Chapter 55:

Subway Strength

Location: Nimbasa City

After much consideration, I came to the decision that I would wait a day before going to the East of Unova. I just needed to properly prepare myself before going into an area I hadn't visited. Plus, Looker needed to have a talk to me. He was waiting outside the Pokémon Center.

"Come," he said. "We need to discuss plans. But not here; follow me. To Gear Station!"


Location: Gear Station

"So, this is the Battle Subway," I said. We were in a circular train station with multiple train models over the entrances; these would not only be the destinations of the trains, but the kind of challenge that would happen.

"We will have a talk in Anville Town," Looker said. "You can only get there via the Battle Subway."

"Well well," said a familiar looking man in a white coat with his familiar looking brother in a black coat. "If it isn't the hero of Unova and his little police friend."

"Ingo and Emmet!" I said. "Yeah, we're on Team Plasma business! It's top secret!"

Ingo laughed. "That's good. Say. If you want, after you've finished your really secret meeting at Anville Town, would you like to challenge us to a battle? A Single Battle from Emmet and a Double Battle from me. How does that sound?"

I put my thumb up. "I will see you both later! Come on Looker, let's get to Anville Town!"

Anville Town was the train model with the brown stripe, so we went into that station and took the train.


Location: Anville Town

Anville Town was a quaint settlement with some train stores and a turntable. A stone bridge went over the tracks to a couple of houses.

"Imagine living near trains!" I said. "That would be someone's dream!"

"Let's get down to business," Looker said as we walked across the bridge. "First of all, thank you. Your duty in finding the Sages is much appreciated. But I don't want to get in the way of your adventure. I know you are eager to check out the east Unova, so I will check the west for you. There is a lot of this region you still haven't seen, and I don't want to delay you. But of course, if you do happen to find a Sage, contact me and I'll be there."

"Thanks," I said. "I'll do my best, and I hope you do as well. Okay. What do you say we get back to the Gear Station? I have some battles to do!"

"Okay!" Looker laughed.


Location: Gear Station

Arriving back at the Gear Station, I said goodbye to Looker.

"You'll show them, I know it!" Looker told me before walking out.

"Okay, Singles first," I said. The Single Battle train was under the green route.


I walked into the station and was greeted by Ingo.

"Greeting Hilbert! Now don't think we're going to battle straight away; first I would like you to get six wins in a row. You have to choose three Pokémon, and some are banned. So don't think about using Zekrom my friend. After that, you will take me on. Good luck!"

I decided my team would be Samurott, Scrafty and Chandelure. So, I stepped into the train and it started going along the tracks.


Car One

I was sharing the first car with a Biker. He was on his motorbike in the train.

"They say this isn't the time to use that, but I'm a rebel!"


Hilbert Vs. Biker Rupert

"I choose Scrafty!" I shouted.

"Go Yamask!" Rupert shouted back.

"Easy peasy Leppa squeazy. Scrafty, Crunch!" Scrafty ran over to Yamask and chomped down on it, but it didn't knock it out.

"Yamask, Curse!" Yamask put a Curse on Scrafty. Yamask knocked itself out in the process, but I knew Scrafty only had three turns after the damage it had just took.

"Go Rufflet!" shouted Rupert.

"Scrafty, come back!" I yelled. Scrafty was brought back, and the Curse was lifted. "I choose Chandelure!"

"Rufflet, Aerial Ace!" Rufflet dove into Chandelure.

"Chandelure, Flame Burst!" Chandelure fired a flame at Rufflet, and it did about a third damage.

"Aerial Ace again!" Rufflet once again dove into Chandelure. This was a Critical Hit!

"Another Flame Burst!" Another flame that exploded in Rufflet's face. One more would do it.

"One more Aerial Ace!" Rufflet did one more dive. After that, it succumbed to the final Flame Burst. "Okay. Final Pokémon time. I choose Tirtouga!" The blue Fossil was sent out. "Aqua Jet!" Tirtouga struck first. It charged into Chandelure with water gushing past it, and Chandelure was down.

