Chapter 8: VS Lt. Surge

A/N: And here I am with yet another chapter. Wow, I'm so pumped I feel like doing the Harlem Shake! For those who don't know, Harlem Shake is a dance where you swing your body around and spasm around like a mental person. Oops, no offense, mental people. Ok, why don't you just search Harlem Shake on YouTube? How do I know of this? One: someone told me about it. Two: my class is insane over it.

In this chapter, Platinum will go ahead and challenge Lt. Surge after training and watching TV.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harlem Shake or Pokemon.

Diamond was somewhere in the living room of the apartment the DPP trio rented in Vermillion, while Pearl was talking to Platinum.

"Your training starts tomorrow at eight," Pearl told Platinum seriously. "No skiving."

Platinum was insulted and indignant. "I do not skive!"

Pearl shrugged. "You never know," he replied.

"I would never skive!" Platinum stated loudly. "Not even for all the beautiful clothes in Hearthome!"

"Isn't it the place where the heart roams instead of silly fashion?" Pearl huffed, rolling his orange eyes.

"Silly fashion?!" Platinum's voice rose to an octave higher.

"Well, isn't that what all girls think?" Pearl shot back, smirking. As strange as it is, he actually likes arguing with Platinum.

"Well, Senior Sapphire doesn't think so!" Platinum replied haughtily. As absurd as it was, she loved arguing and disagreeing with Pearl, no matter how bothersome it is. "On the contrary, it is Senior Ruby who loves fashion!"

"Then there's something seriously wrong with that guy," Pearl said, folding his arms.

"Don't insult your seniors," Platinum immediately chided.

"What?!" Pearl got defensive. "It is true, no matter how odd it is."

"Just because something is true does not give you the right to slander that person!" Platinum trilled.

That argument's getting intense, Diamond mentally remarked. It is best if I make my move before it gets outta control.

Diamond secretly wondered if he was the only normal, non-arguing one amongst the three of them. He shrugged. Missy and Pearl do enjoy arguing, surprisingly.

Even before he reached Platinum's room, he could hear both their retorts and remarks clearly, as though he was already inside. If I can hear them so clearly outside, how loud would it be if I was inside?! Diamond wondered with a gulp.

Mustering his courage, he turned the knob and opened the door. His hands flew off the knob to protect his ears the moment the door was open. It was like a rock concert.

"H-hey!" Diamond shouted over the din. "You guys can be reported for noise pollution!"

Immediately, Pearl and Platinum stopped arguing. It's like Dia used out statuses against us to keep us quiet! the two thought at the same time.

Platinum stepped out into the open space beside the apartment buildings, wearing her usual training attire: a headband with the words 実習 on it, her usual black sleeveless top and pink skirt with her pink boots.

She found Pearl standing by a tree, waiting for her. He waved, and she jogged to him.

"Dia's still asleep," Pearl said. "So it'd be just the two of us till he wakes up."

Platinum nodded, while the words 'two of us' echoed distantly in her head.

"Now," Pearl said, getting serious. "This battle won't be as advantageous as the one against Erika, since Surge specialises in Electric-type Pokemon. It'd be best if you use Dia's Wig and your Pachirisu. Whatever you do, don't use Empoleon, since she'll be at a double type disadvantage, being a dual Water and Steel type Pokemon."

Empoleon nodded seriously.

"However," Pearl continued. "You can use Empoleon if all your other Pokemon are on the verge of fainting, but you must have a good plan."

"So… we need to train Empoleon to take Electric attacks not so badly?" Platinum asked.

"Yes." Pearl thought it over. "But that means we'll have to put Pachirisu up against Empoleon, since neither Dia nor I have an Electric Pokemon."

"I'll control Empoleon while you use Pachirisu," Platinum said decisively.

Pearl blinked, but quickly collected himself. "Ah, yes." What a fast decision she had made!

Ten minutes later, Diamond turned up. "What's cooking?" he said.

The DPP trio arrived at the Vermillion Gym faster than expected.

"Ok," Pearl said briskly. "Empoleon is trained to be able to be not affected so badly by Electric attacks. Oh, Missy!" he added. "Surge is kinda reckless, so stay on your toes."

Platinum nodded in reply. "Sounds a lot like someone we know," she said.

Doesn't sound like Red or Gold-sempai with the way she said it, Diamond thought. So it must've been… Pearl!

Pearl nodded awkwardly. "Yeah, I'm reckless," he said absently. "Big deal…"

Platinum pushed open the door, and saw the Gym Leader, Surge, doing sit-ups with his Pokemon. "Umm… Hello?" she said.

"Ah, yes!" Surge said, getting up all too quickly. He winced. "Ow… Anyway, who's challenging me?"

Platinum raised her hand. "That would be me. Dia and Pearl will be our spectators for today."

Diamond and Pearl shuffled to the side to sit down.

"Let's fight, challenger Platinum Berlitz!" Surge yelled as he released his Raichu.

Platinum spun around and released Pachirisu. "Pachirisu, use Spark!"

"Raichu, use Thunder!" Surge shouted.

Luckily, Platinum reacted quickly. "Pachirisu, use Thunder!" she retaliated.

The two Thunders clashed and rebounded back to their casters.

Maybe I shouldn't have done that, Platinum thought as she bit her lip. No time to hesitate! "Pachirisu, use Charge Beam, and then use Hidden Power!"

Good strategy, Pearl thought. Charge Beam damages the foe and has a 70% chance of raising the user's Special Attack! Then there's Hidden Power to give Pachirisu a type-bonus!

"Pretty good, challenger," Surge said. "Then again, you won all eight Sinnoh Badges and three Kanto Badges. Of cuz you'd be good. Raichu, increase the power of your attack and use Thunderbolt!"

"Ack!" Platinum cried as Pachirisu wasn't far from fainting. "Volt Switch!"

Ah, Pearl thought approvingly. You can damage the opponent and switch out your Pokemon.

"Go, Wig!" Platinum shouted. "Use Earthquake, and then use Mega Drai-"

Surge narrowed his eyes. "I won't let you!" he yelled. "Raichu, Thunder!"

"Argh!" Pearl yelled as he covered his eyes.

Diamond gently shook Pearl. "Keep calm and carry on!" Diamond sang. "Wig hasn't fainted yet; he's quite hardy!"

Platinum was horrified. That Thunder attack must be so powerful if it can damage hardy Wig like that! she mentally screamed.

"Hahaha!" Surge smirked. "Looks like this is the end! Get ready for good night, Torterra! Raichu, step up to maximum power, and use Thunder!"

In the split second before the attack was released, Pearl had fainted from the horror of it all.

In the same split second, a plan quickly formed in Platinum's mind. It's now or never! "Reflect!" she cried.

Pearl, who was now conscious, gasped along with Diamond.

At the arena, Surge also gasped. That little lady!

"Use Grass Knot!" Platinum yelled. "Then weaken it with Razor Leaf Dia Special Mach One And Only!" She smirked when she saw the damage she had inflicted using Wig. "Now, Mega Drain!"

Surge gaped, unable to do anything but to watch Raichu go down, down and down… "Wow," he said. "Been long since I've been defeated… Here," he added. "The Thunder Badge!"

A/N: Nice! Now, bye!