Hey readers - here we are with another new chapter : )
Sorry this is being posted a few hours later than I normally post new chapters. I don't know if there was a problem with Fanfiction or something, because no matter which device I tried to use, I just couldn't access the site for several hours. I'm in now though, so here's part three of my second unique episode, and I'm not sure, but I think it might be my longest chapter to date. There were a couple of places where I could have cut it off earlier, but I really wanted to get into the heart of the plot of this episode in this chapter, so yeah, it ended up being super long ; )
Anyway, I don't have much else to say here so let's jump right on in to the latest voting topic. I am delighted to announce that the newest Pokemon joining Nolan's Johto team is... Spinarak! I have to admit, I just wanted it to be any of the Johto Pokemon I put forward as options since Nolan has soooo many Kanto Pokemon now. Plus Spinarak and Ariados are pretty cool Pokemon in their own right, so I'm happy to add Spinarak to the team : D
Finally, I just want to say an ENORMOUS thank you to everyone that has reviewed, favourited, and followed this story. The support that has been shown to the story is amazing, and it means so much to me, so thank you : )
Please remember that Pokemon is not mine, only my OC's are : )
I hope you enjoy this chapter : )
Day Care Dilemmas - Part 3
With every step that he and the rest of the group took through the charming streets of Orange Town, Nolan's sense of excitement and anticipation only seemed to grow stronger in intensity, so it wasn't long before the golden haired boy was practically a quivering mess of eagerness. All their talk about Pokemon dietary needs and grooming had left Nolan thoroughly intrigued by the topics, and he couldn't wait to start learning more about them from real professionals like Miss Reeni and her husband, who Nolan would fully admit that he was quite looking forward to meeting as well. If what Miss Reeni had said about the man had been the truth, then the man promised to be quite an interesting, not to mention extremely talented Pokemon trainer that Nolan could really learn a lot from. The golden haired boy was always up for that, and so it was with a bright smile on his face that Nolan continued following their guide along the busy, bustling street. But if people thought that Nolan was enthusiastic about their latest detour from the road of travel, it was nothing compared to Brock's shining attitude. The aspiring Pokemon breeder was practically skipping along the pavement, bouncing with restless energy as his excitement about finally being able to visit a genuine Pokemon day care centre took hold of him. Nolan couldn't fault his friend for his almost overwhelming enthusiasm, even if the wide grin on the older boy's face made him look a little demented, it was so full and face-splitting. This had been a lifelong ambition for Brock, so of course he was over the moon about it finally becoming a reality. Nolan understood that. All of the group did. And so it was for all of these reasons that Nolan and all of his friends were quite relieved when Miss Reeni suddenly came to a stop after they'd turned into another orange-tinted street, and signalled for all of the young Pokemon trainers to follow her example. Nolan and his friends all immediately did so, watching with intrigue as a fond and warm smile lit up Miss Reeni's gracefully aged features.
"We're here children!" the kind elderly lady announced, positively beaming with pride as she gestured towards a building across the road, showing a real love for the "My little Pokemon Day Care Centre!"
Soon enough, Nolan's icy blue eyes began drinking in the quaint little building. He wasn't left wanting.
The Orange Town Day Care Centre was a charming sight, a delightful little building painted a cheerful shade of orange that seemed to radiate warmth and happiness. Nestled in a quiet and peaceful neighbourhood, the day care centre immediately stood out to passers-by as a place filled to the brim with love. The building itself was small, yet cosy and inviting, with a quaint and nostalgic feel to it. The white window frames and door stood in sharp contrast to the bright orange exterior, drawing the eye and adding to the overall visual appeal of the building.
One of the first things that Nolan noticed about the day care centre was the window boxes filled with vibrant orange flowers. These cheerful blooms added a touch of whimsy and colour to the exterior, and their sweet fragrance wafted gently on the breeze, practically inviting Nolan and his friends to come closer and take a look inside. The flowers were well-tended and thriving, a testament to the care and attention to detail that the sweet elderly lady who ran the day care put into every aspect of the business.
After checking that there was no traffic on the road, the small group crossed the street, and once he was standing outside it, Nolan was able to examine the building in closer detail.
The golden haired boy couldn't help but smile as his eyes were drawn to the sign hanging above the front door, proudly proclaiming the name of the day care: 'Orange Town Day Care.' The font was playful and childlike, which only served to add to the overall cute and friendly atmosphere of the building. The door itself was sturdy yet welcoming, but before Nolan or any of the others had a chance to push it open, their attention was drawn away from the building entirely.
Soft squeaks all in different Pokemon languages that could only be interpreted as one thing. Joyous laughter.
Nolan's heart practically melted in his chest at what his gaze landed upon as he instinctively followed the happy sounds. Outside of the main building of the Orange Town Day Care Center was a small enclosure, marked out by a small picket white fence. A playpen. A playpen filled with Pokemon of all shapes and sizes happily playing together as they enjoyed some down time. It was a genuinely heart-warming sight.
The fence was made out of a sturdy yet attractive material, and it was just high enough to keep the Pokemon from wandering off while still allowing them to see what is going on outside. Nolan noticed that the ground inside the playpen was covered in a soft, colourful cushioned material, providing a comfortable surface for the Pokemon to play on. As the golden haired boy watched the Pokemon playing, he couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and joy. The day care centre was clearly a happy and nurturing environment, where the Pokemon were well-cared for and loved, and it was obvious that Miss Reeni and her husband were dedicated to providing the best possible care for their charges.
Overall, Nolan could immediately tell that the Orange Town Day Care Center was a truly special place. From its bright and cheerful orange colour scheme, the cute and quaint building, and the loving and nurturing atmosphere; they all made it the perfect place for Pokemon of all shapes and sizes to learn, grow, and thrive.
It was beautiful.
"Aww!" Misty gushed, being the first of the four young Pokemon trainers to break free of the trance that the quaint little building had bewitched them all with, "It's so cute! Okay, I changed my mind! I'm glad we decided to come here!"
Nolan and Ash couldn't help but snigger at the girl's declaration, whereas Brock barely seemed to hear their female friend. Instead, the aspiring Pokemon breeder was staring at at the day care in wonder, a wistful, along longing expression etched into his face.
"This is incredible! I always wanted to see a real day care!" the teenager breathed, sounding thoroughly awestruck, "I bet they have some amazing facilities!"
"Like this little play area!" Ash announced cheerfully, gesturing towards the fenced-off enclosure.
