In our previous episode, Jax finally beat his first gym after driving away a flock of Murkrows. We shall now see what lies in store for our other challengers!


Seth's Group

Seth and his team were walking through the plains, their target was the normal type gym.

They hadn't seen a lot of Pokémon on the way, which disappointed Seth to no end. But they continued on, hopeful and optimistic.

As they walked towards the settlement, Theo pointed at a shape in the distance. The shape was coming towards them quickly.

"Hey, that looks like a person," he said.

Seth held one of his pokéballs in his hand. "Let's hope he's looking for a Pokémon battle, because I'm ready for one!"

"Don't be too overconfident Seth," said Connor.

"I'm not being overconfident, I'm just looking for a battle."

As it turned out, the trainer did want a Pokémon battle. He rushed toward Seth and pointed a pokéball at him.

The trainer wore a red overshirt and a wavy blue and white striped shirt underneath. He had a pair of jeans and a red cap with a black and white pokéball on it. He had short, brown hair, black eyes, and a watch with a Dugtrio displaying the time. The trainer looked to be about sixteen or so.

"You must be Seth Gray! My name is Alex! I've been watching your adventures, seeing as you can watch them on Flimflex already, and I must say, you're pretty lucky. I saw how you beat the dark type gym, you have no skill."

Seth froze. "What did you say?"

"You must be deaf as well. If your Nidorino hadn't evolved, you would have lost! And don't give me any crap that your Popplio would have won, that pathetic sea Pokémon wouldn't have been fast enough to do anything against the Pawniard. You haven't caught a third Pokémon yet either. When I heard that they were going to have a challenge here, and that people were free to battle the gyms they set up themselves. I decided to fly here and beat all eighteen. When I first saw you on TV, I had extremely high hopes for you, but now, I can't say that."

Seth clenched his fists. "You must have some nerve to come up to me and insult me like that. I don't think you're leaving a good impression in front of millions of people."

"Yeah, what's your problem?" asked Connor

"That doesn't matter, as long as I beat you I'm fine."

Seth narrowed his eyes. "Oh, you come up to me saying I suck at battling and then decide you want to beetle me next? You know what, I'm not going to honor your request."

"What, you're scared? It's understandable, you and your pathetic Pokémon can't do anything against my team!"

Now Seth was angry. "Stop calling my Pokémon pathetic!"

Alex sneered at him. "Hey, I wonder whatcha always listen to on those headphones you always wear. Oh wait, I know, you're listening to battle advice because you're too pathetic to figure out how to battle yourself!"

Seth threw his pokéball. "Teach him a lesson Champ!"

"Go, Kadabra!"

Seth immediately knew he was at a disadvantage, a Kadabra against a poison type like Kadbra would usually result in a loss.

"Champ, Horn Attack!"

"Dodge it."

Kadabra floated around the Nidorino, easily dodging the charge attack.

"A clumsy attack befitting of a clumsy and useless Pokémon like Nidorino, Psybeam!"

"I don't know what you have against me, but seriously, this isn't cool! Dodge it!"

Champ dug his feet into the ground and twisted away from the beam of psychic energy. He immediately sprung forward and rammed his horn into the Kadabra.

"Lucky shot! Confusion!"

Kadabra slammed Champ with a wave of psychic energy, causing Champ to stumble back and shake away the confusion.

"See, your pathetic Pokémon couldn't dodge that."

Seth scoffed. "He hits your Pokémon and you say it's lucky, gets hit by your Pokémon and suddenly it's all about skill."

"An excuse said only because you refuse to admit how much of a novice you are at battling! Psybeam!"

This time however, Champ wasn't able to dodge the attack. The Psybeam slammed into his side and caused him to faint.

"Ha, your Nidorino has fainted. Send in Arianna your Popplio so she can suffer the same fate from my Charjabug!"

That's when Seth stooped. "Wait a minute. You know my team!"

Alex laughed. "You are as dense as you are bad as battling. But you're correct, I did study your team. I know all their weaknesses, nonexistent strengths, moves, everything. Using this information, I built a team to counter yours! Not just your team, but the teams of every single challenger! Whatcha gonna do 'bout it?"

"Not battle you."

Alex laughed. "Oh I see, you're a pathetic loser who gives up."

