If you're not into longer chapters, my apologies. I felt it was better to keep this as one chapter as opposed to breaking it up.
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon but I do own my OCs.
Nothing could stop the hustle and bustle of Mauville's night life. Cabs whizzed by with passengers dressed up for a night on the town. Different groups of people were laughing it up in the streets trying to stay upright. Watching drunk people navigate the city made going to my first job less miserable. It was a nice to know I still got enjoyment out of it. Getting bumped into didn't seem to warrant an apology either. A true Mauville experience.
Despite the active night life, the Pokémon Center lobby was empty. I didn't want to take a detour but having my team healthy in what I considered enemy territory would go a long way. Nurse Joy did her thing as I stared at her computer.
"Any chance I could sign up for a gym battle?"
She turned around. "I hope you don't mean when the sun comes up. That's not really fair to the new leader." So much for getting that done as quickly as possible. I played down how anxious I was.
"True. When's the earliest time I could sign up? It's the last badge I have to get."
"Oh? That changes things a little bit. I'll show you what I mean."
Battling for the eighth badge in Hoenn came with more fanfare than the other seven. The match was to be scheduled at least one hour after closing. Half of it was so the leader had adequate time to rest after a long day. The other half was more accessibility to anyone hoping to watch. My battle would be advertised like a finals match at Ever Grande City.
"Didn't know the league was into hyping an average trainer up," I said while looking over some past poster examples.
"Not every trainer gets that type of treatment once the tournament starts. You could be eliminated on a field far away from the limelight after one battle. I think it's a nice gesture that they're willing to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of trainers who got this far." My heart started to beat faster.
The last thing I wanted was my likeness plastered around the city. Someone working at Pokémon Services would pick up on that. Would something happen to me during the battle? Probably not. After the battle while walking around at dusk? More likely. After the sun went down? Absolutely.
"When is the earliest acceptable time?"
"Let me back up for a second… ah ha! Two days from now. The good news is the paperwork is still the same." I filled it out then handed it back. "Please arrive at 7:30pm. You never know who will show up! Good luck!"
I froze again after stepping outside. The sudden urge to check on my southside apartment interfered with my desire to get home. Was anyone else expecting me back in town besides my parents and Maddie? Cecil? Only if Maddie told him which I kind of hope she didn't. His past behavior over the phone was enough to make me wary even though he may have straightened out. However, I still owed her a text.
Back in town. Going to bed. Gym battle won't be for two days so maybe meet before then?
I didn't expect her to reply so I continued to ponder about going to the apartment. Before I skipped town months ago, it had been ransacked. The landlord got a new lock and I cleaned it up. I even had an autopayment system set up so I had a place to go even if it was for a few minutes. Anything out of place meant I still wasn't safe. Then it hit me: why risk it in the middle of the night?
My tired body made it to my original front door at 2:15 in the morning. Surprisingly, a living room lamp and the television was still on. The moment I put my stuff down was the moment my dad came out of the kitchen with open arms.
"Welcome home Ryan!" We shared a quick embrace.
"You… stayed up for me?"
"We did! Your mother went to the bathroom. Would you like something to eat?"
I took a second to look myself over. "After a shower. Probably smell more than you're letting on. Anyway, don't you have to leave for work in six hours?"
"Nope. Both of us took a personal day."
Mom came out as dad was explaining how accepting his boss was about the situation. Judging by the look on her face, she thought I had gone overseas for years then showed up out of nowhere. She cleared the living room in four steps and hugged me tightly. Rocking side to side was the icing on the cake.
"There's my Ryan! How was the trip?"
"Long." I managed to respectfully wiggle out. "Worth it though. Let me take a shower first."
One minute under a constant flow of hot water was enough for me to close my eyes. Rumbling in my stomach kept me from completely passing out. Fresh clothes that didn't make the trip felt wonderful to wear again.
Dinner was limited to the three of us since I had my team eat before the sun went down. Conversations weren't too in-depth due to how tired I was; they let me ramble without any follow up questions. I gave them the rundown of the next few days when I was at my limit.
"My gym battle is in two days at 7:30pm in case you want to come. Not sure when you guys get off work. I'm also supposed to meet with a friend at some point. Aside from that, I don't have any other plans." I let out a dramatic yawn. "Oh yeah… laundry."
"That's okay. We don't have much planned either. Maybe some time looking around the city if you want to come along," mom replied.
"I'll think about it," I said with fake interest. Rather do that than to immediately shoot the idea down. The less time outside the house, the better. "Well, I think it's time for bed. All that food can't keep my eyes open."
Dad gave me another hug. "Goodnight Ryan."
"Sleep tight," mom added.
I dragged my ass upstairs then grabbed Linoone's ball. He came out dazed as expected, but quickly realized where we were. The happy freak out was limited to spinning around in one spot and rolling around. I didn't have a problem when he cuddled up next to me.
It was nice to be in my own bed.
Sleeping until early afternoon didn't come as a surprise. I could've gone even longer if it wasn't for Linoone poking my forehead. My parents left a note on the kitchen table saying they went to the beach around noon and were hoping to get back before a thunderstorm was supposed to roll in. I got halfway through it when the normal type strolled in dragging his food bowl across the floor.
"Lunch it is. Well, technically it's brunch." I had to put Aggron's bowl in the hallway since he needed more headroom. "Everyone, it's time to eat!"
Aggron and Magneton took longer than Linoone to realize we were at my childhood home. There was some uneasiness because I had left them for a few days with my parents to do Ardos' fake job; I told them nothing was wrong this time. Altaria saw the place briefly as a Swablu but didn't act any different.
Sealeo was hilarious to watch; he had no concept of what a house was. His eyes focused on an end cabinet before slowly looking over the rest of them. Seeing his reflection in the oven window made him fall over in shock. I had to drag him away from the refrigerator once he opened the door and embraced the cold. All that empty space in a Pokémon Center lobby made a lot more sense by the time I got Sealeo focused enough to eat.
"Okay you, get some food. I can show you more after," I affectionately said while rubbing his head.
