Chapter 28:

Underground, Overground, Battling Free

Location: Driftveil Pokémon Center

*Knock**Knock**Knock*. "Hey Cheren, can I come in?" I asked. "Bianca's with me?"

Cheren came to the door in a white dressing gown, slightly drowsy. He looked much better, but he still needed rest.

"Hey guys. I think I'm on the mend officially, but I'll take it easy for today."

Bianca went over to the kitchen unit to make him a cup of tea. I explained Cheren my plan. "Cheren, I'm going to take on Clay today. I'll book you a reservation for tomorrow if you'd like; you can cancel easily if you're not up to snuff."

Cheren smiled, a lot more than yesterday. It was a good sign that he would be as right as Rain Dance.


Location: Driftveil City

The Gym was easy to find. It was a big bronze building, a similar colour to the roofs around the rest of the City. This one had grass circular roofs though and felt the grandest building in the entire City.


Location: Driftveil City Gym

The first room of the Gym was massive. Light shined in from the massive windows above, lighting up the frames that dotted all the walls. In them were different minerals. There were Gems of multiple colours. Gems power up moves just once; they must have been mined by Clay. There was also a steel platform in the middle with a glowing green button pointing down.

"Yo, Champ in the making!" the Gym guide said. "Welcome to the Driftveil City Gym! To get around, press the button on the steel platform and it will take you down into the mine. You have to make your way up and down multiple elevators to get to the lowest point, where Clay will fight you. He uses Ground Types. Don't even try shocking them; they're immune to Electric moves. Try washing them away with Water Types instead."

I walked over to the steel platform and pushed the button. Sure enough, the lift went down into the brown mine. I looked above me as the light became dimmer the further I went.

The lift came to a halt near other lifts. There were miners and Clerks down here. The lift I needed to get to had a wall around it. It was right next to the lift I was currently on, but it was blocked by a traffic cone. I could just step over it, but I wanted to abide by the rules of the Gym.

I walked out and was spotted by a Clerk.

"Hey, I know you! You saved the Cold Storage! Can you battle me as well as you can those Goons?"


Hilbert Vs. Clerk Xavier

"Gothita, go!" I shouted.

"I choose Palpitoad!" What was sent out was a blue Pokémon with five blue bumps all over it, the biggest one on its forehead. It had a cream-coloured belly.


Palpitoad (ガマガル)

042

Water/Ground Type

Vibration Pokémon

2'07" (0.8 m)

37.5 lbs (17 kg)

When they vibrate the bumps on their heads, they can make waves in water or earthquake-like vibrations on land.

Tympole -Lv 25- Palpitoad


Gothita suddenly shot some blue orbs at Palpitoad. "What move was that?" I asked.

"Psyshock. It's a Special move, but it does Physical damage, therefore targeting the Defense of the opposition. Good job. Palpitoad, Muddy Water!" Palpitoad made a wave of brown water that crashed into Gothita. More than half of its HP was washed away.

"Come back Gothita. Okay Tranquill, come out!" I yelled, as it took a Mud Shot. Being a Flying Type, Tranquill didn't feel a thing. "Okay, use Air Cutter!" Tranquill fired streaks at Palpitoad. It was a Critical Hit! Palpitoad was finished.

"Congratulations," Xavier said. "Okay, I need to file this paperwork on what was dug up today."


I continued to go up and down the Elevators. It was certainly disorientating. (What is it with Gyms in this region that want to make me sick? We had Burgh and his honey, Elesa and her rollercoasters and Clay and his wild lifts. I hope the next one isn't like this).

The next Trainer I came across was another Miner.


Hilbert Vs. Miner Shouichi

"Tranquill, you're up again!" I shouted.

"Go Sandile!" Shouichi said. Tranquill started shouting at Sandile, and Sandile got angry. "Sandile, Swagger!" However, Sandile couldn't use it.

