Scene 2 - Clint
It had been a couple of weeks since Gordon and Meltan had arrived in Kanto. The two were headed for the north of the region, and it'd take them almost a full month to get there on foot. For the average, able-bodied trainer, it would only take a couple of weeks, but because of Gordon's limp and Meltan's continuous need for breaks, it was bound to take them longer.
Their journey brought them to Saffron City, which was returning to normal after an incident with a group of anarchists at the Silph Co. building. Gordon wasn't aware of what happened, as he hadn't read a newspaper in months, and even if he wanted to read one from Kanto, he wouldn't understand a single character.
The two received a lot of stares. People in Kanto were used to foreigners, but not of Gordon's size. And Meltan was a Pokémon that more than ninety-nine percent of trainers had never even heard of. Meltan kind of enjoyed the attention, but Gordon ignored all of it. Even in his homeland of Unova, he was considered large. He stood over six feet tall and was over 250 pounds.
He cracked his knuckles and then looked down at Meltan who was heaving for air.
"We'll take a break in a bit. There's a Pokémon Center nearby, I'm sure," he said.
"Whoa!" a voice called out, catching Gordon's attention. If it was a child or elderly woman making a comment about his weight, he would gladly shrug it off. However, this was a man's voice, and he'd gladly get angry if he wanted to. He looked up and found a man, maybe a decade younger than him, pointing at Meltan. The man wore a regular hiker's get up with thick boots, a thick vest, and baggy clothing. He had his own thick beard, black in color. Although he was clearly in his thirties, he had a look in his eye that said he still had a sense of child-like wonderment to him.
"Your Pokémon is so cool!" the man exclaimed. "Is it some kind of Grimer or something?"
Gordon looked down at his Pokémon and laughed. Meltan, while appearing to be related to the Grimer-line, had nothing to do with them. In fact, Meltan looked almost nothing like the Grimer that he had met in Alola.
"No, this is Meltan," Gordon said. "It's a mythical Pokémon."
"A my-mythical Pokémon?" the man repeated. "You think it's safe to just tell a stranger that?"
Gordon shrugged. "If anyone tried to take Meltan away, I'm more than capable of defending it."
The man perked up. "So, you're a Pokémon trainer! I knew it! You look strong!"
Gordon was referring to the fact that he was large enough to break any random thug in half, but he also was an experienced Pokémon trainer. Either in hand to hand combat or Pokémon battles, Gordon knew that he was strong enough to protect Meltan.
"The name's Clint Holland! I'm also a trainer! In fact, I'm entering the Indigo Conference!"
"Aren't you a little old? No offense."
"None taken! As far as I'm concerned, I'm as young as the day is new!" Clint exclaimed.
Gordon looked up at the sky. The sun was going to set in roughly an hour.
"How about a battle?" Clint asked while drawing a Poké Ball from his belt. "I'd love to battle that Meltan!"
Gordon gazed at his Pokémon, who looked at Clint with determination in his eye.
"Alright. How about two on two? I have faith in Meltan's potential, but I'm looking to allow some of my other Pokémon to stretch a bit. And in all honesty, with Meltan, the battle could be short," Gordon exclaimed. "Sound good?"
"Why not six on six if that's the case?"
Gordon laughed. If he wanted to go all out against Clint, then it'd surely be an interesting battle, but he was almost positive that he would win. He wasn't too interested in winning, but rather, he wanted to test out Meltan's power. "Let's stick to two on two. I'm hungry and would like to eat and get to bed."
Clint examined the sky. The sun was still out, and this old man was already preparing for bed?
"Meltan, you're up," Gordon said.
Meltan squeaked while making its way out onto the pavement for their small battlefield. Although they were in the middle of the city, it was still common for people to have battles. No one would bat an eye. However, they had to make sure that it didn't get out of control.
"I should warn ya, buddy! I've managed to earn all eight badges in Kanto! You're looking at a future Indigo Conference champion!" Clint eyed Meltan and then pointed to the field. "Go, Petilil!"
Barely any bigger than Meltan, Clint's Pokémon waddled out from behind her trainer's boot. She had a confident waddle, but in comparison to the massive size of the two trainers, there was nothing that she could do to look intimidating.
Neither one of us has a great advantage, Clint thought. "Meltan, use Thunder Shock!"
"A mythical Pokémon using Thunder Shock? Seems a bit weak, eh? Petilil, use Pollen Puff!"
As Meltan charged electric energy within its body, Petilil created an orb of pink light above her head. They launched their attacks forward, but it wasn't even a contest. Petilil's attack exploded on contact, making Meltan fly backward and destroying its attack.
"And now, Leech Seed!" Clint yelled.
"Dodge it, and follow with Headbutt!"
Petilil launched her attack into the pink smoke, but Meltan was able to dodge with ease. Using the smoke itself, it cloaked its movements before exploding from the other side. It slammed its hard head against Petilil, making the Grass-type stumble backward.
"Giga Drain!" Clint shouted.
