Time for the most intense and detailed battle yet. Many more to come, but this one is significant as both Kyce and Elekid have mental hurdles to overcome. Will they come out victorious and will we get some more answers soon?
Chapter 8: Follow my lead… or don't.
"So, let me get this straight. We cant chill for a day at the nearby town, but we have plenty of time to fight each other?", Sebb asks me as I stand ready with Elekid.
"Elekid needs this. I need this. This guy has been a trainer for half a year, and we are gonna wipe the floor with him so Elekid can get his confidence back", I answer him with my serious voice, and he seems to accept it.
Dawn has not said a word yet, but I can feel her staring, and thinking. Lucas looks very surprised too. He should not be. A true Pokémon trainer is always ready for a scrap, and his Makuhita were asking for it.
"You seriously want to fight me? Im no pushover you know, I have been training my ass off for so long", he tells me, as he actually changes he demeanor from a goofball, to a half-serious trainer.
"I know, lets do it", I say, trying to sound as intimidating as possible.
Dawn seems relaxed behind me as she sits down in the grass, apparently ready to enjoy the show. You can say a lot of things about her, but she is not one to pout when action occurs.
"Not gonna intervene and yell about us getting behind schedule?", I tease the impatient young lady.
"No, I always like a Pokémon battle, and I would like to see you backup all your talk for once, so go ahead", she says to animate me. It works.
"Its your move Lucas, Elekid already started us off", I tease the lanky boy, who actually looks ready and eager to fight me. Did not expect that from him, but judging by the power that Makuhita displayed earlier, I should have figured out that he is quite tough and battle hardened.
"Aki use Bulk Up"
Okay so he plans to power up for the long haul, good to know. Time to strike then.
"Kid, Thunderbolt!" I command the lightning plug, who looks back at me. I can clearly see the hesitation in his eyes, but he still loads up the move. However, that second, he used second guessing himself, or me, might cost us.
The Thunderbolt does hit Makuhita though, but the thick Pokémon seems to be tanking it pretty well, even if it slid back a couple of inches. Bad news because he is now bulked up and ready to fight. Elekid looks even more deterred than before, due to the way Makuhita tanked that move. It is okay, I got a plan. I can feel the doubt coming from my two friends in the back, as they both gasped a bit at Makuhita's ability to take absorb a Thunderbolt. It did not surprise me. Makuhita are very sturdy and tough Pokémon, even to special moves, which it is supposed to be slightly weaker against. They are very strong in a physical contest and it will take a lot to even hurt it in such a straight forward way.
"Aki get close, Force Palm!", like clockwork Lucas orders it close. I would be very surprised if it had any sort of ranged move in its arsenal.
"Elekid, Protect", I yell out.
Need to play the defensive here and keep the strong Pokemon at a distance if possible. Upon command Elekid had already raised its hand for a Brick Break, so when it hears me, he once again looks back. His eyes are visible with insecurity and questioning. Im growing tired of this. Im the trainer, he is to just follow and believe in me. He does go for the Protect, but it is way too late, and he cant get it up before he is hit flush with the Force Palm knocking him over and allowing that big fat sack of potatoes to jump in jubilation over the move.
I do not know what to do here. I can win this match with Elekid, I know I can, I just need him to do as I say. I cant explain why, but for some reason I know Dawn is biting her lip to keep quiet. I can feel her wanting to say something but keeping herself from doing so. She knows as well as I that I need to figure this out for myself. Lucas is loudly praising his Makuhita, as he should, while Sebb is yelling useless words of encouragement to me. I acknowledge the sentiment, but it only serves to annoy me in this moment.
Teddiursa however, he looks on in awe of the battle. I did not know this at the time, but the little bear Pokemon were studying our every move.
Elekid begins to stir from the ground. Usually when he gets hit, he comes right up with confidence, ready to show the world what he is capable of. But not this time. Ever since he was on the bad end of a one hit knockout from that big Machamp, all confidence has been lost in him. My instructions wont help if we are not in sync, so how do I correct that?
What comes to mind is an incident, 5 months ago, where I was trying to teach him protect. Because I knew it would be extremely valuable on our journey against a lot of stronger Pokemon, where we would need strategy to come out the victor. You cant even imagine how hard it was to teach him that move. It was like he was fighting me every step of the way. Like a defensive move was beyond him and his capabilities. Undoubtedly due to his rough upbringing amongst Team Galactic, who values strength above all else. I almost gave up teaching it to him, as all he wanted to do was work on Thunderpunch to show his might, even if I felt like he had reached max expertise in that move.
I voiced my frustration to my mother, for some reason. I did not expect anything from her, as she never ever wanted to talk about me as a Pokémon trainer, but I guess she felt my emotions in this particular situation and decided to offer her advice. Undoubtedly seeing the opportunity as well to mask the advice as a hint to me. She told me, that she has been trying to make me forget being a Pokémon trainer for years, and she feels like the more she tries, the more I go in the opposite directions. Sometimes the only option is to support and accept your children's choice, instead of forcing them into a path that they do not want to take.
