Chapter 12: Clashing Defeat!


Friday, April 1st 4:30 pm

It took only twenty minutes to explore Azalea Town, from the outside anyway. In that time I noted just how many wooden huts and cabins were amongst the ominously shaded homes. Farfetch'd came in and out of the nearby forest, carrying even more lumber with each visit. The gym also happened to be wooden, painted purple and with a tall pointed roof.

I decided to go there last of all, thinking that a new Pokémon would be an excellent thing to get before my second gym battle. However, I soon discovered that Slowpoke were the only thing around; that and two dozen Houndour who roamed the town, growling at every human. I recalled hearing about them back when we were in Violet City, but I would've thought that they would be gone by now.

"Houndour!" One of snarled at me as I returned to the gym with Sam and Arnold. He was a large one by the looks of it, with long lean legs and an annoying glint in his black eyes. I stuck my tongue out at the Fire/Dark type, earning a drawn out sigh from Sam, plus the wild Houndour bared its snappy teeth at me. With one last bark, it turned its dark body away from us and scampered off to spook a couple of Slowpoke. "Houndour!"

As we entered Azalea Town gym, I considered explaining to Houndour that there was no use in pranking Slowpoke, even if it was April Fools'. Earlier that day, I found out why they had their species name when I accidentally stepped on a tail. The earlier Slowpoke had stared up at me with blank eyes before finally dozing off.

Still, what would the use be in trying to communicate with a snarling dog?

Friday, April 1st 4:37 pm

If someone were to ask me what Azalea Gym was like, I would say exactly one word. Bugs. That's right, bugs. They were everywhere in the gym, crawling on the many trees or through the tall grass, or just giving us curious looks. I mean, I know that the gym leader specialized in Bug-types, but come on! There were mainly just dozens of Caterpie, Weedle, Metapod, and the occasional Ledyba. Even so, they were just plain bugging us, pun not intended.

And to make matters worse, the gym leader was nowhere to be found. Instead, a small child with silky, shoulder length locks of lavender hair stood in the middle of the room, arms crossed and a grin on their face. Their age was a mystery. I was having a hard enough time guessing their gender! But I figured that they couldn't be any older than seven or eight.

"Hi. Here to challenge the gym?" The kid said in a rather nasally voice. It sounded like a small boy, so I assumed that it was a small boy. He uncrossed his thin arms and let them hang against his body, which was clad in a greenish outfit that reminded me of the crazy bug obsessed kids who hung around most small towns. I then recalled hearing from Aaron that Azalea had a tiny gym leader, who just so happened to be the younger brother of a guy in Sinnoh Elite Four.

I began to feel uneasy, and a quick glance at Sam told me that he was thinking similar things. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for Arnold, who immediately stepped up and spoke.

"You bet we are!" Arnold stuffed his hands deep into the pockets of his jeans, and slouched causally. He simply oozed confidence, something I envied. Still, I knew he wouldn't be confident after saying the words that I predicted. Before I could stop him, he spoke. "So, where is the gym leader? Are you his daughter or something?"

Surprisingly, the boy didn't yell or anything, though I noticed a pinkish tinge grow on his naturally pale cheeks. He shook his head, and brought a hand to his shoulder, where it stayed. His dark eyes level with Arnold, he responded, "No, but I was the original gym leader's brother before he left for the Elite Four last year. As you probably incorrectly guessed, I am not under the legal trainer age of ten. I'm actually twelve years old, possibly older than all three of you." He smirked and stood up tall, which made my uneasiness grow. "Anyway, I'm the Azalea Town gym leader now. Bugsy, Bug-type specialist."

Arnold's cheeks were as red as a Ledyba, and he was avoiding Bugsy's eyes before finally uttering a complete sentence. "Uh, sorry about it."

This failed to do more than earn eye rolling from both Bugsy and me. Sam managed to console the prideful Bugsy though. "I'm very sorry for my friend's mistake. And, I can say that I know exactly how it feels. As a fellow short person I have commonly been mistaken to be an eight year old. In fact, back when I was seven, Gwen and I were in this after school program. This girl, Mallory, came in and assumed that she had accidentally stumbled upon a day care center for kindergarteners. She's one of my best friends to this day, but mistakes happen."

I kept my eyes on Bugsy, whose eyes were on Sam. He looked as if he were trying to figure just how genuine Sam's apology and little memory tale were. He finally smiled at Sam, as if the two had an understanding. "Nice to meet someone who gets it. What's your name?"

