Epsilon: Pokemon Y Nuzlocke 3

EPSILON: THE POKEMON Y NUZLOCKE
CHAPTER THREE: JOURNEY’S BEGINNING

A few days later, Maurice has spent the whole time readying himself for the new journey. He had received the same kind of Pokédex that the professor had given to Shauna. He packed a few Pokéballs and Potions he had bought in Aquacorde, and would be leaving for the first gym in Santalune. “This is it, little buddy. It begins here…and it won’t end until my mom is out of the hospital.” He said determined.

“And I’ll be right by your side.” Haruto noted.

“You know, if we are going to do this, this may mean you may inevitably evolve at one points. Have you ever wondered what that may mean to you in the future?” Haruto ask.

“I was comfy being a household pet for years…but things change, and we have to accept what will come with that change. For me it’ll result in getting bigger, and able to stand up and have opposable thumbs; not a bad change if you ask me.” Haruto added.

“Always the positive one, are you? Well, I need your positivity more than ever for this one.” Maurice said as he went downstairs. Ready to leave. Icy was waiting for him there, Witherwing the Fletchling and Rocksteady the Rhyhorn by her side.

“So you’re really going, huh? I made you some lunch and gotten you some cash, for essentials like food and medicine. Best to be prepared for everything…” Icy said, in an attempt to make small talk. “I know you’re old enough and smart enough to be a good trainer but it’s…I’ve watched after you since you were a boy whenever your mom was away and…it’s weird for a Pokémon to say, but you are kind of like a son to me and…I feel a certain kind of pride and worry for all this.” The Jynx continued.

Maurice understood. He brought up a soft smile. “You were kind of always my second mother. So you must know that I care a lot as well. And no matter how thing will turn out…I have family to turn to.” Maurice said. Icy got a bit emotional as she pulled her surrogate son in a hug. “Icy…cold!” Maurice said.

“Oops…ice type…sorry!” Icy said embarrassed.

“Listen kid, I’m not good with mushy stuff and so I’m not going to sugarcoat it. It’s going to be tough Muk out there. You will win, you will lose. Just don’t lose the spark kid.” Witherwing added.

Rocksteady just moved closer and nuzzled Maurice. “Thanks Wing, for your…advice. And I’ll miss you too, big lug.” Maurice said petting the huge Rhyhorn.

“Nothing to worry, I got his back the whole way.” Haruto assured them.

“I promise, it’ll be all right.” Maurice said before the took a deep breath and walked out the door, and headed for the direction of Santalune.

We cut to a peaceful path near the edge of a forest, with lots of green and nature. A single bird Pokémon, a Pidgey flew down near a berry bush and started picking at one of the tasty looking berries. As it was enjoying a meal, it was suddenly struck and knocked from the bush by a yellow blur, which turned out to be Haruto. The Pidgey recomposed itself and chirped angrily at the Fennekin, and charged at him. Haruto dodged and turned around, firing a few embers at the Pidgey, knocking it out of the air, as it hit the ground it bounced up a bit, then was hit by a Pokéball and pulled inside. The Pokéball flew back in Maurice’s hand and with a click, it was caught.

“This feels good…catching our first Pokémon.” Maurice said as he looked at the Pokéball in which the bird Pokémon was now stored. He grabbed a potion and opened it up.

The Pidgey looked dazed and stumbled as it got out, then felt a cold tingling sensation as it was sprayed with a healing potion and felt revitalized. He then eyes the trainer that caught him. “You know, you could until I had finished lunch before you decided to attack me!” it said, helped by the translator in Maurice’s Pokédex.

“Sorry…I got kind of excited. You are my first catch ever after all.” Maurice noted.

“Oh, a Trainer? I haven’t seen one in person, but I heard from some Pidove friends that had been to the city. There aren’t many of you anymore, right? It’s interesting to finally meet one. Say, you are going to travel around a lot, are you?” the Pidgey asked.

