As a trainer, there is no better feeling than winning a brand new gym badge. The first time that they hold it in their hands. When they can feel it and take in its presence. And the feeling of accomplishment the trainer receives.
But also as a trainer, there is no worse feeling than being denied a gym badge. Whether it be because you lost your gym battle, the gym leader is too stubborn to give it to you, or the gym leader decides to take a vacation.
"No!" Spade screamed. He pounded his fists on the doors of the Olivine Gym. "No! No! No!"
Abby glanced up at a sign that hung off of the gym doors and smiled while she read it. "Currently out. Will return in a few days," she read."Well, I guess this means that we'll be heading over to Cianwood for a gym battle. A gym battle is a gym battle."
Spade turned and glared at her. "Shut up, Abby! You don't understand! This is one of the strongest gyms in all of Johto. I have been so pumped up to get a battle with her. Then she pulls this crap!"
"Calm down… We can go and get your gym battle with Clock over in Cianwood, then we can come back. See it as more training," Abby said, hoping to calm the angered boy.
Spade punched, with his good arm, the door one more time and finally calmed.
"So, what is the plan?"
On the beach of Olivine, Spade and Abby had found a boat rental service. They could take the boat to Cianwood, so long as they had a boater with them.
Abby paid the rental shop, since it was her idea, and the two got in their boat. The captain of their small boat was a quiet man. He had a lengthy white beard, a blue vest with no shirt under it, and baggy black pants. He stuck a dip of chew into his mouth and spit into a can. Without a single word, he started up the boat, and they were on their way.
Spade sat at the end of the boat, staring off into the ocean. He never really liked the sea. Nothing there interested him. This could be, of course, the fact that he had been in a submarine multiple times as a little boy. Traveling with Giovanni, he had seen a lot.
It was different for Abby. Living in Pallet Town, she was always near a beach. She had never traveled farther than the beach, but she had always wondered what was out there. She also loved swimming and just relaxing next to the water. It was nice to just take a break.
"If ya want ta fish, ya can," the captain told the two of them. He pointed at two Super Rods that were placed at the bottom of his ladder.
"That sounds exciting…" Abby said sarcastically.
Spade shook his head and stood up. He grabbed one of the polls and stared at it up and down. He walked back to the end of the boat and cast his line in. The boat moved slow enough to where the bait only moved casually. Super Rods were well known for adapting to the movement of the water, so the movement wouldn't prove that much of a problem.
Spade sat down and stared blankly at his line. He never fished before, but there was a first time for , he was yet to capture a water-type Pokémon. This could have been his chance to find something strong.
His hopes were heightened when his rod began to wiggle around a little bit more. He grabbed it slowly and lightly pulled on it.
"Yer gon' want to pull on it slowly, an' wait fer it ta clamp hard on," the captain explained. He was not even looking back. It was like he just knew what was going on.
Spade held onto the rod and waited for the strong tug. As soon as his rod shifted quickly, Spade grabbed ahold of the reel and tugged as hard as he could. A dark blue Pokémon flew out of the ocean and landed on the boat. It looked like a clam, and it could not move out of the water.
"Shellder, the Bivalve Pokémon. It swims facing backward by opening and closing its two-piece shell. It is surprisingly fast," Spade's golden Pokédex chimed.
"Shellder looks like it will be a strong battler. I think I'll catch it," Spade noted out loud.
"Shellder cannot move on the land. In the water, though, it will be a worthy battler," the captain said, peering back at the Pokémon. "And that Shellder looks like it enjoys a good battle."
Spade looked over Shellder. It had many marks all of its shell, like it had battled many times before.
"Shellder!" it cried out angrily.
Spade smiled. "You wanna come with me, Shellder?"
Shellder nodded slowly from the inside of her shell, but her glare never wavered.
"But not without a battle," the captain mentioned. His eyes never left the sea. "A Pokémon with that kind of fire wouldn't come that easy."
"Alright then. Let's go, Flareon!" Spade called, throwing a Poké Ball into the air.
"Flare?" Flareon wondered, taking a look around at the sea. He smiled mischievously, probably planning a prank for later.
"Fire Spin!" Spade ordered.
Flareon twisted his head and released a plethora of flames from his mouth Before the swirling flames could reach Shellder, she clamped down her shell, blocking herself from any damage.
"We'll have to get close…" Spade noted.
Shellder quickly opened back up her shell, and a multi-colored orb appeared from the mouth. It turned into a beam, which raced for Flareon.
"Dodge it with Quick Attack!"
Flareon easily maneuvered around the attack, then shot forward. He slammed his body into Shellder, barely moving the Pokémon.
Shellder took a quick look around and snapped his shell onto Flareon's tail. Flareon's eyes widened, and he began to flail around uncontrollably.
"Flareon, use all of your strength and toss Shellder into the air!"
Flareon winced and calmed himself. He kicked into the air and flung Shellder off of him. Shellder flipped through the air, unable to control how she would land.
"Flamethrower!"
Flareon gaped open his mouth and flames bellowed from it. The flames engulfed Shellder, who then fell to the ground, fried.
"Go, Poké Ball!" Spade yelled while throwing his a Lure Ball that he had received from Kurt.
The ball absorbed Shellder and fell to the ground. It shook slightly, signaling that Shellder was putting up a fight. It then dinged softly. Spade had caught Shellder.
Spade grabbed the Poké Ball and put it into his pocket. "Looks like I have myself a Shellder now…"
"And jus' in time fer us to get in Cianwood," the captain said. He pointed out to where they would dock.
Spade went to the end of the boat, along with Abby. He looked onto the new town where he would hopefully win his next gym badge.
A/N Next chapter, Spade will be taking on his 6th gym! I can't wait for it. A few surprises in the battle. Like, a new gym leader! I'm halfway done writing this story, so we're getting close!
Q1) How would you have Shellder battle on land? I've had a few troubles doing it.
Q2) I've currently not been able to write that well. What do you do to get inspired?