Nolan smiled as he joined his raven haired best friend by the fence and looked down into the playpen. As expected, it was full of Pokemon, many of which Nolan was already familiar with, such as a Caterpie, a Weedle, and even a rare Clefairy. There were a couple of species however that were completely foreign to the golden haired boy, which only made his smile widened.
"Wow, there are Pokemon in here that we've never seen on our journey before!" Nolan announced happily whilst Ash nodded in agreement at his side, "They're so cool!"
They really were. Nolan's sharp eyes were immediately able to pick out not one, not two, not three, but four species of Pokemon that he had never encountered before. The first was a small spherical creature with skin the colour of indigo. It had no arms and two small feet, a beady little red eyes. The clump of healthy green leaves sprouting from the top of its head hinted that this creature was of the Grass Type Element.
Further back in the playpen was a Pokemon that oddly enough seemed to resemble a human child in shape, but it's skin was thick and grey and leathery, stretched over a figure of pure rippling muscles. It was actually using a pair of Geodude as makeshift weights to work out with. Whatever that Pokemon was, it was strong. Real strong.
Beyond that, sitting by itself in what must have been a lonely little corner of isolation was a cute little that looked like it would be at home in a dessert. It had a tan coloured hide, and wore a strangely-shaped skull over its head like a makeshift helmet. Clutched in its adorable little paw was a white bone that was almost as big as the creature itself was. It was staring at some of the playing Pokemon with a look of longing in its eye.
The final unknown Pokemon might just have been the strangest one that Nolan had ever seen, mainly because it had two heads on two extremely long necks. The bizarre creature appeared to be some kind of bird, although it seemed to be designed more for running than it was for flying, judging by its long powerful legs. Nolan couldn't help but gawk in amazement as both of its heads independently snapped at a small Paras that wandered a little too close.
"I wonder what they all are" the golden haired boy mused aloud as he fished his pokedex out of his back pocket. At his side, Ash did much the same. Nolan pointed the small red device in his hand towards the bizarre bird-like creature, as it held the most interest for him.
"Doduo - the Twin Bird Pokemon" Dexi announced in her smooth mechanical voice after successfully identifying the unusual creature, "This Pokemon, whilst being fundamentally one creature, can display two different personalities at once. If its two heads begin to fight each other, Doduo becomes incapacitated. Doduo runs faster than it can fly".
Nolan nodded to himself knowingly. He earlier assumptions had been correct. His attention was diverted when from his spot besides Nolan, Ash pointed his own pokedex at one of the unknown Pokemon.
"Oddish - the Weed Pokemon" the said red device in Ash's hand reported after the boy in question point it towards the blue Pokemon with the rustling leaves on its head, "This Pokemon is typically found roaming the forest, scattering pollen as it walks around. This pollen can be poisonous to both humans and Pokemon if directly inhaled".
Ash arched a somewhat impressed eyebrow upon hearing that description, turning his gaze back to the creature, Oddish, with renewed interest.
"Whoa! For such a cute little Pokemon, that sounds kinda dangerous!" the raven haired boy remarked. At his side, Nolan hummed absent-mindedly in agreement, but the golden haired boy was already focusing his attention on the next Pokemon, this time the one that was like a small grey humanoid.
"Machop - the Superpower Pokemon" Dexi reported after taking a few moments to identify the creature standing before Nolan in the playpen, "Machop have muscles that never tire, no matter how much they exercise. Machop have enough strength to throw one human average-sized adults".
"Yikes!" Nolan gulped nervously as he cast a wary glance at the Machop, suddenly finding himself relieved that there was a fence between them, "It sounds like Machop's a very tough little cookie".
Finding, Ash finished things up by pointing his pokedex towards the small bone-wielding critter that was sitting by itself over in the corner. The pokedex chimed into life after successfully identifying the creature.
"Cubone - the Lonely Pokemon" Dexter informed the youngsters in his usual emotionless tone, "Cubone wears a skull as a helmet, concealing its face as it sheds tears for its long-lost mother. It cries loudly to express its loneliness. It also always carries a long, thick bone".
"Hmm... so not exactly the life and soul at any party then" Ash remarked dryly as he flipped his pokedex shut and returned it to his pocket. At his side, Nolan mirrored the action.
"Poor Cubone" Nolan sighed sadly as he looked at the poor little creature, feeling a wave of sympathy for the fact that there really was a species of Pokemon with the classification 'Lonely', "It must be tough feeling that way all the time".
Miss Reeni smiled as she placed a gentle hand on the golden haired boy's arm, prompting him to look over to her.
"Chin up dear" the kind elderly lady said bracingly, "It isn't like Cubone can't feel any other emotions. Why, just the other day, I took him to the park with me. As soon as he saw a vendor selling Pokemon-shaped balloons, why, his little face just lit up! It was so sweet!"
Nolan's expression morphed back into a smile at that heart-warming mental image.
"So that Cubone has been here for a while then?" Brock chimed back into the conversation. Miss Reeni nodded, her gaze fond as she looked over all the Pokemon in the playpen.
"That right Brock" the kind elderly lady nodded her head in confirmation, "In fact, all of these Pokemon have been staying here for a couple of days. Right now they're enjoying some playtime in-between their training sessions. But I think we should let these little ones enjoy their break in peace. Come on children".
And with that, Miss Reeni turned away from the outdoor playpen and entered the day care centre with Fang. Nolan, Ash, Misty and Brock, along with Pikachu and Meadow, all hastened to follow her.
DING!
There was a small tinkling chime as the group stepped over the threshold, and glancing up, Nolan saw an old fashioned little bell hanging above the door.
"Just a moment!" a deep, baritone voice which had an oddly calming quality to it called from a different room, "I'll be right with you!"
At the head of the group, Miss Reeni let out a warm little chuckle.
"Tanga, darling, it's really rude to keep people waiting" the kind elderly lady lightly scolded the man that the voice belonged to, although given the mischievous quality to her tone, it was fairly obvious that she was only teasing, "Especially when one of those people happens to be your lovely wife!"
The baritone voice chuckled fondly.
"Coming, my love!" the man, Tanga, called back in response, the affection that he held for the woman he was talking to clear from his voice alone.