“Er…yeah, that’s kind of part of the gig. It’s not like the Pokémon and trainers are going to knock at my door.” Maurice replied.

“I always wanted to travel, but due to my low level I could not go out there, or I may have ended up as a snack for bigger badder Pokémon. But with a trainer I may have the backup I need. Not to mention the many things I could learn, to see different environments, see art, finding glory…I’m sorry, I’m babbling. I am (makes weird chirping sounds) at your service.”

“I don’t think human tongue can pronounce that. Can I call you…Raum?” Maurice asked.

“Oh…I like that name. Sounds dark and mysterious. Also a bit exotic. Now, if you don’t mind I stuff myself with berries for a bit before we leave, I didn’t finish lunch after all.” Raum said.

After that, Raum was perched on Maurice’s shoulder for the rest of the trip as they moved from the grasslands inside the forest. Raum was actually a very intellectual Pidgey but was being held back by his low level to go out and learn things. “…and that Pidove friend of mine told me about ‘movie theaters’. They project everything bigger on a screen. I wonder how they do that?” Raum asked.

“I can try to explain but I’m no expert. I’ll take you to Lumiose Movie Theater when I have the chance to let you see for yourself.” Maurice assured. “Okay, this forest is a new area…so we get a chance at another catch.”

“Hey you!” Maurice was halted by a young kid, younger then Shauna, with shorts and a backwards cap. “You look weak, let’s battle, one on one.” The kid blurted. “Oh, and one more thing…I LIKE SHORTS!”

“One: I hate you already. Second: You are going to regret opening your big mouth and calling me weak. Third: Why the shorts thing? It’s totally random, it’s not funny, it’s stupid.” Maurice said.

“Shorts are Arceus!” the kid said as he tossed out a Pokéball and out came a Caterpie.

“Great, my first non-practice battle and it’s against a kid that was clearly dropped on his head at one point.” Maurice groaned. “Raum, you ready for your first battle with me.”

“I am ready to take the first step in unlocking my potential.” Raum said as he flew of Maurice’s shoulder.

“Good, Tackle him!” Maurice ordered. Raum shot forward and rammed into the Caterpie,  knocking it back.

“Don’t stand there, you little worm. Tackle back.” The Youngster bit at the bug Pokémon. The Caterpie got up, readied himself, thrusted forward, but Raum was high in the air, where he couldn’t reach it.

“Just end it, Raum.” Maurice said, sounding bored, as Raum charged into the Caterpie and knocked it in a tree, out cold. “That was easy.”

“You pathetic little worm, can’t you even win ONE single battle?” The youngster shouted at the Caterpie. The little worm cried as it tried to nuzzle to the ankle of his trainer but was kicked off. “I have no need for a weak Pokémon like you. I’m tired of being your trainer.” The Youngster then shattered the Pokéball of the Caterpie on a nearby rock.

“Hey, that’s no way to treat a Pokémon. Whether it wins battles or not, it’s a living being with feelings.” Maurice scolded the youngster.

“They are just dumb animals, they don’t ‘know’ anything, they don’t have feelings.” The Youngster said.

“Do I sound dumb to you, ruffian?” Raum asked. The youngster screamed like a little girl, not expecting the Pidgey to talk. “Translation device, fairly new apparatus. But it helped show the world we are not just mindless animals but have our own language, feelings and thoughts.”

Haruto, out of pity, had crawled at the Caterpie and patted him on the back to comfort him. “You are a sick kid!” Haruto growled.

“I beat you, you are going to pay up according to the rule of Trainer combat and then you are going to apologize for your stupid behavior.” Maurice threatened the Youngster.

“Take the money but I’m not apologizing to a worm.” The youngster said as he tossed the money at Maurice.

“Haruto, fry his shorts of his ass.” Maurice noted. Haruto had a sly grin on his his face as he shot embers from his mouth at the youngster, who ran off like his tail was on fire…which it was since Maurice hit him in the butt and shorts caught fire.

