Joshua's made arrangements to stay at the Pokémon centre overnight, and he's got his room key, but he hasn't gone there yet. Instead we're back out in Rustboro, heading through the streets and getting yet more looks. I'm actually kinda starting to get used to it – it's sort of like the kind of attention some people would revel in at school, except it's something of a novelty to be the subject of it myself.
Riolu isn't taking it so well, and has gone back to climbing up to Joshua's head where he feels safer. Being short and low to the ground myself, I think I understand why – he gets to look down on the people who are normally looking down on him. In a good way.
I'm not surprised that he leads the way to the local gym, which from the outside looks relatively plain and ordinary, aside from the giant sign outside marking it as such, along with the details, 'Rock type gym, Leader: Roxanne'.
Inside is another matter. For one thing, no one else has their Pokémon out unless they're in a battle. For another, the inside is arranged in concentric tiers of rocks and stone, the largest outermost one overlooking the others as a kind of viewing area. There's only one path down too, and it looks as if it's meant to send challengers against the gym trainers between the entrance and the lower-most area, which is like an arena. Looks like no one's got to Roxanne just yet, but there is a trainer working his way down – Joshua's friend. So he does have Pokémon after all... he just didn't have one around at the time.
It looks like the Pokémon he has out is making light work of the Rock-type Pokémon here, but it really doesn't like the rocks thrown back at it! I don't know what other Pokémon he has though, he keeps his in their balls. This one looks sort of like an albatross.
We head up to a higher point to watch, perching or leaning on conveniently shaped rocks that give a perfect view. Joshua's friend doesn't seem afraid to use items even in the middle of a battle, but seems to have some odd ideas – at one point the bird faints, and he doesn't return it to its ball, but sends out a little red Pokémon that looks like a chick, while he uses another item on the fallen bird. The chick also doesn't like the rocks, but as soon as his bird is back up, he tells it what to do and is already healing the little chick too.
"Wingull and Torchic," Joshua murmurs. "Interesting combination, and I think I know why he picked them... if I'm right, he'll have to make some changes later on. Looking at these trainers, we shouldn't face too many problems. We won't have to watch out for the rocks as badly as he does – both of them are weak to Rock type moves. But we should be careful all the same. I've got some potions and such to heal you with like he's doing, but I'd rather not have to use them."
His friend continues on, keeping up his healing past the next two trainers and showing a Zigzagoon to be among his own Pokémon. His usual grumpiness doesn't seem to have put in an appearance though, he seems to be taking a leaf from Joshua and remaining calm, though he also seems much more focused.
"Another new challenger?" a voice asks as we watch, coming from another man in white, with a symbol on his shirt, what appear to be a pair of arrows pointing in opposite directions. I saw that back in the shop too – maybe that's the badge for here?
"I'm debating whether we're ready," Joshua replies absently, still watching. "And if they don't feel up to it themselves, we'll train a little bit outside to toughen up. I think they can handle it, but Jolteon's... well, only recently joined us, and isn't completely keen on me yet."
"These are all your Pokémon then?" he asks, looking thoughtfully at each of us after Joshua nods. There's something about this stranger that feels kind of... off. I'm not sure what it is exactly. His lips move soundlessly as he thinks, then says, "Well young master-" and breaks off as Joshua gives him a hard look.
All he says is, "Don't call me that," in a tone that clearly doesn't expect to be ignored, then turns back to watch. "If you're going to call me anything, you should at least ask my name."
The stranger licks his lips nervously and tries again, "Well, uh, sir?" he pauses. Joshua doesn't react this time. "You're in luck, as I, Touru, am one of the gym guides here, and I can provide you with advice and arm you with knowledge! With my help you'll-"
"Oh, that was an interesting tactic," Joshua remarks, feigning to be oblivious. I look back and see his friend is healing his Pokémon again and shaking hands with the last trainer before Roxanne herself. "Oh, sorry, what were you saying?" he says to Touru.
Touru seems to radiate the feeling that this isn't going at all how he intended, hesitating then answering, "Uh, well, I was... offering advice for the gym. It's... my job. Yes. My job. It's what I do. Looking at your team – this is all your team, isn't it?"
