Vaniville Town

+ Thanks again for the loaner clothes, Serena.

No problem, Cally. Looks like we’re almost ready to set off!

The lights in Serena’s room flicker for a moment.

Not again, we’ve been getting surges for months and still nobody’s been to fix it.

Yours too? I think the whole street’s been having issues.

+ Hmm. Do these houses have external junction boxes by any chance?

Are you an electrician or something?

+ Or something. Could you show me?

Oh, sure.

Serena leads me out to the side of her home. A small metal box is attached to the side of the wall, thick cables lead from the box and into the ground. The front panel is wide open and obscuring something on the other side that appears to be rummaging in the box. A few sparks fly every now and then.

What’s that?

+ Joule!

Uh-oh!

Joule peers over the top of the panel, wires are in her mouth, a couple of sparks arc from the chewed wires to her cheeks.

A Pikachu?

Oh, hey Cally. Who’re your friends?

+ Serena, Shauna, this is Joule.

You already own a Pokémon?

Hey, nobody owns me! Cally and I have an understanding.

It looks mad, did we upset it?

+ Joule doesn’t like the concept of Pokémon ownership. She and I are friends.

You can understand her?

+ Uh, yeah.

You have the gift! That’s so cool! So you can talk to any Pokémon?

+ All the ones I’ve met so far, yeah.

Shauna pulls a Pokéball from her bag and lets out what’s inside.

Ready to battle, master!

Master? What the hell…

What’s my Froakie saying?

+ He said he’s ready for battle.

Hey, why’re you calling that human “master”?

I’m a starter Pokémon! I’ve been bred to help new trainers on their journey!

Oh don’t worry, Froakie. We aren’t battling right now.

Oh thank Arceus.

I thought you were ready for battle?

Oh, uh I haven’t actually battled another Pokémon yet heheh.

Hmph, I was jolting Pidgey when I was still a Pichu!

They certainly are talkative, aren’t they?

+ So, where are we heading?

We’re going somewhere?

We’re going to Aquacorde Town to meet the boys first.

+ Boys?

More friends of ours.

Route 1

+ So are there many places to see in Kalos?

Oh tonnes!

Our destination is the capital, Lumiose City. But we’ll make a few stops along the way.

We’re off to see the Professor!

+ Professor?

Professor Sycamore is starting a new study and he wants the assistance of journeying trainers.

+ What sort of study?

I’m not sure, I guess we’ll find out when we get there.

As long as he doesn’t plan to use me as a battery like Oak did then we’ll be fine.

Aquacorde Town

We approach a nice looking café, two boys are sitting at one of the tables outside.

Hi guys! We’re ready to go!

Oh boy I can’t wait! Uh, there’s three of you.

It would appear Serena and Shauna have brought another friend.

This is Cally. Cally, this is Tierno.

Hi there!

And Trevor.

Hello.

Cally’s new to Kalos so we’re showing her around.

That’s nice. Welcome to Kalos, Cally!

Now that we’re all here, let’s set off proper!

Route 2

Oh, I got us a stock of Pokéballs in case we encounter something we’d want to catch. Here take some.

+ Oh, thanks.

Do you know how to capture Pokémon?

+ Of course I do.

Capturing Pokémon is essential if you’re trying to fill up the Pokédex like me.

Oh sure, just imprison Pokémon just to fill up an arbitrary list!

Oh hey there, Pikachu!

Hm?

Mind if I hang around with you and your trainer? I need somewhere to lay low for a while.

Oh sure. Hey Cally, this Zigzagoon wants to tag along.

+ Oh?

You can understand me? I guess that makes it easier. If any other Pokémon come looking for me, you’re my trainer, okay? In return I’ll be your guide!

It would be handy to have a local guide. No offence to your human tour guides but a Pokémon’s perspective is just better in my opinion.

+ Oh, okay I guess…

Great! The name’s Bandit!

+ Nice to meet you, Bandit. I’m Cally and this is Joule.

‘Sup.

Did you just talk that Zigzagoon into joining you? That’s so cool!

I wish my trainer tried diplomacy, I had to sit there and get pecked at by a Pidgey until she figured out the best way to throw a Pokéball.

Aww, poor little Froakie. Just as useless as his trainer! Did you even try attacking?

Come over here and say that. I’ll kick your butt, Fennekin!

+ Is that your Fennekin, Serena?

Oh, yes. Thanks for your help catching that Fletching, Fennekin return!

No wait! I’m not done taunting the frog!

Fennekin returns to her Pokéball.

Shame, I liked her.

Santalune Forest

Oh boy a whole forest to explore! You coming Trevor?