Nolan was glad that they all had a moment before meeting Miss Reeni's husband. It gave him a chance to quickly study the interior of the day care centre. To the golden haired boy's surprise, the lobby actually wasn't too different from those of the various Pokemon Centres he had visited on his journey so far. It was just on a smaller scale. A grand mahogany wooden counter stood opposite the door, opposite the reception area. It was littered with family photos and various personal items, as well as several blooming and well-tended pot plants. Rather than looking unprofessional however, it just created a homely feel.
It was the same with the rest of the main room of the day care centre.
The walls were painted in varying shades of rich orange, casting a warm and friendly glow about the place. Several plush armchairs were dotted about in one corner, all lined with dozens of comfortable-looking cushions in a variety of shapes and colours. It was obviously the waiting area for trainers either dropping off or collecting their beloved Pokemon. In another corner stood a computer with a video phone and even a pokeball transporter machine, no doubt for the convenience of trainers wishing to move their teammates from storage to the day care and vice versa. The only other noticeable features of the room were more photographs of various family members and Pokemon on the walls, several doors that led off into various other rooms, and the soft, burnt red carpet that they were standing on. It had faded a little with time, but it completely the homey look of the day care centre's lobby nicely. All in all, it was very nice, and Nolan could easily understand why any trainer would be willing to leave their Pokemon friends in such a warm and inviting place.
Before the golden haired boy could say anything or offer any compliments regarding the interior of the day care however, the door behind the counter suddenly opened, and an elderly man, presumably Miss Reeni's husband, entered with a warm smile on his face.
Nolan took a moment to study the man who he assumed was the other owner of the day care centre, Tanga, Miss Reeni had called him. Much like his wife, he had a kind face and a warm aura. Tanga was an elderly gentleman, perhaps a few years older than his wife, with a bright smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes, which were a rich brown colour mixed with hazel. His hair was mostly silvered, but a touch of brown still lingered, recalling his younger days. Tanga seemed to favour comfortable clothing: a loose fitting, pale red linen shirt adorned with a bright orange pocket square - a nod to his birthplace like every other citizen of Orange Town was inclined to do. The man's attire was completed with khaki pants and sturdy walking shoes, perfect for tending to his Pokemon charges. His whole face practically lit up upon seeing his beloved wife.
"Reeni! Love of my life, the light in the dark!" Tanga greeted her, his overwhelming love for the woman evident, "Welcome back from your morning walk, and might I say, you look positively beautiful today!"
Miss Reeni blushed but couldn't help but laugh in the face of her husband's flirting.
"Oh Tanga, you old rogue!" the kind elderly lady chuckled, but there was no denying the deep affectionate that she held for the man before them, "Behave yourself, and that means no flirting! We have company".
The man took notice of the four young Pokemon trainers for the first time, and his smile widened as he took in each of them in turn.
"So I see" the elderly gentleman smiled kindly at the quartet of travelling trainers, a twinkle in his eye, "Welcome to the Orange Town Day Care Center".
The greeting was earnest and genuine, and Nolan immediately found himself warming to the endearing elderly gentleman.
"Everyone, this is my husband, Tanga. Much like they do with myself, the citizens of Orange Town insist on making him feel his age by tagging a 'Mister' on the front of it" Miss Reeni laughed that pleasant laugh of hers, before turning back to her husband, "Tanga, this is Nolan, Ash, Misty, and Brock. They're all Pokemon trainers".
She pointed at each child as she said his or her name, and Mr Tanga smiled as he committed them all to memory.
"It's a pleasure to meet you all" he greeted them politely.
"It's nice to meet you too Mr Tanga" all four of the young Pokemon trainers returned the gentleman's greeting respectfully.
Mr Tanga smiled and shook all of their hands, presenting himself even further as the perfect gentleman and charming host. Once he had released Brock's hand, Mr Tanga then leaned in and kissed Miss Reeni on the cheek.
"How was your morning stroll, my dear?" he asked her lovingly. Miss Reeni couldn't help but chuckle.
"It was lovely, darling, until Fang here decided to run away from me" the kind elderly lady smiled down at the excitable Puppy Pokemon in question, who was currently sniffing at the carpet as he wandered around, "The little rascal ended up sending poor Nolan here flying!"
Mr Tanga looked concerned for a moment, but seeing the completely unfazed expression on the golden haired boy's face, he let out a long, loud laugh.
"He just gets a bit overexcited when he meets new people and Pokemon, don't you boy?" the elderly gentleman cooed as he affectionately scratched behind the adorable little Fire Type Pokemon's ears.
"Grooo!" Fang barked happily, rolling over and lapping up the attention, "Growlithe!"
"You don't mean any harm, do you? You're a good boy, aren't you?" Mr Tanga continued playfully cooing, his love for all Pokemon evident in his eye.
Nolan and his friends all looked on with soft smiles, finding the adorable scene quite touching. Miss Reeni was smiling too, although hers looked somewhat more exasperated.
"To make up for the trouble Fang caused our new friends, I've promised to give their Pokemon a check-up and to show all of them around the day care" Miss Reeni explained to her husband, who looked back at the four Pokemon trainers with renewed interest, "They're all quite interested in what we do here, and Brock here even has dreams of running his own Pokemon Day Care Centre one day!"
Mr Tanga positively beamed at them.
"It's definitely a worthy goal to pursue, I can promise you that" the kind elderly gentleman assured Brock, before turning back to the group at large and gesturing grandly, "But I think a tour is a wonderful idea! It's always nice to see youngsters like yourselves making sure that you're taking proper care of the Pokemon you capture. I'd love to show all of you around our humble abode".
"Excellent!" Miss Reeni beamed and clapped her hands together, before getting straight down to business, "Well there's no time like the present! Now, as there's quite a lot to see, I suggest we break into two groups for now. Tanga, why don't you take Ash and Nolan out to see the battle garden? Show them how we train the Pokemon, and maybe even give them a little demonstration".
Nolan glanced at his friends to see how they felt about splitting up. To the golden haired boy's relief, he found three supportive nods as their reactions.
"Of course, my dear" Mr Tanga smiled tenderly at his wife's suggestion, before he turned his attention to Ash and Nolan and offered the two of them a warm welcoming smile, "Come on, boys, let's go see how we train these little champions in the making!"
"Battle Garden?" Ash repeated the name that Miss Reeni had given it, his russet eyes lighting up with excitement, "Wow!"
"I can't wait to see it!" Nolan beamed in eager anticipation.
"Oh, it's really something quite incredible!" Mr Tanga smiled down at the two excitable youngsters, obviously enjoying their enthusiasm, "You're gonna love it!"
