the Galar Chronicle - the Journey Begins [chapter 2]
Story by DanimusPrime on SoFurry
While searching for a wayward Wooloo, Danimus and Hop encounters a strange Pokémorph
*LAST TIME: * Danimus and Hop, two aspiring trainers from the town of Postwik, meets up with Champion Leon to receive their first Pokémon. As Hop partners up with the grass type Grookey, Danimus befriends the fire type Scornbunny, who he named Cinder. With his new friend, Danimus' adventure begins...
The next morning, Danimus woke up to find Cinder resting next beside him. Danimus had picked her to be his partner and was given a nice surprise when he learned that she could already talk. As Danimus continues to look at Cinder in contentment, the smell of bacon and toast reached the guest room, rousing Cinder from her sleep.
Cinder: *yawns* Good morning, Danimus.
Danimus: Good morning, Cinder. *sniffs the air for a bit* Smells like breakfast is being made. We should get a move on if we want something to eat. Otherwise, Hop would eat the whole thing by himself.
Cinder: Okay.
The duo makes their way to the kitchen to find Leon, Hop, and their Pokémon already sitting down to enjoy their breakfast.
Danimus: Good morning, everybody!
Hop: Good morning, Danimus! Excited to be a trainer now?
Danimus: Yep, although I still can’t believe it.
Hop: Well, as the hero, Naraichu, would say, “Believe it!”
Danimus: You’re still watching that, Hop?
Hop: Are you still watching Dragonite Z?
Danimus: Touché.
Leon: Alright, you two. Let’s enjoy breakfast and then talk about your new trainer statuses
Danimus & Hop: Right!
With that, the group begins to enjoy their breakfast while talking about Leon’s matches. Afterwards, the trio heads out with their partners.
Leon: You two spent the whole night with your new partners, right? You guys getting on all right? Understanding each other? Maybe even built up a bit of love?
Hop: Course I have, Lee! Danimus made fast friends with Cinder, too.
Danimus: It’s true.
Cinder: I agree.
Leon: Then listen up, new trainers! Believe in yourself and your Pokémon! If you trust in one another and carry-on battling side by side long enough, then someday, you might even become worthy rivals for me, the unbeatable Champion!
Danimus: A worthy rival for the unbeatable Champion?
Hop: What’re you looking at him for, Lee?! I’m the one who’ll be coming to challenge you! If you think Danimus might be able to challenge you, then I guess he’s my first rival! But I’m not planning to lose to her and miss out on my chance to beat the unbeatable Champion!
Danimus: I’m Hop’s rival?
Hop: Remember, Danimus. Just having a Pokémon with you doesn’t make you a real trainer, you know. Proper trainers raise their Pokémon up to be first-rate in battle, too!
Leon: Oh, and you think you’re worthy of calling yourself such a proper trainer already, Hop? Guess I’ll be the judge of that! Let’s see how you handle yourself in a battle against your friend, if he’s up for it.
Danimus: Huh?
Leon: What do you say? Willing and ready to take Hop on in the first-ever Pokémon battle of your life?
As Danimus ponders the question, he looks to Cinder and sees a fire in her eyes, burning with a desire to take part in her very first battle.
Danimus: *nods then turn to the others* We’re ready to battle!
Leon: Then let’s step onto the battlefield and prepare to battle. Remember that in battle, you guys are free to use any Pokémon in your party of six. Though you can only use one at a time, you are free to switch between them at your leisure. In official matches, both sides are to use the same number of Pokémon, but otherwise, you are free to use battle with your available Pokémon. Since Hop already has 2 Pokémon, he does have an advantage, but I’m certain Cinder could handle it. Just believe in your partner Pokémon and care for them with all your heart. Do that and I’m certain you’ll learn to choose the moves that suit your Pokémon. And more importantly…to have a champion time battling with them!
Everyone else: Yeah!
With that, the group made their way towards the battlefield, with Danimus and Hop standing at opposite sides of the field and Leon at one of the sides.
Leon: Looks like everyone’s on board, Pokémon and trainers alike? Then let’s do this!
Hop: I’ve watched every match that Lee’s ever had! I’ve read every book and magazine he left behind at home, too!
Leon: Oh, dang! I hope he hadn’t found my secret stache!
Hop: I know exactly what to do in order to win! Wooloo I’ll start with you! *throws Wooloo’s Poké Ball towards the arena, releasing Wooloo for battle*
Danimus: Don’t think I’m gonna back out because of that tidbit! Ready for battle, Cinder?