This time, Theo interjected. "If you had an entire team of rock, electric, fire, rock, and steel Pokémon. And I spied on you to figure out your team, then caught a bunch of ground Pokémon, and then proceeded to immediately destroy you. Would I be better than you?"

Alex looked at him. "Of course not! The only reason you'd win is because you looked at my team. That isn't skill, that's being petty."

Everyone on Seth's team stared at him. Even the Roto Drone seemed to have a piercing gaze.

Alex then happened to realize what he said. "Of course you'd be better! That means you took the time to do proper reconnaissance. It's not my fault you didn't have the bright idea of figuring out what my team was."

"It still doesn't change the pact you made a team just to have an advantage. I bet you don't see your Pokémon as friends, just as a means to make yourself on top."

Alex waved his hand dismissively. "Just the average complaints from a couple of losers trying to make excuses. I have to leave now. Aaron's heading to the normal type gym as well. I plan on getting there before him, wiping the floor with him, and then beat the normal gym. Hopefully, he won't turn out to be a falling quitter like you.

With that, Alex turned away with a huff of contempt, leaving Seth glaring at him from behind.

Zeke's Group

Zeke was walking with his team, headed to the flying gym. On the way, he already caught two Pokémon. A Natu he named Arillo, and a Wingull he named Barry.

Cyrus was on his phone as usual, glancing from his screen periodically.

"Hey Cyrus," said Zeke. "What kind of Pokémon do you have?"

"Oh, I have a Slugma and a Snorunt, never really had any time to train or evolve them. Why do you ask?"

"I wanted to see how my new Pokémon perform. I knew that Carolina's Druddigon would be too powerful for them. So, do you want to battle?"

Cyrus shrugged. "I don't see why not."

"Okay, two Pokémon, doubles."

"Alright then. I choose you, Igneous! Go, Shiver!"

"Go, Arillo and Barry!"

Cyrus sent out a weirdly gray Slugma and a Snorunt appeared facing Zeke's Natu and Wingull.

"Hey, what's up with your Slugma?" asked Zeke.

"It's shiny actually. Found him in the wild."

"Interesting, but shiny or not you'll still lose! Barry, use Water Gun on the Slugma! Natu, use Future Sight!"

"Shiver, use Freeze Dry to protect Igneous! Igneous, use Ember!"

Shiver leaped in front of Igneous and shook slightly before sending a wave of cold, it froze the water gun and caused it to bounce against his body. Igneous shot a burst of fire at Arillo. The small Natu dodged the attack and flew at Arillo.

"Use Peck! Barry, attack the Snorunt with Wing Attack"

Arillo slammed his beak into the Slugma. Shiver tried using Powder Snow to defend her comrade, but Barry pushed her and the attack away with Gust.

Right at that moment, the Future Sight attack hit Igneous. The Pokémon was knocked over by the powerful psychic move. Arillo flew in almost after and used Night Shade.

"Barry, use Water Gun! Arillo, Night Shade on the Snorunt!"

Barry and Arillo flew past each other as they went to attack the opposite Pokémon. Before Shiver could help defend her partner, Arillo used Night Shade and stunned the Pokémon long enough for Barry to hit Igneous with a Water Gun before he recovered.

The constant, relentless attacks were too much for the shiny Slugma. It keeled over and fainted.

"Already? Man your Pokémon are tough. Return Slugma. Shiver, use Ice Shard!"

"Arillo, dodge it! Barry get in there and use Water Gun!"

Despite his warning, the fast moving piece of ice was too fast for Arillo to dodge, the attack hit the Pokémon, but he merely shrugged off the damage and used Future Sight, his eyes flashing.

Barry flew forward and used Water Gun. Shiver fought back with a Freeze Dry. Freezing the attack and hitting Barry.

The four times effectiveness of the special ice type attack was too much for Barry and fainted him in one hit.

Zeke raised an eyebrow. "I thought you said that you never really had any time to train them."

"I did train them sometimes. Honestly, I'm surprised your Natu shrugged off the attack like them. These guys are pretty powerful, even if I just let them roam around my house most of the time. But anyways, Ice Shard!"

