Our heroines have begun exploring Shabboneau Castle. Once owned by a noble family, today it is perhaps as much a museum as a home.
While we await Citrata and company's discoveries inside, let's turn our sights to a clearing at the edge of the forest, where Brock's battle with Helena is about to unfold. It's sure to be a haunting contest, pardon the pun!
"One on one, no substitutions." Helena calls upon her Pokémon. "I choose Haunter!"
"I'll roll with Onix!" A snake-like rock creature emerges from Brock's Poké Ball.
"Rrrroar!" Onix growls.
To the ears of outside observers, the speech and other noises made by Pokémon may often sound like they're just repeating their common names. Yet that is far from the truth. Pokémon vocalization is as varied as the creatures themselves.
Many Pokémon cry or roar; a few even manage to learn human language. It can have social consequence though. Pokémon, much like people, tend to ostracize their peers who excessively imitate another species.
"The basics first, Rock Throw!" Brock instructs.
Using its energy to raise small stones from the ground, Onix flings the makeshift projectiles toward Haunter.
"We've got this under control." Helena claps her hands. "Evade it using Double Team!"
Double Team is a particularly sneaky maneuver, sometimes barred from competitions as unsportsmanlike. The Pokémon's rapid motion creates optical illusions that appear to be duplicates of itself.
"Hey, nice evasion there!" Brock's expression smirks. "Now try dodging Sandstorm!"
A flurry of dirt and debris begins to swirl around the battle area. Sandstorm chips away each combatant's health for a short time. As this effect can damage the user's own team too, the move is generally only used by rock or steel Pokémon resistant to it.
"That'll take too long to stop us." Helena shields her eyes. "Finish it off, Shadow Ball!"
Haunter forms an eerie, dark energy orb between its hands, then launches it at Onix. A direct hit!
"Roaarrrr!?" Onix shivers from the impact, collapsing to the ground.
"Onix!" Conceding defeat, Brock returns the Pokémon to its ball. "Have a nice rest."
Meanwhile, hiding in the bushes nearby, a familiar trio is no doubt plotting something...
"Look!" Jessie inches her head up, to take a closer look. "It's one of the old twerps!"
"Let me see." James pauses a moment to jog his memory. "Brock, wasn't it?"
"Who cares?" Meowth coughs. "All this sand is bugging me."
Aware of the intrusion, Haunter suddenly materializes in front of Team Rocket and performs a paralyzing Lick attack.
"What are you doing!?" Not used to her Pokémon misbehaving, Helena glances around in a panic. "Get back here, Haunter!"
"Team Rocket!" Brock recognizes the trio as they trip into sight. "Stay alert, Helena! These guys are Pokémon thieves!"
"Hahahaaa!" Jessie smiles, then jumps forward to begin the motto. "Prepare for trouble!"
"And make it double!" A somewhat dazed James stumbles into place.
"Your timing is off!" Meowth pokes a twig at James.
"To protect the world from…" James angrily glares in pain. "Ow!"
"That part is my line!" Jessie pulls James and Meowth apart, sensing they were about to fight each other.
"Do they say this stuff every time?" Helena giggles at the scene.
Having heard countless variations of Team Rocket's motto throughout his travels with Ash, Brock shrugs. After Jessie, James, and Meowth recite the rest of their lines, a youthful cheerleader perched in the trees climbs down to greet them.
The woman's golden hair and suntan radiate beauty. Even her uniform's colors are shades of gold.
"Team GR has your back!" Enthusiastically, the cheerleader waves around her pom-poms.
Brock slumps, devastated to watch such a fine-looking lady root for the villains.
"Who do you think you are!?" Clearly jealous, Jessie points at herself. "We're Team Rocket, we don't need help from Team Wannabe!"
"My name isn't 'you are', I'm Arya!" Arya places her hands on her hips.
Continuing her introduction, Arya explains she has a score to settle with Citrata. I think. This narrator gets the feeling a flashback sequence is incoming…
A few months ago, on GR Island, a fledgling batch of new recruits have filled the local Challenge Hall to compete in a series of card games. The contest will determine who is most qualified to formally join Team GR.
Four masked figures are seated surrounding a large table, watching the matches alongside their imposing king-like leader. The masks are styled to represent TCG card types Grass, Colorless, Lightning, and Psychic.
"It's no use!" At the start of a turn, the long battle nearing its end, Citrata draws a card that won't turn around her team's dire situation. The very same Dark Arbok she'd later try to challenge Ash with. "I need more energy before Ekans can evolve safely!"
Evolved Pokémon cards have similarities, as well as differences, from the living creatures. Standard evolution in the TCG is performed by attaching a "stage 1" or "stage 2" card to a compatible Pokémon in play.
Simple enough, but there are risks. Evolution cards can't be removed without the aid of special effects, and they tend to require additional energy to attack or retreat.
Energy cards must also be used wisely. In most cases, each turn, players may only attach one energy to a single Pokémon. And when a Pokémon is knocked out by taking too much damage, it is sent to the discard pile, together with its attached evolution stages, energy, or any other equipment.
"Heliolisk!" Arya is pleased by the card she gets. "I'll evolve and attack your bench with Random Spark! Victory belongs to me!"