Cinder: You bet! *jumps towards the field*
Leon: Alright, battle begin!
Hop: Our move! Use Tackle!
Wooloo: Let’s roll!
At his command, Wooloo begins rolling towards Cinder.
Danimus: Then we’ll use Tackle, too!
Cinder: Right!
Cinder begins running towards the rolling Wooloo. The 2 moves collides, dealing minor damage to both Cinder and Wooloo.
Danimus: Once more! Tackle!
Cinder begins running at Wooloo again.
Hop: Not so fast! Wooloo! Use growl!
Wooloo begins growling at Cinder, lowering her attack stats. Regardless, Cinder managed to land the Tackle.
Hop: Wooloo! Use Defense Curl!
Danimus: Huh?
With that, Wooloo curls up for a bit before resuming her stance, her defense increased.
Hop: Cause of Growl, Cinder’s attack power is reduced and with Defense Curl, Wooloo’s defense is boosted. That means that Cinder is gonna have a hard time dealing damaged. Pretty neat, huh?
Danimus: I see. Then we’ll just have to hit twice as hard! Okay, Cinder! Use Double Kick!
Hop: Wait, what?!
Cinder: You got it!
Cinder jumps into the air and lands 2 power kicks on Wooloo, knocking her out.
Leon: Wooloo is unable to battle! Cinder wins the battle!
Hop: *returns Wooloo to her Poké Ball* Did you already know about type advantages?
Danimus: Of course! I watch Leon’s matches too, you know!
Hop: *readies another Poké Ball* That makes sense, but it’s not over yet! I’ve added another trusty ally to my team! Go, Grookey! *throws the Poké Ball, releasing a battle ready Grookey*
Grookey: *battle cry*
Danimus: Can you still fight on, Cinder?
Cinder: You bet!
Danimus: Then let’s show them what we can do! Use Tackle!
Cinder: Okay!
Hop: Jump and use Growl!
Grookey precedes to jump out of the way and growls at Cinder, further reducing her attack stats.
Hop: Now use Scratch!
Grookey charges at Cinder and begins scratching at her.
Danimus: Quick! Use Double Kick to create some distance!
Cinder kicks Grookey away twice, each kick dealing reduced damage.
Hop: Alright, Grookey! Time for Branch Poke!
Danimus: Dodge it, Cinder!
Grookey tries to land the Branch Poke move, but Cinder managed to avoid each attempt for a good while before getting hit hard.
Hop: Nice one, Grookey! A Critical Hit! We got this win in the bag!
Danimus: Not so fast, Hop! Grookey’s not the only one who learned their first elemental move! Now, Cinder! Use Ember!
Cinder: You got it!
Hop: No way!
Cinder kicks a pebble at Grookey, causing it to ignite as it turns into the Ember move and hits Grookey. He stumbles for a bit before collapsing on the battlefield.
Leon: Grookey is unable to battle! Cinder wins and the victory goes to Danimus!
Hop: You beat my two Pokémon with your one?! You and Cinder are too much!
Danimus: Good job, Cinder! We won our first battle!
Cinder: Alright!
Hop: *returns Grookey to his Pokéball* Well, that was a shock! Guess I know now why Lee thought he should give you a Pokémon, too…
Leon: You and your Pokémon all fought hard. Made me almost want to send Charizard out and join in on all the fun!
Charizard: I don’t blame you, Leon. That was a great battle, even if it was their first battle. Exciting, isn’t it, Sobble?
Sobble: *chirps happily in agreement*
Leon: Hahaha! Good effort out there, Cinder!
Cinder: Thank you!
Leon: Why don’t I get you all sorted? *precedes to heal Danimus and Hop’s Pokémon* And, Danimus, you’ve got real promise! In fact, I’ve got a favor to ask you…
Danimus: What’s that?
Leon: Be a real rival to Hop, would you? Push him, and make the both of you stronger!
Danimus: Sure thing!
Hop: Hahaha! I already want to get stronger and stronger! You’ve seen me battle now, Lee, so come on! You’ve gotta let me take on the Pokémon Gyms!
Leon: You? Join the Gym Challenge? You think you’re ready for the single greatest competition in the Galar region? Not putting the cart before the Rapidash there, Little Brother?
Hop: No joke! Not only do I want to join the Gym Challenge, but I’m also gonna win it!
Danimus: Cinder and I also want to join the Gym Challenge!
Cinder: That’s right!