Mr. Tanga gave them a playful wink and began leading them towards a door that obviously led outside to the grounds behind the daycare. Ash and Nolan quickly bid Brock and Misty a brief farewell before following him, with Pikachu and Meadow, and to the surprise of everyone Fang, all quickly trailing after them.
"And you two, come with me!" Miss Reeni gently instructed Misty and Brock once all of the others were gone, "Misty, you were dying to see the Water Type Pokémon, right? I promised to show you! And Brock, you've got questions about preparing Pokemon food, correct?"
"Yes, Miss Reeni" the aspiring Pokemon breeder quickly nodded, his eagerness practically palpable, "I'm very interested in learning your techniques".
The kind elderly lady chuckled, looking down at the teenager with an air of fondness.
"You know, Brock, you're just like me. I love to experiment with different recipes too" Miss Reeni announced happily, before she beckoned for Brock and Misty to both follow her further into the day care, "Now follow me! I've got a treat in store for you".
Miss Reeni turned and led them towards a brightly coloured, almost hidden door. It was decorated with artistically painted seaweed and shimmering bubbles, creating an underwater seascape theme.
"What's behind this door, Miss Reeni?" Brock was the one to ask the most obvious question.
Miss Reeni, a mischievous grin plastered all over her face, turned to look back over her shoulder at the two curious young Pokemon trainers.
"Oh, this is the Wet Room" the kind elderly lady explained, an excited gleam in her wise old eyes. Brock and Misty both looked at her in confusion.
"The... Wet Room?" Misty repeated uncertainly. Seeing the youngsters' bewilderment, Miss Reeni let out a little chuckle of amusement.
"Oh, it's just a silly nickname I gave it years ago" the kind elderly lady laughed good-naturedly, "It's a bit of a mouthful to keep saying "the room with all the tanks for Water Type Pokemon", right? Here we go!"
Miss Reeni opened the artistically decorated door and the trio all stepped into a large, brightly lit room. Brock and Misty both cast a glance around the room as they crossed the threshold. Several giant tanks line the walls, filled with clear, sparkling water. Colourful Water Type Pokemon in a variety of shapes and sizes all swam around inside the array of tanks, some known to the two Pokemon trainers, others foreign. The aquarium, whilst not as large as the one back at the Cerulean City gym, still made for an impressive sight. Impressive enough to take both their breath away.
"Oh wow!" Misty gasped in awe, a hand flying up to her mouth as her eyes sparkled with delight, "Look at all these Pokemon!"
"This place is amazing!" Brock's tone sounded just as impressed as his female friend's did.
Unable to resist the urge for a closer look, Misty rushed up to one of the tanks and peered through the thick glass, pointing at a tiny Squirtle swimming around in circles inside.
"Aw! It's a Squirtle!" the orange haired girl exclaimed in joy, gesturing excitedly for the aspiring Pokemon breeder to come and join us, "Look at it, Brock! It's so cute!"
The Squirtle in the tank took notice of that fact that it was being observed and waved at Misty with its little flippers. Misty giggled and waved back.
"Aw! It's waving at me!" the Water Type Pokemon Specialist beamed, cooing sweetly at the adorable little creature bobbing about in the tank, "Hi there little guy!"
Miss Reeni smiled at the young girl's enthusiasm as she joined Misty and Brock in front of the tank.
"This little one was dropped off by a trainer last week" the kind elderly lady explained to the two young Pokemon trainers at her side, "He was concerned about Squirtle's energy levels. Said he seemed so tired all the time".
Brock squinted down at the Squirtle in the tank with renewed interest, watching as it happily swum back and forth, before arching an inquisitive eyebrow at Miss Reeni.
"It looks pretty energetic now, though" the aspiring Pokemon breeder noted aloud, the hidden question obvious behind his words.
"Well, I've been feeding Squirtle this special Poke-food I prepare" Miss Reeni explained, holding up a bucket filled with Poke-food. Misty and Brock both peered inside the bucket, seeing similar food to that which Brock prepared for all their Pokemon on a regular basis, "It's got all the right nutrients to keep him hydrated and full of energy".
Misty and Brock couldn't help but stare at the elderly woman in sheer disbelief.
"Just a week?" the orange haired girl gasped, scarcely able to believe what she was hearing, it sounded so fantastical, "It's made that much difference?"
"I need to hear more about this Pokemon food!" Brock all-but begged the elderly lady that had been kind enough to serve as their guide, a million different questions all racing through his mind, "It's amazing how much difference the right food can make in such a short amount of time!"
Miss Reeni, who was more than happy to oblige Brock's wish, nodded her head imperiously.
"You see, Brock, it's all about understanding the different needs of each Pokemon. But enough about food for the moment" she told the young aspiring Pokemon breeder, before turning her attention back to the other youngster present, "Let's get Misty properly acquainted with some of our other aquatic friends, and then you and I can sit down and have a nice little chat about our different recipes".
Both Misty and Brock seemed happy with the suggestion, so Miss Reeni began showing them more of what the Wet Room had to offer.
"Come, come!" the kind elderly lady playfully waved her hand, beckoning them onwards and further into the room, "We have lots to talk about!"
The two young Pokemon trainers didn't need telling twice.
Meanwhile, Nolan and Ash were both abuzz with eager anticipation as Mr Tanga led them outside in order to show the boys the Orange Town Day Care Centre's illustrious battle garden. The golden haired boy in particular had a million and one questions for the former winner of the Indigo League tournament, particularly in regards to which Pokemon had made up his team, but Nolan was careful to keep a lid on them for now as to not overwhelm their guide. He and Ash both looked around in wonder as the kind gentleman showed them around. Lush grass stretched out as far as the eye can see, dotted with colourful flowers and the occasional Pokemon, some working out, others just grazing peacefully. It heavily reminded Nolan of the grounds of Professor Oak's laboratory, albeit on a much smaller scale. The trio eventually came to a halt by a large marked out area that was clearly a battlefield, and Ash and Nolan both stood excitedly beside Mr Tanga, who beamed at them with a twinkle in his eye.
"So, you two boys are interested in Pokemon battling?" the kind elderly gentleman asked playfully, smiling when Ash and Nolan both eagerly nodded their heads, "Well you've come to the right place! A trainer's got to know how to make a team work, and I've got a real treat for you today".
