This was something inspired by watching Hardyt3kyoyo on Youtube's Pokémon Stadium 2 nuzlocke. I've got all the battles planned out and junk. Now I just need to actually write them all out. Hoping I can get it all done.
Yes, it's the same Clyde from Black and White. The guy in the Gyms who gives you the Fresh Water. I love him despite how minor a character he is in the games. Shut up...
I hope you like it! Enjoy!
Pokémon: Gym Leader Castle
Semi-Nuzlocke Challenge
Versus 1: Clyde
Out in the middle of nowhere, a tall tower-like castle raised high into the sky. Nobody was sure when, how, or why it was erected. One day, it simply appeared there. A message was sent out to trainers everywhere after it appeared.
CAN YOU REACH THE TOP AND BECOME THE BEST OF THE BEST?
Trainers everywhere heeded the call and entered the castle. Each day, more and more entered. They were all eager and prepared to take on anything.
None of them returned. If anyone had made it to the top, the public never heard about it. The flow of challengers slowed to a trickle before stopping completely.
That was nearly a hundred years ago. The castle still stands, tall and untouched by time. The world has fallen on harsh times and Pokémon training became nearly nonexistent. The castle, once an infamous mystery, now lays forgotten in the memories of the world's denizens, who now struggle to make ends meet.
Perhaps they have all forgotten it—that call that begged to be heeded, the urge to enter that castle and see what lies beyond those massive double doors at its base. Perhaps they have indeed forgotten.
But one will not. The castle's mystery calls to him. Inside lies the answers he seeks. Perhaps what he needs is finally within reach. If only he can get that far…
.o.o.o.o.
There was a man standing before those double doors, barring the way. He was leaning back against them, tall and lean in his light brown suit, white button-up shirt, and red tie. His brown hair was spiked up neat and tidy, not a hair out of place. Dark sunglasses hid his eyes from the world, perched atop his nose and above a small brown mustache. He was fiddling with a lighter, a cigarette dangling from his lips.
He peered up over the tops of his sunglasses, noticing he was no longer alone. A small smile formed on his lips as he straightened, successfully lighting his cigarette and pocketing the lighter. He stood at full attention, eyes on the newcomer.
The boy, about fifteen years old, was just over a head shorter than him with messy black hair and acid green eyes. He wore a black coat with the collar flared out, a light green T-shirt, black pants, and dark tennis shoes. Around his neck was a white hexagon-shaped charm, sparkling in the sunlight. His hands were shoved deep in his pockets as he stared down the older man guarding the castle's doors.
"My, my. Are you perhaps a challenger?" the man asked curiously, tilting his head back to let out a burst of cigarette smoke. "Haven't seen one of you in…thirty? Forty years, maybe? It's been way too long."
"You look too young to have been here that long ago," the boy commented.
"Never said I was here then. Just saying that no challengers have been here since then," the man pointed out, cigarette caught between two fingers so he could speak clearer. "So, are you a challenger?"
"You could say that," the boy replied.
"It's a yes or no question. Answer it," the man countered pointedly, looking annoying.
"…Yeah," the boy nodded warily.
"I'm not seeing any Pokémon or Poké Balls on you. Don't you know there's a test before you can enter?" the man asked, scanning the boy over in confusion.
"Denne denne! Dedenne denne!"
A small orange mouse with a long black tail and red cheeks appeared over the hill, bounding over at a quick pace. The rodent shot up the boy's leg, scaling his back to perch lightly on one shoulder. The boy smirked, reaching up to scratch it behind one ear. The mouse gave a squeak of affection, leaning into the touch happily.
"A Dedenne? Well…I've seen better and worse before. But I'm not here to judge," the man shrugged, struggling to stay neutral.
"Then bring on that test," the boy stated firmly, looking up at him.
"You really think you're ready? It's not easy," the man admitted, hands raised in surrender.
"Bring it on. I can take whatever this place has to throw at me," the boy replied, not wavering in his decision at all.
