Title: Round
Author: Mynt Mint (AKA Emotionalcrux)
Editor: Andy (AKA Andylately)
Fandom: Glee and Pokemon
Genre: Adventure/Romance
Rating: T
Warning(s): Fantasy Violence, Possible Language, and Possible Sexual References
Pairings: Spuck [Sam/Puck]
Disclaimer: I don't own Glee or Pokemon. Damn. All characters and songs used in this fan fiction are the property of their rightful owners (i.e. not me).
Summary: Sam relocates to Hoenn in order for his Dad to become Gym Leader there. Little does he know he has entered a region on the brink of utter, oblivious chaos.
AN: So, because I'm the shining example of good workmanship, I've started yet another fiction. I just had a burning desire to write this, and that's how it came to be. I have no idea if I will continue this, I may if people like it.
And Andy deserves an extra special big thank you because he turns my dribbles into coherent sentences and that is a skill that I don't come across often. I LOVE YOU ANDY.
Sam slumped among the boxes in the back of the moving truck, trying to hold a position that wouldn't send him flying with every brake and turn. Hitching a ride in a gigantic truck to a region with no roads seemed a lot more exciting back in Sinnoh. Now he was stuck without a seatbelt as the bumpy, road-less path gave him several bumps and bruises. His Shinx had long ago taken refuge inside its ball, leaving Sam to flick the the tracks on his iPod for entertainment.
When the truck came to a stop and the shutter door rolled open, Sam jumped out of the vehicle, stretching his arms above his head. He reached inside his pocket for his Quick Ball and released his Shinx.
"Have a stretch," he advised, watching as the electric cat scratched its ear with its foot. "I wish I could do that."
"Sam, honey, there you are!" Bursting through the door of their new house, Sam's mom beckoned him inside, Shinx playfully nipping at his heels.
"I know you're just dying to see your room," she said, her blonde hair splaying in the wind as she held the door open. "I'll just be in the kitchen - these Vigoroths of your fathers really do help with all the moving. It's just great!"
"And don't forget to set your clock!" she called as Sam ascended the stairs.
As he stepped onto the landing, Sam surveyed his room with indifference. It was bland and claustrophobic, but it didn't matter; he didn't plan on spending much of his time there anyway. He looked at his watch and was surprised to see that it was just after midday; the horrible ride in the truck had seemed to take a lot longer than that. He didn't have much time to marvel, however, before he heard a shout from downstairs.
"Sam! Quick, come look at this! Hurry!"
He turned on his heel and jumped the stairs two at a time, darting between movers until he found his mother standing by the television. He hurried over to stand beside her.
"Well, there you have it! A first-hand battle between Finn Hudson, the soon-to-retire Gym Leader of Petalburg City, and his usurper, Dwight Evans!"
"Mom, shouldn't you be focusing on unpacking instead of-"
"Oh, you missed it! Your father was on TV; you should have seen it!"
"Mom, I've seen Dad battle a hundred t-"
Mary waved a dismissive hand at her son and continued. "I think you should visit your father - you know how queasy he gets with his stage fright. Why he chose a career as a Gym Leader with a chronic case of straight fright is something I'll never understand, but your father always has been a mystery."
"Ugh, do I have to? We only just got here." Sam had been awake for six hours but it felt more like sixty; the last thing he felt like doing right now was making the trek to Petalburg City.
"No, you don't have to. I just think it'd be nice for you to give him some moral support... he is your father after all, and he was just in one of the most important battles of his career on live television..."
"Fine," Sam sighed, already heading for the door. There was no point in fighting her once she started with the manipulative guilt.
"Tell him I said hi!" she called as Sam shut the door.
Walking to Petalburg Gym was harder than Sam had anticipated. Being new to the region, he was unfamiliar with the wild Pokemon, and therefore some forced battles managed to place a dent in Shinx. The route was pretty simple to follow, even without the guidance of a Town Map, but that did not detract from the time it took. After what seemed like an age, he finally reached Petalburg City.