Ninetales simply stared at her bowl without moving. I saw her legs stiffen as if something had frightened her. Quivering lips had me scrambling to sit in front of her.
"Hey… Ninetales… look at me. Are you okay?" I asked in a soft voice.
She started to fall like all four of her knees buckled at the same time, but I caught her. Linoone rushed over to help. Ninetales appeared to go limp on purpose while her head was on my lap; I could feel her heart beating faster than normal. Petting her on the head got her to snap out of it.
"I got you… I got you. It's alright." The scene got everybody's attention with Linoone talking to her. He was pointing all over the place then motioned her to look at me. "This is where I grew up. We're safe here. No need to worry."
For all the complaining I did about Mauville, I was lucky my parents picked a decent place to live. Any trouble was kept to the beach or the roads leading into my neighborhood. No crimes or pranks were targeted at the place for as long as I could remember.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that Ninetales may have associated my house with her Lilycove apartment. She acted the same way when I first brought her to the mansion as well. What set her off? Was it a specific wall color? Floor pattern? Overall layout?
"Follow me around with Sealeo. I'll show you everything."
Giving a tour to my own Pokémon made me realize I wouldn't cut it as a real estate agent. Constant stumbling over my words didn't do much for my confidence. Sealeo was mesmerized at the sinks presumably because it could control water better than he could. He lost his mind when I turned on the shower; didn't think flippers could clap that fast or his voice could reach such a high pitch.
My room made Ninetales perk up despite it being drastically smaller than the one in the mansion. She wasted no time exploring, sniffing, and touching everything that was out in the open. Plopping down on the twin bed seemingly made her melt. Rolling all over it within a minute disproved that. Sealeo was more interested in looking out the window the entire time. I eventually got them downstairs with the rest of the group.
Having a small backyard for them to hang out in was embarrassing, but they didn't seem to mind. Lying down on the grass and looking up at the thin clouds turned into team naptime. I couldn't help but smile at the scene.
Realistically, that was the most relaxed they were going to be moving forward. A gym battle, hopefully a win the first time, hopefully a deep run in Ever Grande City, and figuring out how to deal with Ardos were all going to come with more stressful moments than not. Training was no exception. I got distracted about the future by a beep from my PokéNav.
Sorry about the late reply, was busy. How about dinner at 6 tonight? Food court? I'll wait at the entrance.
Crowded place with a lot of open space? Good idea. Her apartment would've been better though.
Works for me. See you then. I fell asleep shortly after replying.
All the stress from travelling faded away under the calming breeze and warm sun. Waking up came from dark clouds rolling in. Calling everyone back was better than rushing them in all at once. Better to introduce them to my parents individually anyway.
Strong winds preceded the heavy rain that fell on the area. Booming thunderclaps drowned out the sound of my parents bursting through the front door. I took the beach stuff to the back door as they dried off.
"How'd you sleep?" mom asked.
"Like a rock. I'd probably still be sleeping if Linoone didn't wake me up."
"Oh, I bet! It's probably tough trying to sleep on the road."
Understatement of the year nomination. "I've learned to appreciate beds more. Beats my sleeping bag any day of the week." Dad went into the kitchen with mom tailing him.
"Same with the food I take it? What do you want for dinner?"
"Nothing. I'm going to catch up with a friend over dinner. The storm should calm down by the time I leave."
He looked out the back door. "If you say so."
"We're overdue for a face to face talk. Anyway, I'd like to show you the rest of my team after you guys get settled in."
"You got more Pokémon!?" mom replied.
I rolled my eyes. "Pretty hard to win seven badges with only three of them."
Linoone was let out first to help play peacekeeper if necessary; he embraced the petting my parents gave him. Aggron and Magneton weren't shy about saying hello when they came out. The memory of me leaving them here on the day I nearly lost everything creeped to the forefront of my mind.
"Glad to see these three are doing well!" dad cheerfully exclaimed. "Which one is next?"
"Sealeo. He's my most recent member."
He came out with a blank look on his face. My parents tried to get him to come over; he sat there staring them. Low rumbling thunder diverted his attention to the window. In a split second, he hopped to the front door as if he wanted to go out.
"Leader of a pack, headstrong battler, still learning about the outside world," I said while wrangling him back to the middle of the living room. Mom was confused.
"Pelipper wouldn't even want to be let out right now. Why does he want to go outside?"
"Found him in the deepest part of Shoal Cave. There's actually a small hole that let in rain where I caught him so I'm guessing there was some waterfall effect." I sat next to him. "We'll try hanging out in a drizzle instead."
Dad eyed my belt. "Are the other two accustomed to travelling with you?"
"Yup! Ninetales is."
She materialized looking on edge. Darting eyes, standing on the balls of her feet, ears perked as much as possible, furiously whipping tails, and slightly faster than normal breathing had me worried about a surprise Flamethrower. Luckily, she darted behind my back then slowly stuck her head out. Her naturally timid nature came back full force.
"Aww! Poor thing looks scared," mom noted.
"Well, she's not good around strangers," I replied somewhat defensively. In that moment, I forgot she acted the same way around Jack and Rebecca. "Dad, could you go upstairs for a second? I want to see something."
After he was out of sight, Ninetales moved to the side of me. Linoone coaxed her closer to my mother but she stopped just out of reach. She couldn't take an extra step to get the same affection everyone else had gotten. The silver lining was how quickly she calmed down.
"Just curious, why did you make dad leave the room?" The fire type backed up to me then sat beside me.
"Ninetales is wary of males whether it be humans or Pokémon right now." I gave her a quick kiss on the forehead just like mom used to do with me. "And that's okay. Some things take more time than others. Dad can come back down now."
To Ninetales' credit, she didn't attempt to hide right away when dad returned. Linoone helped my cause by scooting over to the couch and asking to be picked up. Best middleman by far. I felt the eye rolling from Sealeo, Aggron, and Magneton.
"Last one is Altaria. She's the most social."
It came as no surprise that the sentient cloud ran up to my parents begging for attention; they happily obliged. Humming filled the room within seconds.
