Before you read this chapter, I would like to inform everyone that I know very, very little about ninjas. Thank you for reading this announcement.
Anyway, last chapter, the Fuchsia City gym was shut, so James couldn't have his gym battle. Instead, he and the others went to the Safari Zone where, much to the dismay of all my viewers, nobody caught anything and Naro evolved into nidoking. I wonder which was more disappointing… :P
Upload Date: 2nd March 2014
Chapter 36: Striking Shadows
Fuchsia City, Kanto
9:08am, 7th May 2005
"Alright, Cuba, use Bone Club!" James called.
Cuba charged forwards and struck Barru with his bone before the grass type could react.
"Now Headbutt!" James ordered.
Cuba dove in again and smashed his head onto Barru's. Barru yelped in pain and jumped back, clutching his head with his front feet.
"Now finish up with Bonemerang!" James shouted with a grin.
Cuba nodded and threw his bone towards Barru. There was a loud crack as it struck him, again on the head, before it went flying off at an angle. It landed with a clatter by the side of the arena.
"Not again," James groaned as Cuba headed over to pick the bone up.
"Is it not going so well?" James and Livvi looked around to see Richard coming out of the pokémon centre.
"It's slow going," James sighed. "But we had a couple of times where Cuba was able to make it come back, so we are getting there."
"Will it be good enough for the Fuchsia gym battle?" Richard asked.
"Maybe as a last resort." James grinned sheepishly. "But I've still got Bone Club and my other pokémon if the going gets tough."
"Are you alright, Barru?" Livvi asked, gently touching her hand to Barru's head.
Barru nodded.
"Sorry about that beating, Barru," James said apologetically.
Cuba bowed his head slightly in apology as well.
Barru shook his head. It was fine.
"Well, I hope you feel ready," said Richard. "It's about time that we head over there."
"Yeah." James nodded. "I don't want to end up waiting in line!"
9:20am, 7th May 2005
"I'm here for a gym battle!" James announced as he walked through the doors to the Fuchsia City gym, a daunting-looking building which looked like a palace but had a tense atmosphere about it, like there was more to it than met the eye.
"Welcome to the Fuchsia City gym," the receptionist, a young man dressed as a ninja, greeted them. "The first slot is at 9:30, is that alright?"
"So they are ninjas," Richard whispered to Livvi, who was clutching Evoro in her arms.
"Guess so," Livvi whispered back.
"That's fine," said James.
"Excellent," the ninja receptionist replied. "I just need to see your trainer card."
James handed his trainer card over.
The ninja receptionist swiped it in a machine and then looked at his computer screen. "Thank you." He returned the trainer card. "Please have a seat until it's time for your battle."
As James and the others trooped over to the sofas, the ninja receptionist picked up his phone. "Hello, Koga? You have a challenger for the 9:30 slot."
"So it is a gym for ninjas," Richard murmured, to James this time.
"I heard you when you whispered it to Livvi," James replied. "What of it?"
"You haven't trained to fight ninjas," Richard said with a cheeky grin. "What'll you do now?"
"Calm down, Richard," James sighed. "I'll take things as they come and if I need to have a rematch, then so be it."
"That's quite a fatalistic view, James," said Livvi in concern. "Are you feeling alright?"
Evoro nodded as well.
"I'm fine." James looked over at Livvi and nodded. "I'm just accepting the possibility."
"Well, don't!" Livvi snapped. "Have more faith in yourself and your pokémon!"
"I guess so!" James laughed apologetically. He pulled out Cuba's poké ball and let him out.
Cuba looked up at him in curiosity.
"I know this is your first gym battle, Cuba," said James, bending down to speak to the cubone. "It might be a little intimidating at first, but once you relax into it, it's no different to any other battle. You'll have the type advantage as well, so you shouldn't have any problems. You'll do fine!"
Cuba nodded eagerly.
"James Burton!" the ninja receptionist called.
James, Livvi and Richard looked up.
"You're up!"
"Thanks!" James called back, recalling Cuba to his poké ball.
"Good luck!" Richard grinned, patting James' shoulder. "You'll do fine!"
"Yeah." Livvi nodded, giving him a thumbs-up. "We'll be cheering for you!"
"Thanks, guys!" James grinned at them as he entered the corridor leading to the arena.
