Alex
9:14
"Trainers and spectators, please go to the Azalea Town Gym for the tournament. We have had to move it indoors because of the unexpected rain shower." Professor Elm said over the microphone system for Azalea Town.
The reason for the rain wasn't actually unexpected. When Slowpoke had woken up from his nap on Alex's head, he had yawned long and loud, making clouds form over Azalea Town immediately.
"Thank you, and we'll see you there." He turned the system off and turned to Alex.
"On your journey, your Slowpoke is going to yawn while you're asleep and you'll wake up, soaking wet."
Alex shrugged. "He's worth it. Especially when he evolves, he will be."
The professor seemed to think about that for a moment. Then he said, "Slowpoke evolves into Slowbro at level 37."
Alex nodded. "Alright. Let's get back to the Gym. I don't want to be late."
At the Azalea Town Gym, people were already filing in the door. Alex and Professor Elm walked in through the Trainers entry, both picking up an updated tournament chart. Elm had looked at the types of some of the trainers' Pokémon, and moved some people around on the lineup.
Alex spotted Zack and Brent talking a few feet away, and walked over to them.
"Do you think anyone's placing bets on this?" he asked the two with a small smile.
"Oh, hey, Alex." Brent said in greeting. "And yeah, I know that Zack's dad bet him against you. Your dad did vice versa."
"I knew that was coming." Alex said, nodding.
"Hey, Zack. Alex. Brent."
Alex turn to the voice. It was Grace.
Zack waved. "I'm battling you in the first round, aren't I?" he asked her.
She nodded, smiling.
They continued their conversation, but Alex didn't hear the rest. He had noticed three trainers at the edge of the Gym.
Alex recognized Levi, who was wearing a black-and-teal sport outfit that matched the other two triplets'. The girl had two Pokeballs in her braid, while the two boys had throwing ropes with their two Pokeballs on them.
Throwing ropes were lengths of rope that held Pokeballs. To throw a ball, all you had to do was snap it forward like a whip. The first Pokeball on the rope would go spinning where you aimed.
Alex pulled out his tournament chart.
LeBrusco, Levi- Honchkrow, Zubat
LeBrusco, Liam- Houndour, Arbok
LeBrusco, Lyn- Mightyena, Salandit
They all have a Dark-type and a Poison-type. Hmmm...
Alex folded the chart back up then turned on his Pokegear.
Messages
Zack Austin, Lea Coleman
Triplets all have poison and dark type. Find a way to counter that if you can.
He put the Pokegear back in his pocket. He saw Zack frown and look at his own Pokegear, then look at Alex and nod.
The spectators of the tournament were still filing into the Gym, and filling up the stands that were set up for the day. Alex waved at his parents.
"We need all trainers to please report to the front of the gym for final registration. The tournament will be starting in 15 minutes." Professor Elm's voice said.
Alex hurried to where the professor had said to go. Bugsy, the gym leader of Azalea Gym, was waiting there.
"Name?" Bugsy asked Alex.
"Alex Gunter." he replied.
The gym leader turned and flipped through a few sheets of paper, then turned back to him.
"Alex Gunter, with a Slowpoke and a... Beedrill. Huh. I'll enjoy watching you. Good luck."
He handed Alex a sheet of paper with his name, Pokémon, and a number 1.
"Keep up with that, and please go sit on that bench over there." Bugsy said, pointing to Alex's left.
Alex walked to the bench and sat down, watching the other trainers go collect their sheet of paper and sit down near him. When the last trainer, Lea, sat down, Bugsy tapped the microphone in front of him.
"Thank you all for coming to the first-ever Azalea Town Tournament!"
Cheering.
"I can't wait to see what these trainers have up their sleeve. Without further ado, let's start the first match! The trainers are Alex Gunter and Evan Webb."
Cheering.
Let's do this.
Alex waked onto the battlefield confidently, with Evan going to the opposite side.
"Go Alex!" Alex heard a yell that he knew was Zack.
Bugsy was now in the referee's box. "Trainers ready? In this tournament, once one of your Pokémon is unable to battle, the other trainer wins. You may switch your Pokémon out whenever you want, however many times you want. There are no items allowed." he called to them.