"Don't get cocky," the man warned, pulling a Poké Ball from his belt. "But I hear you. The test is a Pokémon battle against me. Win and you get into the castle. Lose and you scram until you decide to come back for a second round, if you dare to. Show me what you've got!"
The Poké Ball snapped open, revealing a tall bipedal pink and cream-colored Pokémon with large ears that had curled antennae attached to the undersides of them. Large blue eyes blinked up at the boy curiously, a questioning noise escaping it.
"Audi?"
"Chip, you know what to do. Get in there!" the boy ordered.
"Denne denne!"
The Dedenne shot down his arm and pounced, landing on the grassy ground not far from the Audino. The Normal-type backed up a step, looking back at its trainer in concern.
"By the way, I'm Clyde. And you are…?" the man suddenly prompted.
The boy looked at the ground, brows furrowed. "…Zachary. I'm Zachary," he replied with a frown.
"Nice to meet you, Zachary. Let's skip the first-time-meeting-you chatter and get right into the battle. We can have our pleasantries afterward," Clyde declared with a smile. "Audino, use Pound."
"Tackle, Chip!" Zachary barked quickly.
The two Pokémon collided, rebounding off one another. Chip raced around the larger Pokémon, making use of his speed to attack quicker and more often. The Audino huddled in on itself, defending rather than trying to pursue the faster Pokémon.
Clyde sighed, a hand rubbing his right temple. "My, my. I must be out of shape here. Poor Audino doesn't stand a chance…"
"You're not even trying," Zachary accused, bristling angrily.
"Oh, trust me, Zachary. You don't want me to try," Clyde informed, looking at the boy warningly. "Besides, you look like too much fun to just break you here."
"…Break me?" Zachary repeated.
"Audino, use Pound!" Clyde suddenly ordered.
"Chip, Thunder Shock!" Zachary retaliated.
The Dedenne jumped away, dodging the strike the Audino threw at him. Electricity shot along its whiskers and cheeks before exploding from the rodent's tiny body in a burst of light. It engulfed the Audino in raw lightning, making it cry out in agony. The lightning only lasted a few seconds but it was enough to rob the Normal-type of the last of its strength. It collapsed the moment it was freed, falling in a smoking heap on the ground.
"Awww!" Clyde pouted, toeing Audino's unconscious form hopefully. "And here I thought I could get the upper hand if I distracted you. So much for that plan. Oh well, you win. Congrats!"
"Then open those doors. I've got some answers to find," Zachary growled, Chip clambering back onto his shoulder.
"So you have a predetermined purpose coming here that does not involve just facing the challenges that lie inside this castle?" Clyde asked, amazed. "That's a new one. Oh yes, you'll be very interesting to watch."
"To watch? What, is there an audience in there? Nobody ever leaves when they enter," Zachary pointed out.
"An audience? Hardly! No, it's just little old me," Clyde replied, turning to grasp the handles of the double doors. He looked back at Zachary with a smile. "It gets boring, playing guard out here, so I think I'll watch you go through this castle instead. That should be fun!"
"Don't you guard the door?" Zachary questioned, baffled and a bit concerned. This guy wants to WATCH me? Okay, that's definitely not creepy at all.
"Oh, someone else will guard it for me," Clyde reassured, throwing the massive doors open with ease. "Welcome to Gym Leader Castle, Zachary."
"Gym Leader Castle…" the raven-haired boy repeated thoughtfully.
Zachary looked up, staring at the empty stone room beyond the doors. There was only a set of stairs at the center of the room leading up into the ceiling. Clyde headed inside, pausing once he reached the stairs.
"As your newfound companion through your little journey, I want to inform you that I actually can do quite a lot for you outside of battle. I can heal your Pokémon, provide you with necessary items, and give you helpful advice on the challenges ahead. Feel free to make use of me or disregard me, though be warned that the latter isn't a good idea. This castle is anything but ordinary, so you might want to accept any and all help you can get."
"I could tell you this place isn't ordinary from the get-go," Zachary pointed out, heading for the stairs. "Though you could explain why it's no—"
A loud BOOM made him jump. Whirling around, green eyes widened in panic when he realized what had happened. The huge double doors had slammed shut of their own accord. If his hunch was right, he doubted they were going to open again anytime soon.