9:32am, 7th May 2005
James emerged into a shadowy room – it was light enough to see, but not much more. Across from him, on the other side of the battlefield, stood his opponent, a tall man with a long, stern-looking face and slick, black hair. Like the ninja receptionist, he was also clad in ninja gear, though his face was uncovered. He stood with his arms calmly folded.
"I am Koga, a ninja master and the leader of the Fuchsia gym!" he called across to James as he stepped up to the challenger's corner.
"My name's James Burton!" James called back. "I come from Pallet Town!"
"A pleasure to meet you!" Koga called back.
"Likewise!" James nodded. "What are the rules of your gym?"
"It's a four-on-four battle," Koga replied. "You, as the challenger, are free to switch out your pokémon at any time. Are you ready?"
"Yeah!" James nodded, his grip tightening around Cuba's poké ball.
"Very well." Koga nodded at the referee.
"This is an official Pokémon League gym battle between the challenger, James Burton from Pallet Town, and the Fuchsia City gym leader, Koga!" the referee shouted. "The battle will be four-on-four and it will end when one side has no pokémon able to battle! In addition, only the challenger will be allowed to substitute pokémon!"
"Good luck, James!" James looked over at the stands to his left to see Livvi and Richard waving to him.
"Thanks!" he called, giving them a thumbs-up.
"Begin!" the referee shouted.
"Go, Cuba!" James yelled, throwing out the ball.
"Go, Koffing!" Koga called, also throwing out a ball.
Cuba gave a determined cry as he emerged from the ball.
James and Cuba's opponent was a large, knobbly, purple ball with a big grin on its face and a toxic symbol on its chin, which was floating in the air in front of them and occasionally emitting dim yellow puffs of smoke from its body.
"Koffing?" James pulled out his Pokédex.
"Koffing, the poison gas pokémon. Getting up close to a koffing will give you a chance to observe, through its thin skin, the toxic gases swirling inside. It blows up at the slightest stimulation."
"Make sure you're careful, Cuba!" James called as he put his Pokédex away.
Cuba nodded.
"Alright!" James grinned. "Start off with Focus Energy!"
Cuba held his bone up to the tip of his skull and closed his eyes. A blue aura appeared around him for a second before his eyes snapped open again.
"Now use Bone Club!" James yelled.
Cuba charged forwards, raising his bone as he did. However, as he drew close to Koffing, the poison gas pokémon simply rose higher into the air and Cuba's swing ended up causing him to topple over.
"James!" Richard yelled from the stands. "Koffing's ability is Levitate, meaning it can't be hit by any ground type attacks!"
"That's not good!" James exclaimed.
"Koffing, use Toxic!" Koga called.
Koffing spat a clump of purple sludge towards Cuba, who was still struggling to get up after his failed attack. Cuba cried in alarm as he was hit. He quickly recovered and jumped out of the sludge. As he landed, however, James noticed that he was starting to sweat – a lot.
"Poison," he muttered under his breath. "Cuba! Finish this up quickly with Headbutt!"
Cuba nodded and charged forwards again.
"Use Smokescreen!" Koga called.
Koffing spat out a cloud of smoke in front of Cuba, obscuring him from James' view. Cuba called uncertainly, stopping his attack and looking around.
"Use Sludge!" Koga ordered.
"Get out of the way, Cuba!" James yelled.
He heard Cuba reply, followed by a jump. He then heard a cry of pain and the sound of Cuba crashing back to the ground. Clearly they'd been a little too slow.
"Use Sludge again!" James heard Koga shout.
"Dodge it!" he immediately shouted to Cuba.
James heard the sound of the sludge splatting onto the ground, followed by Cuba jumping back out of the smoke. In an instant, Koffing emerged from the smoke too.
"Try using Bone Club while it's coming in low!" James called.
Cuba held the bone out in front of him. Instead of Cuba beginning his charge, however, the bone suddenly grew longer and started glowing a light blue colour.
"That's Bone Rush!" Richard cried from the stands. "Cuba's learnt another new attack?"
Cuba charged forwards, holding the extended bone in both hands. Just as he was approaching Koffing, however, the glowing stopped and the bone returned to its normal length.
"Huh?" James, Livvi and Richard all gasped as Cuba started to stumble.
