Chapter 11:

Three Pokémon Vs. Company

Location: Castelia City

The bustling City of Castelia was what woke me up that morning. People were just going about their daily lives or rushing to do it. Whereas I could go on my journey at any whims, maybe staying in one place for maybe three days, that's not how Castelia City worked. It's like time flew twice as fast.

I knew I needed to do some training if I was going to take down Burgh, and with this being the first place I arrived at that Hilbert had also been to, I looked through the journal.

"Apparently, he's been to a place called the Battle Company," I said. "Well then, that's where I'll go! I wonder if anyone there shares my ambition for battling? They must be if they're as strong as Hilbert mentioned."

Before I could head there though, I was interrupted by a Harlequin. He was dancing about on the spot.

"Hello, would you like to play a game?" he asked.

"Erm…" I said. I knew never to talk to strangers, especially if they were clowns when the circus wasn't in town. Wait, did this even count? I was in a city. I don't think there was any room to put a Circus there. "Sure?" I said.

"Great!" the Harlequin said. "Find all three of my friends and win a prize! Until then, I present you with this to help your search go faster!" From his small bag, he presented me with…

"A Bicycle?!" I shouted. Okay, this was getting even shadier. I should never receive gifts from strangers. But this was too good to pass up. "Okay, I'll look!"

The Battle Company was easy to find. It was on Mode Street and was a tall building. "Here I go," I said.

I went inside and was in the reception area. There were multiple move names on the wall. Nasty Plot, Scald and Sky Attack were some of the examples.

"Excuse me," I asked the Receptionist. "I'm here to battle."

She looked up. "Just take the Elevator up to the 47th floor. After you clear all the Trainers there, the President will be waiting for you."

"Thanks!" I said, just as I noticed a Harlequin. "Fine. Might as well play along. Excuse me, I found you!" I said.

"So, you did!" he replied. "Okay, I will let the head know. There are two more to find!"

Sure enough, on 47F, there were people working. I was a bit nervous; was this a prank? Was I in the wrong building? Well, there was only one way to find out.

"Excuse me," I said. "I CHALLENGE EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU TO A BATTLE!"

Immediately, everyone got up from their seats and took a Pokéball out from their coat pockets.

"You've come to the right place!" said a Clerk in a black suit. "Welcome! I will be your first opponent!"

Rosa Vs. Clerk Clemens

"I choose Azurill!" I shouted.

"Go Growlithe!" Clemens replied.

"Hey, I'm familiar with that one!" I said.

"That's good to hear. Okay Growlithe, use Ember!" Growlithe fired a flame at Azurill. It was a direct hit.

"You can do it Azurill, I believe in you. Use Bubble Beam!" Azurill fired a jet of bubbles at Growlithe, taking away half of its HP.

"Use Ember again!" This Ember was brutal; it almost took out Azurill completely. It almost made my heart stop.

"One more Bubble Beam!" Well, as luck would have it, this Bubble Beam was a Critical Hit! Growlithe was down!

"Well, you sure do now Growlithe!" Clemens said.

"Nice one Azur-"

But Azurill wasn't going to be an Azurill for much longer; it was starting to evolve! It continued to glow and get bigger before revealing its evolved form; it was still round but had a white belly and a much smaller ball on its tail.

Marill (マリル)

031

Water Type

Aqua Mouse Pokémon

1'04" (0.4 m)

18.7 lbs (8.5 kg)

The oil-filled tail functions as a buoy, so it's fine even in rivers with strong currents.

Azurill (B) -Happiness- Marill

"My first capture has finally evolved!" I shouted as Marill leapt into my arms. "I'm so proud of you! We will take on the League together! With Servine and Growlithe of course. Okay then, who's next?"

"Me!" said a female Clerk in a white shirt and pink skirt. "I caught this one recently, I hope it does well."

Rosa Vs. Clerk Britney

"I choose Growlithe!" I shouted.

"Budew, come on out cutie!" Britney replied, sending out a small green Pokémon with a yellow face.

Budew (スボミー)

133

Grass/Poison Type

Bud Pokémon

0'08" (0.2 m)

2.6 lbs (1.2 lbs)

Sensitive to changing temperatures, the bud blooms when its warm, releasing toxic pollen.

Baby Pokémon

Suddenly, Growlithe's body caught fire. "That isn't Ember," I said. "It's… even stronger! Okay Growlithe, use Flame Wheel!" Growlithe rolled into Budew covered in flames for lots of damage. It almost knocked it out. "Good one Growlithe!" I yelled.

