Episode 456: Clay the King of the Mine!
After hearing that Clay is availiable for the upcoming battle, Sora has begun to do some last minute training before the battle with Clay. Servine, Dewott, and Cubchoo practiced their moves.
"That's great, guys. Keep this up and you'll be all set for the battle against Clay. He's using Ground Type Pokémon, so the best bet to go with are Grass, Water and Ice; and that means you three," Sora said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said as he sighed. He looked right at his partner.
"Feeling down that you didn't have a shot in a Gym battle since we've been here?" Sora asked.
"Chu," Pikachu said.
"Don't sweat it. I'm sure there's a Gym that are weak to Electric Type attacks, so you'll have your chance soon," Sora said.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu beamed.
Kairi, Karen, and Ventus were watching Sora and his Pokémon train hard for the upcoming Gym battle.
"Wow, Sora is really getting into it," Karen said, looking at her brother.
"Sora didn't get to be the trainer he is now just by sitting around and doing nothing," Kairi said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"I'll say he didn't. You think he can win? I heard that Clay can be very brutal," Karen said.
"That won't stop Sora. Clay won't be able to scare off Sora that easily," Ventus said.
"I don't doubt it," Karen said. She was anxious to seeing Sora in an actual Gym battle since she has never seen one before she left to search for Sora. She was going to root for Sora all the way through no matter what.
Elsewhere a young man wearing a Team Shadow outfit, all except for the helmet was training a Grimmsnarl for battle.
"That's great, Grimmsnarl! All that training will soon pay off," the young man said.
"Snarl," Grimmsnarl said.
"My vendetta against the Ketchum bloodline will soon be realized after what that knight, Zest has done!" The young man hissed.
"Still going on with that?" A voice spoke. And it belonged to Kuja.
"What do you want, Kuja? Didn't I tell you that it didn't concern you?" The young man asked.
"I thought I would humor myself and see for myself. And here you are, a descendant of the disgraced Knight, Garland; the same Garland who kidnapped Princess Sarah form the kingdom of Cernelia, until that Zest has disgraced him by defeating him in a duel! Garland was the greatest knight who has ever lived until his downfall! And it was Zest how has brought disgrace to my family! And for that, I hate the Ketchum family!" The young man said. Kuja laughed.
"Didn't Master Mateus warn you about revenge being like poison? He said it will eventually destroy you," Kuja said.
"I don't want or need your sympathy, Kuja! The Ketchum bloodline has disgraced my family centuries ago, and we are forced to live in the shadows like we were Zubat! Once they are gone, then I shall have peace in my family! And then the name of Garland will be feared again!" The young man stated.
Kuja just grinned, knowing even if he gave him advice, he would only end up ignoring it anyway. Kuja knew that he was expendable and his dow fall will have no consequences for Mateus's plans.
"Do whatever you want. I really don't care about you anyway. Just don't come running to me if he defeats you like he did with Miror B and Lovrina," Kuja said, laughing.
"Go eat shit and die, Kuja!" The young man said, taking off. Kuja just laughed some more.
"I would like to have a piece of the action against Sora Ketchum, but it's much more fun to let some of the peons do that for me, since they're all weaklings," Kuja said, laughing.
We head back to Driftveil City. Shortly after getting done with the training, Sora, Kairi, Karen, Ventus, Terra, Aqua, Cilan, Iris, Pikachu, Angel, Meowth, and Axew went off to the Gym and entered right in. They saw a miner standing at the doorway.
"Well, lookie here. We got quite a gathering," the miner said.
"I'm Sora and I came form Pallet Town. I came here to challenge Clay into a Gym battle," Sora said.
"I was told you were coming. Clay just this way. Come with me," the miner said, entering the elevator. The group goes down in the elevator right to the underground.
"Are we underground?" Ventus asked.
"We certainly are. This Gym uses Ground Type Pokémon, so the best place for Clay to use Ground Types is under the earth itself," the miner said.
"That makes loads of sense, Aqua said.
"I had no idea Gyms could do that," Karen said.
"Well, there are Gyms that has spefic battlefields and enviroments that suits certain Types of Pokémon. For example, there are Gyms that has an indoor swimming pool when using Water Type Pokémon," Aqua said.
