A/N: Yeah, sorry again for the long update. One word: Exams. Recently I noticed that people have been calling Gary bad names on the internet, and here I want to emphasize on the fact that the 'Blue' I like is based on the adventure version. The one with the loose purple shirt/sweater thingy and boots and a gold pendant plus a cold but not really cocky attitude. (No Corvette and cheer team!) But in this story, that Blue is more grown up and he now wears his signature black collared shirt and jeans without his pendant. And he's tall, lean and lanky. *sighs wistfully* The story is also sort of based on the adventure version.
Well. On with the story.
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Kathy
Surge grinned as he sent out his Pokemon. "Okay, Raichu. Let's show 'em what we've got. Use Thunder and take it out!"
I didn't know that much about attacks, but I had a feeling that was a whopper.
"Trapinch, quick! Dig!"
But Raichu was faster, and a blinding flash filled my vision as the battlefield crackled with the force of the electric energy. Dread filled me. I doubted Trapinch would be able to survive that.
"Trapinch!" I yelled, straining to keep my eyes open in all the light.
But when the aftereffects of the Electric move faded, I saw Trapinch still standing strong, seemingly barely affected. It shook off the electric currents dancing across its back as if it was nothing and used Dig on a bewildered Raichu.
"Tch. Forgot that your tortoise is a Ground-type. Well, guess I'll have to do this the hard way. Raichu, Iron Tail!"
Okay. Trapinch was immune to Electric attacks. Just about gives me a very big edge.
"Trapinch! You're practically safe for now so use Mud-Slap, full force!"
"Tra!" A blast of mud hit Raichu straight in the face. Apparently Raichu didn't have many non-Electric moves, because Trapinch was gaining on it with every passing moment.
"Mud Shot!"
"Dig!"
"Headbutt!"
To put it simply, Raichu went down undignified, unceremonious and mud-caked whereas Trapinch was doing okay, having only sustained several Iron Tails and Body Slams that weren't that effective anyway. I had this thing, I thought.
But that was before I met Surge's Electabuzz.
"Well, kid. I must say you do qualify to battle me," Surge mused aloud. "But you'll see that a pathetic Ground-type won't even stand a chance against my best Pokemon. I might be down to my last, but you won't get past it that easily. Electabuzz, use Ice Punch!"
"Not good, Kathy!" Blue yelled. "Ground types fear Ice type attacks!"
Okay. Blue hardly ever gave advice during a trainer battle, but then again he was hardly ever present in most of my battles. And the fact that he would yell out such a piece of advice probably meant that I needed it.
"Trapinch! Whatever you do you have to avoid this! Dig!" I hollered, and Trapinch made straight for the ground below it. For a moment there I thought it would make it, but I obviously underestimated Electabuzz's speed. In a blur of yellow, it streaked forward and delivered a frosty punch straight on Trapinch's oversized head. The attack was so strong it sent Trapinch flying backwards, a thin layer of white-blue ice coating part of its face.
Trapinch whimpered in pain, and struggled to get to its feet. Every attempt to attack was avoided and ruthlessly returned by that hatefully furry yellow pokemon. Finally, Electabuzz KO'd my sweet little orange tortoise with a well-placed Dynamicpunch, barely even tired itself. This was probably gonna be a long, hard battle.
I stared at Electabuzz intently as I withdrew Trapinch. It had good speed and crazy attack. As it was, Surge probably believed that offence was the best defence. Not that I had a chance to test that theory. So, maybe a little aerial maneuverability would work in my favor.
Mindful of Wingull's doubled weakness to Electric, I planned to just send it in for a few quick attacks then switch it out again. Hopefully Surge wouldn't go straight for the kill.
"Wingull, I'm relying on you for this," I murmured. "I need to get Electabuzz good and confused. Water Pulse, then follow up with Supersonic!"
I supposed I had to thank my lucky stars that Wingull had the Keen Eye ability. For this time, at least, both attacks connected, and Electabuzz became good and confused.
Surge scowled. "You little kids and your puny distractions. I'll teach you that straight on attack is always the best! Electabuzz, Thunder!"
Somewhere amidst Blue's warnings and the deafening crackle of lethal electricity, I heard Wingull's squawk of terror. Since Electabuzz was confused, Surge would definitely tell it to use a large scale attack which wouldn't be likely to miss. Unfortunately, since his pokemon couldn't see where its target was, it would simply fill the room with electricity.
I knew I should have had the sense to duck and avoid most of the electric currents, but somehow the only thing that mattered to me then was Wingull's safety. I knew it would be knocked out if I didn't do something fast.