"Wait, Tranquill was that Taunt?!" Yes, it was! Taunt is a move that prevent the opposition from using Status moves. "Great! Let's use this opportunity! Tranquill, Air Cutter!" Tranquill fired streaks of air at Sandile. It almost went down.

"Sandile, Crunch!" Sandile jumped up and bit Tranquill on the wind. Tranquill was forced to land.

"Another Air Cutter!" Tranquill once again fired streaks at Sandile. It was forced off and crashed into a wall, fainting upon impact.

"Okay, Drilbur go!" Out came a Ground Type I was more than familiar with.

"Come back Tranquill," I said, as I returned it to its Ball. "Come out Dewott!" Dewott was sent out.

"Drilbur, Rock Slide!" Drilbur made rock tumble down from the ceiling. They all hit Dewott.

"Counter with Water Pulse!" Dewott shot a ball of water at Drilbur. It was knocked out in one.

"Nice one!" Shouichi told me. "Better get back up again."


The rest of the Trainers pretty much used the same Pokémon: Sandile, Drilbur and Palpitoad.


Finally, I reached the lift. I pressed the green button, and I was taken down much further and at a greater speed than the other lifts. I had to grab onto the railings to that I didn't fall. The lift slowed down before a giant steel door with the Gym logo on it. It opened as I descended further.

Beyond it was dark. The only thing lighting up this point of the mine was a massive green glowing gem that was situated behind the man of the hour, Clay. He was busy mining away at a rock, then he noticed me.

"Howdy." He adjusted his hat. "Partner, I must thank you again for helping me out with those Team Plasma Grunts. Ya really saved my career, even if I have to buy another freight. But now, let's see how ya fare against me, the Underground Boss, Clay!"


Hilbert Vs. Gym Leader Clay

"Scraggy, you're up first!" I shouted.

"Go Krokorok!" Clay shouted. "Start with Bulldoze!" Krokorok stomped on the ground and sent a shockwave all across the ground into Scraggy. Scraggy was knocked back but got back up wobbly; its Speed had fell. It didn't matter too much as Scraggy isn't exactly a Pokéathlon star.

"Brick Break!" Scraggy ran up to Krokorok and chopped it. It did about half damage.

"Krokorok, Torment!" Krokorok started shouting at Scraggy, disabling the Brick Break and making me miss a turn. "Another Bulldoze!" Krokorok mad another shockwave that finished off Scraggy with a Critical Hit.

"Scraggy!" I yelled. "You deserve a rest." I recalled Scraggy and sent out Tranquill. Being a Flying Type, Bulldoze wouldn't even touch it. "Use Air Cutter!" Tranquill fired blue streaks at Krokorok. It didn't quite finish it.

"Krokorok, Crunch!" Krokorok jumped up and chomped down on Tranquill's wing. Tranquill cried out in pain and it almost reached red health.

"Tranquill, finish with Quick Attack!" Tranquill dashedl across the room. Krokorok's grip loosened, and it fell to the ground and fainted.

Clay recalled Krokorok. "Nice one. But let's see how yer do against Palpitoad!" Clay sent out the Water Type into the fray.

"Tranquill, heal with Roost!" Tranquill came down and regained some HP. Big mistake.

"Knew you would do that. Palpitoad, Bulldoze!" Palpitoad sent out a shockwave. Tranquill was hit. Okay, I knew I wouldn't be using that strategy again.

"Air Cutter!" The streaks hit Palpitoad, but not for as much as we wanted.

"Muddy Water Palpitoad!" Palpitoad made a large wave of brown water. It crashed into Tranquill, finishing it.

"Good job Tranquill." Clay was strong. Already, he had knocked out two of my Pokémon. But I had four left, and he had two, one of which I knew was Excadrill. "Okay Gothita, you're up!" My Psychic Type was sent onto the field.

"Bubble Beam!" Palpitoad fired a jet of bubbles at Gothita. Gothita shielded its eyes (which I didn't blame it for. A bubble popping in your eye is nasty).

