Ambrette Town

Dozing off on a bench in the pokémon center I snap out of it when I hear Serena slam her bag on the front desk and tip out some pokéballs. Nurse Joy gives her a disapproving look then takes the pokéballs and places them in the healing machine.

- Oh Serena, what’s up?

Where were you? We really could have used your help!

- I didn’t find anything in that cave so I came back here.

Team Flare were in there!

- A weirdo dressed all in red?

Looked like a complete pushover. We’ve seen tougher looking gangs.

They killed one of Shauna’s pokémon! She cried all the way back to town. There was nothing Nurse Joy could do, and then she sees you sleeping on that bench!

- Oh…

“Oh”?! That’s all you’ve got to say?

- I’m sorry?

Don’t apologise to me! Talk to Shauna, she’s outside with Trevor and Tierno.

Serena practically drags me outside to where we find Tierno and Trevor trying to console a sobbing Shauna.

Oh, Serena. What happened?

Shauna’s not entirely coherent right now…

Where were you two? Spending some quality time together again?

Um…

I don’t want to hear it! Besides I already know, I saw you two behind the pokémon center in Santalune.

While Serena continues dressing down Trevor and Tierno I approach Shauna, her eyes are puffed up and her cheeks streaked with tears.

- Shauna… I’m sorry.

*sniffle* It’s not your fault. It was Team Flare… they… oh poor Bubbles!

She hugs me and continues crying on my shoulder.

Route 8

Walking along the beach together feels awkward, none of us really say anything.

I spot a small blue stone glinting in the sand, I pick it up and quickly discover it’s a water stone and waste no time in using it on Petrus.

Petrus ♂ Lv. 22

Cyllage City

Serena and Shauna head off to a café, Trevor and Tierno disappear somewhere in the direction of the beach. I decide to go to the gym.

Inside I find a monolith covered in rock climbing walls, the other trainers in here tell me the gym leader’s arena is on top. Feeling impatient I try to scramble up the wall as fast as I can but I lose my grip. I land on my hip, luckily the monolith is surrounded with crash mats.

Hey hey hey watch it! The last thing I want is to be crushed in your pocket!

I take a more careful approach this time, eventually reaching the top. My fingers sore, my arms aching and my leg hurts. That same leg, it’s never been the same since Unova. It feels like the bone is still frozen at times and I know Doge meant well but my foreleg is almost entirely covered in scar tissue. I doubt my leg hair will ever grow back there and I can’t wear shorts anymore, even though they’re comfy and easy to wear.

Ah welcome to my gym! An exhilarating climb, was it not?

- Exhilarating… is not the word.

Hahaha, excellent! So you’re here for the badge?

- Yes.

Then let’s begin!

Go Amaura!

- Go Petrus!

- Scald!

Thunder wave!

Petrus blasts amaura with boiling hot water, burning it’s skin. Amaura responds with a short jolt of electricity that makes Petrus seem to move more sluggishly.

- Scald!

Rock tomb!

Amaura tries to surround Petrus with rocks but misses. Petrus blasts amaura with hot water again, knocking it off the arena.

Go Tyrunt!

- Scald!

Bite!

Petrus seems to be unable to move as tyrunt bites his arm.

- Scald!

Bite!

Petrus still can’t move and tyrunt bites him on the other arm.

- Petrus return! Go Reah!

Bite!

Reah gets a surprise bite as soon as she leaves her pokéball.

- Fairy wind!

Rock tomb!

Before Reah can move she’s buried under a pile of rocks.

- No! Reah no!

- Go Max!

- Sleep powder!

Bite!

Max engulfs tyrunt in a plume of powder that puts it to sleep.

- Razor leaf!

Max launches a flurry of sharp leaves at tyrunt, dealing critical damage. Tyrunt wakes up and throws rocks at Max in an attempt to bury him but instead one strikes Max on the head.

- Max return! Go Seath!

Bite!

Tyrunt bites Seath on the tail as he leaves his pokéball.

- Charm!

Bite!

Seath tries his best to win over the other tyrunt but it just bites him on the neck, dealing critical damage. Seath flops to the floor and doesn’t move any further.

- Seath, nooo!

We hardly knew ye.

- Go Max!

- Sleep powder!

Bite!

Max spits another plume of powder in tyrunt’s face, putting it to sleep.

- Max return! Go Petrus!

Bite!

Tyrunt continues to snooze during the switch.

- Scald!

Bite!

While tyrunt still slumbers Petrus blasts it with hot water, knocking it off the arena.

Well done! You’ve earned the Cliff Badge!

Route 10

I decide to head off by myself. This route seems so quiet, the rows upon rows of monolithic stones standing in the silence creep me out. I hear a twig snap and catch some movement in the corner of my eye.

Turning to get a better look, all I see are more stones and grass. Turning back I almost bump into a golett, pokéball go!

Golett: It seems to be a clump of clay.

- Welcome to the bench, Tarkus.

Tarkus Lv. 21

Continuing further I spot a flair guy leaning against one of the stones.

Hey kid! Get out of here, we’re doing important work here!

- Get out of my way I’m just passing through.

That sounds like fighting word-

I grab him by his stupid hair and slam his face into the stone. While he clutches his nose and whimpers as his blood drips to the ground I carry on walking.

Meanwhile somewhere nearby on Route 10…

Hm, alone? That doesn’t seem right.

Something’s changed already, but I was so careful!