Author's Note:
Hello all, we're back with another chapter of Bonnie's adventure! Last time, she suffered a tough defeat at the hands of Wattson. Realizing that she needs to work some more with her Pokemon, she's set off north of Mauville to check out the routes up towards Mt. Chimney. Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 32: The Winstrates
Route 111 was one of the most exhausting routes Bonnie had ever been on. Constantly travelling uphill and passing through hot, rocky terrain was no easy task. Mt. Chimney could be seen in the distance up ahead, and Bonnie couldn't help but feel like it was somehow a conscious being, adding extra heat into the air just to make her more uncomfortable and more frustrated.
"Why don't we...have a...break," Roxanne panted, wiping her forehead as Bonnie slowed down and glanced back at her. "There's a fairly shady area over there where we can rest and have some lunch." She pointed to a space off the path that dipped downhill a little bit. There was actually a little bit of green that way, although the grass was fairly patchy and the trees quite bare.
"Seems like a good idea," Clyde murmured, immediately turning off the path and pulling his backpack off.
Bonnie had no argument with resting, pausing to rub her sore feet before following the others. She really hoped this trip up here was going to be worth it, especially since they were probably going to be doing it a couple of times, given the fact they'd be back after her rematch so she could make her way to Lavaridge Town. After talking it over more with her friends after her battle with Wattson, though, it did sound to Bonnie as though the desert paths and rough terrain would be a good way to toughen her team up a bit. And she couldn't help but wonder about the possibility of catching a new Pokemon while they were in the area.
The group set their things down once reaching their resting spot, and Bonnie quickly called out her Pokemon as Roxanne began to get their lunch ready. Clyde appeared to be contemplating trying to plant a couple of berries, but glanced at his watering can in disappointment. There didn't appear to be a water source nearby, and they needed to save what was in their drinking bottles. Bonnie did have an idea to help, though.
"Hey Wingull!" she called out to her Seagull Pokemon as he emerged from his pokeball alongside the others. "Could you use Rain Dance to help Clyde plant some berries?"
Clyde looked up gratefully at that, while Wingull glanced over at Bonnie, watching her a moment, before his gaze went to Torchic, Dedenne and Zigzagoon. He ruffled his feathers as he glanced at them, but eventually sighed and flew over to Clyde, forming a small rain cloud over where a berry had just been buried in the ground.
"What was that about?" Bonnie muttered, staring at her flying type a moment and scratching her head in confusion. She shrugged it off a moment later, however, deciding to head over to help Roxanne with lunch.
Within a few minutes, the group was happily relaxing, eating some sandwiches they'd prepared at the Pokemon Centre they'd stopped at the night before. Everyone seemed to be getting rejuvenated fairly quickly, and Bonnie couldn't help but look to her Pokemon as they finished up their own lunches. She'd come up here to get some tough training done, and what better time to train than now, when they had a good spot to rest in, but could still take advantage of the rough terrain. She stood, getting their attention as she headed over to them.
"All right, guys, how about a quick bit of training? We all know our match against Wattson wasn't our best, but we know we can be much better with some hard work! Who's with me?" Dedenne and Torchic seemed fairly enthusiastic, each of them hopping up and immediately voicing their agreement. Zigzagoon seemed a little uneasy, still nibbling on the remains of his food and avoiding Bonnie's eyes. What surprised her most, however, was Wingull, the Seagull Pokemon pointedly looking away.
"Wingull," he muttered, bitterness apparent in his posture.
Bonnie gaped at him, unable to believe what was happening. "Wh-What? Wingull, what's wrong?"
"He seemed a little tense when you asked him to help me with the berries before," Clyde said, watching the interaction with equal surprise. "Maybe it's just the heat."
"Gull..." the Seagull Pokemon said, apparently signalling that was not the reason.
"Hm..." Roxanne watched thoughtfully a moment, before glancing at Bonnie. "Do you think Wingull could be upset about not battling against Wattson?"
Bonnie laughed at that. "Why would that upset him? Wattson uses electric types, so Wingull wouldn't have matched up-"
"Wingull! Gull wingull!" the Seagull Pokemon snapped, eyes going back to Bonnie as he glared at her, before turning his gaze away once more. Her other Pokemon stared at him in shock.
"Zzt! I believe Pokemon Trainer Bonnie did inform Wingull that he would be given the next chance after she was defeated by Pokemon Trainer Max," Rotom announced, Bonnie staring at him in surprise at the words. She did remember what he was referring to, though.
"I just meant..." She bit her lip, wondering what to say. "Wingull, I didn't mean against Wattson. He uses electric Pokemon. That's a really tough matchup for you. I-"
"Gull!"
Suddenly, a blast of water hit Bonnie in the face, and she fell back, landing on her rear end. She shook her head, droplets flying everywhere as she did so, and she quickly readjusted her hat before looking to Wingull in surprise. The Seagull Pokemon looked a little shocked himself at his loss of self control, but Bonnie didn't care. She wasn't going to tolerate that!
She stood back up and pointed at Wingull, narrowing her eyes furiously. Her voice was loud as she took a step forward, the flying and water type appearing a little nervous as he watched her. "Give me a break!" she yelled. "I don't need this from you, too!" Caught up in her frustration, she turned to her other Pokemon. "First you don't listen to me and run off and do as you please!" she said, pointing at Torchic. "And then you," she added, pointing at Zigzagoon, "don't even want to battle!" She turned back to Wingull. "And now you're upset I didn't pick you to fight against a trainer that uses the one type of Pokemon that has the biggest advantage over you of anything else!" She finished by looking to Dedenne, who looked like he wanted to approach her. "I don't need it from you, either!"
