Episode 335: The Grass Menagerie!
A few days had passed since meeting Lucian of the Sinnoh Elite Four. After losing against him, Sora did some special training for the Gym battle. The Digimon helped out to help Chimchar learn how to dodge attacks. Chimchar got hit by the Digimon's attacks.
"Okay, Chimchar. Try to dodge," Sora said. Patamon charges right at the chimp Pokémon to land a hit. Chimchar moved, but got hit again.
"Sorry, Chimchar. I didn't mean to hurt you," Patamon apologized.
"Chimchar," Chimchar said.
"Chimchar says not to worry about it," Meowth translated.
"Char," Chimchar said.
The Digimon worked on getting Chimchar to do learn to dodge properly. Chimchar had a hard time learning to avoid his opponents. But Sora had faith in him, like Paul never did.
In Eterna City, Team Galatic were coming in by a Team Galatic helicopter. Saturn and Jupiter sits in it along with a few Team Galactic grunts.
"Trust you have things under control, Jupiter?" Saturn asked.
"You better believe that I do, Saturn. You can bet your blue hair on it," Jupiter said.
"Good. The boss will be expecting great results, unlike Mars's unfortunate mishap in Jubilife City," Saturn said.
"I won't make the same mistake as her, so you have nothing to worry about," Jupiter said.
"I hope not," Saturn said.
Back to Sora, Kairi, Ventus, Terra, Aqua, Pikachu, Angel, Meowth, and the Digimon, they came across the Leafeon from the forest.
"Leafeon?" Sora asked.
"What's a Leafeon doing out here?" Aqua asked.
"Leafeon," the Leafeon said.
"Wait, you were following us?" Meowth asked.
"Eon," the Leafeon replied, nodding.
"Why were you following us?" Kairi asked.
"Leafeon, Leaf, Leaf, Leafeon," Leafeon said.
"Leafeon just said he's interested in you, Kairi, so he wants to challenge you into a battle, so he's ready for anything you can throw his way," Meowth translated. Kairi looked right at Leafeon and saw how serious he is.
"Okay, Leafeon, I can take you up on your challenge," Kairi said. Kairi took out a Pokéball and threw it. "Go right in, Flareon!" The Pokéball opens and Flareon came out to battle.
"Using Flareon against Leafeon is a good call since Leafeon is a Grass Type Pokémon," Sora said.
"Flareon! Ember!" Kairi ordered. Flareon fires Ember to strike at Leafon, but dodges the attack. Leafeon comes at Flareon with his tail glowing green.
"Leafeon is using Leaf Blade!" Ventus said.
"Dodge and use Fire Fang!" Kairi ordered. Flareon avoids Leafon's Leaf Blade and comes at Leafon with Fire Fang. Flareon lands a hit onto Leafeon, causing heavy damage. Leafeon fires Razor Leaf right at Flareon. Flareon got struck my the leaves. "Quick Attack!" Fleaon lands a Quick Attack onto Leafon. "Now, use Ember!" Flareon fires Ember and struck Leafon hard. Kairi took out a Pokéball and threw it. The Pokéball struck Leafeon and he flows inside it. The Pokéball wobbles around and around. Stars swirls around the Pokéball to confirm the catch. Kairi's Pokémon Box activates and it asks her if she wants to keep Leafeon with her. She chose to send Leafeon to Professor Oak's lab. "Got me a Leafeon!"
"Congrats, Kairi," Sora said lovingly. He gave her a kiss on her lips and she kisses him back as she wraps her arms around him.
"If we're not doing anything, we have a Gym to get-" Veemon said, before being gagged by Palmon.
"Don't ruin the moment, Veemon," Palmon said.
The couple parted lips as the group set continued on to Eterna City. They finally arrived in Eterna City and headed for the Pokémon Center. Upon arriving Kairi gave Angel and Flareon some brushing.
"There you go. Doesn't that feel good?" Kairi asked.
"Vee," Angel replied happily.
Scorbunny was doing some kicks, impressing Buneary. Sora exchanged Drizzile for Gible since he hasn't used him yet.
