We rode across the Driftveil Drawbridge, and entered Driftveil City. The city seemed to be under construction. A lot of buildings were being built or being repaired. There was no pokemon gym in sight.
"I heard Driftveil city had a gym. I don't see it anywhere." said Robin.
We should probably ask residents of the city. They are probably familiar with where everything is. I said.
Robin walked up to a lady walking along the road and asked, "Excuse me. I'm came to this city for my fifth gym badge. Do you know where the gym is located?"
"You are here for the gym? I'm not sure if it is still open, because the city is under construction for the most part. But you can probably find it by walking to the end of this street and make a right. You should see the building." said the lady.
"Thank you" said Robin, as we took off towards the gym.
When we arrived, Robin was disappointed. The building that was the gym was half demolished. "What happened here?" asked Robin as she approached a short buff man with a hat, who was in the vicinity.
"Oh, this here gym is under renovations. It was too old and was falling apart. The city wrote a petition to demolish the building and build a better one. Sorry, but if you are here for a gym battle, I'm afraid that isn't possible right now." said the man.
"That's too bad. I really was looking forward to this gym battle. This would have been my fifth gym battle." said Robin
"By the way, my name is Clay. So, you said this was going to be your fifth gym battle? How many badges did you earn?" asked Clay.
"Oh, well I earned four so far." said Robin.
"Wait! You're telling me that you beat every gym battle you ever had on the first try?" asked Clay. "Is this your first time starting an adventure, or have you been to other regions?"
"No, this is my first adventure." said Robin. "Why, is that impressive?" she asked.
"Know what? I changed my mind. Let me tell you a secret. I am the gym leader of Driftveil City. I'm Clay, the Ground type specialist. I decided that I will give you a gym battle." said Clay.
"Really!? You're the gym leader! Wait, but you don't have a gym to fight in." said Robin.
"Don't worry about that, I have a backup space." said Clay, as he led us into an opening at the side of a mountain. "This here is a mine. We dig for all kinds of natural resources. I own this network and I have a special area blown out where it is big enough for a battle."
Clay walked up to a random worker and asked, "Hey, I have a challenger today. Do you mind being the ref for this battle?" The worker agreed and we entered a separate channel that led to a large open area. There was a battlefield in the center, but it was clearly rudimentary in the way it was created.
Robin and Clay both stepped up to the trainer's square. "Sorry, John. I won't be using you today. You're fine with that, right?" Robin asked.
That's fine. I will just stay by the bike and watch. I replied. Though I was missing the action.
The ref stepped up to the side of the battle field and said, "This will be a three on three battle. When one trainer runs out of pokemon that are able to fight, the other trainer wins. Now, the battle will commence!"
"Krokorok, come on out!" shouted Clay.
"Emboar, it's your turn!" shouted Robin. "Emboar, use arm thrust!" Emboar charged at Krokorok, ready to strike him.
"Krokorok, use earthquake." said Clay. The ground shook violently and it took a lot out of emboar.
"Emboar, are you ok?" shouted Robin concerned.
I can still battle. Don't worry about me, think of a strategy. Said Emboar.
"If emboar is too slow, then I will use far range attack. Emboar, use flamethrower!" shouted Robin. Emboar released a jet of fire that flew towards Krokorok.
It almost seemed like it was going to be a perfect hit, but Clay shouted, "Krokorok, use dig!" Krokorok burrowed into the ground just before the fire reached him. Emboar did not know how to react. Krokorok was nowhere to be seen. Without warning, Krokorok came out from under Emboar and struck him. Another effective hit.
"Use arm thrust, now!" shouted Robin. Emboar was able to hit Krokorok, but it didn't do as much as she hoped.
"Use earthquake again!" shouted Clay. With that, the ground shook again and emboar fell to the ground.
"Emboar is unable to battle!" shouted the ref.
"Robin, Emboar was a poor choice for this battle. He is too slow for krokorok and krokorok can easily deal effective moves against him." said Clay.
"I guess, I didn't think that through." said Robin. She thought for a long moment and then said, "Alright, Krokorok, come on out!"
"You have a krokorok, too? This will be interesting." said Clay. "Alright, Krokorok, use dig!"
