Light Boy Arc Part 3

**Chapter 5, Shot Down in Cafflames:**

Even with a map, Light Boy gets lost on his way back to Chymethyme City. He decides to set up camp for the night and start again the next morning. Aroun midnight he is woken up to the sound of shouting. The sounds grow clearer and he realizes it's his name that is being shouted. LB summons Tibo to climb up a nearby tall tree and flash his glowing fur to signal whoever is nearby. Soon Bugs emerges from the branches and alights on the forest floor thanks to her Flyjesty, whose wings glow in the moonlight. Bugs tells how she knew LB was fine, but his mom had heard of his departure from Punchy and got worried when he didn't return yesterday. Bugs blows her referee whistle and various bugs appear from the grass and trees. She bids them to find the other members of the search party and inform them LB has been found. They head back to Chymethyme.

LB's father is at the house preparing food for the search party with a Goaplex. LB's mother returns and is relieved to find him but upset that he worried her sick. LB argues back that he was find and she needn't worry so much. He challenges Bugs to a battle the next morning and she agrees.

The next morning LB awakes and bikes toward the arena that is the Chymethyme city gym. He leaves Grrackles behind so as not to be tempted to use him. LB wants to win with his own mon like Punchy said. When he arrives he finds a battle is already taking place. He sneaks onto one of the higher levels of the arena to watch. A girl with red hair his age is battling with Bugs, and winning handily according to the scoreboard. She has only lost one mon while Bugs is down to Flyjesty, her last. To LB's surprise, the girl uses a Cafflame, a starter pokemon,. They are given out only to promising trainers by the Botan league in exchange for collecting research. LB was supposed to receive one but was put on hold at the last minute because none were available. The Cafflame releases a powerful ember and Flyjesty is defeated. Bugs is angered by the girl's gloating, but has no choice but to hand over the Flutter Badge.

LB finds Bugs healing her mon. She finds it very strange the gym leaders weren't made aware of a trainer being given a starter. She vows to talk to Big Daddy and investigate. But first, they must battle. LB is nervous. He saw how easily the previous trainer defeated Bugs with her fire types and he hasn't any mon that are effective against bug types.

Bugs starts with Ghossamer and LB summons Barbol. They are evenly matched, hitting each other with ghost and poison attacks. As Bugs studies Barbol's movements, Ghossamer gets better at avoiding the attcks, dodging and weaving silently like a ghost until it disappears altogether. Before Barbol can defend Ghossmer appears ovrehead and wraps Barbol in its web-like clutches, absorbing what little energy Barbol had left. LB grows frustrated. He summons Tibo, who finishes off Ghossamer easily with his dark attacks. Bugs calls out Ribbonita. Ribonnita releases sleep powder. Tibo is unable to avoid or counter and becomes drowsy. He fires a bolt of lightning but can't aim properly. Ribbonita hits with a direct silver wind. Dazed, Tibo drifts off to sleep. LB shouts at Tibo to get up but he makes no sign of movement. Ribbonita goes in for a bug bite, but as she reaches Tibo it gives off a powerful discharge that knocks out Ribbonita. The effort makes Tibo even more tired and he falls asleep for real.

Bugs summons her final mon, Flyjesty. LB summons Wecko. All Wecko's water attacks are blown back by Flyjesty's psychic-powered wings. LB recalls Wecko and brings forward his secret weapon, Slumbird. Bugs is impressed that he was able to catch one. LB thanks her, but is worried because he and Slumbird have not had much time to train together. They both fire matching beams of psychic energy. Slumbird uses air attacks that do some damage but aren't fully strong enough to break through Flyjesty's energy barrier. Flyjesty attacks, ramming Slumbird with its energy barrier. This allows Slumbird to get close enough to use aerial ace on Flyjesty, a clean hit but not enough to knock it out. Flyjesty fires golden stars that chase after Slumbird until they hit. Slumbird doesn't respond to LB. It is visibly bothered. A burst of psychic energy erupts from Slumbird, hitting everyone in the stadium.

Bugs asks LB if he is able to continue. He has one mon left, though he doesn't know what it is and wanted to keep it a secret. But more than that he wants to win. He brings out the Botan league ball. Inside is a Splicaeleon, the water-type starter. Both are stunned. Splicaeleon rushes at Flyjesty in a torrent of water. Flyjesty, has no time to react and suffers the full force of the torrent, beecoming knocked out.

Bugs gives LB his own Flutter Badge. He tells her the story of how he came to possess Splicaeleon and makes her promise not to tell anyone. She agrees and wishes LB luck on his trip to Croomenville before heading off in a hurry to search for answers. LB hurries off on his bike, hoping to catch up to the strange girl with red hair.