Chapter 4:
The Lunchtime Muncher
Location: My Home
"Bzz! Bzz! Time to get up Roto!" Rotom Dex made a ringing sound to wake me up.
"Okay okay!" I shouted, as I fell out of bed. "Does this count as getting up?"
"I mean it's a start, Roto. Getting up means getting on those feet of yours to."
After I had breakfast, I met Hau at the front door.
"Day two!" he said. "It's P.E. today!"
"Oh great," I said, rolling my eyes. So, I have never cared for sports. I sucked at them at Celadon Elementary and I was not exactly feeling optimistic about them at Hau'oli Middle School.
Location: Route 1
"What's wrong?" Hau asked as we walked to a day of "fun" and learning.
"Oh, well two things," I replied. "One, not looking forward to Gym. I hate sports. Soccer, baseball, running, never liked any of them."
"Well hopefully they will be fun here!" Hau said. "What's the other thing?"
"What did you mean about eating inside yesterday?" I looked up at the sky. It was as blue as ever, with fluffy-white clouds dotted here and there. "Does it look like it will rain?"
"It's… something else," Hau said. "The lunchtime muncher. It's a Munchlax that comes every Tuesday to eat our food. So, we all stay inside."
"That's a bit mean," I said.
"Isn't it just?" Hau said. "We try to eat our food, and some annoying Pokémon comes and ruins it!"
"Well, yeah," I said. "But I'm talking about Munchlax. Why don't I try and befriend it?"
"Good luck with that," Hau said. "That Munchlax is quite a handful. Well, mouthful."
Location: Hau'oli Middle School
All the boys in my class all outside in our Gym clothes, myself included. At least in the Alola region it was warm, unlike the cold Celadon City where the teachers liked to bring us outside when it was overcast. I even remember when we had to run in the rain.
"Okay," said coach Terry. He was burly, wearing a blue polo shirt and black shorts. "Today's activity, basketball."
I rolled my eyes. "Great. This won't be fun."
"And as the rules in the Alola region go," Terry said. "You may use a Pokémon for assistance."
My ears perked. "Well this just got interesting. Go Litten!" Out came my partner. "You up for a game of basketball?"
"Ah," Terry said. "Yes, you're from Kanto. In Alola, people are required to have one Pokémon by their side whilst playing basketball. However, you cannot use moves for the sake of fairness and safety. Please choose your teams. Split into five."
I went with Hau of course, as well as three other students. Those students being Chiwetel, Leonardo and Bobby. All looked capable.
"So, who you using?" I asked.
"I'm using Magnemite," said Chiwetel. "It can float in the air, so we could get some range."
"My partner will be Shellder!" Bobby said. He sent out a Pokémon that was in a blue shell. Inside was black, and the only noticeable body parts were two round eyes and a tongue that was sticking out.
Shellder (ッェルダー)
#138
Water Type
Bivalve Pokémon
0.3 m (1'00")
4 kg (8.8 lbs)
Even when its shell is closed, its tongue still hands out. If you give its tongue a good yank, the shock will cause Shellder to open its shell.
"And I will use Wingull!" Bobby said, sending out his Flying Type.
"Rowlet will be with me then," said Hau. We saw the opposing team were using Metapod, Yungoos, Rockruff, Bonsly and Spinarak, a green Pokémon with multiple legs.
Spinarak (イロマル)
#022
Bug/Poison Type
String Spit Pokémon
0.5 m (1'08")
8.5 kg (18.7 lbs)
Some fishermen weave its sturdy thread into nets to catch aquatic Pokémon.
"Okay, let's do this!" shouted Coach Terry, blowing a whistle.
"Catch it!" shouted Bobby, throwing the ball to me.
"Erm, okay," I said. I was about to grab the ball, when Spinarak used its thread to take the ball from me.
"Hold on! Zzt!" Rotom Dex shouted. "That wazz String Shot! Foul play! Roto! Not the move. String Shot wazz the move!"
Coach Terry blew his whistle. "Rotom, you are not the coach. But you are right. That was clearly a String Shot attack. Foul."
