Chapter 6—A view of the past—
The next day, I left the hotel and went back out into the streets of Hammerlocke… I had to admit, after all the time I had spent in the Wild Area, it felt good to be back in civilization again! Of course, Hammerlocke was no ordinary city—it was one of the largest in Galar! In fact, the only other city that could compare in size and population was Wyndon, where the stadium where the champion battled was held. Hammerlocke also was a very historical city in its architecture—the buildings mostly were old forts, vaults and houses that hadn't been changed in style, so a majority of all architecture in Hammerlocke looked the same today as it did centuries ago. And on top of that, there was even an ancient castle in the middle of the city that had been there for over a thousand years! It had never been destroyed and was fully preserved, so it was in perfect condition. We don't actually know what it was used for in the past, but today it was used as Hammerlocke's stadium, where challengers fought Raihan for the dragon badge. But Raihan was the eighth and final gym leader, so for me, that was still a ways off.
That said, there wasn't much reason for me to remain here… I called out Corvisquire to fly alongside me before I headed to the city's west side to take the exit to Route 6. And yet as I was on my way, I saw lots of people going east, in the opposite direction… some of them even looked mad. I wasn't sure what was going on, but I decided to go take a look. I followed the crowds to the city's east gate, where I saw… Team Yell blocking traffic! No wonder everyone was so angry! But I also saw Jenna at the front talking to the Team Yell members!
I ran to the front before I said: "Jenna!" And she turned around and smiled before she said: "Oh… Abby!" And then she went on: "Good timing! These Team Yell dopes are stopping traffic to Route 7!" And then she turned to them and said: "You lot are so rude, inconveniencing everyone all the time! And you're starting to get a reputation for it, too—every time someone says 'Team Yell', everyone else thinks of loitering punks who like making everyone else's lives hard! How can you be such jerks?!" "It's all for the challenger we care about so much! We in Team Yell serve her and no one else!" A female Team Yell member said before Jenna said: "How inconsiderate… I can't imagine thinking in the same terms as you!" And then I said: "Don't bother talking to them, Jenna—let's just drive them off!" And I said: "Corvisquire, let's show them some manners!" And the crowd behind me cheered before they ran in and engaged the other Team Yell members.
Two female Team Yell members approached us before one of them said: "You're certainly a feisty one… but we'll show you how a grown-up does it! We'll send you running off!" And then she turned to the other one and said: "Isn't that right, Meg?" And then the other one said: "That's right, Peg! Those kids are going to get it!" And then one of them said: "Go, Boltund!" And the other said: "Go, Leafeon!" And Jenna said: "Go, Litwick!" And they all called out their Pokémon… the first Team Yell member's Pokémon was like a dog that had white front paws, a white chest and a white face, black legs above the paws—and a black midsection—and yellow back paws, a yellow back, a yellow tail and yellow ears with a black ring-shaped marking on them—the back of its neck was also yellow. It had yellow eyes with olive irises and white pupils and was almost as tall as me. And the other one's Pokémon was a small quadrupedal Pokémon that had a manila-colored body with a tail like a green leaf and ears like green leaves, with brown interiors. It had spiky manila-colored hair and a sickle-shaped leaf curl at the top. Its paws were colored brown and it had leaves growing out of its ankles and had a leaf growing out of its chest and the back of its neck as well. It had brown eyes with white pupils and was somewhat short. And Jenna's Pokémon was like a small white candle Pokémon that had a blue-violet flame on top of its head and white wax melting on the sides. It had a little black line for a mouth and was smiling and had two arms attached directly to its sides. It had yellow eyes and was very short.