"Budew, Mega Drain!" Budew fired a small beam at Growlithe, but it did very little.

"One more Flame Wheel!" Growlithe rolled into Budew once more, knocking it out.

"Noooo! Budew evolves with Happiness to!"

I was on a roll. I was only halfway there to. "Who's next?" I asked.

"I believe that would be me sir," said a man in a purple suit. "Give it all that you have got please."

Hilbert Vs. Clerk Gilligan

"Come out Marill!" I shouted.

"Pidove, go!" Gilligan said, sending out his Flying Type. "Use Air Cutter!" Pidove fired sharp bits of air at Marill. It was a Critical Hit to.

"Marill, come back with Bubble Beam!" Marill fired a jet of bubbles that was much stronger than when it was an Azurill. When it hit Pidove, its Speed fell.

"Use another Air Cutter!" Pidove fired one last move at Marill. It fainted.

"Hey, for your first battle you showed great potential," I told it. "Okay Growlithe, go!" I shouted. "Use Flame Wheel!" Growlithe ran forward, covered in flames. Pidove was hit. It went down.

"Yes, much impressive. Thanks, Pidove."

"One more before I take on the President!" I said.

"That would be me," said one more Clerk in a black suit similar to the first one. "Let's make this a match to remember."

Rosa Vs. Clerk Warren

"Servine, I choose you!" I shouted.

"Go Marill," Warren replied.

"Okay Servine, Leaf Tornado!" Servine span around and fired leaves at Marill. It was out in one.

"Well, maybe it won't be a match to remember. Never mind."

"Okay," I said. "I'm going to head back to the Pokémon Center, heal and then take on the President!"

"Good luck!" everyone said.

I came back quickly. I went up to the final floor. It only had two people; a Janitor and a Schoolboy.

"Hello," I said. "Do you know where the Battle Company President would be?"

"Eh?" the Janitor asked.

"DO. YOU. KNOW. WHERE. THE. BATTLE. COMPANY. PRESIDENT. IS?!" I shouted back.

"Eh?" the Janitor replied with once again.

"I know," the Schoolboy said.

"You do?" I asked. "Could you show me?"

"No," he replied. "You have to battle me first."

Well that seemed fair. I wasn't complaining though. The more battles the better! "Bring it on!" I said.

Rosa Vs. School Kid Neil

"Okay Servine, go!" I shouted.

"I choose Eevee!" Neil replied, sending out an adorable brown-furry Pokémon. I just wanted to give it a cuddle.

Eevee (イーブイ)

091

Normal Type

Evolution Pokémon

1'00" (0.3 m)

14.3 lbs (6.5 kg)

Thanks to its unstable genetic makeup, this special Pokémon conceals many different possible evolutions.

"Okay Eevee, start with Quick Attack!" Eevee ran quickly into Servine, then leapt of it onto its feet again.

"Use Growth!" Servine grew a slight inch, raising its Attack and Sp. Attack.

"Now Eevee, Bite!" Eevee leapt over to Servine and bit it on the tail.

"Servine! Don't worry, we've got this. Use Leaf Tornado!" Servine span around, firing leaves at Eevee. Thanks to the raising of stats, it took down Eevee in one.

"Strong. Okay Herdier, go!" Neil replied.

"Servine, Leaf Tornado!" Servine attacked with leaves again, hitting Herdier. It was almost down.

"Use Tackle!" Herdier charged into Servine, but Servine took it.

"Use Leaf Tornado once again!" Servine used one more Leaf Tornado, knocking out Herdier.

"Congratulations, you beat the President!" Neil said.

"Wait," I said. "YOU'RE the President?! But you're a little kid!"

"I took the role from Daddy!" he said, pointing to the Janitor.

"Eh?" the Janitor replied.

Well, can't say I was expecting that today.

"Here is your prize for beating the Battle Company," he said. He handed me an EXP. Share! That would be very useful!

"Thanks!" I said. "Now some newer Pokémon can get some experience! I will put this to good use. Okay, good luck running an entire business. Shouldn't you be at School?"

"Oh, I already graduated University."

Sheesh, how smart was this kid?

With that, I had beat the Battle Company. And hey, I have a stronger friend and a new move! I think I've done all that I need to do. Tomorrow, I will take on Burgh! He uses Bug Types, so Growlithe will be the star of the show!