It's the moment you've been waiting for! Its time for the final gym battle! After this its time for preparations heading into the Pokemon League!
The sun rose on Viridian City, Diego had woken his friends up to get an early start on their gym battles and so they can go through Victory Road to the East.
"Of all the people I would have thought to wake up at seven in the morning, you were not one of them." Reneé yawned.
"You'd be surprised at how early he'll wake up when it's for something he's passionate about." Jack replied.
The Viridian Gym changed drastically throughout the years. From the times of Giovanni's control over the gym to Blue before he regained the title of Champion, the gym was now in the middle of the town's garden, its previous location was refurbished to instead become a larger school for children.
The new gym was a large wooden building, a chimney sticking out of the right side and flowers planted all around the building, several Deerling and Skiddo were asleep nearby. It all seemed to give a very peaceful feel to it.
The group went inside and gasped at what they saw, there was a woman with familiar platinum blonde hair. She wore a green sweater over a blue blouse, a purple skirt and black leggings. She was barefoot as well.
"Is that... Meridia?" Julia whispered, trying not to make their presence known.
"There's no way she's the gym leader!" Diego said, keeping up a whisper. Jack was co pletely silent, he was still furious about the fact that Meridia, who he thought was a friend to him and his companions, betrayed them for Team Dark Star.
"Should we say something?" Reneé asked.
"We have to." Jack said. "If she's the gym leader then she's obligated to battle us. And if this is a trap set by Team Dark Star then we should be strong enough to handle it."
"But if it is a trap then what if the boss is here? Last time I checked we only barely managed to get by!" Diego remarked.
"If you four are done whispering then would you like to join me for some tea?" The girl said, startling the group.
"How did you know we were here?" Julia asked.
"I can sense people's auras... And I could hear you whispering. Please, come join me, I can make more than enough for everyone."
The four joined the girl, who set up cups for the four of them.
"I know you came to battle me but there's no need to rush. Its important to take the time to enjoy life and all that it gives to those that live. My name is Luna, and I am the gym leader of Viridian City. Now I don't mean to sound rude or creepy but I already know who you are."
"How?" Diego asked.
"It's my mother, she's told me about you four. When you came in you confused me for her, I don't blame you, a lot of people say we look similar." Luna answered, leaving the group shocked.
"Meridia, is your mom?!" Julia gasped, Jack took hold of the pokeball his Venusaur was in, just in case it was a trap.
"Yes, she is my mother. But please understand, she and I are nothing alike. She was always a woman that tried to use whatever means possible to get what she wants, to further her career and the progress of the organization she works for. Once her husband, my father, learned of what she was doing it ended up causing a major strain in their relationship. They ended up getting a divorce, the last thing she said to my father was that she hopes he crashes his boat into the sea. My father is a sailor working in Virbank City in the Unova region. My sisters and I were separated after the divorce." Luna explained.
She went to go get a picture of her family to show the group, when she stood up the group saw that she was rather short, despite looking a year older than them. The picture she brought showed her mother, she sported the same smile that she would greet the group with when their paths crossed. Luna's father was a middle aged man in a black sailor uniform, he looked proud of his family and happy to be around them, even hugging his eldest daughter who was wearing a blue and purple sweater and was holding an electric guitar, a Scolipede stood behind them.
The second daughter was the middle child, she wore a grey shirt and black skirt, her makeup gave her look gothic, she has a Beldum in front of her. Just like her sisters and mother, she has platinum blonde hair.
"This is my family before the divorce, my sister Roxie, was the leader of the Virbank Gym back then so when my parents separated she had to stay there with my father. I feel like that was for the best, being alone would break my father's heart." Luna explained.
"And what about you and your other sister?" Reneé asked.
"The three of us headed to the Hoenn region for a short time, my mother said she needed to visit our uncle at Ever Grande City for something but she would never tell us what the reason was. Afterwards we lived in Saffron City for a while, inside Silph Co. actually. My mother worked alongside an accountant there until Margaret, my sister wearing grey in the picture, was able to move out, she brought me with her. Our mother had always seemes to be enthralled in her work and never paid any attention to us. I had no idea what she had been up to until I heard about Team Dark Star after you infiltrated their base."
"So where's Margaret now?" Jack asked.
"She is a member of the Kanto Elite Four, she wanted to become stronger so she could confront our mother but her responsibilities had to come first."
