Chapter 28:

The Forest of Glowing Mushrooms

Location: Stow-on-Side

"In a shocking turn of events, Bede, the adopted son of Chairman Rose, has been disqualified from the Galar League due to damage of a national monument in Stow-on-Side. However, this has also lead to the discovery of a chamber behind depicting what seem to be two Pokémon."

"I can't really feel sorry for that guy," Hop said. "He was a massive jerk to us."

"But you can't deny it didn't lead to a massive discovery," I said. "Still, we have no say in the matter. All we can do is continue onwards through Glimwood Tangle." I looked north to see the ominous forest that would lead me to Ballonlea. "I'll go on ahead. Wish me luck!"

Location: Glimwood Tangle

Glimwood Tangle was a dark forest with glowing mushrooms being the only source of light; the trees were so thick above that only slithers of sunlight could get through. It felt like nighttime, despite being the morning.

"I wonder what Pokémon I can find here," I thought as I walked into the tall grass. I did indeed come across a Pokémon. It was brown with two stalks branches growing out of its head. It also had a black part that underneath.

Phantump (ボクレー)

#338 (Mainland)

Ghost/Grass Type

Stump Pokémon

1'04" (0.4 m)

15.4 lbs (7 kg)

After a lost child perished in the forest, their spirit possessed a tree stump, causing the spirit's rebirth as this Pokémon.

I sent out Corvisquire. "Use Pluck!" This did Super Effective damage. Phantump then disappeared. "It must be using Phantom Force! Let's use this opportunity Corvisquire. Hone Claws!" Corvisquire sharpened its nails as Phantump reappeared and attacked. "One more Pluck!" Corvisquire stabbed Phantump with its beak, defeating it.

I continued walking through the eerie forest. It reminded me of going into Slumbering Weald, but at least here I knew I was allowed to go in.

From behind one of the mushrooms, I spotted a Pokémon. It was pink with pointy ears. It's dark-purple tongue was sticking out and it had a pointy nose.

Impidimp (ベロバー)

#238 (Mainland)

Dark/Fairy Type

Wily Pokémon

1'04" (0.4 m)

12.1 lbs (5.5 kg)

It sneaks into people's homes, stealing things and feasting on the negative energy of the frustrated occupants.

Impidimp attacked! "Go Kubfu!" I shouted. "Brick Break!" Kubfu karate chopped Impidimp. Impidimp then came back with Assurance, which didn't do much. Before Kubfu could use another Brick Break, Impidimp attacked with a Sucker Punch, though again it didn't do much. "Break Break again!" This was a Critical Hit that finished Impidimp.

"That was impressive." From the shadows appeared Marnie, with an Impidimp of her own.

"Long time no see!" I said. "How's things coming along?"

"I'm scared," Marnie said. "As a Dark Type user, I'm being very cautious about Opal's Fairy Types. This is why I caught my own Impidimp. To get a better understanding of them."

I looked around. "I hope Team Yell aren't here."

"They don't go into Glimwood Tangle," Marnie said. "They always get lost."

"Why don't you tag along for a bit?" I asked. "Girl's day out, what dya' say?"

A girl's day out is not usually my thing. And even if it was, this wasn't going to a shopping centre or the beach. This was going to... a spooky forest.

As we walked, a Cook spotted Marnie. "I need inspiration for my cooking!" he said.

Marnie Vs. Cook Derek

"I choose Milcery!" Derek shouted.

"Go Morpeko!" Marnie replied. "Spark!" Morpeko surrounded itself with electricity, and rammed into Milcery. It was paralyzed.

"Dazzling Gleam!" But Milcery couldn't move.

"Spark again!" Morpeko attacked Milcery once more, knocking it out.

"Let's use my next Pokémon. Go Sinistea!" Next up was a purple Pokémon inhabiting a teacup.

Sinistea (ヤバチャ)

#335 (Mainland)

Ghost Type

Black Tea Pokémon

0'04" (0.1 m)

0.4 lbs (0.2 kg)

The teacup in which this Pokémon makes its home is a famous piece of antique tableware. Many forgeries are in circulation.

There are two forms of Sinistea. A Phony Form and Antique Form.

