Gupta- Marshtomp level 32, Swellow level 30, Numel level 29, Eevee level 29, Trapinch level 28
Sadik- Combusken (Ateş), level 33, Mightyena (Asena), level 32, Ivysaur (Lale), level 31, Skarmory (Pençe), level 31 Seviper (Zehir), level 31
I'm drowning in a sea of exams at the minute.
And Gupta needs to gain some experience before the next Gym, so here's a quiet chapter with some gentle battling.
Yong Soo was already waiting by the entrance to the Trainers' School when Gupta arrived. He noticed the other trainer quickly, and waved enthusiastically as he drew close.
"Guppie! Thanks for coming out here on such short notice." He greeted.
"It's not that big a deal." Gupta insisted. "What happened?"
"Well, it's like this…" Yong Soo detailed. "You know the kids at the trainer's school? I promised them I'd visit and help them with battling and such. But then I realised how many of them there are… And I really don't know if I can deal with so many kids. I figured everyone'd be better off if there was another trainer with me..."
"And you thought of me?" Gupta finished.
"Well, yeah. You're a strong trainer, I can tell. And my brothers talk about you all the time. So when it turned out Kiku was busy, you were like, the next one I thought of." The older teen took on a pleading look, and Gupta wondered if this guy was above begging. "So… Help me out, okay?"
"Fine." Gupta agreed. "Since it's on the way already."
"Great!" Yong Soo smiled brightly. "They should all be in there, so let's go!"
Hue was already waiting inside with the trainers' school kids when Gupta and Yong Soo entered. Her face softened just a little upon seeing Gupta with her cousin.
"Yong Soo. I'm glad you made it. And… Gupta, wasn't it? It's good to see you again." She greeted.
"Yep, we made it!" Yong Soo replied. "So, what do you want us to do?"
"The kids here are among our youngest trainers." Hue started. "Many of them have only just gotten their first Pokémon. I wanted you to show them a little about caring for Pokémon. There's only so much they can learn from the classroom, and my own Pokémon will only show them so much."
"Oh, is that it?" Yong Soo laughed. "Okay, that's fair enough. We can do that."
"Right." Gupta nodded. If they all worked together, it would be a lot easier…
"Perhaps, if we start with you each sending out a Pokémon to show everyone." Hue suggested, moving to the front of the children.
"Alright!" Yong Soo laughed. "Alright Linoone. Say hello to everyone!"
The children that had gathered around Yong Soo cooed over the new Pokémon, a long racoon like creature that seemed thoroughly curious. As Yong Soo tried to moderate the kids attempting to swarm the Pokémon with hugs and petting, Gupta sent out his own Pokémon.
"Marshtomp!" Marshtomp greeted, smiling and waving at the assembled class.
"Oh wow, such an adorable Pokémon!" One of the little girls commented, hugging Marshtomp tightly.
"Tomp!" Marshtomp seemed to agree, hugging the child back. Other young trainers soon wandered over and began fussing over Marshtomp, who lapped up the attention.
"Now then." Hue called the class back to attention. "I wanted you to all view for yourselves what well trained Pokémon look like. And to appreciate the effort and hard work that goes into those Pokémon. Take Linoone for instance. When you have a Pokémon like that, you have to be sure to keep its coat clean. And that means brushing it every day. Marshtomp might not have such coarse fur, but I'm sure it still gets dirty all the time as well. As a trainer, you have to be able to deal with that."
"Marshtomp likes to wake people by spraying them with water." Gupta added, unsure as to how his Pokémon could ever be considered well trained. "I think he thinks he's helping."
"I see." Hue nodded. "Pokémon all have their individual quirks like that. A good trainer is someone who understands how their Pokémon are, and helps them become the best they can be, rather than try to change their inner selves. There's a lot more to that than pure love and affection towards your Pokémon… Admittedly though, those things play a part."
"Wow Hue, that's deep." Yong Soo appreciated. "I'm not used to you saying such heartfelt things…"
"But it is the truth." The Gym Leader argued, looking a little confused. "Is there really such sentimentality in it…?" She turned to the class. "Anyway, for now, why don't you all get to know the Pokémon we have with us here today?"
There wasn't a lot for Gupta to do while the children from the Trainer's School continued to faun over Marshtomp. His Pokémon was clearly loving all of the attention and care he was getting from the children, who spoke and sang and played along with him in the name of getting to understand Pokémon. Yong Soo sat alongside Gupta on one of the benches at the side of the room, surveying the young trainers' education.
