Episode 21: The evolution fighter!
"Warren?" Gurkinn said curiously as he looked up from a book he was reading at his desk to see the tall, brown-haired trainer standing in the doorway. "What can I do for you?"
"Niko tried mega evolution today," Warren said, not looking directly at Gurkinn when he did so, "and it went awry really quick."
"Awry…how?" Gurkinn asked, raising his eyebrow with interest.
"Venusaur lost complete control of himself. He started shaking violently, and I noticed his pupils thinned. He then used frenzy plant and nearly hurt Charlotte."
"Ah, he can't control all of that power. That's completely normal for a Pokémon undergoing mega evolution for the first time."
"Tell that to Niko: he and Venusaur pledged to never again mega evolve."
"Also understandable. As I told you three yesterday, some trainers never master it, and rarely do any master it on their first try. Niko's friend Elliot is one of the few that I've seen," Gurkinn then moved his chair back and stood up. "Korrina actually had enormous difficulty mastering mega evolution, did you know that?"
"I didn't," Warren admitted.
"Her Lucario couldn't control it at first, and it took several more tries and a longer journey to understand it. I sent her to a friend of mine to help her understand it, and even then they needed to find something within themselves to strengthen that bond. Technically, part of the problem was Lucario not knowing how to control his specific powers, but the principle likely extends to Venusaur as well. The way I see it, this is a two-part problem: Niko's confidence in himself and his bond, and Venusaur's inability to control his new powers."
"That makes a lot of sense, considering the trainer's bond is indicative of how well the evolution will go," Warren said. "Thanks, Gurkinn. I appreciated this."
"Of course, Warren. And best of luck to your friends," Gurkinn said before sitting back down at his desk.
Warren went back to the Pokémon Center to relay what he learned to Niko and Charlotte. Gurkinn's conclusion seemed to upset Niko, and didn't surprise Charlotte in the least.
"Venusaur is my first Pokémon, Warren! I have the strongest bond with him!" Niko argued.
"Well, guess not as well as you though, according to the master of mega evolution," Warren said with a shrug. "How's Braixen doing?"
"Better. She'll be ready to continue training tomorrow," Charlotte said with a sigh. "I hope that evolution will be enough to take on Korrina's Lucario."
"It will be. You two got close last time. You just need to focus specifically on that Lucario, since Mienfoo and Machoke went down without defeating any of your other Pokémon," Warren said. "Compared to Lucario they seemed like lightweights."
"Knowing how Mega Lucario fights, it definitely changes my strategy a little," Niko said. "I think Clauncher can handle it, but he needs to train a little more. He needs something different to attack with."
"Actually, he might," Charlotte said, pulling out her pokédex to Niko's surprise. "Do you know what Clauncher's ability is?"
"No, what is it?"
Charlotte pushed her pokédex across the table to show Niko. "It's called Mega Launcher. Pulse and aura moves are powered up when Clauncher uses them."
"Woah. So I should teach him how to use water pulse, then," Niko commented.
"And any other 'pulse' move you can think of. But water pulse is a good start," Charlotte said with a warm smile. "Just thought you'd like to know that."
"Thanks, Charlotte," Niko said, returning the smile.
The next few days were spent on the beach training with their Pokémon. Charlotte began to understand Braixen's abilities, and saw her finally use flame charge with her own eyes. Her other Pokémon continued their training, with Larvitar getting a little better at rock slide.
Niko, on the other hand, put all of his time and energy into his training, especially in light of the incident with Venusaur. In particular, he worked with Clauncher to learn water pulse after explaining to the Water Gun Pokémon the ability he had. The others continued training, too, with Chespin only joining in later after watching how much stronger Clauncher got after figuring out water pulse.
On the fifth day since their first attempt at defeating Korrina, Niko and Charlotte returned to the gym at low tide at sunset. As they entered the main room of the tower, they saw someone skating down the spiral staircase before jumping high into the air, flipping around, and landing perfectly still on the ground in front of them.