"Has she always been like this?" dad asked while trying to keep a wing out of his mouth.
"Since day one." She hopped on an empty couch cushion next to mom. "The tough times aren't as tough with her around."
Mom continued rubbing the dragon type's head. "Pelipper might want to fly with her sometime."
"And Torkoal can hang out with Linoone like old times," dad added.
"We might have to do it on the beach after the gym battle. I'm not sure you want eight Pokémon running through the house. Anyway, I need to do laundry before I go."
The raging storm turned to a steady drizzle over the next few hours. I walked with my head down until I saw a flyer on Rydel's door for my match against Vivian. A giant Pokémon Ball pattern was the background with the Dynamo Badge where the center circle would be. However, my official league photo was on the left side with Vivian's on the right. Information for the information was on the bottom.
Was it cool? Yes. Did I want one? Yes. Unfortunately, my stress level spiked after seeing it. I walked the rest of the way with my head on a swivel.
Maddie stayed true to her word by waiting for me just inside the front door. We grabbed some subs and found an empty table in the corner to sit at. I outpaced her to the chair facing the open space; less chance of any surprises happening. I don't think she noticed. Small talk didn't last long.
"So… what was the last straw?" I asked.
"Questioning a rehabilitation plan."
"I thought you dealt with that all the time. Finally had enough?"
She let out a deep sigh. "It was a perfect storm. Eleven-year-old trainer with a rough home life, a Donphan with a bum leg, parents fighting over who was going to pay, and the overall negative attitude during the initial consultation."
"Oof. That must've been awkward."
"Not the first time that has happened. People are rarely happy during that time. I felt bad for the kid. However, a lead therapist had the gall to say Donphan could be ready for full contact battling in a week. Ridiculous."
"Did you explain that it would take longer?"
Her grip on the sub got tighter. "Got lost in the moment. I couldn't think of anything to say until after they left. Even if I did, there's the issue of a subordinate doubting their superior in front of a patient. The last thing you want to do in that situation is create a sense of doubt. Waited until the end of my shift to quit."
"At least you left on your terms."
"Meh, not exactly. I wanted to give a few people a piece of my mind… especially Jen. Just because you're the lead PR girl, doesn't mean you run the place. Fucking bitch. Here, look at these reviews."
Public relations was a field where people working in it had to leave any semblance of morals at the door. I opted to not expand on how much I hated Jen. Going to the media to quell controversy while also promoting the positive aspects seemed to work on a decent chunk of the population.
"Have you talked to Winona or doctor Ellis' assistants before that?"
"You should have gotten texts."
I showed her my PokéNav. "Nothing so far."
"Oh shit. Wait a second." She pulled hers out. "Fuck me. They didn't send. Must've been in a dead zone. I'll resend them and you'll likely get a response before bed."
"To be honest, I prefer you tell them to wait to discuss this until after my gym battle."
She frowned. "Don't you want to get this over with as quickly as possible?"
"I'd rather put all my energy into the battle at this point in time instead of splitting it up."
I didn't want to stick around, but I wanted to not worry about a rematch first. My plan to stay cooped up at home wasn't going to change either way.
"They still might text or call anyway," she said. I shrugged my shoulders.
"Guess I'll say it to them again." The text was sent. "What about Cecil? I know you two were on thin ice for a bit."
"Cecil quit the day before I did."
I raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Uh huh. He didn't like what he was seeing either."
"Oh… I see. Did he not want to come with you?"
"He left town to clear his mind for a few days. I told him you were coming, and he said that he should be back later tonight." We took time to finish the rest of our food. "Are you comfortable meeting at our apartment?"
Part of me wanted to say yes because Mauville Hills was a safe place to discuss what had been going on. Nobody was going to snoop in on our conversation. However, I didn't want to make the short trip. I also didn't want to tell her how paranoid I was about being back in town.
"Why don't you come over to my place instead? You guys have helped me a lot and I think I should return the favor," I said with confidence.
Maddie thought about it. "Are you sure? You're always welcome at our place."
"No, no. I insist." I wrote down my parent's address. "What time works for you two?"
"Doesn't matter. We've got a lot more free time now."
Music to my ears. "Around 1 o'clock then?"
"Can do."
Neither of my parents would be home at that time. Our house was too far away for a quick lunch break. Cecil and Maddie would feel comfortable walking around the neighborhood in broad daylight as well. We shifted back to lighthearted topics including my upcoming battle in case they wanted to show up.
It was dusk when we left the food court. Once we went out separate ways, I called Linoone out to help me get home. He took notice of my jittery nature by being more defensive. Anyone who came close to me was growled at albeit softly. Better to be cussed at or given a glare than being jumped. Rebecca sent me a text before I went to bed.
We're coming to watch you battle!
Moral support was always appreciated. Hopefully they didn't spill the beans to my parents about the clusterfuck I got myself into. I got another text shortly after from Winona.
Love the poster the league made for you! Good luck against my protégé. See you soon :)
Now I really didn't want to lose.
Being home allowed me to decompress faster than on the road. My team got a well-deserved pampering the day of the battle. Aggron and Magneton got polished and the shine reflected in the sun. Altaria got to fly around without tiring herself out. Linoone and Ninetales got a nice brushing. Sealeo loved his nap in the bathtub. I came up with two strategies for taking on Vivian once I had time to sit down.
Option one was breaking the battle up into a series of one on one battles. Switching would occur near the end of the battle or if I could gain a clear advantage. I had nothing for electric types on offense and Magneton was my only type advantage on defense. My first choice would depend on Vivian's. After that, I'd use that same Pokémon until it fainted.
Option two was to rely heavily on Linoone and Ninetales. Sand Attack would put me at an immediate advantage while Ninetales' attacks could clean up assuming she didn't get hit. Their natural speed was decent despite most likely being slower than most electric types.
Option three was a more conventional approach like switching at the right times or going with the flow of battle. Aggron could still hit hard even if steel types were not very effective. Altaria's dragon attacks could disrupt Vivian's offense. Magneton could tire one or two of her Pokémon out. Sealeo would unfortunately be reduced to a pivot option since one electric attack could result in a knockout.