Again, the Ice Shard hit Arillo, but seemed to do no damage. Arillo flew towards her and sent out a shadowy projection that slammed into the Snover. The Future Sight then hit Shiver and defeated her.

Cyrus returned his Snorunt. "Well, you won. Good job Zeke."

Zeke smiled. "It was all thanks to my Pokémon. Wait, where did Arillo go?"

A yellow beak connected to a green body appeared between Zeke's eyes, causing him to leap back in surprise. Arillo alighted from his head and landed on the ground, looking at him.

"You found that funny didn't you?" asked Zeke.

Arillo nodded, moving his entire body as he did so.

"Just wait until you see my training schedule."

Seth's Group

Seth was walking through the grass looking for a wild Pokémon to catch. Theo and Connor were idling around, watching his search.

"Still looking for a third Pokémon?" asked Connor.

Seth sighed. "Yeah, let's check over there."

Theo gave him a concerned look. "You shouldn't let what that guy said make you act like this."

Seth laughed. "I'm over that already. The guy was just jealous. He just desires the spotlight, but he knows he's not good enough to make it there. So he tries to bring others down to lift himself up. I've met people like him, I bet he'd throw a tantrum as soon as he loses. But still, I think I need a third Pokémon."

"If you say so."

Connor looked at the tall, green grass around them. "You're going to have to get pretty low to find anything here."

Seth shrugged and got down to his hands and knees. Searching for a Pokémon. Something darted past him as he moved.

"I saw something! Go, Arianna!"

In a flash of light, Seth's Popplio appeared. The little seal Pokémon did her customary show-off flip before getting serious.

"There's a Pokémon somewhere here, we-"

Suddenly, the Pokémon they were looking dashed across the grass, the trail it left behind seemed exceptionally clean as it ran.

"It's a Wimpod! Let's get it, Disarming Voice!"

A wave of fairy sound washed over the Wimpod, causing it to roll over as it took damage. It immediately got up and started running away again.

"Dangit, it's too fast. Go, Champ!"

The Nidorino appeared in a flash of light. He snorted and shook his head, looking around for a threat.

"Champ, there's a Pokémon running away. Catch up to it and hit it with a Horn Attack!"

Champ stamped his feet and charged forward. The Wimpod saw the charging Nidorino from the corner of his eyes and shrieked before running harder.

Champ managed to catch up and slammed into the Wimpod with his horn, knocking the poor, spineless Pokémon into the air.

"Now Arianna, use Bubble Beam!"

Arianna let out a stream of bubbles, blasting the Wimpod in mid-air. Before it could complete its painful arc and land on the ground, Seth threw a pokéball.

The ball sucked the Wimpod in and landed on the ground. It shook three times before the button flashed with a ding.

"I caught a Wimpod. I wonder what it was doing in a place like this, don't they live on beaches?"

Connor simply pointed off into the distance. "The normal type gym is located on a breach about zero point seven miles away from here. We've seen making good progress."

"Well then, let's go lads!" shouted Theo.

Aaron's Group

Aaron was watching the trainer in the distance come closer, he smiled, he was always ready for a battle. Aaron saw the trainer as the perfect opportunity to test his new Pokémon Espurr.

When the trainer came up to Aaron, it turned out to be Alex.

"You must be Aaron," he said. "The guy with the head that's too big for his own good."

Aaron narrowed his eyes as he scanned Alex's face.

"I don't know you. And I know everyone I've fought in the past, who are you? And why is your first action to try and irritate me?"

"I'm Alex, a pro battler. And you are a disappointment."

Aaron started at that, but Alex raised a hand to shush him.

"I've been watching you, and you haven't impressed me. First of all, you were the last one to complete a gym. Number two, you couldn't even do anything against the Barbaracle. Instead, you ended up falling down a tunnel like a complete idiot."

"Who are you that not impressing you is a big deal?" asked Clara.

"Why don't you go fight that thing?" asked Thomas.

Alex gave a dismissive gesture. "I would, but I have other things I need to do. Honestly, that guy you were trying to intimidate, Seth, is a much better battler than you are. Of course, I still beat him. So against you, I'd easily win."

Aaron chuckled, and then he began to laugh. Everyone gave him a surprised look.

"I see now, you're one of those guys who always tries to make himself look better. But in reality, you're just all bite and no bark."