"Welcome to the Shalour City Gym—again!" Korrina said with a smile. "You two ready for your rematch?"
"Yes," Niko and Charlotte said together.
"Excellent. Let's get started, then!" Korrina said, excitedly skating down the hall towards another set of stairs where she grinded on the rail down to the bottom and landed gracefully once again. By the time Niko and his friends made it to the battlefield at the bottom, Korrina and Gurkinn were both waiting for them. "You guys are so slow!" she said in mock complaint. "Who's going first!?"
"I will. Just like last time," Charlotte said, stepping forward towards the end of the field she was at last time while Niko and Warren took their places standing in the hallway above the battlefield, overlooking the fight. Gurkinn was just below them.
Gurkinn once more explained the rules of the match and, like last time, Charlotte and Korrina opened up their first pokéballs and began the match.
"Mienfoo, I choose you!" Korrina shouted.
"Skiddo, you're up!" Charlotte shouted. "Use leech seed!"
"Bounce!" Korrina commanded. Mienfoo evaded the leech seeds and leapt high into the air, extending its right foot as it began to descend to the ground. Skiddo shifted out of the way as Mienfoo crashed into the ground and used razor leaf on Charlotte's command. The Martial Arts Pokémon then attempted to use power-up punch, which Skiddo managed to dodge once again, albeit barely this time.
"Vine whip!" Charlotte shouted. Skiddo came to a halt, spun around, and unleashed two green vines from his bush and wrapped them around Mienfoo's wrist. "And pull!" she said.
Skiddo retracted his vines and pulled Mienfoo inwards before unleashing a razor leaf just as the Martial Arts Pokémon used a power-up punch up close, launching Skiddo backwards. The Mount Pokémon came to a stop, took a deep breath, and used another razor leaf that Mienfoo dodged with hi jump kick.
"Vine whip again!" Charlotte shouted. Skiddo whipped out two more green vines to grab Mienfoo's glowing foot. The vines wrapped around and Skiddo slammed Mienfoo into the brick-lain ground, resulting in a loud crash.
"Mienfoo is unable to battle, Skiddo is the winner! Leader Korrina will send out her second Pokémon!" Gurkinn declared.
"Mienfoo, return. Take a long rest. Machoke, I choose you!"
"Skiddo, do you want to continue?" Charlotte asked. The Mount Pokémon turned and nodded at his trainer, suddenly feeling a rush of confidence. "Right, we've defeated Machoke before. Let's do it again! Skiddo, use razor leaf!"
"Machoke, focus blast!" Korrina commanded. Machoke leaned down to create a ball of pure energy between its palms and fired it off through the torrent of leaves at Skiddo, who took the hit and was launched backwards.
"Skiddo, can you keep going?" Charlotte asked. The Mount Pokémon, surprised by the attack, nodded and got back up. "Use leech seed!"
"Machoke, power-up punch!" Korrina commanded. The Superpower Pokémon charged forward at Skiddo, its fist lighting up in a swirl of orange and pink. Skiddo, meanwhile, fired off a series of small seed at Machoke, each of them landing successfully. Vines erupted out of them and entangled the fighting-type, suddenly sapping its energy. "Brick break on the vines, just like last time!"
"Not so fast! Skiddo, use razor leaf!" Charlotte shouted. Skiddo unleashed a series of sharp leaves from his bush, hitting Machoke relentlessly. "Now, vine whip!"
While the leech seed continued to drain Machoke, the Superpower Pokémon found one of his wrists wrapped from vine whip. Korrina then commanded him to pull on the vine. Machoke did so, and dragged Skiddo forward.
"Power-up punch!" Korrina shouted. Machoke pulled back his other fist and slammed it against Skiddo's face, forcing the Mount Pokémon to retract his vine whip and repel backwards towards Charlotte.
"Skiddo is unable to battle, Machoke is the winner! Challenger Charlotte will now use her second Pokémon!"
