Pokemon: Radiant Ruby and Shining Sapphire
Chapter 7
Battle with Roxanne
Ruby walked up the uneven rock steps slowly and steadily so that he did not trip. Upon reaching the top he found a Pokemon battle field with stalagmitic features. On the other side of the stadium was a brown haired girl with two loops of hair to both sides. She was wearing a black blouse and under it a red colored shirt and leggings. She was representative of an albino because of her pale skin and her eyes. Her red glare followed Ruby as he made his way over.
In a young sweet voice she said, "Judging on the energy in your eyes and the enraged voice of my co-leader, I'd say you are here for a challenge. Well you'll be happy to hear that I never turn my back on a trainer with potential. Tell me first, have you ever lost a battle?"
"No and I won't to you." Ruby responded as he open his badge case to reveal the empty 8 slots.
The girl smiled and said, "I'd be delighted to be the one to give you your first Pokemon League badge, but you need to first show your worth in battle. Prove to me, Roxanne the Rustboro Gym-Leader, that you won't get flattened by my Rock-Type Pokemon!"
Roxanne walked over to the wall of her gym where it revealed six Pokeballs. She picked up 2 of them and walked to her spot.
Ruby walked over to the other side of the arena and waited. Torchic hopped off of his shoulder and thought to him, "I think I'll let Lotad take this one, Rock-Type really isn't my specialty."
Ruby thought back, "So you're being a chicken?"
"Yes, that is my species,"
"Damn it, you know what I meant."
"Yes I do, but doesn't mean I can't have some fun every now and then. You're such a killjoy sometimes."
"Fine, whatever. Just stay rested and relaxed, but know if Lotad faints, you are my back-up."
"Ok"
After the non-verbal conversation there came a loud yell out of nowhere, "WAIT FOR ME!" Sapphire came sprinting up the steps, not shortly followed by her Mudkip companion. She stopped and laid on the ground for a couple moments next to the field, she was panting to catch her breath. It took her about a minute to recover and finally said, "Sorry… I over… Slept… But don't… Worry… I'm here now."
Both Ruby and Roxanne gave an audible chuckle as they turned around to face each other. Their eyes had locked and Roxanne's red eyes started to sparkle like flames with the light.
Torchic walked over and sat in Sapphire's lap to prepare for the upcoming show.
The two trainers almost simultaneously threw out their pokeballs. Roxanne's released yet another Geodude and Ruby's his Lotad again.
Ruby led commanding, "Lotad! Leech Seed!" The Pokemon followed its trainer's order and shot a seed from its mouth that hit Geodude almost instantly.
Roxanne smiled as she laughed out, "Nice, good. Quick movements are the bane of Rock-type. However, my Geodude can easily stand that for a while. Now Geodude, hit him with a Rock Tomb."
Geodude did just that as it opened its hands on the ground around it. Three decently sized rocks broke away from the ground and began to levitate as Geodude punched them one by one in Lotad's direction. Lotad dodged the first projectile, but as it jumped away from the second the end of the lilypad on its back causing the Pokemon to spin through the air. The third bashed it out of the air. Lotad had now an open visible wound on its leg, bleeding. Despite the injury however, Lotad seemed still invigorated for revenge.
Ruby saw the lust for retribution in Lotad's eyes so he ordered, "Lotad, Water Spray." The lilypad Pokemon reacted and fired a stream of powerful water at Geodude. The Rock-type prepared and used Rock Tomb to lift up a rock as a shield.
At the sight of this, Ruby gave a chuckle with a smirk, she had walked right into the trap he had used earlier. Roxanne saw the smile and asked, "What are you smiling about? Geodude blocked it."
Ruby said in reply, "Or so you think. You know what? I expected a gym-leader to be a little less predictable."
"What do you mean?" Roxanne said as her face turned red in embarrassment after being called predictable.
Right as Ruby was about to explain Torchic joined the conversation. "Ruby don't tell her, because then you may be able to use the trick again," the chick said with a sense of urgency.
Ruby nodded to Torchic and said without thinking, "The bird has spoken."
Roxanne seemed confused at first by him saying this but she just brushed it aside as him just making a mistake. Confusion for her also became concern as she started to see that the water was melting away the rock shield as it soaked its surface. Soon the rock guarding Geodude completely crumbled and fell to the ground steaming. The water-acid then reached Geodude and the Pokemon was drenched and rolled on the ground as the spray continued to hit it.
Lotad let up the assault as it saw Geodude had fallen unconscious from the pain. Roxanne withdrew her pokemon from the battlefield. Sapphire cheered and clapped on the sideline for Ruby's victory.
