Pokemon True Emerald

by Exdeathmore


Chapter 9: May vs Roxanne

"I'll see you all again tomorrow!" Roxanne said as she waved goodbye to the students in the Trainer's School. As soon as she stepped outside, May approached her. "Oh, hello there! Can I help you?"

"I think you can," May said with a face full of confidence. "I'm May, a Pokemon Trainer from Littleroot Town. I'm here to challenge you to a Gym match, Roxanne!"

"Is that so?" Roxanne smiled. "Before I accept, you should know that the rules of my Gym say that we must have a two versus two battle. Do you have at least two Pokemon?"

"I do!" May directed her to the three Poke Balls strapped to her belt. "I want to get started as soon as–" May stopped when she saw a crowd of students gathering behind Roxanne. Among the crowd was the teacher from the Double Battle lecture. Roxanne turned around and noticed the crowd.

"What's going on here?" Roxanne asked. "Class wasn't dismissed yet!"

"Did she just challenge you to a battle, Roxanne?" one of the female students asked her.

"Can we watch? Please?" a male student asked. The crowd started roaring, all of them asking to watch.

"I think it would be a fine idea," the teacher said. "Think of it as a special, impromptu lesson for them."

"Hmm..." Roxanne closed her eyes for a moment, then turned to May. "What do you think? Would you mind if they observed our battle?"

"The more, the merrier!" May replied.

"Very well." The students cheered upon hearing Roxanne's answer. "Everyone, please form an orderly line, and we shall head for the Gym." The students immediately lined up and marched to the Gym.

'Wow, these students are much more organized than last time,' May thought. 'They must really respect Roxanne.' She then noticed the teacher approaching.

"We're all looking forward to seeing how you perform, young lady," the teacher said to her. "Hopefully your training has paid off." He smiled as he followed the students, making sure they were still behaving. May followed Roxanne as they entered the Rustboro Gym behind the crowd.


Inside the Gym, the students had already seated themselves in the stands. Roxanne took her position on the raised platform on the far side of the battlefield, while May stood on the opposite end. The referee stood on the sideline at the center of the field.

"The official Gym match is about to begin!" the referee announced. "Rustboro Gym Leader Roxanne, versus challenger May! Both sides will use two Pokemon each. Substitutions are not allowed for this match, meaning neither Trainer is allowed to switch out their Pokemon during battle. Violation of this rule will result in immediate disqualification. The match will end when both of either Trainer's Pokemon are unable to battle, as judged by me. The Gym Leader will send out her Pokemon first!"

"I choose this one! Go, Geodude!" Roxanne threw out her Poke Ball, and a Geodude emerged. The crowd cheered as the Geodude raised its fists in the air. "Did you know that most Gym Leaders specialize in battling with a specific Pokemon type, May?"

"Huh?" May looked confused. "No, I didn't know that."

"Then as a courtesy, allow me to educate you. My specialty is battling with Rock-type Pokemon! They have an indomitable defense that few can penetrate! Are you still feeling confident that you'll win?"

"Rock-types?" May looked down at her belt. 'I remember from reading that book in the Trainer's School that Rock-type Pokemon are strong against Fire-type attacks,' she thought. 'Sorry, Torchic, but it looks like you'll have to sit this one out!'

"Challenger, please send out your first Pokemon!" the referee instructed.

"Okay!" May reached for one of her Poke Balls, and threw it out. "I choose this one!" The Ball burst open, and Nincada emerged. He chittered at Geodude as they locked eyes.

"You must be confident if you're using a Nincada!" Roxanne said. "My Geodude can squash Bug-types in his sleep!"

"Don't count on it just yet!" May retorted. "Let's show her what you can do, Nincada!"

"Trainers, on my mark..." The referee raised a green flag.

'I can't lose...!' May thought, beads of sweat trickling down her cheek, her heart racing. 'Not after my humiliating defeat against dad, not after all the training we did... I can't, no, I won't lose!'

"Begin!" The green flag lowered.

"Geodude, Rock Throw!" Roxanne immediately commanded. Geodude plunged its hands into the ground and pulled out a large rock. It hurled the rock straight at Nincada.