Joshua just points to his belt, where our three balls reside.
"Duh," Riolu mutters. "What's with this guy anyway? Joshua already knows what to expect here, he was talking about it on the way here..."
"Humans like to be helpful I guess," I reply, trying to shrug but finding it's something I can't really pull off with four legs and no arms.
"Right, right," Touru says, then continues, "So looking at your team, you shouldn't have much of a problem, none of the trainers here, even Roxanne herself, know any ground-type moves – stands to reason, this is a Rock gym, not a ground one, and that's what you'd have to worry about for your yellow friend there. Water 'em with Mudkip, or fight hard with..." he pauses, fumbling with his pocket. Riolu rolls his eyes and mutters, "You'd think he'd do a little research before bugging us..."
"I already know Riolu is going to be useful down there," Joshua tells him, once again watching his friend challenge Roxanne. It looks like it's a tough battle for him, but as Joshua remarked, both are weak to rock, and this isn't exactly the best place for them.
"Right, Riolu," Touru says, no longer fumbling. "Not sure your Jolteon can do much-" he breaks off again as I give him a warning growl and kick a low boulder with a back paw. "N-no need for that," he says quickly. "I-I didn't mean to offend you. I'm sure you'll be fine. I'll just... go over there and leave you to it..."
"Strange person," Riolu says. I keep watching Touru though, and when he takes something out of one pocket and starts talking to it, I try to listen in over the sounds of the battle below.
Something about keeping watch, and once again about rare Pokémon. We're not rare, we're just not common in these parts. The rest isn't clear enough to make out, not with the Pokémon down there throwing rocks around!"
Joshua nods and crouches nearby, looking at each of us, then says, "He's won, of course. I expected him to, he's more experienced than I am. But that's not important for us right now. I think we can handle this gym easily. The question is do you think you can though?"
Riolu takes a cue from me and punches a nearby boulder, then quickly shakes his fist sheepishly and says, "Haven't got the hang of that yet." Mudkip giggles, then spits out a short shot of water. Joshua understands the meaning in both cases – who needs words to be understood? All three of them look to me expectantly.
I return the look, then stare at the rock I kicked, which seems to have fallen apart a bit. I didn't really kick it all that hard.
"Well it's nice to know that you can do that Jolteon, but I'd like to know whether you're going to listen to me while we're down there. I need to know if I can count on you."
Okay. I stand corrected. I need words to make myself understood by him, it seems.
It takes me a few moments to figure out how to express my response. The best I can come up with is, though still with reluctance – he did only just catch me today, after all – joining Riolu and Mudkip next to him.
"Thank you," he says simply, rubbing my head. Alright, petting me if you really want to call it that. "Just trust me and have faith that I know what I'm doing. We'll pull through just fine."
He leads the way to the steps carved out of the rock that lead to the first of the three trainers, starting his own gym challenge. I can't see over the edge from here, but I can smell that medicinal, berry-like scent coming from ahead, so I assume Roxanne is healing her Pokémon. I can only hope they understand that having to face tough opponents and potentially losing out is to be expected.
I don't pay too much attention to what gets said, but we're already in the first battle. "Go on Mudkip," Joshua says encouragingly. "I know you can do this."
Our opponent lobs a Poké ball that bounces, sends out a Pokémon that looks more like a boulder with fists, then returns to him. How, exactly, the ball returns to the lad I can't tell – it seems to defy the laws of physics.
This coming from me – a fox-like Pokémon that throws lightning bolts! What would the laws of physics have to say about me!
But all the same I can see Joshua knew what he was doing. The boulder – Geodude, the lad calls it – clearly doesn't like being doused with water, but manages to withstand it and moves in, fists swinging. Mudkip might not be as fleet of foot as Riolu and me, but he's quick enough to avoid that – and without needing Joshua to prompt him, he sends out another shot of water, this time aimed lower. Geodude scrambles for purchase on the suddenly slippery ground, but slips and slides into a rock where it looks dazed.
