Scene 2 - Kasumi
"This battle will be between Gym Leader Kasumi and challenger Seshiru Eguchi! It will be a three on three battle and will end when all of one side's Pokémon are unable to continue! Only the challenger is allowed to substitute!" a referee announced before holding a white and red flag into the air.
The gym leader smiled before she put her hands on her hips. She had short red hair that was pulled into a side ponytail, and she wore jean short shorts and an athletic blue midriff.
"It's not very often that someone makes the Cerulean Gym their final challenge," she said. "I get to use a strong team against you." She pulled a Poké Ball from her belt and then threw it into the air. A blue Pokémon burst forth, landing on one of the platforms built for the gym.
The girl who stood on the other side reached into her back pocket and pulled out a small blue device. She scanned the Pokémon with it.
"Golduck, the Duck Pokémon. Often seen swimming elegantly by lake shores. It is often mistaken for the eastern monster, Kappa," it said in its robotic voice.
The girl tucked the device back into her pocket and smiled. She was short, even for a ten year old. Her hair was pitch black and cut into a bob. She wore a long sleeve purple shirt and baggy jeans held up by a belt that was a bit too big for her.
"I've been looking forward to this battle for a very long time," Seshiru said while she drew out her Poké Ball. "Go, Poliwrath!"
Poliwrath's massive body materialized onto one of the platforms, and he flexed his muscles upon seeing Golduck. He wasn't afraid in the slightest, having the size advantage.
"Begin!"
"Poliwrath, start with Mud Bomb!"
"A Ground-type move?" Kasumi wondered with a laugh. "Light Screen!"
As Poliwrath ran forward, he put his hands together, forming a ball of mud. He leapt into the air and over the water before tossing it downwards. Golduck held out his hands, forming a thin wall of energy in front of him. The ball of mud connected with it, shattering the wall and then hitting Golduck. The defensive measure had worked though, and Golduck barely took any damage.
"We gotta be more aggressive," Seshiru said. "Hit 'em with Submission!"
"Wrath!" her Pokémon called as he dove into the water. He was fast to reemerge, and he instantly grabbed Golduck by the neck, pulling him to the ground. He held tightly onto Golduck while he squeezed, attempting to make the Water-type lose consciousness.
"Disable!" Kasumi commanded.
Golduck's eyes started to glow blue, and he let out a sharp shriek, forcing Poliwrath to let go of his attack.
That means that Submission is no longer going to be available, Seshiru thought. We have to use alternative strategies.
"Water Pulse!" Kasumi's voice called.
The Pokémon were at close-range, and Golduck put his palms together, forming a ball of aquatic energy. Before Poliwrath or Seshiru could do anything about it, Golduck shot the ball forward, and it exploded into a wave. The wave washed over Poliwrath, sending him into the water. He was fast to get out though, and he pulled himself onto his own piece of land, but his legs were slightly wobbly.
That attack had some sort of side effect. If I'm correct, Water Pulse can confuse Pokémon. Poliwrath doesn't look confused, but if we were to take another one, then it'd be over for him, Seshiru thought. "Bubble Beam!"
"Psychic!"
As Poliwrath unleashed his attack, releasing a flurry of bubbles across the pond, Golduck focused, his eyes turning blue once more. The bubbles all stopped in the middle of the air, and they then shifted, shooting back towards Poliwrath. The battered into his body, sending him stumbling backwards. He barely managed to stay balanced on his platform.
"Return!" Seshiru ordered.
"Wrath!" he called. His body became enveloped with a white flare, and he jumped forward using the power of his energy.
"Water Pulse!" Kasumi commanded.
As Poliwrath came forward with no way to stop, Golduck tossed yet again another ball of aqua. It exploded, and the wave overtook Poliwrath, forcing him into the pool. Everyone patiently waited for him to reemerge, and when he did, he stumbled even more, unable to find Golduck.
"Poliwrath, snap out of it!" Seshiru called.
But Poliwrath simply swam around haphazardly as though he were playing a game of Marco Polo with himself.
"Poliwrath!" Seshiru yelled once more.
"Psychic!"
Golduck focused his energy and pulled Poliwrath out of the water. With one heave, he tossed Poliwrath through the air with his telekinetic powers, and the Fighting-type crashed into the wall. He body slunk down into the water before coming back up lifeless.
