EPISODE 178: Zhery's Quest Begins!

[Knock! Knock! Knock!] Someone knocked thrice on Zhery's door in hopes to wake her up. It is currently 8:00 in the morning, and yet, she's still undergoing her sleepy slumber.

"Hmm... Wh, who's there?" Zhery questioned with a brittle and drowsy voice while rubbing her eyes. Her hair was sloppy while she yawned deeply.

"Zhery, professor Juniper has arrived. She's waiting for you downstairs, your journey continues today remember?" Melody reminded.

"Journey... Journey... Journey!?" Zhery's drowsiness snapped out of her after realizing the time she woke up.

"Ah! Roserade! Roserade! Wake up, make my bed while I wash my face ok!?" Zhery began to panic. She shook Roserade's body and woke her up.

Zhery rushed to the bathroom to fix her sloppy hair while her Pokemon helped made her bed. The clock strikes to 8:30, Zhery rushed out of the bathroom while brushing her teeth. She accidently tripped over one of her Pokeball while trotting out of her bathroom.

"Ouch... I guess I'm going to be clumsy as I'll ever be." Zhery sighed while rubbing her painful head.

<Rose! Roserade!>Roserade smiled and helped Zhery stand up from the crimson red floor.

"Pokeballs check! Potions, and vitamins check! I'm all set, come on Roserade!" Zhery panicked and opened the door roughly.

<Rose! Rose!>Roserade pulled Zhery back to the room and closed the door.

<Rose! Roserade!>The Pokemon reminded Zhery that she's still on her pajamas.

"Ah!? I've been rushing too much. Why did I ever eavesdrop in the first place?" Zhery beamed with haste and urgency. She quickly went to her closet and wore her adventure attire.

"Alright! Let's go Roserade. Oh wait, I almost forgot my Pokedex." Zhery scrammed to her table and grabbed her red lustrous Pokedex.

She and her Pokemon Roserade, trotted with urgency and haste. Through the halls and stairs they galloped like horses while accidently stumbling across children blocking her path.

"Please forgive me, Zhery slept late last night." Melody apologized while trying to entertain Professor Juniper.

"It's fine, trainers in the Unova region are always late as well when receiving their starter Pokemon. I guess excitement is what makes them sleep late." Professor Juniper, a professor with Cyan eyes, a light brown hair, living in Nuvema town at the Unova region giggled with her legs crossed against each other.

"We made Roserade!" Zhery felt relief after seeing Melody and the professor. She stopped by and took a seat while gasping heavily for air.

"My my, you've been trotting again weren't you?" Melody questioned.

"Sorry. I almost went out with my pajama attire. Good thing Roserade reminded me about it." Zhery smiled while rubbing her Pokemon's white petal buds.

"So, good morning Zhery. My name is professor Juniper from the Unova region. I've heard that you like Pokemons from the Unova region right?" Professor Juniper questioned.

"Right professor. Unova Pokemons are my favorite, although they're kinda rare in this region."

"I see. Zhery, since you're continuing your journey, I'll be giving you your very own starter Pokemon. I've heard that Budew was your first Pokemon right?"

"Right. Budew was a gift from my mother. She gave it to me when I was four years old so that I could have a companion while she manages the orphanage." Zhery explained with a few teardrops while remembering her mother.

"Just by her eyes I could say the Roserade is a strong Pokemon. You've trained her well, and your bond with her is astounding.

Now, I'll be giving you one starter Pokemon. Choose between the grass type Snivy, the fire type Tepig, and the water type Oshawott. You're lucky that Skyla sent me here, if not? You won't have the Unova starter you've been long yearning for.

Unova's borders is kinda off limits right now due to the bombardment. Although, it is safe to assure that the conflict between the Kanto region is done. For some reason, the Kanto and Johto are now fighting. Hopefully things settle right away.

Anyways, back to the topic. Choose your starter Pokemon." Professor Juniper sent out three Pokemons. One which looked like a leaf, the other looked like a pig, while the other one looked like an otter.

Snivy is a bipedal, reptilian Pokémon with a slender build. Most of its body is green with a cream underside. A yellow stripe runs down the length of its back and tail, and it has yellow markings around its large eyes. Two curved yellow structures that resemble leaves or small wings protrude from its shoulders and bend backwards. Its slender arms have three fingers, while its tiny feet have no digits whatsoever. It has a large, palmate leaf with three prongs on the end of its tail. This tail is capable of performing photosynthesis, which allows Snivy to move more quickly. However, the tail will begin to droop when Snivy loses energy. This Pokémon has a calm, collected demeanor.