"Not to sound rude but why are you telling us all this?" Diego asked.
"Because your auras are golden, you four are part of the key to stopping Team Dark Star and bringing my mother back from the path she has taken. I understand that you may have some doubts about her but I promise you that there is still a glimmer of a good person still in her!" Luna pleaded.
"And if we're going to bring those Dark Star jerks down we need strength..." Jack stated.
"And to get strength we have to battle people as strong as us! Even people stronger than us, and that includes you, Luna!" Diego proclaimed, standing up from his seat and pointing one of his pokeballs at the young Gym Leader.
"Well then I believe its time for us to get started!" Luna said with a smirk. She brought everyone to a battlefield that was part of an indoor garden. Diego and Luna took their places at the battlefield.
"This will be a two on two battle, now before we begin I believe it's only fair what type I specialize in. I am a master of Fairy type pokemon, Fairies are naturally peaceful and loving creatures, but they can also be powerful when put up to the test. This is the first example..." Luna announced, sending out a Ninetales. However this Ninetails was native to the Alola region.
"Wait, I thought Ninetales was a Fire type?" Julia asked.
"The ones born in Kanto are but the ones native to Alola are Ice and Fairy. They had to adapt to a completely different environment there so their type changed." Reneé responded.
"Ice and Fairy? Easy! Let's go, Charizard!"
"A Fire type? A logical choice, but that's just another thing with Fairy pokemon, they can definitely surprise you! Ninetales, activate your ability!" Luna proclaimed, her Ninetales let out a growl, which caused a cloud to appear over the battlefield, hail then began to flow out of the cloud.
"Snow warning? This could be a problem." Jack said.
"How so?" Reneé asked.
"An Alolan Ninetales can learn strong Ice type attacks like Blizzard and can buff up its defenses with Aurora Veil. To set up Aurora Veil you have to use Hail first, but with Snow Warning you've already done that first step." Jack explained.
"Now Ninetales, Aurora Veil!" Luna exclaimed. Ninetales' tails extended and an aurora coated its body, the green and blue lights gave the entire building a sense of peace, the temperature decreased to a point where everyone's breath was visible.
"Called it." Jack groaned.
"Charizard, use Flamethrower!"
Charizard exhaled the stream of fire, Ninetales made an effort to get away but was still hit with a small amount of the attack, however the Aurora Veil took the brunt of the attack, causing minimal damage.
"It's like it didn't even feel the hit!" Diego said in shock.
"Aurora Veil is a wonderful move, isn't it? Now Ninetales, Blizzard!"
Ninetales' tails extended again, causing a heavy snowstorm to rage out towards Charizard. The Lizard pokemon covered its body with its wings in an attempt to block the damage, though not entirely successful, it deep keep Charizard confident and still ready to fight, blowing out a flamethrower into the air as it roared in confidence.
"Now that's what I like to see! Now Charizard, use Air Slash!"
Charizard flapped its large wings, creating a blade of air that waa much too fast for Ninetales to avoid, the attack connected and sliced the Veil in two temporarily before it refigured itself.
'That barrier can be cut? Oooh I think I have am idea!' Diego thought gleefully to himself.
"Psyshock!" Luna ordered, Ninstales' eyes began to glow pink, small orbs of psychic energy formed in the air around it. The orbs zoomed towards Charizard and crashed into it. Charizard looked more worn down but it was still willing to fight.
"Use Air Slash again!" Diego ordered. The attack connected just as before but this time Diego was not done with his attack. "Now use Metal Claw to tear that barrier down!"
Charizard lunged towards the fox pokemon, clawing at the cut barrier and damaging Ninetales' body.
"Blizzard!" "Flamethrower!" The two commanded. The attacks of ice and fire collided, generating a large cloud of steam from the melted ice. The steam was blown away by the flapping of Charizard's wings, Ninetales was on the floor beside it, knocked out from the attack.
"I'm impressed." Luna said. "You noticed an opening and took advantage of it. Strategies like that are key to victory. But this battle is not over yet, now it's your turn, Azumarill!"
"I should've figured you would use a Water type, take a break Charizard, you've earned it." Diego said as he recalled Charizard back into its pokeball.
"I was hoping you would switch out!" Luna announced. "Use Belly Drum!"
