued to mumble until some rustling inside his pocket began to occur and out came Rotom.
"Keatzzzz! Stop goofing around!" Rotom exclaimed as the phone Pokémon got in Keats' face.
"Ahhh! Too close, too close!" Keats screamed as Rotoms screen started to burn his retinas.
"You need to get in there and ask for help, zzzzt!" Rotom said as Don George looked on.
"Well, this is quite the sight." Don George thought with a raised eyebrow as Keats and Rotom continued to argue.
"You're not the one who slept on a park bench last night!" Keats shouted at the screen.
"What's that got to do with anything, zzzzt?!" Rotom angrily questioned back.
"I couldn't find anywhere better to sleep! We only got into town last night and found the stupid club on luck! You can cut me some slack on being a bit anxious!" Keats exclaimed.
"We're zzzzo close! We can't just stop now because you're not sure how to go inside and ask!" Rotom retorted.
"Quiet!" Don George shouted as Keats and Rotom turned back to look at the Battle Club manager, startled. "Before you start pestering more people with your absurd shouting match, might I recommend you do it within closed doors?" He said in a commanding tone as he motioned for Rotom and Keats to step inside the Battle club.
"Ye-yeah... Probably a good idea..." Keats said embarrassingly as he and Rotom followed Don George inside the Battle Club, standing in the foyer space.
"Now that we're away from the public, the phone mentioned you needed "help?"' Don George asked in a calm yet serious tone.
"Oh uh, yes! Hi!" Keats said in a stumbling manner. "So-sorry for all the stuff out there, I'm just nervous." He continued.
"About?" Don George asked.
"Well, I'll start off with introducing myself. My name is Keaton, but you can just call me "Keats."' Keats said. "And this is Rotom." He said as he pointed at the floating screen.
"Pleazzzzed to meet you." Rotom said politely.
"Haven't seen a Rotom phone this chatty before." Don George said casually.
"I would like to relax but talking to thizzzz one for clozzzze to over a week has left me on low battery from high output..." Rotom complained as Keats glared at the phone.
"Okay. And as you probably guessed, I'm Don George." Don George said, formally introducing himself. "Now that that's out of the way. What can I do for you?" The Battle Club manager asked.
"Long story short... If you don't mind, can I get a look at your trainer database?" Keats asked as Don George looked at him confused.
"You want to look at the trainer database?" Don George asked.
"Yes." Keats said bluntly.
"No." Don George replied bluntly.
"Wh-why not?" Keats questioned.
"Because I don't know who you are, and you seem suspicious." Don George said in an honest tone.
"...And this is why I was having trouble walking in and out of here earlier..." Keats thought with frustration. "Okay, then let me explain-" He said in preparation to talk before Rotom flew in front of him.
"His name is Keaton Dibiase, he's the younger brother of Marie Dibiase, sound familiar, zzzzt?" Rotom said as Keats looked at the phone with confusion.
'"Marie Dibiase!" Now that's a throwback name!" Don George said with surprised tone. "Haven't heard from her in so long." He continued.
"Herezzzz some proof." Rotom said as it flashed an image on the screen of Keats in the form of a profile. "This is Keatzzzz trainer card." The phone Pokémon continued.
"Hold on, you have info on me stored?" Keats asked in confusion.
"All Pokédex units carry identification info for their trainers." Don George explained as he looked at Keats trainer card.
"...Would have been nice to know about that..." Keats said annoyed towards Rotom.
"I told you thizzzz when we first got to Unova!" Rotom exclaimed as it turned back towards Keats.
"Well, sorry I wasn't paying attention..." Keats said a nonchalant attitude.
"So, you're a trainer and you're Marie Dibiases brother." Don George said, catching the pairs attention once more. "Well that certainly cleared up a few things." He said as Keats looked at the Battle Club manager.
"Thank goodness for that... Look, I seriously need to see those trainer files you and your family have stored in your database." Keats asked once again.
"Sad to say, I still can't let you look at them without a proper reason." Don George said with his arms folded.
"...Maybe if I say why, you'll change your mind?" Keats questioned.
"Try me..." Don George said, curious.
Over the span of several minutes while sitting in a set of chairs in the foyer, Keats begun to explain to Don George the complete detail of events from the past few weeks. From the theft of his sisters Pokémon to Keats' arrival in Unova to even his meeting with Alder in Floccesy Town as more people begun to congregate inside the Battle Club.
"...Yikes... That's a lot to process..." Don George said in a concerned tone.