So long story short, we lost the game by a point. Further proof that I stunk at sports. But at least it was lunchtime, and my plan was set.
"You sure about this?" Hau asked. "The Lunchtime Muncher is persistent. Any and all food it will claim as its own."
"I'm sure," I said. "Because I won't be eating some of it!" I put the Pinap Berries to one side.
"Hold on, Roto!" said Rotom Dex. "Pinap Berriezz are good for you."
"Doesn't make them taste any better," I said, taking the rest of the contents out. I then went into the middle of the front court and left them out. "And now we wait. It could take-"
"There it izz! Roto!" said Rotom Dex. Munchlax came walking curiously over. It was blue, round and very hungry.
Munchlax (ゴンベ)
#042
Normal Type
Big Eater Pokémon
0.6 m (2'00")
105 kg (231.5 lbs)
It hides food under its long fur, but it sometimes forgets about it and causes a stinky disturbance.
Baby Pokémon.
"Gotcha!" I shouted. Munchlax noticed me and started running off. "Oh no ya don't! Go Litten!" I sent out my partner. "Use Ember!" Litten fired a flame at Munchlax, catching it attention. Munchlax came back with a Tackle. "Keep at it Litten. Ember again!" Litten fired another flame at Munchlax. Then, Munchlax started waggling its finger.
"Zzt. It'zz Metronome!" Rotom Dex warned. "It can come out azz anything!"
Munchlax came over and brought a crusty hand down onto Litten for Super Effective damage, knocking it out. "What was that one?" I asked.
"Crabhammer! Roto!"
"Okay. Pikipek, go!" I shouted, sending out my other Pokémon. "Use Peck!" Pikipek pecked at Munchlax. Munchlax used Metronome again. This time, Munchlax fired some white needles at Pikipek.
"That move izz Spike Cannon! Roto!"
"Enough is enough," I shouted. "Go Pokéball!" I threw one at Munchlax, and it went inside. "Come on…" I said, as it shook...
And clicked shut!
"I caught Munchlax!" I shouted as everyone came out to see me.
"Wow! That's so cool!"
"Tapu Koko chose you for a reason!"
Hau put a hand on my shoulder. "Nice one Elliott."
Suddenly, the crowd started parting. A boy came in through the crowd, clapping slowly. He had pink hair, a brown cardigan and a single pink earring.
"Indeed," he said. "The Lunchtime Muncher has been coming here since I studied at this very establishment."
"Who are you?" I asked.
"I am Ilima," he responded. "I am an alumni here, but I come back every so often to check up on everyone. I have to say though, I have never met a student as ambitious as you." He studied me. "And I can see why. You are the kid that Tapu Koko chose! And so are you!"
"Yeah," Hau said.
"Elliott. Tomorrow. After School. Meet me at the Ferry Terminal at the Hau'oli City Wharf. Hau, show him the way there."
With that, Ilima walked away.
"Elliott this is big business," said Hau. "Ilima must really see something in you if he's asking to meet you at the Ferry Terminal."
"Then I'll go!" I said. "Mainly because I have nothing better to do tomorrow. But hey, I got myself a new friend! And an increased hatred for sports to."
Rotom's Move Dex!
Zzt! It'zz me again! Roto! Elliott got a new partner, Munchlax! Munchlax izz a Normal Type, so let'zz look at a Normal Type move today. The move we will be looking at will be…
Facade!
Zzt. Zzt. This is a fun one. Fazzade is a move that hitzz REALLY hard when the uzzer has a statuzz condition. Specifically, Poizzon, Paralysizz or Burn. Roto. Put it on a Pokémon with the Guts Ability and WHAMMO! A strong hit! Zzt zzt. Unless the oppozzing Pokémon izz a Ghozzt Type.
Pokémon that can learn Fazzade include… actually mozzt Pokémon! With some exceptionzz, any Pokémon that can learn TMzz can learn Facade! It'zz certainly a move with a wide range.
So, if you feel you're in a pickle with a statuzz condition, don't sweat! Facade away!