Route 2 was also no match for Underwarf, the fighting Pokemon Rock Smashing it's way to Striaton city. Krom had heard of Striaton. The Gym here housed three Gym Leaders. You had to face all three Leaders in a Triple battle, which wasn't pleasant for many people. The triplet Gym Leaders worked in sync, most trainers lucky if they made it past their Lillipups. Krom decided he wasn't ready for the Gym, as one on six would be horrible odds for Underwarf. He decided to head through the town, hearing about some convention taking place at the day care center of route 3. Krom happily pressed on, Underwarf running his fingers through his beard.
The convention was large, people and Pokemon everywhere. Trainer dropped their younger Pokemon off at the Day-Care, so they could make friends and enjoy the festivities the same as everyone else. Krom and Underwarf sampled food, the Hammer wielding Pokemon especially interested in cheese and bread. Krom felt no need to feed him Pokemon food, when he loved human food more. He walked about, dropping off Underwarf at the Day-Care. He soon became worried, and offered to volunteer at the Day-Care, if only to keep Underwarf under control. He brought out food, cleaned and groomed the Pokemon, and even had pretend battles with some of the children at the convention.
The sun was setting, and Krom was exhausted. He wiped the sweat from his brow, smile on his face. He looked at the Pokemon up for adoption, and there were very few. The Pokemon were put up for adoption with express permission from the trainer they belonged to. Krom chatted with the Day-Care owners, thanking them for the work. Underwarf turned away from Krom, spotting two pokemon off to the side. He stormed up to them, hammer raised. Krom glanced down, noticing his Pokemon wasn't next to him. He spun, scanning the courtyard for Underwarf, spotting it off to the side.
It stood, looking a Deino in the face, and stuck it's hand out. The dragon opened it's mouth, clamping down upon Underwarf's hand. Krom panicked, not knowing if he could deal with a one-handed pokemon. He rushed over, politely excusing himself first. Underwarf pulled it's hand out of the dragon's maw, turning to the Golett next to it. The two were odd, both with gray and green color patterns. Krom assumed they felt into a child's finger painting activity, getting painted by happy children. He inquired about the Pokemon, and the elderly couple sighed.
"Those two are unusual. They have extremely rare color patterns, and unusual moves. The Deino was supposed to be born knowing Tackle and Dragon Rage, but it was born with naught but Dark Pulse. The Golett also was born with different moves then normal. It was born knowing Ice Beam, unusual for any Golett. Possible, but unlikely. They were abandoned here by a trainer who felt they didn't live up to his expectations." The old man said, looking at the two pokemon. Krom was in shock. Dark pulse and a rare color pattern, and it wasn't good enough? Rare color patterns were enough, but the unusual moves they had were a deal maker.
Underwarf turned to Krom, pointing at the two Pokemon. He beat his hammer upon his hairy chest, grunting. Krom looked at the Pokemon, smiling. He turned to the elderly couple. "I'll take them." he said, looking at the abandoned creatures. The elderly couple beamed, ushering him into the Day-Care office to fill out paperwork. Once done with the paperwork, Krom threw two of his Pokeballs at the pokemon, signifying his ownership of the Pokemon. He smiled, looking at the Pokeballs.
The next morning, Krom headed off to route 2, to train his new Pokemon. He released the Golett, who beat it's hand on it's chest, mimicking Underwarf. "Alright Golett, I want you to use Ice Beam on the rock over there." He said, pointing to a nearby rock of decent size. The Golett turned, clapping. It's hands opened, and it's left hand glowed with blue energy. The three strands of the Ice Beam flew, hitting the rock. The rock slowly froze over, and Krom smiled. "Good Job Golett!" He called out, cheering the young golem on. He released the Deino, who he nicknamed Nibbles, as Deino bite everything. The dragon came out, head tilted. "Okay Nibbles, I want you to use Dark Pulse on the cold rock over there." he said, gesturing to the rock Golett froze. The dragon turned, opening it's mouth. Black rings shot from it's mouth, missing the rock completely. Underwarf grunted, walking up to the dragon. He grabbed the dragon by the spike in it's head, turning it toward the rock. The rings slammed into the frozen rock, shattering it. Krom cheered the dragon on, even if it needed help.
Krom had his pokemon healed, and kissed his pendant, praying to Zekrom for the strength to win. He walked into the Striaton Gym, not knowing what to expect.
The three gym Leaders were.. quirky, to say the least. Chili, the fire leader, was hot headed and aggressive. Cilan, the grass leader, was too busy making food related puns in his speech. Cress was the calm one, just wishing his brothers would quiet down. Krom released his other two Pokemon, Underwarf already on the field. The three Gym Leader's unleashed their Lillipups, the expertly trained canines barking at their opponents. Krom glanced over to Nibbles, hoping his sense of smell and touch were better than his sense of direction.
Krom was nervous, especially when each Lillipup used Work Up. That would raise the offenses of any Pokemon. Krom gave his first order. "Underwarf, Rock Throw!" he called out. The pokemon grunted, digging it's hands into the ground. It lifted rock from the ground, flinging it at the canines. The hounds dodged on order, charging for a Tackle.
Krom gave orders in quick succession. Golett shot an Ice Beam at one of the Lillipups, who jumped over it, before continuing. Nibbles shot out a Dark Pulse at one Lillipup, sensing the canine's movement through the ground. The Lillipup jumped through the rings of the attack, and Krom grunted. He was in a tight spot, as the Lillipups closed in.
