"Yeah, Chikorita doesn't stand a chance," Spade replied, hearing Heather's comment.
"We'll see," Free muttered.
"Monferno, Flamethrower!" Spade commanded. Monferno sent a burst of flames burning towards Chikorita.
"Dodge, Chikorita!" Free yelled. Chikorita rolled out of the path of the flames just in time.
Spade decided to stay simply on the offensive. "Start digging underground," Spade ordered his Pokémon. Monferno dug fast and was soon deep underground.
"Be careful, Chikorita! He could pop out at any moment," Free warned.
It is a good thing that I'm battling someone with actual skill. He doesn't bore me to tears, Spade thought. Monferno soon burst through the ground, sending dirt flying everywhere. Chikorita responded immediately, her leaves flying and cutting into Monferno.
"Monferno, get out of there!" Spade ordered and Monferno rolled away swiftly. "Charge with Mach Punch!"
Monferno's fist collided so fast with Chikorita, it was barely seen. Chikorita was sent flying back to her trainer. She landed on the ground with a loud thud.
"Chikorita!" Free yelled, worried about his Pokémon.
"Chi…ka…" Chikorita struggled to get back up.
"Good, Chikorita. Go ahead and use Synthesis," Free commanded. Chikorita raised her leaf in the air and began to absorb the sunlight and soon her wounds were healed.
That is a very similar technique to using Roost… this isn't good with Monferno having almost no energy left, Spade thought worryingly.
"Chika!" Chikorita cried into the air, still stealing the sun's energy.
"All right, Chikorita. Now use Razor Leaf again!" Free smiled and told his Pokémon. Chikorita flung a leaf at Monferno, who screamed.
"What are you doing to my Pokémon?" Spade questioned, scared to lose the battle. Free ignored the question and continued the battle.
"Chikorita, now use Mega Drain!" Free ordered. Chikorita closed her eyes and began taking energy from Monferno, who continued to shriek.
"Okay, that's it! Monferno, don't take anymore of this. Use Flamethrower!" Spade demanded his Pokémon to continue fighting. Monferno jumped into the air and blew wicked, blistering flames from his mouth.
"Chikorita, go into the hole!" Free said quickly as Chikorita dove into the whole Monferno had dug, the flames passing right over the opening. When Monferno ran out of flames, Chikorita staggered out of the hole, coughing from the smoke.
"Monferno, Dig!" Spade responded immediately, seeing Chikorita was distracted. But Monferno seemed tired. He hesitated before plunging his hand deep into the ground.
"Chikorita! Vine whip, before Monferno gets back underground!" He commanded. Chikorita nodded and flung her vines hard at Monferno's back, knocking him on his stomach.
"Get up, Monferno!" Spade yelled angrily.
"Mon…Monfer…no," it stuttered weakly before falling unconscious. Spade stood in shock for a little bit but then noticed that Free and Heather were staring.
"Monferno, return," Spade whispered furiously. He glared at Free and Heather before turning and walking away into the forest.
Spade began to run for the Bellsprout Tower.
"I can't believe I lost to a trainer like him!" He screamed to himself.
He passed the Pokémon Center and soon after, the Pokémon Gym. In his studies from being with Team Rocket, he knew that Bellsprout Tower was one of the best places for new trainers. Once he reached the tower he released Monferno. Monferno sat on the ground, still feeling the effects of the battle.
"We can't be letting that happen again," Spade stated. He then reached into his bag and threw a berry at Monferno. "It is a Sitrus Berry and will replenish a good majority of your health."
Monferno weakly chewed on it, knowing that he was only in for more training.
"Are you ready to obliterate these trainers in here?" Spade asked Monferno.
Monferno nodded and stood back up.
Spade and Monferno entered the tower and looked around. He noticed a monk standing at a staircase and he walked towards him. The monk had a well shaven head and wore a dark brown robe that was fastened at the waist with a tan rope.
"Excuse me? Can you direct me to where I can battle trainers here?" Spade asked.
The monk smiled, "If you go up here you can face off with many different trainers who are also honing their skills here."
Spade nodded and walked the staircase. Sure enough he reached an abundance of trainers that all looked as though they were ready to fight.
"Who here thinks that they are strong enough to take me?" Spade asked cockily.
"You don't look that strong," a voice echoed from the back. A girl with long pink hair walked from behind a few other trainers and revealed herself to Spade. "My name is Mika! I can take you on if you want? I'm the current Bellsprout Tower Champion; I doubt that you actually stand a chance against me."
"The current Bellsprout Tower Champion, eh? Sounds like a prestigious honor to hold." Spade sarcastically told her. "I'll go ahead and take that 'honor' from you and destroy you where you stand."
"If that is how you want it, then so be it! Go, Marill!" She called while tossing a Poké Ball into the air. From the Pokémon emerged a round blue Pokémon with a white belly. It had a smile on its face but Spade could tell that there could be a tough battle coming his way.
"Marill!" It cried out happily.
Spade grinned, "Monferno, destroy that Marill!"
Monferno formed from the white light in front of Marill and once he caught sight of the tiny Pokémon a weary look began to draw upon his face. "Mon-Monferno?" It was clear that Monferno's self-esteem was crushed and facing a water-type wasn't going to help after a loss to a grass-type.
I know that Monferno can beat this Marill. It may be a water-type, but they've never seen a Monferno like mine. Prepare to lose Mika, Spade thought.
