//------------------------------//
// Washout in the Garden 
// Story: Sunset Shimmer’s Journey Through Kalos 
// by Brian Sheil 
//------------------------------//

Sunset Shimmer and her two companions, Izzy Moonbow and Sunny Starscout, just left Santalune City. Sunset felt very good after winning the Bug Badge from Viola. Now, the three travelers are on their way to Cyllage City for the second gym challenge. But first, they are on their way to Lumiose City to visit Professor Sycamore. On the way, they stopped by a garden area along Route 4.
"It's beautiful." Sunny said.
"I know." Izzy added. "All of these flowers and plants are well taken care of."
Sunset soon saw an unusual sight. It looks like a small white garden critter on top of a red flower. She takes out her Pokédex to study it.
Flabébé, the Single Bloom Pokémon.  The Pokédex said. This Pokémon is always picky when choosing a flower with the right color and shape. 
"That's a very unique Pokémon." Sunset said happily. 
"Here's something else unique." Said the voice of a young girl. 
Out steps a lavender skinned girl with wavy purple hair. She wore a white buttoned short sleeve shirt, black pants with suspenders, and black platform shoes. She explained more. "That Pokémon is part a new classification. A fairy type!"


WASHOUT IN THE GARDEN


Sunny Starscout recognized this girl. "Well, what do you know? Pipp Petals. The Princess of the podcasts."
"That's me." The girl named Pipp replied. "It's good to see you again, Sunny."
The two friends hugged each other. Sunset was very curious. "Princess of the Podcasts?"
"You heard right, Sunset." Izzy replied. "This girl's podcasts are amazing. You should check out some of her videos on YouTube."
Pipp soon approached Sunset. "So, you're the well known Sunset Shimmer. I heard that you're on a Pokémon journey. How are you doing?"
"I have four Pokémon and I won one badge in my gym challenge." Sunset said. She took out her case to show Pipp her badge.
"Cool." Pipp said happily. "Can I see your Pokémon?"
"Sure." Sunset answered as she threw all of her Poké Balls in the air. "Come out, everybody!"
The Poké Balls opened. Out came, Fenniken, Pidgey, Pikachu, and a brown rodent like creature with sharp front teeth.
"Nice assembly of Pokémon." Pipp praised. "That Bidoof looks good."
Izzy grabbed one of her brown books, labeled with a purple number 4, and looked up this Pokémon.
"Bidoof, the Plump Mouse Pokémon." Izzy read. "No matter how much they gnaw on wood, their teeth stay sharp."
"Still carry those books on Pokémon." Pipp said. "Huh, Izzy?"
"I sure do." Izzy answered. "I find it more relaxing than the electronic Pokédex." She then turn to Sunset. "No offense."
"None taken." Sunset replied.
Just then, they heard a commotion. Everybody saw the caretaker and visitors get harrased by three brutal people. They wore blue denim jackets over various colored T shirts, blue jeans and black boots. Sunset and her friends are very upset.
"This is not good!" Sunny shouted.
"Who are these creeps?" Pipp asked.
"I think I recognized one of them." Sunset answered as she calls out one of them. "Hey! Lightning Dust!" Hearing Sunset, a light teal skinned woman with orange and yellow hair turned around. "I thought that was you."
"Well, well." Lightning said. "Sunset Shimmer. This is a surprise."
"So, you and your cohorts, Rolling Thunder and Short Fuse, are making trouble again. "
"Yeah. We of the Washouts have come to take over the park."
"You'll wreck this lovely garden." A gardener said. "This park is for everybody."
Grabbing a pot, Short Fuse planned to quiet the gardener. "SHUT UP!"
He threw the pot to a bunch of flowers. When it hit the ground, a pair of white creatures with green heads ran away, coming up to Sunset and Izzy.
"Hey." Sunset said as she pulls out her Pokédex. "Ralts."
 Ralts, the Feeling Pokémon. The Pokédex said.  Ralts uses the red horns on its head to sense the feelings of people. 
Suddenly, the Ralts approached one of Sunset's empty Poké Balls. Clicked it, and was absorbed inside. 
"Wow!" Sunset gasped. "I now have a Ralts."
"So do I." Izzy added as she held up her Poké Ball.
"Those Ralts probably felt they can be safe with the two of you." The gardener figured.
Sunset has an idea. "I noticed that you goons have Pokémon with you. I spotted your Poké Balls."
"Yes, we do." Lightning replied. "You want a battle?"
"You guessed it. Me, Izzy, and Sunny against you three."
"Deal! Me and my boys will crush you!"
Pipp soon got out her smartphone. "This will make one awesome podcast!"
Izzy and Sunny stood by Sunset as they are ready to confront the Washouts.





Pokemon Quiz

Hello, everybody.  Sunset Shimmer here. We have a Palpitoad,  a Rapidash, and a Weezing. Which of these Pokémon has a ghostly look in the Galar Region.