Krom repeated his commands. The first Lillipup closed in, coming for Underwarf. Underwarf yelled, using Rock Smash. The small Hammer cracked the Lillipup, defeating it. The other two Lillipup were angered, diverting themselves to attack Underwarf. The two pokemon smashed into the hairy creature, causing it to stumble back. The two remaining Lillipup acted on command, both using Bite, heading for Golett. Krom called out for a Dark Pulse from Nibbles, and Ice Beam from Golett. The energy waves flew at each other, the small canines in the middle. They jumped, avoiding the Ice Beam. The Golett lifted it's head, the Ice Beam fading. Nibbles' Dark Pulse sped at his ally, slamming into him. Krom gasped, watching the Golett hit the wall. The Lillipup came down, the Dark Pulse flinging them into the wall with Golett. A crash was heard, and dust spread everywhere. When the dust cleared, all three pokemon were unconscious. Krom cursed, returning his Golett. "It's Okay bud, ya did good." He said, tucking the ball back into his bag. The three Gym Leaders stood Pokeballs in hand. Chili laughed, glaring at Krom. "it'll be three on two next. Why don't you just give up?" He called over to Krom, trying to deter him. Krom wouldn't be deterred, and kept on.
The three elemental monkeys looked Krom's pokemon in the face. Cilan gave the first command, telling Pansage to use Dig. Pansear acted on command, charging Nibbles with Fury Swipes. Panpour remained still, just as calm as it's trainer. The Pansear swung it's clawless hands at Nibbles, who stood unmoving. The Pansage was still underground. Krom blinked. "Underwarf, Rock Throw!" He called out. The hairy Pokemon repeated the attack it used in the beginning of the battle. When it lifted the rock, Pansage was in it. Cilan gasped, and Underwarf flung the rock at Pansear. Nibbles sniffed air, the rock smelling like Pansage. Nibbles moved on instinct, darting to the side. Pansear turned, paling when it saw the rock. The rock slammed into Pansear, and exploded. When the dust cleared, Pansage was groaning as it stood, and Pansear was unconscious. Panpour moved on command, scratching Nibbles before spewing a Water Gun at him. The dragon cried out, being shoved back the water. Krom though hard on what he could do. Nibbles had his mouth open, water flowing into his mouth. Krom blinked.
"Nibbles, walk forward while opening and closing your jaws!" He called out, idea forming. Nibbles followed orders, slowly walking through the water gun. Pansage shot into action, spitting Bullet Seed at Nibbles. Underwarf appeared, blocking the attack. The super effective attack pushed Underwarf back, causing him to grunt. Static formed at the lips of Nibbles, turning into electricity. Cress gasped, and Nibbles closed in. "That's it Nibbles! Thunder Fang!" He called out, issuing a new command. The static that formed at nibbles mouth was enhanced an conducted by the water, making electricity. The electric fangs slammed down into Panpour's head, causing an explosion. Pansage had retreated into the ground. Panpour was unconscious, and pansage erupted.
Exploding from the ground, Pansage uppercutted the dragon. The dragon cried out, falling defeated to the ground. Krom grunted, returning the dragon. He smiled at the Pokeball. "Sorry Nibbles." he said, looking back up. Pansage erupted from the ground again, slamming Underwarf into a wall before jumping back. Bullet seed was used, smashing into the already weakened Pokemon. Krom's jaw was slack. When the dust cleared, and Cilan stopped Pansage, Underwarf was slouched against the wall, eyes closed. Cilan smirked. "A spicy end to a most flavorful battle." he called out. Krom grunted. He looked to his Pokemon, whose eyes shot open. Underwarf rushed across the field, faster than Krom had ever seen, smashing the monkey with it's hammer. The monkey cried out, crashing into a wall. When the dust cleared, the monkey was unconscious. Krom smiled. He had won.
His Pokemon were healed, and they all lazed happily in a room he rented. He shined his badge, and tucked it away. Underwarf slumbered next to him, Nibbles on his lap and Golett slept at his feet. He smiled, falling into a deep sleep.
When he left the Poke-center the next morning, he saw a small group of people gathered near the gym. He decided to check it out, seeing no harm in it.
The group were cheering something on, something in the middle of the group, who crowded in a circle. In the center, a man kicked a young girl in the side, jarring something loose from her hands. It was a golden pendant, in the shape of a music note and a Pokeball. It was the symbol of Meloetta the Melodious, goddess of music and rhythm. Underwarf cried out, barreling into the crowd. His hammer smashed knees and shins, much like it did in Accumula. Krom swept out the man's feet, dropping his knee into the man's chest. The man coughed, blood spattering from his mouth. Krom growled, helping the girl up. He handed her the pendant, the group dispersing. "You okay?" he asked, concerned. The girl looked up at him with crimson eyes, her green hair falling below her shoulders. She smiled, nodding.
Krom walked the girl home, glaring at anyone with a cross on their person. He glanced back at the shorter girl, and noticed something unusual. "Um, are your ear supposed to be pointed?" he asked, confused. The girl had pointed ears, nothing extreme like a Pikachu, no, more like a bat's ears, only not tunnel like. She blushed, looking down. "Y-yes." she said, confusing Krom even more. He viewed her attire, which was a simple white dress. She reminded him of something, or someone, but he couldn't pinpoint it. Soon, they arrived at her house, and they bid farewells. Krom pulled out his Pokedex, scanning the girl. He'd show her photo to Professor Juniper, ask him why her ears were like that. He turned to exit the village, and his Pokedex beeped. He pulled it out, looking at the screen. 'Positive Match. Gardevoir, the Embrace pokemon. When it's trainer is in extreme danger, it will expend all of it's Psychic energy to create a small black hole." the machine said. Krom blinked. The girl's photo was a positive match for Gardevoir? Krom shrugged it off, heading to Route 3.