"Use Sludge!" Koga ordered.
Koffing spat a clump of sludge towards Cuba, hitting him and throwing him back.
"Are you alright, Cuba?" James called.
Cuba pulled himself back to his feet and nodded. Despite the look of fierce determination in his eyes, James could tell that Cuba was in bad shape. The Sludge attacks themselves hadn't done much damage, but the poison was taking its toll on the cubone. Clearly desperate measures were required.
"Cuba, use Bonemerang!" James yelled.
Cuba hurled the bone through the air. However, Koffing levitated out of harm's way again and the bone landed with a clatter on the far side of the battlefield.
"Use Headbutt!" James yelled, realising that he'd left Cuba completely exposed.
Cuba charged forwards once again, closing in on Koffing.
"Use Sludge!" Koga called.
Koffing spat a final wave of sludge at Cuba.
Cuba cried in pain as he was struck directly in the chest and thrown back towards James, landing with a crash on the ground.
"Cubone is unable to battle! The winner is Koffing!" the referee announced.
"You did a good job, Cuba," James said with a smile and he withdrew the defeated cubone. He pulled out his next poké ball. "Go, Saeloc!"
Saeloc gave a confident purr as she burst out of her poké ball.
"Alright, Saeloc, use Fury Swipes!" James called, pointing at Koffing.
Saeloc nodded and charged towards Koffing.
"Use Smokescreen!" Koga called.
Koffing once again emitted a cloud of smoke to obscure the battlefield.
"Now use Toxic!" Koga called.
Koffing fired a torrent of toxic sludge at Saeloc, hitting her before she had a chance to react.
Now Saeloc's poisoned as well! James groaned. We need to keep Koffing still so we can hit it without needing to see it!
"Saeloc, use Screech!" he yelled suddenly.
Saeloc let out an ear-splitting screech, causing everyone in the room to clutch their ears.
"Now use Bite!" James yelled.
Saeloc cried out in response. They heard the sound of Saeloc leaping into the air, followed by a sharp cry.
Koffing came flying out of the smoke, almost crashing to the ground but recovering at the last minute.
"That was incredible!" Livvi cried. "How could Saeloc see exactly where Koffing was in the smoke?"
"Did you forget?" James called up to her. "Saeloc's whiskers can sense air movements nearby, so she was able to pick up on where Koffing was!"
"Koffing, use Sludge!" Koga called.
Koffing fired a Sludge attack towards Saeloc.
"Dodge it and use Fury Swipes!" James called.
Saeloc nodded and jumped to the right to avoid the incoming sludge before charging forwards.
"Use Sludge again!" Koga shouted.
Koffing fired another Sludge attack. This time, Saeloc altered course to the left and the sludge harmlessly hit the ground.
"Keep going, Saeloc!" James grinned as Saeloc began her final leap.
"Use Smokescreen!" Koga yelled.
Koffing emitted another cloud of smoke, this time directly into Saeloc's face. She coughed, losing her momentum as smoke covered the battlefield once more. Just before the smoke obscured her, James noticed her wince from the effects of poison. She was looking very feverish. This battle wouldn't last much longer.
"Saeloc! Clear the smoke with Icy Wind!" James called.
A second later, Koffing was blasted up out of the Smokescreen by a blast of cold air and ice crystals. Blown by the Icy Wind, the smoke quickly dissipated as Koffing tried to recover.
"Use Bite!" James called.
Saeloc leapt up and intercepted the falling koffing, sinking her fangs into him. Koffing cried in pain as Saeloc let go and dropped back to the ground near James.
"Use Smokescreen again!" Koga called.
Koffing didn't look to be in very good shape at all, but he still emitted another cloud of smoke.
"Blow it away with Icy Wind!" James called.
Saeloc gave a pained nod and fired another Icy Wind towards the smoke. The smoke dispersed, but too late for James and Saeloc to see Koffing dropping low and speeding towards them.
"Self-Destruct!" Koga yelled.
Koffing cried defiantly as he surged in close to Saeloc. There was a deafening bang and both pokémon were sent flying back.
"Saeloc, are you alright?" James cried in shock.
Saeloc mewed weakly.
"Both Koffing and Persian are unable to battle!" the referee announced.