"Psyshock!" Gothita fired some psychic balls at Palpitoad. Palpitoad recovered quickly.

"Muddy Water!" Another wave of water and Gothita was finished.

"Dewott!" I yelled, getting desperate. "You can do this. Razor Shell!" Dewott ran over to Palpitoad and sliced it with its scalchop. Palpitoad fainted.

"Well well, it seems I'm down to yer final obstacle. If this battle were a mine, this would be the lowest you could go before the gems. Excadrill, come on out!" With its sharp claws and horn made of steel, Excadrill was sent out.

"Dewott, you're at a Type advantage. Let's take it out."

"Not so fast. Excadrill, Horn Drill!" Excadrill's horn started spinning. Then, it dug underground. When it came up, it rammed its spinning horn into Dewott. Dewott was down in one. Horn Drill. It's a one hit KO move. Very risky as it has low accuracy, but when it works, it works.

"Sorry Dewott. Okay Pansear, you're up!" I yelled.

"Excadrill, Bulldoze!" Excadrill put its claws together, which caused another shockwave. Thankfully, Pansear jumped out the way.

"Pansear, sizzle it with Flame Burst!" Pansear shot a flame at Excadrill. It was a direct hit but didn't quite do half.

"Excadrill, Rock Slide!" Excadrill made multiple rocks fall from the ceiling. Pansear was caught up in them and fainted.

"Pansear!" I ran over to the rocks where the fainted Pansear was lurching out like a dead flower. "You were amazing." I recalled it. I had one Pokémon left. It wasn't as strong as Excadrill, but I knew it would beat it.

"Drilbur, come out!" I shouted.

Clay smiled. "Well, someone's cocky. Bringing out Excadrill's pre evolved form as yer final hope. You may be strong, but I know yer not stupid. Excadrill, Bulldoze!" Excadrill stared spinning on the ground, creating another shockwave. It was a direct hit. Drilbur was knocked back, but barely held on.

"Okay Drilbur, Dig!" Drilbur dug underground.

"Excadrill, Slash!" Excadrill missed because Drilbur dug the hole and humped in just in time.

I punched the air. "DO IT!" Drilbur came above ground and uppercut Excadrill. Super Effective! Excadrill was down.


"We did it!" I shouted as Drilbur jumped into my arms. "You were great Drilbur!"

Clay adjusted his hat and came over to me. He held out his hand and I shook it. "Yer one interesting Trainer I tell ya that. You took risks, but smart ones. You are more deserving of this." He gave me the Plate Badge. "That Badge proves that you can have battles that can shake the earth. Along with this, Pokémon traded up to Lv. 50 will obey you. Okay, go forth! Onto yer next challenge!"

"Oh, one more thing." I said. "You remember Cheren, who helped us? He has a cold right now so if he's better tomorrow, could you reserve a place for him?"

Clay got out his pickaxe and swung it close to my face again. "Sure thing."


Location: Driftveil Pokémon Center

"So shiny!" Bianca shouted.

"Bianca, Cheren's still on the mend," I whispered. "Don't be too loud."

"It's fine," he explained. "I should be fine tomorrow. Fine enough to take on Clay of course!"

Bianca adjusted her beret. "Hey, can we maybe walk to our next location together Hilbert?"

I got out the Town Map. I followed Route 6 with my finger, which brought me to Mistralton City. "That's our next destination." I then noticed a cave before that; Chargestone Cave.

"Yeah!" Bianca shouted. "That's where I would like to go. Because Professor Juniper will be there!"

Professor Juniper! I hadn't seen her since Liberty Garden!

"First thing tomorrow then." I said. "Or we can take our time, it's a short walk after all."

"Then tomorrow, we'll have a battle!" Bianca suggested.

Great idea Bianca!


Gym Badge number five is officially mine, and the star of the show was undoubtedly Drilbur! I had a lot of fun, but I'm more than happy being aboveground for a bit. Anyway, Bianca will be accompanying me for a bit. Can't say I'm not excited, because I am!