"The only way you get to leave is if you win," Clyde said, suddenly behind Zachary, hands curled on the boy's shoulders. "The only way you can win is by going up those stairs and getting started. I suggest you get moving. Nightfall will be here soon and it's not good to keep your opponents waiting. They've been oh so very impatient lately with the lack of challengers. You're their first new challenger in ages, so they expect a lot out of you. It wouldn't do to disappoint them."
"…You mean the Gym Leaders," Zachary guessed.
"Is it that obvious?" Clyde asked in amusement, drawing away from the boy and returning to his place by the stairs.
"Well, Gym Leader Castle kind of gives away who's in here. It just depends on who the Gym Leaders are," Zachary pointed out, turning to look at the stairs and his guide. "What's upstairs? A Gym Leader?"
"No, not yet. It'd be unfair to challenge you right away like that. You only have one Pokémon, after all," Clyde said with a pleased smile, hands clapped together in front of his face. "Upstairs is a little…rest and preparation floor, I guess you could call it. It has a rest house and a training area for you to level up your team."
"You said it yourself—I only have Chip. There is no team," Zachary reminded, resting a hand on the Dedenne's head.
"That's where you're wrong! You can actually encounter a large variety of wild Pokémon in this very castle!" Clyde explained merrily. "The floors here are divided into two kinds of floors—rest floors and Gym floors. The rest floors, which I just told you about, happen to also include areas for you to catch Pokémon in. Though what you'll find, I do not know. You'll have to look around and find out for yourself!"
"How is that possible?" Zachary asked, confused.
"The same way this very castle is possible," Clyde replied vaguely. "You'll need to find those answers for yourself. But for now, why don't we go upstairs and you can see what all is there?"
"…Sure," Zachary shrugged.
"Oh, goodie! Race you to the top!" Clyde ran up the stairs, disappearing up them like a shot.
"…Like I stood a chance," Zachary huffed, trudging up after him.
Clyde was indeed at the top already, peering down eagerly as Zachary headed up the last few steps. Then the ex-guard spun away with a laugh to gesture around the strange floor. Zachary followed him, looking around in surprise.
It was like he'd just stepped outside, if he ignored the stone walls and ceiling that made it a room. There was grass covering the ground and trees whose tops brushed the tall ceiling. A large pond sparkled nearby. At the very center of it all stood a small one-floor house with a deep red roof and a few windows. A set of stone stairs were nearby, reaching up to the ceiling.
"That there is where you can rest between challenges. I think you know what everything else on this floor is for," Clyde said with a knowing smile.
"You mean I have to come back down here after each battle to heal?" Zachary asked, suddenly annoyed.
"Nope! There's one of these floors between every Gym floor," Clyde reassured. "After all, the Gym Leaders want their challenger at full strength. Nobody wants to face you when you have no health left. That'd be no fun."
"I guess that makes sense," Zachary nodded, relieved to hear that.
"Well then, feel free to rest and prep here! I'm sure the first Gym Leader is waiting for you to challenge him," Clyde commented, looking up at the ceiling.
Chip dashed into the grass, playing and squeaking happily. Zachary frowned, looking around the nature-covered room with caution. Then he approached Clyde, who was leaning against a wall with the cigarette at his lips again. The brunette paused his smoking, eyeing the boy behind dark sunglasses.
"You needed something?" he asked curiously.
"You said you could give me advice about stuff. What can you tell me about that first Gym Leader?" Zachary questioned. "Who is he? What type does he use? How can I win?"
"Slow down, would you? It's no fun if I give you all the answers you want right away. Besides, you'll be hitting me with more questions than that when you beat him. Trust me, you'll beat him as long as you keep that Dedenne at full strength," Clyde replied, hands held up in surrender again.
"So he's weak to Electric-types," Zachary guessed, looking away. That means…Water-type or Flying-type, most likely. This shouldn't be too hard then.