"And there are indoor forests that are suited for Grass and Bug Type Pokémon," Terra added.
"You youngsters sound like you've been doing your homework," the miner said. The elevator came to a stop. "And we are." They exit the elevator and head off to look for Clay. They found him talking to some other miners. "Boss!" The Gym Leader turned to see the miner. "The challenger is here."
"Good, good. Refresh my memory, your name's Sora, isn't it, son?" Clay asked.
"Yes sir! My friends and I came all this way to challange to Driftveil City, so I wanna challenge you into a Gym battle," Sora said.
"Well, I accept your challenge. And you look like you got some spunk, and I like spunk. But spunk ain't going to cut it in my Gym. You got to have more than spunk if you're going to win it here!" Clay said.
"Believe me, I know all that. And I'm going to prove it to you," Sora said. Clay laughed.
"That I got to see," Clay said.
The group reached the battlefield as Sora and Clay got into position.
"Go for it, Sora! Win it for your sister!" Karen shouted.
"And win it for me!" Kairi added. Sora laughed nervously as the referee stepped in.
"The battle between Clay the Gym Leader and Sora the challenger is about to begin! Both trainers will be using three Pokémon, and the battle is over when all three of either Pokémon are unable to continue battling! Further more, only the challenger is allowed to substitute Pokémon! Battle begin!" The referee announced. Clay took out a Pokéball and threw it.
"Krokorok, let's get to work!" Clay called out. Krokorok came on out to battle. Sora took out a Pokéball and threw it.
"Go! Cubchoo!" Sora called out. Cubchoo came on and gave off a small sneeze.
"Sora made the right choice by using an Ice Type to go against a Ground Type," Karen said.
"He sure has. This will actually be Cubchoo's very first Gym battle," Kairi said.
"Not only that, but that Krokorok won't be easy to be taken down. It looks even stronger than the one Sora has," Terra said.
"Cubchoo! Use Frost Breath!" Sora ordered. Cubchoo lets out a cold breath right at Krokorok.
"Dodge it with Dig!" Clay ordered. Krokorok dodges by digging into the ground. Cubchoo stopped firing Frost Breath. "Use Sandstorm!" Krokorok came right out and unleashed Sandstorm from all around. Cubchoo was struck by the passing sand. Cubchoo then gets sand in his eyes.
"What's wrong with Cubchoo?" Iris asked.
"Cubchoo's got sand in his eyes," Cilan said.
"Now, use Bite!" Clay ordered. Krokorok came right at Cubchoo with Bite. Krokorok lands a successful hit.
"Use Night Slash!" Sora ordered. Cubchoo's claw emits a dark aura and swings it, but has trouble because of Krokorok's Sandstorm.
"Krokorok's Night Slash isn't doing a thing," Iris said.
"Axew," Axew said.
"And that's because of Sandstorm. Sandstorm can be a real problem for Pokémon that aren't Rock, Ground, or Steel Types," Ventus said.
"That's exactly right, Ven," Terra said.
"Krokorok! Stone Edge!" Clay ordered. Krokorok hurls Stone Edge at the polar bear cub Pokémon, dealing some heavy damage.
"That a lot of damage!" Cilan said.
"Stone Edge is how Clay must deal with Ice Types. It's bad for Sora since Clay has his Pokémon use Rock Type moves," Meowth said.
"You're right about that, Meowth. It's commmon knowledge that Ice Types are vulnerable to Rock Type moves," Cilan said.
"Gotta turn it around and fast," Sora said. He then remembered something about ice. "Wait a minute, ice is frozen water. And water washes away sand! It's worth a shot! Cubchoo! Use Powder Snow, but use it everywhere!"
"Huh? What are those two up to?" Clay asked. Cubchoo looked up to the cceiling and spins around as Cubchoo fires Powder Snow, undoing Krokorok's Sandstorm.
"That's the way!" Sora said. The snow sparkles the battlefield in a wintery glimmer. The snow blows away Krokorok's Sandstorm. Cubchoo stopped spinning as the sparkles all dim and go out.
"Wow, that was pretty," Karen said.
"Not only that, but Sandstorm's disappeared," Iris said.
"Xew!" Axew added.
"How dare you! Krokorok! Use Dig!" Clay ordered. Krokorok digs right into the ground, but Sora wasn't going to have that again.
