Brawley Breaks Mould
Brawly appeared at the beach just as the sun disappeared under the horizon in the distance. He wore the same clothes before as he stood paces away from Rod, who had spent most of the afternoon preparing for this practice battle. Forrest had warned Rod that this would be a test. A test to see whether Rod could think on his feet at a battle against a tough Gym Leader. The battle may have been booked officially, but this would be a clear indication of whether Rod was ready.
They gazed at each other, Brawly looking confident whilst Rod slightly hesitant. He knew what Pokemon to use and Corphish was the answer. Rod had been impressed with the Ruffian water type Pokemon so far, and he was sure Brawly would want to battle it. He had no idea what Pokemon Brawly had on him, but fighting moves would be probably preferable due to his background in the Martial Arts.
Brawly spoke first: "Rod, this will be a one on one battle. This battle is one where you will be tested, and no Gym Badges rewarded if you win. Agreed?"
His voice was piercing in the night's silence. Lights flicked off in the nearby Town Centre as the stalls were being closed down. Rod replied as confidently as he could: "I agree, let's battle!"
"Very well. I never go easy. Pincir!"
The Stag Beetle Pokemon appeared and a surprise choice from Brawly. Even though Pincir could learn a variety of fighting type moves, it was still only a Bug type. Rod had a sudden desire to throw Slugma into the mix, but he was worried that Brawly would expect such an obvious move. Rod reacted: "Corphish, I choose you!"
Emma sighed behind as the Ruffian Pokemon appeared, completely healed from the battle earlier with Chris. Emma spoke: "Rod, use Slugma! Isn't it obvious?"
Rod looked over and shook his head replying: "We're battling next to the ocean; a fire type wouldn't be as comfortable as a water type here."
Brawly smiled and agreed: "Good thinking Rod, I admire your desire to avoid the obvious I look forward to seeing you battle again."
Forrest decided to referee the match and he waved his arms up and down indicating the battle was to begin. Rod decided to start first: "Corphish, use Bubblebeam!"
"Pincir deflect that, and use Focus Energy!"
Corphish fired the hardened bubbles from its mouth and made direct contact as Pincir used its large pincers to deflect them away. No damage was taken, and both Corphish and Rod stood shocked as it avoided all contact at all.
Brawly spoke with a smile: "My Pincir is not just any opponent, it is very strong Rod. I would re-think you're choice of move here."
Rod gritted his teeth, he had to get in close and try an up close attack. Pincir began to glow red as the Focus Energy began, Critical attacks would be more effective now, but Rod didn't need to worry about that. Corphish had the ability Shell Armor, an ability that negates all critical attacks to place. It allowed him to take advantage of Corphish's strong defense and instead concentrate on the offense. Pincir stopped glowing and roared loud in the air, Rod reacted once again.
"Corphish use Bubblebeam and run with it, get up close!" Corphish darted forwards firing Bubblebeams from its pincers and mouth. Pincir easily deflected them again, but Rod just needed a distraction to get closer.
Brawley replied calmly: "Pincir use Protect, and then Swords Dance!"
Pincir raised its stick like arms and a pink bubble appeared in front deflecting the Bubblebeam attacks even more. Corphish collided with the force field and flew back in pain. It was a strong barrier, and Rod just realised that Brawly hadn't called out a physical type attack yet. What was his strategy? Swords Dance would increase Pincir's attack, but what for?
Forrest and Emma looked on in confusion, they had no idea what strategy Brawly had but it was working. Rod was confused and none of his attacks were working. Forrest called out: "Rod get moving, you need to start hitting it!"
Rod agreed and commanded: "Corphish use Crab Hammer let's go!"
"Pincir use Revenge, full power!"
Rod watched as Corphish dived in the air before colliding with a double Crab Hammer attack, both its pincers glowing bright with the direct contact. Pincir flinched in pain before glowing red again and firing back a quick jab with its arms making direct contact. Corphish flew up in air as it made contact screaming in pain as it landed in the sand moving slightly. Pincir's attack was raised higher, but Corphish still had a strong defense. It was hit so hard!