“That felt good!” Haruto noted.

Maurice turned to the little Caterpie. “No need to be afraid, the bad boy is gone little fella.” He pulled out some berries and gave them to the Caterpie. “The kid was a jerk. I don’t think you are weak, you just have potential you haven’t tapped into yet.”

“Y-y-you really think so?” the Caterpie asked.

“I am certain. If you want I can help you with unlocking that potential. I promise I will be a much better trainer then…whatever his name was.” Maurice said.

“You seem different enough from that other guy…I want to try being with another trainer again.” The Caterpie said.

Maurice then took out a Pokéball as the Caterpie allows itself to be captured, and then Maurice pulled him out of his Pokéball again. “Welcome to the club…Uva.”

“Uva? I am being named? The other guy didn’t name me…” Caterpie said.

“Of course you are silly, we are part of a team, a team of individuals with their own strengths and uses. You are part of it now.” Raum said as he flew at the Caterpie and gently put his wing around him.

“B-b-but I’m not sure if I have any strengths. Right now I can only charge and spin threads. I don’t know how I’d be useful in any regard…” Uva said. Maurice put a finger in his chin and started pondering.

A wild Panpour was swinging Tarzan-style on some vines through the forest, happily whistling. Until he got stuck in some sort of web. The Panpour saw several other Pokémon stuck in the web-like substance.

“You see, because of your String Shot they are stuck, which allows Raum and Haruto to finish them off. Due to your contribution you share the experience with them and it’ll allow you to grow with minimal effort until you are able to become a Butterfree. After that you are strong enough to engage into more direct combat.” Maurice explained as he pointed at the trapped Pokémon, who were being scratched by Haruto and tackled by Raum.

“Whoa, you are really smart. The other guy just ordered me to charge into everything Leroy Jenkins style.” Uva noted.

“That’s because I have more than half a brain.” Maurice joked. Uva chuckled. “Now, let’s put up a few more String Shots around the forest…”

Later that day, near the exit of the forest, Maurice came out, standing proudly…picking leaves and webs from his hair. Haruto walking next to him and Raum on his shoulder, and a Butterfree flying above him. “I can’t believe I’m a Butterfree…I never thought I’d be old enough to see the day. I’d thought I’d be eaten by a bird before that would happen…No offense Raum.”

“None taken. I prefer berries anyways.” Raum joked.

“I am ready to go into real fight. I really want to try out my new Confusion attack.” Uva said excited.

“Ok…then let’s see what we can challenge. Hey, an Azurill…” Maurice said.

“No worries, I got it!” Uva said as he rushed at it.

“Uva, wait, I want to…” Maurice said, as Uva blasted the Azurill with psychic energy from his eyes and sent the thing blasting off Team Rocket style. “…catch it!” Maurice said as he facepalmed.

“Whoops, I’m sorry…I got carried away. No worries, we’ll find another Pokémon on this route somewhere, it can’t be the only one after all…” Uva said.

“I can only catch one Pokémon per route, remember? But it doesn’t matter. I got two flying types and a fire type. The gym uses Bug Types. I’m sure I can manage this just fine.” Maurice said. “Santalune is just up ahead, and so is the first Gym.”

They had made it to Santalune fairly quickly. After healing up they headed for the gym immediately. Once entering the gym, a receptionist stood at his desk. Normally there was a waiting room where one would wait for a bit until the previous challenger was done. However, the waiting room was for obvious reasons very empty.

“We didn’t have much challengers in a while due to the trainer shortage. I’m surprised we’re getting two on a day now.” The clerk said.

“Two?” Maurice asked.

“Yeah, a little girl, brown hair, very energetic, had a Chespin went in a few minutes ago. You can see on the screen there how she does.” The clerk said.

Maurice looked at the screen and indeed, his suspicion was confirmed when he saw Shauna fighting off the gym leader. Maurice looked on as Shauna’s Skitty went up against a Surskit. “Fluffly, Tackle!”

