Ok, it's been a while. Sorry, it's just that I haven't been really motivated/inspired to write this story. For that matter, I have a little... announcement. More on that later.
Anyway, it's the last chapter before the Gym challenge. Marc has just got Bartholomew, his carvanha, and now he trains a bit with him.
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon.
It's Thursday on the second week of the Gym challengers' special course, which means that the exam will take place the very next day. In other words: This "episode" of Marc's journey nears its end.
It's already afternoon, and Marc has finished today's classes. By extension, he has finished all lectures. Now he just has to prepare for the exam and the actual Gym challenge on Saturday.
Marc is confident that he will pass. He's prepared, and to be honest, he doubts that the exam will be very difficult. He plans to review his notes once more in the evening, which should do.
For now, he has something else on his mind. He's more concerned about finding the best setup for his battle against Roxanne.
He has to choose two pokémon for that battle. At first, that was pretty easy – for obvious reasons. Now that he has Bartholomew, it's at least not entirely trivial. It goes without saying that Phire is going to be part of his team for that battle. The second member, however…
Needless to say, Bartholomew might be the best choice. Marc considers leading off with Bartholomew in order to weaken Roxanne's pokémon.
The problem is that he got Bartholomew only recently, and he's not used to battling with him yet. Using a fish pokémon on land is… tricky, to say the least. Judging by what Marc has seen so far, Roxanne's pokémon might easily outmanoeuvre Bartholomew.
In order to find a way around that problem, Marc is currently training with Bartholomew on Route 116.
At the moment, they are battling a zigzagoon. Bartholomew has a hard time keeping up with the agile foe. Most of his attacks miss, especially since the zigzagoon has used Sand Attack.
Marc [determinedly]: Aqua Jet!
Bartholomew heeds the command and dashes forwards while he basically shoots water out of his body. He lunges at the zigzagoon… or so it was planned. The trajectory of the attack is totally amiss.
Marc: More to the right!
Bartholomew tries to twist his body in mid-air. He can change his trajectory slightly, but the zigzagoon manages to jump out of the way easily – despite Bartholomew's high speed.
After dodging the attack, the zigzagoon attacks Bartholomew, who has crashed into the ground, with Tackle.
Attacking Bartholomew physically may hurt, but the zigzagoon is surprisingly tenacious. It doesn't back down. In fact, it is about to attack again.
Marc: Phire, stop it! Headbutt!
Phire steps in and takes the much weaker zigzagoon out with a single strike.
Marc checks on Bartholomew. He already has some bruises from previous battles, and this battle… didn't help either.
This whole ordeal makes Marc sigh. Right after Bartholomew had joined him, Marc looked up all the information on carvanhas he could get.
As it turns out, he has got himself some kind of glass cannon… He vaguely remembered that carvanhas are ferocious attackers, although they aren't very sturdy.
Initially, Marc doubted that since Bartholomew withstood several hits when they met for the first time. However, Marc has come to the conclusion that none of these hits were really severe. After all, most of the attacks that hit Bartholomew were either supposed to merely fend him off, ineffective or timid.
This training session has shown Marc how vulnerable Bartholomew really is. Marc had to take Bartholomew to the Pokémon Center twice before. If Marc has to return to Rustboro City again, he might as well call it a day.
What's even worse than Bartholomew's poor battle performance is his discouraged state. Marc notices it easily, and he is at a loss as to what to do about it.
Marc steps aside to think about it. Bartholomew didn't seem very... enthusiastic from the very beginning. It didn't seem as if he disliked battling fundamentally, but something seemed to be on his mind.
As his trainer, Marc figures that he should do something about it, but without knowing what is troubling his pokémon… It's difficult.
Marc decided to use Bartholomew in battles without thinking much about it. It just felt natural, and having a water pokémon could be very helpful on his journey, especially when crossing the sea. Now he doubts his decision… Maybe Bartholomew simply isn't a "battle pokémon".
Meanwhile, Bartholomew is lying on the ground dejectedly, Phire is jumping around impatiently, and Robert… Well, she is sitting down next to Bartholomew.
Robert: Hey, having a bad day?
Bartholomew replies with a tired look.
Robert: I thought so. Wanna talk about it? Phire certainly won't listen, and the boss won't understand you, so how about having a little chat with me?
Bartholomew averts his eyes and stays silent for the moment. Nevertheless, Robert remains calm and waits while keeping her soft smile.
Bartholomew [hesitantly]: I… What's there to say? I've probably disappointed our trainer.
Robert [slightly contemplatively]: Hm… Maybe a bit confused, I'd say.
Bartholomew [dejectedly]: It's hopeless… I'm not a fighter… I think. [calmly] I just want to experience this "wonderful bond" between us and humans. To see what it's like… [dreamily] this bond that connects us like a glimmering ribbon of joy.
Robert [thinks, bewildered]: What a ridiculously flamboyant metaphor…
Bartholomew [dejectedly]: It's pointless. Humans seem to bond with us in battles. My former trainers were always like that… They expected a strong performance, but I couldn't live up to it, so they left me. Now I'll probably be abandoned again… I've been afraid that it would come to this.
Robert thinks about Bartholomew's worries for a moment. She chuckles a bit about a certain memory.
Robert [reassuringly]: You think that's going to happen? Hey, the boss isn't like that! Sure, he wants to fight battles with us. That's… just what he does. To each their own. But I'll tell you something.
Bartholomew looks at Robert and listens closely. Robert reminisces about the story she's about to tell for a moment.
Robert: When the boss caught me, I hated it. I didn't want to be there. That's… because I had the feeling that he had stolen my life. Back then, I would've slit his throat if I could've.
Bartholomew [worriedly]: That's… disturbing. How is that even supposed to help?