Petilil quickly snapped forward and reached out small vines, which wrapped around Meltan's body. She then started to sap its energy, making Meltan screech for its life.
"Meltan, use-" Gordon started, but before he could finish his command, Meltan slumped to the ground. Gordon was surprised. He knew a lot about Petilil, including the fact that it wasn't a naturally strong Pokémon. He had believed that Meltan could pull off the victory, but he had to only assume that Clint's Petilil was stronger than it looked.
Gordon slowly walked onto the field. He knelt and picked up Meltan, his knees cracking as he moved. He groaned while he pulled himself back up to a standing position, making Clint slightly worried for him. But he stood up straight and smiled before placing Meltan on his shoulder. The Steel-type was slowly coming back to consciousness.
"Meltan doesn't have a Poké Ball or something?" Clint asked.
Gordon returned to his position and drew out a Poké Ball. "Meltan doesn't like being in a Poké Ball. Gettin' it into one is a hassle. You're stronger than I took ya for. I'm going to now turn this battle up a few gears, Clint. Go, Klinklang!"
Gordon's next Pokémon appeared from a flash of light. It was a group of gears that floated in the air, spinning in their own mechanical way, giving the Pokémon life.
"Well, that's an odd one," Clint muttered. "But nonetheless, we'll-" He stopped. "I just got your gear pun! You're a funny guy!"
Gordon smiled and then shrugged. "I've done stand-up once or twice."
"Petilil, use Leech Seed!"
"Gear Grind!"
As Petilil launched small pellets into the air, Klinklang began to move its body around violently. It ripped through the seeds and then continued forward, smashing into Petilil and making the Grass-type screech. It then rounded back once before returning to attack a second time.
"Protect!" Clint ordered.
Petilil's little frills started to shake, and a blue wall of light formed in front of her. Klinklang bounced off of the wall, landing hard on the ground.
"And now, another Giga Drain!"
"Zap Cannon!"
Klinklang ground its gears together, building up electricity for its attack. It then launched the electricity forward, destroying Petilil's attack in the process. It shocked Petilil, and although the Grass-type took the attack head-on, she tried her best to stay standing. She took one more step forward, glared at Klinklang, and let out a battle cry. But her determination wasn't enough, and she fell back.
"Strong," Gordon said. "But not enough for Klinklang."
"My next Pokémon will get the job done! We're taking no chances with someone as strong as you!" Clint exclaimed, overexcited by the battle. "Go, Rapidash!"
Clint's next Pokémon was much larger in appearance, and he had a certain command to his presence. He glared down at Klinklang before neighing and huffing, indicating his anger.
"Klinklang, use Shift Gear!" Gordon ordered.
Clint had never heard of the move, and he watched as his opponent revved up, seemingly building energy.
"In that case, use Bounce!" Clint commanded, unsure of what to make of the move.
Using his strong legs, Rapidash took into the air, his form blocking out the light from the sun.
"When it comes down, use Gear Grind!"
Klinklang, now faster, focused on the airborne Rapidash. It readied itself, and when Rapidash came down, the two collided. Klinklang ripped into Rapidash and then quickly retreated, preparing to strike a second time.
"Smart Strike!" Clint shouted.
Rapidash's horn became hard as iron, and he lunged forward, jabbing into one of the crevices of Klinklang's gear. The Steel-type suddenly paused as his second strike was put to a stop.
"And now, Flare Blitz!" Clint roared as he flexed his muscles.
Although Klinklang was fast, there was no way that it'd be able to avoid or counter Rapidash's next maneuver. The flames on Rapidash's back became intense, and he lunged forward like a bullet, slamming the entirety of his body into Klinklang. The Steel-type stopped moving as his body was dragged against the surface of the earth. It came to a stop at Gordon's feet, who looked down at his Pokémon. He had been defeated.
Rapidash had barely broken a sweat. The fire lessened around his body as he slowly trotted back to Clint.
"That's a win for me!" Clint exclaimed loudly. "We've been on a pretty good streak if I do say so myself!"
Gordon slowly withdrew Klinklang and then tucked the ball away. He patted Meltan on the head and then smiled. "You both did wonderfully." He readjusted his belt and then waved at Clint. "Fun battle! It was nice to meet you!"
"Leaving already?"
Gordon nodded. "Gotta get dinner and then my beauty sleep. Don't want wrinkles, ya know!"
Clint laughed and then regarded the old man. "Why don't I take ya out for dinner? I've taken pity on you, old man. At least let me buy you some food."
"I'm a large human being," Gordon responded. "It'll be costly."
"Well, keep me interested with stories, and you can eat all you want!"
"That's a dangerous sentence, young man."
Clint had been in the city for a while, and he had familiarized himself with some of the restaurants. Being from Kalos, he wasn't accustomed to Kanto's food, but he knew a lot more about it than Clint did.
"This is an udon shop!" as the two large men entered the small restaurant. He motioned towards a small ticket machine with buttons with pictures of the food and their prices. "I recommend anything that's fried. I particularly like the fried pumpkin!"