"Oh deal!" Diego cursed. Azumarill pounded its abdomen. Each pound grew in intensity to the point where Azumarill began to hurt itself.
"Its weakened, you pretty much handed me this win! Raichu, end this!" Diego said, sending out his Raichu. "Use Thunder Bolt!"
"Waterfall!"
Azumarill surrounded itself in water and rushed towards Raichu, causing the water to look like a rushing waterfall, Raichu let loose a bolt of lightning which Azumarill headed straight towards. Both attacks collided, Raichu was sent flying and crashing into the floor, knocked out by the single blow. Azumarill however was still standing, albeit barely due to the damage the Thunder Bolt caused.
"It went down with just one hit!" Julia said in shock.
"Well Belly Drum does maximize a pokemon's attack power." Her sister reminded her.
"I guess it's up to you Charizard. But don't think it'll be easy, Charizard, use Metal Claw!"
"Waterfall, once more."
Azumarill charged again, Charizard grabbed Azumarill with its Metal Claw attack when it got close enough, after a brief power struggle, Charizard tossed Azumarill away, both still standing.
"Use Ice Punch!"
"Metal Claw!"
Charizard flew towards Azumarill with its iron enhanced claws bared, Azumarill got ready to punch the Lizard Pokemon with its fist of ice.
Charizard was the one who ultimately ended up getting the final hit in as it had the longer arm length to strike with. With the final strike, Azumarill finally fell.
"Aww yeah!" Diego shouted in pride.
"Hehe, I suppose this was to be expected to a degree. Your battle style revolves around sheer raw power, and there is nothing wrong with that, after all it did earn you the victory. But never forget to take the time to think and learn about your opponent and their strategies." Luna explained. "Now if it's alright I'd like to take a bit of a break."
Luna tended to her garden and to the pokemon living in it, the group helped her.
"Hey Luna, if you dont mind me asking, how did you end up being the gym leader here anyway?" Julia asked.
"Well my sister Margaret was the gym leader here for some time, however she soon challenged fhe League just a few months ago. She ended up losing but she was offered a position as a member of the Elite Four. Since there was no longer a gym leader here, my sister chose me to be the leader in her place."
"What ever happened to your dad and other sister?" Julia asked. "S-sorry about asking such a personal question."
"Hehehe, no worries. She retired from her gym leader position some time ago to focus on her music career, I'm sure you've heard of her band: Black Sludge."
"Black Sludge rocks! I can't wait for their next album!" Diego said enthusiastically.
"As for my father, he tried going into acting but has been struggling until Diantha from the Kalos region began working with him. I still talk to them often, I try not to mention our mother but with what happened recently, it's rather difficult to avoid..." Luna explained, a somber look began to grow on her face. Reneé noticed this and decided to speak up
"Hey, if it's alright, maybe we could battle now?" She asked, snapping Luna into a better mood.
"Oh! Of course! Let's begin."
"Just like the battle between Diego and I, this battle will be two against two, this also goes for when I battle against Julia and Jack."
"Fair enough, and I'll start off with Growlithe!" Reneé announced, the Puppy pokemon looked ready to fight.
"Very well, I'll use my Slurpuff! Now I must apologuze to Diego, I had made the first move solely for my strategy when its customary for the challenger to make the first move." Luna said.
"Don't worry about it, I still won didn't I?" Diego responded.
"Well as long as you aren't bothered by it, the first move is your's Reneé."
"Alright then, Growlithe, Flamethrower!" Reneé ordered.
"Counter it!"
Slurpuff blew out a Flamethrower just like Growlithe, the two flames collided and created an explosion, neither pokemon was hurt in the blast.
"Slurpuff can learn Flamethrower?!" Julia asked.
"A lot of pokemon can learn a variety of moves, some of which are actually rather unexpected. Slurpuff is one of those pokemon. Now Slurpuff, use Calm Mind!" Luna explained.
"Thunder Fang, quickly!" Reneé called out. Slurpuff took a deep breath, closed its eyes and focused its energy as Growlithe charged at it with its fangs bared, sparks of electricity crackling from its mouth. Growlithe leaped up into the air and bit the top of Slurpuff's head, Slurpuff tried to ignore the pain as best as it could but the pressure of Growlithe's jaws made it difficult.
"Now Slurpuff, use Surf!"
"Surf?!" The group said in horror. "Growlithe get out of there! Use Agility!"