"Poliwrath is unable to battle! Golduck is the winner!" the referee declared.
"Dang," Seshiru muttered while she returned her Pokémon. "Psychic powers and the ability to confuse. We're gonna have some trouble."
"You okay over there?" Kasumi asked.
Seshiru nodded. "I'm fine." She drew out her next Poké Ball and threw it forward. Kingler emerged onto the platform, and she clamped his pinsirs down rapidly in succession as a way to intimidate Golduck. It didn't work, but Golduck had been worn down from the battle prior.
"I take it you're a Water-type trainer?" Kasumi wondered. "You do know that that's my specialty, right? You really think you can beat me?"
Seshiru smiled. "I've been preparing a very long time to battle you, so I'm positive I can beat you! Kingler, start with Swords Dance!"
"Swords Dance? Use Disable!"
As Kingler began to glow with a metallic-like energy, Golduck's eyes turned blue, and he once again unleashed the loud and sudden screech. Seemingly, nothing happened, but the two knew that Kingler would be unable to raise her attack stat anymore.
"Golduck, use Psychic!" Kasumi commanded.
"Protect!" Seshiru fired back.
As Golduck tried to focus his energy once again, Kingler lifted her pinsirs into the air, forming a barrier around her body. The psychic energy pelted against it, but it was unable to grab ahold of Kingler like Kasumi had hoped. Golduck then fell to one knee, as the energy that he has used was too much.
"Slam!" Seshiru ordered.
Kingler shot forward, and she dove into the water. Before Golduck or Kasumi could think of any kind of defensive measures, Kingler emerged. She swung both of her massive pinsirs, smashing them into the entirety of Golduck's body. Golduck flew backwards, smacking into the wall next to Kasumi. He slowly fell into the water, and the referee made her call.
"Golduck is unable to battle! Kingler is the winner!"
"Yatta!" Seshiru yelled out excitedly while Kingler slowly made her way back to Seshiru's side.
Kasumi withdrew Golduck and then grinned before throwing her next Poké Ball forward. A large Pokémon with light blue skin appeared on her platform, and it smiled, seemingly at bliss.
"Quagsire, the Water Fish Pokémon. Its body is always slimy. It often bangs its head on the river bottom as it swims but seems not to care," Seshiru's Pokédex rang.
"I… Really?" Seshiru wondered out loud. "Not really much of a fighter, you think?"
"It's my job to teach my challengers a lesson, so if you're going to take anything from our battle today, it'll be not to judge a Pokémon by their smile," Kasumi said back with a cocky grin on her face.
She's right. I have to stay focused. Quagsire's dopey look may be cute, but for all I know, he's a big threat, Seshiru thought. "Kingler, use Razor Shell!"
"Rain Dance!"
As Kingler dove into the water, Quagsire looked into the air. He opened his large mouth, releasing a ball of mist upwards. It exploded, causing an artificial cloud to form near the ceiling, and it began to rain down onto the field.
"Water Pulse!" Kasumi yelled seconds before Kingler could reach Quagsire's platform.
Quagsire was much faster than Kingler or Seshiru had anticipated. He snapped forward and unleashed a ball at the pool. Kingler emerged and she tried to strike with her extended pinsir, but then she was engulfed by the wave. Kingler was washed backwards and disappeared into the water for a moment.
It seems like Water Pulse is her signature technique, which means that I'm risking confusion at any given point. The only thing we can really do is try to avoid it, but it has such a wide range. What do we do? Seshiru thought.
Kingler then washed back up onto her platform, and she looked back to Seshiru, waiting for her trainer's command.
"Not confused?" Kasumi wondered. "Okay. One more time! Water Pulse!"
"We'll go with Protect!"
Quagsire released the ball one more time from his mouth, and it exploded in the air. Now, the combination of the rain and the waves came crashing down, but Kingler was fast enough to get her shields up. The water battered against it, but Kingler was safe.
"Now use Razor Shell!" Seshiru ordered.
"Kooki!" Kingler called as she raised her pinsirs into the air. They began absorbed in aquatic energy, and then she dove in once again.
Kasumi grinned. "We have you figured out! Earthquake!"