"Stuff like this… It's good for the kids. They grow up to really love Pokémon, and see them as friends rather than tools. I like that." He commented.
"It's not like I have anything better to be doing." Gupta added.
"Yeah. I mean, you've gotta wait for that other guy to get through Petalburg Gym first, right? You're making good speed though, if you already have four Gym Badges…" The older trainer assessed. "Kiku still has his eye on you, you know. We all do."
"I keep meeting members of your family that have similar things to say." Gupta pointed out. "What are you all watching me for anyway?"
"Ah." Yong Soo laughed. "Telling… Would just be no fun at all!"
"Gupta! There you are! How great to see you again." A voice came from the side without warning. Gupta looked over to see Yao advancing on them.
"Hey Yao!" The younger brother waved. "Been up to much lately?"
"Actually…" Yao began, stepping closer. "We just finished development of something significant. A new type of Pokeball! It's something I feel very proud of."
"New Pokeball? Oh! Do you mean that one? The one you've been working on for forever now?" Yong Soo guessed.
"Yes! The Pokeball that never fails to catch a Pokémon. I'm sure of it this time! This one will work for sure." Yao boasted.
"That's great! But… Why come here?" Yong Soo carried on.
"Well… Actually, I was hoping you could test the prototype for me. I really can't get out of the office for a long time and… I really don't want to use it on some normal, common or every day Pokémon. So go find something rare to try it with so people get to see how it works, okay?" Yao rambled.
"Typical. Send others to do the hard work for you." Hue cut in, walking over.
"I don't mind! Let me see it!" Yong Soo retorted, standing up suddenly.
"Ah! I knew you would help." Yao smiled brightly, bringing out some sort of box and handing it over to his younger brother. "Be sure to feedback on what you end up doing, as usual."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. This is gonna be great if it works. I can see it now." Yong Soo smirked.
Gupta had stayed quiet the entire time, but Yao then turned towards him to speak.
"I still can't thank you enough for all you've done. I have my eye on you still, hm? I hope you live up to all our expectations… And that you can make real use of the new technology we continue to develop."
"Yao… Is that a thank you or a sales pitch?" Yong Soo teased.
"Oh hush." Yao swatted at his brother's hands before straightening. "Anyway, I should be heading back. I'm glad to see you all well. Hopefully we can meet again soon."
Yong Soo pocketed the strange box as Yao retreated. Gupta still hadn't spoken and didn't particularly care for the conversation, although the news that yet another person was watching him was a little disconcerting. Hue turned back to the class, an idea seeming to form in her mind. For whatever reason, the children had been too engrossed with the Pokémon to notice Yao.
"Everyone. How would a Pokémon show battle suit you?"
It was this request that led Gupta to stand before Yong Soo, the classroom having been cleared to make way for a battlefield.
"The way this is going to work… Each trainer will be limited to using 3 Pokémon. Try to use Pokémon that haven't been seen yet. I think we can all learn something new that way." Hue described.
"Okay then." Yong Soo agreed. "That's simple. Let's go Kirlia!"
"Kirlia." The human like Pokémon greeted. Gupta stared at it. It didn't look entirely dislike a child. It was… Disconcerting.
"Alright Numel." Gupta decided.
"Numel!" Numel smiled, staring around at the gathered children and Pokémon.
"Kirlia and Numel. Alright, let's have fun!" Yong Soo smirked. "Kirlia, use Magical Leaf."
"Flame Burst Numel." Gupta stated.
Kirlia sent out a strange barrage of sharp leaves which Numel managed to shrug off before launching a spit of fire towards Kirlia.
"Okay Kirlia, now use Confusion." Yong Soo continued.
"Numel, Flame Burst again." Gupta repeated.
Kirlia attacked Numel with a strange power that Numel seemed bothered by. The Pokémon responded with a massive wave of lava that appeared to cause massive damage.
"Hey, look at that. Your Numel learned Lava Plume!" Yong Soo commented. "Alright Kirlia, draining kiss!"
"Earth Power." Gupta changed move.
Kirlia reached towards Numel with a leeching kiss that somehow hurt Numel while restoring Kirlia's health. Numel's responding pillars of power churned earth dealt that damage back with more besides, leaving the enemy unconscious.
"Looking good Guppie! How about you use something else for a bit, change up the Pokémon, huh?" Yong Soo suggested. "As for me, I'll use Vigoroth next."
"Okay." Gupta agreed. "Go on Trapinch."
