Chapter 36:

Rich and Simipour

Location: Twist Mountain Entrance

I was waiting outside the entrance to Twist Mountain for Cheren, who was just having his Gym battle with Skyla. She needed to have some check-ups on a plane in the afternoon and would fly out to Hoenn tomorrow for deliveries. Thankfully, Bianca would be able to battle her tomorrow morning.

I looked up at Twist Mountain's snow covered top. I wouldn't be going to the summit, but I would be making my way through the caves. Looking up, I saw a silhouette of someone with spiky hair.

"Who is it?" I asked.

The silhouette jumped down to reveal himself as none other than Alder.

"Long time no see!" he said, despite it only having been twelve days since our last run in. "How is everything?"

I told him about Cheren and our proposed battle. I also showed him my Badges. "Two more, and I can take on the Pokémon League! And that means you to!"

Alder smiled.

"But now we need to talk. You had a partner once, didn't you?"

"OH, LOOK IT'S CHEREN!" Alder shouted, pointing in the distance to my friend walking up.

"Hilbert and… ALDER! OH WOW!" Cheren's face beamed. "Is he going to be watching our match?"

I mean… I didn't see why not.

"Sure!" Alder yelled.

"Then, let the battle begin!"

Hilbert Vs. Cheren

"Unfezant, go!" Cheren shouted.

"I choose Excadrill!" I replied. "Start with Hone Claws!" Excadrill sharpened its claws, raising Attack and Accuracy.

"Unfezant, Taunt!" Unfezant shouted at Excadrill, meaning that Excadrill couldn't use Hone Claws.

"We don't need another boost anyway. Excadrill, Rock Slide!" Excadrill made rocks fall from the mountain above us. They all fell on Unfezant, knocking it out with a Super Effective sweep.

"Congratulations on that move. But let's see how you take on Gurdurr!" Cheren sent out his Fighting Type, looking stronger than ever.

"Excadrill, use Dig!" Excadrill went underground.

"Bulk Up Gurdurr!" Gurdurr flexed its muscles, raising Attack and Defense. When Excadrill came above ground and attacked, Gurdurr took it. "Now use Wake-Up Slap!" Gurdurr smacked Excadrill in the face. It almost finished it off.

"Come back with Slash!" Excadrill slashed at Gurdurr, almost finishing it.

"One more Wake-Up Slap!" Gurdurr slapped Excadrill one more time. Excadrill fainted.

"Unfezant, go!" I yelled. "Use Air Slash!" Unfezant swiped the air. It hit Gurdurr and delivered the final blow.

"Impressive Gurdurr. Time for my next Pokémon, Liepard!" Liepard entered. "Use Fake Out!" Liepard clapped in front of Unfezant, forcing a flinch.

"Unfezant, Air Slash!" Unfezant once again swiped the air, but it missed.

"Torment!" Liepard started edging Unfezant on, disabling Air Slash the next turn.

"Quick Attack!" Unfezant dashed into Liepard but took a bit of damage from it. I saw why; Liepard had a Rocky Helmet attached! It's an item that works very much like Iron Barbs, dealing a bit of damage to the opposition if they used a direct contact move.

"Assurance!" Liepard charged into Unfezant for lots of damage, as Unfezant was already hurt that turn. It was almost done for.

"Air Slash!" Liepard swiped through the air once again. This was a hit.

"Assurance!" Liepard charged again into Unfezant. It fainted.

I knew that what I would need to do is not make direct contact. I knew just who to use. "Foongus, come out!" I yelled.

"Liepard, Torment!" Liepard shouted at Foongus, and it felt the effects.

"Giga Drain!" Foongus shot a beam at Liepard that drained its HP till it was down.

"Unfezant, go!" Cheren shouted. "Use Air Slash!" Unfezant slashed through the air and it hit Foongus. It clutched on to a very little bit of health.

Foongus started taking in the sunlight, and it was healed. "Hey, Synthesis! Not bad, but maybe not the right time to use it!"

"Air Slash once again!" Unfezant attacked and it hit Foongus. It was down.

"Samurott, go!" I shouted.

"Unfezant, Air Slash!" Another attack from Unfezant hit Samurott, but it was fine.

"Use Slash!" Samurott slashed Unfezant. It was a Critical Hit and finished it off.

"Axew, go!" Cheren shouted. He sent his newest Pokémon onto the field.

"Come back Samurott. Okay Scraggy, this one is yours!" Scraggy jumped into battle.

"Dragon Claw Axew!" Axew came over and swiped Scraggy. In response, Scraggy started making a face at Axew. Its Speed fell.

