A/N: Hey, so, I don't know if I made it explicitly clear in the first B story, but here she's also older than canon and is 18. Just wanted to be clear.
After waking up at a ridiculous hour of five in the morning thanks to the ranch couple's routine, Nate and Hugh spent the the next two hours training with their starters to get them ready for their first gym. And once that was done, they went out into the forest to catch some Pokémon and train them up as well. Nate caught a lilipup, a pidove, a mareep and riolu. So did Hugh, but since their teams were mostly the same with the exception of Hugh also having a purrloin and minus a riolu due to being impatient to find one, he thought it'd be boring to have a match. Not to mention their Pokémon were tired. The pokeballs to catch said Pokémon were provided by the ranchers. After spending the entire morning working up their teams to a satisfactory amount, they left the ranch and headed back to Floccesy Town. Once they reached his place, it looked like the former champion was overseeing a couple of kids. He then noticed the returning trainers and yelled them over with a smile.
"Hey, you sure took your time! Had a good time at the ranch?"
"Yeah. We both caught several Pokémon. We even saved a herdier." Nate replied.
"Well that's just great to hear. Oh yeah, I wish for you lend me a hand."
"For what?"
"These kids here are growing aspiring trainers in their youth. You're going to battle them and teach them a lesson."
"So these are the trainers?" The young girl asked.
"That black haired one is a little scary looking." The boy commented about Hugh, whom tried to soften his appearance, only to look even scarier by accident as they shrank away from him.
"Seymour, it's rude to call someone scary looking, even if it's true." Alder talked down to the boy.
"Hey!" Hugh cried out indignantly.
"Anyway, Nate here will teach you about the importance of type match ups. Although it's not always the winning factor, it is nonetheless important in every battle. But also, don't worry about that. Just learn to have fun most of all. "Nate, since your face isn't scary to these kids, why don't you go?" Hugh grumbled in quiet complaint as his best friend stepped up onto the battle field.
"Let me show you what's cool about my Pokémon!" Seymour yelled. "Go, Panpour!"
"An elemental monkey? Please." Hugh scoffed.
"Mareep, let's go!" Nate sent out his electric type Wool Pokémon, which is basically a sheep with cream colored wool, black and yellow horns and tail with an orange orb at the end of the tail.
"Use Water Gun!" The water monkey spewed out a blast of water which drenched the sheep as he baaed from the force. His wool was now drenched and heavy.
"Get in close to use Tackle!" Nate instructed. Mareep ran towards Panpour.
"Counter with Scratch!" The monkey leapt at the sheep and scratched the Pokémon on the head, inflicting more damage.
"Mareep, Thundershock!" In such close proximity, it was impossible for the Spray Pokémon to evade the electricity and both of them were shocked, Mareep included because he was soaked in water before. Though only Panpour was the one to faint and fall to the ground.
"Aw man. I need Alder to teach me more things." Seymour pouted.
"Good job Mareep. Return."
"My turn!" The little girl, Cassie, yelled. "Go, Pansear!"
"That monkey's even worse!" Hugh commented in the background.
"Oshawaott, let's go!"
"Use Scratch!" Cassie ordered. Pansear was able to get close and scratch the starter, but it barely hurt, given how refused to show it hurt a little.
"Water gun!" Nate retaliated. Blasting the fire monkey away, it was down in one hit.
"Oh, so I lost that type matchup."
"Thanks Oshawott. You're getting strong." Nate said to his starter.
"Osha." He replied.
"Well, what a fine display of battling that was." Alder said to the three. "I could see that your Pokémon did their best. Let's get everyone healed up, huh?" After all the participating Pokémon were healed up with potions, the group headed out, Alder got an idea.
"Hey kids, why don't you go home? I have something I want to show these two." The two kids nodded and they ran to play.
"What do you want to show us?" Nate asked.
"Oh don't worry, I think you'll like the surprise. Follow me behind my house." The former champion said as he went into the woods, with the two trainers following. The three soon reached a n open grove with a huge rock in the back with three deep gashes in it. And before it was a certain girl whom was training with a shiny axew and a dratini.