My parents and I walked to the gym together. A sizeable crowd had already filtered into the main arena. We shared a quick hug before I walked up to the reception desk. Instead of the usual receptionist, it was a league official in dress clothes and a red blazer.
"Hi! I'm here for my match against Vivian," I confidently said.
"Welcome! Let me take you to the conference room to get set up."
Ah, the conference room. The place where I was forced to stay after fighting Shawn and while Wattson yelled at him. I started to get riled up on the inside.
"Congratulations on acquiring seven badges. I will be going over the rules regarding the eighth badge," the league official said.
There were different rules? "Go ahead."
"You will only battle the gym leader in a six on six single battle. Only you can make substitutions. The battle is over when all of one trainer's Pokémon faint or if one side forfeits. It will be streamed and recorded. If you lose, you must wait a minimum of one week to challenge this gym again. There is no guarantee that there will be the same level of fanfare. If you win, you will have some time to enjoy the moment. Make sure you come back here for more information on what to do next."
I broke out in a cold sweat. "Hold up… streamed? Recorded? May I ask why? And isn't the penalty for losing a little harsh?" The official was unfazed at how nervous I was.
"A full explanation is online and should have been shown to you by the seventh gym leader you defeated. Taping the battle allows for trainers to study one another should they meet at the Hoenn League. The main idea behind the rematch delay is we want trainers to be certain they have what it takes to reach the next level of competition."
Wallace pulled up that page after our meeting, yet I chose not to read it. Oops.
"Right. Anything else I need to be aware of that's different?" I asked trying not to let my face get too red.
"Once you get in there, the gym leader will be waiting at midfield with the referee. Shake hands, go back to your side, and wait for the signal to start. You have twenty minutes to yourself before I escort you to the field. Best of luck."
A time was pulled out before I was left alone. I wondered how some league officials stay so emotionless. Must be one hell of a training program.
I paced around the room attempting to stay loose. There was no telling what she would be using. Her Meditite should have evolved, yet I wasn't sure if the league would let her use a non-electric type in an official battle. Would she use other Pokémon from other regions? The timer hit quadruple zero and I was asked to take the walk to the field.
The sound of the door being pushed open paled in comparison to the roar of the crowd. Sometime during my tenure as an assistant, Wattson said the capacity was eight hundred people. Vivian and the referee were waiting at midfield.
The bleachers sat behind the judge and ran the length of the field; they were full. My parents were in the middle closer to the front, Maddie and Cecil were closer to the top on Vivian's side, Jack and Rebecca were on the same side but closer to the front. I gave them all a wave in hopes they were paying attention.
As far as I knew, nobody from Pokémon Services was in the stands. That didn't mean the threat of an ambush was gone. A free stream was online to watch. Regardless, I focused on looking behind the referee's area.
Padded chairs were on right up against the base of the bleachers behind a sturdy makeshift barrier and plexiglass. Judging by the extra security around the area, it was the VIP row. I nearly stopped when I saw a few familiar faces in those chairs.
Out of all the gym staff, Shawn was the only one that caught my eye. He was dressed like he was going to a formal event. Long-sleeve white dress shirt, black dress pants, a black bow tie, and black shoes was a far cry from his personality. He kept a straight face although the vibe he was giving off was nothing like my first time meeting him or when we had a shift together. We coldly stared at each other until I moved on.
Winona gave me a warm smile and a nod as I walked parallel to her. I expected her to show up to support Vivian and I, but it still made me feel warm inside. There was no obligation for her to watch the battle in person.
Sidney on the other hand, was a complete surprise. My idol took time out of his busy schedule to watch me, a relative nobody. He was kicked back in his chair with his hands behind his head. The maroon dress shirt, black vest, and tan pants contrasted the concrete slab behind him. I respected the older style he had going on. A huge grin told me he was expecting a show.
Drake was even more of a surprise. The only trainer in Hoenn who could consistently give Steven Stone a run for his money was also in the building. I still remembered how easily his Salamence beat Aggron back when I had four badges. He held a serious face and gave me a stern nod with his arms folded. I turned to face my competitor and jogged the last few feet.
"Ryan," she said monotonously. "Good to see you. Are you ready?"
"Of course. Didn't expect to see Shawn here though," I replied with an equal tone.
She frowned. "Still angry about that, I see."
"Why do you think I saved this gym for last? Frankly, I wanted to battle Wattson, but you'll have to do."
"If your line of thinking is solely based on Shawn, he's a different person compared to the last time you saw him." I shook my head.
"Doesn't matter. I'm going to fucking destroy you."
Maybe it was the adrenaline or maybe it was something else, but I ran my index finger across my neck. A classic throat slashing gesture. I didn't care that the referee was inches away. I didn't care that I got an unsportsmanlike conduct before the battle even started. It felt satisfying. The rest of my frustration would be taken out during the battle.
"Alright, let's get started. Take your places and wait for my signal," the referee said while booking me for my penalty.
A portable video board was opposite the bleachers showing our pictures plus the remaining number of Pokémon in picture form. The crowd gradually got louder when we got to our trainer boxes. The referee went for the formal announcement.
"This is a battle for the Dynamo Badge! Both of you already have been told the rules already so let's get started. Gym leader, call out your first Pokémon."
"Electrode, I choose you!"
Not a good start on my end. It was one of the fastest Pokémon in existence with the potential to blow itself up at a moment's notice. Doing that would be a foolish move so early on so I needed to protect myself for later.
"Go Linoone!"
He was hopping in place anticipating the big fight. Returning to the home floor, a ruckus crowd, going against the last gym leader, the desire to show everyone that this was his domain despite not being an electric type. How could he not be hyped? Vivian broke her serious demeanor to smile at the normal type. We were given the signal to start.
"Linoone versus Electrode. Begin!"
"Sand Attack!" I called out.
He went to work kicking up as much of the field as he could. Dense chunks missed their mark although the lingering dirt in the air caused Vivian to cough.
