Disclaimer: I do not own anything, I make no money or profit from this.
Chapter 4: Making it to Accumula Town
Sam, Lincoln, and Lucy were continuing their journey down Route 1 towards Accumula Town. As they walked, they were unaware of a certain purple Pokemon following them from a distance.
'I should've struck before they caught more Pokemon!' Purrloin thought in anger, following the three trainers. 'Now I have to be more careful if I want my revenge!' He continued to follow them into Accumula Town, but stayed outside and watched them through a window when they went into the pokecenter.
"You'll have your Pokemon back in a couple of minutes!" Nurse Joy cheerfully told the trainers as she took their Pokemon. She had pink hair being tied in round rings, a plain pink dress with a shorter apron, white tights, and pink shoes. "You two are also now registered for the gym challenge. Please take these as well." She then pulled two silver badge cases from under the desk and handed them out to the two trainers.
"Thanks, but I'm curious," Lincoln started to say, embarrassed with a nervous grin. "Is it possible to get one in a different color?"
"Of course! People just need to ask!" Nurse Joy answered happily. "What color do you want?"
"Orange please," Lincoln said with a smile.
"Then could I get a blue one?" Sam asked.
"Yes, of course," the nurse replied. She put the silver ones back, and then pulled out a blue and orange case and handed it to them.
"Thanks Nurse Joy!" Lincoln and Sam said together.
"No problem, we'll call you over the intercom when your Pokemon are ready," she told them, before going to do her duties.
The trio of trainers then went to sit at a table inside the center and discuss their next course of action. "Now me and Sam are registered, we need to go to place with a gym!" Lincoln said to the group.
"Awesome, but where is that?" Sam said with a puzzled expression.
"The closest one is the Striaton Gym in Striaton City," Lucy answered, looking at the map on her phone. "We just go north to Route 2 and it will take us right there."
"Rockin'!" Sam said happily, before looking at the white haired boy. "So have you let out your Raticate yet?" She asked curiously.
"Yeah, but only for a bit," he replied with a sigh. "All she did was whine that she now lost her two "servants", her words not mine. By the sounds of it, she was using the other two Raticates' affection for her to have them do whatever she wanted. I don't know how that led to them attacking Herdier."
"Wow, she sounds like a horrible dudette," Sam said with a frown.
"I agree," Lucy commented.
"What about you guys? Have you talked to your new Pokemon?" Lincoln asked them.
"Yeah, and Zigzagoon is…cool," Sam replied with a shaky smile and chuckle. "He is full of energy and has the drive to battle, so that's good. However, he isn't much of a talker."
"Sigh, I checked on my Woobat," Lucy said, speaking up. "I think I caught Leni as a Pokemon. I had to explain everything to her and I still think she doesn't understand."
"Well…maybe we should explore Route 2 for some more team members," Lincoln suggested, to which both nodded. They then heard their names over the intercom, telling them their Pokemon were ready. They made their way to the counter, got their Pokemon back, and thanked Nurse Joy again before leaving the pokecenter.
Upon exiting, they heard some townspeople talking. "Sounds like something's going on at the plaza," one man said.
"Well, let's have a little look-see!" Another man replied. Both men then started to walk towards the plaza.
"Should we go check it out as well?" Lucy asked her older companions. Both looked at her and shrugged and nodded.
So they followed the two men and soon found themselves at the plaza. There was already a large crowd there. They were all looking at a group of strange people. They were men and women all dressed in silver and white outfits that look like cheap knights costumes. In front of them was a man who had red eyes and long, pale green hair, with two locks of it sticking out by his eyes. He wears a red eyepiece over his right eye. He wears a black cloak, with an eye pattern on them.
"My name is Ghetsis!" The man in the black cloak said to the crowd. "I am here to represent Team Plasma."
"Team Plasma?" Lincoln said confused.