"Wait, is that the champion Iris?!" Hugh gasped. Nate could barely believe it either. Sure, the two had to have known each other since they were champions respectively, but he didn't expect to see her until the end. Iris looked over towards them, and sighed in annoyance. She thanked and returned Dratini and approached the group.
"Alder, I asked to train in private! You said you wouldn't bring any fans back here!" She scolded the older man, whom sweated and smiled nervously while putting his hands up.
"Oops, slipped my mind I guess. Well, it's not like these are just average trainers. I met these two for the first time yesterday and they didn't bat an eye."
"Huh? Why not?"
"Eh, I'm not one to gush over things." Hugh shrugged while putting his hands behind his back. "I mean, it's cool seeing you here in comparison to Alder but it's worn off already."
"And uh, you yelling at Alder shut down any praise I might've immediately wanted to tell you." Nate responded. Briefly eyeing this girl who looked his age group for half a second, he had to admit that seeing her in person, she was beautiful. Her face looked so pretty and youthful, her body slim and petite, and yet athletic and not at all frail, and her huge hair looked so luscious. Iris turned sheepish from his comment.
"Oh, well...I'm actually quite nice to most people. I just don't like when I'm disturbed during practice or bombarded by praise. Let's start over. I'm Iris Morris, but you two likely knew that already." She extended her right hand.
"Yep. Hugh Brooks." He shook it.
"Nate Wayland. You know, I'd say you're beautiful, but you don't want praise so I won't say it. Oh, oops." The young trainer snickered. Iris chuckled.
"Hehe, I'm not that attractive. But thank you."
"Well, now that introductions are out of the way, I'm off to challenge my first gym back home." Hugh walked off.
"Oh, did you two just start your journeys recently?"
"Yeah. Just had my 17th birthday yesterday. Got an Oshawott." That perked the champion right up.
"Oh, from Professor Juniper?! You must be something special." She complimented, but he shook his head.
"Nah, from her assistant Bianca."
"Oh yeah, Bianca! Wait-does that mean she was in your hometown?"
"Might still be there. She was checking up on our new gym leader Cheren."
"Wow! Well, it's decided! I'm coming with you to meet up with the two! We became friends two years ago. What do you say Axew?"
"Axew!" He said in agreement as he jumped into her hair.
"Alright, let's go!" She cheered. Alder laughed.
"It's been good seeing you Iris. Take care over there."
"I will. Well, lead the way Nate." She requested. Nate obliged and lead the champion so they could catch up to Hugh.
After making sure they were registered to fight the gym leaders and enter the Pokémon League, Iris and Bianca were celebrating their reunion.
"Oh my gosh Iris, how have you been?! I haven't seen you since passing the champion title to you!" The blonde haired woman remarked as she hugged her successor and friend.
"It's so great to see you B! Sorry, I've been travelling Unova for something new! Being a champion is fun but it's more boring than I thought it was. Nothing feels challenging anymore." As the two girls talked, Cheren was speaking to the boys.
"So you wish to be my first challengers, yes?" The gym leader asked them.
"Yeah. I'm Hugh and this here is my friend Nate. You're our first gym leader."
"Well then, Hugh, Nate, since I can only accept one of you within this hour, how about a coin flip?" Cheren took out a quarter, and flipped it. "Call it."
"Tails!" Hugh yelled.
"Heads!" Nate exclaimed. Catching the coin and slapping it onto his hand, Cheren opened it to see it was heads. "Yes!" Nate pumped his fist. Hugh grumbled.
"Alright. Let's get started." The gym leader said, but Nate noticed he didn't seem confident. Going to their respective ends of the battle field, which was outside and looked like a schoolyard since the building doubled as the city's school, Clive the announcer gave Cheren his first level team, and then went to the middle of the field before speaking up.