"Quag!" her said softly before he lifted his foot into the air. He stopped on his platform, and the entirety of the gym shook. The water rocked back and forth, and then it began to raise as the tides grew and grew. Kingler was tossed from the inside of it and into the air. She crashed into the ceiling before slowly falling back and landing into the pool, her body motionless.
"Kingler is unable to battle! Quagsire is the winner!"
Quagsire isn't a pushover. I need to try to finish it fast, and whoever I choose next, they gotta have the proper endurance to battle another Pokémon, Seshiru thought as she returned Kingler back to her ball.
Kasumi crossed her arms. "You've really passed through all of the other gym leaders? Your Pokémon don't seem well trained enough."
Seshiru was silent as she reached for her final Poké Ball. She expanded the ball and then tossed it forward. A small and sleek blue Pokémon with a long tail emerged. Her body shook as she felt the cool air hit her body, and she smiled back at Seshiru.
"Vaporeon, this is a bit rough, but we'll get through," Seshiru said.
"Vaporeon!" her Pokémon responded.
"Let's not hold back! Hydro Pump!" Seshiru ordered right away.
Vaporeon leapt into the air and then unleashed a massive stream of water from her mouth. The water raced across the field, splitting the pool down the middle.
"Amnesia!"
Quagsire smiled, and his body started to glow with a slight hint of purple. The strong blast of water connected with Quagsire, but he was seemingly unaffected. The platform that he stood on shook, but Quagsire appeared oblivious to the damage.
"No way," Seshiru muttered.
"Now, Earthquake!"
Quagsire slammed his leg into the platform once again, and the entire pool started to shake. It got violent, and Vaporeon was sent forward into the air.
"Water Pulse!"
"I don't think so! Aurora Beam!"
Both of the Pokémon released their attacks, and they connected in the middle of the air. However, before Quagsire's Water Pulse could explode into the wave, as it was known to do, it instead froze and then was flung back at Quagsire. The ball of ice crashed into Quagsire and exploded into multiple shards. Now, Quagsire appeared in danger as he began to wobble from the effects of his own attack.
"One more!" Seshiru yelled.
Vaporeon released one more multi-colored beam from her mouth, and it circled across the pool before hitting Quagsire directly. He let out a pained groaned before he wobbled from side to side. He looked up, huffed, and then fell forward with a massive thud, sending ripples throughout the pool.
"Quagsire is unable to battle! Vaporeon is the winner!"
"Alright!" Seshiru exclaimed happily. Barely took any damage, so Vaporeon is still pretty fresh.
Kasumi withdrew Quagsire before lifting her next ball and holding it up high. "I'll be finishing this battle with my signature Pokémon! Go, Starmie!"
"Hyah!" her Pokémon cried out as it emerged from the bright light of its Pokémon. It twisted around in the air before landing on its preferred legs. The red crystal in the middle of its body reflected brightly off of the lights from the ceiling, but there was no way to tell what it was thinking.
Seshiru smiled. "I know everything I need to know about Starmie."
"Then you know how dangerous it can be. Starmie, use Ice Beam!"
"Fight back with Aurora Beam!"
The two Pokémon released their attacks. The water below each beam froze instantly, and once the attacks connected, they created an explosion which ended up freezing the entirety of the field.
"Now, let's get close!" Seshiru ordered.
"Vapor!" her Pokémon howled as she ran forward on the ice.
"Water Pulse!"
In the front of Starmie's red crystal, it formed the signature ball of water. She flung it forward, and it exploded into a wave that raced directly for Vaporeon.
"Get around it!"
With ease, Vaporeon jumped to the side and used the ice to slide faster, avoiding the entirety of the wave.
"And now Shadow Ball!"
Using the same momentum from her previous action, Vaporeon kicked against the wall with her back legs and then slid forward. She leapt into the air and unleashed a small ball of ghostly energy. It connected directly with Starmie's crystal, forcing her to slide back.
"Water Pulse!" Kasumi ordered once more.
Now in closer range, it was easier for Starmie to target Vaporeon. She released the ball once more, and it exploded.
"Muddy Water!"
Vaporeon spun her body around, and water exploded from the icy ground. It surrounded her entirely, and she ran directly into the Water Pulse. The two attacks missed, and for one moment, it was unclear what exactly had happened. Vaporeon's maneuver had mostly worked, absorbing Water Pulse, but she was stopped in her tracks.
