Santalune City

You beat me fair and square. Here, the skates just as we agreed!

The skater hands me a trendy looking shoebox.

+ Thanks but I just wanted to get into the gym, you’re right in front of- oh cool, Heelys!

I waste no time in swapping shoes.

Sorry they look a little childish.

+ Are you kidding? They’re so comfy, a lot better than Serena’s old school shoes!

Oh, I’m glad you like them. So you’re going to challenge the gym?

+ Yup.

You’re sure you want to do this?

Joule looks at my scarred leg.

You remember what happened last time…

+ It’s the best way to find my brother, he hasn’t left any trace. But I know he’ll be competing in a Pokémon League. The database in a Hall of Fame is the best way to locate him.

I stand before the door to the gym for a moment.

So are we going? Or…

The door bursts open.

I won! I got my first gym badge!

I wasn’t worried at all!

+ Hi Serena.

Hi Cally! I guess it’s your turn.

+ Yeah.

I step into the building. Inside it looks more like a gallery than a gym, until I reach the arena.

Oh another challenger so soon? Hello, I’m Viola, the gym leader here. So have you any badges yet?

+ No.

Alright, just one moment.

A bright flash blinds me for a moment, everything looks foggy for a few seconds while my vision returns.

Too bright!

+ Ow! What was that?

Viola takes the polaroid from her camera, wafts it a bit and then pins it to a board on the wall behind her.

So sorry, I take photos of all my challengers!

Maybe a little warning first?

Ready to begin?

+ Let’s do this.

Go Surskit!

+ You’re up, Joule!

+ Thundershock!

Bubble!

Joule jolts the Surskit before Surskit spits bubbles back at her, somehow hurting her on contact.

+ Thundershock!

Quick Attack!

Surskit zips across the arena and bashes into Joule who responds by shocking Surskit into submission.

Ugh, still out of shape…

Go Vivillon!

+ Joule come back! Go Smokey!

To battle!

+ Ember!

Tackle!

Vivillon swoops at Smokey, smacking into her before receiving a face full of embers.

+ Ember!

Infestation!

Vivillon summons tiny insects that swarm Smokey and nibble at her. Smokey spits more embers at Vivillon while the swarm of insects continue to bite at her.

+ Ember!

Tackle!

As Vivillon swoops at Smokey again, Smokey spits embers in its path. The swarm ceaselessly attacks Smokey.

+ Ember!

Viola sprays a potion on Vivillon while Smokey sprays it with embers. Smokey struggles to hold her composure as the insects keep biting her.

Mustn’t scratch, mustn’t scratch!

+ Ember!

Infestation!

Vivillon summons more bugs that swarm over Smokey as she pounces on Vivillon, pins it to the floor and roars embers in its face until it passes out.

Not as fun as I thought it’d be. Please put be back in the ball.

Congratulations! You’ve earned the Bug Badge!

+ Thanks.

One down…

As I head for the marked exit I glance over at the board with all the photos on it. So many trainers, Viola has written their names and the date of their challenge on them. Looking down the board I gaze across Serena’s photo and next to that is…

+ !!

What’s wrong?

Is something wrong?

+ This photo, it’s my brother!

But that’s the photo I took of you!

Viola comes over to the board and looks at the photo.

+ It’s him! He looks a little older but that’s definitely him!

I don’t get it, this is impossible! That’s the photo I took but it’s not you in the picture…

The picture is of a boy wearing a blue jacket, jeans and a Pokémon League baseball cap. A Fletchling is on his shoulder and a Fennekin stood beside him. The label has written the exact date and time I challenged Viola but the name reads “Caldar Caldarson”.

This is weirding me out!

You look just like him. Except you’re blonde and, well… a girl obviously.

+ It’s not my natural hair colour.

Yeah I’ve been meaning to ask you about that.

After much headscratching Viola decides to take another photo of me and gave the picture of my brother to me. The new photo turned out fine if not a little posed, I can sort of understand why Viola snaps a surprise shot. I head outside to meet up with the others.

Cally! It went well?

+ I won.

Congratulations!

Awesome!

Well done!

Woo!

Route 4

Next up we’re heading for Lumiose City.

Hm?

The Professor’s lab is there. I can’t wait to see what he has in store for us!

He’s a really cool guy, he gave Serena and me our first Pokémon.

Cally get over here!

I rush over to Joule who’s standing by a flower bed. A tiny Pokémon lay quivering on the ground.

+ What’s wrong?

She’s in a lot of pain! She tried to tell me something before she passed out.

What is it?

The Pokédex says it’s a Flabébé.

It doesn’t look so good.

+ We need to get her to a PokéCenter!

I reach to pick the frail and fragile looking thing.

I don’t think we’ll get back in time…

Oh no…

No choice then, you’ve got to catch her.

+ What?

You’ve got to use a Pokéball.

+ This doesn’t feel right.

I hate this idea too, but there’s no other choice!

I take a Pokéball from my bag and gently tap the Flabébé, capturing it instantly. I kick my Heelys into action and skate downhill back to Santalune. I burst through the doors at the PokéCenter and hand the Flabébé to Nurse Joy.

A few hours later Nurse Joy returns with the Pokéball, it pops open as soon as it’s back in my hands.

I wasn’t expecting a rescue from humans. Thank you. I am Antheia of the Hidden Village.

No problem, this human is called Cally and she has the gift.

+ Hello Antheia, sorry about capturing you so suddenly…

I’ve never before met a human who understands us. I’m not upset about my capture, you saved my life!

