ROUTE 208, 11:34
Claus groaned and wondered why he had even bothered showing up to train today. He was still a little sore after yesterday's trek, because even once they had gotten on their bicycles, going the long way around the south side of Mount Coronet and crossing all of Route 208 to get to Hearthome was a hell of an endeavor. The three of them had thanked the guide, headed straight to the nearest Center, and crashed into their rooms. Claus had slept like a Komala, and he was pretty sure Barry was still out for the count.
Pello and Franklin had been just as tired. Sure, they'd mostly stayed in their Pokéballs, barring stretches where Claus saw fit to let Pello sit in his bike's basket as he rode. But they'd done their fair share of battling, too. True to his word, the guide had not stepped in to help them even once on the trip, and they had to repel plenty of aggressive wild Pokemon, including one Graveler that had gotten a bit grumpy when their party biked past it. It had taken the combined efforts of all six of their Pokemon to fend it off, especially since many of their moves weren't particularly effective against the beast.
After the fight, the guide had stepped up to Pello and rubbed his head. It felt rude to do that without asking, but Pello had been happy about it, so Claus couldn't really complain. The guide had said, "Hm. Maybe let this fella ride in your basket for a bit longer, eh, kid? I reckon it won't be long until he's too big for it. Your Piplup, too, lass."
Claus had understood the unspoken implications. He'd noticed Pello growing a bit faster recently, the dex measurements reaching an approximation of 37 pounds. That was almost one and a half times the weight from the measurement Claus had taken after beating Roark. Evolution was likely imminent, especially considering how energetic Pello was even now after the work he'd put in the previous day.
So Claus had come out to train, in the hopes that it would burn off Pello's extra energy and perhaps cause him to evolve.
Claus wondered when Franklin would evolve. He'd searched up Nosepass's evolution on his dex, and he'd seen multiple conflicting theories, including that they only evolved on or near Mount Coronet. There were reports of Nosepass that evolved in places far from the mountain, which were just as common as conflicting ones. However, all of these reports noted that the Nosepass had visited Mount Coronet prior to its evolution, and any Nosepass that had not been to the mountain had yet to evolve. Of course, Franklin had already been close enough to Mount Coronet that Claus wasn't worried, but he was definitely still curious.
Further research into other regions had shown Claus that the Nosepass in Alola had a similar situation with Blush Mountain. However, the Nosepass that were found in Kanto and Johto were not known to evolve at all unless they were brought to other regions, lending credit to the geography theory, as difficult to prove as it was. Nosepass trainers in these regions were known to purchase a Thunder Stone from Galar, if travel was off the table. This, of course, led to even more theories. Why didn't other regions' Thunder Stones work? Was it a special quality in Galarian Thunder Stones that permitted the evolution of Nosepass (and Charjabug and Magneton, as well)? How did that relate to Mount Coronet or Blush Mountain-
"Excuse me?" said a voice, and Claus nearly leapt out of his skin. He really needed to stop getting so absorbed in his own thoughts.
Collecting himself, he turned around to see a fellow gym challenger. The guy was lanky and a solid six inches taller than Claus (not that Claus's meager height of five-foot-four was particularly impressive). His dark blue hair stuck out in spikes under his striking blue hat. On someone else, it might have looked stupid, but this guy was kind of rocking it.
"Sorry I startled you," he said, looking a little sheepish. Claus hadn't realized he'd made it so obvious.
"Not your fault," Claus said, waving it off. "What's up?"
The newcomer gestured at Claus's jacket. Claus looked down, and then remembered that he'd pinned the Coal badge to it, as most trainers did when they won a badge.
Right. A glance showed that this guy had a badge, too: a replica of Claus's own Coal badge.
"Ah, I get it," said Claus. "Sorry. I just got the badge, so I'm not used to having it yet. In fact, you're the first trainer who's officially challenged me, not including my travel buddies."
The guy grinned. "And you're the first trainer who I'm officially challenging, not including travel buddies. It's an honor." He stuck out his hand for a handshake. "I'm Riley. And you're…"
"Claus," said Claus, returning the handshake. Riley had a firm grip.
What Claus didn't ask was whether Riley was a girl's name or not. He wasn't Barry, for Arceus's sake, and he'd had enough people calling him Santa Claus to know that jokes about people's names got old very quickly.
