Pokémon Scarlet: Shimmering Destinations

7. A Clash of Avant-Garde Pokémon!

Waking up rather enthusiastically, I rounded up my Pokémon and bolted outside, calling a taxi to Artazon's Poké-Center, and took in the surrounding area.

"This place is amazing! There's so much life and color, everything looks like it was well crafted and grown."
I mused, my belt shaking from the two Poké-Balls that had opened.

"Boot."
"Crocalor!"

"Nice to see you two wanting to take in the sights, but we'll grab quite a lot of attention this way. Remember, our main goal isn't to cause an uproar, we're just students here."
I sighed and called them back, entering the great building in the middle of the city.

"Oh, hey! Hoshi!"
Nemona ran up towards me with a radiant smile,
"Came to see this Gym, huh? That can only mean one thing..."
She grabbed my hands and eagerly gave a small hop,
"You're out to earn some Gym Badges and take on the League, aren't you?"
She giggled.

"Nemo, I told you I don't feel comfortable with going against the League yet, but I will give the Gyms a try."
I reminded her firmly.

"Right, but still! You're trying and that's what counts! I'm so glad I asked you to do it! I should let you know, before you battle the Gym Leader, you've gotta pass a certain challenge set by them, their Gym Test."
She slowly walked us to the counter,
"Every Gym's Test is different. Every Gym will have a staff member tell you what's up!"

"Good Morning, Miss, welcome to Artazon Gym. I assume from your banter you're partaking of our Gym Test, correct?"
She smiled.

"Oh, before you go, have these! When you use'em, consider it me healing up your Pokémon!" Nemona smiled, handing me 3 Super Potions with a very excited tapping of her feet, "I'm so glad you're taking on our gyms! This is the best news ever! I'm so excited I can't stand still! So..."
The black haired girl ran past me like an Inteleon with great speed stats,
"Guess I'll go battle every Trainer I run into! Good luck, Galar Champ!"

I chuckled anxiously, facing the staff member once again whose face held an endearing smile,
"She's very enthusiastic, just as expected from our Champion."

I really hope this doesn't change anything, I may have been Champion but I'm in no position to outshine anyone at the moment!

"Now, I'll just register you as a Challenger, Hoshi, as she mentioned, right?"
The staff member smiled.

"Yes, that's correct."
I shifted uncomfortably in my spot, the feeling of eyes on me from the few people in here drilled at the back of my head.

Were they always here? Did they hear everything?

"Great! Now, you've been told about our standards for a Gym Test so I'll spare you that explanation. Here at the Artazon Gym, that means completing a game of Sunflora Hide and Seek!"
She smiled.

Hide and Seek? This was the challenge?

"As you may have seen from our wonderful decor outside, Artazon is a city full of artists. The artwork made by the people here is largely inspired by nature and the sun that nurtures it. Since Sunflora embody these concepts, we try to gather them and take good care of them!
Your job for this Test is to find the Sunflora located throughout Artazon. Remember, these Pokémon look like sun-shaped flowers. Gather up to 10 of them and bring them to the Sunflora Lawn, and you pass the test.
I'll register the Lawn's location to your Rotom Map App to get you started; when you leave the gym, turn right and you'll see two large Sunflora statues, head for those.
The staffer there will instruct you more upon the Gym Test. Much luck and have fun, Miss Hoshi!"
She waved me off, making me hesitantly wave back, keeping my face on my Rotom as I walked outside.