"Okay, guys, we'll have to do some last minute training before we hit the Eterna CIty Gym. Scorbunny will be going in first. Then Satravia, and then Chimchar. Okay, you guys will be up against Grass Type Pokémon, so Fire and Flying Types are the best bet against Gardenia's Grass Types. Everyone clear on the subject?" All of the Pokémon nodded. "Good! Let's get cracking!" Scorbunny, Staravia, and Scorbunny got some last minute training doen to get ready for the upcoming Gym battle. Chimcahr was getting better at dodging thanks to all the practice he was getting.
Once the practice training was done, Sora, Kairi, Ventus, Terra, Aqua, Pikachu, Angel, Meowth, and the DIgimon all headed for the Eterna City Gym. They found it was like a forest, better suited for Grass Type Pokémon, like it would be better suited for a Bug Type Pokémon.
"Sora, I've been waiting for you to show up. I'll have you know that I have done some heavy training since our last match, so don't expect it to be easy," Gardenia said.
"I'm ready for anything you can throw at me," Sora said.
"But before we get to that, I just want to ask where is Cheryl? Did she find the Enchanted Honey?" Gardenia asked.
"She did and then she left for home," Sora said.
"And also, I just wanna say is, it's good to see you again, Palmon!" Gardenia said, giving the plant-like Digimon a huge hug.
"Nice to see you too," Palmon said, trying to breathe.
"Anyway, I'm happy for Cheryl that she found the Enchanted Honey. And we can get started as soon as our referee comes in," Gardenia said.
"And that'll be me," a girl said, walking in. She wore a jumpsuit and a white shirt underneath. She has black hair in pigtails and sore glasses. With her is a Nuzleaf. "My name's Yoko and I'm Gardenia's assistant." Ventus looked at Nuzleaf as the wily Pokémon waved at him.
"Nuzleaf," Nuzleaf greeted.
"Hey, you're that Nuzleaf we met at the woods. It's good to see you again."
"Leaf!" Nuzleaf said.
"I'm going to guess that one of you is Sora, right?" Yoko asked.
"That's me. I'm here to challenge Gardenia into a Gym battle," Sora said.
"Then, let's get started right away," Yoko said. Both of Sora and Gardenia got into positions as Kairi, Ventus, Terra, Aqua, Pikachu, Angel, Meowth, Buneary, and the Digimon all sat in the bleechers.
"This will be fun," Ventus said.
"Isn't this anything like Sora's last Gym battle?" Veemon asked.
"Yeah. Roark gave Sora a hard time in that battle. I'm curious to see what Gardenia has planned out," Agumon said.
"The battle between the Eterna City Gym Leader Gardenia and Sora from Pallet Town is about to begin! Both trainers will be using three Pokémon each! The battle will be over if either of the Gym Leader's or the challenger's Pokémon are unable to continue battling! In addition, only the challenger is allowed to substitute Pokémon anytime! Sora, Gardenia, choose your first Pokémon and begin the battle!"
"Nuzleaf!" Nuzleaf added. Both of Sora and Gardenia picked a Pokéball and threw it.
"You're going in first, Cherrim!" Gardenia called out as Cherrim came out to battle.
"Go right in, Scorbunny!" Sora called out as Scorbunny makes his entrance as he does a couple of kicks in the air.
"Scorbun!" Scorbunny said, making his entrance.
"Your Cherubi evolved. I'm going to guess it was from all that training you did," Sora guessed.
"You guessed right, Sora. I told you I was doing some training for this," Gardenia said. The sunlight beamed down to Cherrim and transformed into its Sunshine Form.
"Cherubi had evolved into a Cherrim. How will Sora manage this?" Armadillomon asked.
"Scorbunny will get the job done since he's a Fire Type Pokémon," Gatomon said.
"Gatomon is right. Scorbunny does have the adventage over Cherrim, but don't count her out. She maned to give Sora a real run for his money when they first met. And he managed to win over her.
"Cherrim! Begin with your Soloar Beam!" Gardenia ordered. Cherrim fires Solar Beam right at Scorbunny. Sora knew it was the result of the sunlight that Scorbunny has fired Solar Beam with ease.
"Dodge it and use Flame Charge!" Sora ordered. Scorbunny avoids Solar Beam and charges right at Cherrim with his Flame Charge. Scorbunny lands a hit onto Cherrim. "Flame Charge again!" Scorbunny charges at Cherrim and lands another hit onto the blossom Pokémon.