"Okay Scrafty, come out!" Scrafty did just that.

"Aqua Jet!" Tirtouga dashed into Scrafty again. It didn't do much.

"Use High Jump Kick!" Scrafty jumped into Tirtouga with a kick but it was left with 1HP. Stupid Sturdy.

"Another Aqua Jet!" Tirtouga used the Water Type move again. But Rupert knew he had lost.

"Brick Break Scrafty!" Scrafty chopped Tirtouga, dealing the finishing blow.

"You're right. I shouldn't ride this indoors."


Car Two

My next foe was a Tennis Player.

"Game start!"


Hilbert Vs. Tennis Player Murray

"Scarfty, go!" I shouted.

"First serve Ferroseed!" Murray yelled.

"Scrafty, High Jump Kick!" Scrafty kicked Ferroseed. One problem though; I forgot about Iron Barbs. Scrafty got hurt by the spikes on Ferroseed's body. What's worse, it was holding a Rocky Helmet, so it took even more damage. Thankfully Ferroseed only had one shot left before fainting.

"Poison Jab Ferroseed!" Ferroseed fired one of its spikes at Scrafty. This spike was growing purple. When it hit Scrafty, it was poisoned. (Scrafty wasn't having the best luck today was it).

"Brick Break!" I yelled as Scrafty chopped Ferroseed, taking more damage from the Iron Barbs and Rocky Helmet.

"15-luv to you Hilbert! Go Venipede!" Murray yelled.

"Rock Climb!" I shouted, as Scrafty ran along the walls of the train and leapt into Venipede.

"Venoshock!" Venipede fired orange ooze at Scrafty. Because Scrafty was poisoned, it did a lot more damage. It fainted. "15-15 to both of us!"

"Chandelure, come out!" I shouted. "Use Flame Burst!" Chandelure fired a flame at Venipede. Upon impact, Venipede was down.

"Match Point Palpitoad!" The cream and blue Pokémon entered the train.

"Return Chandelure," I said. "Okay Samurott, go!" Samurott was sent out and took a Mud Shot. "Come back with Surf!" Samurott made a wave that hit Palpitoad. (I was thankful the train didn't flood).

"Another Mud Shot!" Palpitoad fired another stream of mud at Samurott.

"One more Surf!" Samurott created another wave. One more would finish Palpitoad.

"One more Mud Shot!" Thankfully, the Mud Shot missed.

"One last Surf!" Samurott used the Surf attack and finished off Palpitoad.

"Game Set!" Murray said.


Car Three

In this room was a Janitor.

"Please don't mess up the floor too much. I've only just cleaned."


Hilbert Vs. Janitor Gene

"Scrafty, go!" I shouted.

"Go Crustle!" Gene replied.

"Start with High Jump Kick!" Scrafty kicked Crustle so hard that part of its shell chipped off.

"Earthquake!" Crustle made the entire car shake. (See, THAT is why I am selective on where I use Earthquake). Scrafty kept its balance though.

"Another High Jump Kick!" Scrafty kicked Crustle once more. It was a Critical Hit! Crustle was down.

"Klang, go!" Gene shouted next as the rotating gears entered the ring.

"High Jump Kick!" Scrafty kicked Klang so hard it almost fell apart.

"Thunderbolt!" Scrafty fired a bolt of lightning at Scrafty, shocking away the rest of its HP.

"Good one Scrafty. Go Chandelure!" I knew Chandelure could do it. "Flame Burst!" Chandelure melted away Klang with one ball of flames.

"Come on out Golett!" Gene shouted. I had this.

"Shadow Ball!" Chandelure fired a Shadow Ball at Golett. Upon getting hit, Golett was flung into a fire extinguisher. It went everywhere. Golett was down.

"I told you not to make a mess!"


Car Four

My foe here was a Youngster.

"Mummy let me ride the train for the first time! I'm growing up!"


Hilbert Vs. Youngster Dudley

"Scrafty, come out!"

"Go Jellicent!" Dudley sent out a male Jellicent, this one being blue with what looked like a thick moustache as opposed to Bianca's pink female Jellicent.

