Today's the day. Today I take on Jolt in the first of my gym battles in a new league. Surprising both myself and Pikachu I woke up early before anyone else on our woke up. As it was just me and Pikachu I figured I better fit in some last minute training before heading to the gym. Heading outside into the majestic fields and forests surrounding the Queen house I'm greeted by the warm sunlight on the skin. I take a deep breath before moving further away from the house so I don't wake anyone up from their own slumber.
However, as I'm moving away from the house Pikachu's ear perk up grabbing his attention to the left side of the house. "What wrongs," I ask wearily flashbacks of the previous day flying through my head. Pikachu listens closely for a few seconds before shouting in what I have to come to learn as joy. Hoping off my shoulder he starts running in that direction. "I guess you want me to follow you." I call out to my first Pokémon who keeping running in excitement. Taking off after him I can't help but wonder what's grabbed his attention. It doesn't take me long to find out as I reach the top of a small hill where Pikachu is waiting for me the sound of music drifts through my ears. Looking down I spot Alessia Queen standing at the bottom of clearing with her Pokémon. Irkan is lying down behind Alessia but watching it's training intensely waiting for the first sign of danger. Leafeon Jolteon and Vaporeon are all sitting in a line next to their trainer watching the other Pokémon train. Leavanny and Meinshao dodging various different attacks come from all angles. Tropius is firing a razor leaf but it's the other Pokémon that catch my eye. I remember yesterday seeing with eighteen pokeballs on Alessia belt that couldn't use all of them as she already had six active with her. Yesterday I wondered what other Pokémon she had with her and now I know a little more about her. With her, at the minute there is a Decidueye, a Machoke, Arcanine, Scyther, Vikavolt, Bayleef, Flygon, Lucario, Torkoal metagross sceptile and Luxray. There seem to be training hard.
I spend the next few minutes watching her as she has her Pokémon doing different drills. Quickly I figure out her battling style is hit hard and fast. The raw power from each Pokémon is devastating not to mention the sheer speed they move with is unheard of. No wonder she the champion. I doubt any of my Pokémon could land a hit with her Pokémon weaving about in total control of their surroundings. There seems to be an energy about her Pokémon I've never felt before. Slowly I make my way down the hill not wanting to disturb the Pokémon master.
"Looking forward to your battle against Jolt today." She asks when I grow closer to her not breaking eye contact on her own Pokémon.
"I can't wait." I tell her quietly enthralled by her Pokémon.
She looks away from her Pokémon and studies me. "What Pokémon are you planning on using."
"Pikachu and Stunsir." She raises an eyebrow at my choice in Pokémon and looks slightly concerned.
"Your taking on an electric gym with two electric Pokemon." The incredulous tone doesn't help but me make uneasy.
"You took on the flying type master of the elite four with a fighting type." I counter. She can't help but smirk at this but it quickly slips from her face.
"Yeah but you're not me. Not to sound rude or mean or anything like that but I know my sister. I know how she fights. You don't know Jolt. You walk in there with electric Pokémon only and he will wipe you out. A word of advice find another team. Because he has trained your Pokémon before. He will know their strengths and weakness and will exploit it. No matter how good there are." She turns back to her own Pokémon. Pikachu looks at me in concern. She rights that it's strange but I won't lose. I can beat Jolt with using only electric Pokémon.
Biting my tongue stopping myself from saying something that will no doubt turn into an argument. "Have u picked your team yet." I ask referring to her battle with the kinsha league winner.
"I have four Pokémon already selected but I'm unsure about the last two." As on cue Vapereon Arcanine Decidueye and Jolteon appear in front of us. So she's using a water fire grass and electric type. Makes sense that together they can handle most of the other types of Pokémon easily. What does surprise me is that she isn't using Irkan. I would have thought that he would have been the first name she put down. "I have to pick my last two Pokémon more carefully."
"Why." I ask slightly confused. Shouldn't she pick her whole team carefully.