At the time I told her to heed her own advice, as I have always felt like she worked against my dream. However, upon further reflection once I was alone in my room, I understood it completely. So, the next day I went over to Elekid, who already looked mad, thinking that I was gonna continue forcing him to learn protect. Instead I asked him if he wanted to show his power with the Thunderpunch. So we trained Thunderpunch that whole evening, with Elekid looking the happiest I ever seen him, just because he was allowed to show off his power. In my mind I thought that it was a big waste of time, he was never gonna learn protect, but seeing the smile on his face, at the time, was worth it.
I did this for most of the week, until he one day, after training was done, and I was about to go home, began to form a mini force field around himself. I quickly picked up on it and cheered him on for it. I held back the advice until he had tried it himself, and then I slowly piled on instructions as the weeks went by. Eventually he learned it, but point was to let him do what he wanted to do, so he did not feel like I neglected his feelings like his previous trainer undoubtedly did. This whole flashback went by in my head in mere seconds, as Fionas words came back as well. Stay true to yourself, keep your integrity. This correlated well with my thoughtprocess, and an idea formed in my mind.
It may not work, but I had to try it here, cause this Makuhita was about to clap us, if we kept being in two minds about this. And one more earthshattering defeat may be too much for Elekid to recover from mentally.
"Elekid?" I tried, with a complete switch in my tone. From the demanding trainer, to a soothing friend.
"Ele?", he replies with sadness in his voice.
"How would you like to show Makuhita your strength?"
"Kid?", He looks all confused but stands up. Lucas is not about to wait on me any longer, and decides he had enough talking.
"Aki, hit it with another Force Palm, that should do it!"
Elekid awaits orders, and I oblige while Makuhita runs right at him.
"Meet it with Brick Break! You can go toe to toe with it, I know you can".
As soon as I say that Elekid changes demeanor, he now knows I believe in his physical strength and that I will allow him to showcase it, just like he wants to. They meet in the middle with great power and stares each other down as both combatant is held off in a stand still. I know Dawn is shaking her head at my choice, but it had to be done. Sebb is off his feet in excitement over this physical showcase. I guess a stupid strategy is playing right into his personal battle style, judging by his choices this far on our journey. Energy and intensity are enumerating from both Pokemon, but especially Elekid, who seems to have regained his joy for battling. Trying to keep him away from a physical confrontation, was never gonna work in this case.
The obvious power shooting from the collision ends with a blast emitting from the middle of our battlefield, sending them both back with dust surrounding us all. Making it hard to even see anything until it clears away with the wind.
"Nice Elekid", I cheer him on.
In truth that went better than I expected. We are fighting the exact style a Makuhita would want us to, but this is what Elekid wants. He knows exactly how I want to battle this, because he has already seen it. But there is nothing I can do about it, if he does not feel for it like I do, so we have to follow his guts. At least until he has regained confidence. He screams out his name in pride of going up against the slightly bigger, and definitely much bulkier Pokémon.
"Okay Aki, secret weapon time, hit it with Vital Throw", Lucas tells his Makuhita.
Not good, Vital Throw will await a physical attack and then use the force against us. This was exactly how Machamp knocked Elekid out in Sandgem.
Fate? Maybe.
Anyway, if Elekid flies in there with either Thunderpunch or Brick Break, we are gonna get flung afterwards and it will smash us. I know Elekid remember Machamp doing it to him, but the question is if he is simply too stubborn to learn from it. Elekid now looks back at me nervously again, but he has time for it now because Makuhita awaits him.
"You know what I would want you to do, but if you want Brick Break you can do it", I tell him, trying to muster as much confidence as I can.
I know Lucas and Dawn probably find me crazy to be having a conversation with my Pokémon during a battle, not to mention allowing him to choose the move for himself. But Elekid and I have been together long, and he knows full well that I would like him to use Thunderbolt right now, to avoid physical contact. However, if he wants to show his might, he can do it, but we will lose from it.
I doubt Sebb even knows what is happening because he has stopped cheering. Elekid sags his shoulder, but then confidence rushes through him, and I cant quite explain it, but I feel like our brainwaves are connected, and he somehow allowed his pride to be swept away in place of reason. He makes a Thunderbolt and knows he has time to charge it up proper, so when it hits Makuhita will feel it this time. I am beyond happy in my brain, but on the outside, I will not show it, this is serious business, and we have to stay focused. The big thunderbolt hits Makuhita clean and has him off his feet for the first time. Fuck yes, we are back in the game!
"That was unexpected", Dawn mutters next to Sebb, but I hear it. Surprised by Elekids sensible choice of attack, but I am not.
Okay maybe a little, but he is my Pokémon, and he is a clever bastard, even if he is just as stubborn. By playing into his stubbornness I allowed his reason to shine through, and this is the result. Me and Elekid back to perfect sync.
