Chapter 22:
Training Kubfu
Location: Postwick
"Urgh, I ache," I said as I walked down the stairs.
"You've been working so hard dear," Mum said. "How about you take it easy for today?"
"Nu uh!" I replied. "I need to get to Stow-on-Side! My next challenge is waiting for me!"
Mum chuckled. "Okay, but don't push yourself too hard."
"I need to though!" I said. "That training helped, but I'm concerned I'm behind!"
There was a knock at the door; it was Hop. "Gloria!" he said. "You ready?"
"Am I?!" I replied.
"Breakfast first!" Mum shouted.
Okay, she was right there. THEN we headed off.
Location: West Lake Axwell (Wild Area)
"Alright!" shouted Hop. "Back in the Wild Area!"
"Yeah!" I said. "So, which way to Hammerlocke?" I got out a Map. "We need to go through North Lake Miloch, and the Motostoke Riverbank. We will set up camp in Bridge Field then reach Hammerlocke tomorrow."
"Sounds great!" Hop said. "Well? Let's not wait around! Off we go!"
Location: North Lake Miloch
It was overcast in this part of the Wild Area. I was still aching a bit from all the training I had done at the Master Dojo, so I didn't want to run too much.
"So," said Hop. "Mustard. Lee told me he was scary. Was he?"
"Wouldn't say that," I said. "He's actually very down to earth. Age has gotten the better of him I think."
"Hey look!" I said. It was a Gloom!
Gloom (クサイハナ)
#056 (Mainland)
Grass/Poison Type
Weed Pokémon
2'07" (0.8 m)
19 lbs (8.6 kg)
It pistils exude an incredibly foul odour. The horrid stench can cause fainting at a distance of 1.25 miles.
Oddish -Lv 21- Gloom
"I choose Raboot!" I shouted. "Flame Charge!" Raboot fired itself up and rammed into Gloom for lots of damage. Gloom then used Poison Powder, poisoning Raboot. "One more Flame Charge!" That finished off Gloom.
"Good job!" Hop said.
"Thanks," I replied. "Hey Raboot, catch!" I tossed Raboot a Pecha Berry which it ate, curing its poison. "Hey, Kubfu has gone up a few levels! It's even learned Aerial Ace!"
"Nice!" Hop replied.
The two of us reached the bridge that connected the northern and southern parts of the Wild Area. There was a Gym guide there.
"Yes, you two seem strong enough," he said. "Be wary though, the Pokémon across here are strong to. You can't even catch some of them."
"We'll take that into account!" I said. "Onwards Hop!"
Location: Motostoke Riverbank
"Look!" I said. It was the viaduct that was part of the Motostoke Outskirts! We were right next to Motostoke! "Unbelievable!"
"We'll see much more Pokémon if we keep moving!" Hop replied.
And he was right. I decided to walk through the grass and a Pokémon came out. It was brown and feathery with black triangles on its front.
Noctowl (ヨルノズク)
#230 (Mainland)
Normal/Flying Type
Owl Pokémon
5'03" (1.6 m)
89.9 lbs (40.8 kg)
Its eyes are specially developed to enable it to see clearly even in murky darkness and minimal light.
Hoothoot -Lv 20- Noctowl
"And I choose Corvisquire!" I replied. "Use Pluck!" Corvisquire rammed its beak into Noctowl for a Critical Hit. Noctowl then sent out a Psychic pulse.
"It's Extrasensory!" Hop shouted.
"One more Pluck!" Corvisquire defeated Noctowl.
"Everyone is doing well!" Hop said. "Let's continue!"
Location: Bridge Field
After we went under the viaduct of what was the Motostoke Outskirts, I felt droplets.
"Oh stuff this," I said as it really started to rain. "Come on! Let's get under the other viaduct!"
Me and Hop ran to the bridge that was part of Route 5, the road between Turrfield and Hulbury. The rain really started to come down.
"I think we should stop here for today," Hop said. "Hammerlocke is still quite a way off."
We could see Hammerlocke on top of the hill. The large castle in the shape of a Dragon Type Pokémon of some sort. "That is where Raihan's Gym is located," I said. "Leon's rival since childhood."
"He's a bit like us!" Hop replied.
"I guess so," I said. "Ooh, I'm hungry." I went into my Bag and took out a sandwich. Before I took a bite into it, I saw a blue Pokémon come up to me. It had a yellow beak. It was the Pokémon that inspired Hyde's Cram-o-Matic!
