"Ok, ok, fine. You can use my gym for the battle." Bugsy sighed as he signed the 'one battle' release papers for Joy.
"I'm sorry about this, I had no idea how bad our practice field was." Cario blushed as she snatched the papers back and the battlers took their opposing positions.
"What field? You mean that empty lot behind the PokeCenter?" Bugsy retorted, still bitter about his six losses so far today. As he, joy and Chris sat down in the spectator section.
"So, you seem to know Ran, What do you think?" Chris asked Joy as the official walked out into the arena to proceed with the formalities.
"I don't know. I've never had to heal his Pokemon before, and this will be the first time I've ever seen him battle." Joy responded as she straightened out her dress.
"A Three on three battle. If any trainer becomes unable to battle, He loses. Start." The official concluded as he walked off of the field.
"Go Godzilla!" Ming shouted as he launched his first Pokeball. With a flash of light, a Charmeleon appeared in the arena and roared.
"Well, strictly speaking, I was on Gym orders, so I guess I have to use Gym Pokemon." Ran sighed loudly. "But, ok. If that's the case. GO, Donphan!" Ran shouted as he unleashed a rather large Donphan into the arena.
"Burn it to a crisp Godzilla!" Ming shouted.
"C'mon Donphan! Let's ROLLOUT!" Ran countered. Gouts of flame shot across the arena as Godzilla's flamethrower heated things up, but Donphan rolled right into them and barely missed Godzilla as it turned for another pass.
"Watch it Godzilla!" Ming shouted as he watched the Donphan close in on his monster a second time. Donphan trashed the Charmeleon as it failed to jump out of the way in time.
"Good shot Donphan! Try it again!" Ran shouted encouraging the mighty ground type Pokemon.
"Yo, Ming. You can't just burn everything! You're fighting a Varidian city gym trainer! He's not weak against fire! Think Pewter city, Varidian city is known also known for its powerful ground and rock type monsters. Don't use fire." Bugsy shouted as he watched the Donphan circle for its third pass.
"He never listens." Chris winced as Donphan made a powerful connection, knocking the Charmeleon flat.
"I think I felt that." Cario winced as Donphan nailed the weak Charmeleon with its fourth pass.
"I know I felt that." Bugsy winced as Donphan continued its final pass, crushing the prone Charmeleon.
"Charmeleon is unable to eat solid food." The official shouted as he raised the green flag signifying a point to Ran.
"Hey! Cut the sarcasm!" Ming shouted irritably at the official.
"If I'd had remembered that Varidian city used ground and rock, I would have done this sooner! Go GLOOM!" Ming shouted as the Flower Pokemon appeared, replacing the crushed lizard.
"Ok, we have to get the first hit in, Donphan. ROLLOUT!" Ran shouted to his monster as it balled up and spun dangerously towards its new opponent.
"Sleep it!" Ming commanded as his Gloom thrashed about desperately trying to get out of the Donphan's path.
"It's not listening." Bugsy watched in amusement as the Donphan narrowly missed the plant Pokemon.
"I don't think I would listen either if that thing was coming straight at me." Chris continued as they watched Gloom launch a large cloud of pollen into the air.
"No Donphan! Watch out!" Ran shouted as Donphan rolled headlong into the cloud and promptly fell asleep.
"Donphan is unable to battle! Point to blue!" The official called out as the Donphan was recalled in a blaze of red light.
"GO MAROWAK!" Ran shouted. The Bone keeper Pokemon appeared on the field in another flash of light. "Stay away from the pollen and nail it at a distance with Bonemerang!" Ran commanded as his monster nodded in understanding and hurled its club at the giant flower.
"Not a bad call. But it doesn't seem like the Ran I've played against in Starcraft. No double tactics, no tricks. Not like him at all." Chris commented as he watched the Ground type monster slowly retreat from the growing pollen cloud while continually throwing its bone club to devastating effect.
"You want range? I'll give you range!" Ming shouted as his Gloom started glowing.
"Marowak! Watch out!" Ran called out to the ground type monster, but it was too late as his monster was engulfed by the light from Gloom's Solarbeam.
"So that's where Ming's money went." Chris told himself as he watched the official shout something and give Ming another point.
"One to two." The announcer called.