Entering the Gym after healing Shinx, Sam noticed his father standing next to a door, talking with whom he presumed to be Finn. The room itself was quite small, but the two doors on the wall opposite suggested the Gym was larger than he knew.
"Ah, Sam!" Dwight called, "Come over here, I have someone I'd like you to meet!" Rushing over, Sam timidly stood by his father's side. "Sam, this is Finn," Dwight revealed.
"Hey Sam," Finn greeted, shaking his hand. "Nice to meet you."
"You too," Sam smiled.
"Did you see the battle? It was on TV - the recorders just left."
"Nah, I just missed it," he shook his head.
"Well, how 'bout a quick rematch?" Finn bantered, nudging Dwight's shoulder.
"Maybe later, cameras make me nauseous," Dwight replied weakly. "Sam, would you mind doing me a favour?"
"Sure Dad, what is it?"
"Nothing, really. I just need you to fly to Rustboro City for me. The Pokemart there stocks this great remedy that heals nausea in seconds. I've got some on special order for this occasion. If you get it, we'd be happy to rematch. You can even take my Staraptor."
Sam's eyes lit up, but he swallowed his enthusiasm. "Only because I want to see a real battle," he said as he was handed his father's Pokeball.
"Sure, sure," his Dad chuckled knowingly.
Sam jumped down from Staraptor's back and gave it an appreciate rub on the crest before sending it back into its Pokeball. Flying with Staraptor back in Sinnoh had always been fun, but soaring over unfamiliar regions added a new dimension of awe and excitement.
He had landed on the outskirts of Rustboro, as indicated by a sign nearby. Checking his wallet was still secure in his back pocket Sam proceeded to enter the city, enjoying the renaissance feel that accompanied its stone design. Locating the PokeMart was easy - it was the first building Sam saw. Entering through the sliding door, he walked up to the counter and rang a bell for assistance.
After a minute of quiet waiting, Sam rang the bell again.
"Wait!" called an angry voice in return. Sam sucked his lips, slightly frightened as he heard footsteps from the room behind the counter. The angry voice belonged to a store assistant, whose nametag bore the title Puck. The lines of irritation on Puck's forehead melted back into his skin as he eyed his customer. "Hey," he greeted coolly, "Need help?"
Sam swallowed. Puck's voice was naturally sultry, probably because of the rasp that accompanied it. It was also smooth and hearty, sounding great to anyone's ears. Sam cleared away his irrelevant thoughts, voicing his father's needs.
"Uh, yeah," Sam smiled, "I need something that cures nausea..." He stopped and frowned. "I don't actually know what it's called, but my dad has it on special order."
"Ah," Puck responded. "Special order? I think I saw something out back. Gimme a sec." Puck vanished back into the storage room, allowing Sam to exhale a breath he didn't know he was holding.
Puck returned rather quickly, brandishing a small box. "I think I found it," he said, reading the label. "Dwight Evans?"
"Yep, that's him," Sam cheered.
"Your Dad? The new Gym Leader?" Puck raised an impressed eyebrow. Sam nodded proudly.
"So, how much is it?"
Puck looked Sam up and down, making him blush. "Consider it free."
"Wow!" Sam said appreciatively. "Thanks!"
"Just come visit again." Sam knew that Puck's goodbye was meant to be playful banter, but he couldn't deny the hope in his voice. He smiled in return, leaving as Puck's eyes trailed his footsteps with a sigh.
"I got it Dad, I got it!" Sam rushed into the gym where Dwight and Finn still seemed to be talking animatedly. Dwight smiled gratefully as Sam handed him his package and his Pokeball.
"Ah, thanks son." Dwight tore open the package and retrieved an elegant spray bottle from the box inside. "It's a smelling salt," he explained at the perplexed looks on both Sam and Finn's faces. As he closed his eyes and sprayed the concoction on his face, Sam had to stifle a laugh at how effeminate it made his masculine father seem. "Much better," he commented happily. He turned to Finn, his voice descending into a challenging tone. "Now, how about that rematch?"
"Bring it," Finn smirked, rising to the demand. "Single battle, two Pokemon each."