"Because everyone knows I use these four the most and they are part of my champion team." She pauses looks at before rolling her eyes. "Right your not from here. My champion team is the team I used to win the championship. I used the same six Pokémon in all my elite four and champion match. But I can't afford to use the same six Pokémon all the time otherwise people would be able to better plan for me. So I route the six into four swapping them about all the time and using less suspecting Pokémon for my last two based on my challenger's strengths and weakness." I think I get what she's talking about. If she uses the same six then someone can pick Pokémon that pose the biggest threat to hers and use them to put her at a disadvantage in the battle. But if they don't' know what her last two Pokémon are they can't plan for them giving her an advantage especially if the Pokémon she picks have the advantage other her opponent. Smart.
"What are the other two pokemon that make up your champion team." I can't help but wonder looing over the champion array of pokemon.
"Scyther and Irkan. Chances are I will put Irkan since he is by best Pokémon and can work well under any under condition but for now, I don't really know." I don't know why but for some reason I imagined that Alessia caught Irkan after she won the championship not before. Though I suppose that catching Irkan before shows just how a powerful trainer she really is to catch so a rare and untrainable Pokémon before making her way to the top.
"I can't wait to watch your battle and see what your last two Pokémon are." If it's anything like the spar she had with Bella then I have no doubt the battle will be awesome.
"And I can't wait to see how you handle Jolt later today."
After muttering a quick goodbye I leave Alessia to focus on her training while I head off to find a decent spot to train for myself. I know taking on the gym with the Pokémon I am isn't the smartest move but I only have two pokemon at the moment so I don't have much choice. Every league I start I always start a new team and train them up.
An hour later me and Pikachu arrive back at the main house where everyone is gathered around the table talking with each other. All our training got the two of us pumped for this match and I can't wait to win my first badge in the Kinsaha region. Entering the room my enthusiasm shines through as I greet everyone. "Good morning everyone."
"Hey Ash." Dawn replies downhearted about something. The tone of her voice immediately snaps me out of my good mood as I look at one of my closest friends who is looking at me anger and sadness. It takes a couple of seconds to realise the look isn't directed at me as everyone else in the room is wearing a similar look.
"Did I miss something." Dawn nods at me before turning to look at the Three Queens and Cynthia waiting for one of them to explain something. Quietly I take the empty seat in between Dawn and Cynthia.
Taking a deep breath Professor Queen takes the lead as she addresses the situation. "Yesterday after The Doom left here, they moved on to the town on the other side of the forest. We only just got word about the attack." Team Doom attacked again. I would have thought being chased off by a member of the elite four would send them running not angering them to attack somewhere else. "Thankfully nobody was killed but a lot of people and Pokémon were hurt."
"There really is going to be a war." Cynthia states more to herself then as a statement.
"These attacks are only the start. It's going to get worse." Alessia does, however, state this. "We were lucky yesterday. I doubt that luck will last us much longer."
"Then I'm glad I'm here." Cynthia starts. "If these attacks are going to grow then you were right to reach out to the other regions to ask for help. Maybe having us all here will lower the risk of attacks." I know I wouldn't want to pick a fight knowing some of the world's best trainers are hanging around. Alessia offers Cynthia a grateful smile.
"Where did they attack." I wonder where their next target would be after attacking the Queen house.
"The Pokémon centre over in Luka City was burned down. But as I said nobody was killed as the police and fire department were able to evacuate the centre." Alessia says running a hand through her hair. Team Doom attacked a Pokémon centre where hurt Pokémon and young trainers stay to relax during their first journey. This wasn't an attack to gain anything useful. This was a message. A declaration of what's to come. The sombre mood of the room destroys what's left of my post-training high. A sullen silence overtakes the room as the pure realisation of what Cynthia Alessia and Bella have been saying sinks in. This is the start of a Pokémon war. An actual war is brewing. From the little mom has told me about the last war which happened to take place in Kanto show just how much worst this is going to get. "I have to update my siblings." Alessia mutters after a few seconds of silence before making her quick escape. However, before she leaves the room is pauses at the door. "Ash. Jolt is more of a counter defence trainer. Good luck."