Roxanne looked at her pokeball which she returned Geodude and said, "Thank you for the help." Then she grabbed the other ball from her belt. She looked directly at Ruby and said, "This battle isn't over yet, keep up the good work though. Nosepass, your turn!"
She threw out her poke all which released a large rock face with a pointed red nose. Ruby pulled out its pokedex as it read.
Nosepass
The stone head Pokemon
Nosepass' nose is magnetic and always is able to point north. This Pokemon moves an average of 2 centimeters outside of battle annually. It fights by throwing its heavy body into its opponents or psychic attacks from its complex mind.
Before Ruby had time to put away his pokedex, Roxanne ordered, "Nosepass, use confusion!"
Like Wally's Ralts, Solitha, Nosepass released a clear stream of energy which reached Lotad. The Pokemon began to struggle around as its mind was being played with. Without a command, Nosepass then stomped the ground, which shattered around Lotad in a stalagmite fashion. Lotad lost its footing and stumbled to its side. Roxanne then ordered, "Take-down!" Nosepass sprinted with surprising speed and drove its entire body to smash into Lotad who was fired of to hit a stalagmite on the battlefield.
Although injured, Lotad got back up and prepared to fight again. Ruby sighed with relief then commanded, "Lotad, water hop!"
Roxanne looked confused as she asked, "Is that even a move? I've never heard of it before."
Ruby just said, "You'll see."
Lotad jumped in the air and sprayed high pressure water behind it to launch itself toward Nosepass. Ruby then added, "Now, Razor Strike!" Lotad tilted the steam to the side to rapidly spin in the air. The revolution speed was so fast that the lilypad actually flattened out and it tore across the Stone Pokemon's arm, disemboweling the limb.
Ruby would have felt concerned if he hadn't learned that Rock Types' limbs can regenerate when out of battle by merging with the land.
He then said, "Now finish with a Bubblebeam!"
Roxanne gave a little laugh as she said, "You think you can finish this now? Oh please, we're just getting to the fun part. Nosepass, use Stone Edge."
The Nosepass stomped the ground and, as Lotad was about to fire, a rock jutted out of the ground and smashed into the Water-Grass type. The blow flung it into the air spinning.
Roxanne then said, "It's our turn now to take out a Pokemon! Nosepass, Rock Throw!"
Nosepass shoved its remaining arm into the ground and hurled a large chunk of stone that hit Lotad mid flight. Roxanne added, "Now finish it with Gravity." Nosepass used its magnetic nose and thrust downward. Lotad rapidly fell from the air and smashed into the ground, out cold. It didn't just affect Lotad however. Ruby fell to the ground flat on his ass, Sapphire was flattened to the ground on the sideline. The other gym members were complaining. The only two that seemed unaffected were Torchic and Roxanne.
Ruby returned to his feet and went to check on Lotad immediately. The only external damage was the bleeding leg from earlier and now a bloodied nose. He pulled out one of his potions and sprayed it on the wounds, which stopped the bleeding instantly. Then he returned the Pokemon to it's ball shelter.
Ruby went back to his position at the edge of the arena and pulled out his other Pokeball. He thought, "Zigzagoon won't be able to do much against a Rock-Type."
Torchic added, "But neither will I. At least Normal isn't weak to Rock. Fire is so Zigzagoon is the better choice first."
Ruby nodded and threw out his pokeball to release the brown and white furred racoon. Zigzagoon started to roll around on the ground as it landed as if it had an unfortunately placed itch.
Then from the sideline, Sapphire shrieked, "That is so completely amazingly adorable!" The shriek jolted Zigzagoon to a standing position. It examined the surrounding area, and upon realizing it was a battlefield it searched for its opponent. Once it laid eyes on Nosepass it began to growl. Nosepass seemed to care less about the fetal attempt of intimidation.
Roxanne commented, "You know that Type-advantages are a thing, right? You won't do much to Rock with Normal Type."
Ruby replied, "Yes I get that, but I won't give up now."
"Well good, let's go then!" Roxanne exclaimed as she locked eyes with Ruby yet again.
Ruby ordered, "Zigzagoon, use Bite!"
Torchic thought, "Nice, that's a Dark-Type move not Normal-Type."
Zigzagoon ran up to Nosepass and sunk its teeth into the remaining rock arm socket and with one furious pull, it ripped the other arm off. The stone creature this time let out a low, but powerful wail of pain. It reacted by throwing its large body onto Ruby's Pokemon. The stone head crushed Zigzagoon's legs and tail. As the Pokemon was squirming in pain it fell unconscious from the hit.
Ruby recalled it to the Pokeball and inserted a potion bottle's nozzle into the side and sprayed.
Torchic reassured Ruby, "That should keep the pain away until you get back to the Pokemon Center."