"Wingull, return!" I yelled, fumbling with my pokeballs a moment before the blast of electricity radiating outward from Electabuzz hit me. A cry of pain escaped my lips as my body spasmed with who knows how much voltage.
At least Wingull would be safe.
When the flash once again cleared, I found myself crumpled on the cool marble tiles of the floor, my skin burning. Panting, I propped myself onto an elbow to see that Grovyle had somehow escaped its pokeball and shielded me, taking the brunt of the attack with its resistance to Electric. It would probably have hurt a lot more had that not happened.
"Thanks, Grovyle," I murmured, touched. Then I felt Blue's warm hands around my forearms, helping me up from behind. Tilting my head back, I had to stifle a sudden urge to giggle as I saw his hair standing rigidly on his head.
"I told you to duck," he muttered crossly.
"I couldn't just let Wingull be knocked out," I protested in return.
He opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something in reply, but seemed to think the better of it and stepped back.
"Grovyle. This is gonna be hard. Do you trust me?" I asked quietly. It was silent, then nodded almost imperceptibly.
"Okay. We have to take advantage of its confusion, so let's start off with Quick Attack then follow up with Fury Swipes. Go!"
Grovyle leapt off, claws extended, and crashed into Electabuzz before it had time to react. With a lot of growls and yelps the duo grappled with each other, Surge yelling out a string of orders that would make anyone confused. Then Electabuzz lashed out with another Ice Punch, effectively dislodging Grovyle and making it skid backwards.
"Absorb!" I yelled.
But the move that Grovyle used, although resembling the Grass move that I commanded, was not Absorb. Quizzically, I cast a quick glance at where Blue was standing, at the sidelines.
He, being a guy with (probably) quite keen eyesight, caught my glance and yelled back to me that that was Mega Drain, a stronger version of Absorb.
Okay. That's good, right?
Electabuzz shook itself violently, and when it looked up again, all traces of confusion were lost from its gaze.
Crap.
"Grovyle, use Cut!" I yelled, hoping that the attack could at least incapacitate Electabuzz. To say the truth, I had a feeling that this battle was going in my favor, but I wouldn't want to get my hopes up yet, because in a battle like this, anything could be possible.
Grovyle gave a curt nod, the leaves on its arms glowing as it leapt forward to attack Electabuzz.
Blue
I couldn't help but to watch as Kathy's starter Pokemon attacked with a grace that far surpassed many pokemon. It was expected, really. None of the Kanto starters had the speed to match the Treecko evolutions. Unfortunately, Electabuzz was doing a pretty good job of being a difficult opponent. Which was also pretty much expected, as Surge was renowned for that particular pokemon of his.
What was unexpected was the sudden flash of green as the original white glow of the move Cut turned into something more lethal and more suited to Grovyle's type. A jade-green streak. A flurry of leaves.
Leaf Blade.
I allowed a small smile to pull up the corner of my lips as Electabuzz was sent flying, with a lot more force than there would have been had Grovyle used any other physical attack. Well. The Grass-type pokemon had apparently learnt the signature move of its evolutions, and that would probably help her a lot in this battle, as there were no moves better suited to Grovyle's abilities.
Surge clearly saw the implications too, because he ordered Electabuzz to counter Kathy's next attempt at 'Cut' with a special attack, Thundershock. It was evident enough to me that he was trying to keep his distance from the move that could turn the tides of battle, and judging by his narrowed eyes and set jaw, he was probably plotting how to take this threat out as fast as possible.
Kathy, seemingly oblivious as always, kept commanding Grovyle to use 'that leaf Cut' again, Electabuzz in return giving it a wide berth and retaliating with long-range attacks which Grovyle easily dodged. I wondered how she was going to defeat this crafty duo. Annoy them to the brink of KOing themselves?
She, apparently, had other plans. As Electabuzz leapt a good distance backwards to avoid an attack, she yelled: "It's far enough now! Use Razor Leaf!"
What was she thinking? I wondered. Surely she should know that it would just be countered-
"Electabuzz, use Shock Wave and counter that!"
Kathy smirked as Grovyle vanished in the split second Electabuzz's attention shifted. Many things suddenly became apparent to me. Kathy had planned this all along since Grovyle discovered Leaf Blade. Since she clearly saw that it was the most effective move, she would have to use it for the best effects. But getting close to Electabuzz was a difficult matter. So she made Electabuzz distracted with another move, making it believe that she had given up, and then got close with Agility before landing a straight hit.
I had to admire her for that. I never expected she would be capable of planning things like this. But then again, I probably didn't know her well enough.
Once again, Electabuzz was sent crashing to the ground, and this time, it stumbled as it attempted to get up.