"Frillish, I choose you!" Charlotte shouted, summoning the pink Floating Pokémon. "Use water pulse!"
"Rock tomb!" Korrina commanded. While still subject to the leech seed, Machoke cried out to the heavens, summoning massive slabs of rock from above. Frillish managed to evade each one and land a successful water pulse, hitting Machoke in the side of the body.
"Ominous wind!" Charlotte called out. Frillish created a gust of purple wind from its mouth and fired it at Machoke, knocking the Superpower Pokémon to the ground. "Follow up with water pulse!"
"Machoke, rock tomb!" Korrina shouted. This time, Machoke managed to encase Frillish in the rock tomb, but it didn't seem to last long—Frillish burst through it with water pulse and fired off a second on her opponent. The water burst on contact, leaving Machoke laying there in defeat.
"Machoke is unable to battle, Frillish is the winner! Leader Korrina will send out her third and final Pokémon."
"Here we go…" Charlotte said. "Frillish, are you absolutely ready for this?" Frillish nodded, not even looking back at Charlotte—her eyes were fixed on Korrina and her third pokéball.
"Lucario, I choose you!" Korrina shouted, summoning the Aura Pokémon. "Mega evolve!"
"Wasting no time, I take it. Frillish, be ready," Charlotte said, briefly closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. We can do this. We know how fast Mega Lucario is. We know its moves. We know how it moves. "Frillish, water pulse!"
"Lucario, block it with bone rush!" Korrina commanded. As expected, the mega-evolved Lucario conjured a bright saber in the shape of a bone between his palms and used it to whack the water pulse away. "Well done, now use bone rush on Frillish!"
"Frillish, ominous wind!" Charlotte commanded. Fortunately, the eerie wind managed to slow down Mega Lucario, if only for a moment. But Lucario quickly closed the gap between it and Frillish and attempted to strike at the Floating Pokémon, who barely evaded the attack before firing off a water pulse, hitting Lucario in the side of the face. Frillish and Lucario both fell, backwards and to the side, before quickly getting back up simultaneously.
"Bone rush!" Korrina shouted, impressed by how long Frillish was lasting this time. Lucario created another glowing white saber and split it in half this time before spinning around and whacking Frillish multiple times, eventually launching her across the floor of the brick-lain battlefield.
"Ominous wind!" Charlotte shouted out. Frillish fired off a gust of purple wind at Lucario, who shot forward regardless and struck at Frillish with both bone sabers, creating an "x" with them and thrusting them into the ground around Frillish's neck. Lucario then raised them up and, jumping back, spun around again to whack Frillish with them.
"Frillish is unable to battle, Lucario is the winner! Challenger Charlotte will now send out her third and final Pokémon!" Gurkinn declared.
"Frillish, return," Charlotte said with a smile. "You did really well. I'm very proud of you. Braixen, it's up to you now!" Charlotte shouted, summoning the newly-evolved Fox Pokémon. "Are you ready for this?" she asked. Braixen nodded, staring down Mega Lucario.
"Bone rush!" Korrina commanded.
"Flame charge!" Charlotte shouted. Braixen crouched low, bending her knees slightly before rocketing off towards Lucario, who created another bone saber and also charged at its opponent. Lucario managed to close the gap first, whacking Braixen in the side, but not before taking an ember attack from its new opponent. Lucario then took a knee, wincing a little from the ember that ultimately left a burn on its shoulder. It's going to work…Charlotte thought to herself. "Flame charge again!"
Braixen charged once more, slamming into Mega Lucario and knocking it down before taking another bone rush to the face.
"Power-up punch!" Korrina shouted. Lucario spun back around, getting back on its feet, and charged again at Braixen, who took yet another opportunity to use flame charge, once more hitting Mega Lucario first and knocking him to the ground before he could land his attack.