And then Jenna said: "Litwick, help Corvisquire! Use will-o-wisp on Boltund!" And Litwick said: "Lit!" And he conjured blue wisps of fire and sent them at Boltund! When they made contact, Boltund looked like it was in pain… it was burned! Since Boltund are electric Pokémon that generally attack with physical attacks, that was going to help Corvisquire a lot! "Corvisquire, attack Leafeon! Pluck!" I said before Corvisquire said: "Corrr!" And flew in before he pecked Leafeon and flew back. Leafeon took it hard too! "Boltund, zap Corvisquire! Use spark!" One of the Team Yell members said before Boltund said: "Bol!" And he ran up to Corvisquire (and his body started crackling with electricity as he did so) and he rammed into Corvisquire, which he only took somewhat hard… that burn was definitely helping! "Leafeon, use razor leaf!" The other Team Yell member said before Leafeon said: "Leeeaf!" And she conjured a flurry of sharp-edged leaves which she sent into Corvisquire and Litwick! Both of them didn't have any trouble recovering though. And then Boltund recoiled from burn damage!
And then the Team Yell member said: "Good job attacking them both at once, Meg! Now attack Corvisquire again, Boltund! Spark!" And Boltund did so before I said: "Corvisquire, keep going! Pluck Leafeon!" And he did so and Jenna said: "Litwick, hex Boltund!" And Litwick grinned mischievously before the space around Boltund turned white and gray (with a purple outer ring) before Litwick made a wisp of purple energy appear on Boltund's back… it swallowed up Boltund completely and kept expanding until it touched the ring and the whole thing vanished! Boltund took it really hard before the other Team Yell member said: "Leafeon, time to turn up the heat! Use leaf blade on Corvisquire!" And Leafeon's tail started to glow green before she ran up to Corvisquire and she leapt at him (somersaulting in midair) before she struck him with her tail! Corvisquire didn't take it too hard, though.
Leafeon's tail went back to normal as she landed and Jenna said: "Finish off Leafeon, Litwick! Flame burst!" And Litwick's flame started to burn brighter before he sent it flames flying at Leafeon that she took really hard… and some of the flames bounced over to Boltund and hurt him too! And then Leafeon collapsed! The other Team Yell member called her back before the Team Yell member said: "Boltund, get Corvisquire! Spark!" and Boltund zapped Corvisquire with it… but luckily, Corvisquire could still keep going! "Corvisquire, go for it! Fury attack Boltund!" I said before Corvisquire flew over to Boltund and started pecking him incessantly. And then Boltund collapsed! The Team Yell member called him back before she said: "Go, Gyarados!" And the other Team Yell member said: "Go, Tranquill!" And the other Team Yell member called a Tranquill out while the Team Yell member called out a Pokémon like a giant sea serpent! It had a blue back and a manila-colored underbelly. It had white spikes intermittently down its back and a white fin at the end of its body with blue lines on the sides and down the middle. Its head was blue and it had manila-colored lips and blue whiskers, as well as white cilia and a w-shaped blue crest on top of its head. But this Pokémon… it was a Gyarados. They were very strong water and flying type Pokémon that could attack very hard and didn't have many weaknesses.
And when Gyarados appeared, he said: "Gyara! Garrr!" Loudly and menacingly before Corvisquire and Litwick looked subdued and the Team Yell member turned to the other Team Yell member and said: "Okay! Do your thing, Meg!" "You've got it, Peg!" the other Team Yell member said before she went on: "Tranquill, fly!" And Tranquill said: "Tranq!" before he flew up high into the air and the Team Yell member said: "Gyarados, squash them! Brutal swing!" And Gyarados said: "Gyarr!" and dark energy formed around him before he swung around ferociously, battering Corvisquire and Litwick! Litwick took it especially hard before they both collapsed!
