"Okay, gang," said Kirsty. "This is our hardest challenge to date. Taking on a Water gym, and none of you have a single attack with a type advantage. Crab?"

The Wartortle looked up.

"Our plan is to have you Bite everything you see until dead. Dethstrike?"

The Spearow looked up.

"You're our main backup. If both of you go down, we're in serious trouble. So – let's do our best. Let's kill this gym and piss on the corpse."

Kirsty Sommerling: Hard-Mode

episode 7

Crab the Wartortle

Estrevan the Rattata

Troian the Mankey

Delyth the Pidgey

Dethstrike the Spearow

Salvatore the Zubat

The strategy worked well – Crab bit his way through the trainers' Pokémon with its turtley mouth.

But Kirsty was worried. That last Goldeen was tough – and the Gym Leader was bound to be tougher still. She could do with a secret weapon.

So she took a break from the challenge. Went to do some training. Then returned.

"Hi, you're a new face!" The Gym Leader, Misty, seemed delighted to face a new challenger. "I can't wait to see what you're capable of."

Kirsty blushed.

Misty sent out Staryu.

"Alright, Troian. Start us off."

Kirsty had taught Troian Mega Kick since Mt Moon. Staryu Hardened – and Troian missed.

"Dammit," said Kirsty. "Try it again."

Staryu Hardened a second time. This time, Mega Kick connected – but took off less than half Staryu's health.

"Keep kicking!"

But this time, Misty ordered: "Water Pulse."

Troian took heavy damage from the attack. On the plus side, Mega Kick connected, and Staryu's health was now in the red.

"Okay, time to swap," said Kirsty. "Go, Crab!"

Crab would be able to take a Water Pulse, right?

But Misty used a Super Potion.

"NOOOO!" cried Kirsty. "Fuck everything. Crab, Bite it."

Staryu Hardened again – but Crab had the level advantage, and took off a decent chunk.

"Water Pulse!"

The Water move did little to Crab – and this time, his Bite scored a critical hit.

"Okay, go Starmie!" declared Misty.

Kirsty recalled Crab. It was time for her secret weapon.

"Go Dethstrike!"

And she released … a Fearow! Freshly evolved from her training.

"Dethstrike – use Thief."

Thief had the type advantage – but Dethstrike took far more damage from the opponent's Water Pulse.

"One more Thief," said Kirsty.

A second Water Pulse put Dethstrike in the red. Once again, Kirsty sent out Crab.

"Use Bite."

Things were going well. Crab ought to be able to withstand Water Pulse, and the type advantage should finish things off.

But then a Water Pulse connected.

And Crab became confused. He hit himself in confusion.

"Don't worry, Crab," said Kirsty, using a Potion.

This time, Starmie used Swift, causing much more damage.

Crab overcame his confusion to score a Bite – and now Starmie was in the red.

Another Swift – but Crab survived. Another Bite, and Starmie was dead.

"You're incredibly impressive," said Misty.

Kirsty didn't know what to say. She barely made eye contact as she took a Cascade Badge.