Pokemon Black - Castelia City

I did a lot of training with my Pokemon, and through it all Nora grew to Level 20 and learned Aqua Ring, Mason grew to Level 20, Arthur grew to Level 20, Purrloin grew to Level 20 and evolved into Liepard, and Madelyn grew to Level 21 and evolved into Tranquill. I also taught Cole to use Rock Smash in place of Arm Thrust.

Castelia City was called the "City of Grandeur" and it was easy to see why. There were few cities around the various regions I had visited that could really be considered as such, but this was the first that was without a doubt a major city, complete with a skyline full of skyscrapers. It also featured a curving road, such an odd and interesting thing in Pokemon when one could only move in four directions previously.

After I healed my team at the Castelia Pokemon Center, I went ahead and explored this massive city. I checked one of the docks nearby and found the Royal Unova, being prepared for Ace Trainers, then I went to visit another one and received a Leaf Stone from someone to evolve Arthur at a later time.

I decided to head into the city, where I found the main road occupied by SO MANY people walking to their various destinations. It was so unique and interesting to see so many people living their lives, and it was something I'd expect from a huge city like this. I quickly found the Game Freak building, and I went inside. Fortunately the game didn't break when I entered the building of the people who MADE the game, and I got an entry for a Pokemon named Zorua, a rare Pokemon I doubted I would see otherwise.

I went up to the 22nd Floor, where I found the developers hard at work. After talking with everyone there, I left the building to do more exploring. A nearby building had a woman who gave Liepard a massage to make him more friendly, and on the 11th Floor I got TM44 (Rest) as well. I went deeper into the city and got into a battle with a Dancer. Liepard got knocked out by his Pansage, but Madelyn took revenge and won the battle.

The Dancer asked me to go and recruit other Dancers for him to make a group, and I agreed to help. I went down one alley, and quickly found a Dancer, but he wanted a battle to prove I was stronger first. I got into another battle, and he sent out Panpour, while I sent out Nora. I had to switch out to Mason, and he took it out easily.

I sent the Dancer to the first, and I found a nearby coffee shop I checked out before moving on. I received a Lemonade from the person running the counter, and started heading toward the Pokemon Center before I heard someone shouting about their sunglasses. The man found them, telling me that light would help me find things, and he gave me TM70 (Flash) before I managed to leave the alleyway.

I found the final Dancer on some docks, and Nora beat his Pansear quite easily. I met the trio at the center of the city by the Water Fountain and received an Amulet Coin as thanks for getting the group together.

I passed by the Castelia Gym to heal my team, and found the Passerby Analytics HQ. I went inside, and was appointed as a statistician by the president. He told me my duty would be to conduct requested surveys, which I would receive from him. He told me the Survey Radar would allow me to get surveys and get data, and be paid for my work. It sounded interesting, but I wasn't sure if it was something I could do in the game or if it would actually be an online-only type deal.

I healed my team, and then I did more exploring of the city. I found the Studio Castelia, where an artist requested I show them a Ground-Type Pokemon, but I had none at the time. I found the Casteliacone Shop, but it was closed for the Winter. I went inside a building and found a Name Rater, and I was able to change Liepard's name to Zach! Finally he had a proper name.

I went to another nearby building and found quite a party going on at the 47th floor after getting frisked by the guard at the door for suspicious items. One party-goer gave me TM45 (Attract), and I found several foreign people enjoying the festivities. I wondered what kind of party this was as I saw people mingle, but shortly after I left.

I checked out another building, got an Eviolite, and then I went to the Castelia Gym for my next Badge. I started inside, and was stopped by Cheren outside the door by Cheren, who just won his newest Badge. Cheren told me he'd keep going on, keep winning against all of the Unova region's Gym Leaders. Cheren told me he would even beat the Champion, and I wondered if perhaps he could. It was odd, it appeared that Cheren would only feel truly alive if people recognized his skill.

I watched Cheren leave, and before I could do anything I was stopped by Burgh who came outside to meet me. He recognized me as the Trainer who fought Team Plasma in Pinwheel Forest, and he asked me to wait to challenge him because he found out that Team Plasma had shown up in Castelia City. Burgh asked me to come with him to the dock at Prime Pier, and I followed behind.

I met up with Burgh, who had Bianca and another girl with him. It turned out that Team Plasma had stolen her Munna, and the other girl told me that she heard Bianca's scream and ran after the thief fast as she could, but she lost them in the city. The girl was named Iris, and she was angry about the theft, eager to get the Pokemon back and punish Team Plasma.