"You do understand that water-types can easily knock down fire-types, right?" Mika asked, a natural impolite edge seeped into her voice.
Spade glared at her, knowing that type differences could mean nothing if you knew a good strategy. "I will start then! Monferno, use Mach Punch!"
Monferno darted for Marill and jabbed his fist square into Marill's stomach.
"Marill!" Mika screamed, not expecting any form of attack from Monferno.
"Give it some Fury Swipes!" Spade ordered; he wanted to put Mika in her place.
Monferno quickly removed his fist from Marill's stomach and began slashing away rapidly at the rest of Marill until Marill was too exhausted to continue. Once Monferno noticed that Marill could no longer continue he stopped and Marill fell down right at his feet.
"Looks like I win," Spade told Mika with a smile.
Mika stood frozen for awhile, "I-I didn't think that y-you would be any good…" She then lifted her hand and returned her Marill. "You are a lot better than I thought you would be…"
"Who else would be willing to face off against me? I bet you that no one can pull off a victory!" Spade called, looking to get as much training as he could for his Monferno.
"That was really fast," a voice from the watching crowd mumbled.
"Yeah, I can't believe my eyes," another said in disbelief.
Spade grinned because of the compliments, "So, will no one take me on? I promise that the fate of your Pokémon will be the same as Marill's."
Suddenly a boy from the crowd emerged. He had ruffled blonde hair and wore robe very similar to the one from the monk downstairs. "I will take you up on your challenge. Why don't we make it a two-on-two battle?"
I don't even have a second Pokémon but I'm pretty sure that Monferno could take anything this little kid could dish out. I hope that it isn't too much for the little guy though. A gym battle, then a battle against Free and now two more on top of that, Spade contemplated in his head. "I'll accept your challenge, you wanna-be monk."
"Then I'll start off with my Bellsprout of course!" He said with a smile, his tiny vine-like Pokémon popped out of its ball.
"Bellsprout," it cooed while swaying as though it was dancing.
The blonde monk smiled, "Alright Bellsprout, let us use the Vine Whip attack!"
"Show him that odd grammar won't win a Pokémon battle! Use your Flamethrower and destroy that tiny grass-type," Spade commanded, laughing at his own joke.
Bellsprout shot two vines from its tiny leaves that were from its side. Before they could connect, Monferno grabbed ahold of them and flames emerged from his mouth. The flames engulfed Bellsprout and its vines became limp. Once the flames left the battlefield it was revealed that Bellsprout could no longer continue; the fire-type kept true to its type advantage.
"I figured out your battle style," The blonde monk told Spade while returning Bellsprout back into its ball. "You battle with brute force… there is no real strategy. I know that you could take down that Marill but could you take down a stronger water-type? I doubt it, your strategy is definitely lacking." He then tossed a Poké Ball into the air and a round Pokémon with a white belly and a black spiral appeared.
"Poliwhirl!" It cried out happily.
"My Polisher will be able to destroy that Monferno of yours with ease. It won't be like going against Marill," he snapped with a grin.
"Whatever. Monferno, use your Mach Punch!" Spade ordered. He knew that he could still win.
Monferno took a deep breath then darted for Poliwhirl, his fist colliding with Poliwhirl's stomach. Poliwhirl's stomach sunk in and seemed to absorb Monferno's fist.
"While we have him all stuck, why don't we try a DoubleSlap?" The blonde monk called. In his head, he was all that.
Poliwhirl grabbed ahold of Monferno's arm then with his other hand he began to slap Monferno in the face repeatedly. Monferno couldn't escape; Poliwhirl's grip on his arm was too powerful.
Maybe I can win this if Monferno's ability activates. I guess that could be my only hope for now, Spade thought. "Monferno use your Flamethrower now!"
Monferno opened his mouth and flames soared from it before another DoubleSlap could connect. The flames engulfed both Pokémon at close range, the shine from them lit up the whole room.
"Poliwhirl use your Bubblebeam!" The monk screamed, he was getting desperate.
Still in the flames, Poliwhirl released a vicious Bubblebeam from the middle of its stomach. The bubbles extinguished the flames and both Pokémon flew out; both were injured greatly. Monferno was heaving from the great battles that he had to perform in today. Suddenly, he began to glow a slight red color, his ability, Blaze, had activated.
"What is happening to Monferno?" A crowd member questioned in a hushed tone.
Spade grinned, "That would Monferno's ability, Blaze. It raises its fire power by an extreme amount. How about we end this now, Monferno, use your Flamethrower!"
Monferno opened his mouth, this time backed a little bit away from Poliwhirl, and then a steady but fierce flame emerged. The flame once more engulfed Poliwhirl and its cry could be heard from inside. Monferno now had a mean look in its eyes, a look that he would do whatever it took to win. The flames kept escaping Monferno's mouth and never once did it look as though they would stop.
"Stop hurting my Poliwhirl, you win!" The blonde monk shouted before running and grabbing his Poliwhirl out of the flames, burning his hands in the process.
Spade sneered, "Next time don't rip on my battling style. Maybe you should do some training. Another thing… don't jump in a battle like that ever again. I could've finished off your pathetic Poliwhirl at any moment and I would have truly won." He then returned Monferno and walked down the stairs to reach the outside. "Till the next time we meet…"