Pokémon: Radiant Ruby and Shining Sapphire

Chapter 4

Pettalberg Gym Leader

The next morning, Ruby was awoken by a tackle from a fully recovered Mudkip. Sapphire went up to him, grabbed his wrist, and yanked him up. "Wake up! It's 11 o'clock and time to get going!"

Ruby moaned and rubbed his eyes as Torchic slowly got up as well and started to pluck out the dirt from its feathers.

"5 more minutes." Ruby whined as he face planted back into his pillow.

Sapphire smirked and said, "I could make this really awkward if you don't get up in ten seconds."

Ten seconds passed and then Sapphire sat on Ruby's temporary bed and put her hand on his shoulder. She slid her way down to his hips then started reaching to his pelvis. Before she made it halfway, Ruby shot up from his bed and stood up clumsily. "The fuck was that?!" Ruby questioned shocked.

"That was my way of getting you up." She smiled as she got off his bed as well.

Torchic was chirping hysterically while rolling on the bed in response to this.

Sapphire had already changed and was ready to go for the day. Ruby got changed and threw on his running shoes. Then all four went upstairs. Mudkip was riding in Sapphire's backpack. It seemed rather comfortable inside it.

They thanked the nurse as they waved goodbye and walked out the door. Outside they went for the Pokémart in the middle of the town to resupply. Sapphire bought 10 Pokéballs and 2 spray on potion bottles. Ruby also got 2 potion bottles and then they left for Route 103.

It was a great morning. Ruby assumed that the mornings in this region were the most enjoyable because the rest of the day it was scorching hot and incredibly humid. The river bed glistened in the early sun. Flowers grew all around and there was much tall grass around for the Pokémon as well. To the left there was a young boy in shorts and wearing a yellow cap. He saw Ruby and Sapphire walk onto the route and ran up to them. He said eagerly, "Hey you two are Pokémon trainers too, do you want to battle me?"

Ruby smiled down at him and said, "Sure, as long as you are a good sport no matter the outcome."

"Awesome! Sounds good!" He replied very excitedly.

He made room between Ruby and him and threw out his Pokéball yelling, "Go Zigzagoon!"

The raccoon was released from the ball and gave a brief growl.

Ruby remembering his own Zigzagoon asked Torchic, "Do you mind if I use our second member for this one?"

"Sure." Torchic answered as he jumped off Ruby's shoulder.

Ruby grabbed the Pokéball off his belt. "Alright let's have a Zigzagoon battle. God speed Zigzagoon!" He yelled as he released his own creature.

The two Pokémon circled each other for a while waiting for commands. Ruby looked at his human opponent and asked, "What's your name?"

The boy replied, "Calvin. And yours?"

"Ruby."

"Well Ruby, don't hold back."

"Didn't plan on it!"

The match began with Calvin calling, "Zigzagoon use sand-attack!" The raccoon ran forward and skid to a stop throwing dust up into the air.

Ruby thought quickly how to handle it though. "Zigzagoon, use tail whip at the dust then tackle."

Ruby's creature swung its tail powerfully and the air blew away the dust so it could see it's target clearly. Then it ran up to tackle Calvin's partner only to be evaded to the left.

Calvin commanded, "While he's landing, use tackle yourself."

Calvin's Zigzagoon tackled the unprepared raccoon to the ground. It pinned its fur not its paws. Upon seeing this mistake Ruby called, "Zigzagoon use scratch!"

The critter easily broke the pin and swiped its claw a cross Calvin's Pokémon's face. It rolled to the side trying to get up but was staggering. Ruby yelled, "End it with a Quick Attack!"

His Zigzagoon lunged forward with tremendous speed and rammed it's head into it's dazed foe. Calvin's Zigzagoon had nothing left and fainted.

Calvin opened the Pokéball and returned his partner to it. He sighed but as he walked over to Ruby he said, "I'm kind of happy I lost, I got it out of the way so I can keep pushing later." He pulled out his wallet and handed Ruby 100 Poké.

Ruby looked at the money and said, "I don't want your money, you keep it."

Calvin looked at him and said, "This is part of the rules so don't degrade me by not taking it."

Ruby reluctantly took the money from the child who said, "It was a short match but a good one. I'll still keep pushing to be Pokémon League Champion someday." The boy smiled and ran to the Oldale Pokémon Center.