Why did you chose me? I just wanted to sleep all day. Complained her Krokorok.
"Pay attention! I have an idea." she said. Clay's Krokorok appeared out of the ground behind him. "Now! Use break brick!" With that, Robin's Krokorok slammed his hand down onto Clay's krokorok head in a chopping motion, sending him crashing back to the ground from where he appeared. It was very effective.
"Clay's Krokorok is unable to battle!" shouted the ref.
"You taught your Krokorok brick break? I never expected that." said Clay.
"Told you it would come in handy" Robin said to Krokorok. Krokorok rolled his eyes.
"Palpitoad, you're up!" shouted Clay. "Use muddy water!"
Palpitoad sent a wave of gunky water toward Krokorok. Krokorok jumped up high in the air, managing to dodge the wave.
"Use bubble beam!" shouted Clay. Robin was not expecting that and the beam hit Krokorok square in the chest.
"Krokorok! Are you ok?" asked Robin.
Stop worrying about me! I can take a little water hit. I'm not like the rest of your weak little pokemon. I'm very strong! Shouted Krokorok. Krokorok ran towards Palpitoad and landed a crunch.
Robin thought of an idea. "Keep that up, Krokorok. Make this battle close quarters. All of Palpitoad's moves depend on distance." said Robin.
"Palpitoad, use bull doze!" shouted Clay. It hit Korkorok, but it didn't phase him. He continued to jump back towards Palpitoad and landed another Crunch. Palpitoad winced in pain.
"Now, finish it off with earthquake!" shouted Robin as Krokorok made the ground shake. Palpitoad was taken down by that last move.
"Palpitoad is unable to battle!" shouted the ref.
"Yes! Great job, krokorok. You are always impressing me everytime you battle!" commented Robin. Krokorok blushed at the comment and Robin noticed. "Aww, you're blushing." said Robin.
No, I'm not! He said defensively. I'm just glad that I'm going to be free in a few days.
"Hmm. I guess there is some merit to those four gym badges you earned, Robin." commented Clay. "But let's see how you deal with my last pokemon. Excadrill, come on out!"
Excadrill appeared on the battlefield. "Krokorok, use earthquake!" shouted Robin.
"Excadrill, use focus blast!" shouted Clay. Excadrill's attack flew quickly towards Krokorok. He had not time to finish his move.
"Krokorok, dodge!" shouted Robin, but it was too late. The energy blast hit Krokorok and it knocked him out.
"Krokorok is unable to battle!" shouted the ref.
Robin had to think hard. She needed a pokemon that could guarantee a win. Rufflet couldn't do enough damage to Excadrill, for he was part steel. Boldore could do damage and was sturdier, but he will be weak to steel and ground attacks. After what seemed like forever, Robin said, "Ok, Boldore, I choose you!"
"Alright, Boldore. I believe in you! Let's win this battle." said Robin
Yes, let's! Agreed Boldore enthusiastically.
"Excadrill, use bulldoze!"shouted Clay. Boldore took in the hit.
"Alright, boldore, retaliate with rock blast!" shouted Robin. Boldore hurled five rocks toward excadrill. He got hit by the first one, but used dig to dodge the rest. "Pay attention. Excadrill could pop out anywhere." said Robin.
Excadrill popped out right under boldore, sending him flying up in the air. "Use rock smash!" shouted Robin. Boldore dropped down and struck Excadrill sending him flying back. "Now use bulldoze!" shouted Robin. The ground shook and Excadrill took the hits of the two moves back to back.
"Excadrill, you use bulldoze as well!" shouted Clay. Now, the battle turned into a bulldoze competition. Both excadrill and boldore were weak against ground type move. Now, it was just up to who could hold out longer.
Boldore began to lag and his bulldoze started to lose power. Robin, I'm losing too much health. I don't know how much more I can take. Said Boldore.
"No! Come on, Boldore. Don't give me this! You are strong. Show me that strength. You can't lose! We have to win this and get out fifth gym badge!" shouted Robin.
I felt uncomfortable to hear Robin say that. She was beginning to lose herself in this battle, I could tell. She never forced her pokemon, before, so it was unusual. Boldore must have sensed her desperation to win. With a bright flash of, Boldore began evolving. His mass began to increase and Robin stared in awe. Before long, a massive Gigalith stood in his place. He let out a loud, feral roar.