"Rollout! Go through it!" Electrode charged ahead like the debris meant nothing. It landed a weak albeit direct hit and knocked Linoone to the side; my Pokémon got up in a hurry. "Again!"
"Meet it with Shadow Claw!"
The rolling Pokemon made a sharp turn with increased speed. Linoone rushed it with his front right claw covered in a dark aura. He jumped then took a big swing that didn't appear to hurt Electrode, but rather steer it off course. The electric type stopped itself well short of the back wall.
"Roll back to the field and use Charge Beam!"
A thin stream of electricity quickly went across the field hitting the normal type. It hurt than the previous attack although Linoone shook it off. Electrode's body flashed for a few seconds after.
"You can outmaneuver it! Slash!"
"Keep it at bay with Charge Beam!"
Linoone cranked it up another notch as he homed in on his target. Electrode went with the rapid-fire method as opposed to a single, more powerful attack. None of them found their mark. How I wish I could've seen Linoone's face when he cocked back for another big hit. Very unusual strategy on his part considering it would be better to get in a few quick hits. The impact sent the electric type rolling to the bleachers on the right.
"Quick! Jump on it with Covet!"
He chased Electrode down like a toy and pounced on it. Repeatedly scratching proved to be better than going for one big hit. The crowd saw I had the clear advantage and started cheering louder.
"Thunderbolt!" Vivian yelled, hoping the command got through. I did the same thing.
"Get off and use Sand Attack!"
Sparks started to fly as Linoone abandoned the pummeling. He looked at me as if he heard an order but didn't know what to do. We never got a chance to practice coded hand signals for discreet attacks, so I started scraping the ground. A dull laughter got mixed in at our impromptu game of charades.
More chunks landed the second time around with some making it to the plexiglass protecting the VIP area. Linoone kept digging until getting zapped by Thunderbolt. It took him a bit longer to get up. Electrode furiously blinked to get as much debris out of its eyes as possible. The crowd noise died down a little.
"Use Sand Attack again!" Linoone's back legs going to work annoyed Vivian's Pokémon. "Now slap it back with Shadow Claw!"
"Thunderbolt!"
Electrode had its eyes closed when it fired the attack; the move missed horribly. Linoone wound up for a nasty hit that sent the electric type rolling to the other sideline away from the crowd. Vivian started to crack.
"Rollout into Explosion!"
"Be ready to run!" I ordered with a little panic in my voice.
My Pokémon was on his heels looking to bail at the first sign of trouble. Rollout started up but in the wrong direction. Linoone almost met it but fell on his stomach to stop himself. Instead of going across the width of the field, Electrode went lengthwise. It ended up parallel to me a safe distance away.
Loud humming preceded Electrode being engulfed in light. Explosion created a localized dust storm to which I had to cover my nose and mouth with my shirt. A large crater was left in its wake along with some heavy wall damage. I looked at Linoone with my heart racing; he was panting just as hard. The only sound for what felt like the longest time was that of loose rubble moving around. The referee eventually raised Vivian's flag.
"Electrode is unable to battle. Linoone wins!" Everyone started cheering again.
Not the most conventional way to win, but it fit into Linoone's skillset. I peeked over at the VIP area to see Sidney laughing up a storm. Figured he would appreciate the use of Sand Attack since his Cacturne's Spiky Shield, Leech Seed, and Mightyena's Swagger caused a lot of problems for opponents. When he first started, a Mightyena of his also had Sand Attack. The rest of the familiar faces in that area stayed neutral. I scanned the crowd for my supporters.
Mom was acting like a little kid that watched a battle for the first time. Dad trying to keep her in check made me chuckle. Maddie and Cecil were trying to make their whistles of approval as loud as possible. Rebecca had a small smile while Jack was more stunned. Doctor Ellis helped him get over his fear of battling, but I think Jack remembered how brutal it could get.
"Not much I could do. Well played," Vivian said earnestly. "Next up is Magneton!"
Good choice on her part to force a switch. Sand Attack was a move that could easily turn the tide in my favor. No need to keep Linoone out since I had a better option.
"Return! Ninetales, you're up!"
She materialized staring at the ground with her legs shaking. I didn't even consider the effect the crowd would have on her. Hundreds of eyes watching on top of a constant stream of loud noise was a far cry from our journey together.
"Hey Ninetales, look behind you!" I yelled. She turned her head to where only one eye could see me. "You got this! It's just another battle."
Not entirely true, but better to lie than to give her a reason to shut down. She pulled it together enough to stand in a neutral position. Without even looking, I felt a few questionable looks from the audience. I hoped my supporters understood that the fire type was good enough to be out on the field.
"Ninetales versus Magneton. Begin!" our referee said. I went for the throat.
"Flamethrower!"
The nerves got to Ninetales as she fired wide left. Magneton, like Linoone in the previous round, didn't have to move. My Pokémon kept her head up, but the leg shaking started up again. Vivian eyed the leftover cinders on the ground to make sure they went out then faced the field. I saw her sigh out of what I assumed was disappointment.
"Thunder!"
Magneton let loose a stronger bolt of lightning than an average one from mine. Before I could issue a command, Ninetales was on the move. She weaved her way around my side of the field avoiding multiple attacks.
"Slow it down with Metal Sound!" Vivian ordered.
A loud screech echoed throughout the gym longer than expected. People held their hands over their ears as Ninetales curled up on the field.
"Switch to Thunder!"
Crackling replaced the screeching and another shot of electricity was fired. Ninetales jolted up to dodge again. Her speed made Magneton's tries look slower than they actually were. She ended up stopping a few feet away off centered from Vivian's Pokémon.
"Flamethrower!"
Ninetales' maw let loose a powerful stream of fire with a few blue sparks thrown in. I had a follow-up attack prepared because of Sturdy except the hybrid electric and steel type fainted. Black smoke radiating off its body made the referee call the round quicker than normal.
"Magneton is unable to battle. Ninetales wins!"