"FLAME CHARGE!" Charlotte shouted once again. Braixen lit herself on fire once more and, now blindingly fast, slammed into Mega Lucario and dragged it across the battlefield before colliding with the wall behind Korrina.
"Aura sphere!" Korrina declared, and Braixen was thrust backwards across the field before hitting one of the stone slabs from rock tomb earlier in the battle. Braixen fell to one knee, looking back up at Mega Lucario, who stumbled back onto the field. "Bone rush!"
"Flame charge!" Charlotte shouted. Instead, Braixen pulled out the twig from her tail and showed it to Charlotte. "What?" she asked as it lit on fire. "Oh…alright. Braixen, attack!"
The Fox Pokémon charged at Mega Lucario, her twig lighting on fire and somehow not burning up, and met her opponent in the middle of the field for a sparring match, each Pokémon attempting to strike with their weapon of choice, parrying one another's attacks. It was a sight to behold from Charlotte's perspective, but she wanted to win. And so when she noticed Lucario's burn mark was acting up, she got an idea.
"Braixen, ember on its shoulder!" Charlotte commanded. Braixen locked Lucario in place with her flaming twig and turned to her opponent's right shoulder and fired off a series of embers. This forced Mega Lucario to the ground on one knee. "Finish it off with flame charge!"
Braixen lit up on fire and charged down Mega Lucario, bursting across the field like a flash before running the Aura Pokémon into the same wall as before. Only this time, when Braixen left it, Mega Lucario fell forward and changed back to its original form.
"Lucario is unable to battle, Braixen is the winner. The victory goes to Charlotte from Castelia City!" Gurkinn declared.
"Yes! Lucario, we did it!" Charlotte cheered happily, running onto the field to embrace her exhausted Fox Pokémon. She then turned to the stands, watching Niko walk down the steps towards the field. "Good luck, buddy."
"Thanks, and congrats. You earned that one," Niko said politely. He then waited for Korrina to return, pondering his own strategy.
He didn't have to wait long—Korrina returned minutes later looking just as refreshed as she had when she first met them that day. Gurkinn, as usual, explained the rules of the match, and Niko and Korrina then sent out their first Pokémon.
"Mienfoo, I choose you!"
"Swirlix, you're up!" Niko shouted. "Use fairy wind!"
"Mienfoo, bounce!" Korrina commanded. Just like before, the Martial Arts Pokémon leapt high into the air and spun around before beginning its descent towards Swirlix, who quickly moved out of the way and struck Mienfoo with fairy wind, blowing it away and causing it to land just on the edge of the battlefield.
"Cotton spore!" Niko shouted. Swirlix conjured up small balls of white cotton and sent them floating towards Mienfoo, who jumped and evaded each one before charging at Swirlix with power-up punch, knocking the Cotton Candy Pokémon backwards. "Fairy wind!"
"Hi jump kick!" Korrina shouted, quickly realizing that it might not have been the best move. Yet Mienfoo obliged, leaping into the air and quickly diving back down, foot forward, towards Swirlix, who blasted a sparkling gust of wind upwards at the Martial Arts Pokémon, launching it through the air and into the ground nearby.
"Mienfoo is unable to battle, Swirlix is the winner! Leader Korrina will send out her next Pokémon!" Gurkinn declared, raising an eyebrow in surprise.
"Return, Mienfoo. You've gotten better, Niko. Well done. Machoke, you're up!" she shouted, summoning the Superpower Pokémon. "Use power-up punch!"
"Swirlix, fairy wind!" Niko commanded. The Cotton Candy Pokémon quickly conjured another sparkling gust of wind that blew Machoke backwards, preventing it from using its attack. "Now, cotton spore!"
"Machoke, rock tomb!" Korrina shouted. Machoke cried out, summoning slabs from midair just as it did during its battle against Charlotte. Like before, they successfully landed, hitting Swirlix, who was launched backwards from the force of the attack. "Now, focus blast!"