We called our Pokémon back before the other Team Yell member said: "Way to show 'em, Peg! Knocking both of their Pokémon over like dominoes!" And while they were distracted, I turned to Jenna and whispered: "Jenna… do you have a ground Pokémon?" "Well yeah, but—" Jenna said before I said: "Send it out." "But, Gyarados—" Jenna said before I said: "It'll be okay. Just hurry!" And then Jenna sighed and said: "Go, Mudbray!" And I put Toxel down and said: "You've got them. Go out there and finish them!" And Toxel looked nervous, but he crawled out there and Jenna sent out her Mudbray she had used a while back before the other Team Yell member said: "Okay, Tranquill! Come down on Mudbray!" And Tranquill flew down hard onto Mudbray and crashed into him, which knocked him down, but he got up easily enough. But then he looked more resolute before the other Team Yell member said: "Oh, this is just delicious! What are that baby and that donkey supposed to do to our Pokémon?" And I grinned and said: "Let me show you." And then I went on: "Toxel, discharge!" And Toxel said: "Tox!" And he created a thunderstorm that zapped Gyarados, Tranquill and Mudbray! But Mudbray didn't even react to being hit, although Gyarados and Tranquill couldn't say the same! They took the hit extremely hard! Gyarados even collapsed after getting hit! "Wha—a one hit knockout?!" The Team Yell member said before the other Team Yell member said: "No way! How could Peg's Gyarados go down so easily?!" And the Team Yell member called her Gyarados back before she said: "Alright… go, Liepard!" And she called out a Pokémon like a big, purple and yellow leopard. The fur on its midsection, tail, the top of its legs and the top of its head were all colored purple and the fur on its jaw, chest and lower legs were all colored yellow. It had some yellow rings on its midsection too and pink patterns above its eyes like eyeshadow. It had green eyes with black pupils, two sets of yellow whiskers and a tail like a sickle. It was tall too—it was almost as tall as me!
And then Jenna said: "Mudbray, smack that Liepard! High horsepower!" And Mudbray said: "Braaay!" And he ran up to Liepard before he swiftly turned around and kicked it with both of his hind legs and Liepard took it unexpectedly hard! "Toxel, use discharge!" I said before Toxel said: "Toxel!" And created another thunderstorm that made Tranquill collapse (and even Liepard took the hit a little hard) before the other Team Yell member called Tranquill back… and then Toxel suddenly said: "Tox!" And he started to glow with a white light and change shape!
When the process finished, he had gotten so tall… he had a purple body and the front of his torso and neck were sky blue, as were his palms and the bottoms of his feet. He had purple spikes around his wrists, a purple, tasset-like hip guard, a sky blue mohawk that went down his neck (which was unusually long) and a purple horn at the top of his head. He had white eyes with black pupils and was as tall as a human grown-up… he was taller than me now! So now he had evolved… he was a Toxitricity! Toxitricity that looked like he did were known as 'Low Key' Toxitricity. Little was known about how Toxitricity evolved right now, but it was speculated that Toxel who have milder, more patient, kinder personalities evolve into Low Key Toxitricity… that said, this form suits him perfectly! "Toxitricity… you evolved!" "Toxitricity!" Toxitricity said before I said: "Good job! Now you're finally grown up! I'm so proud!" And Toxitricity looked very pleased, but then Mudbray said: "Braaay!" And he started glowing with a white light and changed shape! He was evolving too!
When the process finished, he looked more like a horse than a donkey. He had a brown body with red-orange ankles and hooves and a black mane with hair that fell from it like dreadlocks that had red-orange ends—his tail was black with red-orange ends too. His nose was colored red-orange with black nostrils and he had white eyes with black pupils. He was really tall now—he was taller than me and Jenna on each other's shoulders! And when Jenna saw it, she smiled and said: "Mudbray… you evolved!" And then her Pokémon said: "Mudsdale!" And Jenna said: "What excellent timing! Now show your new power to those two!" And Mudsdale said: "Muds!" before we returned our attention to the battle… and yet the Team Yell member wouldn't call out a new Pokémon… "What's wrong? Don't you have another Pokémon?" I asked before the Team Yell member said: "Don't be snide. That was my last one…" "Oof, that's pretty tough… sorry, Meg—" I said before the Team Yell member said: "Wha—I'm Peg!" And then I said: "Oh, you are? I'm sorry. I couldn't tell the difference." And Jenna started laughing hard before the other Team Yell member said: "Go, Cufant!" And she called in a Pokémon like a cute little orange and blue-green elephant. It had an orange body with a yellow underbelly and the end of its trunk was blue-green—it had blue-green arches over its feet (which were white beneath them), blue-green ovals at the top of its trunk, a blue-green shower cap-like hump on top of its head (that was manila-colored on top) and its tail was blue-green. It had white eyes with black irises and white pupils and was a little taller than I was.