"Bonnie, I think-"
Bonnie didn't hear the rest of what Roxanne was going to say, however, having already turned around. She stormed off before she could even realize what she was doing, making her way further from the path they'd originally been on. She found herself going up, mind still blank from her outburst, and somehow, after a few minutes, she noticed she was walking on grass, a few trees around her. The heated rocky hills from before seemed like they were on another planet.
Instantly, Bonnie felt regret. She supposed the heat had gotten to her more than she'd realized. That and the frustrations of her defeats from Wattson and Max. Her Pokemon didn't deserve what she'd said. Roxanne, Clyde and Rotom didn't deserve to hear it, either. The young trainer sat down on the grass, putting her head in her hands.
Poor Wingull had a right to be upset. She had promised him the next chance, and since Beautifly had gone, he really hadn't had much to do. And Torchic and Zigzagoon didn't deserve to be yelled at for their struggles. Bonnie should've been dealing with Torchic jumping in as soon as it first happened against Max, and she should've made sure Zigzagoon was much more confident and prepared. Dedenne, of course, had been her most dependable partner since day one, and there was no excuse for lashing out at him, either.
"I miss Beautifly."
Bonnie sighed as she looked up into the sky, squinting at the brightness of the sun. Beautifly had been just as dependable as Dedenne, helping her win her first two badges and fighting alongside her since her first day on the road in Hoenn. Bonnie realized that Beautifly leaving was like a part of her leaving. It was for the best, of course. Beautifly deserved to be happy with her fellow bug types. But Bonnie felt the gap in her heart. Torchic and Zigzagoon were never going to make up for it, and perhaps Bonnie had expected too much from them. They were never going to match Beautifly's bond with her right away.
I need to give them a chance to grow with me just like Beautifly did, Bonnie told herself, sighing as she glanced back in the direction she'd come from. It was easier said than done, of course, but she remembered how she had worked with Beautifly. She'd needed to help her escape rampaging Taillow, overcome her fear of flying types, prove her fellow bug types wrong about her appearance and grow into a fighter strong enough to beat Roxanne's Geodude and Brawly's Machop. It had never been easy. It wouldn't be with Torchic, Zigzagoon, Wingull or even Dedenne. But they needed a chance.
Boom!
Bonnie's head jerked back as she heard a small explosion nearby. Her first thought was something happening with Team Archaic, but a moment later, she was sure she heard an excited laugh, and perhaps the happy cry of some kind of Pokemon. She wondered if perhaps there was some kind of battle going on. Curious, she got to her feet and decided to follow the sound, heading over another small hill and seeing the patchy grass leading down to a small group of trees.
Below, Bonnie could see the source of the noise. A girl about her age, maybe a year older, was standing facing the trees, her maroon hair looking somewhat like Anita's. Hanging from the trees were various targets, tied to the branches with rope. In front of the girl, was a small, blue Pokemon, that Bonnie was pretty sure was a Marill. As she watched, Bonnie could see the Marill firing off Water Gun attacks, hitting a few targets as it did so, before finishing off with a punch that seemed to freeze one of the targets and explode it.
So that's what I must've heard, Bonnie realized, watching in fascination as the girl and her Marill continued training. They seemed pretty good from what Bonnie could see. The girl seemed fairly precise with her commands, and Marill responded quickly. It made Bonnie feel worse about what she'd done to her team, and she stared down at the ground in frustration. They could've been training like that right now. Instead, her Pokemon probably hated her, and she was off sulking.
Bonnie looked up as she realized the noises from the training below had stopped. The girl and her Marill were looking up to where Bonnie was. They stared back at one another for a moment, before the other girl waved, seemingly gesturing for Bonnie to come down the hill. Bonnie hesitated, thinking she probably should be trying to make it back to her friends, but decided she couldn't just wander away now that she'd been seen. She headed down the hill.
Once she reached the girl and her Marill, she was greeted with a smile. "Hi there! My name's Vivi. Are you okay? You look a little lost."
Bonnie stared back blankly for a moment, before she managed a weak smile of her own. "I'm okay. I was just...going for a walk. My name is Bonnie."
"Nice to meet you, Bonnie," Vivi said, glancing down at her Marill. "This is my partner, Marill. We've been working on her Water Gun and Ice Punch attacks. She's getting really strong! Did you see?"
"Yeah, she was really quick," Bonnie admitted, smiling down at the water type. "That Water Gun reminds me of my Wingull's."
Vivi's eyes lit up at that. "You have a Wingull? Do you think we could have a battle?"
Bonnie rubbed her neck uneasily, glancing back in the direction she'd come from. "It's...um...not here at the moment."
"You came here without a Pokemon?" Vivi asked, tilting her head in confusion. "I'm pretty sure you don't live nearby since my family is the only one around here for miles. You sure you're not lost?"
Bonnie stared at the ground dejectedly. "I was with my friends and I got a bit upset and ran off." She looked up, shame filling her. "I got upset with my Wingull and my other Pokemon. We've been having a bit of a tough time lately."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," Vivi murmured, sympathy in her gaze. "I get frustrated, too, sometimes. I've been wanting to go on a journey with my Marill for quite some time, but it's been tough to work up the courage to tell my family, and they need my help around the house."
"You want to go on a journey?" Bonnie asked, perking up a bit as she looked at the other girl. "Are you interested in competing in the Hoenn League?"
Vivi nodded excitedly. "Yeah! My brother actually went off on a journey a few years ago to try to become Champion, but he decided battling wasn't for him. I've been kind of nervous to follow in his footsteps to go on my own journey, because my grandma felt bad when she pushed my brother to head out and seems to be trying to keep us all together now."