"Right," Dwight said, unclipping two Pokeballs from his belt. Then he turned to Sam. "Stand behind me, or else you might get in the firing zone." Sam obediently obeyed, moving two strides backwards.
"Right," Finn announced, "May the best man win." Finished with the formalities, he flung his Pokeball into the air with pride. "Go, Zangoose!"
A blur of white fur materialized on the field. The Cat Ferret Pokemon stood and bared its claws with aggression
"Let's go, Snorlax!"
Sam watched as his Dad's beloved Snorlax emerged onto the field, lying lazily on the ground.
"Zangoose, use Slash!"
With a battle cry, Zangoose ran towards Snorlax, scraping its claws along the side of its opponent. Snorlax sighed, as did Finn.
"Zangoose, again!"
Zangoose repeated the action before standing awkwardly as Snorlax lifted its head to view the damage, which was minimal.
"Now Snorlax!" Dwight commanded, making his Pokemon rise with surprising agility. "Zen Headbutt!" Snorlax, with the force of its body weight behind it, rammed its skull into the body of Zangoose. "And Body Slam!" Snorlax's transition from attacks was flawless, positioning its body from its first attack perfectly and crashing into Zangoose with supreme power. Recoiling backwards until it slammed into the wall, Zangoose fell, defeated.
"We call that one a head-slam," Dwight stated matter-of-factly as Finn remorsefully withdrew his Zangoose.
"You did great," he said to his Pokeball, "But I guess Exploud have to finish the job. Come on out!" Exploud joined the battle, tooting a battle chord through the pipes on its back. "Knock him down with an Uproar!"
Inhaling from its mouth and various tubes, Exploud summoned a fierce breath of air before exhaling continual blue rings of sound. The range of the attack forced Dwight and Sam to raise their arms in front their faces to block particles of dust and dirt aimed their way. The ringing sound reverberated in Snorlax's eardrums, subduing it into unconsciousness.
"Well done, Snorlax," Dwight said to his now sleeping Pokemon. Sam blinked, surprised at how easily such a large being was put to sleep. "Lickilicky, finish this!"
Lickilicky bounced into the fight, its tongue dangling out of its mouth. "Dad, are all your Pokemon fat?"
"Not now, Sam."
"Come on, Exploud," Finn thundered, "Another Uproar!"
Dwight waited, anticipating Exploud's sharp inhale of breath. "Now, Lickilicky!" he instructed, "Wring Out, then Power Whip!"
Quickly and accurately, Lickilicky's tongue darted around Exploud, wrapping it continuously and blocking its mouth and all of its various tubes. Lickilicky's tongue began to glow purple, and it freed Exploud from its grip, resulting in it spiralling at the release. Not allowing its opponent regain its stance, Lickilicky attacked it with a powerful and direct Power Whip, winning Dwight the battle.
"Wow," Finn marveled, "You were so much better without the camera crew."
"I just hope they don't try and televise all my battles," Dwight joked.
"You'll get used to it after a while," Finn assured. He opened his mouth but was interrupted by a loud beeping from a device on his wrist. "Crap, I'm late," he breathed. Making for the door, he said a hasty goodbye. "Gotta go, there's some important business I have to take care of!"
Waving Finn off, Dwight turned to face his son.
"So, what's your plan for Hoenn?"
"I don't know," Sam shrugged, toeing the grown. "Maybe just get some battling experience."
Dwight smiled, crinkling the corners of his eyes. "That's a great start. There's a lot of new career opportunities here, but since you've just finished school I think a gap year might be great for you."
"Yeah," Sam agreed, "I might do that."
"If you want some experience, you could try battling the other Gyms. After all the practice you've had with me I'm sure you'd be a worthy opponent for most of them."
"You think?"
"I know."
"Thanks, Dad," said Sam, giving his father an affectionate hug. Suddenly full of motivation, he ran to the door. "I think I could still make it to Rustboro before sunset!"
"Good luck," Dwight said, laughing at his son's enthusiasm. "That boy will go far," he mused to himself.
Please comment and review!
(If there is a) Next time, on Round: Sam goes back to Rustboro, making a new friend who may ultimately help him get his first badge!