Chapter 5:

A Camp in the Making

Location: Watchtower Ruins (Wild Area)

"Brr!" I said. The sudden frost woke me up. I didn't have a cold though; it's just everything seemed to be a lot colder. I stuck my head out the tent. "WHAT THE?!" I shouted. I was snowing! I quickly went back inside my tent, changed out of my pyjamas and ran outside to find Hop. "Hop! Have you seen this? Where did this snow come from?"

Hop smiled. "It's the Wild Area! I told you yesterday! The weather changes on a whim!"

I looked up at the sky. "But it was sunny yesterday. This doesn't make any sense. Well, no use complaining. Let's set up some breakfast."

"Not here," Hop said. "Two reasons. One, I am NOT having in this. We don't want to catch a cold first thing on this journey. Second, that." He pointed to a round-white Pokémon with black horns.

Glalie (オニゴーリ)

#080

Ice Type

Face Pokémon

4'11" (1.5 m)

565.5 lbs (256.5 kg)

It can instantly freeze moisture in the atmosphere. It uses this power to freeze its foes.

Snorunt -Lv 40- Glalie

Glalie roared. "Let's get outta here!" We ran away.

Location: West Lake Axwell (Wild Area)

The weather in this part was overcast. Not great, but at least it was somewhat warm and not frigid. Plus, no Glalie chasing us!

"This place is nuts," I said. "And I mean that in the best way! I'm hungry. Let's set up some food!"

We set up a table and put some food on it. Some beans on toast, a chuffing delight. Since we didn't have a toaster, we had Scorbunny cook it.

"So," Hop said. "What's the plan today?"

"Well," Gloria said. "I need to get out of here. The weather is picky, the Pokémon are trying to KILL us and I'm not a big tent person."

Hop gave me a stupid look, as if I had just given the thickest statement imaginable. "Gloria, we're on a journey. It's suppose to be perilous. We just need to make sure WE don't do anything stupid."

Just then, we saw something come over to us. It was black with sharp ears, and it was standing on some legs. "Wow! That thing is cute!" I said. I handed it some toast. "Here you go." The Pokémon smiled and gobbled it all up. "You like that don't you? What is it anyway?" I went for the Pokédex.

Purrloin (チョロネコ)

#044

Dark Type

Devious Pokémon

1'04" (0.4 m)

22.3 lbs (10.1 kg)

It steals things from people just to amuse itself with their frustration. A rivalry exists between this Pokémon and Nickit.

"Steals?!" I said. "Hey, get back here!" I saw Purrloin was making off with our butter. "No you don't! Scorbunny, Quick Attack!" Scorbunny dashed into Purrloin, making it drop the food into Lake Axwell. Purrloin then used Scratch back. "Now Ember!" Scorbunny kicked a flame at Purrloin, who then came back with another Scratch. "And now, go!" I threw a Pokéball at Purrloin and it went inside. Me and Hop watched as… it clicked shut! "Yes!" I shouted.

"Were you not just annoyed at Purrloin just now?" Hop asked.

I sent it out. "Purrloin, you are my Pokémon now. So no more stealing, go i-" I saw Purrloin already heading over to a Trainer. She had had her breakfast set up and was about to feed some to her Pokémon, which was a Shellos. It was the blue variety.

Shellos (カラナクシ)

#230

Water Type

Sea Slug Pokémon

1'00" (0.3 m)

13.9 lbs (6.3 kg)

Its appearance changes depending on the environment. One theory suggests that living in cold seas causes Shellos. There's also speculation that is appearance is determined by what it eats, but the truth remains elusive.

Two forms of Shellos have been discovered originating from the Sinnoh region.

"Aw!" she said. "What a cute Pokémon! Here, let me-"

"Don't!" I said. "Purrloin, return!" I called it back. "Sorry about this. I just caught it. Purrloin act cute, but that's when they steal your stuff."

The girl giggled. "It's fine. Hey, me and a friend are about to take on a Max Raid. You wanna try?"

Hop ran over. "Max Raid?" he said. "Sounds like a lot of fun!"

I knew about these. Max Raid Dens are where you get to fight a Dynamaxed Pokémon with four other Trainers. You beat it? You have a chance to catch it!

"We're in!" I said.

"Hey!" We saw a boy, about the same age as us, run over. With him he had an orange Pokémon with six tails.

Vulpix (ロコン)

#068

Fire Type

Fox Pokémon

2'00" (0.6 m)

21.8 lbs (9.9 kg)

While young, it has six gorgeous tails. When it grows, several new tails are sprouted.

"So love," I said, stretching out my arms like I was warming up at a P.E. lesson. "Which blighter are we taking down?"

"A Pawniard," she said. "Oh, sorry. My name is Samantha. This is my friend Percy."

I nodded. "Gotcha. Now, we have a Pawniard to take down!"