"I'm sure she and the rest of your family would understand if you wanted to go on a journey of your own," Bonnie said. "Everyone needs a chance to try and achieve their dreams."
Vivi smiled at that, looking down at her Marill. "Yeah...maybe." She looked up suddenly, squinting in the direction of the hill Bonnie had come down from. "Hey, do you think that might be your Wingull up there?"
Bonnie whipped around, eyes widening as she followed where Vivi was pointing. Sure enough, Wingull was hovering over the hill, and below him, her friends were just appearing at the top. The rest of her Pokemon were there as well. The whole group looked flustered, and Bonnie felt a fresh wave of guilt wash over her. She started to make her way over, Vivi following along behind her.
"Bonnie!" Roxanne called out, looking relieved as she and the others hurried down the hill towards her. "We've been looking all over for you. Fortunately Wingull managed to spot you over this hill, otherwise who knows where we may have gone."
Bonnie glanced uneasily at her Seagull Pokemon, noticing he was avoiding her gaze. Her other Pokemon seemed to be doing so as well, other than Dedenne. He looked a little upset, but he smiled slightly, clearly relieved they'd managed to find Bonnie.
"I'm sorry about what I said," Bonnie murmured, trying to catch the eyes of her other Pokemon. They continued to avoid her gaze, so she directed her apology to Dedenne. "I shouldn't have run off like that."
Roxanne sighed, clearly a little frustrated, but containing it for the moment. "We're just glad you're all right. It's not safe to head out on your own around here, especially without your supplies." At that Clyde, moved forward, handing Bonnie her backpack.
"We brought everything with us once Wingull found where you were," he explained. "Looks like it might be a better place to rest up anyway. Unless..." He had finally noticed Vivi, staring at the girl in surprise.
"You guys are free to rest up here if you want!" Vivi said excitedly. "My family loves guests. Although...they might want to battle you."
"This is Vivi," Bonnie quickly explained. "She was training with her Marill when I ran into her."
Everyone exchanged their greetings after that, Rotom excitedly floating forward to examine Marill and nearly getting an Ice Punch aimed at him when he got too close. Fortunately, Vivi managed to stop Marill, although Rotom actually seemed excited by the attempted move. He hadn't seen a Marill use one yet, so it was apparently quite valuable data.
"So Vivi," Roxanne said, once everyone had officially introduced themselves, "your family lives around here then?"
"Yep," Vivi said, pointing past the trees where she'd been training. "Just over there. We've got some of the only plant life around for miles. Our Pokemon help keep things running around here."
"We'd love to plant some berry trees for you as thanks for letting us rest up here," Clyde said, Treecko nodding in agreement next to him. "We've got lots, and we've been learning how to plant them all over Hoenn."
"That would be really cool!" Vivi said excitedly. "We only have a couple berry trees, so there's quite a few we don't grow." She turned around, gesturing for everyone to follow her. "Why don't we head to the house and you can meet everyone?"
Everyone was agreeable to that, and Vivi took off, leading them on the path through the trees. It didn't seem to be too far away. Bonnie could see the top of a house a little distance away, just as they moved past the targets where Vivi and Marill had been training. Still, she tried to lag behind as everyone followed Vivi, hoping to get the attention of her Pokemon. Dedenne, Zigzagoon and Torchic were walking slowly, with Wingull hovering above them.
"Guys...I'm really sorry," Bonnie said as she slowed her pace to walk next to them. "I didn't mean any of that back there. It's just...it's been frustrating the last little while. Beautifly left, and then we lost to Max, our communication in battle isn't what I've been hoping for and that seemed to cost us against Wattson. I just let it all get to me."
"Denene..." Dedenne looked up at her, meeting her eyes. His ears twitched uneasily, but he seemed to gather himself as he looked at her. "Dene," he finally added, smiling slightly.
Bonnie smiled back. "Thank you, Dedenne." She then looked to Torchic and Zigzagoon. "And you two...I know we haven't been together too long, but I want to work with you. I know we can become a strong team if we train together. Please give me a chance to earn your trust."
Torchic seemed to straighten up at those words, finally looking to Bonnie as well. She gave a small hop a moment later, and nodded to Bonnie. "Torchic tor."
Zigzagoon still seemed uneasy, but he met Bonnie's eyes, too. "Zagoon?" he asked, and Bonnie knew he was still nervous about the idea of battling after getting fairly beaten up in his first two matches by her side.
"We'll work on it, Zigzagoon," she said encouragingly. "I promise you, I'll help you be strong and brave!"
"Zig...zigzagoon," he then said, nodding, albeit hesitantly.
Only Wingull remained, and Bonnie finally looked up to him as well. Unfortunately, he looked as though he was going to be the most difficult to make up with. His gaze was locked on the path ahead, and as soon as Bonnie tried to meet his eyes, he flapped his wings, moving to join the front of the group. Bonnie sighed, watching him a moment. She knew she deserved it, but it was frustrating nonetheless.
Staring after her Seagull Pokemon, Bonnie barely noticed as their group came to a stop out front of a house surrounded by a variety of gardens. A Camerupt was out front, sniffing around as though inspecting the growth of the various vegetables. Once it noticed Vivi, though, it paused and looked up happily, making a noise as though calling out to someone. A moment later, the front door of the house opened up, and an old woman stepped out, a man and a woman following after her. Bonnie assumed the latter two were Vivi's parents, and the old woman was her grandmother.
"Well, Vivi," the old woman said, smiling as she glanced at the group, "I see you've met some new friends."
Vivi nodded excitedly. "Yep! I ran into Bonnie while I was out with Marill, and then Roxanne, Clyde, Rotom and their Pokemon caught up with her after." She looked back at Bonnie and the others. "I'd like you guys to meet my grandmother and my parents. And Camerupt of course."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Roxanne said. "We hope we aren't intruding."