Growlithe let go of Slurpuff and ran away from the wave that Slurpuff made. The Meringue pokemon rode on the water as Growlithe ran towards its trainer. The trainers ducked for cover as the water headed towards them but they surprised to find that the water wasn't affecting them or anything near them.
"Wha-?! How?" Julia asked.
"Your safety is because of them." Luna said, she pointed to some Ralts and Kirlia that she owned. They were using their psychic power to keep everyone safe from the water. Everyone except Growlithe who was still running.
"It would be inhumane of me to harm challengers!" Luna noted.
"I did not need to be scared like that..." Diego groaned.
"Keep running Growlithe, on the walls!" Reneé ordered. Growlithe was still running from the Surf, when it was heading for a wall, it began running on it.
"I must say, your Growlithe must be well trained to have so much faith in you. I thought Growlithe had nowhere else to go, and I would have never thought of using the walls to my advantage. But that just gives me a chance to be more reckless!" Luna exclaimed.
"Then I'll beat you before you can! Growlithe, Flare Blitz!"
Growlithe cloaked itself in a bursting flame, rocketing itself towards Slurpuff. Luna was silent, not choosing to make a move until Growlithe was close enough.
"Now Slurpuff! End it with Surf!"
Slurpuff summoned another wave, riding on top of it as it and Growlithe headed towards each other. Growlithe ended up going straight through the wave and striking Slurpuff, however the attacks colliding caused another explosion followed by a rush of steam, much heavier than the last one.
"Ugh man that was rough, Crobat, use your wings to clear this smoke!" Diego said, as the Bat pokemon cleared the smoke away it was revealed that the two combatting pokemon knocked each other out!
"Amazing! Even when your pokemon faced a heavy type disadvantage you managed to draw with my Slurpuff! However this battle still isn't over, you still habe one more pokemon to deal with and that pokemon is...!" Luna said in awe as she sent out her next pokemon, which was a Clefable.
'A Clefable... I could use Ampharos but using Thunder Bolt and Power Gem alone won't be enough to take that out, Signal Beam isn't effective against Fairies and its immune to Dragon Pulse. I could use...' Reneé thought. "Let's give it all we got! I choose you, Porygon 2!"
The Virtual pokemon seemingly stared into the distance as though it was oblivious to what was going on.
"Ok Porygon 2, use Nasty Plot!" Reneé ordered, Porygon 2 began to have a mischeivous look on her face, its eyes began to glow purple as well.
"Well if you can boost your attacking power then I can raise my defenses. Clefable, use Cosmic Power!"
Clefable's body began to glow a pale purple as stars of energy began to form at its feet, rising up its body as they rotated around it.
"You can boost your defense but we'll still hit you as hard as we can! Use Tri Attack!"
Porygon 2's beak began to spark with a sort of energy, its foot-like appendages began to rotate at high speeds as three orbs which were colored red, blue, and yellow respectively and fired them at Clefable in unison.
"Moonblast!" Luna commanded.
Clefable summoned a pink orb of energy in front of itself and fired it at the Tri Attack, surprisingly, the orbs of the Tri Attack separated and went around the Moonblast before hitting Clefable. Clefable's attack hit Porygon 2 as well but both pokemon seemed to shrug off the attack for the most part. Clefable was the first to get ready for another attack but it then burst into flames.
"Huh?! What just happened? Why is it on fire now?" Diego asked.
"Tri Attack has a chance to cause either Paralyis, Burn, or Freeze on its target." Jack explained. "But it's a really rare chance for any of those effects to happen so Reneé actually got pretty lucky to have burned Clefable with that attack."
"Fight through it Clefable! Use Psychic!" Luna ordered. A wave of psychic energy enveloped the battlefield, causing the air to warp around Porygon 2.
"Quick, use Protect!" Reneé called out. Porygon formed a shield of energy around itself right before sharp thorns of energy from the Psychic attack struck the Virtual pokemon.
"Using Protect won't save you, it will only make this battle longer than any of us want it to be." Luna sighed.
'She's right. But even with the burn that the Tri Attack put on Clefable, it's still too bulky to go down easily. I need one big attack to put it down but I don't know if that'll work...' Reneé thought to herself.
"I guess it's all or nothing then! Porygon 2, let's give it all we've got with Hyper Beam!"