"Start with Crunch!" I yelled. Scrafty chomped down on Jellicent, doing lots of damage.

"Ice Beam!" Jellicent fired a cold beam at Scrafty. Scrafty took it but was shivering a bit afterwards.

"Another Crunch!" I yelled. One more attack from Scrafty and Jellicent was down.

"Scolipede, go!" The giant red Pokémon was sent out, even if it had to duck a bit to not bang its head. "Poison Jab!" Scolipede jabbed Scrafty with its long horns. Scrafty fainted upon impact.

"Good job my friend. Okay Chandelure, come out!" I was confident in Chandelure. Maybe a bit too confident.

"Rock Slide!" Scolipede made rocks fall randomly from the ceiling. They hit Chandelure for lots of damage.

"Flame Burst!" Chandelure fired a flame at Scolipede. It was a Critical Hit! Scolipede was down.

"Finally, I choose Dewott!" Dudley shouted. "Use Night Slash!" Dewott took a scalchop that was glowing black. It slashed at Chandelure who just about took it.

"Shadow Ball!" Chandelure fired a Shadow Ball at Dewott. Not quite enough.

"Now use Razor Shell!" Dewott swiped at Chandelure with its scalchop, fainting it.

"Samurott, go!" I shouted.

"Oh," Dudley said. "That's a bit unfair."

"Revenge!" Samurott punched Dewott, giving me the win.

"Okay, I'll say it! I snuck out against Mummy's word!"


Car Five

Almost there. This time my opponent was a Lass.

"My bus broke down so here I am!"


Hilbert Vs. Lass Kiera

"Scrafty, I choose you!" I shouted.

"Leavanny, you're up!" Kiera yelled as Leavanny was sent out. "Swords Dance!" Leavanny started dancing about, raising Attack.

"Scrafty, Crunch!" Scrafty bit down on Leavanny's arm. However, that put it in range.

"Use Leaf Blade!" Leavanny swiped Scrafty with its leafy hand, taking it out in one shot.

"Chandelure, deal with it!" I shouted.

"Leaf Blade!" Even with a big Attack boost, it didn't do much.

"Flame Burst!" Chandelure fired a flame at Leavanny that sizzled up the poor leafy Pokémon.

"Okay. My next Pokémon is Liepard!" Knowing a Dark Type would be strong against a Ghost Type, I switched in for Samurott who took a Night Slash. "Do another one!" Samurott was clinging on after the second hit, but I had a plan.

"Revenge!" Samurott punched Liepard in the face. It did a humongous amount of damage, fainting Liepard in the process.

"Sawsbuck, I choose you!" Out came the brown Grass Type. (It was the Autumn one, honestly my favourite). "Horn Leech!" Sawsbuck's horn started to glow green. It charged into Samurott, ramming its horns into Samurott's throat, sapping away the rest of its health.

"Urgh. Chandelure, go!" I shouted.

"Megahorn!" Sawsbuck's horn this time started to glow white. It charged into Chandelure, and it didn't do much.

"Inferno!" By some miracle, it worked! Sawsbuck got caught in the pillar of flames and fainted.

"Well, this was my stop. Thanks for passing the time!"


Car Six

My final foe before Emmet was a Guitarist.

"Let's rock this match!"


Hilbert Vs. Guitarist Angus

"Okay Scrafty, I choose you!" I yelled.

"Rock it Beheeyem!" Angus replied.

"Crunch!" I told Scrafty as it bit down on Beheeyem's large head.

"Trick Room!" Suddenly, Beheeyem made the entire car look all weird. "Now use Thunderbolt!" Beheeyem zapped Scrafty.

"You moved twice!" I yelled. "That's not fair!"

"It is!" Angus yelled. "Trick Room makes the slow dudes fast!"

"Crunch it Scrafty!" Scrafty did one last chomp, ending Beheeyem.

"Stoutland, go!" shouted Angus. "Oh no, the Trick Room is still up."

