Author's Note: The Wally battle is fun… Although he really should have had Manectric or at least Electrode instead of Magneton. Oh well. Also, Evergrande City is one of my favorite locations in Emerald too.
Chapter Fifty Three: Vs Delcatty!
"A battle right now? All right, you're on!"
Lynnie grinned at Wally as she reached for a Pokéball. If he was leading with Gardevoir, then she already knew what to use…
"Come on, Oakley!"
Grabbing the Shiftry's Pokéball, Lynnie quickly released her. Wally's eyes widened for a moment as Oakley materialized next to Lynnie; he must have realized he was at a type disadvantage. However, he then shook his head and forced a grin.
"O-okay," he started hesitantly. "Fire Punch, Gardevoir…!"
Lynnie crossed her eyes. "Oakley, use Shadow Ball!"
Small embers started to form around Gardevoir's thin arms, and it started to drift forward with its hands raised. However, Oakley instantly lifted her fan-like hands, forming a large, shadowy ball in between them. As Gardevoir got closer, Oakley threw the Shadow Ball forward, and it collided into the Psychic-Type's stomach. Crying in surprise, Gardevoir winced as it was thrown backwards through the air a few feet.
While Gardevoir regained its footing, a few of the trainers that had remained in deck looked up in surprise when they heard the battle going on. Grinning as the other trainers curiously came over to watch, Lynnie decided that battling for a crowd was definitely more fun… It was time to start showing off.
"Let's go with Shadow Ball again," she smirked.
"Gardevoir, use Thunderbolt!"
Oakley raised her hands again and started to form another Shadow Ball. Before she could launch the attack at Gardevoir, though, it delicately folded its arms across its chest as sparks started to form around it. The Thunderbolt flew forward at the same time as the Shadow Ball, and the two attacks collided in midair, causing a small explosion. Oakley and Gardevoir tried attacking again a couple more times, but the attacks continued to strike each other, and after a few minutes they were both looking worn out.
"Great," Lynnie mumbled. "Now what… Oh! Hey, Oakley! Try Faint Attack this time."
The Grass-Type nodded as Gardevoir started to form another Thunderbolt. As it started to shoot the attack at Oakley, she darted forward and seemed to vanish, causing the electricity to simply hit the deck. Then, seconds later, Oakley appeared behind Gardevoir and rammed her shoulder into its back. Crying out in shock, Gardevoir stumbled forward and crumpled to the floor, wincing.
Wally blinked as Lynnie's smirk returned. Gardevoir looked up apologetically at him as it tried and failed to get up, but he smiled and shook his head as he pulled out its Pokéball again.
"It's okay, Gardevoir, you tried…" Withdrawing Gardevoir, Wally took a different Pokéball out of his pocket. "I'll try Delcatty next!"
He pressed the release button on the ball, and a large cat Pokémon with purple ears materialized next to him. It primly licked a paw before looking up at Lynnie and Oakley, and the blonde rolled her eyes slightly. True, Oakley was a bit tired, but Delcatty didn't look all that tough.
"Hm… Use Solar Beam, Oakley."
"Uh, use Assist, Delcatty!"
Nodding, Oakley slowly opened her mouth as a large, yellow-green beam started forming inside it. She then leaned forward slightly and shot the beam at Delcatty, but before it hit, the Normal-Type yawned disinterestedly. As it did, a few small embers appeared in its mouth, and then it started to blow a Flamethrower at Oakley. The fire attack cut through the Solar Beam and struck Oakley, and the singed Shiftry skidded backwards.
The singed Shiftry collapsed near Lynnie's feet, and Lynnie crossed her eyes for a moment. Something on Wally's team knew Flamethrower…? Shaking her head, Lynnie withdrew Oakley and frowned.
"That was cheap," she grumbled. "Really. At least Domino sort of has an advantage…"
Lynnie released the Breloom, and he bounced slightly as he looked at Delcatty. It rolled its eyes, and Domino cocked his head to the side.
"All right, go get it with Sky Uppercut!"
Lynnie grinned again as Domino charged forward. Delcatty clearly didn't think highly of Domino, as it sat licking itself for a few more seconds. Soon Domino stretched out his claw, ducked forward, and gave Delcatty a swift uppercut to the side of its face. The started cat yowled as it was launched into the air, and then it fell back onto the deck a few seconds later.
"Now, finish with Headbutt," Lynnie added.
As Delcatty tried to get back up, Domino rammed forward with his head and hit it on the side. Delcatty hissed as it tumbled over again, unable to force itself to stand up. Wally sighed and reached for Delcatty's Pokéball.
"Um… Oh! I'll use Altaria."
Lynnie groaned as Wally released the Dragon-Type, remembering the trouble she'd had with Winona's Altaria. However, she shook her head and decided to stay on the offensive, like usual.
"Sky Uppercut again, Domino."
"F-Flamethrower!"
Domino darted forward again, stretching his claws in preparation for another Sky Uppercut. Before he reached Altaria, it opened its small beak and shot a stream of flames towards him. The Flamethrower didn't hit dead-on, but it still hit, and Domino winced as he was thrown backwards. He started to get to his feet after he landed, but he tumbled over again.
"Nice try, Domino," Lynnie sighed, recalling him. So that's what knew Flamethrower, she grumbled inwardly. "I should use Skipper next."