"Not at all," Vivi's father said, introducing himself quickly as Victor. "We love having guests. It can get a little quiet around here with so much empty space around us, and just us four here. Our son, Vito, sometimes comes home, but he's travelling around learning all he can about raising Pokemon."
"Yes, we love having visitors," Vivi's mother added, mentioning her name as Victoria and Vivi's grandmother as Vicky. "We actually need to rescue quite a few travellers that head up the routes around here. Camerupt will sometimes find people passed out from the heat."
"It doesn't happen too often," Vicky said, noticing the uneasy glances that Bonnie and Clyde exchanged. "We just make sure to keep an eye out just in case." Her eyes then went to Bonnie, peering at her shirt, which was still damp from Wingull's Water Gun. "Seems as though you're quite refreshed, however, young lady."
"Oh yeah," Vivi said, turning to face Bonnie, "I was going to ask how you got soaked like that."
Bonnie shuffled her feet nervously. "I...uh...had an accident with Wingull."
Vivi met Bonnie's eyes at that, clearly remembering what Bonnie had mentioned about her argument. Vicky seemed to pick up on something about it, her gaze meeting Bonnie's as well, before looking to Wingull, who was now perched on a fence post, pointedly looking away. Vicky narrowed her eyes at the bird, although a moment later she seemed to be uninterested, taking in the group once more with a smile.
"Well, enough about lost travellers," the old woman said. "You're all clearly not lost, and you don't seem to be in need of rescuing. You'd be welcome to stay and rest up until you set off, however."
Victoria chuckled as she looked at Vicky, apparently sensing something from the woman. "Oh do we really need to do this? Our Pokemon are already tired after last time."
Victor nodded, rubbing his neck sheepishly. "That's true. Max gave us some good battles when he visited, and I don't think I'm quite ready for another one just yet."
Bonnie looked up in surprise at that, staring at Victor. "Wait...did you just say Max? With a Kirlia?"
"You know him?" Vivi asked as Victor nodded.
"Zzt! Max is Bonnie's number one rival!" Rotom said excitedly. "Max defeated Bonnie in a battle recently with his team of Poochyena, Mawile and Kirlia!"
Bonnie glared at her PokeDex, but was distracted as Vivi clapped her hands in excitement. "Wow! I never got a chance to battle Max when he visited. Marill was sick that day. It was too bad, because when we met him a few years ago, I didn't treat him very nicely after we had a small battle and he beat me."
"Max was certainly very strong," Victoria stated, bringing Bonnie's attention to her. "Victor and I battled his Taillow, and it defeated my Roselia and Victor's Zigzagoon quite convincingly."
"Hmph," Vicky huffed dismissively. "I didn't have much trouble with it."
"But he beat you right away with his Kirlia," Vivi laughed out, her parents joining her.
"No matter," Vicky said quickly, her eyes going back to Bonnie and her friends. "My point was that I was going to see if you wanted to have a battle. Of course, seeing as not all of us can battle, how about two of you battle against myself and Vivi here? Winner gets the first slices of the apple pie I just baked!"
Bonnie's eyes lit up at the idea, and she quickly turned to Roxanne and Clyde. "Let's do it!" she said. "It's the perfect chance for me to get some training in!"
"I suppose we might as well accept," Roxanne said, nodding.
"Yeah, although I think you two should be our battlers," Clyde said, rubbing his neck sheepishly. "I don't think I'd do too well."
"Then it'll be Roxanne and me against you two!" Bonnie announced, holding up a fist in challenge.
"Very well," Vicky said, turning and pointing around back of the house, where some large boulders jutted out of the ground in the distance and a path seemed to dip down. "We have a battlefield over that way. Vivi, let's show our guests how the Winstrates battle!"
Vivi gave an excited cheer at that, and she quickly gestured for everyone to follow. Her parents joined her, and Bonnie's friends went next. As she set off to join them, she found Vicky falling into step next to her. Bonnie slowed down, not wanting the older woman to fall behind, and Dedenne, Zigzagoon and Torchic did so as well. Wingull was already ahead with the others.
"Now, tell me young lady, are you having a little bit of trouble with that Wingull of yours?" Vicky asked as they walked past the house, Bonnie noticing the carefully weeded crops around the back.
She hesitated before answering, not wanting to get Vicky involved, but eventually answered. "I got a little upset with him earlier. With all my Pokemon, actually," Bonnie admitted. "I've lost a couple of important battles lately and it's been a bit frustrating."
Vicky nodded knowingly, studying Wingull up ahead, before glancing at Bonnie's other three Pokemon. "Well, it seems as though these three aren't too upset. Why is Wingull particularly angry?"
"I guess we just had a misunderstanding," Bonnie murmured. "I promised him a chance to battle after I used my other Pokemon against Max, but I didn't use him in my battle at the Mauville Gym. I didn't want to risk using him against Wattson's electric types. He got upset, and then I lashed out at him and the others."
Vicky gave Bonnie a sympathetic pat on the shoulder, chuckling lightly. "These things happen, dear. You'll figure it all out, and Wingull will forgive you. But I wonder..."
Bonnie looked up, tilting her head curiously as the older woman paused. "What is it?"
"Well," Vicky said, "Wingull may very well be upset for the reason you stated, but..." She paused again, looking ahead to the Seagull Pokemon once more. He was now circling above where the path dipped down, presumably observing the battlefield. "Perhaps something else is troubling him. Something that made being left out of your important battles feel a little worse than it might have felt otherwise."