"Oh no you don't! Cubchoo! Use Powder Snow right into that hole!" Sora ordered. Cubchoo fires Powder Snow right into the hole. It forces Krokorok right out.
"Oh no!" Clay gasped.
"Now, use Frost Breath!" Sora ordered. Cubchoo unleashed Frost Breath right at the desert croc Pokémon, covering its body with icicles. "Now, use Ice Punch!" Cubchoo lands an Ice Punch onto Krokorok, earning a knockout.
"Krokorok is unable to battle! Cubchoo wins!" The referee announced. Clay grolwed.
"Way to go, big brother!" Karen cheered.
"Way to land those super-effective moves!" Iris cheered.
"And that was just his first Pokémon. Sora hasn't won yet," Cilan said.
"He's right. Clay isn't done yet," Terra said. Clay calls back his fallen Krokorok and laughs.
"That was some good battling, son. The way you delievered them attacks is proof that you got more spunk than I thought! Now, it's time to learn you some manners! Palpitoad, Let's get to work!" He took out another Pokéball and threw it. His Palpitoad came on out to battle in Krokorok's place.
"That's a Palpitoad," Karen said.
"And that Palpitoad is so much stronger than Sora's Palpitoad," Iris said.
"And since Palpitoad is a Water Type and a Ground Type, it'll be even harder for Sora," Cilan said. "It may be a recipe for complications."
"So, it's a Palpitoad up next. The only Pokémon that I have with me that has the advantage over Ground and Water Types is Servine, a Grass Type. I better switch with Servine just to play it safe," Sora said in his thoughts. He spoke out loud, "Okay, Cubchoo, take a break for right now!" He calls back Cubchoo. He took out his Pokéball and threw it. "Okay, Servine! It's your turn!" Servine came on out to battle against Palpitoad.
"Now, Sora is using Servine! That's my brother!" Karen said.
"Servine! Use Vine Whip!" Sora ordered. Servine sends out Vine Whip to land a hit onto Palpitoad.
"Dodge it, Palpitoad and use Hydro Pump!" Clay ordered. Palpitoad unleashed Hydro Pump right at the grass snake Pokémon. Servine is struck hard by the water attack. "Now, use Sludge Bomb! Palpitoad fires Sludge Bomb right at Servine, dealing some more damage.
"That did some heavy damage to Servine," Aqua said.
"What did you expect? Sludge Bomb is a good way to go up against a Grass Type like Servine!" Meowth said.
Servine got back up on her feet. Sora saw that Servine was still able to keep going even though she has taken some heavy damage.
"Let's make a comeback right now! Use Attract!" Sora ordered. Servine blinks and sends out hearts right at Palpitoad.
"Wha? Attract?" Clay asked. The hearts went right towards Palpitoad, surrounding it.
"Attract?" Karen asked. Palpitoad then fell in love with Servine.
"I knew that was going to work," Kairi said. Karen turned to her brother's girlfriend.
"You knew?" Karen asked.
"Of course. I figured maybe all of Clay's Pokémon are all boys as Servine is a girl," Kairi said.
"Servine's a girl? No matter it worked!" Karen asked.
"Vine Whip!" Sora ordered. Servine lands a Vine Whip onto Palpitoad "Now, use Leaf Blade!" Servine lands a Leaf Blade onto Palpitoad.
"Stay strong, Palpitoad!" Clay called out. Palpitoad was still smittened by Servine due to Attract in effect.
"Use Grass Pledge!" Sora ordered. Servine unleashed Grass Pledge and it lands a powerful hit onto Palpitoad. The vibration Pokémon fell right onto the ground, beaten and overwhelmed by Servine's attack.
"Palpitoad is unable to battle! Servine wins!" The referee announced.
"Yes! That's two for two!" Karen cheered.
"Way to go, Sora!" Kairi cheered for her boyfriend. Clay stomps his foot in frustration.
"Why up little whippersnapper pipsqueak!" Clay shouted as he calls Palpitoad back. "You're starting to make me mad, and I don't like that! If there's one thing I won't put up with is an unfair battle!"
"What do you mean unfair? All I did was plan it out," Sora explained.