"Pumpkin?" Gordon wondered before he examined the machine and the various pictures. He wasn't sure what to get, so he went with what appeared to be thick noodles topped with a lot of meat. The machine printed out their tickets, and they handed them over to the shop workers before taking their seats.
Clint sat across from Gordon before serving him some water in a small cup. Gordon felt as though he'd crush it in his palms if he weren't careful.
"So, what brings you to Kanto?" Clint asked. "I'm guessing that you're not a trainer looking for fame or glory?"
Gordon shook his head before rubbing Meltan lightly. "I'm here for my buddy. We're trying to help it evolve."
"Help it evolve?" Clint wondered. "Wouldn't that just require a lot of training?"
"Not for a Meltan. They're a special kind of Pokémon. Usually, Mythical Pokémon don't evolve, but there's something different about this creature," Gordon exclaimed before putting the Pokémon onto a small stool. "From what I researched, Meltan can only evolve when and if it is with its friends. It needs to collect together before it can go to the next level."
"I see! And its friends are in Kanto?"
"Well, maybe," Gordon said while rubbing his chin. It was then that they received their steam bowls of noodles. Gordon's had what looked to be a pound of sliced beef, and Clint's was full of fried vegetables. "We don't really know where Meltan comes from. I found it while I was in Alola."
Clint appeared baffled, noodles hanging from his mouth. "You don't seem like the kind of guy who enjoys a day at the beach! What were you doing in Alola?"
Gordon sighed but remained smiling. He messed with his chopsticks before struggling to get some of the food in his mouth. "I was looking for someone."
"Oh!"
"Anyways, I found Meltan when I was there, and I've been its trainer since. We've trained a lot, but it doesn't seem like the kind of Pokémon to withstand intensive battling. It's still got a fire to it though, so I want to help it get to the level it dreams to be," Gordon explained.
"So, where are you headed?"
Gordon seemed a bit apprehensive to answer the question, but Clint didn't give him any indication that he was a bad guy. It couldn't hurt to tell him. "Mt. Azure, just above Cerulean City. There are stories and rumors that a group of Meltan live there, but the mountains are a dangerous place. Even the most elite of trainers don't usually go to Mt. Azure. I guess that's one reason why it's rumored to be a haven for Pokémon."
Clint finished loudly slurping some of his noodles and then looked at the top of Meltan's head. "You're a truly fascinating trainer, Gordon! A gentle soul in a giant's body!"
"You calling me fat?"
"I'm not calling you skinny!" Clint exclaimed bluntly, making Gordon laugh. "You really think you can go to Mt. Azure alone? If elite trainers don't go that way, what makes you think you could? You couldn't even beat me today."
Gordon finished chewing on some of the meat and then swallowed it. "I'm more than capable of handling myself. What I lack in Pokémon training skills, I more than make up for it by being a genius of the land. Any Pokémon that's brave enough to willingly fight me or my team isn't very bright."
"You seem sure of yourself."
"I am sure of myself. Confidence is very Unovan."
Clint laughed. "Well then! How about I go with you? I have a couple of months until the Indigo Conference, and if Mt. Azure is as rough and tough as you say, then it'd be a good place for me to get in some training. Also, I'd feel guilty if you ended up on the news because you were attacked and couldn't put your money where your mouth is."
"I'm not sure."
"I promise I won't annoy you," Clint said. "Your story about Meltan struck a certain chord with me, and I'd definitely love to see you both succeed."
Once again, everything that Clint was saying seemed genuine to Gordon. He hadn't traveled with another human since his earliest days as a trainer. He couldn't guarantee that he'd enjoy Clint's company, but the two seemed to share a certain chemistry.
"Alright," Gordon grunted. "But I ain't gonna save you if we get attacked on Mt. Azure!"
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
The man that I'm basing Gordon off is genuinely a strong (but chunky) dude. He was once serving as a bouncer at a bar, and when one drunken man got a little bit too rowdy (slapping the butts of waitresses), he broke his arm in roughly three seconds. It was crazy. But he's also one of the nicest guys I know, and so I'm giving him a gentle giant kind of vibe.
I don't intend to show too much of the craziness of Mt. Azure itself, as the focus of this story is evolving Meltan and developing Clint and Gordon a little bit. There are only three more chapters, which I hope to update sooner than later, and they'll have some ramifications for the main story.
REVIEWS:
UKEagleClaw - "Liked the ending with the appearance of Surge. Surge feeling like he knows Gordon from somewhere builds up Gordon's reputation in the reader's eyes, in my view, and enjoyed the humour with the final piece of dialogue to end the chapter. In conclusion, a nice, easy-going opening chapter." - We'll get into why Surge is vaguely familiar with Gordon in a couple of chapters.
CrescentApple - "Gwaaaaah, I'm so glad to read this! Nice little intro set up for the fun duo. Gordon really shows his age with a compass and map! And Meltan is just an adorable little thing." - I tried to show more of his age with his knees cracking! Haha. And yeah. I think that the two contrast each other very well here.