Leon: …If that’s really what you want to do, you two have a whole lot you need to learn about Pokémon. Especially you, Danimus.
Danimus: Huh?
Leon: Before you think about getting Gym Badges, best to think about getting a Pokédex. A Trainer’s Pokédex helps them learn lots of things about all the Pokémon out there, including their strengths. But it’s more than just a collection of data, yow know. It’s a record of a Trainer’s love and passion for Pokémon training!
Hop: Right, right, we get it… Pokédexes, then! We’re on it! Looks like it’s off to the Pokémon Research Lab for you and me, Danimus!
Danimus & Cinder: YEAH!
Leon: That’s the kind of enthusiasm a Trainer needs! I’ll let the professor know to expect you.
Hop: Getting a Pokédex is just another page in the tale of my legend!
Danimus: Really? He’s already writing legends about himself.
Hop: You’d probably better go tell your mum that we’re heading out, though.
Danimus: Good idea, Hop.
Leon: I’m going to call the professor now. You guys head for Wedgehurst.
Everyone: Right!
Leon and his Pokémon heads back to the house to make the phone call. Then, as the young trainers prepare to head to Wedgehurst, a loud crash could be heard over by the gate.
Hop: Did you guys hear that just now?
Danimus: Yeah, and it sounded like-!
Without finishing his statement, Danimus and Hop ran towards the gate to find it open!
Hop: Oh, no! The gate’s open! And the Wooloo that was there is gone!
Hop’s Wooloo: It was tackling the fence pretty hard earlier.
Hop: You don’t think it actually broke through there, do you?
Danimus: Based on its recent behavior, there’s no doubt. We need to go in and bring that Wooloo back.
Hop: But it’s off-limits! Nobody’s supposed to go in there! I remember the professor’s granddaughter went in once, and she came back in a real state… And that was nothing compared to the earful she got from the professor afterward!
Danimus: Maybe, but still, we’ve got to save it!
Cinder: I’m with you, Danimus!
Hop: Right? Even if we’re not supposed to, this is the kind of scene where you simply have to do what’s needed!
Hop’s Wooloo: Hope you’re ready for anything because we’re going in, you guys!
Everyone: Yeah!
With that, everyone precedes to enter the Slumbering Weald. Once in, everyone begins their search for the missing Wooloo.
Hop: That Wooloo… Where do you think it got off to?
Danimus: I don’t know, but the fog is really coming on thick now.
Hop: Yeah. If we don’t find that Wooloo soom, this might be trouble.
Danimus: Agreed. Let’s keep moving.
The group travel further into the Slumbering Weald, occasionally seeing various Pokémon along the way, when they suddenly hear a strange cry coming from the fog.
Danimus: Whoa. Did you guys hear that?
Cinder: I did. Was that a Pokémon crying out?
Hop: I don’t know, but we still need to find that Wooloo.
Traveling further still into the Slumber Weald, the group continue to search for Wooloo while hearing the strange cry again.
Danimus: It’s that cry again.
Hop: Come on, Danimus! That Wooloo might be in real trouble!
Danimus: I know, but this fog is making it hard to-
???1: …This way.
Danimus: Huh? Is someone there?
Hop: Who are you talking too? There’s no one else here but us.
Danimus: What? But I heard…
Cinder: I heard it, too. I think it came from that way!
The group follows Cinder even further into the weald, but as they did so, the fog grew thicker and thicker until they couldn’t see where they were going.
Hop: This is mad… I can’t even see my own hand in front of my face!
Danimus: No kidding! I think I get now why this place is off-limits…
As Danimus said this, he began to feel a presence within the fog, prompting the others to look around. For a good minute, they couldn’t see anything until…
Danimus: *turns around* Huh?
Hop: *surprised* What in the-?!
In front of them was a large cyan lupine-like Pokémon. Or more accurately, a Pokémorph, as evident by its humaniod shape, though its more private areas were covered by extra thick layers of fog. It has yellow eyes, a pink tail, pink braids going down along its body, and pink fringes on its back. It is also covered in battle scars and is missing part of its left ear. Without much warning, the unknown Pokémorph challenges Danimus to a battle.
Danimus: Cinder! Use Tackle!
Cinder: Okay! *charges at the Pokémorph only to pass right it* Huh?
Hop: Wha-?! The move had no effect on it?!
???1: …
Danimus: …It’s staring at me. It’s like it’s inspecting me or something… Cinder! Try to use Double Kick!