The rest of the morning is filled with the two remaining Queens attempting to keep mine and Dawn's minds off what happened by talking about the different Gym's I'm going to face this year and helping me to work out the best order to attempt. After defeating Jolt we decide it would be best to head over to Geminus city to take on the gym leader Fang.
By the time lunch ended the events of yesterday and this morning haven't been forgotten but pushed aside for the thrill of my upcoming battle. Sprinting up to the entrance of Jolt's electric gym I'm taken back by the symbol ingrained on either side of the doors. It's a circle with a coming out from the bottom but part of the line enters the circle. Above the circle, there is half a square. The four three lines act sort of like a box. "Ash wait up." Dawn calls from behind as she and Pipulp manage to catch up. "I take it your excited." She jokes in between breaths as we wait for the others to catch up.
"A chance to get my first badge. How can I not be."
"I was wondering when you would arrive." A male voice stops Dawn from replying. Turning around I'm greeted by the gym leader himself Jolt. The man is a few inches taller than me with short blonde hair with purple stripes. He's wearing a cameo jacket with a white tee shirt blue jeans and black boots. "Bella and Alessia said I should be expecting you today. Sorry, we weren't introduced properly yesterday. I'm Jolt Gym leader of Silverdale City."
"Hi I'm Ash and this is my buddy Pikachu and we're here to challenge you to a Gym Battle," Pikachu shouts out his own greeting.
"And I'm Dawn and this is my partner Piplup."
"Pleasure to meet you both," Jolt says shaking our hands. "And Ash I accept your challenge."
"Alright," I scream out in joy. My first battle.
"Jolt," Cynthia shouts out drawing Jolt's attention to the Sinnoh champion as she and the Queens catch up with us. "Long time no see." The two share a quick hug before asking. "Have you managed to catch one yet." Her tone sounds teasing and Jolt blushes slightly under her gaze rubbing the back of his neck and chuckling softly.
"No such luck. I'm starting to think I'm cursed."
"You might just be." I forgot that Cynthia is good friends with all the gym leaders here.
Before I could ask what they on about Jolt ushers us into the gym as everyone gets into position. A young trainer in standing in for referee today. Her voice echos around the gym. "This is a battle between the Silverdale Gym leader Jolt and the Challenger Ash. The battle will be over when either side unable to battle on this two on two battle. Also, only the challenger can substitute Pokémon." Both me and Jolt stand across from each other on opposite sides of a normal looking battlefield.
"Hope your ready for this Ash." Jolt asks before plucking a Pokeball off his belt. "Because we won't be an easy fight. We have our leagues reputation as being the strongest league to consider. Magnezone prepare for battle." With a pop, the final evolution of magnemite appeared on the battlefield. Magnezone is an electric and steel type pokemon. So not a great match up with both Pikachu and Stunsir with almost all their moves doing they little in effect damage. Now I'm seeing why Alessia was against me using these two Pokémon. Oh well, I'm here now and we're going to give it our best shot.
"My first Gym battle in Kinsaha," I say sharing a look with Pikachu. "Let's do this Pikachu." I hold out my arm for him to run along before jumping off onto the battle area. Jolt lets a small smirk appear before quickly returning to his neutral face. He knows I'm not in the best position.
"The challenger moves first." The referee begins the battle." In the background, I can hear Dawn and Pipulp's encouraging words.
"Let's start off using Quick Attack." In a flash, Pikachu is dashing off towards Magnezone.
Just as he's about to hit his target Jolt calls out. "Roll to the right." The Magnezone doges just in time it's normal horizontal body turning vertical so Pikachu zooms right past him. With Pikachu facing the opposite way, Jolt capitalises on his advantage. "Tri attack." Instantly three different beams are admitted by said Pokémon on the vulnerable Pikachu landing a direct hit in the back sending him flying into the wall nearest Jolt.
Damn, he's strong I can't help think. Thankfully Pikachu jumps right back up ready to fight. "Use thunderbolt," I shout as Pikachu charges up his attack sending a yellow beam across the stadium. Jolt looks unfazed as he counters with Zap Cannon. Both attacks meet halfway resulting in a large explosion. "Use iron tail." Once again Pikachu races towards his opponent jumping into the air as his tails turn's silver.
