Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon.
We find our heros heading towards Motostoke. To register for the Gym Challenge. Right now they are riding the train past the Wild Area.
Hop looked out of the window in excitement while Gloria was checking out information about the area using her phone. "Man, look at how vast the Wild Area is, mate. I can't wait to see what kind of Pokemon are out there," Hop said.
"Not only that, check this out." Gloria showed Hop a picture on her phone. It was a stone circle in a grassy field. "I hear you can battle Dynamaxed Pokemon in these Pokemon Dens," she explained.
"Oh man! I'm going to stick my head in every single one of them!" Hop cheered.
Gloria just chuckled at his antics when the train came to a slow but sudden stop. Everyone looked around confused. "Huh? What's going on?" Gloria asked.
*Pokemon Sword and Shield anime-style opening*
It's a big, big, world but you know where to find me
We'll be together and we're gonna do it our way
Gloria and Hop run together on the field. They both pull out a pokeball and throw it revealing Scorbunny and Grooky.
Mrs. Crawley is with Mr. and Mrs. Laventon in their kitchen.
We'll discover and we believe in each other
Professor Magnolia is drinking tea in her lab.
On adventures with my friends, like, everyday
Bede is training Haten in the Galar mines while Marine is training Mormeko in a field.
Sonia is taking notes while checking out the statue at the Bew Drop Inn.
And we're already on our way
The screen pans over Milo, Nessa, Kabu, Bea, Opal, Melony, Piers, and Raihan who are overlooked by Chairman Rose and Oleana.
Leon stands alone in a stadium and strikes his Charizard pose.
The journey starts today.
In a foggy forest, two phantom pokemon run past Gloria and Hop.
The journey starts today.
Scorbunny falls into Gloria's arms and Rookidee lands on her shoulder as the Pokemon Sword and Shield logo appears above them.
The journey starts today
A voice came over the loudspeaker. "Attention all passengers. A flock of Wooloo are currently blocking the tracks up ahead. Therefore, we will make an unscheduled stop at the gates of the Wild Area. Please proceed to the station calmly and remain at the station until the tracks are clear. We are currently in contact with the Corvinate Taxi Services to help transport our more vulnerable passengers to the nearest town. We apologize for the inconvenience."
Gloria and Hop had already disembarked and were at the gates of the station. Gloria was stretching as she said "Well the Opening Ceremony isn't happening until this weekend so we've still got time."
Hop punched his fist into his other hand. "Oh yeah! In fact we don't even need to take the train the rest of the way." Gloria tilted her head in confusion so Hop continued. "It will only take two days to walk through the Wild Area to get to Mototstoke. We can catch a whole bunch of Pokemon to add to our team."
Gloria grew excited at the prospect. "Your right Hop! Why didn't I think of that?"
"Sounds like you two are making the most of your situation," Sonia's voice called out to them. Hop and Gloria looked to see her approach them.
"Oh, hey Sonia. What are you doing here?" Hop asked.
Sonia started to twirl her hair as she said. "I'm helping my gran out with some of her Dynamax research. I've been trying to follow in her footsteps but so far it hasn't been easy."
"That sounds rough," Gloria said.
Sonia just brushed it off. "Ah, never you mind that. Besides, I've been wanting to ask you guys something. Leon told me how you two went into the Slumbering Weald the other day and encountered some strange Pokemon. I want to know more about it."
Hop crossed his arms deep in thought. "Well we couldn't really see much. The fog was really thick at that point."
Gloria racked her brain as she tried to remember the details. "I'm not even sure if they were really there at all. We tried to have our Pokemon attack them but our moves just went right through them."
Sonia cupped her chin as she pondered. "How interesting."
"So Sonia, do you think these two Pokemon have something to do with Dynamaxing?" Hop asked.
Sonia shook her head. "Who's to say? At any rate I won't find the answers standing here and pondering. You two should get a move on as well."
"Right. We've got a bunch of different Pokemon to catch!" Hop said before taking off to the Wild Area.
Gloria chased after him. "Hop wait for me!" She quickly turned around and waved at Sonia. "Good luck with your research."
As Sonia waved back a voice called out to her. "Excuse me miss. I couldn't help but overhear your conversation." Sonia spun around and saw a man approach her. He looked to be around his early to mid thirties. He had black hair that came to the front, brown eyes, and a sharp face. He was wearing a black suit with a violet tie, black shoes, and a light brown trench coat over it.