"Assuming you've got two Pokemon, what do you say to a two on two match?" asked Riley, releasing Claus's hand. "No healing items, et cetera."
"Yeah, sounds good, as long as you have revives and potions on you for afterwards," said Claus. Riley nodded, so Claus stepped back enough to put hopefully adequate space between the two of them.
"Don't go easy on me, Claus," said Riley. "I want my first trainer battle to be a good one!"
Claus had no intentions of holding back. "Of course!"
Riley and Claus both threw their Pokeballs at the same time.
"Go, Franklin!"
"Get him, Neimi!"
Franklin burst out of the Pokeball, facing north as always. It seemed to quickly assess the situation, realizing that it was in a battle, and growled.
Neimi materialized a split second later. Neimi looked to be nothing more than an ordinary lump of wood at first. However, a moment passed, and a black smoke billowed out of the stump, with two red eyes peering out of holes in it.
"A ghost!" exclaimed Claus. This was the first trainer he'd seen who had chosen to train a ghost Pokemon. They were victims of extreme prejudice in the past, often seen as corruptions of life, twisted spirits from beyond the grave. Recent scientific studies had proven that they were nothing more than ordinary Pokemon, with a unique set of powers that they utilized effectively. But stigma was rarely quick to disappear, and ghost Pokemon were still looked upon with fear by most people.
Riley shrugged in response to Claus's surprised outburst. "I believe in science, not old wives' tales," he said, and okay. That was fair enough. "Neimi, Leech Seed!"
Now that Claus had overcome his surprise at the appearance of the ghost Pokemon, it occurred to him that this was likely a terrible matchup for Franklin. It was vulnerable to any grass-type attacks the Phantump probably knew, and like many ghosts, the Phantump could simply levitate out of range of his attacks.
He wouldn't let that stop him, though. "Block it with Rock Throw!"
Franklin thankfully understood what Claus meant. When Neimi launched a volley of three glowing green seeds in its direction, Franklin had already formed its attack, throwing the projectile so that it intercepted the Leech Seeds, which landed harmlessly on the ground.
Neimi dodged the Rock Throw, floating out of the way and allowing it to crash and dissipate.
"Follow up with Thunder Wave!" called Claus. It was a new move that Franklin had used while they were crossing Mount Coronet, and he was eager to test it out more effectively.
Riley smirked. "You're not the only one who can use status conditions. Will-o-wisp!"
Neimi fired off a ghostly flame, but also took the Thunder Wave attack, the electricity crackling around her wooden body. Was the wood part of her body? Or was it simply a shell for her actual ghostly self?
Claus caught himself before his mental rambling got too far. He could worry about science after the battle was over.
The Will-o-wisp had found its target. The burn wasn't as apparent on Franklin's rocky exterior, like it might have been on some other Pokemon, but there was the occasional flicker of purple flame that gave it away.
Neimi, too, had been affected by the Thunder Wave. Her levitation was slower now, and she drifted closer to the ground.
"Another Rock Throw, Franklin!"
Franklin lifted its arms, forming another rocky projectile. It was getting faster than it was before, and that didn't escape Claus's notice. It gurgled as it launched the attack, and Neimi was unable to dodge this time, crying out in pain as the attack connected. She shook it off more easily than Claus expected, though, which was probably a side effect of the burn that hindered Franklin now.
"It's fine, Neimi," said Riley. "Hit it with a Hex!"
Claus's eyes widened. That wasn't good at all. Neimi gathered her energy for a powerful strike, ghostly fire flickering around her wooden body.
"Try another Rock Throw!"
Franklin was preparing another attack before Claus finished the command, but even slowed by paralysis, Neimi was not to be denied. The two Pokemon released their attacks simultaneously; unfortunately for Franklin, Neimi's Hex proved far more powerful than the Rock Throw, launching Franklin back a whole foot and nearly toppling it.
"Hex again, Neimi!"
Claus grabbed his Pokeball without hesitation. He thought Franklin might be able to take another one of those, but he didn't want to risk it. Recalling the Nosepass, he sent out Pello in its place.
The Hex that was aimed at Franklin struck Pello instead, causing him to flinch slightly. But it wasn't nearly as devastating as what Franklin had suffered, and Pello was still standing comfortably, if looking a little miffed.