Luna looked genuinely shocked when Reneé called for her pokemon to use Hyper Beam.
"Clefable quick, you must use Cosmic Power!"
Porygon 2 began to vibrate violently, its appendages flailing erratically as it tilted its head back, its body glowing orange before it let out an extremely powerful orange beam at Clefable. The force of the beam caused a huge gust of wind to blast around the room. Clefable tried to boost its defenses with Cosmic Power again but that wasn't enough to stop the full force of the attack, which decimated Clefable, winning the battle for Reneé.
"Woah... That was... FREAKING AWESOME!" Diego shouted.
"I... Never expected an attack with such ferocity. But a loss is a loss, now I understand that there are still two more battles to be done, I think it would be best if we cleaned up a bit. That last attack did a bit more damage than necessary." Luna said. The trainers looked around and saw that the Hyper Beam left the room in shambles. Nothing was broken but everything was dirty, blown away or in the wrong place.
The five of them cleaned the room, using their pokemon to help in whatever way they could.
"Hey Luna." Jack called out.
"Hm?"
'Have any other challengers come to battle you recently?"
"Yes actually. They gave off an aura similar to the four of you actually, I believe you graduated from the same academy as them."
"You battled our friends?" Julia asked in glee.
"Yes! I believe they were already heading towards Victory Road to train for the League Tournament."
"Argh. You mean they're ahead of us! Come on, let's finish the battles and keep moving!" Diego said anxiously. "I can't let them beat me to the league!"
"Hehehe, well we don't need to rush but it looks like everything is fixed so lets get back to the battles." Luna laughed.
"That's Diego for ya'." Jack crooned. "Always wanting to be first. Is it ok if I battle next?"
"Sure Jack! It feels like forever since I watched you battle an actual gym battle!" Julia said happily.
'Ok, how am I going to do this?' Jack asked himself as he took his place on the battlefield. 'Half of my team is weak to Fairy attacks.'
"Are you ready?" Luna asked. Jack nodded, still not completely sure of what he could do.
"Then this should be good! Sylveon, lend me your strength!" Luna announced, sending out the Intertwining pokemon to start the battle.
"Alright, let's go Venusaur!" Jack announced, sending out his starter pokemon.
"A Poison type pokemon. So you have a type that Fairies are weak to, but that won't help you. The first move is yours." Luna said.
"Venusaur, use Leech Seed!" Jack commanded. Three small seeds shot out of the plant on Venusaur's back as they wrapped around Sylveon's body.
"Use Psyshock!"
The call for a psychic type attack took Jack by surprise. Sylveon's attack connected, causing moderate damage, though a good amount of that damage was healed right back from the energy the Leech Seed drained out of Sylveon.
"You're really pushing me back aren't you." Jack noted.
"Well I am the eighth gym leader for a reason."
"Then you're not giving me much of a choice here." Jack said as he activated the key stone on his mega ring. "Venusaur, Mega Evolve and use Sleep Powder!"
Venusaur cloaked itself in a purple cocoon and emerged as a Mega Venusaur. It shook the plant on its back again, releasing blue colored spores towards Sylveon, putting the Fairy to sleep.
"Oh my, Sylveon you must wake up!" Luna pleaded.
"Sorry, but it won't get a chance to!" Jack said as Leech Seed drained more energy from Sylveon putting Venusaur back at full energy. "Sludge Bomb!" Venusaur spat out several purple-brown balls of sludge, all of which exploded the second they made contact with Sylveon, knocking it out.
"I shouldn't be surprised, you had the type advantage." Luna sighed. "Still, not many trainers can say that they knocked out my Sylveon so easily. But my next pokemon is a completely different story!"
Luna's next pokemon was a Togekiss, the Jubilee pokemon flew around happily before getting poised for battle.
"Sludge Bomb!"
"Togekiss, use Air Slash!"
Venusaur spat out more Bombs all headed straight for Togekiss. The Fairy pokemon whipped its wings forward, creating a blade of wind that sliced the bombs in two pieces, but they still hit Togekiss, causing it to disappear in a cloud of smoke generated from the explosions. The Air Slash tore right through Venusaur, leaving it weak but not unconscious.
"Interesting, you're just full of surprises!" Luna chuckled.
"I aim to please." Jack responded.
"Well I'm afraid I must put your Venusaur down. Togekiss, Extremespeed!"