As she reattached Domino's Pokéball to her belt, Lynnie took Skipper's Pokéball and released the Swampert. Skipper looked around curiously as she materialized next to Lynnie, and the blonde grinned.
"Ice Beam, Skipper!"
Nodding, Skipper crouched down and opened her mouth. She launched the Ice Beam at Altaria, and although it tried to lift itself into the air to dodge, it was still hit. The ice slowly covered Altaria, starting with its wings and causing it to fall mid-flap back to the deck. It could still move its neck slightly, though, and it panted as Skipper stopped the attack.
"Um…" Wally was starting to look nervous. "Altaria… Can you, uh… use Dragonbreath?"
Altaria weakly started to shoot the spark-laced breath at Skipper, but Lynnie grinned. Looking at Skipper, Lynnie nodded as she came up with an attack.
"Skipper, use Mirror Coat!"
Nodding back, Skipper paused for a moment and watched the Dragonbreath come a bit closer. Then, she closed her eyes, and a thin, translucent screen materialized in front of her. The Dragonbreath rebounded off of the Mirror Coat, striking Altaria square in the face. It winced as its own attack hit it, and looked like it would have collapsed if it hadn't been frozen to the deck.
Wally gulped. "Okay… Come back, Altaria… I guess I'll use Magneton next."
Lynnie put a hand on her hip and giggled as Wally recalled Altaria and released his Magneton next. Skipper would be immune to electricity… Unless… She crossed her eyes suddenly, wondering if Wally had another trick he was planning.
"Um, use Hidden Power, Magneton!"
The Electric-Type buzzed and flashed briefly, and then was surrounded by a pale green light. Small leaves formed between its magnets and started to launch towards Skipper, and Lynnie blinked. Of course it had to be a Grass-Type attack…
"Quickly, Skipper, use Ice Beam!"
Skipper obediently launched the ray of ice, and the leaves were covered in frost. As they froze, they fell to the deck with a light thud, and Lynnie grinned.
"Okay, now use Mud Shot," she continued.
Skipper leaned forward, launching the attack from her mouth. The Mud Shot collided with Magneton dead on, and the magnet Pokémon was thrown backwards through the air. When it fell to the deck, Skipper shot a second attack at Magneton, and it buzzed weakly as the mud covered it.
"M-Magneton…" Wally mumbled, biting his lip as he withdrew it. "Well, I'm on my last Pokémon… But…"
Wally hesitantly released his fifth Pokémon—a small Grass-Type with a pair of roses for hands and a spiky head. The Roselia smiled demurely as it looked up at Lynnie, its petal-like feet crossing in a small bow. Lynnie crossed her eyes; it was practically too cute to knock out. However, she shook her head and grinned.
"Skipper, just use Ice Beam on it. I bet it'll faint easily."
"R-Roselia, use Magical Leaf!"
Skipper started to form another Ice Beam, but before she could, Roselia raised its roses. Its smile suddenly turned mischievous, and a flurry of leaves and petals shot out of its roses in spirals. The attack quickly struck Skipper, and she stumbled backwards in surprise.
Looking more confident suddenly, Wally smiled and continued. "Okay, now try Giga Drain!"
Roselia was immediately surrounded by a pale green glow, as was Skipper a few seconds later. Then, Skipper started to look tired and pant, while Roselia seemed to get more energetic. After a few seconds, Skipper practically wilted as she fell forward, crashing into the deck as Roselia triumphantly folded its arms.
"Ack! Skipper!" Lynnie cried, reaching for her Pokéball. "My bad… Eh… I should use Pearl."
As Lynnie recalled Skipper, she reached for Pearl's Pokéball and released the Grumpig. Pearl scratched the back of her neck nervously as she looked at Roselia, but then smiled as Lynnie nodded at her.
"This shouldn't be too hard," Lynnie whispered. She then announced, "Use Psywave, Pearl!"
Pearl closed her eyes, and a rainbow-colored wave shot out of one of the pearls on her forehead. The Psywave struck Roselia, and it stumbled back in surprise but didn't seem too damaged. Shrugging, Lynnie decided to change attacks.
"All right, use Psychic instead."
As Pearl opened her eyes, they started to glow with a dark purple color, and a purple aura also surrounded her. The psychic energy then blasted towards Roselia as Pearl threw her arms forward, and the Grass-Type cried out delicately as it hit the floor. It managed to pull itself back up, but then instantly toppled over again; its roses were even drooping.
Wally smiled sadly as he withdrew Roselia, and the trainers who had been watching the battle gave some applause. As the rest of the group scattered back across the deck, Wally looked up at Lynnie as she recalled Pearl.
"Wow… Do you think maybe you could help me practice for the Pokémon League? Because, um, I could use some more good practice like that…"
"Sure, that sounds fun," Lynnie grinned.
"Yay!" Wally cheered. "Thanks, Lynnie!"
As Lynnie giggled, the captain pulled a whistle out of his coat pocket and blew it as he left one hand on the steering. The trainers on deck quickly gathered around him, and he looked over his shoulder for a moment before turning back to look at the ocean.
"Guys, looks like we'll be to Evergrande in about an hour or so," he announced. "Just letting y'all know. It'd be a good idea for you to go below deck and relax for a while before we get there."
The group gave a chorus of "All right!" and "Sure!" before scattering again. Most of them, Lynnie and Wally included, slowly filtered down below deck, and Lynnie grinned. Evergrande was getting closer and closer, and she was already getting excited as she thought of the Pokémon League.
