Chapter 9:

The Fields before Turffield

Location: Route 4

With Hop having gone on ahead to Turffield, I had made the decision to go a little slower to do some last-minute training.

There were paddocks of yellow grass behind some stone walls. I knew they would have some Pokémon in, so I made my way over. Before I did though, I was spotted by a Pokémon Breeder.

"Come down to my Daycare when you get a mo!"

Gloria Vs. Pokémon Breeder Jaime

"I choose Scorbunny!" I shouted.

"Go Meowth!" Jaime replied. Meowth in Galar are grey and a lot hairier, compared to ones from Kanto which were cream coloured.

Meowth (Galarian Form) (ニャース)

#182

Steel Type

Scratch Cat Pokémon

1'04" (0.4 m)

16.5 lbs (7.5 kg)

Living with a savage, seafaring people has toughened this Pokémon's body so much that parts of it have turned to iron.

"Go Scorbunny!" I shouted. "Use Ember!"

"Fake Out!" Meowth clapped in front of Scorbunny. It flinched.

"Let's try again. Ember!" Scorbunny fired a flame at Meowth, almost defeating it.

"Now use Scratch!" Meowth scratched Scorbunny.

"Finish with Ember!" Scorbunny fired one last Fire Type attack at Meowth, knocking it out.

"Okay then, if that's how you wanna do it! Go Seedot!" Next was another Grass Type.

"Ember!" Yeah, Seedot was a roasted nut following this.

"Final Pokémon! Go Butterfree!" Last but not least was a Bug and Flying Type.

Butterfree (バタフリー)

#015

Bug/Flying Type

Butterfly Pokémon

3'07" (1.1 m)

70.5 lbs (32 kg)

It collects honey every day. It rubs honey onto the hairs on its legs to carry it back to its nest.

Caterpie -Lv 7- Metapod -Lv 10- Butterfree

"Take a break," I told Scorbunny, recalling it. "Go Rookidee!" Another Pokémon with a Type advantage.

"Butterfree, Poison Powder!" Butterfree flapped its wings, blowing purple powder at Rookidee. It was poisoned!

"We can keep going! Use Peck!" Rookidee stabbed at Butterfree with its beak.

"Confusion!" Butterfree made Rookidee a bit dizzy with its Psychic powers.

"And one final Peck!" Rookidee won!

"Remember to come to the Daycare!"

"Nice one," I said, healing Rookidee's Poison with a Pecha Berry.

"Indeed." I looked up to see Milo! He had that big smile on his face that he was always known for. "Ayop! I was just feeding the Wooloo when I saw all this commotion."

"Yeah," I said.

"Wait…" Milo said. "I was told about you from Leon."

"Really?" I said. "I was endorsed by him."

Milo laughed. "Well, that's not something that happens everyday, I tell yer."

"Thanks," I said. "But please do not treat me as anything super special. I'm as capable as any of the other Trainers here, no matter who I was endorsed by."

Milo laughed again and patted me on the head. His hands were so big that it hurt a little. "Now this is the kind of Trainer I like to see! Anyway, I better head back to Turffield. I'm fighting Leon's brother this afternoon. Looking forward to it!" With that, Milo walked down the road.

With that out the way, I went into the yellow grass. I quickly came across a Pokémon. It was yellow and green with sharp teeth.

Electrike (ラクライ)

#066

Electric Type

Lightning Pokémon

2'00" (0.6 m)

33.5 lbs (15.2 kg)

It stores electricity in its fur. It gives off sparks from all over its body in seasons when the air is dry.

"Okay Lotad, go!" Electrike started with Quick Attack, dashing into Lotad. "Come back with Mega Drain!" Lotad sapped some of Electrike's HP away. Electrike used Quick Attack again. "Another Mega Drain!" Lotad sapped away the last of Electrike's energy, defeating it. "Not bad!"

"Good job!" I said. Lotad looked back, grinned and then… it started glowing! "Oh my!" I said. "Lotad is evolving!" Lotad grew larger and larger, before revealing itself to be a green Pokémon with red claws. It stood on two legs as well.

Lombre (ハスブレロ)

#037

Water/Grass Type

Jolly Pokémon

3'11" (1.2 m)

71.7 lbs (32.5 kg)

It lives at the water's edge where it is sunny. It sleeps on a bed of water grass by day and becomes active at night.

Lotad -Lv 14- Lombre

"My first evolution!" I shouted. I hi-fived Lombre. Immediately, I regretted that; Lombre's hands were VERY slimy.

It was time to continue onwards, so I walked through some tall grass and, sure enough, saw another Pokémon. It was yellow with a long-black mouth. It had clear wings that it was using the fly with.