A ball of energy appeared between Machoke's palms as he threw it at Swirlix, who rolled to the side to dodge before spewing out cotton spores from her mouth. All of them hit Machoke, slowing it down significantly. Now, Niko saw his chance to attack.
"Fairy wind!" Niko commanded. Swirlix charged towards Machoke and shot a final, powerful gust of wind at Machoke, launching it backwards and onto the ground. Machoke slowly got up and back onto his feet, launching a focus blast that hit Swirlix. "Fairy wind again!"
Once more, Swirlix blew a gust of wind from across the battlefield at Machoke, once more knocking it over, this time for good.
"Machoke is unable to battle, Swirlix is the winner! Leader Korrina will send out her third and final Pokémon!" Gurkinn declared.
"Geez…Niko is sweeping the floor with Swirlix," Warren observed, looking thoroughly surprised.
"He and Swirlix are strong enough to handle those two. It's Lucario he really has to focus on. That was my strategy, at least," Charlotte replied.
"Lucario, I choose you! Mega evolve!" Korrina shouted, once again placing two fingers on her Key Stone, causing Lucario to change forms. "Use bone rush!"
"Cotton spore!" Niko commanded. This is where the real battle begins, right? he thought to himself. Swirlix whipped up white balls of cotton and thrust them at Mega Lucario, who blocked each one with bone rush before charging at Swirlix with its white bone saber. "Block it with fairy wind!"
Mega Lucario charged through the fairy wind and struck Swirlix across the side with bone rush, launching her into the ground. Then, on Korrina's command, Lucario conjured and threw and aura sphere at Swirlix, who managed to block it with cotton spore on Niko's command.
"Fairy wind!" Niko shouted.
"Metal sound!" Korrina commanded. Mega Lucario cried out, emitting a sharp, ear-piercing metallic sound that broke Swirlix's concentration and ended the fairy wind. "Now, bone rush!"
Mega Lucario created another bone saber and whacked Swirlix with it, as if the Aura Pokémon was golfing. Swirlix was rocketed to the left of the battlefield, landing in the wall. As soon as she hit the ground, she was unable to move.
"Swirlix is unable to battle, Lucario is the winner! Challenger Niko will now send out his second Pokémon!" Gurkinn declared.
"Fletchinder, I choose you!" Niko commanded. "Use agility!"
"Lucario, aura sphere!" Korrina commanded. Just like in their last match, Fletchinder flew around the battlefield, ignoring the aura spheres being hurled at her while picking up speed. She then fired off a series of small embers at Mega Lucario on Niko's command. To this, Lucario spun around its bone saber to block most of the embers before throwing the saber at Fletchinder, who managed to barely evade it. "Metal sound!"
"Fletchinder, ignore it and use ember!" Niko commanded. The Ember Pokémon tried to ignore the sound, but couldn't, and ultimately lost control of her speed and crashed into the ground. "Ember, Fletchinder!"
"Lucario, aura sphere!" Korrina shouted. Mega Lucario conjured a swirling blue ball of aura energy and fired it at the exhausted Fletchinder, knocking her backwards. "And again!"
"EMBER!" Niko called out. Fletchinder, this time, slowly got back up and shot a series of embers at her opponent, who managed to block them with a hastily-conjured bone rush. "Use quick attack!"
"Block Fletchinder with bone rush!" Korrina shouted. Lucario thrust its bone saber out and slammed it into Fletchinder, hitting the Ember Pokémon with the front end of it and thrusting her backwards. Fletchinder crashed onto the ground on her back, unable to battle.
"Fletchinder is unable to battle, Lucario is the winner! Challenger Niko will now send out his third and final Pokémon!" Gurkinn declared.
"Alright, it's up to you, buddy," Niko said, pulling out his final pokéball. "Clauncher, I choose you!"
"Lucario, bone rush!" Korrina shouted.