"You did a great job, Saeloc," James sighed, returning her to her ball. Across the battlefield, Koga did the same with Koffing.
"I can't believe Koga did something like that!" Livvi gasped.
"He knew that Koffing wouldn't be able to hold out against Saeloc for much longer," Richard frowned, his arms folded. "And he also knew that she was suffering from the poison – his only option was to hold James and Saeloc to a draw."
"It's still a brutal tactic," Livvi murmured.
"It's just like the tactic Aaralyn used during the SS Anne Tournament," Richard said. "If you can't win, take your opponent down with you."
"At least Koga's lost a pokémon now as well," Livvi sighed sadly, looking down at James as he pulled out his next poké ball.
"I choose you, Kacha!" he called, throwing out the ball.
Kacha cheered as he burst out of the ball.
"Go, Koffing!" Koga called, throwing out his next poké ball.
Koga's second koffing cried.
"Another one?" James was slightly taken aback.
"Koffing, start off with Toxic!" Koga called.
Koffing spat a wave of toxic sludge towards Kacha.
"Dodge it and use Thunderbolt!" James yelled.
Kacha nodded and jumped backwards, causing the sludge to splat harmlessly into the ground. Then he fired a powerful blast of electricity towards Koffing.
"Dodge it, Koffing!" Koga ordered.
Koffing nodded and spun to one side, though Kacha's attack had been going off target anyway.
"Now use Smokescreen!" Koga called.
Koffing emitted a thick cloud of black smoke around himself and Kacha.
"Get out of there, Kacha!" James called.
Kacha leapt backwards out of the smoke, landing on all fours in front of James.
"Koffing, use Toxic!" Koga called. "Attack from the left!"
"Watch your right!" James called to Kacha. "And get ready to dodge!"
Kacha nodded. They heard the sound of the Toxic being fired, but it appeared out of the smoke on their left and hit Kacha before either of them could react.
"Kacha!" James yelled in alarm.
Kacha grimaced as he inhaled the fumes from the sludge.
"Why did the attack come in from the wrong direction?" Livvi asked Richard. "Did Koffing not understand the order?"
"Nah." Richard shook his head. "I reckon Koga planned it from the start – when he says 'attack from the left', he probably meant from James and Kacha's left rather than his and Koffing's."
"That makes sense," Livvi sighed. "The opponent prepares to dodge an attack on their right and isn't prepared to counter the other direction."
"Exactly." Richard nodded, folding his arms and looking back down at James.
"Alright, Kacha, use Slam!" James yelled.
Kacha dashed forwards towards Koffing, who'd emerged from the smoke. He leapt into the air and spun around, slamming Koffing with his tail and sending him flying back into the smoke.
"Now use Thunder Wave!" James called.
Kacha fired a Thunder Wave into the smoke after Koffing. Seconds later, Koffing appeared out of the top of the now dissipating smoke cloud – Kacha's Thunder Wave had been too slow.
"Use Sludge!" Koga called.
Koffing nodded and fired a Sludge attack at Kacha, who cried in pain as he was hit.
"Are you alright, Kacha?" James asked in concern as the pikachu landed near him.
Kacha pulled himself back to his feet and nodded.
"Alright," James grinned. "Use Double Team!"
Kacha nodded and immediately summoned a series of doubles.
"Now use Slam!"
Kacha and his doubles nodded and charged towards Koffing.
"Koffing!" Koga called. "Concentrate and identify the real one!"
Koffing nodded and closed his eyes. Just as the Kacha doubles leapt up around him, he suddenly opened his eyes and fired a Sludge attack at one of them. Kacha yelped in surprise and pain as he was sent flying back.
"That was incredible!" Livvi gasped as Kacha's doubles disappeared.
"Are you okay, Kacha?" James asked.
Kacha nodded, pulling himself back up again. It was clear that Koffing's attacks and the poison were taking their toll, but James reckoned that Kacha would be able to hold on for a little bit longer. Although he'd only landed one attack on Koffing, it must have done quite a bit of damage as Koffing was flagging too.
"Use Thunderbolt!" James shouted suddenly.
Kacha fired a powerful jolt of electricity towards Koffing. He cried as he was hit.
"And now another!" James yelled as Kacha eased off.