Brawly spoke: "Come on Rod, I know you are better than this. Think about it now."
Rod began to panic; he had run out of ideas. Far attacks and close up attacks weren't working, and he needed more power. He cried out: "Corphish, I know you can do this! Use Sand Attack, now!"
Corphish wriggled out of the sand and created a mini sandstorm firing sand from the beach at Pincir who looked on unnerved and smiling slightly. It knew that this battle was won, but little did Rod know it would come so soon.
Brawly sighed and called: "Pincir break through the sand and use Brick Break!"
Pincir moved and dived through the sand as it vanished in the thin air. Rod was shocked as Corphish was so easily revealed, the decoy had failed and Pincir was much faster than he had considered. Rod reacted furiously: "Corphish use Crab Hammer!"
Corphish wasn't fast enough and Pincir made direct contact, its hands glowing brightly and smashing Corphish towards the ground. At the same time it there was yet another glow around Pincir as brown streaks appeared around it as the contact was made. Rod gasped. Pincir knew Mold Breaker. An ability that destroys other active abilities that could cause obstruction or damage, Corphish's Shell Armor would have no effect. He cried out for Corphish as the contact was made. Pincir dived backwards and Brawly instantly returned it to its Pokeball as he walked towards Rod slowly.
Rod dived to the ground at Corphish who was knocked out and unmoving in the sand. He buckled to his knees to pick it up as Brawly approached with a blazing look on his face. Brawly spoke: "Rod, you are good trainer. But you're style tonight was too obvious. However your willpower and ability have convinced me to battle you officially later in the week."
Rod looked up; he was distraught at how his strategy was so undermined by the Mold Breaker ability. He had let Corphish down by being unaware of it and not figuring it out with the moves Brawly had used to prepare for the final attack. He replied: "Thank you battling me now Brawly, but I promise I will get the badge from you when we battle officially."
Brawly replied with a smile: "That's what I want to hear. It will be a three on three Pokemon battle, you have now seen how I battle. The preparation and focus I have, and I look forward to seeing how you react in our battle. Farewell."
He walked off through the sand as the breeze kicked up sand around them. He disappeared in the oncoming nightfall as Emma and Forrest ran over. Rod returned Corphish to its Pokeball apologising for his poor performance.
Forrest spoke first: "I guess it wasn't a test, but a learning experience?
Emma then spoke: "He's tough, I had no idea Mold Breaker could be used like that."
Rod nodded and replied: "He put me in a place that I hadn't been before and I needed that. I normally feel somewhat prepared no matter what the battle is, but in this battle I had no idea how to react. But now I know what to do, I need to overcome his battling style, and I know how to do it."
Forrest clapped his hands together and spoke: "Sounds good Rod, we all know you can get the badge. But what Pokemon are you going to use?
Rod had a quick think. He had a lot of choices, but he still refused to use his main battling Pokemon. Golett, Ivysaur and Slugma would be the most obvious choices. They were simply the strongest in terms of pure power, but he had to avoid that move. Lairon would get crushed quickly by the obvious Fighting type moves Brawly was so comfortable with. He made a quick choice and replied: "I'll get Ariados back from Professor Birch, Staravia deserves a battle and I have to use Corphish again!"
Emma spoke confusedly: "But why Corphish, it was defeated so badly!"
Rod responded: "But that's why I have to use it. Corphish needs to battle because it wants to prove it can defeat Brawly. I know they aren't my strongest Pokemon, but they have less direct battling styles that would definitely make it difficult for Brawly to predict."
Forrest nodded and replied: "Emma, I think Rod's correct here. If there's anything Rod needs is to try new Pokemon out, and this is the best opportunity."
Rod agreed and they walked to the nearby Pokemon Mart and Cafes for dinner, and for Rod to begin preparing for his Gym Battle in a couple of days.
