Pokémon: Red Steel Travels
A few words regarding my other regularly updated story as some might be reading both; Digimon Connections, I'm suffering a bit of writers block on that. X needs to happen, but I can't really get around forming how to reach X at this moment. So that should answer why this have gotten so much attention.
Now regarding this, I'm so far enjoying writing it, I personally find it rather interesting to write in first person, and it's quite helpful when Erina is about the only human that's actively there, and very soon I'll start pulling in some of the oc's.
Erina's Team
Hagane the Pawniard
Tendou the Heracross
Chapter Four
Battle of Basics! Vs. Zangoose
"Have you registered for the league yet?" the Aspertia Pokémon Center clerk asked, he looked way too similar to the one in Flocessy.
"I figured walking up with the eight badges was enough?" I replied in a rather bored tone. It's all this waiting.
"They wanted it to be more controlled so now all trainers have to register before earning their badges" the clerk explained.
"Can I register with you?" I asked, "Or is it only the Nurse Joy's that can do that?"
"Only the nurses" the clerk replied. I sighed, but since I was waiting on Hagane and Tendou anyways and it would be a Nurse Joy that would say when they're good to go I can take care of it there. I think I drifted off for a while because I was awoken by Nurse Joy gently poking at me.
"Your Pokémon are at good health now" Nurse Joy said in a cheery tone.
"Thanks" I responded, "I also need to register for the Unova League" I added, remembering what the clerk had said.
"Very well, I just need to see your Trainer Card" Nurse Joy said as I pulled out the card and handed it over. I could see her typing in the information from my Trainer Card onto her computer. She added a few additional comments before handing it and my Poké Balls, along with a small case, similar to a black rectangular folder, back to me.
"What's this?" I asked as I took hold of the folder and my Trainer Card.
"It's a badge case" Nurse Joy explained as I put my things back. "To store the Gym Badges"
"Oh, I see" I muttered. "Well, I have a feeling I'll see you soon" I muttered as I walked to the door, it opened with a soft whoosh. I decided to wait with letting any Pokémon out until my battle with Cheren.
The Pokémon Trainer School which also doubles as Cheren's Gym are right next to the Pokémon Center. Rather convenient if you ask me. I felt ready. Cheren as a Gym Leader was only allowed to use Normal Types, which with my current team was quite the advantage.
I grinned as I opened the door to the school. It's a rather simple building really. A staircase of just a few steps to a large door at the center of the building. And topped off with a orange roof and just two windows facing the street.
"I had thought you would rush all the way to Flocessy and back" Cheren said, he sat at the desk right in front of a blackboard, since he was a Gym Leader the big people behind all these Trainer Schools went ahead and let him teach.
"A few things came up" I replied quietly as I swung down my backpack, fishing into it after his package. "So, I imagine we use your arena outside" I said as I handed over the small package.
"I hope you're prepared" Cheren said as he took the package from my hands and led me outside, I followed, dragging my backpack with me.
The backyard of the Pokémon Trainer School. It's essentially just a few tables and a outdoors arena, no grass on the ground. Just earth, really. "This will be a two-on-two battle, you're allowed substitutions as you please. The winner will be the trainer to defeat two Pokémon!" he explained as he took his place at the other end of the arena.
"Very well" I responded, do you say anything special in these situations, I don't know so I just went with it and chose one of the Poké Balls in my jacket.
"I choose you, Herdier!" Cheren announced as he threw his Poké Ball. Out came a dog-like Pokémon. Cream colored fur formed a moustache on its head and spiked up slightly. Its lower body was covered orange-brown fur with a dark blue pelt on its back.
I held up my Xtransceiver to find to gain some information on Herdier, "Herdier, the Loyal Dog Pokémon. It loyally follows its Trainer's orders. For ages, they have helped Trainers raise Pokémon." the Synthetic voice from the Xtransceiver explained.
"Guess it'll be your debut now, Tendou!" I grinned as I threw my own Poké Ball into the air, the white beam shut out and my Pokémon landed on the ground with thud. His blue shell like armor glinted in the sun, his horn was thrust out proudly as it let out a cry of its own name.
