Moon Version, Part 4: Dupes Clause is Optional

Nuztai enters Route 5 to find Hau recalling an injured Pokémon. Before Hau stands a young man in ragged black clothing.

“How dare you not take this battle seriously. How can you get any stronger if you don’t battle with all you have?” scoffed the stranger.

“I was just battling for fun. Not every battle has to be so serious.” states Hau as Nuztai walks up beside him. “Ain’t that right, Nuztai?”

The stranger’s eyes flit to Nuztai. “You’re Nuztai?” he exclaims.

“What of it.” snaps Nuztai.

“Not very cautious, are you?” yelled the stranger, his voice getting angrier as he went on, “Don’t you know word is spreading about the Nuzlocke island challenger? And that some people want you stopped? I am Gladion. You will battle me!”

Gladion sends out Type: Null against Nuztai’s Ellen the Mudbray. Nuztai attempts to check his pokedex for any info on Gladion’s mysterious Pokémon, but gets nothing. Regardless, Ellen dispatches Null quickly with a Double Kick.

“Heh, now THAT is taking a battle seriously. Fighting as if your Pokémon’s lives are on the line. Though, I guess for you, they are, huh? I’m out of here. I need to battle more serious opponents and get stronger.” Gladion walks off.

Hau runs up to Nuztai, “Hey, there’s a Pokémon Center up ahead. Let’s go heal up!” On the way, Nuztai catches a caterpie that he nicknames Ash. As they walk into the Pokémon Center, Nuztai wallows in the disappointment of his new catch. He was hoping for better type variety to help him in his next trial. After all, he doesn’t know when he’ll get to catch a new Pokémon, and it may not be until the next trial is over.

“Hey! Yeah, you two that just came in!” hollers a man near the cafe. “Can I ask you two something?” Hau and Nuztai walk over to the man, who hold out a pokeball. “This is a grass type Pokémon. I caught it while trying to find a Lilipup. That’s all I really want. Do either of you have one to trade?”

Hau shakes his head and Nuztai shrugs. “Sounds like a good trade for a trial go-er, but neither of us have that Pokémon.” states Nuztai disappointingly, “Well, I HAD one, but it evolved, and I don’t really feel up to trading it. Sorry, man. Good luck.”

The two walk back to the counter and collect their healed Pokémon. After resting for the night at the Pokémon Center, Nuztai wakes up early, raring to get started on his first Akala trial at Brooklet Hill. He enters the cavern and is quickly met by a young girl with blue hair.

“You’re the Nuzlocker, right? I’ll be further in. Come find me when you’re ready.” She speaks softly to him and quickly skips away across the bridge over the underground lake. Nuztai stands there and watches her skip. His head filling with flashbacks of his battle with Hala. What if she’s just as nuts?

He begins to lift his feet, one step at a time, and crosses the bridge. The water is calm and clear, but little Pokémon seem to be swimming around. At the end lies a tunnel, which leads to a patch of tall plant-life growing from a beam of light coming from above. The grass begins to rustle, and out pops a Pokémon. “A final chance for more variety before the trial! Yes!” Thinks Nuztai.

As the grass settles, Nuztai looks down upon a tiny Lilipup. “A Lilipup? Really? I’ve already caught one of these. I guess I did sign the dupes clause, so I don’t have to catch it…”He thinks, cutting himself off as a memory surges past his mind. HE might not want that Pokémon, but SOMEONE did! Nuztai quickly catches the little Pokémon and dashes out of the caverns towards the Pokémon Center.

Inside, he awakens the sleeping trainer who asked about the trade. With one eye open, the man looks up at Nuztai, who holds a great ball towards him.

“Let’s trade!”

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#Nuzlocke #Moon