Route 13

I was surprised to find a stretch of badlands so close to the city, and the power plant complex looks boring too but Serena seems interested in it for some reason.

I just want to get back to the city and challenge the gym that everyone neglected to tell me was there on our last visit. With the gatehouse in sight I make my way to it only to find a homeless guy blocking my path.

I knew you’d be here.

And you are…

That’s… that’s not important right now, you need to get to the power plant right now!

- But why?

Your friends are in danger, those flair folk are more threatening than you know.

- Those losers in red? Serena can handle them. If you’re so concerned then why don’t you go help?

It’s complicated… just go! Please.

Reluctantly I turn back, I could probably take that old man in a fight but something about trying it felt wrong. He watches me with a pensive look on his face as I set off for the power plant.

As I near the main building the door bursts open.

That little girl is tougher than I first thought!

Tell me something I don’t know, let’s just go already. Where’s Bob?

Right here, that girl is scary when she’s mad. She beat Bill too!

Can we just go to the pokémon center, please?

We’ll let the admins deal with her, come on.

The four of them rush off towards the city, not paying any attention to me at all. I use the opportunity to slip through the open doorway. Inside I make my way to the generator, simply because every other way is closed off.

I reach a chamber with a massive device, which I assume is some sort of generator, suspended in the middle and surrounded by gantries. Electricity arcs all around the generator and channelled down below.

Next to a control panel by the generator is woman in the flair uniform and wearing some weird goggles. She’s talking to Serena.

How dare you! Stealing electricity from the people, I won’t let you get away with this!

Hmph! You have no idea of what we’re trying to achieve, this electricity is more useful to us! It’s practically wasted lighting a few street lights.

As their argument continues I notice someone trying to sneak up behind Serena. I dash to him and grab him by the shoulder.

- Not so fast!

W- what?!

ZUUL!

Zuul has ahold of his other shoulder. She glances to the generator, looks back at me and grins. I smile back.

ZUUL…

Wha- no! Put me down! Help!

Zuul lifts him up, carries him over to the generator and mushes his face against it. Electricity arcs through him and Zuul and they’re obscured with flashing light.

Aaaaghlblarghlblarghl!

The bald guy flops to the gantry and smoulders with the occasional twitch. Looking back to Zuul it would appear she evolved!

Zuul III ♀ Lv. 32

ZUUL.

Serena and the woman by the generator stand with looks of horror on their faces after seeing what just transpired. Zuul grins at them.

I… I’ve got what I wanted. I’m leaving now because I don’t need to be here anymore. N- not because you’ve intimidated me with your brutality!

She leaves at a brisk pace. Serena, her expression unchanged, looks to me.

You.. killed him…

I step up to the bald guy, still sprawled face down on the gantry, and nudge him with my foot.

Blargh…

- See? He’ll live.

Never fear!

We’re here to save the day!

Huh?

The masked pair run to the control panel. The girl presses a few buttons on the panel while the boy nudges the bald man a couple of times and makes sure he’s not getting up.

Power rerouted back to the city!

The day is saved once more, thanks to…

The Defenders of Kalos!

They strike a pose and then leave as quickly as they arrived.

Was that Sina and Dexio?

- Yeah…

What’d I miss?

Lumiose City

Oh hey! The lights just came back on in Centrico Plaza! I knew you could do it, Serena.

Yeah, I had a little help.

Oh hi Caldar!

- Hey.

Trevs and Tierno aren’t here yet?

Oh you know them, they like their private time together.

Oh right, hehe. Well you must be thirsty after your trip through the badlands, let’s get a drink or something. There’s a nice café nearby.

I am kinda parched, you coming too Caldar?

- I think I’ll challenge thy gym first.

Suit yourself.

Walking along the streets, following the signs to the gym, I notice a lot of cafés but one in particular stands out. Named Lysandre Café, it has a bright red frontage and flair folk hanging out in and around it. A few posters in the windows include flair folk propaganda and signs saying things like “Totally not Team Flare’s secret HQ” and “Join Team Flare for the new low fee of Five Million Pokédollars!”

