It turns out I don’t like Pokemon Centers.
Don’t get me wrong, the free healthcare is great, but something about the place just makes me uncomfortable. I don't know if it’s the sterile, white appearance, the overly cheery staff, or all the nervous people who seem like they're just waiting for bad news about their partner - something about the place just makes me want to leave.
Regardless, I mindlessly scroll through my phone while waiting for news on Rufflet’s condition. After what feels like an eternity, I finally hear my name announced over the intercom, calling me to the reception area.
As I approach the reception area, Nurse Joy gives me a stern look. "Alex, I can't believe you let your Rufflet get in this condition," she scolds me. "You need to be more responsible as a trainer and take better care of your Pokémon."
Her chiding leaves me with a pang of guilt considering I was the one who put the bird in this condition in the first place.
“Even if we can heal this within a couple of hours, continued damage like this could prevent Rufflet from battling for good.” The Nurse ranted.
“Regardless, Rufflet should do any major activities for the rest of the day”
As I left the Pokémon Center with a healed Rufflet, I considered my next step - challenging a gym. Considering my options, I’m not exactly overflowing with options. The electric gym here in Nimbasa is immediately out due to Rufflet’s flying type weakness. Additionally, although Driftveil’s ground type gym to the west may seem like a good option, when you consider that many ground types have flying type moves for coverage that gets eliminated as well. Unless I want to try to skip past either of those and go straight to skyler and challenge her air superiority, that leaves me with Castellia’s bug type gym to the south. Although initially attractive due to flying’s advantage over bug, it forces me to cross the massive desert of route 4.
Unlike the games, the desert spans a shockingly wide swath of land, with most online estimates claiming it takes trainers 3 days to cross. However with literally no other good options, I am forced to face it.
However before I do anything, I need to sleep
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It turns out when you leave your wet hammock in a plastic bag, it shockingly doesn't dry out. Therefore, I am forced to sleep under the stars tonight. After gathering some wood from nearby with Rufflet’s help, I quickly start a small fire using the cheap lighter I bought earlier.
Staring up at the night sky, I quickly made a discovery - there's no light pollution here. I fall asleep staring up at the cosmos stretching out before more vivid than I have ever seen before.
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Before leaving for route 4, I felt that it was a good idea to try to get some experience battling with Rufflet. One issue however. I don’t have any money to bet.
It’s common practice for trainer’s to bet money on their matches to supplement their meager income starting out and it would be difficult to find any matches without betting.
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Considering this, I eventually decide it’s best to forgo battling trainers entirely, and I should instead try to battle some pokemon on the same route I caught rufflet.
We walk down the route a bit, with rufflet flying overhead to try to spot any pokemon.
As we walked, Rufflet suddenly swooped down, indicating that it had spotted something.
I follow its gaze and spot a lone Minccino nibbling on a berry that fell from a tree. Crouching down low to avoid being spotted, I quietly ordered Rufflet - “Use Hone Claw”.
The bird stares at me incredulously as I realize I never actually figured out what moves he knows.
“Do you at least know Leer and Wing Attack?” I ask him as nods at me like i'm an idiot.
“Get in close and use Leer, then aim for its legs with Wing Attack.” The bird dutifully follows my orders and swoops in close using leer before the Minccino can react.
Before we can follow up however, the mouse quickly fires off a barrage of Swift which chases Rufflet as he flies.
“USE A TREE TO AVOID IT”
Complying, Rufflet begins to fly towards a tree, pulling up at the last second causing the barrage to burst into the wood.
“FINISH THE STUPID MOUSE”, complying, the bird quickly uses a wing attack which hits the mouse square in the chest. With it’s defense lowered by leer, this was enough to knock it out.
Although Rufflet tried to look nonchalant about his victory, you could still see him subtly preening in celebration.
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Hot (pun intentional) take, deserts are bad.
I know I’ll get a lot of haters for this one but between the heat, sand getting everywhere, and the monotonous landscape that stretches on forever I’m already sick of this place.
These thoughts ran through my mind as I stared at some unholy abomination of a structure of steel and wood that sat smack dab in the middle of the normal route.
Fun fact: about 10 years ago Castellia entered its largest boom yet, putting demand for labor at an all time high
Not so fun fact: lead to an extreme over-breeding of the Timburr line, who appear to responsible for this godless mess before me
As I was finding this out through my phone, A fucking log came flying out of nowhere. Dropping to the ground, I quickly come to find out that a gang of Timburr lead by a Gurdurr have surrounded me.
Thinking quickly, I issue a challenge directly to the Gurdurr in hopes they have some weird sense of honor.
Letting out a roar of what I can only interpret as approval, the Gurdurr begins flexing in what I assume to be Bulk up.
“DON’T LET HIM SET UP” I cry prompting Rufflet to fly towards the humanoid in an attempt for a Wing Attack.
The Gurdurr takes the strike head on, being pushed back slightly, It grabs the Bird from its attack and throws it across the ground.
Gurdurr goes in to follow up with a lowkick but Rufflet is still dazed on the ground.
“PLEASE GET OUT OF THERE”, I scream out in panic.
However, as Gurdurr begins to reach the Bird, Rufflet lashes out in an incredible show of strength.
Knocked back, Gurdurr just grins at the development as their fist begins to burn. In a bizarre display, the Gurdurr punches himself with the fist leaving him with scorch marks on the wound.
Following this, the humanoid’s muscles swell larger with strength as it lets out a mighty roar.
‘DID IT JUST BURN ITSELF FOR THE GUTS BOOST?!?’ I thought to myself in alarm.
“RUFFLET, YOU HAVE TO FINISH IT NOW, AIM FOR ITS BURN MARK!”
The bird cries out in reply charging towards Gurdurr with a glowing wing.
Gurdurr appears to have the same desire to finish us as it runs to meet our charge with a glowing fist of its own.
As they meet, a loud boom is heard from their colliding attacks - following a small cracking noise.
The world stands still for a moment before both bird and beast fall to the ground.
Acting out of instinct, I return Rufflet to its ball as the surrounding Timburr begin to stir.
The Timburr start to move in, tightening the encirclement, however just before they move to strike, Gurdurr stirs.
It merely stands, makes a small grunting noise at me, and turns around to leave with the other Timburr following suit.