Ruby had never thought of that before, a person pushing to become champion. Of the tens of thousands of people in each region, there is still only one champion. The chances that someone could actually become the new one was near impossible. Every now and then someone manages to beat the champion and that's how it cycles. Ruby thought to himself, "My goal is to complete the Pokédex first, then I can set my goals higher."

Torchic of course heard this and responded, "Ruby, I think it best we at least set our goals to combat efficiency as well as the Pokédex. If we are going to remotely come close to completing it, we will encounter very strong Pokémon."

Ruby replied, "Sounds fine to me. We should take the Gym challenge then."

"The what?"

"The Pokémon Gym challenge is what most people do to test their strength and bonds with their Pokémon. My dad is actually the Gym Leader of Pettalberg. Maybe we could start at that Gym. Anyway, the goal is to gather 8 unique Gym Badges so they prove their worth to enter the Pokémon League. That is where the Champion mainly resides and takes on the challengers that come. Although we may not go to the League, the Gym Challenge could prove to test our abilities."

"Alright then, I'm game"

Ruby drew back his Zigzagoon to its Pokéball. Then they continued to walk by the lake and Torchic asked to have a drink of water. While drinking from the lake a lily pad that was floating sprung to life and leaped out of the water. A blue creature with the pad still on its back showed itself upon landing. It crackled at Torchic furiously.

Ruby and Sapphire pulled out there Pokédexs once again and scanned it. It showed:

Lotad

The water weed Pokémon

Average Height: 1'8"

Average Weight: 5.7 lbs

This aquatic Pokémon lives in clean water anywhere. It can disguise itself from predators or allow it to easily sneak up on its prey. It also uses photosynthesis to get some of its energy due to the leaf atop its head.

Torchic staggered back upon the Lotad's landing. The lily pad creature ran up and head butted Torchic to the ground. Then it was prepared to fire a water stream at the fire chick. Ruby thought quickly and sent out Zigzagoon once again. When it saw Torchic in trouble it instantly reacted. The Lotad barely started firing before it was tackled from the side by the raccoon. Ruby yelled, "Zigzagoon, use tail whip!"

The Pokémon obeyed and lashed its tail around violently, whipping the Lotad to spin it. Ruby pulled out a Pokéball and threw it at the Lotad. The ball pulled in the injured creature into it. It landed, shook once but then burst. The Lotad had an angry glare set on Zigzagoon. It ran up to attack, only to be stopped by Torchic landing on top of the lily pad on its head. The impact skid the creature to the ground. Ruby decided to try again with catching it when Torchic jumped off, so he threw another Pokéball at it. The ball shook three times and clicked the red light on.

Sapphire smiled at Ruby and congratulated him saying, "Well done! That's number three for you right?"

Ruby answered with a nod as he walked over to retrieve the ball. As he did a man in a white suit with silky brown hair walked to the group. "Well done indeed." He said with a smile.

Ruby turned around to see none other than his father standing there. "Dad!" He said with excitement and he ran over and hugged him.

Sapphire smirked as she said, "It's been quite a while Norman."

Norman Plake hugged his son back and replied to Sapphire, "Yes it has, sorry. I'm a gym leader, it's kind of hard to get back to Littleroot when people just keep coming to challenge me."

This reminded Ruby of what his plan was and asked, "Dad, could I challenge you as a gym leader too?"

Norman looked down at Ruby rather shocked. "You've only been with your Pokémon for a day, it takes months for most people to be ready to challenge a gym." He said informatively.

Ruby retaliated, "I don't care, I'm ready!"

"Fine we will see. But know that I'm a gym leader when I battle you, not your dad."

"Alright!" Ruby excitedly said.

The three walked there way to Pettalberg and entered the Pokemon gym in the center of town.

Norman walked over to the wall where it ejected six Pokéballs. He only picked up one and turned to face Ruby. He turned and said, "I'm sorry Ruby, please don't take this personal."

Ruby looked at his dad angrily and said, "I won't be that easy to beat so don't plan on a quick match!"

Norman walked to get distance between the two of them. As he turned to Ruby he threw his Pokéball in the air yelling, "Go Vigoroth"

The ball released a white monkey with two claws on its hands and a red flarish hair bunch on its forehead. Ruby and Sapphire loaded it in their Pokédexs.

Vigoroth

The wild monkey Pokémon

Average height: 4'7"

Average weight: 102.5 lbs.