"I guess the Thunder badge is as well as mine," Kathy said smugly.
"You speak too soon. Electabuzz, use Low Kick then follow up with Sky Uppercut!"
Oh great. He switched tacks. Although Fighting-type moves weren't his strong points, it would be much more effective against a Grass-type. Grovyle who was expecting Electric-type moves was taken off guard and pummeled hard, the kick putting it off-balance and the punch sending it into the air.
"Now finish it off with Thunderbolt!"
Before Kathy could respond to that, a crackling bolt of electricity hit Grovyle straight on, knocking it out. That Electabuzz was good. It was half-dead and yet it managed to hang on.
"Grovyle!" She knelt down beside it. "You did well. Now take a good rest." Withdrawing it, she looked up at Surge defiantly. "Ralts, you're up. Let's take him out!"
"Ra-lts!" it trilled.
"Let's start this with Operation Teleport. Go!"
Ralts instantly disappeared and starting flashing around the room like a malfunctioning video tape. It stayed in one spot for barely a second each time, firing a spray of colourful leaves every time. Electabuzz could hardly see it properly, let alone take aim.
Surge gritted his teeth, and in that split second, I knew he was going to command it to use Thunder.
"Kathy, down!" I yelled. One shock was bad, two… I didn't even want to think about it.
"What about Ralts?" she yelled back.
"It'll be fine! Just duck!"
This time, Kathy obeyed, and she dove to the ground just as the explosion of electricity filled the room.
When the light died away, a pair of battered pokemon came into sight – an Electabuzz and a Kirlia.
"Whoa. It evolved!" Kathy exclaimed.
"Kir-lia!"
"No time for celebrations. Watch out!" I yelled as the electric pokemon lunged for Kirlia.
The newly-evolved Psychic pokemon simply turned to face it and Electabuzz started floating into the air as Kirlia used Confusion to strangle it. Finally, Kirlia threw it into the air and used Psybeam on it, knocking it out.
"That's half your arsenal," I put in. "She wins."
Surge withdrew his Electabuzz sullenly. "Well, girl, I guess you do win. Here ya go. Your Thunder badge." He tossed the small yellow badge towards her, and she caught it neatly, withdrawing Kirlia.
"Thanks!" she said gleefully, holding it up to the light to see it glint. Bad mistake. Surge didn't like people rubbing in his losses.
"There's still the finale, kiddo," he added maliciously. "I was having a bit of fun with you, but now it's time to do my job. Voltorb, Electrode! Everyone out!"
"Holy..." I murmured as I took in the multitude of pokeball-like pokemon. There were like a hundred of them.
Three Magnemites surrounded Surge and created an electromagnetic field around him. "It was fun battling you, but I gotta go. Our secrets have to be safe. So adieu."
"Wait!" Kathy shouted. "But I beat you!"
He shrugged. "I promised you the Thunder badge. I never said I would let you go." He winked. "Orders, kid. I'll be seeing ya." He touched his forehead in a mock salute, then tossed a few smoke balls at us. "Use Selfdestruct!"
No. Shit. Crap. Kathy!
She was standing there like a statue watching Surge float out of sight. I leapt at her, catching her shoulder and pushing the both of us out of the way. We tumbled crazily into the common room, the massive explosion pushing us further as we kept rolling over and over each other, finally coming to a stop somewhere near the entrance. The deafening roar shook the building, and parts of the walls came falling down.
Then all there was left was a smoking common room and an utterly demolished gym leader room. The both of us lay on our backs side-by-side, panting at the narrow escape. After a few moments, Kathy sat up.
"Well, that was something," she muttered dryly, getting to her feet. "I didn't think-" She looked down at a purple sphere in her hand. "What's that?"
"Smoke bomb," I replied, also getting up and dusting myself off.
"Aaargh!" she yelped and threw the smoke ball at me. "One potato!"
I caught it, and turned to stare at her, completely nonplussed. "What?"
"You're supposed to say 'two potato' and throw it back," she explained matter-of-factly.
"Oh. Okay. Two potato."
"Three potato."
"Four-"
Bwooof! It detonated, engulfing us in smoke. I coughed several times, and glared at her. "Your fault."
"What?" she protested.
"Nothing. Aren't you gonna thank me for saving your life?"
"No, thank you."
I grinned. "Nice phrasing. Come on, let's hit the Poke centre before we get charged for willful destruction."
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A/N:
Once again, sorry. Anyway, here I'd like to ask you people a little question. I'd like to know how old you guys think I am judging from my work. Just for fun. And sorry people, I appreciate it and all, but no more OCs.
Peace out,
Kakashiz