And without further ado, Mr Tanga unhooked two pokeballs from his belt and tossed them into the air, both of the spheres catching the light as they spun. In a flash of red light, the pokeballs both landed on the ground, springing open to reveal two large Pokemon. One of them was a large quadrupedal creature, its skin a strange pinkish purple colour, and it was covered in spikes. A large horn jutted out from the centre of its forehead, and it glowed with an eerie purple energy. Standing confidently beside the first creature was a second quadrupedal Pokemon, larger than the first, and it appeared to be coated from head to toe in what looked like stone armour. Its rocky hide gleamed brightly under the soft light of the sun.
"Woah!" Ash breathed in awe as his russet coloured eyes eagerly drunk in the forms that had just materialised before them, "I've never seen either of those Pokemon before!"
At his side, Nolan adopted a knowing expression.
"I haven't seen them in person before, but I've seen pictures in textbooks" the golden haired boy admitted, before he gestured towards the pinkish creature, who was glaring at the other one aggressively, "That's a Nidorino, and I'm pretty sure the other one's a Pokemon called Rhyhorn".
From his position next to the youngster, Mr Tanga positively beamed at the golden haired boy.
"That's right, Nolan! You've got a sharp eye!" the kind elderly gentleman complimented the young Pokemon trainer, "You've clearly been studying".
Nolan blushed sheepishly at the compliment, whilst Ash looked back at the two new Pokemon with renewed interest.
"Nidorino and Rhyhorn, huh?" the raven haired boy muttered under his breath to himself as he fished his pokedex out of his pocket. Next to him, Nolan mirrored the action
"Nidorino - the Poison Pin Pokemon" the device in Ash's hand chimed after successfully identifying the prickly pinkish creature in front of them, "Nidorino is evolved form of a male Nidoran. Its highly developed horn is extremely powerful and can secrete a highly dangerous poison that in high enough doses can prove fatal".
Whilst Ash was busy digesting the information that Dexter had just provided him with, Nolan aimed his own pokedex towards where Rhyhorn was standing.
"Rhyhorn - the Spikes Pokemon" Dexi reported in that smooth mechanical voice that Nolan had grown so accustomed to, "Rhyhorn's hide is covered in a tough armour, giving its Tackle attack an extraordinarily destructive power. It is known for its physical power and its considerable offensive and defensive battle skills".
"Whoa..." Ash breathed in awe as he and Nolan both put their respective pokedex away, "They both sound really powerful".
"They are Ash" Mr Tanga nodded seriously in agreement, before smiling as he turned back towards the two creatures in question, "These two belong to the same trainer. He's left them here for a little… well, let's say, 'relationship therapy.' They're quite competitive, you see. It's been tough for them to work together. So, their trainer left them here so I could help them improve their teamwork".
Nolan could see what Mr Tanga was talking about. Nidorino and Rhyhorn weren't just looking at each other with mild dislike. They were glaring at other with downright loathing.
"Why does it matter if they're competitive with each other?" Ash obviously didn't see the issue, given his perplexed expression, "Doesn't that help make them stronger?"
Mr Tanga gave Ash a patient smile.
"Teamwork, Ash. Teamwork is everything" the kind elderly gentleman explained as simply as he could, "Think of it this way; just like you and Nolan need to work together sometimes, Pokemon need to learn to trust and rely on each other as well. I've been trying to teach them how to understand each other while they're also getting some battle experience".
The raven haired boy's eyes were very wild by the time that the former Indigo League winner had finished speaking.
"I never knew that mattered so much when it came to raising Pokemon" Ash marvelled at all the advice the seasoned Pokemon handler was sharing with them.
"They're also both learning some new skills, too" the kind elderly gentleman added thoughtfully as they all observed his latest charges, "I'm teaching them a few tricks of the trade".
It didn't take much for Nolan to deduce what that meant.
"You're teaching both of them new moves?" the golden haired boy asked their host and guide curiously. Mr Tanga enthusiastically nodded his head.
"Indeed!" Mr Tanga seemed to take delight in the fact that Nolan seemed so interested in work, gesturing towards his two charges happily, "I'm currently teaching Nidorino how to use Sludge Bomb, and Rhyhorn how to use Fire Blast".
Nolan honestly couldn't help himself. His jaw immediately dropped wide open in absolute astonishment.
"Woah!" both the golden haired boy's tone and expression signalled his incredulous shock, and he stared up at Mr Tanga in sheer disbelief, "Those are some seriously powerful moves! You must be a really experienced trainer to be allowed to teach techniques like those!"
"How do you know so much about those moves, Nolan?" Mr Tanga asked curiously, surprised by the amount of knowledge that the boy seemed to hold. He was certainly more advanced for his age than any other beginner Pokemon trainer that Mr Tanga had ever met, and in his line of work, he'd met a lot.
"My dad writes and sells TMs for a living" Nolan shrugged his shoulders modestly, his tone indicating that he found nothing overly remarkable about his own knowledge on the subject, "He's always talking about new moves and their effects. He taught me a lot about Pokemon moves".
"Interesting" Mr Tanga replied, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, "Mind telling me your last name?"
"It's Locke, Mr Tanga" the golden haired boy promptly supplied. Recognition flashed across the elderly gentleman's ruggedly handsome features, and he squinted down at Nolan for a moment before nodding.
"I thought you looked familiar" Mr Tanga's smile broke into another warm smile as it all became clear to him. Still, for confirmation, he asked "You wouldn't happen to be Nathaniel Locke's son, would you?"
Nolan looked stunned.
"You know my dad?" the golden haired boy asked, surprise evident in both his tone and expression.
"Of course!" Mr Tanga chuckled good-naturedly, obviously amused by Nolan's blatant surprise, "Nathaniel's online shop is a godsend for any trainer or day care owner worth their salt! I've been buying TMs from your father's online shop for years!"
A wide grin eclipsed Nolan's face upon hearing those lovely words regarding his father.
"Really? That's wonderful!" the golden haired boy positively beamed with pride for the man that had raised him, "Have you ever met him in person? Only a lot of the people my dad sells too only talk to him online".
"Oh, we go way back!" the kind elderly gentleman waved his hand breezily, a fond twinkle creeping into his eyes as he thought about the older male Locke, "We met on several Pokemon Move Tutorage courses, became quite the acquaintances, you know. He's got a real knack for teaching Pokemon moves, and an even greater one for writing guidance so that other people can teach them too. What a talent! How is he doing these days?"
"He's doing great, thanks for asking" Nolan smiled, remembering the last phone call he'd had with the man in question, "He's busier than ever before with all the online orders".
