Chapter 13: Buzzing Battles
"Alright Damage, Fire Punch!" Erick said.
The Darumaka happily jumped around before making a swift charge towards Hugh's Pansage.
Petra watched on the sidelines of the Pokemon Center's battlefield. Hugh had approached Erick as the two had entered the Center and asked for a battle to prep himself for his Gym Battle tomorrow. She listened carefully to the thoughts of each Pokemon that battled out.
Interestingly, Hugh's Pokemon seemed treated with a strange sort of love. Obviously, they weren't being abused, that would be an easy sign to tell. However, he seemed to treat them with a weird sort of...tough love, perhaps it had something to do with his reasons for getting stronger by challenging Erick.
Pansage dodged Damage's punch with a quick flip backwards and fired a bullet seed, all seeds splatted and spat on the Darumaka's red body, making small little bruises on the multi-hit gunfire seeds.
"Headbutt!" Erick commanded,
"Rock Tomb!" Hugh fired back.
Pansage summoned a bunch of rocks that were flying down from the sky, at the rate Damage was going, the rocks were going to crush him to bits.
"Showtime attack!" Erick said, Petra could see a sparkle behind his black sunglasses. "Tuck and Roll, then kick and bounce!"
Damage tucked his arms and legs into his body and rolled past one boulder that smashed and then immediately kicked his foot off and launched himself upwards.
"Body Slam!"
Damage landed and pressed down on Pansage, burying the monkey into the ground as it rolled back and did a little twirl dance with a peace sign.
"Maka!"
Hugh sighed as he recalled Pansage back to its Pokeball.
"Pignite, Fight!"
The evolved Tepig bounced out of its Pokeball, flaring its snout for a fight.
Erick recalled Damage from the battle and took out his next Pokeball.
"Eevee?"
"Not this time Sunny." Petra heard Erick say. "Pignite is going to have a fighting type move."
"Terra, Go forth!"
The little Espurr popped out of her Pokeball, brushed her ears for a bit and then readied herself against the taller bipedal pig in front of her.
Petra brushed her hair with her hand as her pendant started to glow, Meloetta's voice started to speak to her.
"You seem tense...is something wrong?" the mythical Pokemon asked curiously. "It's not like you to be so...well...tense in thought."
"Oh…" Petra felt her cheeks flare as psychedelic waves and pillars of flames pushed through and around the battlefield as Ares jumped up on the table next to her.
"What...you think I can't feel you either? Our contracts bind us together, you know if I'm ever in trouble, and I know when you are feeling unusual or different."
Petra bit down on her lip, what did Meloetta sense about this.
"You know...this is a big deal for you, isn't it?" Meloetta asked. "I mean, your parents, and all the knights that irritated you by following you everywhere. They aren't here, it's just you and Erick out here."
Petra shrugged it off as she heard Ares snicker a little. "So what? She asked, this is what I've wanted, to finally see the world."
"Hey...are you really complaining? This is a big step forward for your life after all. But...there is still one little concern for your life as of now."
"Not now…" Petra groaned.
"Listen...whether you like it or not, you will eventually be the queen of this region. N gave up the throne after the scandal, and, even though the champion, and the rest of the region forgave him, he still will not be fit to lead this region. You need to stop trying to run away from the responsibilities you will soon have to bear."
Petra waved her hands around, "Can you let me deal with that later?" she asked.
"Alright, fine…" you could hear a bit of disappointment in Meloetta's singsong voice.
"Alright Terra! You evolved!" Petra shook herself back to reality, apparently, her space out with Meloetta made her miss the final part of the battle. Now, Erick's Espurr had evolved into a blue and white furred cat standing on both legs crossed together.
"Meow" Terra purred.
"Meowstic huh?" Petra asked, as Erick returned the Pokemon.
"Yep…" The black haired knight nodded in response.
"Well...all's fair in love in war I suppose." Hugh replied, walking up to them, "Guess I still need to get stronger."
"If I may…" Petra said, butting into his conversation. "Your Pokemon, Hugh,"
"Yeah? What about them?"
"Well...their voices sound fine, I can tell that you love them dearly...but...it seems as though you're a little to...rough...with them."
Hugh raised an eyebrow at her. "Princess, you gotta train your Pokemon to be strong, especially here, you never know when those terrorist Plasma Grunts are going to strike."
"The knights and police are doing everything they can to round off Gethsis and the stragglers...but…"
Hugh put his hand up. "I will get stronger, just so I can deal with them, once and for all."
"Uh…" Erick hummed.
"Stay out of this." Hugh snapped at him. "Just do your job guarding her," the boy walked back into the center, presumably to heal his Pokemon.
"What is his deal?" Petra asked. "Thinking he can take down Team Plasma all by himself, when even our International Police friend Looker is having trouble with them."
Erick shrugged. "I think I recall something about a Pokemon of his family getting stolen." he said. "Maybe that has something to do with it."
"Ah…" Petra said, the two walked down the east strip.. "That makes sense I suppose. It would explain his hatred with Team Plasma, and his want to look for my brother N."