"Nincada, Dig!" May shouted. Nincada burrowed into the ground, narrowly avoiding the rock as it landed where he used to be standing. Geodude looked around, trying to find Nincada. Nincada emerged behind Geodude, striking it squarely in the back. Geodude tumbled forward, crashing into a nearby rock formation.

"Ah!" Roxanne gasped. The crowd roared, surprised by this development.

"You're not the only one who's done their homework!" May said. "True, Nincada is a Bug-type, but Dig is a Ground-type attack, which Rock-types like Geodude are weak against."

"Impressive, May!" Roxanne applauded her. "You certainly know your type matchups. Most of my challengers rush in with reckless abandon, which costs them dearly. But now it's time to get serious!"

"I wouldn't have it any other way! Nincada, Fury Swipes!" Nincada leapt at Geodude, claws extended.

"Geodude, Defense Curl!" Roxanne's Geodude wrapped its arms around its round body as Nincada swung his claws vigorously. Though every attack connected, it didn't seem to faze Geodude. "Now, Geodude! Tackle!" Geodude unwrapped its arms and threw itself at Nincada, smashing into him. Nincada was sent flying, but managed to land back on his feet.

"Nincada, use Dig again!" Nincada complied, burrowing back into the ground.

"Don't give them a chance to attack! Geodude, use Magnitude!" Geodude began pounding the floor ferociously with its fists, shaking the entire floor. Some of the students in the crowd actually fell out of their seats from the tremors. Nincada erupted from the ground, striking Geodude head-on. Geodude was knocked into the air and crashed to the ground, out cold.

"Geodude is unable to battle!" the referee declared, raising a red flag. "Nincada wins!" The crowd went into a frenzy of mixed responses, some cheering for May, others lamenting Geodude's loss.

"We did it!" May could barely contain her excitement. "Great job, Nincada!" Nincada chittered, possibly in joy. It's hard to tell since it always sounds the same.

"Return, Geodude!" Roxanne recalled her Pokemon, and pulled out another Poke Ball. "Not bad, May! You're a talented Trainer. However, I was the top student at the Trainer's School! If I lose here, it will reflect badly on the other students, and I won't let that happen! Go, Nosepass!" She sent out her second Pokemon. It looked like a stone head with short, stumpy legs, its eyes closed. Its most prominent feature was its large, red nose. It stood perfectly still, like a statue.

"Ahahah!" May couldn't help but laugh. "It looks so funny! Nosepass, huh?" She opened her Pokedex.

Nosepass – the Compass Pokemon. When at rest, its magnetic nose always points north. Travellers use this fact to find their bearings when they get lost.

"Let's keep up the pace, Nincada! Dig!" Nincada burrowed once more. Surprisingly, Roxanne didn't give Nosepass any commands. 'Something's wrong,' May thought. 'She's up to something...'

"Now, Nosepass!" Roxanne shouted. "Rock Tomb!" Nosepass' eyes opened as it began vibrating, and a circle of large rocks sprang up around it, floating. The upheaval of the ground forced Nincada to the surface, knocking him on his back. The floating rocks dropped to the ground, trapping Nincada in a stone cage. One final rock crashed right on top of Nincada, crumbling to pieces. When the dust settled, Nincada was knocked out.

"Nincada is unable to battle!" The referee raised the green flag. "Nosepass wins!" The crowd roared again, cheering for Roxanne.

"Nincada, return!" May called Nincada back to his Poke Ball. "Good work, Nincada. Get some rest."

"Now we're even," Roxanne said. "This next battle will determine the winner! Now, send out your second Pokemon!"

'I had an advantage with Nincada's Dig,' May thought, 'but it looks like Geodude's Magnitude took its toll. That, and Roxanne was waiting for him to get close before using Rock Tomb to disrupt his attack. Torchic is still at a disadvantage against Nosepass, so there's only one other choice...' She grabbed another Poke Ball. "Go, Poochyena!" Poochyena emerged, looking determined. "Now's your time to shine, Poochyena! I'm counting on you!" He barked loudly, staring down Nosepass.