Bonnie stared back at Vicky as the older woman glanced at her. "I..." She thought back to her own feelings. Losing Beautifly must've hurt Wingull as well. She knew it did. It had hurt her, Dedenne and even her friends had been sad to see the Butterfly Pokemon go. But there had to be something more. What was she missing?
"Like I said, dear," Vicky murmured, patting Bonnie's shoulder once more, "you'll figure it out."
With that, the older woman picked up her pace, moving ahead. Bonnie realized they had reached the battlefield, and she watched as Vicky descended down the path ahead. As Bonnie got a better look, it appeared almost as if the battlefield was set up in some kind of dried out pond. It was deep into the ground, with the boulders and rocky paths surrounding it high on all sides. Everyone already seemed to be waiting below, so Bonnie and her Pokemon quickly made their way down to join them.
Once down, Bonnie made her way to the sidelines, where Vivi's parents and Clyde were standing. Roxanne was already making her way to one side of the battlefield, while Vivi was talking to Vicky. There was a knowing look in Vicky's eyes as Vivi looked at her with an excited expression.
"Is it all right if I battle Roxanne?" Vivi asked hopefully. "I really want to have a chance to battle her. She's the leader of the Rustboro Gym!"
"Of course, dear, that's fine," Vicky said. "I'm sure a battle against young Bonnie will be good for Camerupt, so I'll be quite happy to battle her."
Bonnie gulped at that, seeing Camerupt looking pleased at his trainer's words, steam coming from his back. He looked like a force to be reckoned with. She was going to need to be much sharper than she'd been lately if she was going to have any chance. She glanced at Rotom as Vicky went to stand by Vivi's parents and Vivi headed over to her side of the battlefield.
"Rotom," Bonnie said, getting the PokeDex's attention, "what can you tell me about Camerupt?"
Rotom looked pleased to be of use, immediately showing an image of Camerupt and speaking up. "Camerupt, the Eruption Pokemon," he said, another image of Camerupt spewing lava from its back appearing. "A ground and fire type. Camerupt has a volcano inside its body. Magma of eighteen-thousand degrees Fahrenheit courses through its body. Occasionally the humps on its back erupt, spewing super heated magma!"
Bonnie frowned, staring over at Camerupt a moment, before looking back at Rotom. "I don't really have a good matchup against it, do I? Other than..."
"Zzt! Wingull would be your best option," Rotom stated, showing the Seagull Pokemon on his screen. "According to my calculations, Wingull has an approximately sixty-one point two percent chance of victory."
Bonnie narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the PokeDex. "And if I'm commanding him?"
"Zzt! Then it will be a twenty-two point six percent chance of victory!"
Bonnie rolled her eyes, turning away and watching as Vivi's father stepped forward, apparently acting as the referee for the battle. Both Vivi and Roxanne now had their Pokemon out, with Vivi using her Marill and Roxanne opting for her Geodude. Bonnie couldn't help but feel jealous at the excitement in the eyes of both Vivi and her Marill. They were having fun together before the battle had even started. Bonnie really hoped she hadn't ruined that for her and her Pokemon.
As Victor called out the rules, both Marill and Geodude tensed in anticipation. Then, as soon as he waved his arm, both trainers called their first attacks. Roxanne was just a little bit quicker, smiling as she thrust an arm forward.
"Geodude, use Rock Throw!" she shouted, her rock type narrowing his eyes and digging his arms into the ground quickly.
"Marill, Ice Punch now!" Vivi ordered in response, the water type crying out as she took off and pulled her arm back, an icy coating forming around her fist.
Unfortunately for Vivi and Marill, Geodude's attack was faster, the rocks launching at Marill's feet as she ran, causing her to fall as the ground exploded underneath her. "Marrr!" she cried out as she fell, face hitting the dirt and her icy fist thawing immediately.
"Wow, it must be tough winning at your gym," Vivi said, frowning as Marill struggled to her feet. "But we can still win this. Marill, use Water Gun!"
Bonnie was impressed with Vivi's determination, smiling as her Marill fired off the blast of water. Roxanne responded by calling a Rollout, and quickly, the pace of the battle picked up, the rock type fighting through the Water Gun as Marill prepared an Ice Punch. It made Bonnie sigh as she glanced at her Pokemon next to her, and up to where Wingull was perched on a boulder.
"Guys, you know I really am sorry, right?" Bonnie said to Dedenne, Torchic and Zigzagoon. They all looked up at her, each meeting her eyes. "You didn't deserve what I said. You're all important to me and I want to work with you no matter what. We can accomplish anything together. I know it!"
Torchic was the first to look like her old self, smiling and hopping at Bonnie's words. "Torchic tor!" she said, some smoke coming from her beak. She seemed to notice and settled down, but she still nodded once more as she looked to Bonnie.
Zigzagoon also smiled, giving his own enthusiastic nod. He still winced as he noticed Geodude strike Marill with a Mega Punch, and Bonnie knew it would be tough to make him braver, but the fact he was going to try alongside her meant a great deal. It was all she could ask.
Dedenne, of course, was confident in his affirmation of his willingness to fight alongside Bonnie and the others. He was Bonnie's number one partner. He knew Bonnie was genuinely sorry, and he knew she would do whatever it took to help him and the others be their best.
Bonnie then glanced up to Wingull. His gaze was directed at Marill and Geodude, who were now engaged in a series of blows of Ice Punch and Mega Punch, but Bonnie had a feeling the Seagull Pokemon was paying attention to what she had said. She started to walk over to him.
"Wingull," Bonnie said, "I know you're upset. I know you had good reason to feel like I let you down. I did let you down." She sighed, seeing him narrow his eyes as he glared at the battle, where Geodude had just struck Marill with a Rollout. "You're not just upset about the gym battle, are you?"