"Plan?! A kid like you should forget about planning and attack head-on like a man!" Clay exclaimed.
"Attack head-on?" Sora asked.
"That's right! That's how I do things in my Gym! So, I'm going to unleash my secret weapon!" Clay said.
"Uh-oh," Sora said.
"Oh, his powers are a whole different level than my Krokorok and Palpitoad put together! And this one is really special to me! This one has been with me when I was just about your age! And here it is!" Clay said, taking out his next Pokéball and threw it. "Excadrill! Let's get to work!" Clay threw the Pokéball and unleashed his Excadrill. The subterrian Pokémon raises its claws upon entry.
"He's huge!" Kairi said.
"Uh-oh," Meowth said.
"Excadrill is a Ground Type and a Steel Type, so it won't be easy for Servine to defeat," Cilan said.
"Okay, Servine! Use Vine Whip!" Sora ordered. Servine unleashed Vine Whip right at the mole-like Pokémon. Servine sends out her attack to strike Excadrill.
"Rapid Spin!" Clay ordered. Excadrill spins its claws around, and Vine Whip bounces right off.
"Okay, let's try something else! Leaf Blade!" Sora ordered. Servine jumped and heads right towards Excadrill.
"A weak little attack like that won't even tickle my Excadrill!" Clay stated. Excadrill uses its claws to block Servine's Leaf Blade, and hurting her.
"Use Attract!" Sora ordered. Servine sends out Attract to make Excadrill fall in love with Servine.
"That old trick ain't going to work twice in my Gym! Excadrill! Rapid Spin again!" Clay ordered. Excadrill spins around to block Attract, and the hearts bounce right off.
"Okay, that didn't work, but there's one move that can! Grass Pledge!" Sora ordered.
"Rapid Spin again!" Clay ordered. Excadrill spins around as Grass Pledge has taken affect. Excadrill cuts through the attack and dissolves it. Sora gasped in shock as did his girlfriend, sister, and cousin. Excadrill heads right towards the grass snake Pokémon and swipes at her. Servine dodges it.
"How could Grass Pledge fail?" Sora asked.
"I already told you, a weak little attack won't work!" Clay said.
"That Excadrill is way too strong for Servine to handle!" Karen said.
"Excadrill! Finish this with Horn Drill!" Clay ordered. The silver protrusion on the top of Excadrill's head glows silver and extends. It then begins to spin like a drill. jumps into the air. Excadrill then stabs Servine with it. Servine is then struck hard by the horn, earning a knockout.
"Servine is unable to battle! Excadrill wins!" The referee anounced.
"Excadrill's power is out of this world!" Iris said.
"Hm. The sort of rare power that's obviously aged to perfection," Cilan said. Sora calls back his Servine.
"Get some rest, Servine, you earned it," Sora said, taking out another Pokéball and threw it. "Go! Dewott!" Sora called out. Dewott came on out to battle against Excadrill.
"Yes! Dewott's a Water Type, so it's a good matchup to use against Excadrill," Karen said.
"I just hope Dewott will do what he can to bring Excadrill down and fast," Kairi said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"Okay, Dewott! Water Gun!" Sora ordered.
"Rapid Spin!" Clay ordered. Excadrill spins around and the water bounces right off. Excadrill heads right towards Dewott and lands a hit onto Dewott. "Now, use Horn Drill!" The silver protrusion on the top of Excadrill's head glows silver and extends. It then begins to spin like a drill. Excadrill ran towards Dewott to land a hit.
"Dodge with Aqua Jet!" Sora ordered. Dewott dodges by using Aqua Jet. "Now, use Razor Shell!" Dewott grabs his scalchops to land a hit onto Excadrill.
"Dodge and use Drill Run!" Clay ordered. Excadrill goes into its subterrene form and dug into the earth to avoid Dewott's Razor Shell. Excadrill came back out and lands a hit onto Dewott.
"Dewott!" Sora exclaimed.
"Now, use Horn Drill!" Clay ordered. The silver protrusion on the top of Excadrill's head glows silver and extends. It then begins to spin like a drill. Excadrill ran towards Dewott again.
"Dodge with Aqua Jet!" Sora ordered. Dewott manges to dodge Excadrill's Horn Drill.
"That was close, because Horn Drill would have resulted in an instant knockout," Terra said.