Hop pointed to a section of rocks with a beam of red light coming out of it. "Is that it?" he asked.

"Yep!" she said. "Come on!"

We ran over to the rocks, also known as a Max Raid Den.

"All we need to do is touch the rock," said Percy.

We all did…

Location: Pokémon Den

Around us, red mist swirled. But we also saw a Pawniard as tall as a building.

Pawniard (コマタナ)

#246

Dark/Steel Type

Sharp Blade Pokémon

1'08" (0.5 m)

22.5 lbs (10.2 kg)

A pack of these Pokémon forms to serve a Bisharp boss. Each Pawniard trains diligently, dreaming of one day taking the lead.

We all sent out our Pokémon. Scorbunny, Shellos, Vulpix and Wooloo. "What?" Hop said. "I barely have any counters!"

"Focus on the now!" I said. I could finally do this. I looked at the others.

"Go for it!" Samantha said.

I recalled Scorbunny. Then, using Dynamax Energy, the Pokéball got bigger. "She's doing it!" Hop said.

I threw the Pokéball with both hands and Scorbunny came out… it was massive! "Wow!" I shouted. "Okay Scorbunny! Max Flare!" Scorbunny kicked a pulse of fire at Pawniard, doing lots of damage. However, Pawniard then created a shield.

"We need to break through!" Percy shouted. "Vulpix, use Ember!" Vulpix shot a flame at Pawniard, weakening the shield a bit. Then, Pawniard used Max Strike. A burst of energy hit Shellos, lowering everyone's speed.

"Wooloo, Tackle!" Wooloo charged into Pawniard. It wasn't effective at all, but at least the shield went down. Additionally, Pawniard's Defense fell.

"Now Shellos, Mud Slap!" Shellos fired some mud at Pawniard.

"And one last Max Flare!" Scorbunny defeated Pawniard with a final Fire Type attack.

"Now's are chance!" Percy said as we saw the weakened Pawniard.

We all threw Max Pokéballs. Pawniard went inside mine…

And broke out!

With that, there was a flash of light…

Location: West Lake Axewell (Wild Area)

"Aw man, I failed!" I said.

"So did I," Hop replied.

"I didn't though!" said Samantha. "Come out!" She sent out her regular sized Pawniard.

"Congrats!" I said. "Now, what do you say we get outta here?"

Hop nodded. "To Motostoke!"

Location: East Lake Axewell (Wild Area)

Me and Hop waited at the bottom of the stairs going up to Motostoke.

"It's almost time," I said. "I've dreamed of this day for so long that I never thought it would actually happen."

"Well then what are we waiting for?!" Hop said. "Let's go fulfil our dream!"

Location: Motostoke

Motostoke, the Steam City. Most of the industry here is powered by steam though modern technology is also used. Motostoke is largely believed to be the first modern city in the Pokémon world, because steam power was truly a world changing innovation. We saw a train go by on railings and paintings of Combee were in different places. At the top of a platform that brings people upwards was Motostoke Stadium. The whole place looked like something from a steampunk movie.

"Back in civilization," I said. "Okay, let's get to the Pokémon Center."

We quickly popped in and out again.

"So," I said. "What now? Opening Ceremony isn't until tomorrow."

"Remember," Hop said. He went into his Bag and got out some tickets. "Since we're competitors, we get to stay in the Budew Drop Inn!"

"Oh yeah!" I said. The Budew Drop Inn wasn't like your average Primarina Inn; this was a four-star job! Oh we have got to get there now!"

We ran up to the platform that connected the top part of the city. We walked onto it and it took us upwards. We immediately saw the hotel; it had a Budew on it (obviously). It's a small-green Pokémon with stubby legs.

"Let's get a good nights sleep," said Hop.

Location: Budew Drop Inn

We walked through the doors to find the reception area. There was a statue of a knight dubbed "The Hero of Galar."

"Still can't believe this is where we are staying," I said. We walked up the stairs to the receptionist. We told her our names.

"Yep, you're both registered here for two nights." She handed us some cards, which were our keys. "Room 159 and 160. Both single beds. One floor up."

"Thank you!" we both said. We didn't even notice the Budew in the back either.

Budew (スボミー)

#059

Grass/Poison Type

Bud Pokémon

0'08" (0.2 m)

2.6 lbs (1.2 kg)

The pollen it releases contains poison. If the Pokémon is raised on clean water, the poison's toxicity is increased.

Baby Pokémon.

I went into my room and flung myself onto the bed; it was so comfy! "Haha! Opening Ceremony tomorrow!" I sent out all my Pokémon. Scorbunny, Rookidee, Lotad and Purrloin. "We've got some busy times ahead everyone! We'll all do our best!" I looked out the window; Motostoke was nice and steamy. "Leon, we're coming for you."