Jack tried to call for an attack but Togekiss crashed into Venusaur before he could say anything. The next thing anyone knew, Venusaur fell to the floor, unable to battle any longer.
'What now? Venusaur was my best chance. Its all up to either Fearow or Banette now...' Jack thought.
"Alright, this is my last chance. You're up Banette!"
"A Ghost type. Interesting choice. But I still won't let up! Togekiss, Moonblast!"
"Phantom Force!"
Togekiss launched a pink sphere of energy at Banette, who summoned a zipper into a dark world and jumped inside before closing the zipper up, the zipper disappeared once Banette was inside.
"I don't think I've ever seen Phantom Force used like that before!" Luna noticed.
"Hehe, it's still a normal variation of the attack, but I figured if we made it look different then it would disorient our opponents, and it looks like it worked! Banette, now!"
A zipper appeared from below Togekiss, it opened on its own and Banette flew out of it, striking Togekiss with a wicked uppercut.
"Now, Shadow Claw!"
"Water Pulse!"
Banette tried slashing at Togekiss, but the Jubilee pokemon blasted it back with an orb of water that burst upon impact.
'This is bad, at this rate Banette will go down. Togekiss is just too much of a heavy hitter...' Jack thought to himself.
'Don't be so sure!'
'Gallade?' Jack asked.
'Banette does know a move that can put that thing down but it isnt the most accurate attack...'
'At this point I think I'm willing to try anything.'
"I'm assuming there's a reason you haven't made a move yet? If that's the case then I'll just finish it. Togekiss, use Moonblast!" Luna ordered.
"Sorry Luna, but I'll he the one who's winning this! Banette, end this with Gunk Shot!"
"Gunk Shot?!" Luna said in shock. "Togekiss, you must avoid the attack!"
Luna's order to dodge the attack came too late as Togekiss had already charged up and launched the Moonblast. At the same time Banette formed a ball of black sludge and muck and launched it at the Togekiss.
The two attacks collided but the Moonblast was easily destroyed as the Gunk Shot blasted Togekiss out of the sky, knocking it out and ending the battle.
"I'm in shock, honestly. I never knew Banette was capable of learning Gunk Shot of all moves. How did you know your Banette knew that attack?" Luna asked.
"It's just one of those things you learn if you work hard enough I guess." Jack responded with a chuckle.
'How did you learn that, Banette?' Jack asked his pokemon.
'I saw anither Banette using it back on that island, thought I'd give it a try.'
"Well that just leaves one more battle. Are you ready Julia?"
"Oh I'm more than ready!" Julai answered, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
The two girls took theor places for the last gym battle.
'This is it, if I win then inget my last gym badge!' Julia thought to herself.
"Alright, this is your chance Froslass!" Julia announced.
"If you're going to use a Froslass, I'll send out my Ribombee!" Luna announced.
"Ribombee? What is that?" Diego asked in confusion, he scanned the Bug with his pokedex.
"Aww its adorable!" Julia cooed.
'Ribombee, the Bee Fly pokemon: It rolls up pollen into puffs. It makes many different varieties, some used for food and others used for battles.'
"The first move is yours." Luna announced.
"Ok! Froslass, use Will-O-Wisp!"
"Use Quiver Dance."
Froslass created blue flames from thin air and sent them at Ribombee, the Bug pokemon fluttered its wings rapidly as it began spinning in place, small scales of its wings looked like they were falling off because of it rotating.
The flames connected, burning Ribombee but not stopping it from gaining the power boost from using Quiver Dance.
"I'm afraid you letting me use Quiver Dance just sealed this battle for you, Ribombee, use Moonblast!" Luna taunted.
"No way! Froslass, Blizzard!" Julia retorted. With a wave of her arms, Froslass summoned a powerful blizzard that headed straight for Ribombee, and the Moonblast it let out at Froslass. Ribombee seemed nearly unaffected by the Blizzard whild the Moonblast knocked Froslass out in a single blow.
"Uh-oh..." Reneé said, worrying about what her sister would do next. Ribombee looked like it was tryinf to hold itself together after it begun to suffer damages from the burn.
"Hey, don't act all smug just because you beat my Froslass, this battle isnt over!" Julia pouted as she sent out her Gardevoir next.