“Quick Attack!” Viola said as her Surskit rushed at Fluffy, outspeeding it and knocking it to the ground. Surskit moved in for a second attack.

“Grab and Tackle!” Shauna said. It appears she had learned from her fight against Maurice cause as soon as the Surskit’s attack hit, Skitty swiftly grabbed the Surskit with her tail then used the momentum to hit it with a strong Tackle from short range, and knocked it out. “Yay! You did it Fluffy!” Shauna cheered.

“Whoa…that ditzy kid isn’t too bad at her first gym challenge.” Haruto noted.

“She seems…different when she is battling. Intriguing.” Maurice noted. Maurice couldn’t help but wonder where that burst of confidence has come from…

“Skitter, return. Go, Vivi!” Viola then summoned a Vivillon in combat. “Infestation!” Fluffy was weakened by the Surskit’s attacks so it wasn’t fast enough to dodge a swarm of black tiny specks the Vivillon spat out and started to swarm around the kitten. “Now Tackle!” After its strength was sapped by Infestation, Tackle was enough to knock it out.

“Fluffy! Oh, I should have recalled you when I had the chance…I’m sorry!” Shauna said as she picked up Fluffy. Fluffy wasn’t mad as she licked her trainer. “You rest up now, Chester will do the rest.” Shauna recalled Fluffy and sent out her Chespin.

“Ore…sanjou!” The Chespin said as he left his Pokéball and made an intro pose. “Ready whenever you are, sweet cheeks.” Chester seemed to not have trouble following Shauna’s orders. Perhaps her personality change during combat had something to do with it.

“Chester! Rollout!” Shauna ordered. The Chespin curled up in a ball and rolled at the Vivillon. It made a hop, but Vivillon just flew to higher ground to avoid it. Chester fell back to the ground, bounced a bit in his ball form before landing back on his feet.

“Get down here and fight as a mon, you overgrown moth!” Chester growled. Chester was met with a powerful Tackle and was knocked on the ground. “Hey doll-face. We need a plan and fast!” Chester shouted at his trainer.

“Lemme think…I counted on Rollout for this.” Shauna said, the image of Chester’s rollout in her mind…and the little bounce he made earlier. “I have an idea, use Rollout again.” Shauna said.

“I hope you know what you’re doing.” Chester said as he curled up and rolled out again. As expected, at first the Vivillon flew out of range. But this time… “Now Bounce of the walls!” Shauna said as this time, the curled up Chester bounced off the wall, right into the Vivillon, then bounced off another wall and kept bouncing in the butterfly Pokémon. For the final attack he bounced of the wall, right above the Vivillon crashed into it from above and sent it flinging into the ground. Chester landed on the ground proudly. Shauna squealed in glee as she rushed at Chester and hugged him tightly. “Yeah, I’m happy too, but let’s cut the mushy stuff to a minimum in public?” Chester asked embarrassed.

“Well, you did a great job out there. You deserve this Badge. It didn’t matter if I had won or not, I was just glad to have a bit of excitement in my life.” Viola said as she handed the badge to Shauna.

“Oh my gosh this is so awesome that I have my first badge and I won all because of my darling Chester and Fluffy and oh, you know I found Fluffy on route 22 when she was around some catnip? She is a cat Pokémon so it makes sense she seeks out catnip but she was so cute rolling through it and I just had to catch her but I wanted her to be cute and strong and…am I blabbing again?” Shauna ranted.

“Er…” Viola said, not wanting to be impolite. “Can I take a picture of you and your team? I do so for all trainers who have beat me. It is a reminder of how I myself can still grow as a leader.” It was something Shauna agreed to happily.

“Whoa, that girl is quite skilled.” Raum noted.

“When we fought her last time she wasn’t nearly this good. You think she took your advice to heart, Maurice?” Haruto asked.

“I guess she did and more. Maybe she is one who can make it to the top anyways.” Maurice said. Maurice had been focused on the screen during the entire fight.