"Sorry, buddy," said Claus. "But I knew you could take that! Hit back with Sand Tomb!"
Riley grinned. "Will-o-wisp again, Neimi!"
When Neimi found herself with a face full of sand, though, the grin slid off his face. Within seconds, there was a miniature dust devil trapping Neimi in place, hindering her movement even further. Pello easily dodged her Will-o-wisp attack, hardly taking two steps away from it.
Arceus, Claus loved Sand Tomb. "Finish the job with Bite!"
Riley watched with a defeated expression as Pello trotted up to Neimi, who was still struggling to move, and clamped his jaws around her bark, glowing with dark energy.
"All right," said Riley, recalling Neimi, who was now fainted. "That was good. But my other teammate might leave you in the dust." With a grin, he threw another Pokeball. It snapped open in mid-air, and two feet of blue fur and lean muscle landed with a thud.
Riolu was often depicted by popular culture as a cute Pokemon, similarly to Pikachu and Cleffa. Its large eyes and short stature made it popular among children, and the aspect of ferocity and power was left to other Pokemon, such as its evolution, Lucario.
However, the Riolu that popped out of the Pokeball was fucking terrifying. It snarled at Pello and Claus like a rabid Poochyena, immediately settling into a fighting stance. Though maybe "settling" wasn't the right word for it, because it looked like it was going to jump on Pello and tear his throat out at the drop of a hat.
Claus gulped. Pello seemed similarly affected, clicking his jaws and stepping back. The Riolu grinned, baring its sharp teeth, and Claus vaguely remembered something he'd heard about the Riolu line being able to sense emotions.
"Quick Attack!"
The Riolu dashed forward, its form blurring with speed as it closed the distance between it and Pello almost instantly, ramming Pello in the side. Thankfully, Pello was no pushover, taking the attack with little more than a yelp of pain.
"Sand Tomb again, Pello!" directed Claus, but Riley only smiled.
Once again, Pello kicked sand at the enemy, but the Riolu was too fast to get caught in the storm. Continuing its Quick Attack, it dashed away from the move before the swirling vortex could gain any purchase on it.
Claus was impressed, as much as he hated to admit it. Maintaining a move for that long after its initial use was a skill that came only with much practice- more practice than he'd expect from someone who only carried one badge.
"Give it up, Pello," said Claus. "Try Razor Leaf!"
Riley's grin didn't leave his face for a second. The Riolu finally slowed to a stop, and simply mimicked its trainer's smile even as razor-sharp leaves scored along its skin, drawing blood.
Claus noticed that the Riolu was glowing slightly red, and then he realized what was happening. But it was too late now.
"Counter!" declared Riley triumphantly, and the red glow became a blaze of light, focusing from all over the Riolu's body to its fist. Lunging forward, the Riolu slugged Pello right in the face, knocking him out instantly.
Claus sighed, defeated. "I forfeit. There's no way Franklin is going to be able to defeat your Riolu while burned and injured." He recalled Pello, bringing out the medicinal items he'd brought along with him to revive his teammates.
"Don't feel too bad about it," said Riley, grinning ear to ear. He leaned down and high-fived his demon of a Riolu. "Ephraim here is a menace, and we've been training pretty hard."
Ephraim, huh. The name was faintly familiar from a meme Barry had shown him once. "Fire Emblem?"
Riley scratched his head sheepishly. "Well, yeah," he said. "Are you a fan, too?"
Claus snorted. "No, but my friend is, and he's insufferable about it." With the revives and burn heals applied, Claus stepped forward to shake Riley's hand once more as he waited for them to take effect. "It was a good first battle, though, and I'm glad it was with you, even if Ephraim kind of curbstomped us."
"Don't downplay yourself. That Sand Tomb was really good, and it's just one match. We've got plenty of time to get stronger." Riley's wide smile returned. "If you give me your Dex ID, though, maybe I can find you for a rematch. Bring your friend, too. The more the merrier, eh?"
Barry, meeting another Fire Emblem fan? Dear Arceus. But Claus still grinned back. "I look forward to it. My team will do better than this time, but I'll bet real money that Barry's gonna kick your ass."
I'm alive :')
I'm going to college soon, so I'll hopefully have more time to work on this. We'll see. Sorry about the radio silence