Pokémon Y Nuzlocke Challenge: Chapter 4
By Neal Chandran

After a short trek that felt far too long, Yondu makes it to Camphrier Town, where he encounters Shauna at the grand, yet completely empty Shabbonneau Castle. "'Shabby, Oh No!' Castle is more like it," Yondu mutters. Just as he's about to stomp out of the empty castle that has just wasted his time, he and Shauna receive word that something big is apparently happening on Route 7. Wanting to sate their curiosity, Yondu and Shauna decide to investigate.

Pokemon Y Image - Snorlax

Unfortunately, Yondu's desire to take branching pathways detours him to a berry field where an insistent man keeps pestering him to take care of the place. Yondu clearly recognizes the value of the berry field, and it is something he would rightly invest in, but he does not want that responsibility just yet. His insatiable wanderlust, current lack of a way to quickly and easily check on the field, and the fact that he's still just an irresponsible kid would prematurely lead to the field's neglect and ruin. But no matter how many times Yondu declines, a higher power keeps insisting that he say yes to the man's request. If there's one thing Yondu dislikes, it's when a higher power (in this case, the game's programming) gives him a choice and then strong-arms into making the one it wants.

Yondu clearly bristles at being forced into, once again, doing the game's bidding, because he likes to play by his own rules (in this case, his chosen Nuzlocke rules.) Let's talk about Yondu's complex relationship with rules for a second. Pokémon games have a conventionally expected way to be played, but playing with Nuzlocke rules is a way for folks like Yondu to say to the game's laws, "I reject your reality and substitute my own" (to quote that TV show Mythbusters). Violating Nuzlocke Code, however, is like breaking a pinky swear. You simply do not. Yondu, the space pirate in Guardians of the Galaxy, violates the law of the land (as pirates are wont to do) but is bound to the code of The Ravagers, the syndicate he belongs to. Violating said code has severe consequences.

After what feels like 100 times of saying "no," Yondu begrudgingly says "yes" to get the guy off his back, then summarily runs off to do more adventuring. Apparently, the big fat hairy deal on Route 7 is a sleeping Snorlax blocking the road, and only the Poké Flute from Parfum Palace can awaken it. Shauna announces that it's off of Route 6. Guess she's not so useless after all. But still, how did she know that, anyway? Perhaps her family went sightseeing or attended an event there. Eh, whatever. Now is not the time for questions. Off to Parfum Palace to recover the Poké Flute and recruit another companion.

Pokemon Y Image - Furfrou

While Yondu pokes around in the more secluded, more overgrown, and decidedly non-touristy areas outside Parfum Palace to recruit another ally, Poké Family Jan and Erin emerge out of nowhere and unleash their duo of Furfrous upon Tux and Pip Squeak. Tux's Struggle Bug and Pip Squeak's Bubble hit both, but the Bubble is ridiculously weak. So Yondu brings in Tekken, since he has a type advantage. But wouldn't you know it, both Furfrous Headbutt Tekken and he dies! Yondu is beyond angry right now, since Tekken was a powerhouse! Phoenix Down and Mary Poppins are brought in as relievers, but their attacks do paltry damage and Mary Poppins dies too! Tux is brought back in, but though her Struggle Bug takes out one Furfrou and Stun Spore paralyzes the other, the paralyzed Furfrou Headbutts Tux into the afterlife! All that's left is Phoenix Down with 3 HP and a full strength Pip Squeak. Phoenix Down is taken down by a Headbutt, leaving Pip Squeak alone to fight the remaining Furfrou, whose HP is in the red and is paralyzed.

Yondu just might survive by the skin of his teeth...

But before Pip Squeak can do anything, the family uses a Super Potion on their Furfrou! It's still paralyzed though, so maybe...

Nope! This Furfrou fights through its paralysis and Headbutts Pip Squeak into oblivion.

Yondu's Nuzlocke run unceremoniously ends to PokéFamily Jan and Erin's pair of Furfrou. And in the overgrown outskirts of the Parfum Palace front lawn, even the groundskeepers wouldn't find Yondu lying face down in the dirt, cursing his rotten luck.

Full Death Toll (Name of Deceased — Cause of Death):
Josie (Skitty) — Rising Star Hamish's Kadabra
Eclector (Pidgey) — Rising Star Hamish's Kadabra
Tekken (Pancham) — PokéFamily Jan and Erin's Furfrou
Mary Poppins (Fennekin) — PokéFamily Jan and Erin's Furfrou
Tux (Vivillon) — PokéFamily Jan and Erin's Furfrou
Phoenix Down (Fletchling) — PokéFamily Jan and Erin's Furfrou
Pip Squeak (Azurill) — PokéFamily Jan and Erin's Furfrou

< previous chapter epilogue >