Alex bristled. "I'll teach you! You're a pathetic loser who always fails."

"If it's a Pokémon battle you're looking for, I'll give you one."

Alex regained his composure and gave a haughty smile. "You're going to lose!"

Aaron shrugged. "You know I'm not stupid. I've already figured it out that you know my team. You said that you've been watching me. I'm only challenging you because I'll still win."

Clara gave him a look. "But what if he made a team to perfectly counter yours?"

Aaron shook his head. "No one's that petty. Pokémon teams are chosen because of how you connect with the Pokémon, because you want to see what that Pokémon's like. Or they're constructed in a way to counter and balance each member's weakness. No one's going to catch a team of Pidgys because they're fighting a bug type gym. No one's that stupid."

Thomas however, noticed that Alex seemed annoyed by his words.

"Enough with the philosophy! Get ready Aaron the loser!"

"I choose you, Espurr!"

"I knew it! Go, Charjabug!"

The Charjabug revved up its jaws, electricity playing around it dangerously. Espurr shivered at the sight of the box-like Pokémon.

"Charjabug use Silver Wind!"

"Dodge it and use Psybeam!"

The Espurr dodged the Silver Wind and fired back with her own Psybeam. The Charjabug could barely move because of its body shape and took the attack head on.

"Pokémon Battling is more than just super effectiveness! Psybeam again!"

"Charjabug, Silver Wind!"

While Espurr was focused on hitting the Charjabug with Psybeam, the Charjabug used Silver Wind. Both moves hit the opposing Pokémon, but didn't faint either of them.

"Silver Wind again! Keep using it until they're defeated!"

"Espurr, dodge the first two and prepare a Psybeam!"

As he planned, the Charjabug was able to use the first two Silver Winds in rapid succession. Espurr was almost unable to dodge the second one. However, it wasn't able to execute the third one as quickly. Espurr charged a Psybeam, dodged the Silver Wind, and fired.

The third and last Psybeam was enough to take down the Charjabug, the Pokémon gave a sad static noise before fainting.

Alex stamped his feet. "Come on you weakling! Ugh, I knew you were slacking during training. This is your fault!"

Aaron snorted. "How long have you had that Pokémon? It couldn't have been that long."

Alex steamed. "Shut up! Go, Kadabra!"

Alex's Kadabra appeared. Thomas raised an eyebrow, guessing that Aaron was right about no trainer building a team for the sole purpose of defeating another.

"Kadabra, use Calm Mind!"

"Espurr, use Psybeam!"

"Teleport!"

The Kadabra teleported away just in time to avoid the Psybeam.

"Is Psybeam the only attack your Espurr knows? Teleport then Shadow Ball!"

Espurr stood no chance against this combo. Unprepared for where it'd appear, Espurr readied a Psybeam. She wasn't able to use it fast enough when the Kadabra did appear. The Pokémon fired Shadow Ball and caused the Espurr to faint.

"Ha! You're pathetic little Espurr couldn't defeat my Kadabra! What a useless little Pokémon."

"The same Pokémon who defeated your Charjabug despite being at a type disadvantage."

"Just send out your next Pokémon and get ready to lose!"

"We'll see about that! Go, Hoot Hoot!"

The seemingly one legged owl appeared and took to the air. The Kadabra stared at its figure.

"I guess Kadabra will have to turn into your Espurr! Psybeam!"

"Dodge it Hoot Hoot!"

Hoot Hoot flew around the beam of psychic energy. It then flew straight at the Kadabra.

"Wing Attack!"

"Teleport!"

Hoot Hoot missed the Wing Attack as the Kadabra disappeared in a flash.

"Watch out! Take to the air!"

Hoot Hoot flapped his wings and flew high in the sky right as the Kadabra appeared and used Psybeam.

"Is the only thing your Hoot Hoot can do is run? Calm Mind!"

"Wing Attack!"

As Hoot Hoot neared the Kadabra, Aaron knew that it was going to teleport again. He waited for a few seconds before impact.

"Use Gust!"

Hoot Hoot flew upwards and sent a gust of wind slamming into the Kadabra, before the Pokémon could recover. Hoot Hoot flew straight at him and used Wing Attack.

"Kadabara, use Psybeam!"