Cutiefly (アブリー)

#187

Bug/Fairy Type

Bee Fly Pokémon

0'04" (0.1 m)

0.4 lbs (0.2 kg)

Nectar and pollen are its favourite fare. You can find Cutiefly hovering around Gossifleur, trying to get some of Gossifleur's pollen.

"Rookidee, go!" I shouted. Rookidee started by flapping its wings to blow shiny wind at Rookidee. "It's using Fairy Wind! Okay Rookidee, Peck!" Rookidee stabbed at Cutiefly with its beak. Cutiefly then flapped yellow powder. Rookidee was paralyzed. "And that move is Stun Spore! Rookidee, one more Peck!" Rookidee managed to get one more of the move in, defeating Cutiefly.

"Wooh," I said. "This is exhausting." I could however see that Turffield was getting closer. "You know what? I think we're good now! Let's head to the town now!" Before I could run off however, a Poké Kid spotted me.

"Splosh! That's the sound my Pokémon makes!"

Gloria Vs. Poké Kid Sunny

"Scorbunny, go!" I shouted.

"And I choose Milcery!" The opposing Pokémon was just a blot of cream. It was adorable.

Milcery (マホミル)

#185

Fairy Type

Cream Pokémon

0'08" (0.2 m)

0.7 lbs (0.3 kg)

They say that any patisserie visited by Milcery is guaranteed success and good fortune.

"Use Ember!" Scorbunny kicked a flame at Milcery.

"Milcery, Draining Kiss!" Milcery kissed Scorbunny on the cheek. But it wasn't very effective. It did regain some HP though.

"Now use Quick Attack!" Scorbunny dashed into Milcery, almost defeating it.

"Now use Tackle!" Milcery charged into Scorbunny.

"Finish with Double Kick!" Scorbunny kicked Milcery twice, defeating it.

"Sad splosh…"

Location: Turffield

"We've made it!" I said as I saw the standing stones that have made Turffield famous worldwide. The giant hill painting though was a close second in the iconography department though. And of course, there was Turffield Stadium. Smack dab in the middle of the city. "Hey! I should get a selfie in front of the stones!" I positioned myself in front of one of the standing pillars, smiled and… the stone started moving! "Woah woah woah!" I shouted. The stones had a face on them.

Stonjourner (イシヘンジン)

#369

Rock Type

Big Rock Pokémon

8'02" (2.5 m)

1146.4 lbs (520 kg)

It stands in grasslands, watching the sun's descent from zenith to horizon. This Pokémon has a talent for delivering dynamic kicks.

Stonjourner has no known evolutions.

"Don't worry, they're friendly," said a passer-by. She pointed to one of those cut outs with a hole in it to put your face, though it had a Stonjourner pattern on it. "You see, Stonjourner are the mascots of Turffield. Just don't catch any, okay?"

I nodded, then a noise came from Turffield Stadium. The big screen on the front was going over the highlights.

"We can confirm that Hop Spencer, the younger brother of Champion Leon, has passed the Gym test and will now get to take on Milo."

"It's always interesting seeing what Milo brings to the table. Imagine how exhausting it must be doing both agriculture and battles."

"I should probably register," I said.

Location: Turrfield Gym Lobby

I went up to the Reception Area and booked myself in for a battle with Milo the next day.

"Thank you, and good luck."

On the big screen with everyone watching, I saw Hop's Rookidee use a Max Airstream to defeat Milo's Eldegoss, a yellow Pokémon with a white ball of cotton on its back. (Can't scan it through a TV screen, needs to be in person). The crowd, and everyone in the Lobby, cheered, as did I.

"Howdy!" said a voice from behind me.

"Wahh!" I shouted. Yep, it was the Ball Guy. "Look, please don't hurt me!"

"Hurt you? I want to be your friend!" The Ball Guy handed me a green Pokéball. "This is a Friend Ball! It can make any Pokémon you catch with it closer to you!"

"Oh, great," I said. "I don't want to be your friend though, see yah."

Location: Turffield

"Nice one!" I said as I met Hop outside the Stadium to see his Grass Badge.

"Wooh," he said. "That Milo is a toughie, especially when he Dynamaxed."

I looked at the Stadium. "That'll be me tomorrow," I told him.

Just then, Hop's phone started ringing. "Hello? Hop speaking. Oh, really! Sounds great! Yeah, meet you there. Bye." He clicked off. "That was Sonia. She wants to see the two of us here tomorrow morning to talk about that." He pointed to the art piece on the hill. "It's been there for at least 150 years, and depicts… I presume it to be a Dynamaxing Pokémon."

"I'd be happy to meet her," I said. "And I'll also be happy to receive my first Badge tomorrow! Look out Milo!"