Mr Tanga smiled, pleased to hear that a talent such as that possessed by Nathaniel Locke wasn't being wasted.
"That's wonderful to hear!" the kind elderly gentleman said genuinely, before a thoughtful expression overtook his aged features, "Say, Nolan, have you inherited any of his… shall we say, natural flair for teaching Pokemon new moves?"
A delicate blush starting working it's way across Nolan's handsome features. This wasn't a scenario that had ever come up before. People comparing his own skills to that of his father. Probably because anybody that had ever known he was related to the man hadn't crossed Nolan's path since owning any Pokemon of his own. Now that he found himself in this situation, he couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.
"Well, I'm still learning, but I did manage to teach Welkin, my Pidgey, the move Quick Attack" the golden haired boy tried to sound humble, but there was no deny the distinct hint of pride in his voice, "But I'm struggling a bit with Meadow, my Bulbasaur, though. I'm trying to teach her Bullet Seed, but she hasn't got the hang of it just yet. I know we're close though, right Meadow?"
Nolan turned to his beloved partner, who beamed up at him as she nodded vigorously.
"Bulba! Bulbasaur!" the little Grass Type Pokemon exclaimed happily.
"That's fantastic, Nolan!" Mr Tanga congratulated him, clapping the golden haired boy on the shoulder enthusiastically, "It's not easy teaching Pokemon new moves. Especially those complex moves like Bullet Seed. It's impressive that you've already shown such promise at your age. Tell you what, how about I give you and Meadow some guidance later?"
Nolan's smile practically lit up his whole face like a Christmas tree.
"Really?!" the golden haired boy gasped in delight, his icy blue eyes shining with gratitude, "That would be awesome! Thank you very much Mr Tanga".
Mr Tanga waved his hand dismissively, brushing the boy's gratitude aside.
"Of course!" Mr Tanga said breezily, as though he had just offered Nolan something as simple as a boiled sweet rather than something as complex as helping Meadow master a new attack, "But first, I believe I promised you and Ash a little battle demonstration, so let's not keep him waiting. Nidorino, Rhyhorn, take your positions!"
"This is gonna be awesome!" Ash grinned, rubbing his hands together eagerly.
"Pika!" Pikachu cheered from his shoulder.
Nolan and the others all watched as Nidorino and Rhyhorn both slowly stalked off to opposite ends of the makeshift battlefield, the delicate flowers being crushed underneath their heavy footsteps. The two Pokemon both immediately started glaring at each other intensely. Mr Tanga quickly picked up on the tension between the two creatures and was fast to put a stop to it.
"Alright, that's enough you two!" the kind elderly gentleman lightly chided the two of them, "Remember, you are both a part of the same team. This is just a training exercise to improve your skills, not to determine who's stronger!"
Nidorino and Rhyhorn both grumbled indignantly and looked away from one another, still grumpy.
"They don't look too happy about being on the same team" Nolan couldn't help but remark a little nervously, eyeing the two Pokemon's respective horns with trepidation, "They certainly aren't very friendly".
"Give them time Nolan" Mr Tanga chuckled warmly, glancing at his two charges with an air of amused fondness, "They just need to get to know each other a little better. And perhaps swallow some of their male pride"
Both Nidorino and Rhyhorn snorted indignantly at that particular remark.
"Alright, let's go!" the kind elderly gentleman was keen to get the battle demonstration started, and so he wasted no time in calling out his instructions to the two Pokemon he was tutoring, "Nidorino, use Horn Attack! And you Rhyhorn, use Horn Drill!"
Nidorino and Rhyhorn didn't need telling twice. They promptly charged towards each other.
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to them all and superbly hidden out of sight, Team Rocket was lurking in one of the many large bushes that were dotted about the Orange Town Day Care Centre's battle garden. The infamous trio had done a very good job of squirreling themselves away, and they were practically invisible to the naked eye, which for them was perfect. Perfect because it allowed them to get up to their usual dirty tricks without a single soul being any the wiser. Jessie, James and Meowth could barely contain their excitement. If they managed to successfully pull this off, they would be in golden with the boss for literally years to come!
"Perfect! They're having a little practice battle!" Meowth whispered to the two humans hiding in the bush with him, being careful to avoid rustling the leaves too much, "This is our chance to put our plan to snatch those Pokemon into action! Get ready James!"
The cyan haired man crouching beside the Scratch Cat Pokemon grinned maliciously.
"You betcha!" James smacked his lips together excitedly, eager to get their latest scheme underway, "And I've got my very special weapon!"
James pulled a small wooden catapult from out of the pocket of his Team Rocket uniform, before he scooped up a large pebble from the patch on earth in front of him.
"A catapult?" Meowth deadpanned, his tone and expression both revealing just how thoroughly unimpressed he was by the child's toy in James' hand, "Really, James?"
James simply flashed the Scratch Cat Pokemon a winning smile.
"It's a tactical move, Meowth!" the cyan hair man announced happily, his excitement palpable, "I launch the pebble, it disrupts their concentration and that's when the real chaos begins!"
"Alright, alright" the furry white creature shook his head, exasperated but not in the mood to argue with the man over tactics, "But don't miss your target!"
"Do you worry about me" James assured, practically brimming with self-confidence, "I just need Jessie to give me the signal".
The magenta haired woman in question gave the two of them a sinister smirk, her sharp gaze still fixed upon the prey they were spying on.
"Be patient Goliath" Jessie drawled, her lips curling into a twisted mockery of a smile, "You'll get your signal when I'm ready to give it".
James couldn't help but chuckle at how his friend and co-worker had remembered the tale all wrong.
"You do know that it was David that had the catapult right?" the cyan haired man smiled, not bothering to even try to hide his amusement at Jessie's little slip-up, "Not Goliath".
Jessie narrowed her eyes at James, her displeasure at his condescending smugness rather evident.
"No one likes a know-it-all James" the magenta haired woman huffed in annoyance.
James smirked but doesn't reply. Instead, he just quietly waited for her signal, his catapult posed and ready to launch the pebble at the perfect moment.
Then the real fun could get started.
Back out in the open of the prestigious battle garden, Ash and Nolan were still standing beside Mr. Tanga, watching as Nidorino and Rhyhorn sparred with one another under the kind elderly gentleman's watchful eye. Every now and then, Mr Tanga would have the two Pokemon stop what they were doing so he could provide them with guidance on what they needed to improve and how they could do it. It was very informative to the two young Pokemon trainers, since it became increasingly obvious with each word that he spoke that the man at their side really knew what he was doing when it came to Pokemon. Needless to say, both Nolan and Ash were left extremely impressed by the demonstration.