"Clauncher, water pulse!" Niko commanded. Like they had practiced, Clauncher opened up his large blue claw and, as his entire body began to pulsate, fired off a massive blue orb of water at rapid speed, striking Mega Lucario and knocking it backwards. "Yes! Now, water gun!"
"Aura sphere!" Korrina said. Lucario nodded, shaking its head and quickly firing off its own attack. Both the aura sphere and water gun met in the middle of the field, resulting in a stalemate. "Bone rush!"
"Water pulse, again!" Niko shouted. Clauncher opened his claw again and fired off a high-speed water pulse that Lucario managed to evade this time. "Now, use vice grip!" Niko commanded, thrusting his palm outwards. Clauncher leapt into action, his large claw glowing bright white as he opened it and grabbed onto Lucario's bone saber. "Water gun!" Niko called out.
Clauncher released a high-pressured blast of water at the Aura Pokémon, launching both of them backwards, but only the former managed to land successfully; Lucario stumbled a little before regaining its own composure.
"Metal sound!" Korrina commanded. Mega Lucario got lot to the ground and emitted the same ear-piercing sound that got Swirlix. Clauncher, who was ready for this, attempted to close his mind off to it, ultimately failing once again. "Now, bone rush!"
Mega Lucario quickly conjured a bone saber once more and charged at Clauncher before whacking it in the side, just as it did with Swirlix earlier. The Water Gun Pokémon was launched towards Charlotte and Warren, just barely missing them.
"Use water gun to break your fall!" Niko shouted. Clauncher obeyed, using water gun to slow himself down and land gracefully on the ground. "Now, vice grip!"
"Lucario, swords dance!" Korrina shouted as they waited for Clauncher to charge at them. "Now, bone rush!"
"Dodge!" Niko called out. Clauncher shifted to the side as he dodged the bone rush being brought down on him. "Now, hit it with water pulse!"
"Block it!" Korrina shouted. Mega Lucario attempted to block with bone rush, but was hit by the powered-up water pulse, launching it backwards and onto the ground. "Lucario!"
Mega Lucario slowly got back up, staring directly at Clauncher as it did so. In response, Clauncher snapped his large claw a few times, presumably saying something along the lines of "bring it," Lucario then nodded, and got back up, straightening itself.
"Aura sphere!"
"Water pulse!" Niko commanded. Clauncher, this time, was faster, firing off the high-powered orb of water at his opponent. The attack landed just as Lucario fired off its own aura sphere, but Clauncher managed to dodge that one. Lucario took a step forward, stared at Clauncher once more, and collapsed onto the ground, reverting back to its original form.
"Lucario is unable to battle, Clauncher is the winner! And the victory goes to Niko from Pallet Town!" Gurkinn declared.
Niko let out a deep sigh of relief as he looked at Clauncher, who turned back and nodded at him as well. "You did really well, buddy."
Clauncher was returned to his pokéball as Korrina, Lucario, and Gurkinn approached Niko and, moments later, Charlotte as well.
"Niko, Charlotte, you both proved worthy of not just handling mega evolution, but also of defeating a mega-evolved Pokémon. Here, as proof of your victories today, I award you both with the Rumble Badge."
Korrina held out two small badges in the shape of two fists clashing against one another. Niko and Charlotte each took the badge and looked at one another, smiling.
"Niko," Gurkinn began, turning his attention to the brown-haired trainer standing in front of him. "Do not give up on mega evolution. You are capable of it, you just need to believe that you are."
"Thanks, Gurkinn, but I don't believe so. Venusaur doesn't want to, and neither do I. Plus, today proved again that I'm capable of handling these kinds of Pokémon without resorting to mega evolution. I appreciate the help, though."
"Right, of course. Best of luck in your travels, both of you," Gurkinn said.
"Yeah, good luck!" Korrina said. "I hope to see you two in the finals at the Kalos League!"
"Heh, hopefully," Niko said, turning to Warren and Charlotte. "We're definitely going to do our best!"
"Absolutely," Charlotte said, looking up at Niko as she said so.