The spectators applauded as loud as last time. Ninetales put her head down then trotted over to me. She sat behind me in an attempt to hide. I saw Winona and Sidney's eyes go wide for a few seconds. Drake unfolded his arms and slightly leaned forward while keeping a straight face. I knelt in front of her and held her head steady.
"You're alright," I whispered in her ear. "That was a strong Flamethrower you had there."
I chalked her performance up to natural instincts because almost no Pokémon would willingly take a direct Thunder attack. That may have explained why her counterattack was stronger than usual.
"Do you still want to battle?" She looked up and nodded. I scratched the top of her head. "How about we give you a break, okay?" Putting her back in the ball would hopefully give her a chance to collect her thoughts.
I didn't want to do it considering I still had no concrete strategy. All three options I had going in came to fruition in the first two rounds. There was no guarantee that she would be ready for later if I needed her. I refocused on the task at hand as the crowd settled back down.
"How come Magneton went down in one hit? Doesn't it have Sturdy?"
Vivian shook her head. "Nope. Analytic. It was my decision since gym leaders are required to order an attack second. They're both great abilities." Not the time to ask what was so good about it.
"Didn't seem to help you out."
She rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Lanturn, let's go!"
An interesting Pokémon due to its water and electric typing. Vivian probably made a lot of trainers wary about using ground types. Nothing on my team had an easy matchup against it. I thought about Magneton until the thought of it having Volt Absorb popped in my head. My best bet was to play it strictly by type advantage.
"Go Altaria!"
She embraced the atmosphere upon materializing. I felt bad telling her the round was about to start.
"Altaria versus Lanturn. Start!"
"Dragon Breath!"
"Counter with Discharge!" Green flames couldn't push through the electricity causing a small explosion around midfield. "Rain Dance!"
I saw the angler glowing through the smoke. Dark clouds formed over the field before a heavy downpour started; great way to kill my vibe.
"Find a better view then use Dragon Pulse!"
Taking to the air proved to be a risky move. Both Pokémon saw each other, but Altaria got her attack off before Vivian could come up with a counterattack. Lanturn brushed off the strongest attack my ball of fluff had. The gym leader saw her luck start to turn around.
"Discharge!"
"Keep moving!"
There wasn't much I could do. Discharge found its mark almost immediately. On top of a direct hit, Altaria became paralyzed. She fell back to the now muddy field unceremoniously. Her instincts kicked in and she started trying to clean her wings.
"No! Stay focused out there!"
Vivian took advantage. "Surf!"
A softball sized water ball turned tidal wave engulfed Altaria while also sending her next to my side. If it weren't for her dragon typing, she would've been knocked out.
"One more push Dragon Breath!"
"I know what you're trying to do Ryan. It won't work. Lanturn, Discharge!"
Altaria gutted it out for one final rush. She flew up again but then behind her opponent. One quick blast was all she had time for. Lanturn hit its attack forcing Altaria to zip back to my side. She was gasping for air upon landing. I nearly fumbled her ball.
"Return! Linoone, you're up again!"
Some people booed at my decision to substitute. They could go sit on a Cacnea. In addition to getting rest, Natural Cure would get rid of the paralysis. I wish I had something better to handle the spongy Pokémon.
"Linoone versus Lanturn. Go!" My partner and I shared a nod.
"You know what to do," I said.
Blobs of mud flew all over the place. He even rolled around in the mud to the point where every inch was covered. The normal type tore up the field without discretion.
As a Zigzagoon, one of the things he did to piss me off in our early days was getting dirty by any means necessary. Dumpster diving was his go-to whereas rolling around in filth was a good alternative. I figured that could be put to good use in battle. People correctly saw it as disrespectful but covering himself with whatever was around could provide a good defense.
Diving in a nearby pond? Reduced the impact of fire attacks even if it was for a short time. Rolling in mud was like a poor man's Mud Sport; electrical attacks could temporarily be weakened. I wasn't sure about the overall effectiveness of the strategy. Lanturn still had to deal with it around its eyes.
"Wash that off! Look at the ceiling!" Vivian called out.
"Go after it with Shadow Claw!"
The fact Vivian was essentially giving me a free hit came as a surprise. Linoone moved slightly slower and lost some torque power when swinging his claw. Lanturn was put on its side although it took the hit like a sponge. There was still some mud around its eyes. For better or worse, the rain stopped.
"Signal Beam!" Lanturn needed to set itself before firing.
"Dodge by rolling!" A rainbow-colored blast of energy came out of the ball hanging off its head. It landed short of where he ended up but still sent him on his back. "Surf!"
It was weaker than the one used on Altaria, but the wave drove him into the ground. The loud sloshing noises had me concerned.
"Move out of that area!"
"Discharge!"
He jumped to initially free himself then tried to sprint to a part of the field with more solid footing. Discharge scored a direct hit but appeared to have less of an effect than usual. The mud on him dried up and cracked off like an eggshell; the ground around him also dried up. At least he didn't get paralyzed. I was sweating like a madman.
"That's enough! Return!" I said. "Magneton, time to shine!"
Vivian twitched at my choice while trying not to grin. She was banking on me using Thunder because under normal circumstances, it was the best move I had. I didn't want to risk healing my opponent, so the other three moves would have to be enough.
"I'm sure you're familiar with what Magneton can do. The question is… hey! What are you doing!?" I said as my partner starting hovering slowly to the exit.
It went back to its position as if nothing happened. There didn't appear to be any negative connection to whatever it tried to do. Wiggling magnets told me that we were cool.
"Haven't seen that before," Vivian commented. I had and I still didn't know what was going on. The referee made sure we were set.
"Magneton versus Lanturn. Begin!"
"Start with Metal Sound!"
Much to the dismay of the crowd, they had to endure another round of screeching. Lanturn started to lower its head in the mud but stopped short of doing it.
"Bounce back with Signal Beam!" The attack didn't do much to the steel body. Lanturn furiously blinked to remove some dirt still in its eyes.
"Surf!"
Magneton took getting swept away better than my other teammates. I saw Vivian's Pokémon trying to rub its eyes again.