"One of the thieves said, "Battle Club" when I was on the ground, that's the only clue I have." Keats said.
"And you're assuming one of these people who stole your sisters Pokémon is currently registered in the club?" Don George said in a serious tone.
"Yeah, hopefully..." Keats said.
"That's a heavy accusation..." Don George said in a serious tone.
"I know... But it's all I have to go on and I wouldn't be sticking my neck out like this if I wasn't sure." Keats said in an equally serious tone.
"But even so, I can't just let you interrogate the members of the Battle Club for your own private reasons. It's not something I can allow as the manager of the club." Don George said with his arms folded again.
"Please... I'm finally here and I can't just accept a "no, go home." Keats said. "I've peed on too many bushes with wild Pokémon in them to be told to just go back to Johto!" He thought with a twitch in his eyes.
"Hmmmm..." Don George mumbled as he looked over at the front desk and saw some of the trainers in the building. "I do have one idea..." He said as he looked back at Keats.
"Anything." Keats said in an almost desperate tone.
"Follow me." Don George said as he got up from his chair and walked to the front desk, speaking to the employee from before. "Excuse me, I need to register a new participant in the club." He said as the employee nodded and proceeded to type on a computer.
"Huh?" Keats muttered as he got up from his seat.
"This is Keats, he'll be joining us today." Don George said as he introduced Keats.
"I saw..." The employee said as they typed. "Just need a few questions answered. First, how old are you?" The employee continued.
"I'm a number that consists of a two and a three together." Keats said calmly.
"Alright, that's-" The employee said until Keats interrupted.
"Fifty-five, correct." Keats said casually with a straight face as Don George and the employee looked at him, bewildered.
"I'm sorry, did you say "fifty-five?"' The employee said, confused as Rotom popped out slightly from Keats pockets.
"He zzzzaid he was planning that joke before he got in here back at the park bench but didn't think about how it would work in context of this conversation." Rotom said with a bothered tone.
"Fine, I'm twenty-three." Keats said as he rolled his eyes as his attempt at humor didn't work. "Note to self; rework "age" joke." He thought while scratching his cheek.
"Hometown, currently owned Pokémon and Dex registration." The employee said. "This weirdo is gonna take forever so I'll just give him the questions all at once." The employee thought with frustration.
"Ecruteak City, I own a Pineco and Timburr and Rotom is my Pokédex." Keats said as Rotom floated over to the employee to be registered. "So once I am registered, you'll let me look at the database?" He said.
"I will... But only after you do something first." Don George said as he walked towards a pair of doors in the Battle Club.
Opening the doors, Keats looked on as he saw a large arena for Pokémon battles with some bleacher seats on both sides as Rotom floated back into his pocket.
"But before I can let you look at the records... You're a trainer, correct?" Don George said as he walked over to the center of the arena.
"I'm not liking where this is going..." Keats thought with concern.
"The trainer card on your Rotom phone said you have two Pokémon. So, I want you to battle with them first. And I got two trainers for you to battle." Don George explained as he walked over to a stand for a referee.
"...Do I have to?" Keats said, complaining.
"If you want to look at the database." Don George replied.
Shaking his head and putting his bags down on a bleacher, Keats walked over to the far end of the arena and stood ready as he reached into one of his pockets, pulling out a Pokéball.
"Okay, first opponent." Don George said as the door opened to the club.
Stepping through the doors was a small boy with a blonde bowl cut hairstyle and sporting a red T-shirt and shorts.
"...A kid? That's who I gotta face?" Keats thought with surprise as he saw the kid walk up to the other end.
"The name's Joffrey!" Joffrey exclaimed as he introduced himself with a proud shout. "And if you think you can beat me, then you're out of your mind!" He said in a sure tone.
"Kid, I have more hair on my face than you're gonna have on your whole body in your entire lifetime!" Keats said, talking smack.
"I've heard better insults written on popsicle sticks!" Joffrey said, talking back at Keats.
"Give me a few minutes, I'll come up with one better!" Keats exclaimed. "I don't care if he's a kid! Screw him!" He thought angrily as he glared at the kid. "Pineco! You're on call!" Keats shouted as he threw his Pokéball with his Pineco emerging from it.
"Pineco!" Pineco exclaimed as she stood ready to battle.
"Go! Gigalith!" Joffrey screamed as he threw his Pokéball.
Out from the young boys Pokéball was a tall creature made of dark black and orange rock with yellow eyes and standing on four legs.