"Samuel Wilson, of New Bark Town." Sam went on in his naturally calm voice. "All three of us would love to challenge you to an official gym battle, please."

Bugsy seemed to be considering this, and finally shrugged his tiny shoulders. "Fine, but you'll have to be first. Your tall friend has already irritated me," His dark, childlike eyes then landed on me. "And not to sound sexist or anything, but I generally prefer battling male midgets versus female midgets."

"What?" I cried unable to contain myself. "Not to sound sexist? But, you do!"

Bugsy simply shrugged and walked to take his place on the grassy, Bug Pokémon infested battlefield. With a wave of his arm, all Bug Pokémon cleared the way, allowing the first Pokémon, a Butterfree, to hit the stage. "Anyway, I also prefer battles without grumbly referees so go on ahead and release your first Pokémon, Sam. By the way, I go by the two on two rule here."

I stood by an uncomfortable looking Arnold as Sam faced off against Bugsy. I kept my eyes on the Bug-Pokémon everywhere, but I managed to grow used to their endless buzzing, and my eyes were soon paying full attention on the gym battle to come. Delano was sent out for the first round, something that wasn't too surprising.

Sam's expression made him appear to be deep in thought. Sam stood up straight, prepared to finally call out the first command. Bugsy might have been two years older than Sam, but that didn't stop Sam from being two inches taller. Seriously, height between the two of them was purely ridiculous.

"Delano, fade out, just like the way we've practiced."

Like the ghost that he was, Delano's hazy, purple body disappeared completely. I strained my eyes and looked all over to find him, but the Gastly was nowhere to be seen. Bugsy's Butterfree also looked confused, and was looking in every direction. Bugsy, on the other hand, looked pretty downright impressed.

I then caught sight of Delano fading back to his usual form. He came in right behind the floating Butterfree, where he had his eyes on Sam for the next command.

"Okay, use Lick!"

"Gastly, gas!" One long, slimy tongue shot out of Gastly's wide chuckling mouth and sweeped against Butterfree's wings. Watching it made me feel grossed out, while the move caused static to rush over Butterfree's body. The Bug-type was paralyzed, and fell to the battlefield floor because of it. Delano was pleased with himself, and chuckled again. "Gastly!"

Butterfree, meanwhile, writhed on the floor, completely paralyzed. However, she managed to pull off a String Shot, which didn't do much, but simply irritate Delano. "Butterfree!" Slowly, but surely, Butterfree managed to fly off the ground, though she was limited to flying barely a foot in the air. Now airborne, she whipped her wings, performing a kind of weak Gust move.

Gust blew Delano back, but he wasn't injured by it or anything. He simply hovered in the air some more, and chuckled softly, enraging Butterfree further. "Gas!"

Sam sighed and shook his head. "Sorry about him. He prefers this versus actual battles. Anyway, use Night Shade to finish the round, Delano!" After more laughing, Delano finally became serious and performed the Ghost-type move. It involved Delano's eyes growing red, which caused a beam of dark energy to shoot out of his mouth. Butterfree was hit, but still conscious. "Darn it!"

"Butterfree, free." Butterfree sighed and turned to look at Bugsy. I'm not too sure what things were said between them, but whatever it was Bugsy sighed as well and raised Butterfree's Pokéball.

"I'm going to go ahead and forfeit Butterfree from the match." He announced, returning the Bug-type. "She's pretty darn irritated with that Gastly of yours, but perhaps my next Bug-type will be able to irritate him instead, right?" With a swing of his other arm, another Pokémon was released onto the field, one that earned a gasp and groan from me. "Time to battle my starter, the amazing Scyther!"

Great, just great! When I battle Bugsy there'd be a complete disaster if I accidentally let Zorro out of his Pokeball, just like did with the last gym battle. The very thought made my cheeks go red from the embarrassment I had felt then, and I clenched my fists tightly, hurting the palm of my hand.

"You okay, Gwen?" I glanced at Arnold who had actually been watching the battle with amusement. He didn't seem so anxious about his earlier remark, but he was slouching, as if he were trying to appear shorter than his actual height. "You seem pretty nervous?"

I shrugged my shoulders, and let out a nice long sigh. "Yeah, something like that. I have a Scyther, too, and a pretty crazy one at that." I looked over at Sam's battle, and saw that Bugsy's Scyther was not only tough, but extremely obedient. This failed to ease anything. "He's powerful and everything, but terrible compared to Bugsy's, and I was actually considering using him."