"High Jump Kick!" I shouted, as Scrafty kicked Stoutland in the face. It knocked out Stoutland in one.

"My final hope. I choose Amoongus!" The living breathing mushroom was sent out. "Sludge Bomb!" Amoongus fired a ball of purple ooze at Scrafty, leaving it hanging. However, Scrafty was also poisoned so it would be down the next turn anyway.

"Scrafty, Rock Climb!" Scrafty ran along the walls and attacked Amoongus. Scrafty fell to the poison afterwards.

"Finish it Chandelure!" I yelled. "Finish with Flame Burst!" Chandelure fired a flame at Amoongus, which knocked it out.

"No! Stupid Trick Room!"

Well, it was time to face Ingo. I walked on through.


Car Seven

Ingo, my final foe, was waiting for me.

"Feel the bump of the tracks as the subway train zooms beneath the feet of the on goers of the Unova region. They don't even realize that a big battle is about to go down, as I will now demonstrate! Don't go easy on me Hero Hilbert!"


Hilbert Vs. Subway Boss Ingo

"Crustle, I choose you!" Ingo shouted, as the plated Bug Type entered.

"I choose Scrafty!" I replied. "Actually, no. Scrafty return! Go Samurott!" I wanted to get this down easily.

"Crustle, Earthquake!" Crustle sent multiple shock waves through the car, making it hard for all of us to keep balance. Samurott lost a lot of health from it.

"Surf!" Samurott almost flooded the car, but almost took out Crustle.

"X-Scissor!" Crustle jumped at Samurott, its claws crossing over. It hit Samurott and, despite already taking a lot of damage, Samurott somehow survived!

"One more Surf!" I yelled as Samurott made one more wave that finished of Crustle.

"Impressive. Go Klinklang!" Ingo yelled. "Gear Grind!" Klinklang went over to Samurott and got its horn stuck in between the gears. This did enough damage to Samurott to faint it.

"Samurott!" I yelled. "Okay Scrafty, come out!"

"Volt Switch!" Klingklang sent out an electrical ball and fired it at Scrafty. Klinklang then went back to Ingo in favour of Garbodor. Scrafty was already mid High Jump Kick at this point and whilst it hit, it didn't do that much.

"Come back Scrafty, I said. "Go Chandelure!" Chandelure came out and took a Gunk Shot from Garbodor. "Now use Shadow Ball!" Chandelure fired a Shadow Ball at the smelly Pocket Monster, leaving Garbodor smack bang between the green and red health.

"Now Garbodor, Psychic attack!" Garbodor shot Psychic energy at Chandelure, who's Special Defense fell in the process.

"One more Shadow Ball!" This worked, and Garbodor was hit one last time.

"Klingkang, finish it!" Ingo shouted. "Thunderbolt!" Klingklang fired a bolt of lightning at Chandelure. Chandelure barely hung on.

"Flame Burst go!" Chandelure fired fire at Klinklang. Not much left.

"One more Thunderbolt!" Chandelure fell to the electricity.

"Okay Scrafty, come out!" I yelled.

"Hyper Beam!" Klinklang fired a beam at Scrafty. Scrafty pulled up its pants just in time to let it survive.

"Brick Break!" Scrafty chopped Klinklang, almost finishing it. I was so glad Hyper Beam means recharging. "One more!" Scrafty finished off Klinklang with a final Brick Break.

"Congratulations!" Ingo said. "That was some match. And it seems our train has arrived at our destination."


The train finally came to a stop at another station.

"Where are we?" I asked.

"I believe this must be Opelucid Station. This might be the only place in the City where technology is even with everything else. So do you want to battle my brother?"

I shook my head. "I'll wait on that. It's getting late and I want to explore the east of Unova tomorrow. I will battle him at some point I promise."

Ingo saluted. "Then so be it." He pointed to another train. "That train will take you back to Gear Station. Thank you for taking the Battle Subway!"


That was fun! I've heard of Battle Towers in other regions, but this was such a cool take. And yes, I will take on Emmet at some point. But for now, more adventures await!