Snowbelle City

- What do you mean the gym leader isn’t here?

He’s away on business at the super secret Pokémon Village at the end of Route 20.

The where?

Oops!

Route 20

Not so much of a route as it is a spiralling pathway of loops in a dark and creepy wood, speaking of which; a trevenant blocks my path. Pokéball go!

Trevenant: Damn that creepy tree was a pokémon?!

- Welcome to the bench, Izalith.

Izalith ♀ Lv. 50

After spending a considerable amount of time looping around the confusing pathway I eventually reach an opening.

Pokémon Village

Hm? Who’re you? How’d you find this place?

- You’re Wulfric, the gym leader? I’m Caldar and I want to battle you for a gym badge.

Oh, sure. Meet me back at my gym. Oh, and see that cave over there by the waterfall?

Wulfric points to a cave in the distance, it gives off an intimidating presence just from looking at it.

- Uh, yeah?

Don’t go in there, it’s best you don’t know more than that.

- Sure…

Wulfric leaves for route 20. And I take the opportunity to recruit, I make my way through a field of flowers and to a river. Following the river I find myself near the scary cave, before my curiosity gets the better of me I’m mugged by a horde of poliwag! After Velen kicks most of them back into the river only one remains, pokéball go!

Poliwag: Damn the Squirtle Squad ain’t got nothin’ on the Poliwag Patrol!

- Welcome to the bench, Rickert.

Rickert ♂ Lv. 25

Snowbelle City

The trip back through route 20 was surprisingly easy. As I make my way through the gym it keeps giving me the vibe that I’m inside a Rubik’s Cube or something, but I eventually reach the gym leader’s arena.

Ah, you’re alive. So you didn’t go in the cave after all. Let’s get started!

Go Abomasnow!

- Go Velen!

Hail immediately starts to fall down from above in this indoor arena.

- Substitute!

Ice beam!

Velen channels some of his energy in front of him to create a solid illusion of himself. Abomasnow fires a blue ray that strikes the substitute seemingly with no effect. The constant hail is hurting Velen.

- Swords dance!

Ice beam!

Velen builds up strength while standing behind his substitute which takes another ice beam from abomasnow before shattering. The hail continues to cause a little pain for Velen.

- Brick break!

Ice beam!

Velen leaps behind abomasnow and swiftly strikes it at the back of the neck, knocking it out cold. The hail continues to be a bother for Velen.

Go Cryogonal!

- Brick break!

Confuse ray!

Velen simply punches cryogonal in the core, shattering it into thousands of pieces.

Go Avalugg!

That thing looks unusually tough for an ice type.

- Let’s give it all we’ve got, Velen! Brick break!

Avalanche!

I raise my hand and the keystone on my wrist flashes brightly, Velen changes form and leaps into the air before dropping his fist onto avalugg’s head, smashing it into the ground.

Congratulations, kid. You’ve earned the Iceberg Badge!

That’s your eighth badge? Then you’re ready for Victory Road! Uh… what’s up with your hand?

- Oh, it’s just sore all of a sudden. Like I just punched a block of ice.

Heh… you’ve not been using mega evolution for very long have you.

Route 21

On my way to victory road I take another opportunity to recruit. An ursaring, pokéball go!

Ursaring: I’m glad it was too lazy to maul us and just stayed in the pokéball.

- Welcome to the bench, Gough.

Gough ♂ Lv. 50

I reach the gatehouse and the guard asks to see my gym badges. Looking at them all lined up in the case brings a few random thoughts to mind.

Viola sure liked to take pictures. Oh, I get it now! She’s a shutterbug.

I never liked rock climbing.

So Zinnia was posing as Korrina, but where was the real Korrina?

How did Ramos fit that giant treehouse arena in such a small building?

I’m 90% sure Clemont is the janitor for Prism Tower.

Dollhouse theme aside, that gym had a very familiar feel to it.

Olympia’s pocket Distortion World really gave me the creeps.

What was in that cave? Whatever it was it felt unnatural.

The main gate opens and a stairway unfolds to reveal the path to victory road…

Meanwhile, elsewhere in Kalos…

Oh boy. One second ago I was in Hoenn and now I’m in Kalos! I’ve never seen Kalos before…

Oh right! That green fairy told me he needs my help! Uh… which way do I go?