Ouranie is a young girl who is passionate about the stars. She has her heart set on climbing the Victory Road and reach the highest spot in Unova for the ultimate stargazing experience! But in order to this, she must collect all eight badges and challenge the Unova League!
*image removed*
I'm starting my journey in Nuvema Town, together with my best friends, Tcheren and Bianca. Professor Juniper has delivered the three starter Pokemon to my house, and each of us gets to chose one. I have first pick; we're in my house after all, and since I've always loved Water-types, I quickly decide on Oshawott.
Poke Ball in hand, we all call out our new partners: Bianca's very hyper Tepig, Tcheren's very smug Snivy - how fitting for both of them, I thought -, and my very... apathetic Oshawott suddenly appear in the middle of the room. I must confess, I'm rather surprised how despite his species' reputation of being curious little fellows, this one seemed rather uninterested in all the commotion.
Ganymède ♂ Lv. 5
Lax, often lost in thought
Torrent
Tackle · Tail Whip
Tcheren is quietly assessing the trio, while Bianca can't stop gushing over them and immediately suggests we all battle each other right away.
These guys are so tiny, it's totally safe to battle indoors, she says, and I can't say no to that. We end up thrashing the whole place. My mother's pretending not to mind it much, but you can tell that she can't wait to have us out of the house.
After a quick detour over at Juniper's lab, we're on our way to Route 1, and the start of our adventure. Tcheren wants to become League Champion, Bianca just wants to prove to her father that she can manage by herself, and me, I just can't wait to soak in the night sky at the peak of Victory Road!
After an uneventful trek through Route 1, we're reaching Accumula Town in the evening, and it seems like we're in for something different. While Bianca goes ahead to the Poke Center, Tcheren and I join a large crowd in the plaza, where Team Plasma is holding a rally, with their leader, a scary old man who goes by the name of Ghetis, preaching for Pokemon liberation. The two of us are unimpressed, though some of the people seem confused. One man in particular stands out; he's young, very tall and slender, but what's most intriguing is his expression. He seems enraptured, but distant somehow. I wonder if he's a Trainer? I notice a cute Purrloin rubbing up against his legs, so he must be.
We're having enough of this, so we're off to the Pokemon Center. Tomorrow we'll be on our way on Route 2.
Both Bianca and Tcheren have found a new partner of their own. Tcheren's team of Snivy and Purrloin excel in speed and accuracy and are boasting with confidence, especially after their recent win at the Gym against Armando, the Fire-type specialist. Bianca's team of Tepig and Lillipup are all over the place, severely unprepared and quite disheartened, and haven't even challenged the Gym yet. I'm having a hard time too, as my Oshawott, Ganymède, seems rather lax in battle. We've already lost twice against Rachid, the Grass-type specialist's prized Pansage, but today, we have a secret weapon.
vs Rachid
Rachid sends out his Lillipup, while I send out Ganymède. They're cautiously eyeing us, while Ganymède uses Water Gun to soak Lillipup. It tries to come closer and Bite, but the jet of water is keeping it away, and it finally succumbs, falling down in a puddle.
Water won't help you against my Pansage, Rachid boasts, as to remind us of our previous failures at his Gym.
While Pansage is building up his strength with Work Up, we go right to the offensive with a Tackle, and then another one. Don't let it hit you, I cry out, but Ganymède is just standing there. Pansage unleashes a strong Vine Whip, and it hits its mark directly behind the head. Nearly out of breath, Ganymède takes out an Oran Berry stashed inside his scalchop and is munching on it. Another Vine Whip is coming fast, but with newly found strength, he goes for another Tackle. My strategy is working! He slams into Pansage, but takes another Vine Whip in the same spot. They're both standing there, both obviously on the brink of fainting. Pansage is the first to fall down and the match is over.
I meet with Rachid at the center of the battlefield. We both collect our Pokemon of the ground, and he presents me with the Trio Badge, as Armando and Noa are watching from the balcony. Finally the coveted first badge is ours!
As I go back to the dining area, a silly grin plastered on my face, I see Tcheren and Bianca waiting for me at a table.
I get it that we're good to leave town, then?, he says, while Bianca's expression goes blank.
