Chapter Three - Gym Challenger!
August 1st, 2022
Pokémon Gym, Jay Town, Asture Region
Raine took a deep breath and stepped forward into the arena. Mirella stood at the far end of the dirt rectangle on a small paved square with her arms crossed. She was wearing her characteristic Gym Leader outfit of puffy black pants and jacket. They had Jay Town's chosen colour of brown accenting the sleeves and sides of the legs.
"Welcome, Raine," Mirella said, her voice carrying easily with the building's well designed acoustics.
Raine stepped up onto the challenger's mat and squinted against the bright lights to see the townspeople gathered in the stands. They were already hollering and cheering and Raine blushed under the attention. There was likely no one there who was cheering for his defeat with Eli grounded at home.
"Today you face your greatest challenge as a Pokémon Trainer," Mirella continued. "The Jay Town Gym where you will compete for the reward of the Normal Badge. Are you prepared to face me?"
"Yes," Raine responded confidently.
"Good, then let's not waste any time. Rojer, please begin."
"Welcome one and all to today's battle where Gym Leader Mirella is pitted against Raine Jennings," Rojer, the Gym's announcer said through the speakers. "Raine, as this is the first Gym that you are challenging, it is my duty to tell you the rules. Rule one: you must designate between one and six Pokémon that make up your team and this cannot be changed once our battle begins. Rule two: you may switch out which of these Pokémon is currently fighting as many times as you please until either of your teams is completely incapacitated or you give up. Rule three: you may use as many healing items as you please as long as you do so before your last Pokémon is incapacitated. And lastly rule four: try and have fun. Do you accept all of these rules and are you prepared to continue?"
"Yes."
"Good, then without further delay, let the battle begin."
On the enormous televisions that hung back to back above the centre of the arena the graphics changed from a Poké Ball to a summary screen. It showed pictures of Raine and Mirella at the top and bottom respectively with space for their current Pokémon to be displayed. There was no rule that either of them had to declare their team before the battle began, but everyone knew who both of them would use ahead of time.
"Furret, I choose you," Mirella called and threw her first Poké Ball into the arena.
"Go, Buizel," Raine said and threw the one Poké Ball he carried like a baseball.
Both Pokémon came out of their Poké Balls in flashes of light and for a moment they stood staring at each other waiting for their trainer's first command.
Mirella acted first yelling, "Furret, dodge and retreat. Let's see what Buizel can do."
Raine hadn't been expecting that so he was temporarily caught off guard. In the battles he had witnessed Mirella had always rushed in to attack first. No matter the opponent. So he quickly adjusted his tactics and called, "Buizel, don't let them get away. Use Agility."
Buizel dropped down onto all fours and rushed at Furret. Furret inched backwards slowly while keeping an eye facing its opponent until they were only a few metres apart.
"Furret, dodge and use Tackle," Mirella yelled and the Pokémon sprang to action, sidestepping Buizel and attempting to slam into it from side on.
Buizel was too fast, dodging the attack effortlessly and positioning itself beside Furret.
"Quick attack," Raine commanded.
Buizel slammed its head into Furret's side with force. The Furret rolled sideways with the impact and a cry of pain as Mirella let out an annoyed groan.
"Come on, Furret," Mirella groaned. "Faster! Use Agility and make some space."
Furret jumped backwards on all fours and ran a circle around Buizel before making some room between them. Buizel watched on cautiously, rising to stand on two feet.
"Let's show them what you can do, Buizel," Raine commanded. "Water Gun."
Before Buizel could do anything Furret stopped running and faced him with a tilted head.
"Furret, stop it with Water Pulse."
The fight seemed to pause for a second as both Pokémon faced each other and puffed up their cheeks in preparation. Buizel acted first, sending a powerful jet of water straight at Furret.
Furret barely reacted in time to launch its own attack. If the Normal type Pokémon knew a water move it clearly knew too many different types of attacks. Mirella had tried to make it into an all rounder to combat any and all matchups. Choosing one specific type to make up a moveset always made it easier for that Pokémon to utilise its every skill.
The two beams of water met with an explosive spray. Furret's Water Pulse was somehow far more powerful than Buizel's Water Gun. It initially pushed the stream of water back towards Buizel, but it couldn't sustain the attack like Buizel could. Furret's attack ended suddenly and the Water Gun slammed into it with ferocious force, knocking it to the ground.
"Follow up with Aqua Tail," Raine yelled, thrusting his hand towards Mirella.
"Get up," Mirella screamed.