"This will be an easy victory! Nosepass, Tackle!" Roxanne's Nosepass began vibrating again, and slowly rose up into the air, levitating. It tilted its body, and began flying towards Poochyena.

"Dodge it!" Poochyena leapt out of the way as Nosepass rushed past. Nosepass positioned itself upright, turned around, and dropped to the ground with a thud. "Move in, Poochyena! Bite!" Poochyena lunged at Nosepass and clamped down on its nose. Nosepass finally started moving on its own, swinging back and forth in an attempt to shake Poochyena off.

"I don't understand," one of the male students in the stand commented. "Nosepass shouldn't even feel an attack like that!"

"You seem to have forgotten your type matchups," the teacher said to the student. "May seemed to lose the upper hand from losing Nincada and sending out Poochyena. However, Bite is a Dark-type attack, and although Rock-types aren't weak against it, they aren't strong against it, either. Not every battle is won by exploiting weaknesses."

"Shake it off, Nosepass!" Roxanne shouted. Nosepass thrashed about, and eventually, Poochyena lost his grip and slipped off. "Time to put an end to this! Nosepass, Rock Tomb!" However, Nosepass didn't respond.

"It's flinching!" May said. "Use this opportunity, Poochyena! Howl!" Poochyena let out a howl, giving off an atmosphere of pressure.

"Hurry, Nosepass! Rock Tomb!" Nosepass conjured up another ring of rocks, flinging them towards Poochyena.

"Show them your strength, Poochyena! Take Down!" Poochyena charged straight ahead, paying no heed to the incoming rocks. The rocks struck Poochyena one by one, but he plowed through them, undaunted. He slammed right into Nosepass, knocking it on its side as it slid across the ground. Poochyena cringed in pain from the recoil of the blow. The crowd fell silent as the referee ran over to the side closest to Nosepass to check on it. It wasn't moving at all.

"Nosepass is unable to battle!" He raised the red flag. "Poochyena wins! The winner of this Gym match is challenger May!" The crowd erupted, cheering and shouting.

"We did it..." May couldn't believe her eyes. "We did it!" She ran onto the field, picking up Poochyena and swinging him around. "You were great, Poochyena! We won our first Gym match!" Poochyena howled happily as May laughed. Meanwhile, Roxanne walked up to Nosepass as it lifted itself upright.

"Good job, Nosepass," Roxanne said to it, smiling. "You gave it your best effort." They approached May as she placed Poochyena back on the ground. "That was a terrific battle, May. It looks like I still have a lot to learn about battling." She handed May a small badge, in the shape of a brown rectangle with two emphasized corners. "In recognition of your ability and skill as a Trainer, I hereby present you with the official Pokemon League Stone Badge."

"Thank you, Roxanne," May said as she took the badge. "You and Nosepass were great, too. I hope we get a chance to battle again, someday."

"Likewise." The two Trainers shook hands. May smiled as she waved to the cheering crowd, holding up her new badge for them to see.


Outside, the crowd of students exited the Gym first, heading back to the schoolhouse. As May headed out, the teacher stopped her.

"Congratulations on your victory," he said to her. "It's been years since I've seen a battle like that. I'm certain the students have all learned something from watching you."

"You're too kind," May said. "I still have a long way to go, myself. This is only my first badge, after all."

"Really? Then I recommend visiting the Gym in Dewford Town next. However, it will be difficult to get there without a boat."

"Don't worry about me, I'll find a way."

"Then I wish you the best of luck on your journey, young lady. You have a lot of potential, but only you can find a way to come into it." With that, the teacher bid May farewell and returned to the Trainer's School. May pulled her badge case out of her pack and opened it, fitting the Stone Badge into an indented slot in the foam bedding.

"My first Gym badge..." May couldn't help but smile while looking at it. "But this is only the beginning. I need eight badges to challenge the Hoenn League, and to get one of those badges... just you wait, dad. I will become stronger with my Pokemon, and I will win the next time we battle!" She began heading for the Pokemon Center to rest for the day.