"A Heracross?" Cheren spoke, a bit surprised perhaps. Maybe he had heard of the one between Aspertia and Flocessy. He smiled, I don't like when people smile at me doing something that isn't funny. "Let the battle between Heracross and Herdier... Begin!" he declared, "The Challenger can get the first move"
He's even inviting me to attack, I don't like this. "Tendou, use Horn Attack!" I declared, as much as I didn't like it I decided to go with; A good defense is a good offense. Tendou spread out his wings and shot forward as if I'd fired him with a rocket, his horn glowing.
"Herdier, use Fire Fang!" Cheren declared as flames started building up behind Herdier's moustache as Heracross neared it.
"Tendou, fly upwards!" I yelled, too late, Herdier had already pounced forward, sinking its fangs into Tendou's arm and it wasn't letting go. "Quick! Use Brick Break!" I shouted hoping Herdier wouldn't have time to avoid.
And I couldn't help but smile because the moment Tendou's arm lit up a look of panic etched its way onto Herdier's face, and then Tendou slammed his arm into the ground, Herdier first. He felt a bit proud as he took a few steps backwards.
"Herdier, use Fire Fang again!" I heard Cheren call and out of nowhere Herdier just jumped back up from the ground.
"Tendou, use Horn Attack!" I yelled, and as the words left my mouth Tendou's horn lit up, and connected with Herdier's face sending the smaller dog back a few feet.
"You have good reactions already" Cheren said, praise, how I love it, "But good reactions isn't everything! Herdier, use Aerial Ace!"
"Wait, what" I muttered as the Herdier pounced Tendou at high speed sending him into the air where he stopped the momentum with his wings.
"Normal Types are the most diverse Pokémon Type." Cheren explained, "You need to pay attention to things like that"
I growled lowly, "Tendou, use Brick Break again" I shouted as Tendou's arms lit up in a bright white color as he flew down.
"You can't just rush forward, Herdier use Fire Fang!" Cheren retaliated as the flames re-appeared behind the moustache owning Pokémon. As the two attacks connected Herdier was flung across the arena, and Tendou fell to the ground in a cloud of dust.
"Tendou!? Are you okay?!" I called out, a few seconds passed before I heard the reassuring sound of 'Heracross!' from the dust cloud. "Thank goodness" I muttered holding a hand over my chest as I slowed my breathing back to normal levels.
"Herdier, how're you feeling?" I could hear Cheren ask. Then for a few seconds I heard nothing before the dust cloud settled. I saw Cheren return Herdier to its Poké Ball. "Herdier won't continue anymore, that leaves me at one Pokémon" Cheren said.
"Hera...!" Tendou yelled from the arena, he was suddenly feeling a lot more ecstatic.
"Moxie, huh" Cheren said relaxed. "This is now even more interesting"
"Moxie?" I asked a bit confused. Pokémon Abilities were never my strong point.
"It's an ability where a Pokémon feels stronger after defeating another Pokémon." Cheren explained.
"Man, you're full of surprises aren't you" I grinned at Tendou.
"Though I'm not sure how this will help you now" Cheren said as he took out his other Poké Ball. "I choose you, Zangoose!" he declared throwing the ball into the air and out of it came a cat-like Pokémon standing on its hind legs. Its fur is mostly white in color, but had some deep red markings on the face, chest, and forepaws, which have sharp turns and edges.
I held up the Xtransceiver for the second time today, "Zangoose, the Cat Ferret Pokémon. Zangoose usually stays on all fours, but when angered, it gets up on its hind legs and extends its claws. This Pokémon shares a bitter rivalry with Seviper that dates back over generations." the synthetic voice explained.
"Well, this might be interesting" I said, I could feel my heart pumping with excitement, just like when we fought Tendou earlier.
"Zangoose, use Crush Claw!" Cheren announced as the nails on Zangoose lit up and it started sprinting toward Tendou.
"Counter with Brick Break!" I yelled as Tendou brought his arm up, and almost instantly Zangoose were already in front of him, and brought its claw down sending Tendou staggering backwards. "What in the" I muttered, that thing was fast.
"Zangoose, follow up with Quick Attack!" Cheren demanded as Zangoose moved forward at high speed.
"Quick, Tendou! Use Endure!" I yelled as Tendou started yelling just before Zangoose slammed into him, "Now quick, use Brick Break before it's too late!" I further yelled and quickly Heracross brought down its right arm on Zangoose before tumbling further back himself.