The man pulled out a badge from his trench coat and showed it to her. "I'm Looker from the International Police. I came here to investigate the strange activities here revolving around Dynamaxing. Since you're traveling around studying this phenomenon I would like to accompany you to aid in my investigation."
Sonia gave it some thought. "Let me call my Gran about this," she requests.
Looker nodded. "Very well, but I ask that you keep this a secret from anyone else okay?" Sonia nodded and pulled out her Rotom Phone to call her grandmother.
Gloria and Hop made their way to the entrance of the Wild Area. It was massive. Open fields as far as the eye could see. A couple of ponds were dotted along the landscape. And reaching up to the sky were pillars of light indicating active Pokemon Dens.
"Wow. This place is beautiful," Gloria breathed.
"Yeah," Hop sighed, taking in the sight. Getting excited all over again, Hop took off running.
"Hey, wait for me!" Gloria called. "Shouldn't we stick together?"
Hop stopped and spun to face her. "Actually Gloria I think it'd be best if we split off here for a moment." At Gloria's confused and slightly hurtful expression Hop clarified. "Well we are rivals now right? It wouldn't be fair to see what kind of Pokemon we catch here. I wanna be surprised by your new pokemon and strategy the next time we meet."
Gloria's heart felt a little tight at the thought of not being able to travel with Hop. They've been together so long it seems weird for them to travel separately. But Hop did make a good point. It wouldn't be as fun to battle him if she already knew what he has. She gave her friend a nod. "Alright. I'll see you in Motostoke then." Gloria took off running, giving Hop a high five as she passed him. Hop then took off in another direction.
Gloria ran around taking in the sights and the Pokemon before eventually resting over at West Lake Axewell. The sun was beginning to set and she was getting hungry. Calling out Rookidee and Scorbunny, Gloria started setting up camp for the night. As she was starting up the campfire to make some curry she noticed a little blue pokemon sneak over to them. When Gloria noticed the little one got frightened and tried to hide behind a rock. Regardless, Gloria was still able to get a good look at it.
It had a rather small body but its head was a little bigger. Purple branch-like appendages stuck out from the side of its head. It had no arms and three dark blue curved marks on its belly. It also had a small but thick tail. Gloria pulled out her Pokedex.
Wooper. The Water Fish Pokemon. A water and ground type. This Pokemon lives in cold water. It will leave the water to search for food when it gets cold outside. When walking on land, it covers its body in a poisonous film to keep it from dehydrating.
"So much for petting the little cutie. Would you like something to eat," She offered the Wooper. The Wooper looked hesitant. It was then that Gloria noticed that the Wooper looked injured. She could see scratches and scuff marks all over its body. She quickly rushed to her backpack and pulled out a potion. Gloria tried to approach the Wooper, but he backed away in fear.
"Easy little guy. I'm not going to hurt you," Gloria assured. Wooper still looked hesitant. His stomach started to growl and Wooper ran away to hide in the nearby pond, hoping that the human will soon leave so it can try to sneak some of her food later when she wasn't looking.
"Hey wait! Come back," Gloria urged.
"There it is!"
"Don't let it get away!"
Two men in strange attire ran up to the campsite. They were decked out in a mix of black and dark pink with more pink painted over their eyes like a mask and their hair was styled in mohawks. Their shirts bore a logo that looked like a claw.
Gloria ran in between the men and the Wooper. "What do you two think you're doing to this poor Pokemon?" she demanded.
"Scram kid this doesn't concern you," the one on the left yelled.
"That's right. We've got dibs on that Wooper," the one on the right said.
Gloria looked behind her to see Wooper trembling in fear. "Looks to me like this Wooper doesn't want anything to do with you punks."
"Tough luck. Cause that little bugger is coming with us," Right stated.
"Right. We need to catch all the Pokemon in the Wild Area," Left proclaim.
Gloria was shocked. "Why would you do that?"
"So our darling Marine will become champion," the left one said. "If we take all the Pokemon here. Then those other trainers won't be able to catch any. So they can't compete."
"Well I'm not going to let you guys cheat your way to victory. Nor am I going to stand by and watch you hurt innocent Pokemon. Go Scorbunny and Rookidee!" At Gloria's command, her two Pokemon stood in front of their trainer, ready to battle.