"You should use him, especially if he's tough. Ged, my Pidgeotto, never listened to me at first, but we gained each others' respect over time. Remember, Gwen, you're not going to immediately be a team with your Pokémon. There will always be times when they disobey orders. Just earlier today your Elekid put her own twist on the moves you told her to use, and they nearly worked." Arnold shrugged, his eyes on a nearby airborne Ledyba. "Anyway, I'm pretty nervous too, but mainly cause that Bugsy kid keeps looking at me with this stupid smirk on his face."

"He doesn't like anyone who makes fun of him, I guess." I made way for a c

"No, he just doesn't like tall people period. He likes Sam because of his height, and he's okay with you, too. But I have a feeling that he plans on giving me a pretty hard time."

I frowned at that thought, and glanced back at the battle just in time to see Bugsy's Scyther deliver a Night Slash right into Delano. The usually chuckling Gastly fainted instantly. Still calm, Sam returned Delano to his Pokeball, and let out Yoko.

"Yoko, speed up and use Fury Attack!"

With his heads bobbing together, Yoko managed to deliver a successful Fury Attack onto Scyther. However, Bugsy's Scyther was quick and managed to dodge a Quick Attack. With a rushing jab of one of his two scythes, the Bug-type used False Swipe and knocked Yoko to the ground. There, the Bug-type fainted.

I gasped out of surprise. Sam had actually lost against a gym leader?

"Scyther, excellent job!" Bugsy complimented, returning the lean Bug-type. He spoke to Sam with a look of sympathy. "I'm actually sorry that you lost, since it isn't usual that short person manages to put up a decent fight. Do some training, and come back for a rematch! Promise?"

Sam grinned. "Of course!"

Sam hurried to where Arnold and I stood, with a smile of vague sadness on his pale face. Bugsy followed closely, looking pretty hyped up and ready to battle. Any confidence that I had managed to build up wilted like a flower when he looked me right in the eyes. My gym battle was up.

For the first round against Bugsy, I used Spykes. I had originally planned on using Levina, since I used her the most out of all of my Pokémon when it came to battles. However, I had began to worry that I wasn't giving Spykes enough attention. Sure, he was loyal even when I didn't battle with him constantly, but how long would that last?

Anyway, Spykes was used and put up a pretty decent fight against Bugsy's Ledyba, who wasn't at all nice and gentle like Mallory's. This Ledyba was a total pain who enjoyed ramming into Spykes with Tackle. Despite this, Spykes did well, dodging moves and using both Ember and an improved Heabutt. However, a single Mach Punch caused my little Cyndaquil to faint.

"Cynda..." Spykes weakly let out a cry before falling flat to the ground. I picked him up in my arms in an effort to rouse him, but it was no use. With a few comforting words said, I returned Spykes to his Pokeball, and prepared to release Levina.

Levina managed to use Swift, which defeated Ledyba. However, when Bugsy's Scyther was brought out again, I knew that we would be better off forfeiting from the match itself. Swift was used well, since it was one of those undodgeable moves. But once Levina was using Low Kick and Spark, Scyther had the advantage with speed.

After using Wing Attack, Bugsy's main Pokémon knocked my Elekid to the ground.

"Ele…" Levina fell to the ground, and I hurried to her side. I returned the fallen Electric-type to her Pokeball, and let out one drawn sigh. First Sam, and now me. Why did I have a feeling that Arnold would end up being the victor of the next battle?

"Well, some midget pride, you guys." Bugsy regarded me with his hands placed on his tiny hips. A disappointed look was set on his face when he shook his head. "I expected more from both of you. I mean, yeah, there are always rematches. But, geez!" He gave Arnold a cold look. "Guess it's just you, huh, giant guy?"

"Would you stop discriminating against people of different height?" I cried making my way towards the exit. "Being short doesn't make you a different culture, you know!" Yes, it was immature, and yes, it was a horrible way for a gym leader to see me, but I quickly left the gym in a huff.

Trivia questions are finally back on! Hurrah!

Q: What is the pattern for the names of Team Rocket duos?

This may be a slightly difficult question, but it's an official one. Whoever answers correctly first will be allowed to submit 1 OC to participate in the Johto League. May the best Pokemon maniac win! Anyway, as always leave a review and tell me what you thought! Until next time, au revoir, readers!