"Yep," Erick said. The two of them arrived at the gym, where, much to their surprise, they found Cassidy walking out, holding onto a badge that looked like a large leaf.
"Oh?" the burnette spotted them and waved over to them. "Hey, I just got my Insect Badge!" she said. "Burgh was certainly an opponent...but he should be no trouble for you."
"Hey, I'm not perfect," Erick replied, shrugging her off. "I could lose."
"Sure...I mean...no guarantee right? Speaking of which, have you heard the rumors?"
"What rumors?" Petra asked.
"Oh...well, supposedly, on the route up north, the desert land. There are sightings of a Dragonair in the water. I was gonna see if I could fish it up myself."
"Well...not much I can do about it at the moment, but it's worth checking out." Erick said. "So, maybe we'll see you there though?"
"Sure, I'd enjoy hanging out with the princess and her knight! So...I'll see you two later?"
"Sure," The two waved goodbye as Cassidy walked off, placing the badge in her pink handbag.
They walked into the gym, and were greeted with a tall man. He had a lot of curly brown hair in an afro style. Wore striped pants and a green vest, and the floor of the gym looked like a paint canvas that an artist just decided to throw all the paint on.
"Marvelous!" Burgh said. "A new challenger to let me paint this piece! I'll be doing my next work!"
"Um...okay…"
The man's eyes twinkled as they fell on Petra.
"Oh?! Princess?" he sputtered. "I...I wasn't expecting the knight...how are you doing? Does your family need a new portrait?"
"No...I'm just here to watch." Petra said, her cheeks flared red a little. "Burgh's done Pokemon paintings of me when I was younger." she added, noting Erick's confused look.
"Spectacular!" Burgh said, he looked down on his Xtransciever. "Let's see what my handy artistic randomizer decides what form of art this battle shall be!" A moment of silence as Erick started to hear quick flicks of picks.
"Are...are you using a randomizer wheel?!"
A small ding saw the Gym Leader smile. "Now then, young Erick. It is time to attack and show me which Triple Team you will create a masterful piece with!" The man released three Pokemon on the battlefield.
The first, was an orange hermit crab hiding its body in a rock shell. The second, was purple wheel Pokemon with poison pins and a yellow eye on either side of it. Lastly, a taller bipedal bug with it's entire body was held together by what looked like a leaf dress that held her head high.
"Leavanny, Whirlipede, and Dwebble." Erick said, pondering his thoughts. "Alright, Sunny, you take the center!"
"Vee!" The white Eevee ran out onto the battlefield and braced itself.
"Argon, Damage, assistance is needed."
The Darumaka and Aron joined Sunny on either side, bracing themselves for a fight of their own.
"Marvelous, now, Dwebble, get some webbing done! Whrilipede, coat the floor in toxic!"
"Argon, use Dig!" Erick commanded, Damage, Fire Punch, Sunny, cover with Swift!"
Sunny summoned the trail of stars from around his body and launched them forward. Argon buried himself underground and Damage made a run for Leavanny.
Dwebble shot a stick webbing all over the ground around them, slowing the movement of Damage as he made his way towards them. Whirlipede twirled around quick and shot poisonous goo over the webbing, shading it into a light purple, as Damage stepped in it, Erick quickly caught notice of the poison bubbles around his body.
Taking advantage of the slowed movement, Leavanny gracefully dodge Damage's fire punch and then leapt up to avoid Argon's dig strike.
"Whirlipede, use Rollout! Leavanny, Razor Leaf nicely!"
"Argon, use Protect! Sunny, use Heal Bell!"
Argon jumped in front of its allies and set up a barrier as Sunny let out a pur that closely mimicked a bell chime. The poison faded from Damage's body,
"Maka!"
"Okay Damage, fire back!"
The razor leaf from Leavanny broke Argon's barrier. As Whirlipede came rolling in. Damage seized his opportunity and unleashed a quick Fire Punch upwards, launching the wheel bug into the air.
"Argon, Rock Slide!" Erick said.
Argon summoned boulders that started to fall from the sky, with the poison wheel bug up in the sky, the rocks spiked the bug into the ground. Whirlipede rolled over to the side, a swirl forming in its one eye.
Erick breathed a sigh of relief, then, he froze as each of his pokemon flinched in poison pain.
"I thought I…" he looked back down at the toxic webbing. "Oh...it's like Ariados's Toxic Thread! But it's now a hazard!"
Leavanny! X-Scissor! Dwebble, use Shell Smash!"
"Oh hell no!" Erick snapped. "Damage, jump down Argon's hole, then Flare Blitz! Sunny, Use Heal Bell to cure your poison! Argon, use Iron Head!"
Dwebble's body cracked in reddish color as it shatter, a mixture of blue and orange light surrounded the bug.