Hoot Hoot was too close to the Kadabra and was unable to dodge. The Psybeam slammed into the owl Pokémon and caused it to faint due to the Kadabra's Calm Mind.

"Ha! Your Pokémon got one-shotted! Talk about pathetic!"

Aaron didn't respond, instead choosing to send out Chespin.

"Alright Kadabra, fry this thing. Psybeam!"

"Dodge it with Rollout!"

Chespin turned into a ball of rolling rock and weaved around the Psybeam. He slammed into the Kadabra before he could use Teleport and knocked it off balance.

"Finish it!"

Chespin swerved around while still using Rollout. He leaped into the air and slammed into the Kadabra, finishing it off.

Alex scoffed. "Weakling," he muttered. He then stood there, not sending out his next Pokémon.

Aaron looked at him. "Aren't you going to send in?"

Alex said nothing and waited. Eventually, Chespin was unable to continue Rollout due to him having no target. As soon as he ended the attack, Alex pulled out another pokéball.

"Alright. Go, Cubchoo!"

Aaron gave him an annoyed look. "In an official match, stalling your switch in like that would get you disqualified."

"Oh stop being a sore loser. Icy Wind!"

"Dodge it and use Rollout!"

Chespin used Rollout again and dodged the Icy Wind. Aaron knew that going head first at the Cubchoo was going to be a terrible idea.

"Watch out for its next attack! Use Leech Seed!"

Chespin leaped into the air right as the Cubchoo used Powder Snow. He spat out a stream of seeds that grabbed onto the Cubchoo.

"Vine Whip!"

While he was still in the air, Chespin sent out two vines and sent them lashing at the Cubchoo. Alex simply smiled.

"I spent five thousand pokécoins on this! Blizzard!"

Chespin didn't stand a chance against the high powered move. He was frozen over along with his vines by the powerful ice type attack. Cubchoo simply used the move again and finished him.

"Ha! I won! I knew you couldn't stand a chance against me!"

Aaron chuckled. "There are three main factors to a Pokémon battle. Advantages, which you definitely had. Pokémon strength, which your Pokémon had as well, even if you think otherwise, and trainer skills. Considering the fact you had the first two factors on your side, the only way to explain the fact you almost lost is that you have no trainer skills. This is further emphasized by how you treated your Pokémon."

Alex paused, processing what Aaron said. Realizing what he meant, Alex snapped.

"You're just a sore loser! I still won! My Pokémon were absolute garbage! The victory was because of me."

Aaron cared for all Pokémon, and believed they should be treated with respect. Hearing Alex's words made him angry.

"Don't you dare talk about your Pokémon like that! They're supposed to be your friends!"

Clara and Theo decided that they should step in.

"You're just a sore winner. If you're going to bad-mouth your Pokémon like this, you shouldn't have a trainer's license," said Thomas.

"Don't you understand you're being recorded?" asked Clara. "Saying stuff like this isn't making you look good. Even in private, you shouldn't say things like that about your Pokémon."

Alex started saying angry things incoherently before returning his Cubchoo and running.

Aaron watched him leave angrily. "I hope we never run into him again. He definitely is not a good person."

"I agree," came a voice behind him.

Aaron and his friends whirled around in surprise. Standing in front of them was Seth and his team.

"I see you lost to him too," said Seth.

"Oh hey Seth. I take it you fought him," said Aaron.

"Yeah, he said terrible things about my Pokémon. And I want my revenge."

"He said terrible things about his own Pokémon as well."

"He needs to be fought a lesson," agreed Connor. "I'm Connor by the way."

"I'm Aaron. These are my friends Clara and Thomas."

"I'm Theodore. But you can call me Theo," said Theo. "And that's our cameraman back there, Darreth."

"Nice to meet you all," said Aaron. "Seth, what do you say to me and you following that kid and teach him that Pokémon are to be respected, not treated as tools."

Seth nodded, an angry and determined look on his face. "I agree, we can travel together. People like him shouldn't be allowed to be trainers."

Everyone agreed. Aaron turned around and pointed at the diminished figure in the distance. "Well then, let the hunt begin."


Hey guys, I know this chapter is under 4k words like my chapters usually are, but I figured this was a good place to end it. See you guys next time!