As Burgh planned how to find the thieves, a Plasma Grunt came up to us from the city. He spotted the Gym Leader, Burgh, and thought himself lucky enough to grab more Pokemon, but then he realized he was no match and ran off! Burgh and I ran after the bastard, instructing Iris to stay with Bianca.

I spotted Burgh nearby, and he saw the Plasma Grunt heading toward the Gym. We found a group of them guarding the entrance to a nearby building, and they tried to tell us that nobody was there. It was obvious they were lying, that there was a major meeting going on, and I battled the weak Plasma Grunt while the other two got Burgh in a Double-Battle.

I sent Nora out against his Sandile, and a Bubble Beam knocked it out easily, and Nora grew to Level 21. Another Sandile was sent out, and I had Arthur fight it, and a single Vine Whip knocked it out to win the battle. The Plasma Grunts all ran inside to report this to the Seven Sages, and Iris and Bianca came by afterwards. They got lost in the city, even with directions from the Xtransceiver.

Burgh told them that Team Plasma was inside, that the stolen Pokemon may be in there too, then he went inside. Iris said she would join the fight, and told Bianca to come as well. Bianca asked me to fight as well, and I switched around my team a little to have Arthur at the lead, before I went inside.

I stood strong with Burgh, Iris, and Bianca, and before us stood Ghetsis, another pair of Sages, and the three Plasma Grunts we defeated behind them. Ghetsis was surprised to see Burgh there, who asked him what the guiding principle of Team Plasma was, "Take what you want from people?"

Bronius, one of the Sages, said he thought it would be amusing to prepare a hideout right in front of a Pokemon Gym, but he admitted that they were detected more quickly than he anticipated. Ghetsis wasn't concerned about it, saying that they already had a base of operations elsewhere. He asked us if we were familiar with the legend of the founding of the Unova region, and Iris was.

Iris said it had to do with a black Dragon-Type Pokemon, and Ghetsis responded that it appeared before a hero who sought the ideal way to bring the world together. Ghetsis continued that the black Dragon-Type Pokemon shared it's knowledge, and stood strong against those who would fight against it. He said that their combined power brought unity to the hearts of everyone in the land and so Unova was created.

Ghetsis claimed that they would bring back the hero and the Pokemon to Unova once more, thinking that by winning people's hearts and minds he (stumbling on his intentions over Team Plasma) could create the world he desires. It was obvious that he was running things and also had his OWN plans for the world that Team Plasma wouldn't necessarily share, and I wondered if I would have to ally myself with Team Plasma to stop Ghetsis when they realize his true plans.

Burgh told Ghetsis that Castelia City holds many different kinds of people with different ways of thinking and different lifestyles. Burgh told them that there was something they were saying he didn't understand, that one thing we all have in common is that we ALL care about Pokemon. Burgh spoke of how people meeting for even the first time could talk about Pokemon, or battle or trade. Burgh brought up Ghetsis' speech at Accumula Town, that he was responsible for leading Burgh to rethinking his relationship with his Pokemon, and thanked him for it.

That day, Burgh made a promise to himself, swearing that he would dedicate himself to Pokemon even more strongly, and asked if Team Plasma would strengthen the bond between people and Pokemon further. Ghetsis laughed, telling Burgh he was hard to figure out, and a tad more intelligent than he'd expected, and Ghetsis told him that he had gathered knowledgeable people from every corner of the world for their king's benefit. He said they could be called the Seven Sages, but he wouldn't say anything further, leaving after they returned Bianca's Munna.

Iris said she would continue being Bianca's bodyguard to show her the city, and Burgh revealed that Iris is a powerful Pokemon Trainer, but not quite at home in the big city yet. Iris thanked me for helping out, and handed over a Yache Berry. The pair of them left, and Burgh told me he would be waiting at the Castelia Gym for me.

I snagged a Smoke Ball left behind by Team Plasma, and went to the Pokemon Center to heal my team before I would challenge Burgh at the Castelia Gym. Soon I'd have my third Gym Badge!

Current Team:

Arthur (Pansage, Grass, Lv. 20)
Mason (Blitzle, Electric, Lv. 20)
Zach (Liepard, Dark, Lv. 20)
Nora (Tympole, Water, Lv. 21)
Cole (Pignite, Fire/Fighting, Lv. 21)
Madelyn (Tranquill, Normal/Flying, Lv. 21)