"Wow, Nolan" Ash marvelled to his golden haired best friend, his russet coloured eyes the size of saucers, "Mr. Tanga is amazing! He's like a Pokemon whisperer!"
Nolan couldn't help but agree with his friend's description, nodding his head as he looked on in fascination.
"Yeah... I mean it's obvious that he knows his stuff. Look at how easily he's getting both of them to focus on their weaknesses" the golden haired boy smiled as he watched on in interest, "It's not hard to see why he was able to win the Indigo League. He clearly knows how to connect with Pokemon".
"It's a shame he never took up that offer to join the Kanto Elite Four" Ash mused aloud, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, "He'd be a formidable trainer there".
Nolan gave his best friend a somewhat exasperated smile. It was quite a common occurrence for Ash to overlook the importance of things that didn't necessarily go hand in hand with Pokemon battling and being a strong trainer.
"But running the day care is just as honourable, Ash" Nolan felt the need to remind the raven haired boy at his side, "He's taking care of so many Pokemon, raise them to become strong and capable fighters, and he's doing it with passion. That's worth just as much as a position in the Elite Four".
"You're right" Ash smiled warmly.
The boys quickly turned their attention back to Mr Tanga, eager to see what kind of drills he would put Nidorino and Rhyhorn through next in their training. Mr Tanga, who had obviously heard Ash and Nolan's entire conversation and was trying to be humble, clapped his hands to get the Pokemon's attention, a warm smile set upon his aged features.
"Good, good!" the kind elderly gentleman called out to his two charges, before giving his evaluation on what they needed to improve upon, "Now remember, Nidorino, you've got to keep your back leg straight when using Horn Attack if you want it to reach its full potential".
"Nido!" the pinkish prickly creature grunted in understanding.
"And you Rhyhorn, you need to focus your energy into the very tip of your horn for the most effective Horn Drill attack" Mr Tanga said kindly as he turn his attention to the bulky grey contender standing at the opposite side of the battlefield, "Try to think of it like a concentrated beam of power".
"Rhy! Rhyhorn!" Rhyhorn, who was panting for breath, swung his horn about to show that he had heard Mr Tanga's recommendations.
Nolan, ever the curious and inquisitive young Pokemon trainer in the making, opened his mouth to ask Mr Tanga a question as a thought suddenly occurred to him. Before the golden haired boy could utter so much as a single syllable however, something very peculiar happened. Just off to Nolan's right hand side, he felt a slight disturbance in the air around him. Instinctively, the golden haired boy took a step away from the shift in the air currents, and it was a good thing for Nolan that he did. For quite suddenly, and without any kind of warning whatsoever, a large pebble came hurtling through the air from out of nowhere, zipping past the three observers and heading straight towards the battlefield. Right before the horrified humans' eyes, the small stone hit Rhyhorn head-on, striking the Spikes Pokemon directly in the eye.
Needless to say, the pain for poor Rhyhorn must have been agonizing.
"RRRRHHHHYYYYHHHHOOOORRRRNNNN!"
Rhyhorn understandably let out an almost deafening roar, reeling in pain. His screams were enough to rock the heavens themselves, and the Spikes Pokemon immediately began thrashing about, disorientated and confused about what had just happened, about why he was suddenly in so much agony. Swinging his large and lethal horn about wildly, Rhyhorn's one good eye soon landed upon Nidorino. It didn't take long for the Spikes Pokemon to see red after that.
"RHY! HORN! RHYHORN!" the large grey creature began bellowing, his foreleg sweeping at the ground as though he was preparing to charge.
"Nido?" Nidorino tilted his head to one side in a confused manner.
"RHYHORN!" Rhyhorn screamed again.
It didn't take a genius or a Pokemon Whisperer to figure out what was going on here. It was quite clear that Rhyhorn was accusing poor Nidorino of launching an underhanded sneak attack on him. It was all nonsense of course, but sadly Rhyhorn was too lost in his pain and anger to be able to see that.
The Spikes Pokemon immediately lunged at poor Nidorino.
Nidorino was understandably quite startled and taking aback by the unexpected turn of events, but was quick to go on the defensive. The Poison Pin Pokemon quickly raised his own impressive horn to meet Rhyhorn's charge head-on. Mr Tanga, realising the severity of the situation, frowned as he hurriedly tried to intervene.
"STOP! BOTH OF YOU!" for the first time since the travelling trainers had met the kind elderly gentleman, Mr Tanga was raising his voice, "THAT'S ENOUGH!"
But it was no use.
Nidorino and Rhyhorn were both too lost in the red mist of rage, and they completely ignored Mr Tanga, becoming locked in a furious battle that was quickly devolving further and further into an all-out brawl. From their spot a few feet away, Nolan and the others could feel the ground trembling beneath their feet as the two furious creatures collided, their horns clashing with a loud clang. Mr Tanga turned to the two young boys, frantic worry and an edge of downright panic clouding his aged features.
"Ash! Nolan! This is getting dangerous!" Mr Tanga screamed in warning to the two youngsters, both of whom were watching the carnage unfold in complete horror, "Take cover now!"
The two young boys didn't need telling twice.
Ash and Nolan both immediately scrambled into action, finding shelter behind a nearby tree. The two boys both nervously paired out from behind the thick towering tree trunk to stare at the showdown between Rhyhorn and Nidorino. Something else caught his gaze however, and Nolan's heart almost melted right there in his chest when he looked down and saw Pikachu, Meadow and surprisingly even Fang the Growlithe form a protective wall in front of him and Ash, ready to defend the helpless humans if need be.
"Pika!"
"Bulba!
"Growlithe!"
Unable to help himself, the golden haired boy reached out from behind the tree with trembling fingers and gently patted the small Fire Type Pokemon on its head. Whilst he greatly appreciated Meadow's gesture in defending him as well, Fang's touched him in a different way, mainly because Nolan wasn't the Puppy Pokemon's trainer, and yet he was still willing to fight to defend him. It really did prove that the Growlithe had a heart of gold, and Nolan couldn't help but feel a strong surge of affection for him in that moment.
"Thanks boy" he whispered so quietly that only the Fire Type Pokemon heard him over the ruckus.