I'm dropping out of the League challenge, she says,
so I won't be coming with you two... Wait, what? Are you going back to Nuvema? How about your father, proving yourself?
No, no, I'm not going back! I'll be staying here in Striaton, as Dr. Oryse's assistant. She's one of Juniper's associates and she needs help with some experiments she's doing in the Dreamyard, Bianca explains, trying to go back to her usual cheery self. I can't believe we won't be traveling together anymore...
Route 3 is quiet, or rather, until you reach the Daycare. There's a Minccino and a bunch of Cottonee running around in the yard, and children laughing and having fun on the playground.
I built this Pokemon Daycare with my husband when our daughter was born, and then she built the children daycare when my granddaughter was born, the old lady explains. They ask us if we'd like some dinner and then spend the night, it is late after all, and we agree, but as we're going inside, Tcheren asks for a 1 vs 1 battle. And he means a real battle, now that we both have the Trio Badge.
vs Tcheren
He sends out his Snivy, I send out Ganymède. This is gonna be a tough one. Let's distract them, use Tail Whip! Ganymède turns his back to Snivy and cutely wags his tail.
That won't work on us, he smirks, and commands a Vine Whip. The vines quickly wrap around Ganymède's tail, pulling him slightly. To my surprise, he seems almost... annoyed? He turns around and shoots a jet of water to Snivy's face. Snivy couldn't care less, he's a Grass-type after all, and lets go of Ganymède's tail and prepares for another good whipping.
But then something even more amazing happens: Ganymède takes out his scalchop, waving it in the air. There's a blade of water coming out of it, could that be...? He's deflecting the vines with his scalchop, and Snivy is forced to come closer. Focused on hitting his target, he leaves himself open. Now, Tackle it! Ganymède lunges at Snivy, who's toppled over and knocked out.
Tcheren is shocked, and frankly, so am I. If Ganymède has just learned Razor Shell, this means that surely, he's ready to evolve. For the moment, though, he's just standing there, absent-minded, looking at the night sky. At least that's something that we have in common.
The next day, we can't help but stay for brunch, but as we're packing our bags to leave the daycare, we hear some ruckus outside, and then a very familiar voice.
Wait, give it back!, she cries, and we see a disheveled Bianca rushing on the path, giving chase to a couple of Plasma Grunts who are running off in the distance.
They stole this girl's Pokemon, she says, and points to a lass who's clearly to exhausted to run anymore. In a moment, Tcheren and I are on Plasma's tracks.
The thugs are trying to take cover in a nearby cave, and we catch up to them just as they're getting ready to dive into the cave's spring. Cornered, they both send out a Patrat at the same time, but we're on it. Ganymède uses Razor Shell to knock out one of the Patrat, as the other Patrat lunges at him. Two against one, it's not very nice! Tcheren's Snivy unleashes his Vine Whip after the Patrat, but it evades, much to Tcheren's chagrin. Ganymède meets its attack with his Razor Shell, and the battle is over.
The grunts have escaped in the commotion, though, leaving behind the stolen Purrloin, and both their Patrat. Tcheren and I are dumbfounded that they've abandoned their own Pokemon. But this is no time to waste, so we grab all the Pokemon and head back. As we leave the poor Patrat to the daycare lady, and return the Purrloin to its rightful Trainer, we're shocked to hear even more disturbing news from Bianca.
She was collecting Dream Mist in the Dreamyard yesterday, as part of her assistant duties to Dr. Oryse, when she found the same two Plasma thugs
kicking a Munna to force it to expel her Dream Mist. Luckily, a Musharna chased them away.
If only I had been strong enough to battle them, they wouldn't have escaped and steal this girl's Pokemon today, Bianca says, disheartened. But she's going to do her best, and for now, she's going to accompany the girl back to Striaton.
I finally reached Nacrene at dusk. I don't know if Tcheren got here or if he's camping out on Route 3. After Bianca went back to Striaton, he decided that it was time for us to part ways too. He said he knows he was useless in the battle against Plasma, and that the way he lost against me even with a clear type advantage was pathetic. He wants to get stronger on his own, so from now on we'll be traveling separately.
But this is no time to be gloomy, I'm not alone. On the roof of the tallest warehouse in Nacrene, me and Ganymède are watching the night sky, and tomorrow will be one step closer to an even higher spot.