"Gull?" Wingull blinked in surprise, forgetting to not meet her eyes for a moment, before quickly looking back at the battle.
"Losing Beautifly hurt you, too," Bonnie acknowledged. "But even that isn't the only thing that's bothering you." Bonnie glanced back at the rest of her team, each of them watching the exchange. "You wanted to step up and be a leader, right? Like Dedenne and Beautifly were for you. And I didn't give you that chance. Torchic and Zigzagoon could've used your help, and I stopped you from being able to set an example for them. We're a team, and no matter what the situation is, you want to be a part of it."
Wingull shifted uncomfortably, his head starting to turn towards Bonnie. However, just in that moment, Vivi called an attack, her Marill looking quite beaten up. "Marill, let's give it our best shot! Use Water Gun!"
"Geodude, Rock Throw and Rollout!" Roxanne shouted. "And bring it into Mega Punch!"
It was clear to Bonnie what the result would be. Marill fired off one of those precise Water Gun attacks she'd shown off by the trees earlier, but it was no good against Geodude's Rollout. Then, as the rocks started flying forward, her concentration broke, and she staggered back helplessly, leaving herself wide open for the finisher.
"Dude!" Geodude cried out, ending his Rollout and slamming his rocky fist into Marill's chest. The water type went flying back, crashing hard into the ground in front of Vivi.
"Marill is unable to battle!" Victor called out. "Geodude and Roxanne are the winners!"
"Aw man!" Vivi pouted, staring ahead at her downed Pokemon. She managed to recover, though, sighing as she went to check on Marill. Roxanne headed out to check as well, recalling Geodude as she did so.
"That was a great battle, Vivi," she said. "I'm surprised you aren't challenging gyms with the talent you and Marill have."
Vivi looked up in surprise at that, eyes lighting up from the compliment. "You really think we have the talent?"
"Of course!" Roxanne said, helping the girl to her feet. "A little bit more training, and I'm sure you could do quite well."
"Well...maybe someday," Vivi said, still smiling, but glancing awkwardly at her family. They didn't seem to hear what was being said, though, with Vicky and her parents already discussing the next match.
"I suppose it's my turn, now," Vicky murmured, glancing at Bonnie. "I hope you're ready, young lady!"
"Of course!" Bonnie said, pumping her fist confidently. "We'll win for sure!"
"Good luck," Clyde murmured as Vicky began to head out on the battlefield. "She's a bit scary, and that Camerupt looks like no joke."
Bonnie shrugged, feeling a surprising confidence building inside of her. "We'll be fine." She looked up to Wingull. "As long as I have Wingull battling with me. What do you say?"
The Seagull Pokemon looked at her in surprise, before his gaze shifted to the rest of the team. Each of them were looking up at him hopefully, especially Zigzagoon. "Gull..." Wingull murmured hesitantly.
"Please," Bonnie said, holding her hands together. "It would be really great if you could show Zigzagoon and Torchic how it's done. I need one of my leaders out there for this one!"
His eyes flashed at that, and he met Bonnie's gaze. For a moment, Bonnie thought he might hit her with a Water Gun again, but then, he ruffled his feathers and flapped his wings. He suddenly swooped down, gliding through the air and landing on the battlefield opposite Camerupt, who was already set in front of Vicky. "Gull!" Wingull called out once in position, glaring ahead at his opponent. Bonnie grinned, quickly heading out to her own spot, passing by Roxanne as she did so.
"Go get 'em," the Rustboro Gym Leader whispered.
"We will!" Bonnie said back, and the two high fived.
"Are you ready, young lady?" Vicky called out as Bonnie took her place. She looked pleased as she saw Wingull glaring ahead at her and her Camerupt, knowing Bonnie had gotten through to him. "We're going to give you everything we've got!"
"We don't want any less!" Bonnie answered back, Wingull nodding ahead of her. She looked over to where her Pokemon were watching, giving them a thumbs up. "Keep an eye on how Wingull battles, okay guys? Watch how he waits for his opportunities, Torchic. And Zigzagoon, look out for how Wingull manages to fight through whatever his opponent throws at him. I know you guys can learn from him."
"Wingull!" Wingull agreed confidently, nodding to his teammates.
"Let's rumble!"
And with that, Victor stepped forward, waving his arm. "Let the battle begin!"
"Wingull, start things off with Water Gun!" Bonnie ordered, punching the air as she gave the order. There was no point in holding back. She and Wingull had the type advantage, so they needed to fight Camerupt with everything they had right from the start.
"Gull!" The Seagull Pokemon flapped his wings immediately, shooting into the air and opening his beak. A moment later, the water shot forward, aiming straight for Camerupt, who narrowed his eyes, he and Vicky remaining eerily calm.
"Defend with Rock Slide, and then use Sunny Day," Vicky then ordered, Camerupt grinning immediately as rocks quickly began to fall from the air, blocking the path of the Water Gun. That wasn't all, though, as a moment later, Camerupt began to glow, appearing to heat up before the sunlight from above began to brighten, the heat growing much more intense.
"You'd better watch out, Bonnie!" Vivi called out from the sidelines. "Camerupt is super strong with Sunny Day in effect!"
"It's a useful move both in battle and outside of it," Vicky said. "Sometimes the ash from Mt. Chimney can dim the sun, so we need a little help for our plants. Camerupt's Sunny Day is of great assistance." She grinned, noticing Bonnie watching the sunlight streaming down on the field. "And it weakens the power of water type moves, so that's handy, too."
Bonnie could already see that she was right. Wingull looked to be immediately uncomfortable as the sun beat down on him. She was tempted to call for a Rain Dance to cancel out the effect, but she didn't think it was the best time just yet. Vicky didn't know Wingull had that move in his arsenal. Perhaps it would be a useful move to use just a bit later. Instead, they would have to make do with the what they had right now.