+ What happened to you?

I was attacked by evil humans.

Rockets? Were they wearing black?

What’s a Rocket? These humans were wearing red. They stole the forest deity!

Which one?

The Lifegiver, they took him while he slumbered! We sent out everyone we could to search, I went to look for help. I hoped to find Moltres or Articuno but the bad humans attacked me with their Pokémon and left me poisoned.

Not the Lifegiver! This is bad news.

This is bad, very, very bad!

+ I’m so sorry.

I’m honour bound to remain with you but I implore you; please help us. This will hurt us all, humans too, if we don’t do something!

This is heavy…

+ I’ll do my best, Antheia. I’m not sure what I can do but I’ll think of something.

Heading back to Route 4 I try to catch up with the others, but I’m slowed down by a few challenges from other trainers. I waste as little time as possible in defeating them.

I think I’m about ready to-

Ah, there we go!

I can fly! Wheee!

Lookin’ good, Claire!

Cally! I saw a bright light and wondered what it was.

+ Claire just evolved.

Aw I missed it. I’ve never seen a Pokémon evolve before. Anyway we’re all waiting for you at the gatehouse. How was that Flabébé by the way?

+ She’s fine and she decided to stay with me.

Shauna and I meet up with the others just outside the city limits. A couple people are standing with them.

Ah, are these your friends?

Yes it’s them, Shauna and Cally.

Hello, this is Sina and I’m Dexio.

We’re Professor Sycamore’s assistants.

The professor is waiting to meet trainers in his lab, turn left out of the gate and head down the road, it’s opposite the Pokémon Center.

Lumiose City

I’m heading straight to the lab! Are you coming too?

+ I think I’m going to make a stop somewhere else first.

I’m going to check out the Pokémon studio!

Tierno and I need to check on something real quick.

Right, we need to check… that thing.

Those two creep me out just a little bit.

I look down the highstreet for a clothing boutique and enter the first one I see.

Oh non non non! We can’t let your sort into this kind of establishment.

I reach into my bag and pull out a wad of cash.

+ Really? What a shame…

Ah, pardonne-moi. Right this way s’il vous plaît.

What just happened?

+ They only serve the absurdly rich here.

But aren’t you poor?

+ Got a huge cash settlement from the Kanto Pokémon League for what Green did.

Neat.

I head over to the men’s section and grab a pair of shorts, a white shirt, a blue jacket, a bag, and a blue baseball cap.

+ I’ll take these.

Mademoiselle, are these a gift?

+ No they’re for me.

I hand over the cash.

Okay…

I swap to my new clothes in the changing room before I head back out to my next stop. A hair salon.

Hello, how can I help?

I glance over at the wall with all the photos of models on them and point to one of them.

+ I’d like that style please and can you dye my hair? I want to be a brunette again.

You don’t like blonde? Such a shame, it really brings out the green in your eyes. Oh, and you realise that style is more suited for boys, right?

+ I don’t care, I like my hair short and I want my natural colour back.

Okay…

I let the hairdresser do her work but I can only think of one word answers when she tries to chat with me. Eventually she finishes and I feel a lot more comfortable.

+ Thanks.

You look more like your old self again!

I leave and head for Sycamore’s lab.

Cally? Is that you?

+ Yeah, thanks for the loaner clothes but I got my own now.

But you look like a boy.

Let her dress how she wants, I kinda like it anyway.

But shorts? Didn’t you want something to cover your scar?

+ I like shorts, they’re comfy and easy to wear.

Welcome trainers! I am Augustine Sycamore. I see you two got the Pokémon I sent, are they well?

Froakie and I are getting on great!

Fennekin and I won our first gym badge!

Excellent, now on to my request. I’d like you to find out all you can about Mega Evolution.

Mega whatnow?

+ What’s that?

It’s something only a very few trainers are able to do, supposedly it has to do with a trainer’s bond with their Pokémon. It’s a form of evolution that transcends regular Pokémon evolution.

So cool!

Sounds interesting!

I don’t like it.

Oh, there’s three of you? I was expecting two.

This is Cally, she’s new to Kalos. She’s the daughter of the famous Rhyhorn racer, Grace.

+ Hey…

Oh I see, I didn’t realise. Well since your cohorts got Pokémon from me it’s only fair you get one too, even though you already have Pokémon.

+ Oh.

I gave Serena the fire type Fennekin and Shauna the water type Froakie, I’ll give you a grass type.

A Chespin?

What? No. It’s a Bulbasaur, Sina and Dexio rescued it on the shore of Cyllage City.

Sycamore opens a pokéball, revealing the Bulbasaur inside.

Minnie?!

Joule? Cally?

+ Minnie! You’re alive!

You know this Bulbasaur?

+ She’s my friend. Minnie I’m so sorry, we looked for you but we thought you’d…

I hug Minnie tightly, tears streaking down my face.

+ I’m sorry!

I’m so glad to find you again!

What happened to you?

I ended up in this place with lots of mysterious dungeons, I befriended another Pokémon who claimed was human once, together we rescued lots of Pokémon in need, we battled legends. We even met the sky dragon Rayquaza and helped him destroy a meteor!

I don’t really remember much after that, I remember almost drowning, then lying on a beach dying of thirst. Then some humans came and brought me here.

What’s it saying?

+ She’s been through a lot.

Somewhere different yet exactly the same…

That guy battled like a veteran! Now to put his picture on the wall…

Huh? This isn’t the picture I took. Who’s that girl? I haven’t seen her before. This is my handwriting, too. Who’s Cally?