And then she said: "Cufant, bulldoze!" And Cufant said: "Cuu!" And he went into high gear, charging into Toxitricity and Mudsdale, running them down. Toxitricity looked like he had taken the hit hard while Mudsdale didn't look like he had taken it too badly, but they both looked sluggish after getting hit… "Toxitricity, zap Cufant! Overdrive!" And Toxitricity said: "TriCITY!" And started stroking the crests coming out of his chest like strings on a guitar before an electric explosion ensued where Cufant was standing! Cufant got up before Jenna said: "Take him down, Mudsdale! High horsepower!" And Mudsdale attacked Cufant with it before he collapsed!
And the other Team Yell member called him back before she said: "Ugh! This is not good, Peg! Those kids are way too strong!" "How kind of you. But that isn't the end of your concerns… look around you." Jenna said before the Team Yell members did… and saw the rest of the trainers had defeated the other Team Yell members! And then a boy in the crowd said: "How do you like that?! Your team is finished!" And then a woman said: "Get out of our city!" And then a male member of Team Yell said: "Tch… I guess that's it, then. Oh well! Retreat!" And the Team Yell members headed down Route 7 before we all cheered and everyone celebrated as Jenna came up to me and said: "Great job, Abby! You and your Pokémon were so strong back there! Thank you for your help—that was a lot easier with you helping." And I smiled and said: "You're welcome. But you were really strong too, Jenna—you're doing a great job training your Pokémon. You really outclassed those two. I guess we proved that that's, er… how a grown-up does it."
And then we giggled together before I went on: "But that was really noble of you to help everyone, Jenna, even though this wasn't even your own hometown. You're really a nice person." "Well why not? It was only the right thing to do. Besides, I hate it when bullies like Team Yell push people around like that… that's not how it should be." Jenna said. "I agree. I wish people like that would apply their energy towards something that matters instead of being mean to people…" I said. And then I turned to Toxitricity and said: "But at least you finally got to evolve, Toxitricity! I'm so happy to see you all grown up! Congratulations!" "Toxitriss!" Toxitricity said before I went on: "Although now you're too big for me to carry anymore…" And then I sighed and said: "That's hard to think about… but at the very least, we can always walk together. Even if the times have changed, I'm happy to have you at my side, Toxitricity." "Tox!" Toxitricity said before he hugged me (and I hugged him back) and Jenna giggled and said: "You two are quite a team! Almost as close as mother and son. But don't be sad, Abby—even if you can't carry him in your arms anymore, I know you both are going to have good times for a long time to come." And I smiled and said: "Thank you, Jenna." And then I went on: "Anyway, thank you for helping me, Jenna. I need to heal my Pokémon now, but I hope we'll meet again sometime." And then I turned to Toxitricity and said: "Come on, Toxitricity. Let's go walk to the—" And then Jenna said: "Wait a minute, Abby!"
And then I turned to her and said: "What is it, Jenna?" "I've actually been thinking… why don't we travel together for a while? I can tell you're really a good person and it would be safer to travel in a group. Besides… I think I would enjoy it and I think I could learn a lot from you too." Jenna said. And I smiled before I said: "I like that idea. If there's one thing I've learned from my Pokémon, it's that traveling is more fun if you go with someone. Come on—let's go together, then." "Yay! Thank you, Abby!" Jenna said before she went on: "But as you say, our next stop should be the Pokémon Center after our Pokémon worked so hard for us in that last battle. We owe it to them." "Exactly. Now let's go! Toxitricity, come with us!" I said before Toxitricity said: "Toxi!" And we went to the Pokémon Center together.