While the few attacks able to target benched Pokémon may lack power, they ignore weaknesses or resistances. An effective strategy to chip away at a type disadvantage!
In this battle, though, types were not a significant factor. Both players' decks are poorly constructed, prone to running out of energy early.
"That is enough." Disappointed by the quality of play, the regal man raises his hand halfway. He is wearing a fancy-patterned purple-ish robe extending down to the ground, making it difficult to tell his physique. "Citrata has run out of prize cards, the match goes to Arya!"
"Are ya satisfied, Cici?" Arya gives a peace sign in jest. "I'm the best card player in all Paldea!"
"Biruritchi over there, doesn't look too happy." Citrata directs her rival's attention toward the boss.
With powerful presence, Biruritchi gives a speech firmly criticizing the players' strategies.
"But…" Arya's eyes widen in disbelief. "I won, didn't I?"
"Hmph." Biruritchi shakes his head. "Dr. Mason's latest pupils defeated the Grand Masters. We must prepare better for our inevitable conflict."
On TCG Island, Mark and Mint are becoming local icons. They're collected numerous rare cards, and earned the island's eight club medals. These medals are a measure of card-playing skill comparable to Pokémon gym badges. Likewise, the four Grand Masters parallel an Elite Four in recognition.
Failing to impress Team GR's leader, Citrata and Arya make their way to the closest place they can find to relax. As a hideout for a band of thieves, GR Island is not the most hospitable to outsiders.
"I can't stand it!" Arya sits on a bench, opening her lunchbox. "The boss scolded me, like I'm a mere commoner!"
"That's royalty for you." Citrata bites into a sliced orange.
"He sure looks the part, anyway." Arya sighs. "Say, there's been gossip that you might be ditching us."
Citrata describes her growing fascination with actual Pokémon.
"You're really something." Nibbling on a sandwich, Arya picks up the crumbs that fall into her lap. "Who has ever heard of a Pokémon trainer from TCG Island?"
"How about a card player from Paldea?" Citrata sarcastically replies.
The wonders of newfound friendship. Little do these two young women realize a life of thievery is not in their futures. When and where might their paths cross again? Only time will tell!
We shall now return to the present, and at a most thrilling moment. Ash's group has at last caught up with Brock.
"Brock!" Ash waves to his faithful pal, then scowls over at Team Rocket. "And Team Rocket?!"
"The cheerleader is a keeper!" Bonnie directs her brother's gaze toward Arya.
Arya dances a bit, delighted someone has noticed her allure.
"But…" Clemont pouts.
"What's the matter, don't like Team GR?" Arya teases.
"Of course we don't!" Serena interjects. "Any fan of theirs, is not joining us!"
"They're so fluffy!" Ignoring the conversation, James fiddles with the pom-poms. "Unlike Jessie here, our new buddy has been nice to me."
"You want nice!?" Jessie nearly snaps. "Nice won't get us Pikachu!"
"Pika!" Pikachu tugs Ash's leg, signaling it wishes to battle Team Rocket.
"Alright." Ash enters a battling posture. "Team Rocket, show us what you've stolen in Kalos!"
"Excuse us for a moment." Jessie protests.
Temporarily disappearing from sight, Team Rocket regroups to discuss their strategy.
"What should we do?" James looks worried. "Ash doesn't know we only have Wobuffet!"
"That is a problem." Thinking, Jessie places her hand on her chin. "I've got it!"
"Are you done over there?" Brock shouts.
As they emerge again, Team Rocket cowardly stands behind Arya.
"Excuse me, I'm supposed to be the cheer support." Arya says. "Send out your Pokémon already!"
"Oh no." Meowth gasps in realization what's going on.
"How adorable!" Arya tries to touch the Pokémon's whiskers. "The rumors of a talking Meowth are true!"
"Lady, I'll have you know I'm not battling Pikachu!" Meowth steps back in hesitation.
"You're a Pokémon, act like it for once!" Jessie pushes him toward Pikachu.
"This is too easy." Ash grins, confident he's guaranteed to win. Team Rocket's Meowth is terribly inept at battling, even next to the records of James or Jessie. "We'll lead with Volt Tackle!"
Enveloping itself in electricity, Pikachu dashes full-speed toward Meowth. Crash!
"I'm blasting off alone…" Meowth's complaining becomes inaudible, as he vanishes into the distance.
"That was uncalled for!" Jessie gripes.
"What she said." James interrupts. "When any of us blast off, we're all supposed to!"
"Don't give the twerps ideas!" Jessie shakes her fist.
"You're not worth it." Helena walks over to thank Pikachu. "Isn't that right, Pikachu?"
"Pika?" The little Pokémon twitches its ears, enjoying the praise.
With the battling over, everyone except Jessie and James walks away, leaving them befuddled.
"I don't get it." Jessie gulps down a rice ball. "Whose side is the new girl on?"
"What do you mean?" James sneaks a piece of the fluffy snack.
"Arya said she's Citrata's friend, but she was cheering for Team GR!" Jessie smacks James' hand away from her food.
"It can wait…" Yawning, James rolls out a blanket to rest on.
Arya's arrival in Kalos raises more questions than answers. How will she react upon finding out our heroine has renounced Team GR, and now stands against villainous organizations?
The journey continues next time, deeper in the halls of Shabboneau Castle!