Beginning Arc: A Hard-Earned Victory
They entered the school. Jacky's heart was pounding as they hurried through the empty hallways. "Are classes still in session or are the students all in the schoolyard?",
"I think they are still in the classrooms."
Jacky made her way to the gym. They turned a corner and the blonde-haired girl almost collided with Cheren, who was just coming from the sports field. Jacky stumbled back and hastily greeted him. "Hello, Cheren, I wanted to challenge you today,"
"Holy moly." Cheren looked down at her. "Yeah, I remember that." He glanced quickly at his Xtranceiver, then straightened his tie. "I'd have enough time to spare...",
"Then we're good to go." Jacky nodded excitedly. "Come along, Mari!",
"Yeah, yeah!" The black-haired girl stumbled after Jacky as she hastily ran to the sports field. Cheren followed them quietly. "My, my. She's pretty excited, your dear friend, huh?" he remarked. Mari looked over her shoulder. "Yeah, indeed. I don't blame her."
On the sports field, Jacky and Cheren faced each other. "I'll let you go first", Cheren said calmly. Jacky didn't take two words for that. She pulled out a Poké Ball. "I'll start things off with my new Pokémon, Shinx. Here we go!" She tossed the ball forward with momentum, and Shinx landed on the field with crackling fur. Cheren nodded and took out a Poké Ball as well. "Linoone, I'll start with you!" A badger-like Pokémon with brownish fur appeared on the field. The Pokémon's blue eyes rested on Shinx. "A Linoone?" Jacky pulled out her Pokédex and held it up to the Pokémon.
"Isn't it from the Hoenn Region?" Mari asked.
"Linoone- The Rushing Pokémon. When hunting, Linoone will make a beeline straight for the prey at a full run. While this Pokémon is capable of topping 60 mph, it has to come to a screeching halt before it can turn", the computer voice of the Pokédex informed them.
"Huh..." Jacky put the Pokédex away again and stretched out her hand. "Start with Charge!" Shinx charged up electricity, many sparks shooting out of its fur. Cheren narrowed his eyes. "Start with Tail Whip, Linoone." Linoone shot forward and slapped Shinx with its furry tail. "Go on with Tackle!" Jacky commanded. Shinx charged forward with newfound speed. It threw itself against Linoone, but was easily knocked back. Linoone, however, did not back away one bit. "Use Fury Swipes!" Cheren shouted. Linoone suddenly shot forward like an arrow, lunging furiously at Shinx with his claws. "Hang on, Shinx!" It flinched back, its fur once again spraying sparks. "Charge again!",
"You're still too slow for Linoone", Cheren said. "Headbutt!" Quick as a flash, Linoone shot forward and hit Shinx hard. The latter yelped and landed on its paws. "Too slow..." Jacky muttered softly. "We can't let up! Come on, use Spark!",
"You can do it!" Mari cheered at her.
Linoone, however, dodged Shinx's attack with ease and, at Cheren's command, attacked it with Play Rough. Shinx was hit hard and struggled to get back up. "Now, Tail Whip again!" Cheren ordered, and Shinx's defenses sank even lower. "What now?" Jacky became a little exasperated. "Well done. Now use Fury Swipes!" Cheren shouted.
"No! Interrupt it with Spark!" Linoone tried to dodge, but when it stopped to change direction, it was hit by the Spark. Lightning flashed around its body and it began to shake slightly. "It's paralyzed..." Cheren crossed his arms. "Hmm, you're lucky, but you missed one small detail." As if on cue, Linoone dug up a Cheri Berry from its fur and ate it. The paralysis subsided. "It was carrying a berry?!" Jacky exclaimed, puzzled. Cheren nodded. "That's right. Linoone, Headbutt!" Linoone threw its head back and then went after Shinx, who could not counter the attack. On the verge of being knocked out, it staggered back. Its legs threatened to give way. "Linoone is way too fast for us..." Jacky clenched a hand into a fist, but then she remembered Linoone's Pokédex entry. "Fury Swipes!" Cheren commanded, and Linoone took off running. "Hold on one more time, Shinx, I found its weak spot! Hold it there! Let it come at you until the last moment!" Linoone dashed towards Shinx at high speed, getting ready to take it down with the final attack. "Dodge it and finish it off with Spark!"Jacky literally yelled this command. Linoone couldn't stop in time and was hit full force by Shinx's attack. It collapsed onto the ground. Cheren nodded his foot. "You've found a weak spot." He smiled slightly. "Good on you. But it won't be so easy in the second round..." He withdrew the defeated Linoone and pulled out the next Poké Ball. "That was great, Shinx!" Jacky took heart and raised her fist in the air. Cheren threw the next Poké Ball. "Watchog, fight with me!" A Pokémon appeared in front of Cheren, keeping a stiff posture. "Let's see if you can master this too.",
"A Watchog?" Jacky pulled out her Pokédex again and scanned it. "Watchog- The Lookout Pokémon. They make the patterns on their bodies shine in order to threaten predators. Keen eyesight lets them see in the dark", the Pokédex's computer voice rattled off the data. Cheren smiled. "Ready?",
"We're going to win this battle and get that gym badge!" Jacky was more determined than she had been in a long time. "We'll take Watchog by surprise with Tackle!" Shinx jumped forward. But it stumbled when Watchog blocked Shinx's attack with a kick of its foot. "Are you okay, Shinx?" The electric-type Pokémon staggered back and forth for a moment. "Put an end to it with Bite!" Cheren shouted. "Counter with Spark!" Jacky commanded.