After we had our Pokémon healed, we left the Pokémon Center and Jenna said: "There! Now that our Pokémon are good to go, we'll just have to decide where we're going next…" And then she went on: "Come to think of it… there's a vault located in between here and the west gate that has some historical artifacts. Do you want to check them out, Abby?" "I think that's a great idea… but what about you, Jenna? Are you just saying that to try and please me?" I asked before Jenna said: "Of course not! Do I look like the type to do that to you? I normally don't get down by Hammerlocke much, so this is a great opportunity for me to see more of Galar's history." "I agree. That's one of the perks of being a Pokémon trainer—you can learn more about a country than you can if you aren't a trainer." I said before I went on: "Well alright then! Let's go, Jenna." And Jenna nodded before we went to the vault.
When we arrived, we went in and looked at the displayed artifacts… they all had plaques beneath them explaining them, so Jenna and I got to learn a lot about the past and what they had displayed there. Eventually, Jenna and I went to examine some tapestries on the second floor… but when we got there, I saw Sonia looking at them! "Sonia!" I said before I approached her and she turned around and said: "Oh hello, Abby. We meet again!" And then she looked over and saw Jenna before she said: "Is this one of your friends?" "That's right. Her name's Jenna. We're travelling together now." I said before Jenna said: "Hi! It's nice to meet you. What's your name?" "I'm Sonia. I'm the granddaughter of the Pokémon Professor in Galar, Professor Magnolia. I was here to do a little research into Galar's past—that's what I'm studying now." Sonia said before I said: "So Sonia, have you found anything of interest?" "There isn't much here… it's hard to find new information on the age of Galar's monarchy… but there was one thing…" She replied before she went on: "Abby, Jenna… look at these tapestries. Do you see anything unusual?"
And Jenna and I examined them… it was artwork depicting the Sword King and the Shield King uniting, defeating Eternatus and being crowned. It was nothing I hadn't read before… finally, I said: "No, I don't… this is just artwork very quickly and concisely depicting the Sword King's and the Shield King's rise to power. I've read more detailed accounts of this in books." "I suppose that wasn't really a fair question. I agree it's a pretty standard portrayal, but… do you remember the statue we saw in Motostoke's Budew Drop Inn?" Sonia asked. I did… that statue of the Sword King and her speculative conspiracy theories… this again… "Well sure. But what do these tapestries indicate that wasn't part of what we talked about?" I asked. "Nothing. But seeing it reinforces my curiosity about how inconsistent the information is…" Sonia said before she went on: "Anyway, I'll need to look for more information somewhere else. It's unfortunate how scarce it is… but enough about that. How are your gym challenges going?" "Great! I have three gym badges and I'm really enjoying bonding with my Pokémon!" I said before Sonia looked at Toxitricity and said: "So I see. You're walking with your Pokémon now?" "Yes. I'm happier having them with me, outside of their Poke balls." I said before Sonia said: "How sweet. That's very admirable, Abby—not many trainers are as extra-close to their Pokémon as you are. It's rather inspiring."
And then she turned to Jenna and said: "And what about you, Jenna?" "Great! I have three badges just like Abby, so my next will mark the halfway point through my challenge. We're keeping in time with each other pretty well." Jenna said before Sonia said: "How wonderful. It reminds me of my gym challenge so long ago… I can't say I ever travelled with anyone, but I was competing against my rivals. Leon was one of them, back then." Given what an odd person Sonia was… I wasn't even sure if I should trust what she said… it seemed Jenna thought the same thing, because she didn't say anything either. And then Sonia went on: "But that was years ago. Make sure you appreciate this time while you have it—there's nothing like going on a journey with your Pokémon." "I don't doubt it. And I absolutely intend to." I said before Jenna said: "Me too! I really am thankful for this special period of time." And then Sonia said: "Good. You really are something special, Abby, Jenna." And then she went on: "Well I'll have to be off now. Have fun, you two!" And she left…
When Sonia left the second floor, Jenna said: "She's gone. What a peculiar person…" And then she turned to me and said: "Is she always like that, Abby?" "I've only ever seen her twice before, so I can't say for sure. But she is pretty consistent with that kind of behavior." I replied. "Hmm… I don't get people like that…" Jenna said before she went on: "Well whatever! Getting to see the tapestries was neat, at least." "Is there anywhere else you wanted to go, Jenna?" I asked. "No, not in particular. The castle looks so cool, but I'll get to see it when I come back with seven gym badges and I've had plenty of time to look around the city. I'm ready to go to Route 7, aren't you?" Jenna asked before I said: "I agree. Let's go, then."