"Use Tri Attack!" The glowing triangle went across the way for a clean hit. Lanturn didn't take the hit very well; it rolled on its side and groaned. "Again!"
"You have to get up! Surf!" Vivian pleaded.
Getting up was the easy part, following it up with an attack was not. Magneton struck before the water ball for Surf started to form. The Light Pokémon plopped down for good.
"Lanturn is unable to battle. Magneton wins!"
Halfway to a win and one step closer to changing into a new pair of clothes. I soaked in the applause while Vivian composed herself. The battle was far from over.
"Ryan, have you travelled outside Hoenn before?" she sincerely asked.
"Nope."
"Then you're in for a new experience. Go Luxray!"
A black and blue furry quadruped standing at about four feet tall came out looking vicious. Its bright yellow x-shaped tail radiated electricity along with other yellow stripes on the back of it front legs. I felt like its eyes were looking through me. Even Magneton shuddered at its appearance. I took out my Pokédex because I vaguely remember looking it up when I was battling for Ardos.
Luxray, the Gleam Eyes Pokémon. When its eyes turn gold, it can see prey hiding behind solid objects.
Vivian was really pulling out all the stops for our battle. I couldn't remember the last time a non-native Hoenn Pokémon was used in a Hoenn gym battle.
"Ref, I'm make a switch. Aggron, you're in!"
I figured it was a good for both Pokémon to be at full strength then see if I needed to make an adjustment. The audience cheered louder when they started to yell at each other.
"Aggron versus Luxray. Go!"
"Rock Slide!" Stomping on the wet ground still yielded large, heavy rocks.
"Weave through them then use Thunder Fang!"
Luxray moved a lot slower than I anticipated yet still managed to dodge the threat. It went for Aggron's arm with Thunder Fang. He roared in pain while slamming the electric type into the ground; it took three swings before the bite was released.
"Double-Edge!"
With Luxray being so close on the ground, he jumped up and threw a shoulder into his opponent. The soft ground lessened the impact by a considerable amount.
"Thunderbolt!"
No surprise that the move hit considering that Aggron was on top. He dug his shoulder into Luxray's body to cut the attack short. Both staggered to their feet panting.
"Push through it! Iron Tail!" I said. He aimed for the front legs.
"Jump into Thunder Fang!"
Easy dodge on Luxray's part followed by a bite to the midsection. I didn't need to order a command to get the gym leader's Pokémon off; Luxray moved away to creates distance. Aggron let out a roar that seemingly drowned out the crowd.
"Double-Edge!"
"We're doing this again?" Vivian sighed. "Thunderbolt!"
He rushed in with no intention of stopping. The initial zap slowed him down, but he was hell bent on finishing the job. Luxray held firm while increasing its output. Aggron kept his legs churning before leaping the last few feet for a solid take down. Soft ground was not a factor so late into the round.
"Luxray is unable to battle. Aggron wins!" He struggled to his feet. I was losing my mind in the box as the crowd went wild again.
"That's what I'm talking about! Let's fucking go, baby!"
Only two Pokémon stood between me and the Dynamo Badge. I still had a shutout going too; just had to be careful about a reversal of fortune. Blowing a 6-2 lead would affect me in ways I couldn't describe. Vivian started to get flustered.
"We're far from done! Go Raichu!"
Back to something I knew how to deal with. Aggron could barely stand which made my decision easy.
"Get some rest, buddy!" The red beam sucked him back in. "Magneton, you're up again!"
It stared at the exit before focusing on the task at hand. The referee threw up the flags.
"Magneton versus Raichu. Battle!"
"Use Metal Sound!" I said, hoping to make quick work of the Mouse Pokémon.
"Not this time! Agility!"
Raichu moved so fast that Magneton spent more time trying to focus on it rather than attack. My partner eventually gave it a shot; it had no effect.
"Put a little more into your Thunderbolt!" Vivian ordered.
Getting behind Magneton to deliver the hit was something I should've anticipated. It winced as the electricity kept flowing.
"Fight back with your Thunder!"
The light show on the field grew to the point where I had to shield my eyes. Every hair on my body was standing as both Pokémon stopped to catch their breath. The ground had dried up due to the intense heat radiating from their lightning. I couldn't tell if the counterattack even hurt Raichu a little bit. Vivian kept up the pressure.
"Slam!"
Really? Out of all the moves that Raichu could have used, Slam was awful. Even in a vacuum, Slam is bad. At least Raichu didn't have to work hard for a hit.
"Flash Cannon!"
My move wasn't much better in terms of damage; I was hoping for a Special Defense drop. The concentrated beam sent the Mouse Pokémon skidding along the muddy and bumpy ground. It got up without any trouble.
"Thunderbolt!" It had less power than the previous one and I saw an opportunity.
"Metal Sound!" Magneton had an easier time focusing on Raichu. The soundwave did its job. "Tri Attack!"
Sending the glowing triangle across the way did more than just deal damage. Ice started encasing Raichu from the feet up. The audience oohed and ahhed at the frozen Pokémon near the middle of the field. I was almost afraid to attack because every second of rest was precious.
"Break free!" Vivian pleaded.
I waited for Raichu to show me something was going on. Magneton almost attacked anyway but I got it to hold steady. A noticeable cracking sound echoed through the gym as a line appeared in the ice. Small jolts came out of it. Then a louder crack.
"Wait for it!" I said. Raichu eventually shattered the temporary prison with shards flying in all directions. "Now! Tri Attack!"
It didn't have the reflexes to dodge. Plopping face first into the mud was all it could do afterward.
"Raichu is unable to battle. Magneton wins!"
Another Pokémon icon under Vivian's picture on the video board faded to black. I had a chance for a complete sweep if I played my cards right. The last slot on my side would stay empty; no way Sealeo was coming out. It came down to what I assumed was her strongest Pokémon. I was willing to distract myself for a few seconds.
"Did you seriously not have anything good to hit Magneton with?" I asked.
She shook her head. "No. Raichu isn't suited for that type of matchup."
"Not even with a fourth move?"
"Not even with a fourth move."