"A Fairy type! I was beginning to think none of you had any!" Luna chuckled. "But anyway, Gardevoir is a pokemon that focuses on Special Attacks rather than physical ones, and my Ribombee buffed up its Special Defenses. You won't he hitting it very hard."
"Oh but I can! And I can do it with an attack you've used earlier!" Julia called out. Luna looked shocked as she realized what Julia had meant.
"Quick Ribombee, use Moonblast!"
"Gardevoir, Psyshock!"
Ribombee let out the attack, it sped towards Gardevoir at a rapid speed.
"Now!" Julia announced, Gardevoir dodged the attack with a dance that looked as graceful as seeing a quartet of Oricorio. Suddenly, Gardevoir's eyes began to glow purple as it summoned spheres of psychic energy amd launched them at Ribombee. The energy spheres exploded when they made contact, causing increased damage from the inflicted burns.
Once the smoke from the explosions cleared, everyone was shocked to see Ribombee still flying, but the flames caused by the burns soon put it down for the count.
"Well this is a shocking turn of events, but you knocked out Ribombee fair and square. Now for my last pokemon, it's all up to you: Wigglytuff!" Luna exclaimed, sending out the Balloon pokemon.
"Oh, you have a Wigglytuff!" Julia said with a smile as she sent out her Jigglypuff. The two Balloon pokemon smiled and waved at each other.
"Sis, focus!" Reneé snapped.
"Oh, right. Sorry about that." Julia recalled Jigglypuff back into its pokeball. "Gardevoir, use Hypnopulse!"
"Wigglytuff, Body Slam!"
Wigglytuff inflated itself and began floating above everyone, Gardevoir blasted it with waves of energy, trying to put it to sleep rather than outright danage it. However it failed to put Wigglytuff to sleep, once it was above Gardevoir, Wigglytuff deflated itself and crashed right onto Gardevoir, slamming it into the ground.
Wigglytuff floated away from Gardevoir just in case she was going to attack, but the attack seemed to cause Paralysis as Gardevoir got up rather slowly.
"There! An opening!" Luna exclaimed. "Wigglytuff, use Body Slam one more time to finish it!"
Wigglytuff floated back up above Gardevoir again, ready to strike again.
"Gardevoir quick! You habe to use Hyper Voice!" Julia pleaded. Wigglytuff plumetted again, but just before it hit Gardevoir. The Embrace pokemon then reared its head back and gave a powerful shout straight upwards at Wigglytuff, the sound of Gardevoir's voice seemed to have some sort of natural amplitude and force to it, causing Wigglytuff to whizz around the air like an actual balloon and land flat on the floor, deflated and unconscious. Julia had won.
"Amazing. All four of you have such unique ways of battling and communicating with your pokemon. Whether it be cooperation via battling with as much force as you can muster, by battling with precision and smart tactics, or with love and affection, you've shown that each style is capable of succeeding and that is how all four of you won in your battles today. Trainers like you are the reason I am glad I became a gym leader and I am glad I can give you these badges. This is the Sylph badge." Luna announced.
She habded the group badges that resembled butterflies, the 'wings' were pink with a gold colored 'body's. She also handed them TM's containing the move Dazzling Gleam.
"Oh and Julia, please take this!" Luna handed Julia a Moon Stone. "Just in case you wish to evolve your Jigglypuff, you must use this Moon Stone.
"Oh wow, thank you so much! Will we see you at the Indigo Plateau?" Julia asked.
"Of course! I would love to see how far you and your friends will go in the tournament, and I can see my sister again! Now before you go I would just like to take a moment to warn you."
"Warn us about what?" Jack asked in concern.
"The Ralts and Kirlia that I own often use Future Sight to predict parts of the near future. They informed me that something dangerous will happen at the tournament. So I just hope you four will be careful." Luna explained.
"I dont think you have any reason to worry!" Diego said in pride. "As long as we stick together, we'll pull through, that's how things have always been with us!' The rest of the group was quick to agree.
"I'm glad to see you have so much faith in each other." Luna said, regaining a smile. "Best of luck to you all!"
The group exited the gym, the sun was high in the sky, they still had a few hours to move out towards Route 22 and the Reception Gate that lead towards Victory Road... and the Pokemon League...
Now that the group has all eight Gym badhes of the Kanto region, the only thing standing between them and the Pokemon League Tournament is Victory Road! Stay tuned. Any feedback on this chapter is highly appreciated.