Watchog stopped when Shinx jumped forward and backed away so the attack went into nowhere. "So fast...!",
"Watchog! Confuse Ray!" Cheren commanded. Watchog's eyes lit up briefly and it shot a ball of light at Shinx that started dancing around its head. Shinx began to stagger heavily. Jacky held her breath for a moment until a memory came to her mind. "If I'm lucky... It's all or nothing now!",
"Bite!" Cheren shouted.
"We only have this chance! Use Spark!" Shinx lit up unusually brightly and rushed towards the foe, ready to violently ram it into a wall, but before Shinx reached Watchog, Cheren uttered a command: "Detect, Watchog!" Watchog's body lit up briefly before it dodged the attack. Shinx staggered back again, barely able to stand on its four paws. "Damn, it was able to dodge in the last moment! But...!" Jacky lost her composure. "Shinx, stay strong!" It whimpered, struggling to stay standing. "I wanted to make use of its ability Rivalry, because Watchog has the same gender as Shinx... If it had hit Watchog, I would have been able to deal quite a lot of damage..."
"A gym leader always has an ace up his sleeve. Okay, Watchog, now finish it off! Low Kick!" Watchog jumped forward and its foot hit Shinx. It collapsed on the ground and stayed down. "Oh no!" Jacky fell on her knees next to her K. partner. "You were so great..." She smiled and stroked Shinx's fur for a moment. Then, she withdrew it. "Don't worry, we'll win for you. I knew it would be difficult." She straightened up again and looked at Cheren. "But that's exactly why I want to fight you!"
Cheren smiled. "Well, show all you've got." Jacky stroked the next Poké Ball in her hand briefly before tossing it into the air. "Let's go, Absol!" Absol burst out of the ball and landed on the ground in front of Jacky. "An Absol, huh..." Cheren put a hand to his chin. "Interesting.",
"My partner and I grow closer with every battle! We'll show you that!"
Cheren nodded. "I'm curious. Watchog, Low Kick!",
"Dodge it, Absol!" Absol jumped to the side and growled. "Follow up with Scratch!" She watched her partner go for the raid. 'Watchog can be dangerous, I am not allowed to let it make a move...',
"Watchog, push back with Bite!" Watchog dodged Absol's claws and then attacked itself. Jacky responded defensively. "Don't let it know where you are now, Absol! Double Team!" Absol flickered up and its silhouettes built up in front of Watchog. "Focus, Watchog!" Cheren shouted. "You must dodge all following attacks!",
"Now Razor Wind! Aim up into the air!" All the Absol jumped up and white blades got sent into the air, raining down onto the battlefield. Watchog narrowly dodged them and landed on the ground. It already seemed a bit breathless.
"Now, chase it with Scrath!" Jacky ordered. The illusions disappeared and Absol appeared behind Watchog. "Detect!" Watchog protected itself from the attack, dodging it narrowly. "And now Confuse Ray!",
"No, crap!" Jacky exclaimed.
"Follow up with Bite!",
"Dodge!"Absol staggered back and forth slightly and couldn't react in time. Watchog's teeth dug into Absol's front leg. "Now use Low Kick!" Watchog let go of Absol and lashed out with one foot, hitting its shoulder. "Get a grip, Absol! Listen to me!" Absol opened its eyes and dug its claws determinedly into the sandy ground. "Keep it off your back with Razor Wind!" This time, the blades hit Watchog and the normal-type Pokémon stumbled backward. "Now grab it with Bite!",
"Watch out!" Watchog got itself under control and was able to dodge Absol's attack. Then it fought back with its own Bite. "Use your blade! Block it!" Jacky shouted. Absol swung its head to the side and Watchog's teeth bore down on its crescent. Watchog looked surprised. "Now, we finish it! Throw it up and follow up with Scratch!" Absol reared back and threw its head around. It launched Watchog into the air, the force alone causing the foe to let go of it. Absol jumped after it and slammed its opponent to the ground with glowing claws. Watchog crashed to the sand and tried to get up, but its legs failed and it collapsed, unable to fight any longer.