"Ok, fine. No more Gym issued monsters. Now I use my own!" Ran cursed in frustration. "Let's win this my old friend, Go STING!" A flash of light revealed Ran's third and final Pokemon. The humming instantly gave it away.
"Oh, no. A Beedrill." Chris stated as he watched the monster rise into the air.
"HA! I've dropped plenty of Beedrill in Ilex and Varidian forest! I'm not weak against you! Gloom is half poison!" Ming called out confidently as he ordered another Solarbeam.
"I'd be careful if I were you." Bugsy shouted at Ming. "A wild Beedrill is one thing, but a A-4 trained Beedrill is downright dangerous!"
"You want something to shoot at? I'll give you something to shoot at." Ran nodded to Sting as his Beedrill began to multiply. Gloom's beam decimated Sting's image as the Beedrill continued to multiply quickly. "Good, now SWARM!" Ran shouted as the cluster of Beedrills descended upon the confused Gloom, each using a different attack. Gloom couldn't defend itself from the onslaught and after several passes, the plant fainted.
"Oh, that's a new one." Bugsy said as he watched the swarm buzz furiously on the blue trainer side.
"It's a signature move, like Toxic. Only powerful trainers whom have a deep understanding of their monsters can develop them. You have to really know what your monster is capable of to pull one of those off." Bugsy continued as all three watched in disbelief.
"Can he really be so powerful? I mean, he can't be much older than I am, can he?" Cario asked Bugsy over the din of the Swarm.
"He's the strongest Gym trainer that Varidian has to offer. I don't see why not." Bugsy replied as Ming pulled out his new PokeGear.
"Swarm, TM54, not available to trainers yet." Ming's PokeGear beeped as it searched the wireless net for information on this new move. "The Pokemon makes duplicates of itself, and each one attacks at a fraction of the original's power using its own unique attack pattern and moves. The original monster is also weakened and subsequently also attacks at a fraction of its own power."
"That's not a sanctioned move!" Ming shouted in protest as he drew his final Pokemon.
"Tough. Watch, learn, Deal with it." Ran shouted back. Ming looked desperately at the official whom merely shrugged his shoulders.
"Fine, Go Noctowl!" Ming shouted as he sent out his last monster. "Ok, use Foresight to identify the real one!" Ming shouted as red beams shot out from Noctowl's eyes.
"Don't you get it? Didn't you hear the TM readout? All of them are real!" Ran responded cruelly to Ming's choice of attack as he held back the swarm to whitness the total confusion on Noctowl's face as it tried to discern its target.
"I want that TM." Bugsy whined as he enviously watched the mass of Beedrill slowly advance upon the Bird Pokemon.
"Ok, THAT'S the Ran whom I've played against." Chris laughed as he realized how deeply screwed his friend was and resigned himself to enjoying the rest of the match.
"I've got to reopen the PokeCenter. I know those two are going to need it." Cario said softly as she stood to leave.
"Wait, you may never get to see this move again." Bugsy grabbed her by the sleeve and pulled her back into her seat.
"FLY NOCTOWL! FLY!" Ming shouted desperately trying to distance his monster from the dangerous swarm. Ran turned and waved his hand at the swarm of Beedrills, as they rushed headlong into the retreating Pokemon. They engulfed it midair, and the pulsating swarm stood unwavering from its position. Soon the battered Noctowl fell from the sky and hit the arena floor with a bitter thud.
Back at the PokeCenter Joy began the task of healing the battered Pokemon. Ran's PokeGear rang, signifying an incoming call. He quickly picked it up and answered. "Moshi mosh... No, I just... Sir, I was... No sir, I didn't mean to... Yes I deposited... No sir I just intended to... WHAT? YOU NEED ME BACK NOW?... Jason did WHAT to my... Sir, There's someone here who... Yes sir, I'll see if she wants to... Goodbye." Ran slammed closed his PokeGear in frustration. "Gone for one week and Jason just HAS to find a way to get me back." Ran cursed as he began texting on his PokeGear.
"Sounds bad." Cario turned to give the trainers their Pokemon. "Yeah, it is." Ran responded lost in his text message.
"We'll battle again sometime." Chris offered as Ming went off to fume about cheap moves.
"I'd love to, but I have to go somewhere. I'm really sorry." Ran apologized as he clipped his PokeGear to his belt.
"Oh, Joy. I really need to talk to you in private." Ran called to her as he pulled a folder and pen from his bag.