"Meet it with Iron head." Jolt once again counters sending both flying away from each other as the two attacks collide. I need to start landing some attacks but everything I do Jolt seems able to counter. I think about switching Pikachu out for Stunsir but quickly dismiss the idea as Magnezone would have the advantage in that fight and I know Jolt wouldn't dare use Zap cannon as it would only benefit stunsir. "Attack with Tri Attack."
"Use Quick Attack." I shout out in hopes of countering him for once. The three beams shoot out towards their target but Pikachu increased speed easily allows him to sway out of the way and charge towards the Magnezone who has not yet recovered from firing it's attack leading to Pikachu ramming up into the Pokémon pushing it backwards. Seeing an opening to attack again I call out my next move. "Now use thunderbolt." Pikachu, send the lighting bolt towards magnezone as he's falling back to the ground.
All my thoughts and idea's of what to do after next are shattered as Jolt call's out his Pokémon's last unknown move. The one move I really wish Magnezone didn't know in this instant. "Mirror Coat." Jolt's magnezone absorbs the electric attack before sending right back at Pikachu who was still falling and unable to dodge hitting him with twice the power Pikachu originally sent. As the smoke clears around where the attack hit, I'm disappointed but not surprised to see that Pikachu is knocked out. That was an extremely powerful attack.
"Pikachu is unable so the victory goes to Mangnezone." The ref calls out as I make my way over to collect my Pokémon.
"You fought really hard Pikachu you deserve a good rest." I tell my Pokémon gently as he struggles to open his eye's fully. Jolt is a really powerful and skilled trainer. No wonder as he trained alongside the elite four, champion and all the other gym leaders in the region. Now I truly understand why this region is considered one of the hardest to beat. "Stunsir it's up you." I call out as I summon my last Pokémon. Stunsir hovers in front of me ready for battle. It's not over yet. "Use agility." Increasing stunsirs speed will help him to get in closer to attack. When he's range I call out it's next first attack. "Use Quick Attack." Jolt isn't able to call out able to call out a counter move allowing Stunsir to inflict some damage Magnezone before quickly retreating.
"Use Iron head." Jolt orders when Magnezone has recovered.
"Counter with wing attack." The two Pokémon collide mid-air but unlike with Pikachu the two moves aren't as evenly matched and Stunsir comes of the worst being pushed away from the sheer fore in Magnezones iron head. "Use thunder shock." I cry out as even I can see that this battle won't last much longer. Hoping that the distance is small enough for Magnezone isn't able to react fast enough to stunsir's sudden attack.
"Tri Attack." Once again the three beams are fired with one of the beams countering stunsirs thunder shock and the other two landing a direct hit. Stunsir slams into the ground hard. Evident as part of the floor cracks under the force. "Finnish this with Iron Head."
"Dodge it." Using what energy stunsir has left he manages to push himself back up into the air narrowly missing the incoming iron head. Unable to stop it's attack Magnezone crashes into the ground. "Wing attack." I call out seeing the stunned Pokémon is open. Like an arrow Stunsir dives down hitting the Pokémon back into the ground as it just started to rise back up. "Great work stunsir." I can't help but out in joy at finally being able to land some real damage to Jolt's Pokémon. Magnzezone stays down for a few seconds before rising back into the air shaking off some broken parts of the floor. "Attack with thunder shock."
"Zap cannon." Jolt's counter erupts into a cloud of black smoke as the two move's connect. Jolt shoot's me a sympathetic smile before calling out his own attack. "Iron head." Just like back at the Queen farm when we were battling with Wingull Magnezone suddenly appears out of the smoke leaving no chance for stunsir to dodge. The attack sends the electric bird flying through the air until it smashes into the wall behind me.
"Stunsir unable." The ref calls out what we all already know. "As all Pokémon on one side are unable to battle the match goes to the gym leader Jolt. And with that my first gym battle in Kinsaha is over with a defeat.