"And that would have been a recipe for disaster for Sora's part," Cilan said.
"That was close a call. I'll have just have to dodge Excadrill's Horn Drill or risk an immediate knockout. And judging how fast Excadrill is moving, it'll be too hard to keep it still even for a second," Sora said to himself. "Okay Dewott! Use Sacred Sword!" Dewott came right at Clay with Sacred Sword.
"Excadrill! Use Drill Run!" Clay ordered. Excadrill jumps into the air and holds out its arms. It then spins its body rapidly and dives forward, stabbing the discipline Pokémon with the protrusion sticking out of its head. Dewott was struck hard.
"Sacred Sword again!" Sora ordered. Dewott came at Excadrill with another Sacred Sword and lands a heavy blow onto Excadrill. "Now, use Razor Shell!" Dewott swings Razor Sheel right at Excadrill and lands another hit onto Excadrill.
"It looks like Sora's making a comeback after taking that assault from Excadrill's Drill Run!" Iris said.
"We can only hope that Sora will be able to keep it up," Meowth said.
"That mighty impressive, son! Your Dewott has just as spunk as you do, but like I said before, it takes more than spunk to win a Gym battle against me! And I'm going to prove it to ya!" Clay stated.
"Gimmie what you've got, old timer!" Sora dared the Gym leader.
"Be careful what you asked for, sonny! Excadrill! Horn Drill!" Clay ordered.
"Dodge with Aqua Jet!" Sora ordered. Dewott dodges with Aqua Jet. Dewott then turns back around to deliever an Aqua Jet right on the money. "Keep it up, Dewott!"
"Excadrill! Horn Drill when Dewott gets close enough!" Clay ordered. Excadrill waited for Dewott to get close enough and then Excadrill dashed right at Dewott and lands a heavy hit. Dewott has been at last taken down.
"Dewott is unable to battle! Excadrill wins!" The referee announced.
"No way! That's two Sora lost!" Karen cried.
"It's anyone's guess on whose battle it is," Terra said. Sora calls back Deowtt and he looked right at Excadrill.
"Man, this is even harder than I thought," Sora said. Clay laughed.
"Your Pokémon are top-notch, but you ain't got a chance against me, son! You just might as well give it up!" Clay said.
"No. I came too far to quit now. I didn't quit before and I'm not going to quit now!" Sora said.
"Is that right? What makes you think that you can stand a chance against me?" Clay asked.
"I worked hard to get to where I am today. You think I just sat around and play video games and read comic books, then think again! I trained hard to be the trainer I am today, and the five Gym Badges I won in the Unova region is proof that I did," Sora stated. Clay looked right at Sora and chuckled.
"You ain't half bad, kid! I didn't get to be the man I am now just by being a slacker! And this here pickaxe is what I used to dig this here mine into a Gym! I've been mining mines just when I was just about your age! And I had my Excadrill to dig along with me! Enough wallowing in the past! Bring out your last Pokémon and let's end this!" Clay said.
"Just what I was thinking!" Sora said, taking out Cubchoo's Pokéball and threw it. "Okay Cubchoo! Back to action!" Cubchoo came out to battle Excadrill.
"Cubchoo's going to have a really hard time against Excadrill since it's a Steel Type Pokémon," Cilan said.
"I agree. The real problem is Excadrill's speed and strength," Terra said.
"Excadrill isn't going to be easy to take down, that I know for sure, but I'll have to put everything I have to full use! Cubchoo! Use Powder Snow!" Sora ordered. Cubchoo unleashed Powder Snow right at the mole-like Pokémon.
"Excadrill! Use Rapid Spin!" Clay ordered. Excadrill blocks out the Powder Snow. "Now, use Rock Smash!" Excadrill came right at Cubchoo with Rock Smash and lands a hit.
"Cubchoo!" Sora exclaimed. Cubchoo stood back up on his feet and he lets out a loud cry when he started to evolve. Everyone were surprised to see the sudden evolution. Cubchoo has now become a Beartic.
"Did you see that?" Kairi asked.
"Cubchoo is now a Beartic!" Cilan said.
"Since Cubchoo is now a Beartic, that means Beartic has learned a new move," Sora said.