Gigalith bulldoze became stronger and it shook the ground with great intensity. Excadrill couldn't handle it anymore and he collapsed onto the ground.
"Excadrill is unable to battle. The victor is Robin, the challenger!" shouted the ref.
"Yes!" shouted Robin, but her victory dance was cut short when she saw that Gigalith did not stop. He charged toward Excadrill, ready to tackle the already fainted pokemon. "Stop! Gigalith! THe battle is over." shouted Robin, but it was no use. Gigalith did not respond back to Robin.
Clay quickly summoned Excadrill back into his ball before Gigalith stomped on him. However, Gigalith continued to run and began charging at the ref. The ref shouted in terror as he dove left. Gigalith collided into the rock wall, but continued to charge toward the ref. Robin stared in complete horror. I was surprised as well. Gigalith was completely out of control.
Clay summoned another Gigalith. I assumed it was his own. "Gigalith, use earthquake on that Gigalith over there, quick!" he shouted. Clay's gigalith was very tamed and he was able to subdue Robin's gigalith. The earthquake made the gigalith stop charging toward the ref.
"Now, quick! Robin, summon him back into his ball!" shouted Clay. Robin did as she was told and returned Gigalith to his pokeball. She then collapsed onto the floor from exhaustion.
"I can't believe that happened. I'm so sorry for that, Clay." said Robin.
Clay walked up to her. "It's ok. I was in many situations where there was a rampaging pokemon on the loose. Good thing no one was hurt." said Clay. He turned towards the ref and asked, "Are you ok?"
"Yeah. I'm fine" he replied.
Clay reached in his pocket and took out the quake badge. "Here you go, Robin. This proves your victory at this gym."
"Are you sure you want to give me this. I don't really feel that I won. I didn't even command Gigalith to do anything. If boldore did not evolve, I probably would have lost." said Robin with doubt.
"Well, you did win, didn't you? And besides, I saw the way you were battling before Gigalith got out of control. You seem like a trainer with great potential. Because of that, I think you deserve this badge." reassured Clay.
"Ok, then. Thank you for that. And thank you for stopping Gigalith" said Robin while she accepted the badge..
"No problem!" said Clay. "But make sure you get that Gigalith under control. He could be very useful for battling, if he actually listens to you."
Robin took her bike and we left the mine. Robin didn't seem too happy with her win. She held the pokeball containing Gigalith. "Why do you think Boldore changed when he evolved into Gigalith? When he evolved to Boldore from Roggenrola, he was fine and his personality was the same. Now I can't even communicate with him."
Gigalith had to go through a lot of change from his evolution. He probably couldn't handle it all at once. He'll be fine over time. I said.
"It was because I forced him to fight, didn't I? It was because I practically forced him to evolve. I forced him to win the battle." she raised the pokeball to her face. "If it was how I treated you back there, I'm very sorry. I don't know what came over me." she said apologetically.
I think I know. You have been very determined to beat this gym ever since your mom met you in Nimbasa yesterday. Is it something she said that sparked a flame? I asked. When these words came out, I realized that I was being very insensitive. You don't have to answer that.
"No, its ok. When my mom came, she reminded me of my dad. Kai Sparrow. I want to beat these gyms because I want to get to Dragonspiral Tower. I want to go to the place where my father died, to get closure. I don't know what the accident was, but that is why I started this journey. To know more about my father and how he died."
She took a deep breath and looked down at me. "You will evolve one day, right?"
I guess I will, when the time comes. Why? I asked.
"I just hope that you won't change. A magikarp to a gyarados is a huge change and I'm afraid that it will change you as a person as well. Please, can you promise me, that when you evolve, you won't change, and that you will still be…..well, you?" asked Robin.
I promise I won't change, Robin. When I'm a gyarados, I promise that my personality won't change. Besides, I told you that I will always protect you, and I can't make that possible if I change. Don't worry, Robin. I promise.
"Thank you, John. I just hope that Gigalith will be fine." she said as we rode off and left Driftveil City. Robin lied to me again. She knew exactly how her father died, and her goal was not to get closure.