Buizel dropped to all fours and ran head first at the struggling Furret. The Water Gun had done some serious damage and it was struggling to stand on shaky legs. Buizel leapt from several metres away and cartwheeled in mid air. Its twin tails glowed and bubbled with water as it slammed them down on Furret's head before it could dodge. The Furret was thundered into the dirt and bounced before falling unconscious.
"Furret is unable to battle," Rojer announced excitedly. "Buizel wins!"
Mirella held out a Poké Ball and drew the fainted Pokémon back to safety before throwing out a second ball. As Mirella's second Pokémon appeared, Raine called Buizel to come closer to his half of the arena so that they had time to plan their next move. Raine collected his thoughts and tried not to get too far ahead of himself. Furret had fallen far easier than he had been expecting, but he knew the Gym Leaders always saved their strongest Pokémon for later in the battle.
"Go, Zangoose!" Mirella yelled as the cat ferret Pokémon appeared from its Poké Ball. It stood over twice as tall as Buizel and let out a ferocious snarl.
"Be careful, Buizel," Raine instructed. "Don't get too close to those claws."
Zangoose remained standing still, simply moving its eyes as Buizel prowled from one side of the arena to the other. Buizel was an energetic Pokémon that didn't like to stay still.
"Zangoose, use Leer." The Zangoose glowered at Buizel as it ran past, but it would not catch its eyes for the move to work. Not that it would have cowered against the much larger Pokémon anyway.
"Buizel, Zangoose is slow, let's show them how agile you are," Raine called and Buizel immediately sped up, running rings around Zangoose and getting closer with each passing, but staying just out of reach of the razor sharp claws. "Now, Buizel, Aqua Tail."
From behind Zangoose's back Buizel leapt into the air. Instead of using the move over its head it rotated horizontally to strike side on. Zangoose moved far faster than either Raine or Buizel could have expected, spinning to catch the blow against its cross braced arms. It staggered a half step back from the force of the attack, but instantly lunged forward as Mirella commanded, "Slash."
The Zangoose's claws whizzed past Buizel's head as it ducked and rushed out of the way. It was still close enough to cause damage, firing a Water Gun at Raine's command into Zangoose's chest. Zangoose stumbled back several steps, swiping at its face and spluttering.
"Quick attack," Raine commanded and Buizel launched forward into Zangoose's stomach.
It was like nothing had even happened. The Zangoose simply tried again to swipe at Buizel, but he managed to get clear.
"Not so easy," Mirella laughed. "Zangoose won't go down like Furret. You should have brought more Pokémon."
Raine ignored the taunt and ordered, "Buizel, use Water Gun and knock him down."
At the same time Mirella called, "Zangoose, Thunderbolt."
"Get out of the way, Buizel," Raine corrected, watching as Zangoose shimmered with an electrical surge.
Buizel was too close and even if he wasn't he had nowhere to hide. He was a natural electrical conductor and was soaked in water. As the Thunderbolt shot out from Zangoose Buizel tried to shoot it out of the air with his Water Gun, but that just caused it to surge right through him.
"Bui," Buizel cried as he slammed into the ground and writhed with electricity.
"Get up, Buizel," Raine cried. "Don't give up."
Buizel slowly pushed himself up onto all fours and growled at the slowly approaching Zangoose.
"Finish him with Fury Swipes," Mirella demanded.
Buizel was barely able to stand on wobbly legs, let alone dodge the incoming attack. He tried and failed to leap out of the way and took the brunt of the swiping claws on his exposed back, squealing in agony.
"Buizel, no!" Raine yelled, barely restraining himself from running out to scoop up his injured partner. This was exactly why he had avoided battling for so long. The emotional turmoil of watching his buddy get so injured hurt immensely.
Buizel lifted itself a centimetre off of the dirt before collapsing unable to move. Zangoose prodded him in the back with a claw as he fell unconscious.
"Buizel is unable to battle," Rojer announced. "Zangoose wins."
Raine quickly summoned Buizel back to his Poké Ball and rubbed a tear out of his eye. He barely heard Rojer ask if he had any further Pokémon to challenge Mirella, but he shook his head and turned to stalk off. He needed to get to the Pokémon Centre as quickly as possible.
"Gym Leader Mirella claims the victory!" Rojer boomed. "Raine was an unlucky challenger today, but did well to put up a real fight there."
The gathered crowd was silent as Raine walked out of the arena and through the tunnel. He was embarrassed that they had all come to watch him lose. Next time, if there was indeed a next time, he would try to keep his plans for taking on the Gym to himself.
"Good luck next time," Mirella called after him, somehow knowing what he was thinking. "Make that Buizel stronger and challenge me again anytime."
He kept his head down and any responses to himself as he left the Gym behind.