"Today, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to talk to you about Pokemon Liberation!" Ghetsis continued his speech. "I'm sure that most of you believe that we humans and Pokemon are partners, that have come to live together because we want and need each other. However, is that really the truth?"
"From the information we have, it seems like it," Lucy commented. At that moment Tepig, Oshawott, and Snivy popped out their pokeballs and started to listen as well.
"Have you ever considered that perhaps we humans…only assume that's the truth?" Ghetsis continued. "Pokemon are subject to the selfish commands of trainers! They get pushed around when they are our "partners" at work! Can anyone say with confidence that there is no truth in what I'm saying?"
"What nonsense is this man spouting?" Snivy commented in an annoyed tone.
"Yeah! Me and Lincoln are great partners!" Tepig said angrily with a huff.
"He knows nothing of the bond between my Mistress and myself," Oshawott said while striking a pose.
"Keep it down you guys!" Sam whispered to the three Pokemon, unaware a certain green hair trainer was looking at them.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen, Pokemon are different from humans!" Ghetsis announced to the crowd. "They are living beings that contain unknown potential! They are living beings whom we humans have much to learn from! Tell me, what is our responsibility to these wonderful beings we call Pokemon?!"
"I think he just likes to hear himself speak," Lincoln jokes. He got a laugh from Sam and the Pokemon, while getting a smile from Lucy.
"That's right! We must liberate the Pokemon!" Ghetsis shouted while raising a fist in the air. "Then, and only then, will humans and Pokemon be equals! Everyone, I end my words here today by imploring you to consider the relationship between people and Pokemon, and the correct way to proceed. We sincerely appreciate your attention." The Team Plasma members then surrounded him, and they walked off. Leaving the crowd talking among themselves.
"Well that was…something," Sam said, not sure what to call that.
"A waste of time is what it was," Snivy said with a huff.
"Why did you guys pop out of your pokeballs?" Lucy questioned the three Pokemon.
"We heard what was being said and got curious," Oshawott replied with a shrug.
"And I missed you Lincoln!" Tepig said, latching onto her trainer's face.
"Your Pokemon…" a voice said to them. All three trainers looked to see who was talking to them. It was a tall, thin 20 year old man. He is fair-skinned with blue eyes and long tea green hair tied into a low fluffy ponytail and shorter streams framing his face. He wears a white and black with a black peak, white, mid-sleeved shirt with a black shirt under it, a pair of cider green slip-on shoes and beige skinny fit pants, with a cube attached to his chain near his left hip.
"Just now, they were saying…" the unknown man continued. "…Yes they were talking."
"Uh, who are you?" Sam asked, slightly creeped out by him.
"My apologies, my name is N," the young man replied. "May I have your names?"
'N?' All three trainers thought at the same time.
"I'm Lincoln Loud," the white hair boy greeted.
"I'm Lucy Loud," the little goth greeted.
"I'm Sam Sharp," the blonde rocker greeted.
"I was listening to your Pokemon's conversation," N continued. "Can you not hear them?"
"No, we can hear them," Lucy replied. "You can hear what they are saying as well?"
"Yes I can," N replied with a smile. "Are you three trainers?"
"Yeah, me and Sam are competing in the gym challenge," Lincoln replied happily.
"The gym challenge huh," N said while studying the two in question. "So you're going to be confining many, many Pokemon in pokeballs for that, then?"
"No, that's not what we're doing," Lincoln replied, feeling slightly insulted. "While yes, we will catch some Pokemon to help us, we're willing to let them go if they truly want that."
"I'm a trainer too," N said, ignoring Lincoln's hostility. "But I can't help wondering, are Pokemon really happy that way?"
"You can talk with Pokemon right?" Sam asked with a frown and annoyed tone. "If that's true, then you can talk to any trainer's Pokemon and ask them. I'm willing to bet a lot of them are happy with their trainers."
"Then how about you let me hear your Pokemon's voices?" N asked, grabbed two pokeballs from his pockets.
"A battle? Alright, I'm up for it!" Lincoln said with a smile.