"Giiiiii!" Gigalith roared as its screams bellowed throughout the Battle Club arena.
"Huh?!" Keats muttered loudly in shock. "The heck is that massive thing?! And why does this brat have one?!" He thought in a frustrated and confused manner as Rotom popped out of his pocket.
"Let me see." Rotom said as it flipped its screen over to read Gigaliths Pokédex entry. "Gigalith, the Compressed Pokémon, a Rock type. Known for its hefty horsepower, this Pokémon is a popular partner for construction workers."' The phone Pokémon continued, reading off the Pokédex entry for Gigalith.
"Oh, that's nice- how is this fair!?" Keats said casually until he shouted in Don Georges direction while pointing at Joffrey as Rotom went back in Keats' pocket.
"Joffrey is an up-and-coming trainer registered in the Battle Club." Don George said towards Keats.
"I raised up this bad boy from a Roggenrola all the way to a Boldore then immediately trade evolved it into the powerhouse you see before you!" Joffrey said in a loud and confident tone.
'"Trade evolve?"' Keats asked towards Rotom.
"Itzzzz a way to evolve certain Pokémon. It requires the usage of a device that trades the Pokémon to another person." Rotom explained.
"Cooool..." Keats said unenthusiastically.
"Let's begin the battle!" Don George exclaimed as Joffrey and Keats locked eyes with one another as Pineco and Gigalith did the same.
"Gigalith! Use "Stone Edge!"' Joffrey exclaimed as his Gigalith slammed its front two feet onto the arena floor.
Upon impact, a series of edged rock pillars came out of the ground and begun to barrel towards Pineco.
"Pineco! Use "Protect!"' Keats ordered as Pineco stood her ground.
Forming a barrier around her body, Pineco protected herself as the spiked pillars rising up from the ground slammed into her shield, failing to do any damage.
"Alright! Pineco, use "Tackle!"' Keats exclaimed.
"Pineco!" Pineco muttered as she proceeded to hop towards Gigalith.
"Gigalith! Hold your ground!" Joffrey commanded as Gigalith stood still.
"Giiiiig..." Joffrey's Gigalith muttered as Pineco approached it.
Jumping towards the stationary Rock type, Pineco slammed her body into the large behemoth, but little damage could be seen as she bounced off the body of Gigalith as it loomed over her.
"A Normal type move like "Tackle" isn't very effective against Rock types." Don George explained as he looked on.
"Gigalith! Use "Rock Blast!"' Joffrey ordered as Gigalith opened its mouth as energy formed around its mouth and a boulder-like projectile formed.
"Oh no, Pineco! Dodge!" Keats exclaimed as Pineco quickly hopped out of the way of the boulder heading for it at point-blank range.
Hopping around the arena, Pineco attempted to escape taking damage as Gigalith continued to fire boulder-like projectiles at the ground to hit the Bug type until one managed to make an impact.
"Pineco!" Pineco exclaimed as she was hit with one of the "Rock Blast" projectiles, causing her to flop on the ground.
"Pineco!" Keats shouted as he looked on. '"Tackle" isn't strong enough and I doubt "Pin Missile" will do much either against this thing." He thought with sweat dripping down his face.
"You probably should have picked a stronger Pokémon!" Joffrey said in a cocky tone as Keats made an agitated expression.
"What you say you little brat?!" Keats exclaimed in anger.
"Pay attention." Don George said calmly as Keats turned his attention back to the battle.
"Only got one move I can use left... Pineco! Get back up!" Keats said before ordering Pineco to return to an upright position.
"Piiii-pineco!" Pineco said as she got back up.
"Pineco! Use "Self-Destruct!"' Keats exclaimed as Pinecos body begun to glow.
"...Seriously?" Joffrey said confused as Don George raised an eyebrow.
Hopping while glowing, Pineco jumped towards Gigalith as her body exploded, covering the entire arena in a dust cloud as she attempted to take out Gigalith. As the smoke dissipated, Keats looked on as Pineco was covered in black soot and her eyes as swirls, signifying her unconsciousness.
"Expected as much...But that was the strongest move I had so it must have- huh?!" Keats thought as he looked at his downed Pineco before looking up with surprise at Gigalith.
While covered in a small amount of soot, the large four-legged Rock type was still standing as it looked down at Keats' downed Pineco.
"Pineco is unable to battle. The winner is Gigalith." Don George said as he declared Joffrey victorious.