"Here we have the gym's first challenger, Nate Wayland! And he'll be going up against the Aspertia City gym leader, Cheren Griffith!" All the kids that were in the facility were shouting in excitement, unable to wait for their first audience view of a gym battle. Cheren readjusted his tie and glasses. Bianca giggled, seeing he hasn't outgrown that tick. "The match is a three on three, and the battle will go on until either side is unable to continue. Only the challenger may substitute Pokémon! Let the battle begin!"
"Alright! Patrat, let's go!"
"Hydro, let's go!"
"Patrat, use Work Up!" Patrat tensed up, a red aura glowing around his body.
"Use Water Gun!" Hydro spewed out a stream of water that hit the Scout Pokémon head on, and even though he was pushed back some, he was not down for the count.
"Use Tackle!" Cheren ordered.
"Tackle as well!" Nate requested. Both Pokémon charged at each other and rammed their foreheads at each other, but Patrat easily bashed Hydro much harder, inflicting serious damage as the water starter groaned with a red bump on his white head.
"Osha." Hydro growled.
"Water Gun, again!"
"Detect!" Patrat's eyes glowed blue, and thus he was able to easily dodge Hydro's attack. "Now use Crunch!" Leaping forward, he chomped down on the Sea Otter Pokémon, causing some serious pain as the oshawott screamed from pain.
"Oh no! Hang in there!" But then, a blue aura surrounded the water type, and he shouted with vigor as he shook the Scout Pokémon off. "Alright! Torrent!" Nate recognized with pleasant surprise. "Water Gun, again!" With a much more powerful blast of water, Hydro pushed the normal type off the arena and into a tree. Patrat was knocked out.
"Patrat is unable to battle! The winner is Hydro!" Clive declared.
"Alright! Just hang in there Hydro!" Nate told his starter.
"Return. Thank you. You did very well." Cheren told his Pokémon. "Pidove, let's go!" Once his Pokémon pigeon came out, he ordered, "Use Work Up!" Chirping while spreading his wings, his Pokémon glowed red as he became stronger.
"Water Gun, again!" As Pidove powered up, Hydro blasted him with strong water, dealing big damage. "Again!"
"Dodge with Quick Attack!" Cheren pleaded. Moving faster than anyone could see, the flying type was lost until someone looked up.
"There!" One of the kids shouted. They all saw Pidove flying high, using the sun to its advantage as Hydro had to block the bright light.
"Air Cutter!" His wings glowing blue, he flapped them to unleash a barrage of energy blades which Hydro couldn't dodge he was caught up in an explosion, and once the dust settled, the oshawott was down.
"Hydro is unable to battle! The winner is Pidove!"
"Yeah, you can do it Cheren!" Bianca cheered.
"Come on Nate! Don't let this guy beat you already!" Hugh shouted at his friend.
"Hydro, return. You earned a good rest." ("Good thing I have some new Pokémon I caught at the ranch, or I would've already been done for.") "Mareep, let's go!" Once the electric sheep appeared, Cheren gulped, but kept it to himself.
"Pidove, use Gust!" The high flying bird flapped his wings, creating a strong force of wind that was threatening to push Mareep back, but he stood his ground.
"Counter with Cotton Spore!" Obeying, the sheep let loose yellow sparkles from his wool that started floating through the air. Once they drifted up and covered the flying type, he started sneezing, and was unable to fly as high or well.
"No!" The gym leader gasped.
"Yeah! Now use Thundershock!" Mareep gave a loud baaa as he let loose a zap of electricity that hit Pidove, whom dropped to the ground. Cheren's Pokémon tried to get up, but zaps kept him from moving. "He's paralyzed! Thundershock, again!" As Mareep zapped the flying type again, it was obvious who won that bout.
"Pidove is unable to battle! The winner is Mareep!" Clive shouted.
"Great job Mareep!" Nate congratulated.
"Pidove, return. You did wonderful. Rest up now. You're quite powerful, but just because my Pokémon are normal type doesn't make them ordinary. Lillipup, let's go!" Once his ace was let loose, he commanded, "Work Up!" The Puppy Pokémon growled and glowed red.
"Use Thunderwave!" Producing a wave of electricity, Lillipup was shocked and whined as he became paralyzed and much slower. But what happened next was something no one could've guessed.