"Cherrim! Use Magical Leaf!" Gardenia ordered. Cherrim fires Magical Leaf right at Scorbunny and lands a hit onto him.
Buneary was calling out to Scorbunny, urging not to lose. Scorbunny looked right at the female rabbit Pokémon and he had to keep going.
"Scorbunny! Blaze Kick!" Sora ordered. Scorbunny heads right towards Cherrim to land a blazing kick onto the blossom Pokémon.
"Dodge and use Solar Beam!" Cherrim fires Solar Beam and it struck Scorbunny on the mark. "Now use Magical Leaf!" Cherrim fires Magical Leaf right at the rabbit Pokémon. Knowing Magical Leaf can't be dodged, he calls Scorbunny back very quickly.
"That was close," Sora said.
"Sora, calling Scorbunny back into its Pokéball was a wise move since Magical Leaf can't be dodged," Gardenia said.
"That was close," Gomamon said.
"Is it true about Magical Leaf?" Wormmon asked.
"Yes. Magical Leaf hits its mark much like Feint Attack, Swift, and Shadow Punch. By switching Pokémon, Scorbunny was about to avoid it.
"Take to the sky, Staravia!" Sora called out as Staravia came out to battle.
"Just because you send out another Pokémon that's a good matchup doesn't mean it's going to win! Cherrim! Use Solar Beam!" Gardenia ordered. Cherrim fires Solar Beam to strike the starling Pokémon.
"Dodge and use Wing Attack!" Sora ordered. Staravia avoids Solar Beam and heads towards Cherrim.
"Dodge it!" Gardenia called out and Cherrim avoids Staravia's attack. "Now, use Solar Beam!" Cherrim prepares to fire Solar Beam, but changes back to the form Cherrim was before. "Oh no! The sun!"
"Why did Cherrim change back?" Biyomon asked.
"I think I know why," Gomamon said. Everyone all looked right at the sky and saw clouds going by.
"Those clouds are blocking the sun, canceling out Cherrim's Sunshine Form," Aqua said.
"And that means, Solar Beam will take time to charge up," Ventus said.
"That's good news for Sora," Patamon said.
"As long as those clouds are blocking the sun, it might as well be," Tentomon said.
"Well, you can't trust the weather, right?" Gardenia asked. "Cherrim, switch to Magical Leaf!" Cherrim fires Magical Leaf right at Staravia. Sora remembered using Swift against Misty during his first journey, so he figured he could pull it off again. "Staravia, make the leaves chase right at after you!" Staravia does exactly that.
"What is he trying to do?" Veemon asked.
"He knows Magical Leaf can't be avoided, so what is he trying to pull?" Gabumon asked.
"Just wait and see," Kairi said. Staravia kept flying around and around, knowing the leaves will keep following Staravia where he went. Staravia flies right in front of Cherrim, much to Gardenia's surprise. Sora waited until the leaves were close enough.
"Now!" Sora called out. Staravia flew up and Cherrim gets hit by its own attack.
"He used Magical Leaf against me!" Gardenia exclaimed in shock.
"Wing Attack!" Sora ordered. Staravia lands a Wing Attack onto Cherrim. "Now use Quick Attack!" Staravia lands Quick Attack onto Cherrim. Now for the finishing touch. "Wrap it up with Aerial Ace!" Staravia finishes Cherrim off with Aerial Ace. Cherrim had been taken down.
"Cherrim is unable to battle! Staravia wins!" Yoko announced.
"Nuzleaf!" Nuzleaf added.
"Good job, Staravia!" Sora said. Gardenia calls Cherrim back.
"Thanks. Take a long rest," Gardenia said. "Good job, Sora. I can tell you did a good job in your training."
"Thanks. You did a good job too," Sora said. "Also, you said it before. Can't trust the weather. It can be unpredictable."
"How right you are, Sora," Gardenia agreed. She took out another Pokéball and threw it. "Turtwig! You're up next!" Her Turtwig came out to battle.
"I thought she was going to send her Turtwig out next," Ventus said.
"Yeah. That Turtwig has given Sora's Turtwig a real hard time," Agumon said.