Cinder: Right! *attempts to land 2 kicks, but like before, the attack fails* Again?
The mysterious Pokémorph let’s out a cry and as it does so, the fog became thicker.
Danimus: *surprised* I know that cry!
Hop: Danimus! I can’t see anything! You OK?!
Danimus: Yeah, but this fog is making it hard to see! But I won’t give up.
Cinder: Same here!
???1: …*gives a soft smile*
Danimus: Did it…did it just smile at us? …Alright, Cinder! Use Ember!
Cinder: Got it!
With that, Cinder kicks a pebble at the mysterious Pokémorph, igniting it in the process. As with the previous moves, the attack dealt no damage, although it did reveal the Pokémorph’s bare breasts and vagina, causing the duo to blush for a bit.
Danimus: Wha… No effect…
Cinder: And it’s a female…
???1: …You show much promise, Danimus and Cinder.
Danimus: That voice… It was you who guided us here. And how did you know our names?
???1: *begun producing more fog* …All will be clear in time. *disappears into the fog*
Danimus and Cinder: Wait!
But before they could do anything, the fog had gotten too thick to move forward.
Hop: I can’t see anything!
Danimus: Uwaaaaaaaaaah!
With that, group passed out in the fog. A few minutes later, the group awakens to find the fog had clear up quite a bit.
Danimus: …ugh. Oh man. Hop, are you okay?
Hop: …oof. I’m okay.
Hop’s Wooloo: Me and Cinder are okay, too.
Leon: Hop! Danimus!
The group turns to find Leon running towards them.
Hop: Wha-? Lee? How’d you manage to find your way here? You’re pants with directions. You always get lost.
Leon: Oh, that’s nice to hear coming from the little brother who had me worried sick! I’d been waiting ages for you two, and you never showed! So of course, I came looking for the both of you!
Hop: Wait, where’s the Wooloo?! We were trying to rescue that Wooloo!
Danimus: That’s right!
Leon simply smiles and turns. Next to them were Charizard and Sobble tending to the aforementioned Wooloo.
Leon: The little chap’s just fine. Though all of you had fainted by the time I found you here. You know this place is out of bounds… But it took courage to come in here all the same. And I can understand well enough why you did it. You did good, Hop and Danimus!
Hop: And at least that Wooloo’s all right… Yeah, Danimus?
Danimus: Yep.
Hop: Honestly, though, I thought we’d had it when that weird fog started rolling in and that mad Pokémon attacked…
Danimus: Yeah, but at least it wasn’t all for nothing!
Leon: “Attacked by some mad Pokémon”? What are you guys talking about?
Hop: It seemed loads stronger than any Pokémon I’ve ever seen. And it had this sort of presence…
Danimus: Our moves didn’t even touch her. I mean, really, they seemed to pass right through her!
Leon: Your moves passed right through her? Wait? “Her”?
Hop: It was a girl?! How’d you figured that out?!
Danimus: *blushes a bit* There were some visual ques.
Leon: So, the fearsome Pokémon they say live in the Slumbering Weald… Are they actually illusions or something?
Danimus: Huh?
Leon: Well, I still don’t understand the stories much, but I can say this. Get strong enough and maybe the two of you could be the ones to reveal the truth someday. For now, let’s simply get out of this place. You’ll be all right now that I’m here with you!
Hop: Right! Even if we did get an earful from Lee, what an experience! This’ll make a pretty fine first page in the tale of my legend!
Hop’s Wooloo: *giggles* Here we go again with this “legend” talk.
With the Wooloo found and rescued, the group makes their way out of the Slumber Weald, with Danimus and Cinder stopping briefly.
Danimus: That Pokémon… who was she? And what does she mean by “All will be clear in time”?
Cinder: I don’t, but once I’m strong enough, we’ll find out for sure!
Danimus: Maybe you’re right.
With that, the duo hurry to catch up with Hop and Leon, unaware they were being watched by two unknown Pokémon.
???2: So that’s the human you have chosen. Are you certain that he’s the one, sister?
???1: I’m quite certain, brother. He may not know it, but he and his Pokémon partner will have an important role to play, as well as their friend.
???2: I’m not too certain about that, but as my older sister, I must respect your decision. *disappears into the fog*
???1: *disappearing into the fog* Thank you, brother.
Who are these two mysterious Pokémon? And what plans do they have for Danimus? Only time will tell.
To be continued
NEXT TIME: Danimus heads off to the Pokémon Research Lab to receive the Pokédex and make new friends.