Damage jumped down and, on cue, a loud burning fire erupted from the ground as Leavanny charged at Sunny with crossed arms. He watched as the toxic threading burned up, disappearing from the ground. Sunny flipped backwards and let out another pur chime that cured his poison. Argon then had his whole body turn to steel as it smashed its head against Dwebble, the bug rock hermit crab collided with the wall and fell to the ground.
"Leavanny, do us a favor, clear this mess up," Burgh said. "Cross Slash with X-scissor."
Leavanny gracefully dodged Damage's fire punch then did five quick slashes across the small fire type's body. Then, she unleashed a quick slap. Damage fell backwards and slid to the ground, swirls developed in its eyes as well.
"Sunny, Helping Hand! Argon, use that extra power boost and rock slide!"
Sunny clapped his paws as an orange energy surrounded Argon, the Aron summoned the boulders to fly down and crush Leavanny, the fully evolved bug fell to the ground with swirls in its eyes.
Burgh clapped his hands together. "Magnificent!" he said. "Truly marvelous Mr. Heart!" the man tossed the insect badge they had seen Cassidy to him. Erick caught the badge.
"Now, look at this." Petra said. Startling Erick. "Three badges down, no problems at all."
Argon's body began to glow as his nubby legs expanded into actual feet. Then, his armor grew and expanded with his body. It stopped glowing, letting out a roar. "LAIR!"
"Lairon! Nice." Erick said.
Petra smiled as the two made their way out and back to the Pokemon Center. On the way back, both of them stopped by the Casteliacone stand to purchase a bit of ice cream.
"Best in the region." Petra said as Erick licked the cone. "Pokemon enjoy it too, but they make a great treat to people."
"Yeah, tell me twice." Erick said, cracking his neck a little. "There's not a soul in the region who wouldn't know that."
"You could at least TRY to be more interactive with me." Petra scoffed. "You're awfully quiet a lot of the time, even when I'm not trying to talk to you."
"Moon and I didn't exactly have a lot of other kids to talk to back in Sinnoh." Erick snapped back. Hearing the sighs of Sunny and Ares.
"These two bicker like a married Couple." Ares said.
"I hate how much you're right." Sunny breathed.
Erick gave a devious grin to Petra's suddenly red face. "What's up? What are they saying?!"
"N-Nothing important." Petra stuttered. "Just...making a comment about how we argue quite a bit. It's not a great example...especially for me later in life you know, I can't exactly argue with my knights later."
Erick rolled his eyes as he took his Pokemon back from the Nurse in the center.
"Alright, let's go meet up with Cassidy and do some fishing, this is going to be fun!" Petra said.
"Somehow...given our track record...I doubt it." Sunny said.
"Here Here." Ares continued.
"Oh quit yapping."
You know, despite what many may say, I do think that Black and White should've done a lot more with the new battle mechanics introduced. I know people usually hate Triple and Rotation Battles, however, I feel like had they been more thought out, and maybe integrated into the story a bit better, they could've made for awesome mechanics that would've set gen 5 apart.
I know I'm one to mention this, but I wish Gym battles were a lot more unique. The only Gym Battles that come to mind when I think of a "Unique" battle style, is Tate & Liza from gen 3. And the Sandstorm guy from Gen 8, and...I guess Piers if you count the inability to Dynamax? I suppose the gym battles against Volkner and Candice could count in Diamond/Pearl since they don't just have their one type of Pokemon...but I digress.
Also, this is just a niche, but I personally hate Dynamax Pokemon. The concept just seems like a fusion of Z-moves and Mega evolutions, the only difference being that any Pokemon can do it and their are only a couple of unique designs (What if we took Pokemon...and made them BIGGER!). I'm not a fan, I'd much rather have Megas and Primals make a return to the series.
Anyway...Pokemon's 25th anniversary is here, and, to literally no one's surprise, it's already a mess, lmao. No disrespect to the fanbase and community, but these scalpers and hoarders have gotta calm down, their just Pokemon cards in Happy Meals lol. Think of all the poor children who just wanted a cool card of Pikachu or some shit. People need to get their act together.
I personally feel like the biggest mistake was making and announcing that there would be "Valuable Rare" cards in this pack when the TCG scalping industry is in full throttle, but come on, there was no need to go out and buy 100 happy meals and ruin a child's day man. America really is a disaster don't you think?
I've personally outgrown my stay in Pokemon, but I'll still play the new games when they come out. I used to have a scary obsession's with the game, thankfully I got over that and learned to like other franchises so I'm not like all these raging lunatics buying thousands of dollars worth of trading cards.
Yikes, sorry about that, kinda just went off in a rant didn't I? Ah well, I'll leave it in just to educate you guys in case you weren't aware. Even though it's been all over YouTube and I think may have even made National News at some point.
Anyway...that's all for today's chapter, I hope you all enjoyed it.
PKMN Teams:
Erick Heart:
Sunny - Eevee
Nagini - Servine
Slippy - Poliwhirl
Terra - Meowstic
Trinity - Toxel
Argon - Lairon
Damage - Darumaka
Petra Gropius:
Ares - Shroomish
See you all, next time.
