Route 109

Mister Briney was kind enough to ferry me to the beach near Slateport. As I turn to wave goodbye to him all I can see is a toddler clutching a wingull egg. Not wanting to think too much about it I hurry across the beach, of course that doesn’t deter trainers from challenging me on sight. At least all those battles were enough to get Ivanova to evolve!

Ivanova ♀ Lv. 15

Slateport City

Ready for another batch?

- OK.

We still weren’t able to fix the problems we’ve been having. The tech guys say the issue is most likely on your end.

I switch out Clara for Tarkus and leave the pokémon center.

Remembering from last time I was here I head to the shipyard to find Captain Stern for some reason. Reaching his office I can only find one of Stern’s shipwrights and he tells me he’s at the museum right now. I should have remembered that part.

I prepare for the worst before entering the museum, I remember last time being surrounded by the aqua crew. I storm the entrance but all I can find are a bunch of people wearing blue and white striped clothes and black bandanas. I pay them no mind and head to the upper floor.

- Captain?

Yees?

- I… uh…

You have the parcel?

I look in my backpack for the letter Giovanni gave me but it’s still blank, while looking I notice a small but heavy package at the bottom of my bag. I have no idea how it got there but I show it to Xerosic.

- This one?

A-yees!

Hand it over, Xerosic!

Quickly now, we can do this the easy way or the hard way!

I grab the plasm goon by the head and slam it into the corner of a nearby display case. He leaves a red smear down the case as he slides along it to the floor.

- I choose the easy way.

B-but you can’t!

Yarr! What be takin’ ye so long?

B-boss!

- Oh boy…

Arr! Th’ name’s Archie. But to you two it’s “Cap’n”, we’ve been through this!

Sorry, Boss Captain!

*gargle*

- Oh, Archie… you look… different.

Yarr, I gets that a lot. Tabloids never get a good picture o’ me.

- That’s not what-

So ye be th’ brat meddlin’ in me affairs. Know this: Team Aqua and th’ Aqua Alliance are workin’ for th’ betterment o’ th’ world!

- Uh-huh, and you plan to expand the sea to wash away all the people who are polluting and doing all kinds of bad stuff to the ocean because all life on earth came from the sea blah blah blah…

Yarr I thought our web page had no hits! I’ll let ye off th’ hook this time. And you!

Yes Captain!

Pick that up.

Bluuhhh…

Archie leaves while the galaxy grunt drags the plasm goon out behind him.

Ah, thank you. Without those parts it’d take another month to finish my submarine!

Xerosic rushes out of the building and I just leave and decide to carry on. I notice a crowd gathered near the contest hall.

Ah, you there! You’ve got the perfect look for my new show!

- Huh?

You’re about to discover the wondrous world of pokémon contests!

- Nope!

Route 110

I make my escape to the north, thankfully I was heading this way anyway. Without a bike I’m forced to take the slower winding, grassy path. I make it about halfway when the breeze suddenly changes direction and the air in front of me begins to shimmer and wobble.

- What now?

A shadowy figure appears in the shimmering wall in front of me and steps through, bumping into me.

Ow! Hey, how’d you do that?

- Do what?

You appeared out of nowhere- oh, hi Caldar!

- Dawn?

So how’s your journey going?

Yeah, where’s dumbass?

- Oh… it’s a long story…

Hey, let’s have a battle!

- Fine…

Go… wait, where’s my- never mind. Go Wailmer!

- Go Ivanova!

- Thunder fang!

Water gun!

Ivanova sinks her teeth into wailmer’s hide and jolts it with electricity, wailmer knocks her off with a jet of water.

- Thunder fang!

Rollout!

Wailmer passes out from another electrocuting bite.

Go… Shroomish?

- Ivanova return! Go Choppa!

Leech seed!

Choppa is caught off guard and the seed sprouts tiny vines that grasp him and start sapping his energy.

- Dragon rage!

Stun spore!

Choppa spits a ball of dragonflame in shroomish’s face, shroomish sprays Choppa with a cloud of choking spores. Choppa’s energy continues to be drained slowly by the leech seed.

- Dragon rage!

Mega drain!

Choppa takes a moment to compose himself while shroomish drains more energy from him, with enough anger mustered Choppa blasts shroomish with another ball of dragonflame. Shroomish flops to the floor into a smouldering pile.

Go Combusken!

- Choppa return! Go Tarkus!

Sand attack!

Combusken kicks sand into Tarkus’ eyes as he leaves his pokéball.

- Shadow punch!

Flame charge!

Combusken wreathes itself in flames and darts across the field, slamming into Tarkus. Tarkus’ fist becomes surrounded with darkness as he punches combusken across the jaw.

- Shadow punch!

Peck!

Combusken jabs at Tarkus with it’s beak, Tarkus responds with an uppercut with his shadowy fist.

- Shadow punch!

Peck!

Combusken pecks at Tarkus’ face and he responds with a quick jab to the gut. Combusken collapses to the floor, clutching it’s stomach.

Aw, you beat me again. You’re getting stronger than ever! Anyway, Professor Rowan asked me to check something out not far from here. See you!

Dawn disappears back into the shimmering wall, I try to follow but the air just returns to normal and there’s no sign of her. The silver orb in my backpack starts vibrating. I place it in my palm.

Watch out! There’s a huge rift near you!

- Yeah, thanks for the warning.

Did anything come through it?

- Just some girl I knew, but she went back.

Good. Oh, it seems to have dissolved of it’s own accord. How strange.

- You’re telling me…