Cramorant (ヨルノズク)
#309 (Mainland)/#093 (Isle of Armor)
Flying/Water Type
Gulp Pokémon
2'07" (0.8 m)
39.7 lbs (18 kg)
This hungry Pokémon swallows Arrokuda whole. Occasionally, it makes a mistake and tries to swallow a Pokémon other than its preferred prey.
Cramorant has no known evolutions.
"Go away!" I said.
Cramorant gave me a stupid stare, then snatched my sandwich with its beak. "Hey!" Hop said. "That's hers!" Hop chased after it into the rain. "Thwackey! Razor Leaf!" Hop sent out his partner to fire sharp leaves at Cramorant. Cramorant then hit back with a Pluck attack for Super Effective damage. "Net Ball! Go!" Hop threw a blue Pokéball with a net pattern on it… and it clicked shut!
"Great job!" I told Hop when he came back. We hi-fived.
"I got your sandwich!" Hop said. He held it up. It was now wet and inedible.
"Urgh," I said. "You know what? Feed it to Cramorant."
"I will!" Hop said, sending out his new Pokémon. Cramorant gulped it down. "Just don't do that again, okay?"
"Start setting up camp," I said. "I'll go find some Berries for din dins."
"Are you mad?!" Hop said. "You can't go out in this!"
"You just did!" I said.
I had beaten Hop's logic. "Point well made. Just don't be too long."
I walked around as the rain fell down. "We'll find something," I thought to myself. Just then, something jumped out! It was blue with a large bump on its head.
Palpitoad (ガマガル)
#133 (Mainland)
Water/Ground Type
Vibration Pokémon
2'07" (0.8 m)
37.5 lbs (17 kg)
It weakens its prey with sound waves intense enough to cause headaches, then entangles them with its sticky tongue.
Tympole -Lv 25- Palpitoad
"This is your element!" I shouted, sending in Lombre. Palpitoad started with Acid, dealing Super Effective damage to Lombre. "Come back with Mega Drain!" Lombre sapped away a lot of Palpitoad's HP. It received a bit more thanks to its Rain Dish Ability. Palpitoad then used Mud Shot; it wasn't very effective. "One last Mega Drain!" Lombre sapped away the rest of Palpitoad's energy.
"Great job!" I said. I then eyed Kubfu's stats; it was nearing Lv. 20! "Bit more and Kubfu will be up to snuff with the rest of you!" Lombre wasn't listening however. Instead, it walked over to the large wall that was Motostoke. "Come back! You can't just wander off!"
Lombre eventually stopped, and pointed to the ground. There was… a Water Stone! "Wow!" I said. "Good find!" Lombre then held out its hand. "You want it? Wait… this will help you evolve! Great idea Lombre!" I gave it to my Pokémon. It started glowing! When it had finished, Lombre was a happy Pokémon called Ludicolo.
Ludicolo (ルンパッパ)
#038 (Mainland)
Water/Grass Type
Carefree Pokémon
4'11" (1.5 m)
121.3 lbs (55 kg)
If it hears festive music, it begins moving in rhythm in order to amplify its power.
Lotad -Lv 14- Lombre -Water Stone- Ludicolo
"This is amazing!" I said. "I hope I didn't evolve it too early however."
"Nonsense!" Nessa appeared from round the corner.
"Oh hey!" I said. "What do you think? Lombre wanted to. But I'm a bit worried. What if… it can't learn anymore moves? Most Pokémon can't do that once an evolutionary stone is used."
"Not anymore!" Nessa told me. "All you need to do is go to the Move Reminder at the Pokémon Center and teach Ludicolo all the moves it could learn as a Lotad and Lombre! Don't forget you can also use TMs and TRs!"
"Thank you!" I replied. "Oh, I almost forgot about the Berries!"
"Take these!" Nessa said. She handed me a bunch. "Uh oh, that's my agent. Better get back to work!"
"I'm back!" I told Hop.
"Hey!" Hop said. "That Ludicolo! Could it be?"
"Yep!" I said. "Lombre found a Water Stone and evolved into Ludicolo! We're getting stronger and stronger!"
"Right on!" Hop replied. He looked at Hammerlocke in the distance. "Look at that. The medieval capital of the Pokémon world. Gloria, if it's fine with you, after we get there, could we spend two nights please? Sonia will be over there doing some more research."
"I'd be happy to!" I replied. "You really do get on well with her don't you."
Hop laughed. "Guess you could say that! Okay, let's set up camp and then hit the hay!"