"Yeah! Woo!" Joffrey exclaimed happily as he pulled out his Pokéball and brought Gigalith back inside it. "Suck it loser!" The victorious kid said as he pulled on his eyeball at Keats before running out of the arena.
"Ho-how did...?" Keats said as he walked towards his Pineco.
"Much like "Tackle," "Self-Destruct" is also a Normal move. Which means it was never gonna do enough to defeat a Rock type like Gigalith at the rate you were going." Don George said, giving his analysis.
"Well... How was I supposed to know that?" Keats said as he kneeled down in front of Pineco and took out her Pokéball.
"By learning it. Even children know that." Don George explained as Keats glared at him as he pulled Pineco back into her ball. "You have one more Pokémon, correct?" He asked as Keats rolled his eyes.
"Yeah. And let me guess, another battle?" Keats asked as he got back up over to his side of the arena once more.
"Here is your next opponent." Don George said as another person entered.
Making his way to his side of the Battle Clubs arena was a lanky man who appeared middle aged with a spikey brown hair style, glasses and sporting a white button up shirt and dark pants.
"Hello there." The man said calmly.
"This is Limuel. He's a regular here at the Virbank Battle Club." Don George said as Keats looked at the man.
"Keats..." Keats said, introducing himself. "I lost to a half pint, I am not losing to a guy who looks like he lives off a diet of water and air!" He thought with increasing rage while maintaining a straight face.
"Been training really hard lately so I'm gonna do my best." Limuel said in a polite manner. "Come on out! Dwebble!" Limuel said as he pulled out a Pokéball and threw it.
Emerging from the ball was a hermit crab-like creature with large black eyes, an orange body with short pincers and a shell made of rock that was on top of its backside.
"Dweb!" Limuel's Dwebble exclaimed.
"And that is?" Keats said as he pointed as Rotom popped back out.
"You need me again, zzzzt?" Rotom asked as Keats got annoyed.
"Enjoying the nap while I got my butt kicked?" Keats said with frustration towards Rotom as the floating phone Pokémon looked at Dwebble.
'"Dwebble, the Rock Inn Pokemon, a Bug and Rock type. After finding a suitable rock, Dwebble digs a hole in the rocks bottom to use as a protective shell."' Rotom said as it read Dwebbles Pokédex entry before returning to Keats pocket.
"So it's also a Bug type and it has a lot of armor... Hope this works..." Keats thought as he pulled out his last Pokéball. "Timburr! You're on call!" He exclaimed as he threw Timburrs ball as the mole-like Pokémon emerged.
"Timburr!" Timburr screamed as he slammed his squared rod of wood on the ground.
"Dwebble is a Rock and Bug type, both are weak to Fighting types like Timburr... He should have the advantage..." Don George thought as he looked on. "And... Begin!" He exclaimed as he began the next battle.
"Timburr! Use "Slam!"' Keats ordered as Timburr proceeded to rush at Dwebble.
"Dwebble! Use "Withdraw!"' Limuel ordered as Dwebbles body begun to glow blue slightly and pulled its body into its shell.
Raising his beam overhead, Timburr slammed his rod of wood down on top of Dwebbles shell, the rod bouncing off Dwebbles shell as it caused Timburr to tumble backwards, off-balance.
'"Withdraw" raises Dwebbles defense. As well as the fact that "Slam" is a Normal type move." Don George explained.
"...And Normal type moves don't do much against Rock types..." Keats said with a frustrated tone.
"Dwebble!" Limuel exclaimed. "Use "Aerial Ace!"' He exclaimed as Dwebble got back out of its shell.
"Dweeeebbbb!" Dwebble said its body begun to be covered in a spiral of wind.
"The heck is an "Aerial Ace?!"' Keats exclaimed.
Jumping out of its shell, Dwebble proceeded to lunge at Timburr, as Dwebble jabbed Timburr in the chest with one of its pincers. As the tip of its claw dug into Timburr, the mole-like Fighting type Pokemon dropped his squared rod on the ground as Timburr fell forward onto the ground as it clutched at its wound.
"Tim-burrrrr..." Timburr exclaimed in pain as it fell to the ground, its eyes swirling in a state of unconsciousness.
"Timburr is unable to battle! The winner is Dwebble!" Don George exclaimed, declaring Limuel the winner.
"O-one... Hit...?" Keats said in shock as his last Pokémon was beaten.
"Yes! I knew learning a Flying type move would pay off!" Limuel exclaimed in happiness as his Dwebble made a happy expression as it went back inside its rock shell.