"He's also pretty weak. Give yourself a few more levels and you should win easily," Clyde continued. "He only has two Gym trainers with him. His highest level Pokémon is Level 13."
"Gym trainers?" Zachary repeated.
"I think only one Gym Leader doesn't have them, but the rest all employ a few to test out challengers before the Gym Leader personally faces them. They'll usually be a good amount weaker than the Gym Leader, so feel free to use them for experience and whatnot," Clyde shrugged nonchalantly. "This guy only has two and they're pretty weak, but I say aim for Level 13 or over, just so you're on par with the Gym Leader. Even with a type advantage, I wouldn't get cocky. Though he's the weakest one here, that Gym Leader can cause major issues if you don't watch yourself."
"Can't you tell me anything more useful, like the actual type of his Gym?" Zachary pressed.
"That would spoil the fun," Clyde chuckled, blowing smoke at the ceiling. "I already gave you a big hint, so you've already narrowed it down big time. Just go train and when you're done, tell me and we'll head upstairs."
Zachary frowned, annoyed at the guide's evasiveness, before leaving him in favor of searching out Chip. The Dedenne was already hard at work fighting the Water-types in the pond, electricity dancing across the water's surface from his attacks. Zachary watched for a while before eyeing the ceiling.
I wonder who it is, he thought. That Gym Leader…? Probably nobody I know. I haven't heard of any Gym Leaders being around since before this castle was built. All the real famous ones are long dead. I'll just have to be careful and not underestimate them. At least Clyde gave me the highest level. I can work with that. Just gotta stay above it. That should work.
"Dedenne denne! Denne!"
"Huh?" Zachary looked up to see Chip gesturing toward the pond. "What is it?"
A Magikarp was hopping about in the pond, gulping air. It stayed close to shore, near where Chip was. When Zachary approached, it suddenly dove before launching itself into the air, crashing into the boy's chest hard enough to knock him back on his butt. Zachary yelped, coughing and clutching his aching chest as the Magikarp flopped on his lap.
"Ow! What the heck?!" he barked, glaring down at the fish.
"Magikarp karp! Magikarp!" it gasped between flops.
"Denne denne! Dedenne!" Chip squeaked, smiling up at his trainer.
Zachary looked from Chip to the Magikarp before sighing. "Well… A Gyarados is always useful," he admitted, digging around before yanking an empty Poké Ball from his belt. "Why don't I call you…Kirby?"
"Magikarp karp! Karp!" the fish Pokémon gasped as it was sucked into the Poké Ball.
"Congrats! Made your next catch already?" Clyde asked, waltzing over. "A Magikarp? Should be useful once it evolves. Better be careful with it up on the Gym floors. Wouldn't want to lose it too soon, eh?"
"Lose it?" Zachary repeated, baffled.
Clyde merely smirked behind his mustache before straightening up again. "Your Dedenne sure looks stronger now. Ready to head up to the first Gym Leader? Or do you need more time?"
Zachary looked at Chip, who gave a happy squeak. Hooking Kirby's Poké Ball to his belt, the boy rubbed his chest as he stood up. Chip shot up to his shoulder again, tail wagging merrily.
"I think we're ready," Zachary confirmed. "I'll heal up Chip and then we'll go."
"Pokémon Center healing station is in the rest house," Clyde explained, heading toward the tiny house. "Not gonna make anymore catches?"
"There will be another one of these floors after the first Gym Leader. I'll catch more there," Zachary shrugged nonchalantly.
Heading into the house, he saw a machine that indeed looked like the ones found in old Pokémon Centers. Most of those buildings were shut down or abandoned now due to the recent disasters that plagued the world—freak storms, tornados, earthquakes, etc. Pokémon training as a whole had dwindled into near nonexistence within the past few decades.
Healing Chip and Kirby up quickly, Zachary then left the house and stopped at the foot of the stairs. Clyde was waiting there for him. Without anther word, the pair headed up the stone steps toward the opening in the ceiling.
Time to see who my first challenge is against, the raven-haired boy thought as he ascended the last few steps.