//------------------------------// // 16. Another Walk in the Wild Area // Story: Misty's Adventures in Galar // by Brian Sheil //------------------------------// After exchanging her Drizzile and Mudbray for Klink and Litwick, Misty joins her friends and Hop as they exit Motostoke, ready to head for Hammerlocke. "Hello, Wild Area!" Hop cheered. "I have returned!" He then turned to the girls. "Let's see what kind of Pokémon we can find." "Easy, Hop." Paradise suggested. "Take it down a few notches." Just then, the arrogant Bede showed up. "What a bunch of fools." Bede said. "Especially you, Hop." "WHAT?!" Hop gasped. "You're calling me a fool?" "Exactly. You claim that you want to surpass your brother, Galar champion Leon. But, you're actually dragging his name down. He should be ashamed for having you as a little brother." This got Misty angry. "Hey! Stop that trash talk, Bede. Hop is not a.... "Relax, Misty." Hop interrupted. "I'll handle this." He then turns to Bede. "Misty here beat you in the Galar Mines. So, being her strong rival, I can beat you too." "Is that so?" Bede replied. "I'll prove to you that you're unworthy to be in the Gym Challenge." As Bede walks off, Hop gives the girls some useful information. "There's a bridge near here. Cross it, and you'll be on your way to Hammerlocke. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a trainer to battle." Hop walks off, leaving the girls on their own. They make their way to the bridge where they saw a huge sight. "It's a Snorlax." Misty gasped as she took out her Pokédex. Snorlax, the Sleeping Pokémon. The Pokédex said. When it's not sleeping, it can devour up to 800 pounds of food. "This Pokémon looks too strong for us." Firefly said. "You're right, Firefly." Paradise replied. "Come on." The trio move along the Wild Area. They are astounded by the Pokémon roaming around. They even saw a Steelix. Soon, the girls fought a few wild Pokémon along the way. Misty called on Espurr to fight a Butterfree. Butterfree was unleashing a Stun Spore. Misty reacted. "Dodge, then use Psybeam!" After dodging the Stun Spore, Espurr fired a blast of psychic energy. This caused the Butterfree to fly away. Misty was proud of her Pokémon. Suddenly, Espurr started to glow. That means it's starting to evolve. When the glowing stopped, a white creature with dark blue spots appeared. It has long ears that are closed. "Wow!" Misty gasped as she gets out her Pokédex. "Espurr evolved into Meowstic!" Meowstic, the Constraint Pokémon and the evolved form of Espurr. Said the Pokédex. It's psychic energy can sometimes leak out. That's why it keeps it's ears closed. Misty hugged her Pokémon friend. "Congratulations, Meowstic." Meowstic hugs her back. Soon, the girls continue their trek through the Wild Area Paradise and Thwackey find themselves facing an Excadrill. The mole Pokémon charges ahead using Drill Attack. "Shower Excadrill with Razor Leaf." Paradise called out. Thwackey unleashed a shower of leaves at Excadrill. Feeling enough pain, Excadrill ran away to recover. Meanwhile, Firefly and Raboot were fighting a Vileplume. "Let's go, Raboot!" Firefly cheered. "Use Flame Charge!" Flaming up, Raboot rushed in to strike at Vileplume. The Flower Pokémon soon ran off. As the trio continue their walk, Misty let out her Vulpix to get some air. Suddenly, the Fox Pokémon ran off. "Wait, Vulpix!" Misty called. "What's the matter?" Vulpix ran fast. Then, stopped alongside a tree. The girls stopped to see what's going on. "What's wrong, Vulpix?" Misty asked. Vulpix pointed her nose down on the ground. Firefly had a thought. "Maybe Vulpix is drawn to something." Thinking Firefly is right. Misty looked at the area Vulpix is pointing at. She soon dug by hand until she dug up a red crystal with marigold fire designs in it. "It's a Fire Stone." Misty figured. She then saw Vulpix jumping, hoping to reach it. "Are you saying that you're ready to evolve?" Vulpix nodded happily. As soon as she touched Vulpix with the Fire Stone, the Fox Pokémon glowed, then grew. Soon, a beautiful Ninetales stood where Vulpix was. "You're beautiful." Misty said, hugging her newest addition. "Welcome to my family, Ninetales." Firefly and Paradise watched with admiration. Later, the girls finally reached the dragon shaped gates of Hammerlocke. A guard was there. "Only those who earned 3 badges can enter Hammerlocke to continue with the Gym Challenge." The guard said. Taking out her badge case, Misty showed the guard the badges of Grass, Water, and Fire. The guard was satisfied. "Well done. Many people who battled Kabu in Monostoke would quickly quit." Just then, Bede walked by, rudely pushed Misty aside to present his badges to the guard. "Rude much?" Misty said angrily. After having his badges examined, Bede turned to Misty. "I thought Leon made a mistake endorsing his little brother. I made work of that undeserving fool." He then looked at Misty with anger. "You're next to be defeated!" As Bede walked into the city, Misty got worried. How did Hop get defeated? And, how will this affect his progress? We'll find out in our next episode. End of Chapter 16 MISTY Corvisquire Ninetales Meowstic Klink Litwick Binacle In the Sanctuary Drizzile Mudsdale Drifloon Sizzlipede FIREFLY Raboot Charjabug Carkol Toxel PARADISE Thwackey Linoone (Galarian) Boltund Chewtle