And then we left the vault and I switched out my Pokémon and added Hitmonlee, Dreepy, Raboot and Drizzile to my team before I called Raboot out to walk with me. We headed to the city's west gate and went out into Route 7… it was like stepping out into a desert. There were rocky cliff walls all around and the grass was colored brown… the sun was shining brightly and the temperature was hot… we stepped forward as I said: "Whew… it's hot…" And Jenna giggled and said: "Aw, chin up! This is nothing! We've only just started our march!" "Maybe for you, Jenna—you live out in this desert. But I'm from way out in the country and this is nothing like what I deal with there…" I said before Jenna said: "Come on Abby, pull yourself together! You're not going to make it if you take that attitude!" And I sighed and said: "You're right. Alright, then let's go." And we started walking ahead… but as we did, I saw someone in the distance… it was Hop! And he looked gloomy too… "Hop?!" I said as I ran forward. When I did, he turned around and said: "Oh, Abby… hey. I didn't expect to see you out here so soon, especially when I never saw you on the train out of Motostoke…" "Never mind that! What's going on? You don't look so good…" I said before Hop looked down and said: "I just…" And then he sighed and said: "Somebody said something that really got to me… now I'm realizing he was right."
By now, Jenna had caught up with us and Hop looked up at her before he said: "Who's this?" "This is Jenna. She's my friend. We're travelling together now." I said. "You're travelling with someone? That's really something…" Hop said before I turned to Jenna and said: "And Jenna, this is Hop. He's also from Postwick—he's been my friend since I was a little girl." "Nice to meet you, Hop! A friend of Abby is a friend of mine!" Jenna said before I turned to Hop and said: "Hop… who was this person?" "His name was Bede… I got into a Pokémon battle with him and he destroyed me… but it was what he said after the battle that bothered me." Hop said before he went on: "He said that I was living through my family and friends and I had no accomplishments or power of my own… he said I wasn't trying to be strong as an individual and that's why I couldn't come close to beating him." "What a jerk… sounds like a bad winner." Jenna said before I frowned as I said: "He's just trying to break your spirit! Don't listen to him! If you had no accomplishments or power of your own, you wouldn't have won three gym badges, would you?!" "Even so, I still remember what I said to those Team Yell blokes in the Second Motostoke Mine… I don't know if you had heard at that point before you jumped into help me, Abby, but I told him I was the champion's brother and that they couldn't win… after I said something like that… I think Bede might have had a point. I really do need to get stronger." Hop said before I said: "There's nothing wrong with trying to get stronger, but you should do it with your head held high. It will help you stay on target if you focus on your goal and don't let things like what that bully said get to you." "That's right! You'll do a lot better at everything you do if you maintain your energy and mood. So no more moping, okay?" Jenna said before Hop said: "Thanks, Abby, Jenna… you're both really nice. I'll think about what you said, but right now I just want some time to be alone. Excuse me…" And he went further in…
"Hop…" I said before Jenna said: "That is so sad… I don't like it when bullies get in someone's head like that…" "He'll recover eventually. All we can do now is wait…" I said before I went on: "Come on. Let's get back to what we started, Jenna." "Okay." Jenna said before we explored Route 7. We had to climb up and down the cliffs, just as Kabu said. But eventually, we made it to the top of a cliff… and saw some statues of a Pokémon… Kantonian Diglett. It basically was like a half-oval shape with two eyes and a big nose like an oval on its side. And yet, when we climbed up to the top, Jenna looked excited and said: "That's it… the Diglett statues!" "Then we made it?" I asked before Jenna said: "Yes! Those mark the entrance to Stow-on-Side! Come on, Abby! Let's go into the town!" And we both hurried ahead into Jenna's hometown… Stow-on-Side.