"Hello, podcasts fanatics!" Pipp shouted. "Pipp Petals, the Podcast Princess, coming to you live from this beautiful garden between Santalune City and Lumiose City. We're about to have an impressive Pokémon battle. One one side is the infamous Washouts.  Lightning Dust, Rolling Thunder, and Short Fuse. Their opponents are the trio of Sunset Shimmer, Sunny Starscout, and Izzy Moonbow."
"I'll start this battle and I'll take you on, Sunny Starscout." Rolling Thunder said as he throws a Poké Ball. "Let's get down and dirty!"
Out pops a black creature that looks like a trash bag.
"That's a Trubbish." Sunset figured as she pulls out her Pokédex. "The Trash Bag Pokémon."
 Trubbish, the Trash Bag Pokémon. The Pokédex informed. After munching on garbage, it vents off toxic fumes.
Sunny sends out her Pokémon. "Let's go, Fletchling!"
Fletchling pops out ready for battle. 
"A Fletchling?" Rolling Thunder said. "Not impressed. Trubbish, use Pound!"
Trubbish gives a big hit on Fletchling's head. But, it didn't faze him at all.
"Now, it's my turn." Sunny said. " Fletchling, use Peck."
Fletchling's beak glowed as it struck Trubbish hard.
"There's one thing about us Washouts you may not know about." Lightning Dust said.
"We cheat!" Short Fuse finished as he threw a Poké Ball. "Come out, Snubbull. And, use Tackle!
Out pops a pink bulldog type Pokémon that charges Fletchling. 
"Look out, Fletchling!" Sunny calls out.
Fletchling flies out of the way just in time. The pink creature accidentally tackles Trubbish. 
"Serves them right." Sunset said.  "Cheaters never prosper."
Sunset then points her Pokédex at the pink creature. The Pokédex speaks. Snubbull, the Fairy Pokémon.  It usually has a sweet disposition despite looking scary.
Izzy steps in. "I'll take care of that Snubbull. You're up, Weedle!"
She sends her Hairy Bug Pokémon to help Fletchling. 
"What can that little bug do to my Snubbull?" Short Fuse said, not being impressed. 
"Weedle," Izzy commanded, "use String Shot!"
Weedle soon wrapped up Snubbull tightly. 
"You can't do that to my partner!" Rolling Thunder yelled. "Trubbish, Double Slap!"
"Fletchling, keep Trubbish back with Quick Attack!" Sunny said.
Fletchling used its speed to push Trubbish back whole Izzy prepared another surprise. "Weedle, let Snubbull have it with Poison Sting!"
Weedle then unleashed a lot of poison needles on to the Fairy Pokémon. 
"NO!!!!" Short Fuse yelled. " I forgot, Fairy types are vulnerable to Poison moves."
"Come on, you guys!" Lightning Dust ordered. "Let's crush those wimps!"
The three brutes were about to rush the girls. But, Sunset threw a Poké Ball of her own. "Let's go, Pikachu. Use Thundershock on those cheaters!"
Pikachu came out and unleashed an electrical attack on the Washouts and their Pokémon. There was an explosion, and the three bullies flew off.
"This is not right!" Lightning Dust shouted. "We're not that criminal organization called Team Rocket!"
"We may not be Team Rocket, love." Rolling Thunder said.
As they take off, Short Fuse finished the thought. "But, WE'RE BLASTING OFF!"
The gardener was grateful to the girls. "Thank you, my friends. Now, the garden is safe."
The trio of heroes were relieved. Then, Sunny noticed something about Weedle. "Izzy, looks like Weedle is starting to evolve. "
They and Pipp watched Weedle glow. Then, it changed into a yellow cocoon like creature.
"My Weedle evolved into a Kakuna." Izzy cheered as Sunset studied this new Pokémon with her Pokédex.
 Kakuna, the Cocoon Pokémon and the evolved form of Weedle. Said the Pokédex. It stays motionless, gathering energy to evolve.
"Cool." Pipp said happily. "This is a great way to finish my podcast. This will get a lot of hits."
"I'm sure it will, Pipp." Sunny said.
"Now that this garden is safe once again," Sunset informed, "we can continue our walk to Lumiose City."
"Take care, ladies." The gardener said as he waved good bye. "And, thanks for the help."
With the Washouts taken care of, Sunset and her friends continued their travels to meet Professor Sycamore in Lumiose City. Meanwhile,  Luster Dawn and her partners watched the podcast Pipp Petals recorded. 
"I thought Sunset would help the Washouts ruin that garden!" Smolder growled. "Not stop them."
"Don't worry, Smolder." Luster Dawn comforted. "We'll find some kind of dirt on Sunset Shimmer. Then, she'll be ruined as a trainer."


End of Chapter 5






Pokémon Quiz Answer

Okay, trainers. If you said that is was Rapidash: The Fire Horse Pokémon, also known in Galar as the Unique Horn Pokémon, you’re right.





SUNSET SHIMMER
Fenniken
Pidgey
Pikachu
Bidoof
Ralts

SUNNY STARSCOUT
Chespin
Fletching

IZZY MOONBOW
Froakie
Kakuna
Ralts