"Scary Face! Nice one Axew! Okay, let's get another move in. Use High Jump Kick!" Scraggy jumped into Axew. It kicked it, knocking it back into a rock. Axew was finished in one.

"Simipour, go!" N responded. He had evolved his Panpour into a Water Type with funky hair and a longer tail.

Simipour (ヒヤッキエ)

022

Water Type

Geyser Pokémon

3'03" (1 m)

63.9 lbs (29 kg)

The high-pressure water expelled from its tail is so powerful, it can destroy a concrete wall.

Panpour -Water Stone- Simipour

"Simipour, Scald!" Simipour fired boiling water from its tail at Scraggy. Scraggy took the hit by shielding it with its baggy skin.

"Payback!" Scraggy was surrounded in dark energy. It then punched Simipour in the face.

"Use Scald again!" Simipour shot back with more boiling water. This was a Critical Hit. Scraggy was down.

"Samurott, come out!" I shouted. Samurott started clapping for Simipour.

"Use Acrobatics!" Cheren yelled, but Simipour couldn't. Instead, it used Scald again. Samurott had learned Encore! It's a move that forces the opposition to use the same move for a few turns! And of course, Scald isn't very effective on Samurott! "Okay Samurott, Slash it!" Samurott took a scalchop and swiped Simipour. It was finished.

"Time for my final Pokémon," Cheren said, holding up his first Pokéball. "Come on out, Serperior!" Cheren sent out a very long green Pokémon with a white head. His partner had evolved.

Serperior (ジャローダ)

003

Grass Type

Regal Pokémon

10'10" (3.3 m)

138.9 lbs (63 kg)

It can stop its opponents' movements with just a glare. It takes in solar energy and boosts it internally.*

Snivy -Lv 17- Servine -Lv 36- Serperior

*This is not referring to the moves Solar Beam or Synthesis necessarily (the latter of which Snivy or its evolution can't learn).

"Serperior, Leaf Blade!" Serperior's tail started to glow green. It then slashed Samurott, knocking it out.

"Samurott! I'm so sorry. Okay Litwick, you're my last hope!" How could a small candle take on a giant serpentine Pokémon? Well, a Type advantage certainly helped!

"Serperior, Leaf Blade!" Serperior swiped Litwick for about a third of damage.

"Use Flame Burst!" I shouted. Litwick fired a flame at Serperior. However, Serperior's HP was through the roof so it didn't do as much as I thought it would.

"Use Leaf Blade again!" Serperior swiped Litwick once more. This was a Critical Hit and Litwick was down. I had lost.

"Well, I must say that was excellent both of you!" Alder said. "But Cheren came out on top this time!"

When I said being a step ahead, I wasn't wrong. Cheren had beat me for the first time.

"That's not to say you're not strong!" Cheren said, holding out his hand. I shook it.

"I'll heal your Pokémon!" Alder said "So, what now?"

Cheren looked up at Twist Mountain. "I'm heading through there now. I need to get stronger, me and Serperior."

Alder went quiet. He tried to remain himself. "Well, before you go, I would like to give you both HMs!" He gave us the discs. "These contain Surf! They can help you get across water! How's that?"

We both thanked him. "They will be helpful," I said.

Cheren didn't say much. He just walked up the stairs to the Twist Mountain entrance. As for me, I needed a rest. I wasn't upset by the lost, but as someone who hadn't lost against much, I needed to get my head around things.

Location: Mistralton City Pokémon Center

My Pokémon were healed. I decided if I were to head up Twist Mountain, then I would need Simisear. I put Unfezant back in and put the Exp. Share on Foongus. It probably wouldn't battle, so giving it some points would benefit it.

"Hiiiii!" Bianca said, walking in. "How did the battle go?"

I told her about Cheren's victory and Alder.

"Well, you win some you lose some. Me? Let's just say my team has gotten a lot stronger. I've even got a new member! Come on out!" Bianca sent out a pink floating Pokémon with frilly arms.

Frillish (プルリル)

098

Water/Ghost Type

Floating Pokémon

3'11" (1.2 m)

72.8 lbs (33 kg)

With its thin, veil-like arms wrapped around the body of its opponent, it sinks to the ocean floor.

"Neat huh? I caught a Klink in Chargestone Cave and a Trainer traded me this Frillish so I could have a Water Type!"

"Nice one," I said. "Good luck tomorrow! I'm heading up Twist Mountain first thing, so I'll wish you luck now!"

I'm not going to obsess over my loss against Cheren. If anything, it encourages me to get stronger! I'll need strength to. Twist Mountain in winter is no joke. But it's the only route to Icirrus City, and my next Gym battle!