"You think, she's going to use Leech Seed like the last time?" Hawkmon asked.
"Most likely. Gardenia's Turtwig also has some other mean attacks to use," Meowth said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"Buneary," Buneary said.
"Pika," Pikachu said.
"Staravia! Wing Attack!" Sora ordered. Staravia flew right at Turtwig to land a hit.
"Turtwig! Dodge!" Gardenia called out. Turtwig avoids Staravia just by stepping on the side.
"Another Wing Attack!" Sora ordered. Staravia flew right at Turtwig to land a hit onto him.
"Dodge it again!" Gardenia called out. Turtwig kept dodging Staravia's Wing Attack again and again. Sora saw the tree behind Turtwig and that gave him an idea.
"Keep using Wing Attack!" Sora ordered. Staravia kept up the Wing Attack. Gardenia was starting to get bored.
"This is starting to get old," Gardenia said. She's struck with realization as she realizes that Turtwig is unknowingly going into a trap.
"Look out, Turtwig! It's a trap!" Gardenia warned Turtwig. It was too late, because Turtwig has been caught in the tree behind him. He was definitely trapped.
"So that's what was going through his head!" Palmon said.
"Turtwig's good and stuck now!" Aqua said.
"Pika!" Pikachu praised his trainer.
"Now, Aerial Ace!" Sora ordered. Staravia flew right at Turtwig and lands a direct hit onto Turtwig, destroying the tree in the process. Turtwig tumbles backwards.
"Right on the tick!" Meowth said.
"And super powerful too!" Gatomon agreed.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu agreed.
"Wrap it up with Wing Attack!" Sora ordered. Staravia comes flying towards Turtwig with hopes of finishing Turtwig off with one more blow.
"Turtwig! Leech Seed!" Gardenia ordered. Turtwig plants a seed onto Staravia. The seed sprouts vines out of it and wraps around the starling Pokémon, draining Staravia's stamina and Turtwig was absorbing it to heal his injuries. "Use Tackle!" Turtwig lands a Tackle onto Staravia, sending him backwards against another tree, earning a knockout.
"Staravia is unable to battle! Turtwig wins!" Yoko announced.
"Nuz!" Nuzleaf added.
"Awesome, Turtwig! That was very great!" Gardenia praised her Turtwig. Sora knew Gardenia's Turtwig is so much stronger than the last time. He also knew Leech Seed is going to be problematic for him if Turtwig fires it again. Sora calls Staravia back to rest up. He took out Scorbunny's Pokéball and threw it.
"Okay, Scorbunny! Back to action!" Sora called out. Scorbunny comes back out to battle Turtwig.
"I knew you were going to send your Scorbunny back out. Turtwig is going to put out its fire," Gardenia said.
"I said I'm ready for anything you throw at me. So, gimme everything you've got!" Sora said.
"Be careful for what you ask for, because you're going to get in trouble whether you want it or not!" Gardenia said.
"Scorbunny! Flame Charge!" Sora ordered. Scorbunny charges right at Turtwig.
"Dodge it and use Leaf Storm!" Gardenia ordered. Turtwig avoids Scorbunny's Flame Charge, but his speed still went up. Turtwig fires Leaf Storm at the rabbit Pokémon, but due to Scorbunny's speed, Leaf Storm has missed, much to Gardenia's frustration.
"Quick Attack!" Sora ordered. Scorbunny lands a hit onto Turtwig. "Now, use Double Kick!" Scorbunny kicks Turtwig twice in a row. "One more Double Kick!"
"Leech Seed!" Gardenia ordered. Turtwig fires Leech Seed right at Scorbunny, but he dodges the attack.
"Nice try. I just knew you were going to try that again with Scorbunny," Sora said. Scorbunny stares right at Turtwig and then, started to evolve. Everyone was stunned to see Scorbunny's sudden evolution. Scorbunny had now evolved into a Raboot.
"Yeah! Scorbunny's a Raboot now!" Ventus cheered. Buneary looked at the newly evolved Raboot and she saw how dreamy he looked now.
"I wasn't expecting this to happen. Your Scorbunny evolved just after dodging Leech Seed. But it still won't save you," Gardenia said. "Leaf Storm!" Turtwig sends out Leaf Storm right at Raboot. Sora saw that coming.