Tepig is a quadruped, pig-like Pokémon that is primarily orange. It has oval eyes, a pink nose, and a thick yellow stripe on its snout. The upper portion of its head is dark brown, and its long, pointed ears are positioned closely together. Tepig has short legs, and its front feet are dark brown. A dark brown band covers its lower back and rear. Its curly tail is tipped with a ruddy pink sphere.

Oshawott is a bipedal sea otter-like Pokémon. It has a spherical white head with small, triangular dark-blue ears on the sides. Oshawott's eyes are dark and its dark orange nose is shaped like a horizontal oval. Several freckles cover its cheeks which may be premature whiskers, and two pointed teeth can be seen when it opens its mouth. The light blue fur on its body forms bubble shapes around its neck. Its arms are white and rounded, while its feet are dark blue with three toes each. It also possesses a rudder-like dark blue tail. It carries a pale yellow seashell called a "scalchop" on its belly. This shell is made of the same material as its claws, and is used for both battle and cracking hard berries. If heavily damaged or lost, Oshawott can grow new ones from its body, though it can take weeks.

"Roserade and I have made a decision! I choose Tepig! A fire type will do well in my Pokemon team." Zhery beamed with exuberance while pointing at the fiery pig Pokemon.

"Haha, you really are a determined trainer. You remind me of a young trainer about the same age as you. I wonder where he and his Pikachu are?

Anyways, here is Tepig's Pokeball. Since you're not in the Unova region, you don't technically need a Pokedex since you have one.

Tepig knows two moves:

-Tackle

-Ember

Train it hard and it'll be a powerful boar soon!" Professor Juniper giggled.

"Thank you professor. Now I have five Pokemons on my team. One more left-right Roserade?"

<Rose! Rose!>Roserade leaps and hops around with joy while nodding her head.

"Alright Zhery. Where do you want to go first?" Melody questioned.

"Hmm, since I've started here before. I'll continue my journey from Enkephalos town. I've heard about a rare medicinal plant nearby. Discovering one will be a huge step to becoming a Pokemon doctor!" Zhery beamed with excitement and determination.

"If you want to go to Enkephalos town, I'll drop you there. After Enkephalos, you'll be traveling by yourself. You might even cross paths with Glade Kalem, and Camellia." Melody explained.

"It's better if I don't cross paths with them, especially Camellia." Zhery beamed with frustration.

"You're still mad huh? Come on, the helicopter is on its way." Melody elucidated while looking at the helicopter's GPS.

"Right! Thank you professor Juniper, and hopefully, your stay in this region will be an exhilarating one." Zhery beamed with joy while shaking the professor's hand.

"Thanks, I'm planning to head to Covelry town to meet up with a colleague of mine. Good luck on your journey Zhery!" Professor Juniper greeted back.

Outside the orphanage, somewhere in the yard lies a small helicopter pad. The helicopter descended from the sky slowly as the wind circulating the helicopter's blade blew Zhery and Melody's hair.

"Where to ma'am?" The pilot questioned.

"Please send us to Enkephalos town in the Silvent Desert." Melody instructed.

Zhery and Roserade looked at the helicopter's window. She waved goodbye to the professor from above the helicopter. She and her Pokemon took one last look at the orphanage before continuing her journey.

"Zhery, are you going to find your father?" Melody questioned while the helicopter travels to their destination.

"Of course! Mother gave me a quest, and I must fulfill it. I hope he'll come back with me."

"Aren't you going to watch the Pokemon League?"

"I am. I'll be tuning in to the news to know when the official date of the Pokemon League is. The temporary date: February 10, could still change.

Maybe by then, I'll forgive Camellia." Zhery uttered with a solemn voice.

"Zhery, do me one favor."

"What kind of favor Melody?"

"If what you say about Hemera is true. Once you find her, please bring her to me. I've... I've been thinking about the notes you've written down. Maybe they're true, maybe they're not. Though, I haven't told the elites about this. I'm sorry for crumpling your notes yesterday." Melody apologized with an intoned voice.

"It's ok Melody. I trust Hemera, she'll definitely explain everything about team Chaos once you've consulted her." Zhery smiled and comforted Melody.

Zhery and Melody parted ways in the town. She hugged the new champion one last time before continuing her journey. Melody brought tears to her eyes. Zhery reminded her of the former champion.

"Thanks for being like a mother to me." Zhery smiled and hugged Melody one more time.

"You're welcome... Good luck on your journey Zhery, and please, bring your father back." Melody uttered with a brittle and solemn voice.

"You can count on me Melody! I promise, my father will return. The dark has blinded him, and I will shatter it with the light. For the darkness cannot beget the light, only life can." Zhery quoted while small tears fell off her eyes.

Zhery's journey shall now commence once more! What dangers lie ahead of her? Will she be able to return her father to the light? A destination with a long path awaits for Zhery and her Roserade. Only time will tell, when, or where will we cross paths?

For Zhery, the dream continues!