"Impidimp, go!" Marnie shouted. "Bite!" Impidimp chomped down on Sinistea.

"Come back with Mega Drain!" Sinistea drained some of Impidimp's HP.

"Bite once more!" Impidimp bit down again, knocking out Sinistea.

"Finally, I choose Shiinotic!" The final Pokémon was white with a large-pink mushroom on its head.

Shiinotic (マッヘード)

#341 (Mainland)

Grass/Fairy Type

Illuminating Pokémon

3'03" (1 m)

25.4 lbs (11.5 kg)

If you see a light deep in the forest at night, don't get near. Shiinotic will make you fall fast asleep.

Morelull -Lv 24- Shiinotic

"Croagunk!" Marnie shouted. "Poison Jab!" Croagunk jabbed Shiinotic with its poisonous fingertips.

"Sleep Powder!" Shiinotic scattered spores all over Croagunk, making it fall asleep. "And now Moonlight!" Shiinotic made a moon appear over itself, healing its HP. Croagunk was still soundo. "And again!" Shiinotic made another moon appear just as Croagunk woke up.

"Poison Jab!" Croagunk attacked Shiinotic once more. It was a Critical Hit, defeating Shiinotic and giving Marnie the match.

"At least I have some cooking inspiration."

"Go Marnie!" I said.

"Thanks," she said, just as Impidimp was sent out.

"You battled well," I told it, just as Impidimp started glowing. When it had finished evolving, it was talker with the bottom half of its body being green. It also had black hair, with covered part of its left eye.

Morgrem (ギモー)

#239 (Mainland)

Dark/Fairy Type

Devious Pokémon

2'07" (0.8 m)

27.6 lbs (12.5 kg)

When it gets down on all fours as if to beg for forgiveness, it's trying to lure opponents in so that it can stab them with its spear-like hair.

Impidimp -Lv 32- Morgrem

"Congratulations Marnie!" I said. "Now, let's continue."

We started talking and walking.

"What do you think of Team Yell?" I asked.

"I don't mind what they do," she said. "But they have been causing a bit of a nuisance."

"Then tell them to go away," I said.

"I would," Marnie said. "But… I can't. I have my reasons."

Just then, a Madame appeared. "Two Trainers in a forest? Let's have a Double Battle!"

I looked at Marnie; we both nodded.

Gloria and Marnie Vs. Madame Judy

"Go Indeedee!" Judy had two of the same Pokémon, but with different gender forms. They were both dark-purple, but with white on their faces. The male had more purple on the bottom part whilst the female had more white. The male's ears were pointing up whilst the female's were down.

Indeedee (イエッサン)

#337 (Mainland)

Psychic/Normal Type

Emotion Pokémon

2'11" (0.9 m)

61.7 lbs (28 kg)

Males will act as valets for those they serve, looking after their every need. The females are particularly good at babysitting.

Indeedee are not known to evolve into any other Pokémon.

"Go Liepard!" I shouted.

"You're up Morgrem!" Marnie replied. "Sucker Punch!" Marnie shouted, as Morgrem attacked the male.

"Now use Assurance!" I told Liepard, as it also attacked the male. It was knocked out.

"Indeedee, Disarming Voice!" Indeedee let out a pink soundwave that hit Morgrem.

"Assurance again!" Liepard attacked the Indeedee who then hit Morgrem with another Disarming Voice. Morgrem got onto all fours and started crying, just like what its description stated. Indeedee went over to it.

"False Surrender!" Marnie yelled at Morgrem stabbed Indeedee with its sharp nose, knocking it out.

"No! My lovely Indeedee!"

Location: Ballonlea

At long last, we reached Ballonlea. Glowing mushrooms were everywhere, including on the massive tree which dominated over the small hamlet. There were a few cottages, a Pokémon Center and the Gym.

"We've made it," Marnie said. She was shaking.

"Hey," I said. "You have Croagunk, remember? Type is important to battles, but it's also about wit and skill. You just need to think of something to get around Opal's Pokémon."

"Could you please battle first?" Marnie asked. "I want to do some more training in Glimwood Tangle before I battle."

"Sure," I said.

"There is another thing," Marnie said. "Opal is known to… test you. Not just in strength. You'll find out when the time comes."

Now what could that have meant?