"Raboot! Flame Charge!" Sora ordered. Scorbunny avoided Leaf Storm with another Flame Charge. "Now use Blaze Kick!"
"Dodge it!" Gardenia called out. Turtwig tries to avoid Raboot, but the rabbit Pokémon was running too fast for Turtwig to dodge, so he successfully lands a hit onto Turtwig. Turtwig manages to stand back up, panting. Raboot was exhausted from the battling and running he was doing. Turtwig fell out of fatigue.
"Turtwig is unable to battle! Raboot wins!" Yoko announced.
"Nuzleaf!" Nuzleaf added.
"Now Gardenia has one left to use," Biyomon said.
"I'm quite curious to see what she has in store for him," Terra said. Gardenia calls Turtwig back and smiles.
"You're than I remember, Sora. Your special training has paid off no doubt. But we'll see if it's going to see if it pays off against my third Pokémon," Gardenia said, taking out her next Pokéball and threw it. "Go! Roserade!" Her Roserade comes out and ready to battle against Sora's Raboot.
"Okay, Raboot! Blaze Kick!" Sora ordered. Raboot ran to give Roserade a burning kick.
"Grass Knot!" Gardenia ordered. Roserade manipulates the grass and Roboot trips over the grass. "Now, use Weather Ball!" With the sun no longer blocked by the clouds, Weather Ball came out as a Fire Type attack and hurls it right at Raboot, earning a knockout.
"Raboot is unable to battle! Roserade wins!" Yoko announced.
"Now both has one Pokémon left to use," Agumon said.
"And it could go either way," Kairi said. She knew Sora is going to pull through no matter how hopeless it seems. Sora calls Raboot into his Pokéball and took out another one.
"Go! Chimchar!" Sora called out. He threw it and his Chimchar came right out to battle.
"So, you had another Fire Type in reserve. Just like many challengers that comes my way. But it won't be enough," Gardenia said.
"Dig!" Sora ordered. Chimchar dug into the ground to avoid Grass Knot.
"Why did Sora tell Chimchar to use Dig instead of Flame Wheel or Flamethrower?" Veemon asked.
"Sora must have know Grass Knot would hit if Chimchar if he came in from the front, so he just went around it, or should I say under it," Kairi said.
"Chimchar is going to come on up at any moment. Be ready for it when it does," Gardenia said. Chimchar pops out from behind.
"Right behind you!" Gardenia warned.
"Flamethrower!" Sora ordered. Chimchar fires Flamethrower right at Roserade and lands a heavy hit.
"Roserade! use Magical Leaf!" Gardenia ordered. Roserae fires Magical Leaf and it struck Chimchar hard. "Now use Rain Dance!" Roserade spreads its bouquets out and causes the whole place to rain.
"Rain Dance?" Terra asked.
"That's not good," Kairi said.
"How's that not good?" Gomamon asked.
"Because of Weather Ball. Depending on the weather, Weather Ball is the Type matching the weather. In this case, Weather Ball can turn out to be a Water Type attack," Kairi said.
"With Weather Ball being a Fire Type attack during the sunlight is used against Ice Types and with Weather Ball being a Water Type attack, it's be used against Fire Types," Ventus said.
"Yes, that's exactly right, Ven," Aqua said.
"Now, use Weather Ball!" Gardenia ordered. Roserade readies Weather Ball and hurls it right at Chimchar.
"Dodge it!" Sora called out. Chimchar avoids Weather Ball and climbed up the trees.
"Great! With those trees, Chimchar won't be easy to hit. Being a monkey Pokémon has it perks!" Meowth said.
"Aim Weater Ball in the trees!" Gardenia ordered. Roserade fires Weather Ball right at the trees.
"Dodge it!" Sora called out. Chimchar avoids the attack as Chimchar jumps from tree to tree. Roserade kept firing Weather Ball, but has managed to land a single hit onto him. Chimchar eventually, slipped up when he got struck by Weather Ball. Chimchar wasn't going to call it quits just yet.
"Use Magial Leaf!' Gardenia ordered. Roserade fires Magical Leaf right at the fire monkey Pokémon to land a hit.