"Thunderpunch, while its down", I tell him calmly, and before Makuhita can get back to its feet, Elekid smashes it right in the guts as Lucas yells out in pain, on behalf of his Aki. Elekid stands back and look like a world beater. His skin is actually glistening a bit, with part electricity and part... Glow.
Is it? Could it be? He may be evolving soon.
To our surprise and interruption of our celebration, Makuhita actually arises once more. Lucas looks happy and frightened at the same time. Makuhita's do have legendary toughness, but this is impressive. In disbelief he orders a Force Palm from it, and it does as its told, even if it looks like a zombie doing it. I know that we have to finish this, or all the energy Elekid have stored for evolution will go out the window, so its time to think smart, as Elekid already have taken a lot of damage in this fight. The speed of Makuhita is very labored now, so we should be able to do this, it just requires the correct move selection.
"Wanna protect?", I ask him.
No doubt Dawn wants to ask me about this sensitive pedagogy training strategy I am developing but knows to save it till after the fight. Elekid does as he is told, but with newfound belief in what im telling him. The Force Palm is blocked and now its time to win. Just to humor my Elekid, I know exactly the right way to do it.
"he has nothing left Kid, use Brick Break" I shout out, unable to hide my eagerness.
Elekid instantly lights up at that command. Literally. The horns on top its head, flickers with lightning from pure joy. Beating a Fighting type with a Fighting type move, nothing could be sweeter for my little feisty lightning plug. He hits it hard right in the head, and it falls over, rolling a couple steps back, before finally finding itself unconscious on the ground. Brilliant.
"Wow", Dawn and Sebb say in unison, but in two completely different tones and meanings.
Sebb is in clear admiration, but Dawn has more of a proud feel to her voice. She definitely has a lot of words for me after this battle is done. Afterall we just gotten started, still two Pokémon of his to go, but that Makuhita seemed like his ace. My train of thought is broken up completely by the bright light blinding me.
It is happening, Elekid is evolving and everyone is in awe.
I have to keep myself from screaming out in happiness, and instead remember that this was destined to happen. It is obligatory for me and Elekid. Just one small step towards greatness. The greatest. It feels like forever that the light blinds us all, but then I hear it.
"Electabuzz!"
Fuck yes, my little Elekid have grown up. It crouches down in clear pain and confusion from the evolution, and I expected this. I run over hugging the now giant Buzz. Roughly the same size as me. As i touch him, I feel the electricity course through me, having my hair stand on end.
"Electa", it says, as I feel its discomfort.
"It needs time to get used to the evolution Kyce", Dawn tells me. Finally speaking directly to me. I am aware of this, but still wanted to comfort my trusted friend.
"Perfect job partner, chill for now, we will deal with this newfound power and size of yours later", I say passionately, as I return him to the Pokéball, and he accepts it while being in visible agony.
An Electabuzz, and especially my Electabuzz, is a force to be reckoned with. Once we get him used to this new body and strength of his, we are gonna be unstoppable.
Lucas is amazed by what happened and congratulates me. I did not know back then, but I was later told that Dawn wanted nothing more than to hug me and acknowledge my achievement but felt the need to hold herself back. Lucas apparently decided to keep on going with the battle and summoned his Turtwig which looked ready to show me how far it had come in power. For a moment I had forgotten about our three versus three battle, but now im ready again.
I contemplate my options against this Turtwig but know very well that Fearow is the way to go. Until something extremely weird happens. I hear Havoc barking. Nothing weird about this, he has been barking throughout the fight, but this time its for another reason than cheering along with Sebb. It barks at the small bear Pokemon approaching.
Teddiursa jumps right infront of me, before I could choose a Pokémon. As it usually does, it snarls at me, but not in an aggressive manour like it used to. This seems to be out of want. Like it has watched me and deemed me worthy to tutor it in battle. That may be why Sebb was never allowed to capture it, he did not think him good enough. After this display of mine it seems thrilled at the prospect of fighting for me.
"Do you want to fight?", I ask curiously as it nods with a serious look.
When it's on Havoc it looks so cuddly and content with relaxing and being a cutie, as Dawn points out often. But right now, it looks ready to fuck shit up.
"Okay then, lets see what you can do Teddy", I say. Might as well try it out.
Teddiursas are in no way known for their battle prowess. In fact they are known to be very bad Pokémon to train because they are so frail and docile. This one seems battle ready. What a weird battle this has turned out to be. Also the most competitive so far. I already have myself an Electabuzz from it, so nothing to lose now.
Lets see what Teddiursa can do against the Turtwig I passed down as a starter all those months ago. Eventful day indeed.
Kyce now has an Electabuzz. Quite the achievement, but still much work to be done, and this battle aint even finished yet. How will Teddiursa fare against Lucas? Many surprises to come so stay tuned. Feel free to guess in the comments, and as always, Like, Fave, Follow.