"Flying type moves like "Aerial Ace" are super effective against Fighting types like Timburr." Don George said as he looked at Keats, who merely looked on with disbelief in his face.
"Hey thank you for the battle." Limuel said as picked up his Dwebble and looked at Keats, who was still silent.
"Thanks for coming in Limuel. I'll see you around." Don George said as Limuel nodded and walked away. "...You alright?" The manager of the Battle Club asked towards Keats as Rotom popped out of his pocket once more.
"Keatzzzz?" Rotom asked as Keats pulled out Timburrs Pokéball and recalled him back.
"...Does this mean I can't access the records now...?" Keats said as he turned towards Don George as he held Timburrs Pokéball in both hands.
"No, you can access the records." Don George said as he folded his arms.
"Huh?" Keats muttered in confusion. "But... I lost both matches. I thought I wouldn't be allowed to access the other trainers in the circuit?" He said.
"I never said you had to "win" to join the circuit." Don George said. "Did you notice the issues you had battling?" He asked as Keats fell silent. "First, Pineco is naturally a weaker Pokémon than Gigalith, you had a higher chance of winning if you went with Timburr as your starting Pokémon as Fighting types are stronger than Rock types." Don George said as he lectured Keats.
"...But the strongest move I had was "Self-Destruct."' Keats replied.
"But your Pineco also knew "Protect." With the right strategy and with enough evasion, you could have had a better run of luck than just sacrificing Pineco by letting it explode and giving Joffrey and Gigalith the win." Don George explained. "Then you fought Dwebble with Timburr. Dwebble is a Rock type and a Bug type. Both are weak to Timburr." He continued.
"I had the advantage the whole time... And still lost in one hit..." Keats said as he looked off into the distance with a contemplative expression.
"Because you opted to use a Normal type move that would do very little to Dwebble as opposed to a Fighting type move." Don George explained further. "And Limuel's Dwebble knew "Aerial Ace." A Flying type move that is super effective against Fighting types... Like?" He said before asking Keats a question.
"...Like Timburr..." Keats said in a defeated tone.
"Precisely." Don George said before turning to the floating phone Pokémon next to Keats. "Hey, Rotom. We gave you the update to the Battle Club circuit earlier, right?" He asked towards the phone Pokémon.
"Indeed, zzzzt." Rotom replied.
"Then you should be able to begin looking around." Don George said as he turned back towards Keats. "I'm going to tell you something that I think you need to consider." He said as Keats looked at the large mustachioed man. "Let's say you find the people you are looking for in the Battle Club records. With how little skill you have for battles that you've just shown, do you think you might be able to beat any of them?" Don George asked.
Keats, silent still and processing his words, just looked at Don George with a face full of contemplation, not sure of how to respond.
"Because if you don't even know what typing the moves of your Pokémon can do are, you don't stand a chance, my friend." Don George said as he put a hand on Keats' shoulder. "That's why the Battle Club is here for a reason. To train people who don't know what they're doing. Learn moves, develop strategies, increase the bonds between trainer and Pokémon..." He said in a somewhat reassuring tone. "Keep that in mind. Now go see Nurse Joy at the Pokémon Center and heal up your Pokémon. Come back when you feel like it." Don George said as he turned around and walked away, exiting the arena.
"Keatzzzz?" Rotom asked as it floated next Keats.
"...I'm going to bed..." Keats said with a tone of concern as he walked out of the arena in a different direction than Don George went.
"But... You don't have a bed, you zzzzlept on a park bench last night." Rotom said in confusion.
"That's my bed!" Keats said annoyed as he walked towards the exit of the Virbank Battle Club.
Good for Limuel, I bet that Dwebble will one day evolve into a magnificent Crustle. Also, I wonder who that one kid traded with to get his Boldore to evolve into a Gigalith. I hope it was a mutual trade evolution scenario like someone wanted to trade to get their Scyther to evolve into a Scizor and then- okay getting off topic! Keats finally made it to an official Battle Club in Virbank City and suffice to say... Things did not go so well. After both of his Pokémon were defeated in battle by more experienced trainers, one being a child and the other, an even older man than him, Keats' lack of experience stung him harder than a Mega Beedrill stinger. But he has access to the official trainer records of the Don George Battle Club circuit, are we a step closer to finding the missing Pokémon and the thieves that took them? Only one way to find out! Till next time!
Keats' Pokémon:
1. Pineco.
2. Timburr.