"You think you can take us on?" the right one challenged as he and his partner took out their own pokeballs. "Go Zigzagoon!"
"Go Nickit!" his partner yelled.
Zigzagoon was a small creature which looked like a cross between a raccoon and a dog. It had a black mask over its eyes and its fur had zigzag patterns in black and white. Nickit had a fox-like figure with a maroon coat. It had long black ears, white eyebrows, and small white dots around yellow eyes that looked like tears. The fur on its stomach was white as well.
Zigzagoon. The Tiny Racoon Pokemon. A dark type. Its restlessness has it constantly running around. If it sees other Pokemon, it will run into them in order to start a fight. Thought to be the oldest form of Zigzagoon, it moves in zigzags and wreaks havoc upon its surroundings.
Nickit. The Fox Pokemon. A dark type. Aided by the soft pads on its feet, it silently raids the food stores of other Pokemon. It survives off its ill-gotten gains. It erases its tracks with swipes of its tail as it makes off with its plunder.
"Zigzagoon, use Tackle attack!"
"Nickit, use Quick Attack!"
The two Pokemon charged forward. Nickit's quick speed allowed her to slam into Rookidee before Gloria could call a counter attack. As Rookidee shook of the pain, Zigzagoon darted around the field as he rushes towards Scorbunny. "Scorbunny use Ember! Rookidee, strike back with a Peck!" Scorbunny was able to deliver her Ember attack right in front of Zigzagoon. The blast from the fire attack sent Zigzagoon flying into the water not far from where Wooper was. Rookidee slammed his beak into Nickit, driving her back to where her trainers were. Zigzagoon swam to the shore and both he and Nickit looked dead on their feet.
"Crikey! Our Pokemon are too worn out from all the battling they've done all day," one of the thugs said.
"Then let's retreat for now," the other suggested. "We can finish this later." The two called back their Pokemon and started to run in the opposite direction. "This won't be the last you've seen of us!" they called back.
Scorbunny and Rookidee looked like they were ready to chase them but Gloria called them back. "We've done enough driving them off. If we continued to fight then we'd be no better. Besides we've got a Wooper to look after," she told them. She walked over to the shore and called out to the Wooper who was watching the fight. "It's okay they're gone now. Come here. Please let me help you."
The Wooper slowly walked over to Gloria as if he was still unsure. Gloria took out some Pokemon food from her pocket and offered it to him. Wooper sniffed at the food and took a small bite. "Wopper! Wooper!" It cheered happily and ate some more.
Gloria held up the potion to Wooper. "Now this is going to sting a little," she warned before she sprayed the medicine. Wooper tensed at the pain but didn't run off. After she was done, Wooper looked at the fading wounds, suddenly feeling better. Wooper jumped in joy. Gloria chuckled. This little guy is so cute! "Well come on now. Dinner should be ready. Let's eat."
Rookidee and Scorbunny guided Wooper over to the campsite and Gloria poured three small bowls of curry for them to enjoy before fixing a plate for herself. As she ate her dinner she looked over at the Pokemon and saw them happily conversing while enjoying her food. Afterwards she cleaned up the dishes with the Pokemon trying to help, but because of their small statues, and lack of hands in the case of Rookidee and Wooper, they couldn't do much. Still Gloria appreciated the help. When everything was finished Gloria tucked herself into her sleeping bag with the three Pokemon sprawled on top of her.
The next morning as Gloria was packing up her tent, Scorbunny and Rookidee were saying their goodbyes to Wooper but Wooper started to shake his head. He ran over to Gloria calling out to her. "Huh? What is it Wooper?" she asked.
Wooper ran over to a tree and used a Water Gun on it. A large part of the trunk became completely soaked. He then used Mud Shot on the trunk, which actually made an imprint on it. Gloria was impressed. "Wow you're so strong Wooper. Are you asking me to join my team?" Wooper nodded in confirmation. Gloria pulled out an empty pokeball and held it out to him. "Well then welcome to the family." Wooper jumped in joy as Gloria opened up the pokeball and Wooper was called inside.
Gloria held up the pokeball in excitement. "Alright! I caught me a Wooper!"
"Scorbunny!"
"Rookidee!"
And so, with Wooper now on her team, Gloria continues to make her way to Motostoke. What challenges wait for her there? How will she fare in her next battle against Hop? And what are those mysterious trainers going to do next?
Find out soon. As the journey continues.