Wonderlocke - Chapter 32

Chapter 32

“Hold your Rapidash!” yelled Bailey after him, but Max was already out of sight. “This isn’t a race you know! What is that kid’s problem?”

“One too many electric shocks to the head?” suggested Casper with a chuckle.

“Be nice,” said David with a half grin and rolling his eyes. He caught Bailey’s surprised glance and immediately explained. “I was talking to Casper here. He thinks Max has suffered too many electrical shocks.”

The girl glanced between David and his Butterfree while absently twirling one of her long bangs. “Hmm. I think it would be amazing if I could understand what my Pokémon were saying. I can tell when something is bothering them and when they want me to do something for them, but it’s like a game of charades. I don’t always get what they want to tell me. I’m thankful they are patient with me though. It helps.”

The Jugglypuff at her feet beamed up at her while clutching onto her leg. Cotton, her Swablu, nuzzled her cheek from his perch on her shoulder.

“It seems like you’ve travelled a fair bit with your Pokémon,” stated David as he settled Casper on his head once more. “I’m still getting used to mine.”

David and Bailey glanced to where his Pokémon were following them in a loose cluster nearby. Ian and Giordan were hovering close together while Scottie appeared to be in deep conversation with Panos. Timmie trailed just behind them as though he wanted to melt into the pavement and never be seen again.

“I have,” confirmed Bailey. “I grew up with my parents in Pallet Town of the Kanto Region. That’s where I met my Jigglypuff. She’s the first Pokémon I caught with the help of Pewter City’s Gym Leader Brock. I’ve been to Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh and Unova and now I’m travelling Kalos. I haven’t caught a lot of Pokémon, but I love the ones I do have! I just love cute Pokémon.”

“Heh,” chuckled David with a grin. “Sounds like you’ve had the time of your life.”

They stepped into the shadows of the Lumiose City gate with a large number five over the top of it as Bailey laughed brightly. The lights of the city were starting to turn on in the fading sunlight. In the distance, David could make out the Prism Town. It remained as dark as when he’s left it earlier.

“I have!” she exclaimed in mirth. “Getting badges has never been a goal of mine. I like meeting the gym leaders as people you can hold a conversation with as opposed to being opponents to be beaten. Seeing how they treat their Pokémon outside of battle is worth more to me. When people are with their Pokémon, their most trusted friends, it’s like a mask gets taken off and you get to see the part of them that cares greatly for their partners.”

“That sounds lovely,” agreed David.

“I’m okay Lucario, really!” exclaimed an annoyed female voice as David, Bailey and their Pokémon left the shade of the gate and came up to a brightly painted skate park. Small strings of lights along the outer fence had been turned on to ward away the encroaching darkness. “It was just some impatient kid.”

“Oh my!” exclaimed Bailey as she rushed up to a young woman pushing herself up from the ground with the help of two humanoid, blue fox-like Pokémon. “Are you okay?”

“Oh, I’ll be fine,” stated the woman as she pulled off her red and white helmet allowing a long ponytail of blonde hair to trail down her back. She looked to be almost the same age as Bailey and David. Her feet were adorned with roller blades with matching colours as her helmet. “Some boy with a Luxio ran into me while I was doing some special training with my Lucario. He was gone before I could call out after him.”

“Max,” said David and Bailey at the same time.

“How many people is that boy going to insult in one day?!” added Bailey while shrugging her shoulders in a gesture of hopelessness.

“You!” exclaimed one of the Lucario as it left the young woman and approached David with wide eyes.

“Wait! Lucario!” exclaimed the woman as she followed the Pokémon to approach the boy. Her second Lucario suck to her side like it was glued there. “What’s going on? Is there something about this boy’s aura?”

“He’s special!” barked the Pokémon while circling David slowly. Curiosity brimmed in its red eyes. “Very special.”

“Huh, well that’s interesting,” muttered the young woman. “It seems Lucario likes you. See, Lucario can read people’s auras. Yours must be strong if it’s fixated on you. This Lucario is always getting worked up in battles. Maybe it’s been waiting for a strong trainer to challenge it.”

“Um, hi,” muttered David softly while holding up a hand in greeting.

The Lucario glanced back at the woman before hesitating in front of David and tilting its head slightly.

“Oops!” exclaimed the young woman. “I was on such a roll, I forgot to introduce myself! I’m Korrina, the Shalour City Gym Leader.”

Bailey’s eyebrows flew up into her hair line as she dropped her face into her palm. “Diantha, Lysandre and now Korrina! That boy has a death wish.”

“Don’t forget Clemont,” added David with a snort. “Anywho, I’m David and this is Bailey. We were going to head to Camphrier Town with Max, but it seems he’s run ahead without us. Sorry he ran you over.”

“Ahh,” said Korrina, nodding in understanding. “You’ll be heading to Cyllage City to challenge Grant, Kalos’s Rock-Type Gym Leader.”

“Apparently,” said Bailey.

“Clemont was too busy to battle me,” replied David. “He suggested I head to Cyllage City first to challenge the gym there.”

“In that case, why don’t you continue along the coast until you reach Shalour City after your battle with him?” asked Korrina. “It’ll give Clemont more time to get himself ready for battling you, and my gym is one you’ll have to defeat if you want to take on the Elite Four one day.”

“I think I’ll do that,” said David in agreement.

“Perfect,” exclaimed Korrina while pulling her long hair through her helmet so she could wear it. “I swear they make the holes on my helmets smaller and smaller. Anyways, I’m looking forward to it. I hope you know how to roll with the punches!”

“Count on it!” said David with a nod and a grin. “I’ll be there.”

Korrina snapped the chin strap of her helmet into place. “See you when you get there. Lucario, come.”

With a small cloud of dust kicked up by her rollerblades, Korrina and her Lucario took off up the encroaching hill and out of sight among the trees ahead of them.