Joshua takes the advantage by quickly telling Riolu to finish it off, who does so quickly and even with a brief apology to the Geodude. I'm not sure that's necessary myself, this is a gym, and now I understand the purpose of them, I figure the gym trainers must know this'll happen, and so do their Pokémon.
The lad sends out another Geodude, but this one doesn't fare much better. This time though he has Riolu hang back at the end, and tells me, "Go to it, Jolteon. You can do it."
"I don't need extra encouragement," I mutter to myself, but dart in quicker even than Riolu. Geodude swings for me, but I leap easily over its head – although in fairness it pretty much is a head – and kick as I land.
That... wasn't as bad as I thought. He didn't exactly issue commands, though he did tell us what to do. It was more like he helped coordinate our efforts though, working with us, not just ordering us around.
I'd have done it differently myself, but then... I'm on the wrong side of this relationship for that.
"Invigorating," is Riolu's only remark.
We move on to the second trainer, who only has one Poké ball containing another Geodude. This time, Joshua gets Riolu to take the battle instead of Mudkip – a bit of fairness on his part maybe? If that's the case, the next one is mine.
Riolu doesn't seem to find it as easy to deal with Geodude on his own, I notice. His blows are good, but seem to lack power. He's quick enough to dodge most blows landed back, but it's taking longer. Maybe he's not been in many fights where he actually needs those kind of moves?
After a little while, Joshua calls him back and has Mudkip finish this battle, and before he moves on he takes a moment to check Riolu over and make sure he's alright.
"I'm just not good at this yet," he says to me. "I only hatched a short time ago, and even with his help toughening up a bit, I wasn't really ready for tougher Pokémon like them. I really need to figure out how to punch something without hurting my wrists though..."
We move on again to the third trainer, the last one before Roxanne herself, and as expected, Joshua says, "Alright Jolteon – your turn. I know you can do it, just remember that a Geodude is a ground type, and will completely ignore your thunder."
I think that first Zigzagoon I met said something similar to me actually. I don't know why he told me that though – for one thing, I already know a solid kick is going to be a better choice, for another... well, this is a battle between two trainers, and I'm his Pokémon. I'm... meant to do what he says.
I'm still not comfortable with that though.
Once again, our opponent sends out a Geodude – they certainly seem to be popular here! This time it's up to me to take it on, so I head on swift paws into the space cleared between our trainers, not stopping to listen for anything Joshua has to say and again jumping over Geodude – and missing!
For a boulder it's quicker than I thought!
It's not quick enough to strike back though, not before we both manage to turn around and face each other again. I make another attempt, this time darting around it instead of over, but cutting it too close – it manages to hit me this time, catching my flank. I manage to hit back with my other paw, but one by itself lacks the power of both. I'll get it yet though! I'm not letting it get the better of me that easily!
I go in again, trying to feint left and go right again, catching it out this time. It's tough enough to withstand a fairly powerful kick though!
"Alright Mudkip, get ready," I hear Joshua say. I'm not giving up that easily! I just know he's going to ask Mudkip to finish it, but I'm feeling stubborn. "Jolteon, come on back," he tells me.
I ignore him and go in again. I can finish this, I know it. One more feint, looking to aim right but going for another pounce, another solid kick with my back paws, and I know I've done it.
If he's disappointed in me, it doesn't show. Riolu has an expression that's the equivalent of a human raising an eyebrow at me. Once Joshua comes over, Mudkip says, "Aw, you shoulda let me finish it off, you know, for a team win, so we all helped each other do it."
"I didn't hear him," I lie. "I was too focused on what I was doing. I'm not used to having to listen out for a trainer."
Riolu clearly doesn't buy it, giving my ears a brief glance. I guess I must have turned one to hear Joshua and not noticed...
Joshua checks me over where I got hit, but all he says to me is, "I'm happy you won for us of course, but you're going to have to get used to me telling you what to do in a battle and trusting me to know what I'm doing and why. Now we don't we all go see the gym leader and get our first badge?"
You might have caught me Joshua, and I like Riolu and Mudkip. But I'm still my own person, and you haven't yet fully won my trust – or loyalty. Just like I don't seem to have yours yet... Riolu getting help I understood, but I didn't need it. He needs to trust that I can take care of things too...