I quickly move on and reach the Prism Tower, inside an elevator takes me up to the gym. I’m immediately put under a spotlight, by the time my eyes adjust I notice a little girl on a small platform in front of me. She’s holding a microphone.

Welcome challenger!

- Uh, hi. The sign said the gym leader is named Clemont. Am I in the right place?

You sure are! My brother is upstairs but before you challenge him there’s the pre-gym quiz, with your hostess Bonnie! That’s me!

- Oh…

Question the first: What is your name?

- Caldar McCaldarson.

Second question: What is your quest?

- … I seek a time machine.

And finally: What is your favourite colour?

- Leaf green.

Allright, up you go!

Bonnie presses a button on her platform rail and the floor I stand on rises up. I’m lifted to a pokémon arena where Bonnie and her brother stand opposite me.

Wait, how did she-?

Lightning quick elevators!

- Yeah but-

So you’re challenging me to a gym battle?

- Yes.

Right, no time like the present!

Heh.

Let battle commence!

Go Emolga!

- Go Beatrice!

- Extrasensory!

Volt switch!

Beatrice’s eyes glow and emolga recoils in pain, clutching it’s head. After shaking off that mental assault emolga gives Beatrice a distracting jolt before returning to it’s pokéball and dragging out a magneton in it’s place.

- Beatrice return! Go Velen!

Thunderbolt!

Magneton strikes Velen with a lightning bolt as he leaves his pokéball.

Looks like he could use a boost. Do the thing!

- The what?

The mega thing!

I look to the bracer on my wrist, the keystone set in it shimmers in the light. I wave it in Velen’s direction, nothing happens. I poke the keystone a few times, nothing. I turn my attention back to the battle.

- Bone rush!

Thunderbolt!

Velen produces a bone from nowhere and proceeds to bash magneton with it until it stops moving.

Go Heliolisk!

- Velen return! Go Max!

Quick attack!

Heliolisk zips across the arena and bounces off of Max at high speed.

- Poisonpowder!

Thunderbolt!

Heliolisk jolts Max with a lightning bolt as Max sprays poison all over heliolisk’s face.

- Venoshock!

Thunderbolt!

Heliolisk throws another lightning bolt at Max, dealing critical damage. Max sprays purple goop all over heliolisk.

Want to try the mega thing again?

I stare at the keystone on my wrist for a moment and then try pointing it in Max’s general direction, nothing happens. In my frustration I try to rip the whole bracer from my wrist but it seems to be stuck. How I managed to get it on in the first place escapes me at the moment.

- Max return! Go Gwyn!

Clemont sprays heliolisk with a hyper potion as Gwyn enters the arena. Heliolisk still seems to be suffering from the poisoning.

- Fire spin!

Thunderbolt!

Gwyn surrounds heliolisk with a cyclone of fire while heliolisk throws a lightning bolt at Gwyn, leaving a lingering charge that makes it difficult for him to move. Heliolisk is hurt by the lingering flames and poison.

- Gwyn return! Go Zuul!

Thunderbolt!

As she leaves her pokéball Zuul takes a lightning bolt to the face, leaving behind a very angry expression. Both the flames and poison continue to burn heliolisk.

ZUUL!

- Venoshock!

Thunderbolt!

Zuul stares are heliolisk angrily for a moment until heliolisk explodes into a mess of purple goop.

Go Emolga!

- Shadow ball!

Volt switch!

Zuul forms a ball of darkness in the palm of her hand, winds up and then pitches it at emolga. It implodes on contact, leaving a steaming heap of nothing behind.

ZUUL.

What little contribution Gwyn made to the battle was enough to make him evolve!

Gwyn ♂ Lv. 36

Congratulations, you’ve earned the Voltage Badge!