"Flamethrower!" Sora ordered. Chimchar fires Flamethrower and it burns the leaves into a crisp an lands a hit with Roserade.
"No way!" Gardenia gasped.
"Use Flame Wheel!" Sora ordered. Chimchar rolls into a ball of fire and rolls right towards Roserade and lands a heavy hit.
"Weather Ball again!" Gardenia ordered. Roserade hurls Weather Ball and it struck Chimchar.
"Dig!" Sora ordered. Chimchar dug into the ground again.
"Weather Ball into that hole!" Gardenia ordered. Roserade went to get close to the hole, but it was a trap. Sora grinned, knowing that she has walked right into it.
"Chimchar! Use Flamethrower!" Sora ordered. Chimchar fires Flamethrower from out of the ground and struck Roserade hard and goes flying in the air. Roserade fell on its back. Chimchar came right out and panted as he used so much energy. Roserade panted as it got back up. Roserade and Chimchar kept on panting until Roserade fell backwards, succumbing to its injuries.
"Roserade is unable to battle! Chimchar wins! The winner is Sora, the challenger!" Yoko announced.
"Nuzleaf, Nuz!" Nuzleaf added.
"Way to go, Sora!" Ventus praised his cousin.
"He did it!" The Digimon all said with glee.
"Was there any doubt?" Meowth asked.
"Gardenia calls back her Roserade and she smiled. She saw there was no shame in losing to Sora twice in a row. She knew he is a tough Pokémon trainer and she was proud of the way he handled his Pokémon. She walked up to Sora with a smile on her face.
"Congratulations, Sora. You trained hard sine our last battle. And this time, you have truly earned it," Gardenia said, taking out a badge that is shaped like three trees of a forest, with the trunks whited out. "And here it is, the Forest Badge." Sora accepted his second Gym Badge and he smiled.
"Two down down and six to go," Sora said.
"Say, where would my next Gym battle be?" Sora asked.
"Glad you asked. The next Gym is in Hearthrome City. And that's where a Pokémon Contest taking place," Gardenia said.
"That's works out for the both of us. Sora can have his Gym battle and I can take part of my Contest!" Kairi said.
"It sure does," Sora said.
"Say, since you won your second badge, how about I treat you all to dinner? I know a good ramen place in town. The best in Eterna City," Gardenia offered.
"That's a kind offer," Aqua said.
With that said, Gardenia has treated them to a ramen dinner at the local ramen resturant. Upon entering it, Sora is greeted by some fans as he was bugged for an autograph.
Over in Eterna City, the helicopter had taken a landing some time ago as they put their plan in snatching the Adamant Orb from the Eterna musuem. Communicaton has come in as Saturn and Jupiter are talking to a short old man with mauve hair styled like Saturn and has reddish-pink glasses and wearing a lab coat.
"How soon can you deliever the Adamant Orb?" The scientist asked.
"Soon enough, Charon. We only need to plan our attack," Jupiter said.
"And I have one in store," Saturn said.
"Good. As long as you retrieve the Adamant Orb, its counterpart the Lustrous Orb shall be in our grasp as well," Charon said. Charon broke contact as Team Galactic was making their move.
Over to the Pokémon Center, after they ate, Sora and Kairi laid down in bed as Ventus, Terra, Aqua, Pikachu, Angel, Meowth, and the Digimon were all asleep.
"So, how do you want to do it? My Gym battle or your contest first?" Kairi asked.
"I thought maybe you can have your Contest first and then, I can have my Gym battle. Gardenia said that the Gym Leader, Fantina is going to be there," Sora said. Kairi beamed.
"How considerate of you, Sora," Kairi said lovingly. "You'll root for me there, won't you?"
"Yeah, always!" Sora assured.
"That's good. I'll always root for you, Sora. I'll say as always root for you. No matter what," Kairi said. Sora smiled.
"You just keep saying that, you know that?" Sora playfully asked.
"And I'm going to keep on saying it," Kairi said. The couple kissed each other on the lips with so much passion.
Now that the battle with the Eterna City Gym has passed, the next place is over in Hearthrome City for Sora's next Gym battle and Kairi's next Contest. And what evil plan does Team Galactic have in store for the Adamant Orb? Just you wait and see in the next chapter.