Kacha nodded and fired a second Thunderbolt. Koffing yelled in pain as the second attack hit as well. The poison gas pokémon crashed down to the ground.
"Koffing is unable to battle so the winner is Pikachu!" the referee announced.
"Koffing, return." Koga recalled his fainted pokémon to his poké ball.
"Kacha, you come back too!" James called to Kacha.
Kacha nodded and returned to his poké ball as well. He was exhausted and the effects of poison were starting to become crippling.
"It's all down to you now," James muttered, pulling out his last poké ball. "Go, Charka!"
Charka cried eagerly as he materialised on the battlefield.
"Go, Weezing!" Koga called, throwing out his poké ball.
Koga's next pokémon looked like a large koffing with a smaller koffing growing out of the side of it.
"Weezing, the poison gas pokémon and the evolved form of koffing," James' Pokédex beeped. "By diluting its toxic gases with a special process, the highest grade of perfume can be extracted. To weezing, gases emanating from garbage are the ultimate feast."
"Weezing, use Toxic!" Koga called.
Weezing fired a powerful wave of toxic sludge towards Charka.
"Use Smokescreen!" James called with a grin.
Charka fired a cloud of black smoke across the battlefield before sidestepping to avoid Toxic.
"Use Tackle!" Koga called to Weezing.
Weezing dove into the smoke in pursuit of Charka.
"Use Flamethrower!" James yelled.
Charka fired a burst of flames from his mouth as Weezing drew close, hitting him directly.
"Use Sludge!" Koga called.
Weezing gave himself a shake and fired a Sludge attack down towards Charka.
"Dodge it!" James called.
Charka jumped to one side as the attack approached.
"Great! Now jump up and use Metal Claw!" James grinned.
Charka leapt up out of the smoke and spun as he drew level with Weezing, delivering a powerful downward slash with his claw.
Weezing cried in pain as he toppled down to the ground with a crash.
"Now use Flamethrower!" James called to the rapidly descending charmander.
Charka nodded and fired a Flamethrower down towards Weezing, hitting him directly.
"Are you alright, Weezing?" Koga called anxiously.
Weezing lifted himself back into the air and nodded.
"Good!" Koga smiled confidently. "Use Tackle!"
Weezing flew towards Charka and slammed into him. Charka cried in pain as he was thrown back.
"Now use Toxic!" Koga called.
Weezing nodded and fired a wave of toxic sludge towards the now-prone charmander.
"Charka! No!" James yelled in alarm as he was hit.
Charka cried in alarm before gagging on the fumes from Toxic.
"Quick, use Flamethrower!" James called.
Charka pulled himself up and shot a Flamethrower towards Weezing, who smoothly spun to one side to avoid the attack before countering with Sludge. Charka cried in pain as he was struck.
"Follow up with Tackle!" Koga called.
Weezing flew forwards and ploughed into Charka.
"Are you alright, Charka?" James called anxiously.
Charka pulled himself back up and nodded, his determination showing in his eyes. He was clearly getting worn down though, and thanks to poison James couldn't turn it into a battle of attrition.
"Alright, use Scratch!" James yelled. They needed to finish up Weezing as quickly as possible.
Charka charged forwards, raising one of his claws as he did.
"Weezing, use Smokescreen!" Koga called.
Weezing pulled back from the approaching charmander and released yet another cloud of smoke to cover the battlefield. Charka leapt into the smoke cloud in pursuit of Weezing, but quickly lost contact with him.
"Now use Sludge!" Koga ordered.
Weezing fired a wave of sludge towards Charka, hitting him directly and blasting him back out of the smoke cloud. He landed n his back not far from James.
"Now finish it up with Tackle!" Koga called.
Weezing charged out of the smoke cloud towards Charka, closing the distance in only a couple of seconds.
"Enough!" James called as Weezing closed in. He held up Charka's poké ball and recalled him. Silence fell over the battlefield for a couple of seconds as the last of the smoke cloud dissipated. James returned the poké ball to his pocket but didn't pull out Kacha's. "Thank you for having a battle with me!" he called to Koga. "I'll challenge you again when I've become stronger!"
"I look forward to it!" Koga called back with a smile. "You're a sharp trainer and your pokémon are capable – I'm certain the next match will be just as exciting as this one!"