Ruby looked over at Torchic and thought, "You're up buddy."
"Ugh, do I have to?"
"Yes, you do because I know you can win."
"You are putting way too much faith in my abilities."
"Most likely, but it's our only shot."
"We could just quit."
"Stop being such a chi….. Oh wait"
"Exactly."
"Then do it for Lotad and Zigzagoon. Don't let their efforts be wasted just because you are lazy."
"Fine, whatever. If I get hurt though, its on you."
Torchic ran into the battle with its small scamper of movement. The Nosepass, still enraged, stomped yet again to shake the ground, tripping the bird as it came into the fight. Torchic however was smart and used the momentum from the fall to launch itself towards its opponent. While in the air Torchic was surrounded by a bright white light and its form began to change. It grew about 2 feet and became thicker and grew distinguished legs. The small wings became bushier and grew arms with talons on the ends. It turned around and launched its foot into the side of Nosepass, slightly chipping the pokemon. Without warning the pokemon that was once Torchic brought its other foot around to plow Nosepass into the ground.
Roxanna and Ruby looked at the scene in total awe.
Ruby thought, "Torchic?"
The new pokemon now looked at him and asked back, "Yes?" with an incredibly sarcastic tone.
Ruby noticed Sapphire taking out her Pokedex so he followed suit and scanned the new figure:
Combusken
The young fowl Pokemon
This pokemon possesses both speed and power which enable it to deliver up to 10 kicks per second. Its strong fighting instinct compels it to not relent on its opponent until it is defeated.
Ruby looked at his companion, "You evolved huh?" he thought to Combusken.
He replied, "Yeah new form, same me, except 100 percent more badass!"
Roxanne allowed her Pokemon to heal in the earth because she knew it was over. She sighed and said, "How? How did a Fire-Type muster up so much raw power?"
Combusken overheard this and decided to show off. It flexed and its talon arm's veins became visible as he lunged and demolished a rock on the battlefield with a single punch.
Roxanne blinked with surprise as she said, "That was Mach Punch! When it evolved it gained Fighting-Type!"
Torchic, or Combusken rather, now thought in a triumphant tone, "Hell yeah I did! Bring on the Rock-Types!"
Roxanne warned Ruby. "It's a trade off though. Do you know much of Fighting-Types?"
Ruby shook his head no and Roxanne took the opportunity to inform him of something involving pokemon, which is actually her primary job as a gym leader.
She said, "The evolution caused you to win this battle yes, but at some cost. Fighting is a powerful attacker but its defense will be affected negatively as well. Although you gain strength against Rock-Types, your Combusken is now weak against Physic, Poison, and Flying type attacks. So yes, adding types gives advantages, but can be risky in any battle."
Ruby nodded to show that her understood and then said, "Thanks for the help." He then turned and started to walk away.
Roxanne laughed and said, "Aren't you forgetting something?" She put her hands on her hips then added, "Like a badge or TM."
Ruby stopped in his tracks as he realized he had completely forgotten about his badge. He turned around and ran back to Roxanne. Then he put his hand out in excitement
Roxanne gave a small giggle as she said, "You have battled well and stood strong. You have fought harder than stone itself. Both of us have benefitted from this battle and I'm glad to bestow unto you, by the Hoenn Pokemon League, your very own Stone Badge."
She gave Ruby the badge that was a broken red and yellow diamond with a yellow line in the center. He instantly put it in its spot in his badge case. He said to Roxanne, "Thank you very much!"
The young Roxanne gives Ruby a small flirtatious smile and said, "You're welcome."
Then she reached to her belt and a compartment released a CD which she took out and offered it to Ruby saying, "This is a gift from me. it is the TM Rock Tomb. If you put it in your PokeNavi you can have a Pokemon watch this video to learn a move. The PokeNavi will also give you a list of Pokemon which can learn each move."
Ruby took the TM from Roxanne, thanked her again the turned to leave. As he left the youngster he battled earlier congratulated him on his victory. Once outside he went straight to the Pokemon Center at the south end of the city. He gave all of his injured Pokemon to the nurse as he finally remembered, "Oh shit! I completely forgot Combusken and Sapphire!" He just face palmed himself and ran as fast as he could back to the gym. To find that Sapphire had already easily won with her Water-Type Mudkip. Then the two walked out of the conquered gym together, discussing their victories. Combusken now had to walk beside them because he was too big to ride on Ruby's shoulder.
Just outside the gym Combusken started to talk to Ruby, "Well that was fun, thanks for ditching me back there."
Ruby shrugged his shoulders and replied, "You're fine, I came back after all."
"Yes you did…" His sentence was cut off by a loud yell.
"HELP!"