This Pokémon is most famous for its spontaneous rampages. It becomes more stressed when not moving so it continuously jumps around. It is also basically incapable of sleep.

The monkey continuously jittered around as it stood. Ruby threw out his own ball saying, "Zigzagoon, stand by for battle." The raccoon was yet again standing in the face of battle.

Norman smirked as he said, "I thought you'd have better Pokémon than this. Vigoroth let's show 'em how it's down." Vigoroth howled at this and leaped into the air to land in a position to fight.

Norman made the first move. "Vigoroth, use slash!"

Ruby retaliated, "Zigzagoon, dodge using quick attack."

Ruby's Pokémon darted away from what would have been a critical hit. But just as fast as it dodged, it came back and head butted the back of the monkey.

Ruby then commanded, "Now use Sand-attack."

Zigzagoon ran around collecting dust from the ground to its tail. Once it had enough it leaped up and hit the dazed Vigoroth across the eyes with the dirty tail. Vigoroth flailed around, in pain with the dust in its eyes to cause an inability to see. However, in its Flail it managed to hit Zigzagoon in the temple with its claws. No open wound but the raccoon was instantly out cold.

Ruby returned the Pokémon to its ball shelter and grabbed the other ball on his belt. "Go Lotad!" He yelled as he threw the Pokemon out.

Vigoroth was not yet done flailing around so it was a perfect chance to confuse it. Ruby commanded, "Lotad, use water gun."

Norman smiled and threw a berry out to Vigoroth and it stopped its rampage once it ate it. Lotad was ready to fire when Norman yelled, "Use Thrash!"

Vigoroth almost missed due to its sight problems, but it managed to stumble back just in time to barrage the aquatic Pokémon with hits.

Lotad followed suit and fainted as well.

"Shit." Ruby whispered under his breath.

Norman stared at his son. "You have one remaining Pokemon, make it count." He said to him.

Torchic thought to Ruby, "Now would be the best time to strike so think of a plan fast before the monkey gets the sight back."

Ruby thought back, "I already have a plan. Now get out there and I'll think it out to you step by step as it happens."

Torchic leaped from Ruby's shoulder onto the battlefield. Vigoroth stood trying to look with it's tear filled eyes. Both Pokémon stood waiting for commands.

Ruby thought to Torchic, "Step 1: Stagger him once he attacks to promote confusion."

Norman broke the standoff, "Vigoroth use Thrash again."

This time was way off its target and swung wide right. At this Torchic bashed the back of the Pokémon's knee in to make it lose balance.

Ruby thought again, "Step 2, promote heat stroke."

Torchic leaped in the air and shot a small, steady stream of fire from its mouth to surround the target. Vigoroth seemed to hate the conditions but not willing to run through the flames.

"Step 3, Tackle, Wing Attack, then scratch to end it." Ruby gave as his last command.

The confused monkey had no way to defend itself from the chick ramming into its rib cage then across the face with a wing. It fell to the ground to be finished by a talon strike.

Vigoroth reached out and howled in pain. And as its arm dropped it fell unconscious.

Norman stood there in awe. He finally returned his injured Pokémon to its ball. He looked at his son, who was breathing hard from the battle.

Ruby thought to Torchic, "Hey, well, that actually worked."

Torchic thought back, "Wasn't that hard now."

Ruby walked over to his dad, he expected his reward. His father, however had different plans. He looked at his son's wanting eyes and blatantly said, "No."

"No?" Ruby repeated confused.

Norman shook his head and said, "I can't give you the Balance Badge."

Sapphire ran up and joined in, "And why the hell not? He beat you Norman, it's your job to give him the badge."

Norman sighed and told them his reason. "Ruby has just obtained his Pokémon, and he has much yet to learn. I don't want to be the first badge he gets in the League because I want to face him when both me and him can try our hardest. So, Ruby, I want you to obtain at least 4 gym badges before you challenge me again, ok?"

Ruby sighed and said, "Alright."

Sapphire looked at Ruby and asked, "Why are you letting him break the rules like that?"

Ruby smirked as he replied, "If he wants to get beat again after I have 4 badges, I say let him."

His dad nodded with approval and motioned him out of the building. He said as they were walking out, "I expect both of you to be back in no less than a year."

Ruby replied, "Ok, see you in about 4 months!" He said as he waved goodbye to his father and walked out of the gym.