"Let's guarantee ourselves some confusion," Kasumi said calmly. "Confuse Ray!"
"Hyah!" Starmie cried out while throwing its body forward. It released a small ray from its body which surrounded Vaporeon. Vaporeon's head shook from side to side as she looked for a way out of it, but the ray was too fast. It went into Vaporeon's body, making the Water-type wobble from side to side.
"Vaporeon, no!" Seshiru yelled. "Use Shadow Ball!"
Vaporeon tried to use the attack, but she only ended up launching the dark energy ball at the ground, causing her to be flung into the air. She landed with a hard thud, but she continued to try to stand, so the referee let the match continue.
"You should call it," Kasumi said. "Recover!"
Starmie stood still as its body began to glow with a bright yellow light. The light overtook the entirety of the stage, and when it finally dissipated, Starmie now stood strong. The crystal in the middle of its body now shone like it did when it first appeared in the battle.
It healed, Seshiru thought.
"Vaporeon, use Shadow Ball!"
Vaporeon shook her head violently before she focused forward and glared at Starmie. This time, she was able to pull herself together, and she unleashed the ball of black energy forward. But Kasumi had a counter prepared.
"Ice Beam!"
Now at full power, Starmie released her beam across the field. It collided with Vaporeon's Shadow Ball, easily overpowering it. The two attacks continued towards Vaporeon, but before Seshiru could make her command, they exploded onto the Water-type.
Everyone patiently waited for it to be revealed what happened inside the smoke, and when it finally cleared, the referee raised their flag. "Vaporeon is unable to battle! Starmie and Kasumi are the victors!"
As Seshiru returned Vaporeon back into her ball, Kasumi made her way around the pool. She stopped before Seshiru and smiled. Seshiru smiled back and then bowed slowly.
"Thank you."
"Seshiru, you had me on edge the entire time. I'm surprised that someone was able to push me as much as you were able to with Water-type Pokémon. That said, it seems like you have a bit more to go," Kasumi said. "Come back after you've honed your skills more, okay?"
Seshiru nodded, and without a word, she left the gym. She sighed as she looked up to the night sky.
There's not a lot of good places to train around here, she thought as she pulled her map out of her backpack. She looked around Cerulean City and its surrounding areas. A few miles to the east of Cerulean City was an area labeled Power Plant. Seshiru grinned. If we're gonna train, then we might as well go all in.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
So, here we go! This is a short excerpt from Seshiru's original journey through Kanto. She is in the final stages of her gym challenge, but she's got a bit more to go before she can beat Kasumi (Misty).
Before, when I wrote my "movie" stories for "Healing in Hoenn," it was usually the three main characters battling some baddies who were trying to get ahold of a Legendary Pokémon. I personally am not a fan of main characters (Ash and every fanfic lead) meeting every single legendary, so I've decided to take a different approach with the "Kickin' It In Kanto" "movies." Each one will have a different main character, and they will be set a few years before Logan and Yurie step foot in Kanto.
A quick note on my personal life. I just went through a break up. Honestly, I'm really bummed out about it. I'm going to try to keep writing and posting, but I'm finding it very hard to get motivated.
REVIEWS:
wisdom-jewel - "I can't wait till you add more. This is different but doing something different isn't bad. It will mix things up a bit to give your readers something to look forward too. But at the same time, some want to have the same opening. I say it is a very good opening." - Thank you!
CrescentApple - "Well, dang, that was pretty interesting. I remember only few times reading from a Pokémon's perspective from your other stories. The story was short. Which you explained in your notes, but I"m just pointing it out. Hmm, what unfortunate Pokémon did Zapdos eat I wonder... I'm curious why you made such a clear disadvantage for Seshiru. A water Pokémon trainer meeting a legendary electric Pokémon? This will be a really really interesting story. Also, that brings a question to my mind: Are there any trainers in your story that owns legendary or mythical pokemon? I remember Logan telling Kenta that he suspected the Kanto trainer either had a Dragonite or a legendary pokemon. So that tells me there are trainers in your pokemon world that own legendary pokemon, but it's possibly extremely rare? The only trainer I know of using a legendary pokemon is Enhalus with Necrozma, but I'm not sure if that really counts... Anywho, I'm interested." - As for people owning Legendary Pokémon, I don't have any plans for it currently.