"The challenger has forfeited the battle, so the winner is Koga the gym leader!" the referee announced as James turned and left the battlefield.
10:03am, 7th May 2005
"Hard luck there, James!" Richard called as he and Livvi joined him in the gym reception.
"You almost had them!" Livvi said reassuringly.
"Almost, but not quite," James sighed before looking thoughtfully out the window.
"So what are you going to do now?" Richard asked.
"I'm going to spend the rest of today training," James replied, looking at him. "Cuba and I are going to master Bonemerang and Bone Rush, and I'm going to come up with some tactics for the other three as well!"
"Sounds like a plan!" Richard grinned. "I'll help in any way you need me to!"
"Thanks for the offer." James smiled as they walked out of the front door.
"You can count on me too, James!" Livvi added eagerly.
"Thanks!" James grinned at her as well. "But first things first – I need to get Cuba, Saeloc, Kacha and Charka to the pokémon centre. While they're getting healed up, we can discuss some tactics."
"Yeah!" Richard nodded. "Koga's going to be in for a shock when you next battle!"
Soooo… did anyone see this coming?
Fortunately, James seems to have taken this defeat well. Hopefully the next time he challenges Koga, he'll get a better result. In the meantime, the only other development is that Cuba learnt Bone Rush. I've gotta admit – I'm still a little bit perplexed as to why I decided to have him learn it now, especially since it almost certainly won't play much of a role in the rematch… *checks battle plan for the rematch*
Anyway, as I've already mentioned in the News section of my profile, I'm busy next weekend so I won't be able to write much if any of Pokémon Journey: Kanto. Same with the week after that. If things go my way, then I'll be able to get Chapter 37 ready to upload for next Sunday, but it turned out that this weekend was pretty busy too. Hopefully everything'll get back to normal in a couple of weeks.
Until next time! :D
James' Team:
Active:
Charka (Charmander): male, naïve, often scatters things, likes sweet food, fire type, Blaze ability, known moves are Scratch, Smokescreen, Flamethrower and Metal Claw.
Kacha (Pikachu): male, modest, sturdy body, likes dry food, electric type, Static ability, known moves are Thunderbolt, Double Team, Slam and Thunder Wave.
Raenok (Mankey): male, impish, loves to eat, likes sour food, fighting type, Anger Point ability, known moves are Rock Slide, Screech, Low Kick and Brick Break.
Ayra (Paras): male, lax, likes to relax, likes sour food, bug-grass type, Dry Skin ability, known moves are Aerial Ace, Stun Spore, Bullet Seed and Spore.
Saeloc (Persian): female, rash, likes to thrash about, likes dry food, normal type, Technician ability, known moves are Fury Swipes, Screech, Bite and Icy Wind.
Cuba (Cubone): male, serious, quick to flee, eats anything, ground type, Rock Head ability, known moves are Bone Club, Headbutt, Bonemerang (in progress) and Bone Rush (in progress).
Livvi's Team:
Active:
Barru (Bulbasaur): male, timid, highly persistent, likes sweet food, grass-poison type, Overgrow ability, known moves are Tackle, Razor Leaf, Vine Whip and Leech Seed.
Dorru (Nidoran): female, quiet, mischievous, likes dry food, poison type, Rivalry ability, known moves are Tail Whip, Double Kick, Poison Sting and Bite.
Cylune (Venonat): male, modest, proud of its power, likes dry food, poison-bug type, Compound Eyes ability, known moves are Supersonic, Confusion, Poison Powder and Leech Life.
Evoro (Eevee): male, jolly, alert to sounds, likes sweet food, normal type, Adaptability ability, known moves are Bite, Sand Attack, Growl and Quick Attack.
Richard's Team:
Naro (Nidoking): male, mild, sturdy body, likes dry food, poison-ground type, Poison Point ability, known moves are Horn Attack, Megahorn, Poison Sting and Double Kick.
Sting (Beedrill): male, hardy, often dozes off, eats anything, bug-poison type, Swarm ability, known moves are Focus Energy, Poison Sting, Twineedle and String Shot.
Spear (Spearow): male, mild, likes to thrash about, likes dry food, normal-flying type, Keen Eye ability, known moves are Peck, Growl, Aerial Ace (in progress) and Fury Attack.