Speculating could be done later. Only one Pokémon stood between me and the Dynamo Badge. The dull roar of the crowd crescendoed when she held the ball containing the last hope at a reverse 6-0 sweep in her hand. I almost didn't hear what it was.
"I'm counting on you Manectric!"
A good choice for an ace Pokémon. Wattson talked about how diverse the move pool was in addition to its ability to mega evolve. Judging by the lack of jewelry on the quadruped, it was safe to say mega evolution was not on the table.
The more I looked at it, the more I realized how one bad decision could lead to a snowball effect. Aggron and Sealeo could easily go down in one hit. Altaria and Linoone could maybe take one hit before fainting. No idea how much gas Magneton had left in the tank. My best option had not gotten hit yet.
"Excellent job Magneton! Get some rest. Ninetales, I need you!"
She looked more confident compared to her last time out. Maybe she saw how everybody else rattled off wins and felt she could do the same. I felt it was a good time to motivate her even more.
"Win the round and we get a badge! You ready?" She turned to me and barked happily. "Alright! Let's get that win." Everyone rose to their feet.
I saw my parents on the verge of crying from excitement. The housekeepers rocked back and forth in place wondering what was going to happen. Maddie and Cecil held each other while fist pumping with their free hand. Shawn couldn't hold back a smile. Winona was banging against the glass unable to stay neutral any longer. Sidney and Drake merely stood in place with large grins. I strained to hear the referee's cadence.
"Ninetales versus Manectric. Battle!"
In that moment, I got into a zone. Crowd noise? Muffled. Vision? Focused on the field in front of me. Breathing? Calm and steady. The temptation to win it with one attack was there. Luckily, I could afford to take my time.
"Will-O-Wisp!" The fire type conjured up tiny balls before sending them across the field.
"Dodge them!" In the eyes of Manectric, the wisps were slow. It had no problem weaving through the ghostly flames. "Thunderbolt!"
I opted for a defensive stand. "Flamethrower!"
Fire met electricity just over midfield on my side. Thunderbolt was gaining ground until the streams caused an explosion. Ninetales was sent off her feet but remained unharmed. Manectric was trying to peek through the black smoke.
"Again!" Vivian called out.
"Use the smoke to help dodge!"
Ninetales ran laterally before the electricity came through. She managed to dodge the first three bolts but got hit on the fourth. I held my breath until I saw she didn't get paralyzed. I preferred Manectric be burned in case things got out of hand and so Vivian couldn't stall. Getting it required some misdirection.
"Extrasensory!" A rainbow beam came out and nailed Manectric in the side; it shrugged it off. "Will-O-Wisp!"
"Move in then use Crunch!"
I overestimated how fast Ninetales used the attack. She didn't have time to reset herself or redirect the wisps since all of them missed. Her midsection took the hit and she was trying to get Manectric off. I thought about making a switch.
"Hold on tight and use Thunderbolt!" I scrambled to find her ball.
"Return!"
She took a small zap before being sucked in. My heart was racing at the prospect of trying to secure a win. I had a big risk planned.
"Go Linoone!"
The rest he got appeared to be enough. Vivian rolled her eyes at the prospect of what was going to happen. I swore the referee did the same.
"Linoone versus Manectric. Start!"
"Move around the field for a good spot!" I said.
"Don't let it get set up! Hidden Power!"
Got her. "Shadow Claw!"
Glowing balls encircled the electric type before spreading out over the field. Linoone bobbed and weaved his way in to deliver a solid swipe to the head. Static came out as a result.
"Wild Charge!"
"Sand Attack!"
My oldest Pokémon had to dig harder because of the crusty top layer. He kept going until paralysis stopped him. With the onslaught of debris stopped, Manectric got out as much of it as possible. It also had a free shot at Linoone after. He landed on his side and had a tough time standing. The referee was eyeing him carefully.
"You have to push through! Get up! Get up!" I screamed. Vivian wasn't going to wait.
"Thunderbolt!"
He grunted as the attack kept going. When the stream of electricity stopped, he somehow managed to stand up. His legs wobbled like a weightlifter who finished squatting. I clapped like my life depended on it.
"Fucking beautiful! Return! Ninetales, you got this!"
My heart rate skyrocketed as Manectric went back to rubbing its eyes; I almost blew the sweep. I prayed that one Sand Attack caused enough discomfort to last the rest of the battle. All the pieces were in place for one final push.
"Ninetales versus Manectric. Begin!"
"Extrasensory! Don't be afraid to move closer!"
Vivian matched my intensity. "We're not done yet! Thunderbolt!"
Both Pokémon traded attacks yet neither of them hit. I think the rookie gym leader realized Ninetales' position at the same time I did. The fire type was only about fifteen feet away. Perfect striking distance.
"Will-O-Wisp!"
Too close to dodge, the flames connected at multiple points ensuring a burn. That and leftover sand practically crippled the ace Pokémon.
"Wild Charge!"
Unfortunately for Vivian, Manectric wasn't facing Ninetales when it started running. It stopped when the residual burn damage kicked in.
"Hex!"
Neon purple wisps engulfed Ninetales' opponent for a nasty hit. A good portion of the crowd gasped at the series of events. I was so glad I didn't fuck up the surprise. Manectric dug deep to stay on its feet.
"Thunderbolt!"
"Flamethrower!"
Another collision of moves at midfield except Ninetales had the upper hand. Flamethrower pushed Thunderbolt back before an explosion occurred. With both moves nailing Manectric, it roared while trying to stay up. All four legs gave out at the same time after the adrenaline rush died down. It slowly closed its eyes.
"Manectric is unable to battle. Ninetales wins! This battle goes to the challenger!"
Deafening cheers erupted from every corner of the gym. I dropped to my knees, looked up to the ceiling, and stretched my arms out as far as they could go all while screaming my lungs out. Out of the lower corner of my eyes, I saw Ninetales running to me. I braced myself before she bowled me over and licked my face out of sheer joy. I hugged her tightly in response.
Ever Grande City, here we come.
Have a good day and I will see you next chapter :)
-W4f