"Are you okay?" I asked as he struggled with getting back on his feet. I exhaled and took out the Poké Ball. "That's enough, take a rest now" I said returning him to it.
"Clever move" Cheren said, "We're both down to our last Pokémon now"
"I choose you, Hagane!" I announced as I threw out his Poké Ball. He let out a cheery cry and stretched his limbs. "Just you left, buddy. Make me proud" I grinned as I squatted down to his height. He gave another happy sounding cry at me and turned to Zangoose.
"If I can't beat you on sheer offense I'll have to focus differently". Hopefully this makes him go for the same mistake Joey did. Most Pokémon species have three abilities they can end up with. That means there's a 33.3% chance he know Hagane have Defiant.
"Remarkable tactic, if it wasn't for moves that countered these bulky Steel Types. Zangoose, use Leer!" he declared as Zangoose's eyes slit together for the stare. I smiled earning a lifted eyebrow from Cheren, "Can it be?" he muttered.
For a second Hagane dropped his guard before instantly breaking out into a battle stance, letting out a war cry, which was more a squeak of his own name, but felt like a war cry.
"So your Pawniard have the Defiant ability" Cheren asked out loud and I nodded in response. "I should have anticipated but the odds were favoring it not having it"
"And now it's time for some battle" I grinned, "Hagane, use Metal Claw!" I shouted as Hagane broke into a run, his blade like arms glowing intensively as he jumped up and punched Zangoose. I'm surprised it didn't even react.
"You're open! Crush Claw!" Cheren yelled and instantly Zangoose jabbed at Hagane sending him flying back.
"Hagane, use Fury Cutter!" I shouted as Hagane made a quick swipe at Zangoose, who lashed out at him, sending him to the ground. "Use Fury Cutter again!" I yelled and Hagane made another quick swipe.
"Zangoose, use Cru... Slash!" Cheren demanded, I wonder if he realized Crush Claw had a high chance of quite a high chance of lowering defense, though I wonder if he also forgot that a moment before.
Zangoose lashed out with its right claw ready to tear through Hagane, "Counter with Fury Cutter!" I yelled and moments before the Slash attack connected, Hagane swung his right arm up and even sending Zangoose backwards. "It's starting to pay off" I grinned.
Fury Cutter gets more powerful if it's used in repeated succession. "Now finish it off with another Fury Cutter!" I yelled and with all his might Hagane jumped up before diving down with its blade arm, connecting with Zangoose's head sending it tumbling back. Passed out.
"Zangoose, you fought well" Cheren said as he returned the large cat Pokémon. "Congratulations on your first Gym Battle, Erina" he said as he walked across the arena. "As the Aspertia City Gym Leader it's my honor to give you this, the Basic Badge" he said handing me a small pin like badge. Covered in gold with a shade of purple within.
"Thank you" I replied accepting the badge and placed it within the badge case Nurse Joy had given me.
"From here on, you'll want to head toward Virbank City, it's past Flocessy Town" Cheren said, "There you'll find the next Gym"
"Thanks" I replied once more, I didn't really know what to say.
"That reminds me, can I possibly get you to do something more for me?" Cheren asked.
"Well that should be possible, yes" I said hesitant.
"Bianca asked for some help with something and I wondered if you could go over and find out what she wanted. I can't leave the Gym for too long so I figured it would be better if you could check it out" Cheren said looking away, but I could tell. He was blushing.
"Very well, I'll wander all the way over to Bianca then" I said with a light girlish giggle, "I'll say you sent me"
"Thanks" Cheren replied as I vanished back into the school. "I really can't speak well around her anymore. I wonder"
The Pokémon Lab in Aspertia are actually a really tall building right next to the Trainer School, or rather, behind it. It's a two story building with the entrance up at the Aspertia lookout, giving view over most of Unova.
I of course made a quick stop at the Pokémon Center, getting Hagane and Tendou back to their full strength. And I fished out a sandwich from my backpack, while I'm still in my hometown I don't want to return home on the first day. Sort of a rule I've set for myself.
End of Chapter
Gym Battle, a lot more generic writing than I expected. But what can you do. They're also a bit hard not making too one-sided.
I would have added a bit more to this chapter but I figured I might as well leave it off here. Next chapter will introduce the very first OC so there's that to look forward to as Erina will be doing something for Bianca on Cheren's behalf.