Robert: I'll get to that part! The thing is that I was wrong. I thought he wouldn't care about my wishes, but he simply didn't know about them. He learnt about them, and he took it to heart. He was willing to release me, even after all the trouble – a lot of trouble, by the way – he's been through because of me. Because that's how the boss is: He'd never ignore a pokémon's wishes and needs knowingly. I think you've made clear that you want to go with him, so he won't throw you away just because you're not the greatest fighter.
The two pokémon remain silent for the moment. Robert's story is reassuring, but it also gives Bartholomew a lot to think about.
Robert needs a moment to think about what to say next as well.
Robert: Well, I stuck with him in the end. I was curious if I could become stronger at his side, and our current journey might show it. The boss knows how to command us in battle. Who knows, give him a chance! If you want to be by his side, why not fight by his side? Well, by our side. You don't have to worry about winning or losing, just give it a try, and you'll see that everything will be fine! And if you ever have doubts… just tell me!
Bartholomew [smiles]: Well, sure… Maybe.
It's a good thing that their conversation is essentially over as loud screeches draw their attention.
Phire has been bored, so he began to shoot fireballs with Ember randomly. It's some kind of target practice.
Now he shoots a fireball between the nearby trees. The attack doesn't hit any of the trees, but it comes very close to several nests in the trees.
The forest east of Rustboro City is a popular nesting place of swellows. As a consequence, it's the home of many taillows.
About two dozen of them are agitated by the passing fireball and attack. Some of them attack Phire with Quick Attack. The surprise attack works pretty well. Fortunately, not all the taillows are strong enough to know this move yet.
Phire fights back with Dragon Breath. The individual taillows aren't strong, and Phire could easily take them out one by one, but their number makes the flight a formidable foe.
Marc is quite surprised by the sudden attack. He was too deep in thought to notice Phire's "voluntary training session". However, he regains his composure quickly.
Marc: Robert, Phire needs backup! Distract and take on the taillows to his right! Phire, focus on the enemies to your left for now!
Robert jumps in immediately with Quick Attack. She hits one of the taillows, but there are many more.
Five of them fly around her in circles. She tries to attack with Slash, but no attack hits.
Marc: Robert, try Hone Claws! And keep calm, you don't need to take them out immediately! Phire, once you're done, try to help Robert!
The two pokémon hold the line fairly well. They fend the taillows off slowly but steadily.
One of the taillows, however, notices that Marc gives its opponents commands, so it figures that he belongs to them and attack him instead. Neither Phire nor Robert can intercept it.
However, Bartholomew, who has only watched this battle so far, is also there. When he sees the taillow separating from the flight and heading towards Marc, determination surges through his body and mind. He wouldn't let them hurt the trainer who took him in.
Bartholomew uses Aqua Jet and dashes at the taillow at high speed. He didn't really plan the trajectory, so it's pure luck that the attack hits.
Marc, who already tried to shield himself with his arms from the attack he expected to come, is surprised by the turn of events, but it's a pleasant surprise, so he smiles.
The taillow, however, isn't done yet. It gets ready to attack Bartholomew. Bartholomew tries to beat it to the punch and uses Water Gun.
The attack misses clearly… Bartholomew still has sand in his eyes from the Sand Attack earlier, so he has trouble aiming properly. On top of that, he's not trained in aiming at moving targets.
Marc has an idea how to compensate for that, though.
Marc: Bartholomew, keep calm! Listen, [points into the direction the taillow is coming from] face that way, calmly!
Bartholomew obeys and gets ready.
Marc: Okay, now lift your body up a little! [checks Bartholomew's position] And a bit more to the right!
Bartholomew quickly adjusts his position as commanded.
Marc [calmly]: Okay, now wait! Get ready to use Water Gun on my signal! Trust me, we'll do this!
Marc waits for a moment while the taillow is getting closer. It's very fast, and Bartholomew worries that he'll miss, but Marc's words resound in his head: "Trust me"… He remains calm and waits.
Marc: NOW!
Bartholomew uses Water Gun. It's just at the right time to hit the taillow's left wing. The foe crashes into the ground.
Once the taillow gets up again, it checks its wing. It is already severely weakened, and it doesn't want to risk getting injured even worse, so it retreats into the forest.
Phire and Robert have taken care of the rest by now.
Marc [happily]: Good work, everyone! [to Bartholomew] This also goes for you! That was easily your best battle today. [contemplatively] Maybe I can use that idea…
Robert [confidently]: See? You can stand your ground if you put your back into it!
Phire [haughtily]: Well, maybe a bit. Still nowhere near my level! [matter-of-factly] By the way, I defeated most of them.
Robert rolls her eyes. Yes, he did. He also provoked most of them – or rather all of them – to attack. Robert whacks Phire over the head.
Robert: Don't ruin the moment!
Meanwhile, Bartholomew smiles happily. This day ended on an unexpectedly hopeful note. Sure, he still has a long way to go in order to be on par with his comrades, but he's been accepted. As long as he is, he'll keep fighting at their side.
The next morning, Marc stands in front of the trainer school. This should be the last time he enters the building. It's time for the final exam. After that, the Gym leader awaits.
He enters the school building confidently. Let's do this…
...and that's the end of the chapter. It's just a little episode before the finale of the "Rustboro City arc".
I've actually been looking forward to writing the Gym battle, but there's also the announcement I mentioned at the beginning of this chapter...
Recently, I've been more inspired to write a different story, so I'll work on that one primarily for the time being. However, I certainly won't drop this story. As far as I've planned, the story won't even go on hiatus completely. I'll still work on it occasionally, but the updates will be quite slow for now. It won't be just this chapter.
Little Preview: After the exam, it's time to challenge the Gym! The Gym challengers compete for the right to face Roxanne. Will Marc be the one to challenge her? Will he defeat her? Find out next time!