"Trap!" Trapinch roared, glaring down the emerging new opponent. Numel skipped off happily to where Marshtomp and the children were waiting at the other side of the room, trying to nuzzle into the hands of a few of the more eager kids.
"Raaath!" Vigoroth growled.
"Alright then Vigoroth, use Slash!" Yong Soo enthused.
"Trapinch, Bite." Gupta tried.
Vigoroth descended on Trapinch with sharp claws, raking across the Pokémon's body. Trapinch responded with a huge bite that made for a strong counter attack.
"That's not a Bite attack." Yong Soo laughed. "That's Crunch! Anyway Vigoroth, Fury Swipes!"
"Fine, Crunch then." Gupta corrected himself.
Vigoroth leapt in again and clawed repeatedly at Trapinch, moving wildly but scoring little overall damage. Trapinch responded with a powerful crunching attack that left Vigoroth barely hanging on.
"Uproar." Yong Soo carried on.
"Earth Power." Gupta finished.
Vigoroth appeared to attack Trapinch with a burst of pure sound, managing to cause some damage before Trapinch erupted the earth beneath it, knocking it out.
"Two down, one to go." Yong Soo pointed out. "Alright Kadabra, you're up!"
The emerging Pokémon looked bizarre and seemed to carry with it a mysterious aura. Gupta was not impressed.
"Eevee." He chose, sending out his final Pokémon while Trapinch wandered over to join the assembled crowd (he spotted her peering into the bags of some of the children curiously, and he hoped she didn't end up stealing food).
"Okay Kadabra, use Psybeam!" The older of the two trainers began.
"Bite Eevee." Gupta followed.
Kadabra sent out a bizarre wave that hit into Eevee, who responded with an incredibly damaging bite.
"Kadabra, Miracle Eye." Yong Soo continued.
"Take Down." Gupta chose.
Kadabra seemed to take aim at Eevee with an unflinching eye, while Eevee leapt forwards with a powerful tackle that seemed even stronger than usual. Eevee slid backwards, reeling from the recoil, but Kadabra was knocked out entirely, to the surprise and delight of the gathered children.
"That's that! Good battle." Yong Soo complimented, returning his Pokémon and walking over to Gupta.
"Yes. That's how real trainers battle." Hue appreciated.
Eevee continued to stand still, ignoring the others in the room and Yong Soo walking towards him. Gupta noted that this was strange- Eevee seemed to distrust strangers entirely. He began to move towards his Pokémon, slightly concerned. Seconds later, Eevee began to glow, and his shape changed before the eyes of the entire room.
"Now?" Hue questioned, watching Eevee closely.
The glow intensified before fading away to leave a completely different Pokémon where Eevee once stood.
"Bre!" The Pokémon cried. "Umbreon!"
"Eevee evolved into Umbreon…" Hue commented. "To see a Pokémon evolve like that… What a good experience for these children to have."
"Yeah." Yong Soo agreed. "It makes me glad we came."
"Thanks again for the help Guppie. I don't think today would have been anything like as good if it'd just been me." Yong Soo smiled easily as he walked with Gupta towards the edge of the city.
"It's fine." Gupta shrugged off.
"Maybe you're wondering if that's as strong as I get… Actually, the Pokémon I had with me today are some I'm still training up. I have full trained Pokémon too. But those… Hopefully you'll meet them another time." The older trainer admitted.
"Fair enough." Gupta nodded. "Until we meet again then."
"Sure!" Yong Soo waved as Gupta began to walk along Route 105. "And good luck with your Gym Battle!"
Route 105 was largely quiet, and Gupta walked through Petalburg Woods without incident as well. Before long he was back in Petalburg City, healing his Pokémon in the Pokémon Centre and waiting for Sadik.
When Sadik finally appeared, he had a cryptic look on his face.
"Did you lose?" Gupta guessed.
"Nah, I won… Barely." Sadik relayed. "It's just… Ya mother said something about plannin' something extra hard for ya… I'm a little worried, if I'm honest."
"Of course. Like she'd play fair." Gupta sighed. "Whatever. I can deal with it."
"Yeah. I mean we got this far, right?" Sadik smiled reassuringly. "Good luck Guppie. I still think… Ya might need it."
"Thanks." Gupta nodded at his friend, making his way towards the gym.
'Umbreon, the Moonlight Pokémon. Umbreon evolved due to exposure to the moon's rays. When darkness falls, or if it becomes excited, the rings on its body glow. It remains as suspicious as ever, lurking warily in the shadows.'