"Wingull, you're still strong enough to beat that sun. Use Air Cutter!" Bonnie shouted, hearing Torchic cheer for them as Wingull nodded and began to flap his wings.
"Wingull!" the Seagull Pokemon cried, the blades of air quickly firing outwards. This attack was much faster than Water Gun, and Vicky and Camerupt weren't going to be able to defend against it with another Rock Slide.
"Ruuupt!" Camerupt cried out in pain as the attack struck, the Eruption Pokemon backing up a few steps.
Vicky wasn't deterred, though, instead grinning as she called a counter. "Not to worry, Camerupt. Let's show them your Double Edge attack!"
"Fly up to avoid it!" Bonnie countered, confused as to why Vicky would call for something Wingull could avoid so easily. She watched as Camerupt charged forward, his big size making him much too slow to reach Wingull before the flying type flapped his wings and flew higher into the air. That was when Vicky acted, however.
"Now, Rock Slide!" the old woman shouted, grinning as Bonnie's eyes widened.
"Camer camerupt!" Camerupt cried out, stomping on the ground and forming the rocks high in the air. They descended upon Wingull with full force, crashing against him as he tried to fly up and past them. He couldn't do so, eventually being struck by a large rock that knocked him down to the ground.
"Zagoon!" Zigzagoon cried out from the sidelines, clearly worried. Bonnie could see the fear in the Tiny Raccoon Pokemon's face. She hoped Wingull could show him that one hit like that wouldn't be enough to keep him down, though.
"Wingull!" the Seagull cried out a moment later, as though he'd known what Bonnie was thinking. He quickly flapped his wings, shooting up past Camerupt and surprising the Eruption Pokemon with his endurance. He was ready to do much more, too.
"Let's test how powerful that Sunny Day is. Use Water Gun!" Bonnie shouted, grinning as Vicky quirked an eyebrow.
"Gull!" Wingull called out in answer, immediately aiming down at Camerupt and firing the stream of water at him. Sunny Day did seem to have an effect, the attack seemingly weaker than usual. Nonetheless, it was still powerful and effective, striking Camerupt with full force, sending it staggering sideways.
Bonnie and Wingull didn't let up, quickly going in with a second attack. "Now, use Air Cutter!"
As Wingull flew forward once more, aiming and firing his blades of air, Bonnie could hear the other Winstrates murmuring in surprise. Vivi was most shocked, gasping as Camerupt once again was sent staggering backwards, wincing in pain from Wingull's strike.
"Wow, Bonnie's good!" the youngest Winstrate said. "She and Wingull have grandma on her toes!"
"Even Max struggled against Camerupt, but Bonnie seems to be controlling this match," Victoria said in agreement.
"Bonnie knows her stuff," Clyde told them. "And Wingull was a big part of her win at the Dewford Gym."
Bonnie swelled with pride at what was being said, but she knew she needed to keep her focus. With a glance at her other Pokemon on the sidelines, she could see that they were just as excited by what was happening so far. She needed to make sure they knew what she and Wingull could accomplish together. She needed to make sure Wingull did, too. Vicky, however, wasn't out of the fight just yet.
"All right, Camerupt, let's kick things up a notch!" she called out. "Fire off an Eruption with everything you have!"
"CamerrrUPT!" the Eruption Pokemon roared, steam billowing from the humps on its back as it lumbered towards Wingull. Unsure of what was about to happen, Wingull didn't move. Unfortunately, that left him wide open as the humps exploded with lava, the scorching hot substance striking the Seagull Pokemon in the chest.
"Guuuullll!" he cried out, his body launched upwards, before he crashed hard to the ground. His body was smoking, and he almost looked as though he wouldn't be able to rise.
"Hang in there, Wingull!" Bonnie called out encouragingly. "I'm counting on you!" She gestured to the others watching, her eyes finding the terrified looking Zigzagoon. "We're all counting on you!"
Wingull managed to raise his head, wincing and gasping as he glanced back at Bonnie and then towards his teammates. Dedenne pumped his fists in encouragement, Torchic gave a small hop and a cheer and Zigzagoon swallowed his fear and cried out his own call of encouragement. It was the power boost the Seagull Pokemon needed.
"WINGULL!" he shouted, flapping his wings and shooting into the air. Smoke trailed behind him, but it didn't matter. He was ready to continue the fight.
"Impressive..." Vicky murmured. "Few Pokemon rise again after being hit by an Eruption. When I battled young Max's Kirlia, it barely got back up, and I expect that was because Sunny Day wasn't in effect at the time. But your Wingull..." She shielded her eyes, looking towards the bright sun. "Very impressive..."
"We'll show you even more than that!" Bonnie called out. "And speaking of Sunny Day, it's time to take that advantage away from you. Wingull, Rain Dance, now!"
"Gull!" With another flap of his wings, Wingull flew even higher, and above him, a dark cloud began to form, expanding as Wingull hovered beneath it. Before long, the sunlight began to dim, eventually being blocked entirely. When the drops began to fall, Bonnie could see the uneasiness in Camerupt's eyes, especially as Wingull's body glowed with his ability kicking in.
"Ah, I see your Wingull's ability is Rain Dish," Vicky said, narrowing her eyes. "Well...that's not good news for us. Nonetheless, we'll need to fight back. Camerupt, Rock Slide, now!"
"You can take it, Wingull! Get in close!"
"Gull!"
At that moment, Bonnie knew they were going to win. Her own confidence was mirrored by Wingull, the Seagull Pokemon diving straight down. He didn't flinch as the rocks formed above him and crashed down, striking him as he descended. They battered at him relentlessly, but when the attack ended, he still had his sights set on Camerupt.