Haruto got a sly smirk on his face. “Maybe she starts growing on you.”

“It’s not like that. I just admire her trainer skills.” Maurice said annoyed.

“You really mean that?” Shauna had come up from behind them and had heard the last part of their conversation. She had a twinkle in her eyes.

“Sure. You showed creativity during that fight. Not many beat their first gym on their first try. You clearly have listened to me when I told you to not back down.” Maurice replied.

“Of course I listened. Because I knew you were smart and know a lots about Pokémon and stuff which should be logical since you work at a lab and studied them and all so of course I’d listen and I had to listen carefully because we are doing this for a good cause and all…am I babbling again?” Shauna said.

“You’re always babbling.” Maurice noted. “You deserved your first badge. Cherish the moment, because Gym Leaders will keep using stronger Pokémon. So you have to become stronger as well. I’m sure you can manage.” Maurice said to her.

“NEXT!” the Gym Clerk said.

“It’s my turn now. I’ll be seeing you later. Good luck in the future Shauna.” Maurice said as he left. Shauna kept having that adoring look in her eyes as she saw Maurice ready to go face her challenge.

Viola was already waiting. “Already? Didn’t expect one so short after another. Must be my lucky day. I could use a little excitement. Photographing bug Pokémon in their natural habitat is a fine hobby but I miss the adrenaline rush. So, what’s your name and how many badges do you have?”

“Wataru Maurice. And I got no badges yet, this is my first gym challenge.” Maurice said.

“Oh, I shouldn’t have put Vivi and Skitter away so quickly…wait a sec.” Viola said as she reached in a closet and pulled out several Net Balls from various others. Each leader has multiple Pokémon of different levels depending on which trainer they fight. “Rules are simple, I use three Pokémon, when they are out, you win.”

“I can live with that…” Maurice noted.

“Then let’s get started Lady, let’s go!” Viola said as she brought out a Ladyba.

“Haruto, you are up.” Maurice said. “This is it, no half-baked rookies, no sparring, no wilds, a real gym battle. You are ready for this?”

“I was hatched ready!” Haruto said as he walked forward to the battlefield, eying the ladybug Pokémon. “Just tell me when.”

“Let’s do this quickly, use Ember!” Maurice ordered. Haruto spat several tiny balls of fire at the Ladyba, who flew around to dodge a few but a third strike hit it dead on. It looked pained. “Let’s finish it, Flame Charge!”

“I’m fired up!” Haruto said as he was engulfed in flames and charged at the Ladyba.

“Lady, Supersonic!” The Ladyba flapped its wings harder and created soundwaves that threw Haruto off balance, made his vision and hearing blurry and as a result missed the Ladyba and ran into a wall, hurting himself. “Now Tackle him!” the Ladyba, on Viola’s orders tackled Haruto.

“Maurice…I can’t see anymore, and my hearing is muffled…I can’t lock in on the Ladyba anymore…In this state I’m more prone to hurting myself.” Haruto said, staggering.

This was known as ‘confusion’, the Pokémon’s senses are scrambled, attacks can sometimes hit, but have as much change of backfiring. “Try rely on your sense of smell, that isn’t affected.” Maurice realized.

Haruto sniffed the air, getting a whiff from the Ladyba’s smell. He then aimed a few Embers in its direction, hitting it and knocking it out. “My head is still fuzzy, but I feel good for winning this round!”

“Very smart, not many find a way around the confusion.” Viola said, recalling her Ladyba. “But now a change of pace, let’s go Skitter!” Viola brought out her Surskit, the one she used earlier.

“Haruto, you go stand aside until the fuzziness wears off, let Raum take over. Raum, time to shine for you.” Maurice said.

Raum flew off his shoulder, on to the battlefield. He eyed the Surskit. “Mind if I defeat you?” the Surskit raised an eyebrow. “I can’t hear you.” Raum said as he flapped his wings and flew up.

