Author's note: Sometimes I feel that my battle sequences are too short, although I try to keep them realistic. What do you guys think?

Chapter 56: Knock it off Green

John and Len decided a double battle versus the last Gym Leader was appropriate. A 2v2 with no substitutions is what's called. Len and John go with a Houndoom and Forretress (to which Len questioned "Why?").

"He's the first pokemon I ever had! It's only appropriate I win my last gym badge with him!"

"Well okay then!"

Green releases his pokemon: Golduck and Scizor. The match begins quickly with a Bullet punch to the Fortress, which counters quickly with an equally as effective tackle attack. Houndoom tries to hit it with a Flamethrower but Golduck intercepts with a Bubblebeam. It starts using Aqua Jet at the fire type, but it is turned away by a Mirror Shot from Forretress. Another Metal Claw soon makes contact with Forretress, which made it spin on its axis. Forretress used this momentum to create a powerful Rapid Spin attack, which makes full contact with the Golduck. An Ember comes flying out of Houndoom's mouth, but is easily dodged as Scizor rushes towards it preparing an X-Scissor attack. Forretress couldn't deflect it, but Houndoom and Len were able to think quickly.

A Sucker Punch attack throws Scizor off balance and it misses completely, allowing an opportunity for a hard Fire Blast to make direct contact with its body. Scizor was nearly taken out by this one attack, while on the other side of the field Forretress was dealing with Golduck flawlessly. A Payback attack after a harsh Bubblebeam did a lot of damage, but Golduck saw an opening in Houndoom's defense from across the floor. An Aqua Jet to its back legs, nearly knocking it out indefinitely, but it tried to pounce in retaliation. A Bite attack did some more damage, pinning the Golduck so Forretress could take it out with a Zap Cannon attack. Scizor, seeing its partner go down, counter-attacks with another swift Bullet Punch to finish off Houndoom. It came down to the two Steel-Bug types.

Forretress was the first to act, solidifying its defenses with an Iron Defense. As Scizor took the time to use Swords Dance Forretress hit the ground on its side and began using Rollout. It was dodged closely a few times before finally running into its counterpart at full speed. Now nearly taken out, Scizor gets hit hard with a Heavy Slam attack, but was able to turn it away in order to land a few more Bullet Punches. A Night Slash also did little damage, and a quick Slash attack also did nothing big. Forretress only needed one more hit with a Gyro Ball to finish off its opponent, as Green's pokemon were finally finished off.

"That was fun. You guys deserve the badge!"

"Goddamnit! How come you guys can win and I can't!?" Len smugly answers.

"Because you aren't nearly as good looking as the both of us!"

"Shut up Len! Your pokemon fainted before the battle was over!" Jacob's rebuttal fell on deaf ears as Len and John ran over to their pokemon to congratulate them on a job well done, then to Green for their badges, which were promptly given to them. Now Jacob was the only League contender without the Earthbadge in his group of friends.

"Feeling left out bro?"

"Oh, you think Heidi?"

"I know I'd be able to beat him just by watching that battle."

"Shut up Roy."

"Hey Roy, can I battle you!?"

"Sure, but I'll go easy on you." Heidi puffs her face in anger at him. She knows what pokemon she's using now…

"Fine, what pokemon do you want to use?"

"I guess I'll use my Yanmega then."

"Heeheehee, my Arcanine will have fun!" The two go outside to their own battlefield around the back of the Gym. Jacob just sits in his own corner, releases Togetic and plays with her for a little bit. Not five minutes later Heidi comes bouncing back into the room happily.

"Didja win?" Roy shambles in with a horrified look on his face.

"Yep! He didn't know grandpa Blaine's Arcanine was with me!"

"W-when she told me she was Blaine's granddaughter I didn't believe her…. Then HER ARCANINE happened…"

"Hey, I only found out she was Blaine's granddaughter after her parents told me!" Jacob laughs, Alexandra the Togetic giggles, and Roy falls on his knees next to Jacob.

"And I thought your Metang was tough… jeez…"

"So Mr. Stone, care to prove to me now that you're Steven's brother."

"Oh shut up." Roy released Torchie and laid on his back, using his arms as a pillow.

"Should have let me battle, teach her what a real fire-type is like."

"Oh quiet you, I thought Yanmega would have had her."

"Who are you talking to?"

"Torchie, who else?"

"You can talk to your pokemon?"

"Yeah, what of it?"

"So you're Steven's brother AND you can talk to pokemon? Pssh, that's extremely difficult to believe."

"Ask Bill. He talks to his Ninetales on a regular basis."

"He's over there with Green. I'll ask him later." Roy knows Jacob won't.

"Is he skeptical?"

"Of course he is. Aren't you used to it by now?"

"Hey, how long did it take for you to 'talk' to your pokemon?"

"I don't really know, it just happened over time."

"So why can't I talk to my Metang, or my Snorlax yet?"

"Because they aren't as good as Torchie."

"Is that a challenge?"

Heidi butts in, "Don't do it Jake!"

"Huh, why not?"

"Because he'll just cry again after you beat him!"

"HAHAHAHA HE CRIED!?"

"NO I didn't! She's just making that up!"

"Doubt it." Jacob winks at Roy who gets more flustered.

"AGH REMATCH, OUTSIDE HEIDI!"

"Hee-hehee! Okay!" The two walk back outside, Torchie following suit. Jacob goes back to playing with Alexandra the Togetic.

"Can you understand me Alexandra?" Togetic trills and lands on Jacob's chest. "Hmm. Can you talk to me?" Togetic yawns and starts speaking in its pokemonic language. Jacob can't hear a word it's saying other than, "Toge-tochika-togetoge, priiii! Tochi-toge-to-to-tochika!" Well that was helpful. Jacob lays his head back down and Roy comes walking back into the room triumphantly with Torchie, not even a scratch on it.

"That was fast."

"Her Noctowl didn't stand a chance."

Heidi comes stomping in angrily, obviously on the verge of tears. "YOU BIG FAT UGLY MEANIE!" She continues to stomp across the room towards Green, Erika, and the others.

"I assume you kicked her butt."

"Across the floor."

"That's not nice."

"She asked for it."

"Whatever." Jacob goes back to petting his Togetic, it giggles and licks his hand in the process. "Hey Togetic, do you want to evolve soon?" It ponders this for a few moments, then nods, smiles, and goes back to giggling happily. "Do you want to evolve now?" Alexandra nodded. "Why's that?" It flies into the air above him and simulates a battle sequence. He can tell it wants to use Aura Sphere and powerful moves like that, but can't make it happen right now. She tries acting out an enemy pokemon, probably one of Green's pokemon, struggling to battle, and can't run away, then she switches back to herself, using another powerful attack it doesn't yet know to finish off its fake opponent. "Oh you want to battle too?" She trills and nods vigorously, thinking "I want to help you win no matter what!"

Jacob reaches into his bag and pulls out the Shiny stone. He fiddles around with it in his hand for a few moments, then puts it back in the bag, making Togetic angry. "Soon though, you'll evolve soon…. or actually… he pulls out the stone again and yells across the room, "Hey Green! What pokemon will you use to battle me next?"

"You can't battle me till tomorrow!"

"Aww, come on, just one more chance today, pleaaaasseee?"

"Ok fine, probably Exeggutor. Why?"

"No reason!" He holds up the stone to Togetic. "Are you ready?" Togetic nods and begins to glow.