"Evolved or not, your Beartic won't even phase my Excadrill! And I'll prove it, too! Excadrill! Use Rock Smash!" Excadrill came right at the newly evolved Beartic.
"Dodge and use Ice Punch!" Sora ordered. Beartic dodges and lands an Ice Punch onto Excadrill. "That's great! Now, it's time for your new move! Icicle Crash!" Beartic unleashed Icicle Crash right at Excadrill.
"No you don't! Rapid Spin!" Clay ordered. Excadrill spins around to block out the icicles coming right at the mole-like Pokémon. "Now, use Horn Drill!"
"Frost Breath!" Sora ordered. Beartic unleashed a cold breath right onto Excadrill, making it cold for it. "Now, use Night Slash!" Beartic swipes his claw and lands a hit with Night Slash.
"Excadrill! Use Drill Run on that Beartic!" Clay ordered. Excadrill jumps into the air and holds out its arms. It then spins its body rapidly and dives forward, stabbing polar bear Pokémon with the protrusion sticking out of its head. Beartic kept on getting hit from Excadrill's Drill Run.
"Beartic is getting hit bad from those attacks! If Sora doesn't think of something fast, he's going to lose!" Kairi said in her thoughts.
"Beartic!" Sora called out. Excadrill was about to give Beartic one more hit with Drill Run when Beartic dodged it.
"Beartic! Ice Punch!" Sora ordered. Beartic lands an Ice Punch onto Excadrill. "Now, use Icicle Crash!" Beartic unleashed Icicle Crash and it does some heavy damage to the subterranean Pokémon. "Now, finish up with Ice Punch!" Beartic lands a hit with Ice Punch onto Excadrill. It lands on its back.
"Get back up, Excadrill!" Clay called out. Excadrill struggles to get back up to battle. Excadrill took a step forward, but fell back down to the ground. Excadrill was down and out.
"Excadrill is unable to battle! Beartic wins! The winner is the challenger!" The referee announced.
"Sora did it!" Kairi, Karen, and Ventus all cheered as they hugged each other.
"You did great in your first Gym battle, Beartic. You came through when it mattered the most," Sora said. Beartic beamed and took Sora in his grip. It reminded him a lot of Big Earl. Beartic then started to squeeze hard.
"Okay, Beartic, you're squeezing too hard! Getting hard to breathe!" Sora said. Clay smiled as he calls back Excadrill. He approached Sora.
"That was some fine battling, son. You're every bit as a trainer as they should be! You reminded me of me when I was your age! So, I'm giving the proof that you won in the Driftveil City Gym fair and square! The Quake Badge!" Clay said handing him a Gym Badge that is shaped like a vertical piece of earth, the top half of which has cracked and slid out of place, resembling the result of an earthquake, or as two tectonic plates interacting. Sora accepts his Gym Badge.
"Thanks, Clay. You sure gave me a lot for my money," Sora said.
"And here's a thing to tell ya! The next Gym is right over to Mistralton City!" Clay stated.
"Got it!" Sora said.
With Sora's sixth Gym Badge in place, Sora, Kairi, Karen, Ventus, Terra, Aqua, Cilan, Iris, Pikachu, Angel, Meowth, and Axew all returned to the Pokémon Center to give Servine, Dewott, and Beartic some healing.
"I'm so happy that you won your Gym Badge, Sora," Karen beamed.
"Thanks, sis. What about you? You're still going to stick with us?" Sora asked.
"Of course. I told you I wanted to get to know you and I want to see mom in person. After all, we're family," Karen said. Sora smiled.
"I can live with that. And since you've been with us, I feel like I knew you my whole life, only difference is, I wouldn't have known it," Sora said.
"I feel the same way. There are still some things I would like to know about you and your past adventures," Karen said. Sora smiled as he placed his hand on his sister's shoulder. She did the same thing. Kairi smiled seeing the twins bond so well.
Once Servine, Dewott, and Beartic were healed up, Sora exchanged Beartic, Escavalier, and Accelgor for Pignite, Tranquill, and Roggenrola. Sora, Kairi, Karen, Ventus, Terra, Aqua, Cilan, Iris, Pikachu, Angel, Meowth, and Axew heads for Mistralton City for Sora's very next Gym battle. The journey continues on!