“Skitter, Bubble!” Viola said and the little strider Pokémon fired slightly sulfuric bubbles at Raum.

“Quick Attack!” Raum used his speed to charge through the bubbles unharmed and hit the Surskit dead on, sending it into the air. “Gust!” Raum flapped his wings, creating a strong wind that formed a small tornado that kept Surskit in the air, open for any attacks. “Once more, Quick Attack.” Raum charged several more times into the Surskit, as it fell from the sky, knocked out.

“Return, Skitter. You are a tough cookie for a rookie. But it isn’t over yet. Let’s go, Vivi!” Viola sent out her last Pokémon, the Vivillon.

“Raum, you can rest. I think Uva deserves a chance to shine. You go, Uva!” Maurice said.

“M-m-me? You really mean it?” Maurice nodded at the nervous bug type. “I won’t disappoint you! I’m going in!” Uva said as he flew up to the battlefield and faced his fellow butterfly Pokémon.”

“Get him with Infestation.” Viola said. The Vivillon spat out several black specks at Uva.

“Use Confusion!” Maurice told Uva. Uva’s eyes flashed and the black specks were sent back at Vivillon, trapped his his own Infestation. Then Uva used Confusion to trap Vivillon in his mind hold and then toss it around.

“Vivi, Harden!” Viola said desperately. Vivi glowed a bit as it hardened and raised its defenses, but while the impacts hurt less, the psychic energy and the Infestation still did.

“Poisonpowder!” Maurice ordered. Uva pulled the Vivillon closer, so that the purple powder it could spread wouldn’t miss, as it flapped its wings to release the toxic spores. The poison, Infestation and psychic energies did their job, and Vivillon fainted.

“Return Vivi.” Viola said, returning her Pokémon. “That was a good battle. Best I’ve had in a long time. I really want to thank you for making my day. You deserve this Bug badge, the TM for Infestation and of course a nice monetary compensation for your efforts.” Viola said as she pulled out a wad of Pokédollar bills, a disc-like item and another of the beetle-shaped badges.

Maurice took the objects, and eyed the badge. He couldn’t help but feel a certain pride. “It’s a very special feeling, getting your first badge. I feel like I want to shout out to the heavens: ‘I got a Bug Badge’. But I won’t because that would be stupid.” Maurice noted. “What isn’t stupid, but in fact really awesome is how you guys were out there. I couldn’t have done it without you, guys.” Maurice complimented his team.

“No, I should thank you, for letting me have a taste of what being under a good trainer is like, and how it feels to be strong.” Uva said.

“I thank you for allowing to expand my horizons like this.” Raum added.

“It was a rocky start at first but it felt great swatting some bugs.” Haruto noted. “I still feel fuzzy though, shouldn’t have it worn off? Oh, now I feel tingly.” Haruto said as he started to glow. “Holy Mew, I’m evolving!” he noted. The others looked in awe as Haruto started to grow, stood on his hind legs, grew a furry ‘skirt’ of sorts…and became a Braixen.

“Whoa…Haruto…That was amazing. But…how do you feel now?” Maurice asked.

“That felt amazing; I feel stronger…I have hands now…I feel psychic energies in my brain ready to be mastered…I got hands now…I’m taller…and I got hands!” Haruto said.

“You really seem to like the hands.” Maurice noted.

“Of course, it will make picking up things easier, it’s not handy to pick up anything in your mouth, you know. I couldn’t hold a game controller and ever tried picking cookies from the cookie jar with those stomps I had earlier? Not a good thing!” Haruto said.

“I guess in a way we all took a next step towards maturity.” Maurice said as he eyed his badge. “This is how it starts and how it’ll continue. And nothing will stop us.” Maurice said.

From the shadows, two red eyes flashed as an otherworldly voice muttered to itself: “This kid seems strong. I wasn’t mistaken…Now let’s see how he responds when I test him personally.”

TO BE CONTINUED