"Growlithe!" Fang barked happily, affectionately licking Nolan's fingers, before turning his gaze back to the two quarrelling creatures that were still raging across the battlefield, obliterating everything in their path. At Nolan's side, Ash was growing more and more worried with each passing second.
"What do we do?" the raven haired boy asked frantically, his russet coloured eyes wide with concern
"I dunno know!" Nolan shook his head hopelessly, knowing that none of the Pokemon currently on his team were strong enough to fend off frenzied Pokemon such as Rhyhorn or Nidorino let alone both of them at once, "But Mr Tanga needs help!"
That much was certainly true. The kind elderly gentleman was still trying to calm the two warring creatures, his desperation building with each moment that passed.
"Rhyhorn, please!" Mr Tanga pleaded from the sidelines of the trashed battlefield, wringing his hands together hopelessly, "It wasn't Nidorino! It was just an accident!"
But the man's frantic pleas fell upon deaf ears.
And then, in a moment that left all the bystanders in a state of complete and utter terror, things quickly went from bad to worse. Nolan honestly could have sworn that his heart stopped beating in that moment, and he was practically petrified on the spot in pure and unadulterated terror. Nidorino and Rhyhorn, both practically feral with white-hot outrage at this point, each performed an attack that there was no coming back from.
Sludge Bomb.
Fire Blast.
"NOOOO! STOP!" Mr Tanga had to literally scream to be heard over the almost deafening cacophony as Nidorino and Rhyhorn both launched their respective devastating attacks, "NEITHER OF YOU ARE READY FOR THOSE MOVES YET!"
It was already too late.
Ash, Nolan and Mr Tanga, along with the Pokemon who hadn't fallen into an incensed frenzy, could do precious little more than watch on in pure and unadulterated fear as the gigantic fireball and the glowing venomous glob sailed through the air towards other.
BBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!
Nolan honestly thought for one terrifying second that he might have just suffered permanent eye damage from what he'd just witnessed. In a blinding flash of light, the whole battle garden shook as the Sludge Bomb and Fire Blast collided in the centre of the ruined battlefield, causing a massive explosion. Then, before anybody could respond further than an astonished and utterly horrified grimace, the two attacks seemed to... well, they seemed to almost ricochet off one another. Normally that wouldn't have caused a problem, but in this case, it caused a monumental one.
The Sludge Bomb and Fire Blast attacks veered off course, going completely astray, before they both collided with the Day Care Centre with a resounding wallop.
CCCCCCRRRRRRAAAAAASSSSSSHHHHHH!
The impact was enough to send tremors rippling throughout the structure. Mr Tanga looked on in horror, not only upset by the fact that the building he had poured his heart and soul into for the last thirty years had just been struck, but the fact that his beloved wife was inside there was also highly distressing for the man.
"No! The building!" the kind elderly gentleman turned a sickly shade of White his fear practically palpable, "RRRREEEEEEEENNNNIIII!"
There was a sickening crunch, and Nolan and the others all gasped in horror as a section of one of the outer walls of the charming little building collapsed entirely, brick and thick chunks of cement falling away before their terrified eyes. And as if things weren't bad enough already, it just so happened to be the wall that the fenced off playpen that Ash and Nolan had both admired earlier was attached to. Rubble fell down like a deadly rain, battering the smart wooden fence over an over again until it simply couldn't take anymore.
CCCCCCRRRRRRAAAAAACCCCCCKKKKKK!
Unsurprisingly, the wood didn't stand a chance. The entire fence splintered and crumbled into matchsticks, leaving a portion of the sealed-off area completely exposed. And from within, four familiar Pokemon - Cubone, Oddish, Machop, and Doduo - all came scurrying out, frightened out of their wits by all the chaos, and eager to escape the Day Care that they no longer felt safe in.
When he saw what was happening now, Mr Tanga honestly looked like he was going to be physically sick.
"Cubone! Oddish! Machop! Doduo! Come back here!" the kind elderly gentleman called frantically after the escaping Pokemon, almost overcome with worry for them, "Where are you going?! It's not safe for you to be on your own out there!"
But it was already too late.
The four terrified Pokemon were already gone, racing away into the distance and quickly disappearing into the depths of Orange Town. Mr Tanga was helpless to do anything but watch them go, a look of despair on his face. Ash and Nolan, both utterly horrified by the scene they'd just witnessed, slowly emerged from their hiding place.
Silence fell over them all.
They could scarcely believe that that had just happened, that things had gone so badly wrong so quickly. None of them could bring themselves to say anything, but even in silence, all three of the human beings were thinking the same thing, were asking themselves the same question.
What the hell were they supposed to do now?!
And that's part three done and dusted : )
Like I said, this ended up being so long because so much stuff happened in this chapter. Miss Reeni's husband is introduced, we see the day care, the group see a tonne of Pokemon that they haven't encountered on their journey yet, lots of fun stuff ; ) I also really loved the tie-in on having Mr Tanga know Nathaniel since given the nature of their professions, I think that totally works ; ) And most importantly, I hope people are seeing the small seeds of the bond between Nolan and Fang slowly starting to grow as well : )
Anyway, let's move on to this week's voting topic, but first, let me give you guys a little update on what's being going on in my Heart Gold Nuzlocke so far. As you guys know, I've been playing with Cyndaquil as my starter, I've brought Lickitung back to the active party from the previous Nuzlocke, and we've just added Spinarak to the team as well. What I haven't told you guys yet though is that I've actually got some of the available gift Pokemon already as well. As the three Password Egg Pokemon are available in Violet City, I decided to get and hatch them all straight away, so the team also currently includes Mareep, Wooper and Slugma as well. It was actually thanks to Mareep's Thundershock and Slugma's Rock Throw attacks that I had such an easy time defeating Falkner, earning myself the Zephyr Badge.
That brings us back to this week's voting topic quite nicely. Yep, that's right, you guessed it - it's time for an Evolution Vote. The options for now are Mareep, Wooper, Slugma, Spinarak and Lickitung. What I find really cool about this particular vote is that four out of the five options will result in a full-evolved Pokemon if chosen. I don't think that percentage has ever been quite so high before, so please go leave your vote in a review to decide who will be evolving first in my Johto Nuzlocke : )
And I think hat's just about everything from me for this time. Thank you so much for reading this chapter and my story in general. I hope you are enjoying it all so far, and please consider leaving a review because I'd love to hear your comments and feedback : )
Until the next time, keep on reading : )