And his body was glowing in a red light.
"Zzt!" Rotom cried out excitedly. "Wingull has learned the move Endure! A powerful move that allows a Pokemon to withstand almost any attack!"
Bonnie grinned, seeing Vicky staring at her fierce fighter in shock. "Fire away, Wingull!" Bonnie shouted. "Air Cutter!"
"Wingull!" Now in close after making it through Rock Slide, Wingull was in perfect position to flap his wings as fast as he could, sending the blades of air straight at his opponent. The attack struck Camerupt in the face, causing him to stumble back, falling over some of the rocks that had come down from his recent move.
"Grandma! Have Camerupt use Eruption!" Vivi suggested, sounding stunned by what was happening.
"It's no good, dear," Vicky said, chuckling lightly. "Eruption is much less effective when Camerupt is so tired out. And with Rain Dance in effect, even more so. Young Bonnie here has us trapped." She looked across to Bonnie in that moment, smiling. "I did tell you that you would figure it out."
Bonnie nodded, acknowledging the old woman's words. "And that's why we have to finish this off. Wingull, Water Gun at full power!"
"GUUUULLLL!"
The water exploded from his beak, striking Camerupt head on. Further powered up by Rain Dance, it even managed to lift the massive Eruption Pokemon from the ground, sending him flying across the field. He hit the ground and rolled across, only coming to a stop a few feet in front of Vicky, who nodded to Victor before he had even made a move.
"Camerupt is unable to battle!" the man called. "Bonnie and Wingull are the winners!"
"Hooray!" Bonnie shouted, jumping up and raising her arms high. "You did it, Wingull!"
Not even winning a gym battle was as meaningful as what happened next. As Bonnie cheered, Wingull turned from where he had landed. Bonnie paused as their eyes met, and for a moment, they looked at one another. They were a team, and they both knew that. And in an instant, Wingull flew into Bonnie's arms.
"Gull! Gull! Wingull!"
Bonnie laughed, hugging her Seagull Pokemon as he celebrated. "You were so great out there, Wingull! I'm so proud of you. You really showed us all how to battle with your best effort, no matter how hard it gets."
"Nene!"
"Tor!"
"Zagoon!"
"Zzt! I want to celebrate, too!"
Suddenly, the rest of the team was jumping on Bonnie and Wingull, joining their little celebration. Even Rotom was there, managing a high five with Bonnie as she awkwardly pet and hugged the others. There were few things that could've made Bonnie feel as good as that. She loved her Pokemon with all her heart, and she was thrilled that they were all happy and together again as a team.
But Wingull hadn't forgotten what had happened earlier. He pulled himself out of the celebration after a few moments, and the rest of them paused as they looked towards him. Once again, Bonnie's eyes met his. He seemed hesitant, as though nervous about something. Then, he bowed his head.
"Gull...wingull gull," he murmured quietly.
"Wingull...what...?" Bonnie frowned, watching her Seagull Pokemon. His head remained low.
"I think Wingull is apologizing for his own role in your argument," Roxanne said, she and Clyde having made their way over, the latter grinning widely. "Your outburst wasn't unprovoked after all."
Bonnie blinked in surprise at that, quickly turning back to Wingull. "Oh Wingull," she said, reaching forward and petting him softly. "Don't worry. I forgive you. I just want us to work together from now on." He looked up, relief in his eyes. "We'll all work together, okay guys?" Bonnie added, looking to the others. "We'll do our best to overcome whatever problems get in our way, and then we'll beat Wattson, Max and all the gyms and all the other trainers in the Hoenn League! Are you with me?"
"Gull!" Wingull cried out, leading the cheer.
"Nene!" Dedenne joined in.
"Tor!"
"Zigzagoon!"
They cheered for a few seconds, Bonnie overcome with joy at her team's enthusiasm. She paused as she noticed the Winstrates making their way over, however, blushing with embarrassment. She hoped they didn't think she was celebrating a small battle like this too much. However, Vicky merely looked pleased at seeing Bonnie having made up with Wingull officially, and the others looked either amused or, in Vivi's case, thoroughly impressed.
"Wow...it must be so cool having all those Pokemon and journeying together like that!" she said, pumping her fists excitedly. "What an awesome team!"
"You're certainly looking like a motivated group!" Vicky added, nodding as she took them in, absentmindedly patting her Camerupt, who stood tiredly next to her.
Bonnie nodded, looking to each and every one of her Pokemon. Dedenne, Torchic, Zigzagoon and Wingull. A Pokemon who wanted to lead. A Pokemon eager to help. A Pokemon ready to overcome his fears. And, a Pokemon who wanted to step up for his team. Somewhere out there, more Pokemon awaited Bonnie. More Pokemon with their own talents and quirks. Who would they be? Where were they?
She couldn't wait to find out.
Author's Note:
And Bonnie and Wingull get the win! I have to say, I found this chapter a little tricky, and I hope Bonnie's outburst worked out okay. I felt it was something brewing with her frustrations lately, and getting that Water Gun to the face just kind of made her snap. But ultimately, what Bonnie realized was just that she wasn't giving her new Pokemon a chance. She was in a rush to have them be at the level that Beautifly was at, but she kind of forgot about the hard work that went into getting Beautifly to that point. And Wingull is now the number two behind Dedenne, and he wants to earn that spot and help, but he also wasn't given his chance.
Fortunately, though, with some help from the Winstrates, Bonnie made up with her team, and Wingull was able to step up and set an example. He even learned Endure to top it off. Although...Endure might lead to something else eventually...who knows.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed! See you next time with Chapter 33: Trapped in a Pinch.