Chapter 14:
Before entering the Gym, Lauren pulled the light orange TM out of her bag.
"Tepig let's go." She brought out Tepig who was her only Pokémon that was compatible with low sweep.
The TM was an orange disc accompanied by a U-shaped machine that holds the disc. The Pokémon must then spin the disc then they will learn that move.
"Okay Tepig, spin that disc!"
Tepig placed its leg on top of the disc and pushed it.
It spun fast as a somewhat magical orange light appeared from the machine. The light circled around Tepig then hit its tail.
Tepig flashed orange and yelled its name; now it knows low sweep.
Lauren placed the TM machine and the low sweep disc in her bag and looked around for the Gym.
Nacrene City is filled with warehouse-like homes and train tracks are stamped on the ground.
Then Lauren noticed the Nacrene Museum had the Pokémon Gym symbol on it.
"That must be the Gym." Lauren conferred to Tepig. "Return then buddy." Lauren returned Tepig back to its poké ball.
Who's That Pokémon? DHRIREE…
Upon entering the Gym she was shocked, there was over twenty people there; studying the fossils and bones in several different cases.
"Hello young lady, can I help you?" A Woman's voice asked from behind the front desk.
"Yes um, is this the Nacrene Gym?" Lauren asked observing her environment and realised that there were random stairs holding nothing but a wall at the top at the end of the room.
The receptionist, whose nametag said Carole held up a tannoy and pressed the button.
"Lenora, you have a visitor." Carole announced in a slightly sinister voice.
Then suddenly, the wall at the end began to slowly open, all of the visitors to the Museum stopped and stared in awe.
As the wall opened it revealed a six foot tall woman with a blue afro.
"Hello challenger, are you ready for battle?" the woman pointed at Lauren which made her slightly frightened.
"Yes I am!" Lauren yelled back, trembling.
"I don't think she can win." A member of the crowd whispered.
"She's not the best I've seen to challenge Lenora." Another member whispered.
Lauren heard these and wanted to prove the crowd wrong.
"I'm ready to battle you Lenora and I'm ready to beat you!" Now Lauren had gained confidence and trembled no longer.
"Everyone is invited to watch this battle, follow be into the arena." Lenora forcefully turned around and entered the battlefield.
The visitors all sat on the brown benches set on the sides of the battlefield, Lenora took her spot on the left side of the arena and Lauren hastily took her place on the right side.
A geeky looking man then entered the field holding a red and yellow flag, he was the referee.
"Welcome everybody to the Gym match between Lenora and… I'm sorry I don't know your name."
Lauren Replied. "My name is Lauren."
"Okay then between Lenora and Lauren; both sides can use only two Pokémon and the first person who has no Pokémon able to battle will be the loser. No exchanges of Pokémon."
Lenora and Lauren exchanged feisty looks.
"Let the battle begin now!" The referee raised both flags; now was the time.
Lauren studied the area, she could only use Gothita and Tepig as there was no water for Alomomola to battle in.
"Herdier, go!" Lenora sent out her trusted Pokémon.
Lauren wanted to save Tepig until last seeing as he had a fighting type move.
"Gothita, it's your time." Lauren summoned her cute Pokémon.
Herdier gave Gothita a look that froze her to the spot.
"That's intimidate; Herdier's ability, it lowers the attack of its opponent."
"That won't stop us, will it Gothita?" Gothita turned and nodded at Lauren, she wasn't going down without a fight.
"Herdier, shadow ball!" Lenora ordered.
Three purple balls circled Herdier's mouth; it jolted its head and sent them in Gothita's direction.
"Use teleport to dodge." just before the impact of shadow ball Gothita dodged by disappearing.
"Now Gothita, psybeam." Lauren asked quickly.
Gothita had a pink aura as she sent pink circles of power to attack Herdier.
"Oh no you don't, Herdier dig!" Lenora screamed.
Herdier buried its way underground.
"Now strike Herdier!"
The ground crumbled beneath Gothita's feet.
"Teleport!"
Gothita dodged Herdier's second attack.
"You can't keep this up for much longer Lauren; Herdier, use dig until Gothita gives in."
"Gothita keep on using teleport"
Now Lenora stood with a slight smile on her face.
Herdier dug dozens of holes in the arena but Gothita dodged everyone.
"Exactly what I thought would happen; Herdier jump into a hole."
Lauren was stunned.
"Now shadow ball!"
"Teleport!"
"That's no use Lauren, wherever Gothita teleports to, she will be hit by a shadow ball. See me and Herdier have perfected this technique so he knew to connect all the holes."
Gothita attempted to dodge but failed, she was pelted by three shadow balls. Now she fell to the ground.
"Now Herdier use crunch!"
Lauren gasped knowing that Gothita could not hold on any longer, especially with another super effective move coming her way.
"Faint attack Gothita!" Lauren yelled as a last chance.
Gothita pushed herself up onto her feet but was too slow, Herdier had hit… And won the battle.
"Gothita come back." Lauren returned her Pokémon.
"I knew that would happen. Gothita was worn out, teleport uses a lot of power and using it so many times in concession would tire any Pokémon."
Lauren just looked at Lenora.
"Don't worry. I can still win, go Tepig!"
Tepig was released on the holey battlefield, he blew fire out of his nose, he was ready.
"A strong looking Tepig, but my Herdier is definitely stronger."
"Don't count on it; Tepig, ember!" Tepig focused and shot an ember out of its snout.
"Shadow ball!" Lenora ordered.
Herdier summoned three small balls that then collided into one, Herdier then flung it towards the ember.
Both moves crashed together to create a thick fog.
"Now take this chance Herdier, jump in a hole!"
Lauren had to think fast.
"You too Tepig!"
When the fog cleared, there were no Pokémon on the field; they were hidden in the underground tunnels beneath the arena.
"Now find that Tepig!" Lenora demanded.
"Tepig, look out!" Lauren cried.
"Herd!" Herdier howled to its master that it had found its target.
"Now take down!" White streaks flashed out of the hole that Herdier was in.
"Tepig flame charge." Red streaks flashed out of the hole that Tepig was in.
Both Pokémon ran towards each other and collided in the centre of the arena.
A flash of power burst through the ground and broke the roof of the Gym, a powerful collision.
The audience gasped, they'd never seen anything like this before.
Both Pokémon were flung out of their hole, both breathing heavily. They fiercely stared into each other's eyes.
One Pokémon couldn't take it; it fell to the ground, swirled eyes.
The Pokémon is… HERDIER.