"Use Wild Charge!" Generating his own electricity, Lillipup ran forward to get up close to mareep.
"Thundershock!" Nate ordered. The electric sheep tried to attack, but the Wild Charge was also providing a protective shield against the weak blast of energy. The Puppy Pokémon then bashed into Mareep, dealing some damage, but not much. But that wasn't the main attack.
"Now use Take Down!" Backing himself up, the normal type lunged and rammed into Mareep, his enhanced strength causing the Wool Pokémon to cry out in discomfort before he fell to the ground defeated.
"Mareep is unable to battle! The winner is Lillipup!"
"Come on Nate! Don't lose now!" Hugh demanded. Nate ignored his increasingly irritated friend as he sent out his last Pokémon.
"Riolu, let's go!"
"Take Down, once more!" Cheren pleaded, for a moment forgetting about his anxiety since the battle has been quite intense. Lillipup tried to attack, but growled as his paralysis kept him stuck.
"Quick Attack!" Nate yelled out. Moving faster than the eye can track, Rioly punched the Puppy Pokémon, sending the howling normal type skidding across the ground.
"Finish him with Take Down!"
"Use Counter!" Both of the guys commanded. Lillipup was able to land a blow against the fighting type, but with his foe beforehand glowed orange. And with quick enough reflexes, Riolu was able to catch Lillipup in between his paws, and slammed the ace Pokémon into the ground with twice the force the normal type gave him, resulting in the ground being cracked. Lillipup has fainted, followed by Riolu but Nate caught him.
"Lillipup is unable to battle! The winner of this match is Riolu, and thus Nate is the victor!" Clive announced.
"Yeah! We won Riolu!" Nate cheered, his Pokémon weakly celebrating with him.
"About time. Any less and he would've suffered a pitiful loss." Hugh scoffed.
"Aw, poor Cheren." Bianca sighed sympathetically for her disappointed friend.
"Don't worry B. I'm sure he'll grow stronger as a gym leader." Iris reassured her, before looking at Nate. "I do have to admit though, Nate is certainly quite something now that I've seen him battle."
"You did your best Lillipup. Return." Cheren thanked his Pokémon, then turned his attention to Nate.
"So, that was a Pokémon battle as a gym leader. It's real."
"Hey uh, sorry about handing you your first loss." The trainer apologized, but Cheren shook his head as he walked to his successful challenger.
"No, I'm glad you were my first. Even though I lost, I was feeling the thrill around those last few moments. I give you this in honor of the strength you and your Pokémon displayed." Nate took hold of a long, narrow rectangle that resembled the spine of a book colored purple with gilded accents.
"Thank you." Nate replied with a smile.
"I have to say Nate, for a kid trainer, you handled your first gym badge very well." Iris remarked as she approached the two boys. "Cheren, your Lillipup was aided with TM's, yes?"
"Yes. Ever since the gym leader difficulty standards have been raised, I took the initiative to make my first level Pokémon really formidable." He answered while adjusting his glasses.
"Nice to see that you're taking this job seriously." Iris smiled. "I have a feeling you'll make a great leader."
"Thank you." Cheren nodded.
"Also Nate, I've decided. Since you're so skilled despite being so new at this, I'll tag along with you and Hugh."
"Really?!" Nate gasped. Hugh also raised an eyebrow with intrigue.
"Yep! I was looking for something to do. Something new and exciting. And you're the perfect solution!"
"Uh, thanks." The trainer chuckled, having difficulty processing that the champion wants to hang with them.
"I believe the next city is Virbank City. Come on, let's go!" Iris shouted with energy as she ran while holding her arms out like an airplane. Nate looked at Hugh, shrugged while smiling and followed the fast moving girl. Hugh rolled his eyes and crossed his arms as he went along with them as well.
A/N: I told you things would be more difficult! Gameplay wise, Patrat and Pidove were level 14 while Lillipup was 15 and had TMs. It may not seem that much harder, but we're just beginning.What do you think down below in the reviews?