Evan saluted Alex with two fingers from across the field.
"Go!" Bugsy yelled.
Alex smiled. "Let's go, Beedrill." He tossed Beedrill's ball onto the battlefield.
The Poison Bee Pokémon appeared in a flash of white light and buzzed as a Geodude appeared on the other side of the field. The Geodude smacked its fist into its palm menacingly.
Alex laughed quietly. In his experience, Pokémon that acted scary were usually the exact opposite once you battled them.
Despite the type disadvantage, Alex's plan would make this easy.
If his plan worked.
"Beedrill, don't be afraid to attack it, but try to lead the Geodude over here near me. If this works, then the rest of the battle will be cake." Alex said in a low voice to his Pokémon, who nodded without looking back.
"Twineedle!" Alex yelled.
Beedrill rushed the Geodude with blinding speed, the spikes on his arms glowing purple. He lunged, but was tackled backwards by Geodude before any serious damage could be done.
"Rock Throw!" Alex heard from across the field.
Geodude scooped a rock from the ground and hurled it at Beedrill. Without being told, Beedrill used Fury Attack and blasted the rock to pieces.
"Again!" Evan had a bad habit of yelling all of his commands, so it was easy to block and dodge.
Beedrill used Twineedle and landed a serious hit on Geodude. Even though Bug-type attacks weren't super effective, the attack still knocked out some HP for Geodude.
Seeing his speed was outmatched, Evan yelled, "Magnitude!"
Alex rolled his eyes.
Don't tell me-
Geodude started shaking the ground, which did nothing. Beedrill was simply hovering above the ground.
"Twineedle. Now." Alex said. Beedrill lunged for Geodude, trying to land a critical hit. His spikes glowed purple.
The Geodude was still using Magnitude, keeping it in place for a few more seconds.
A few seconds was all that Beedrill needed.
He leapt onto Geodude, slashing it twice. Then, with tremendous effort, Beedrill threw Geodude near where Alex was standing.
Perfect.
"Come back!" Alex said, recalling Beedrill and throwing Slowpoke's Pokeball at the same time.
Slowpoke landed on top of Geodude and rolled off. The Water- and Psychic-type trotted to the middle of the battlefield and turned in a full circle.
Show-off, Alex thought with a grin.
The Geodude got up and shook itself, not done yet. Then, just like he had done with the Golbat at Slowpoke Well, Slowpoke dashed towards the Geodude.
He somersaulted twice and then jumped onto Evan's Pokémon, making it fall to the ground again while trying to shake Slowpoke off.
Evan yelled commands that Alex couldn't make out, and apparently neither could Geodude.
"Now, Water Gun!" Alex yelled.
Slowpoke made his adorable noise before shooting a jet of pressurized water at the Geodude, launching Alex's Pokémon three feet in the air.
Alex scanned the Rock- and Ground-type with his Pokedex. Water Gun had been super effective, so Geodude was at about a quarter of its original HP.
"Switch out." Alex recalled Slowpoke and sent Beedrill back into the battle.
Evan was watching the outcome nervously.
"Geodude, return." he said, apparently realizing he still had another Pokémon.
Alex, on the other hand, had been expecting this.
"Use Pursuit!" he said to Beedrill.
Before Geodude could return to its Pokeball, Beedrill sliced at the air with both arms.
Black waves of energy emanated from his wings and zinged towards Evan's Geodude.
The black energy slashed into Geodude, cutting away at its HP until it was knocked out.
Evan's Pokémon crashed to the ground, unconscious.
Bugsy stepped forward, holding up the flag on Alex's side.
"Geodude is unable to battle. The match goes to Alex Gunter."
Alex whooped in joy, lost in the cheering of the spectators.
"That was amazing, Beedrill! Great job!" he said, clapping. He threw Slowpoke's ball on the ground, and picked up the pink Pokémon.
He squeezed the adorable Lazy Pokémon, who maaed and nudged Alex's arm affectionately.
Evan was walking over to where Alex was standing.
"That was impressive. I never even got to use Joltik." he said, clapping Alex on the back. "Good job."
They shook hands, and then Evan walked to where his parents were sitting in the stands.
Alex walked back to the bench, ready for the next battle.