Just a sec, I’m checking my Pokédex.

If your Pokémon get hurt I stocked up on potions!

This one’s the real MVP.

How come? I find potions strewn about allover the place.

Bandit? Back so soon?

Claire! I found a trainer, she’s one of them special humans who can understand what we say.

Really? Hey there Miss Trainer, I’m Claire. Can I come with you, too?

+ Hello Claire, I’m Cally. Why would you want to come with me?

No reason in particular!

No really, what’s your angle?

I’ve lived in these woods all my life and I want to see the world! Bandit promised he’d take me away some day.

+ Fine you can come too.

Aw man! I wanted to catch that bug! Let’s battle! Go Caterpie!

Imma getcha!

+ Go Joule!

Pathetic worm, you stand before the great Joule!

Tackle!

Caterpie launches itself head first at Joule, hitting her in the stomach.

Ow! That hurt!

+ Give it a Thunderbolt!

Joule charges up and jolts the Caterpie.

That stings!

What? That was barely a Thundershock!

String Shot!

+ Shock it again, Joule!

Joule gives Caterpie another zap, causing it to keel over and leave it twitching on the floor.

You’re pretty strong for a girl!

I don’t get it, I’m stronger than this…

+ You spent those six months chewing wires and getting fat, didn’t you?

Maybe…

Cally! We found the way out!

Route 3

I can see Santalune from here!

It is a nice view, this pond looks pretty.

There’s a rustling noise coming from some nearby bushes.

Hm?

A tiny blue Pokémon ambles out and approaches Joule.

Are you my mommy?

Oh, er… oh boy…

We follow the road for a while, it takes us downhill until we reach the edge of Santalune City.

We’re almost at the city!

+ Joule, what’s keeping you?

We’ve got an issue here. This little guy won’t stop following us.

Mommy!

+ Huh?

Mommy, there’s big scary humins!

Don’t worry, this one’s a friend. Her name is Cally.

+ Hi there little guy.

Aww, look at him, such a cute little bun!

Bun?

+ We can’t just abandon him so close to a city, I guess we’ll have to let him come with us. He’ll need a name… How about Baker?

But I wanted to call him Bun-Bun…

Santalune City

Our first stop. I’m going to prepare a bit before I challenge the gym.

+ Gym?!

A Pokémon Gym. There’s eight of them in Kalos, beat them all and you can challenge the Pokémon League!

+ There’s a Pokémon League here? Why didn’t you say so sooner?

I thought you already knew.

+ I need to find a place to train!

There’s a good spot on Route 22 not far from here.

+ Thanks, I’ll be right back. Joule, good news!

What now?

+ There’s a Pokémon League here, we don’t have to travel back to Kanto!

Not now! It’s too soon!

+ We’ll need more badges first, my other ones got melted.

Fine… I guess the vacation is over…

Route 22

Looking over the road ahead I notice a nearby racetrack, it looks like it’s for Rhyhorn racing. Plenty of trainers are nearby, they look like they’re waiting for something to happen on the track.

I take my time and challenge them all one by one.

Is it me or are these trainers getting weaker?

Oh!

Uh, Bandit? Do I look fat? I feel fat.

Oh, uh. No… you look just fine, Claire.

Trespassers! You must be punished!

The Litleo bounds towards us, spitting embers.

+ Bandit, Headbutt!

Bandit smashes his head on the Litleo, knocking it over. I reach for a Pokéball and throw it at the Litleo, confining it inside. The ball wobbles for a bit before the seal clicks.

Meanwhile in Santalune City…

Quite an interesting turn of events.

Indeed, the target didn’t even show up.

I wonder who this Cally girl is? She just came from nowhere!

None of my instruments showed anything abnormal about her. I’m going to call HQ.

Trevor produces a silver ball from his bag and holds it in front of him in the palm of his hand. Moments later a small hologram of a person veiled in shadow appears above the ball.

Sir, Agent 8 reporting in. Agent 3 is also present.

Sir!

The shadow appears to speak, but no sound can be heard.

There’s no sign of rogue Agents 12 and 13, the primary target has not appeared either.

The shadow silently speaks again.

Sir, the events in Hoenn continue to play out as normal, despite Agent 12′s interference. It seems the primary target inadvertently put things back on track.

No further incursions have been detected but we’re still experiencing bleed-through in some places.

The shadow speaks once more.

Yes sir, we’ll keep you posted.

Hi guys! What’re you talking about?

Oh nothing in particular!

Just stuff.

Cally and Serena are about to challenge the gym!

Cool, let’s check it out!