"I'm in too," Sam said as well.
They then moved to an empty space in the plaza and got into position. N tossed his pokeballs, what came out of them were a Zorua and a Purrloin. Seeing the new Pokemon, Sam and Lincoln pointed their phones at it.
Zorua the Tricky Fox Pokemon. It changes into forms of others to surprise them. Apparently, it often transforms into a silent child.
"Come out Zigzagoon!" Sam said releasing her new Pokemon.
"Come out Herdier!" Lincoln said releasing one of his new Pokemon.
Snivy and Tepig were off to the side watching with Lucy and Oshawott.
"Start things with Bite!" Lincoln shouted.
"Got it," Herdier replied, charging towards Purrloin.
"Use Headbutt!" Sam shouted.
"Yes! Fun!" Zigzagoon said, running towards Zorua.
"Do whatever you want to do," N told his Pokemon. Purrloin nodded happily, while Zorua rolled his eyes in annoyance. Purrloin started to use Scratch, while Zorua used Copycat and copied Zigzagoon's Headbutt.
Herdier dodge Purrloin's Scratch, then bit onto him, tossing him to the side. Zorua and Zigzagoon smashed into each other with their Headbutt.
"Now use Work Up and follow it with Tackle!" Lincoln called out.
"Right," Herdier said, as he started to glow brown.
"Now use Pin Missile!" Sam called out.
"Fun!" Zigzagoon said as his fur started to bristle.
Purrloin got back up and charged at his opponent, planning to use Scratch again. Only for Herdier to dodge it again and then Tackle him into Zorua. Zorua was regaining his senses, only to be hit by the flying Purrloin. When he pushed his teammate off him, he was hit by Zigzagoon's Pin Missile.
"Now use Tackle!" Both Sam and Lincoln said together.
Both Zigzagoon and Herdier looked at one another, before nodding and charged.Both hit their opponents and sent them flying, knocking them out.
The two trainers cheered and high-five each other. Tepig, Snivy, and Oshawott were cheering, while Lucy smiled and clapped. N simply smiled at them and called back his Pokemon.
"I never expected to hear Pokemon say such things," he said walking up to his opponents. He then pulled out some money and gave it to both of them. They took the money and smiled at him.
"As long as Pokemon are confined in pokeballs, Pokemon will never become perfect beings," he said looking to the sky.
"I think Pokemon are perfect the way they are, regardless whether they're in a pokeball or not," Sam told him with a frown.
"Perhaps, but I will change the world for Pokemon, because they're my friends," N replied with a serious expression. "Until our paths cross again." He then turned around and walked away.
"That's one strange guy," Lincoln said, looking at him leave.
"No kidding dude," Sam said to him.
"There was something odd about him," Lucy said from behind them. They jumped in fright at hearing her, temporarily forgetting about her. Snivy climbed onto Sam's shoulder, while Tepig leaped towards Lincoln forcing him to catch her. "Should we get going to Route 2 now?"
"Actually, I've been thinking," Sam said, getting their attention. "Since we're near a pokecenter, how about we stay here for the night? That way, we won't need Lincoln to cook dinner for us. We can give him a little break, while still getting some good grub."
"That sounds like a good idea," Lincoln said, thinking about the suggestions.
"Yeah, we should probably restock on our supplies," Lucy said. "We'll definitely need more Pokemon food if we're going to catch more Pokemon."
"Oh yeah, I should pick up some more potions," the young boy said, remembering he used a couple on Raticate and Herdier.
"I would mind picking up some things to make the drinks Arceus gave me information for," Sam said thinking. "Then we should go book our room first, then go shopping." The two younger trainers nodded in agreement and all headed back to the pokecenter.
Lincoln Loud: Tepig (F), Raticate (F), Herdier (M)
Lucy Loud: Oshawott (M), Woobat (F)
Sam Sharp: Snivy (F), Galarian Zigzagoon (M)