=Chapter 13, The Stone Badge=
=Lamentations of a God=
(Arceus' PoV)
As the sun began to peak over the horizon, bathing the forest near Littleroot Town in a cascade of orange and reddish light, Arceus imagined his student Jacob preparing for his first Gym Match that day. While he sat there in the Sanctuary in the same spot Jacob had last seen him, he wondered how the young trainer was fairing after the events of last night that he told him through the book.
(I would rather him not have gotten involved with that Hunter, if it had been my choice, but alas, he is old enough to make his own choices now.) He said to himself as he remembered Zarak from back then. (Perhaps I was mistaken about him back then; greed may have driven him, but if what Jacob said is true, greed does not rule him.)
He then thought about Team Snagem, how they had threatened Jacob and his Ralts, Sara, and threatened to harm them. (Snagem should consider themselves lucky I did not follow Jacob on his journey, I would have done worse than the 'mercy' that Gyarados gave them!) He said, remembering what Snagem took from Jacob years ago, depriving him of the life he should have had but was forced to live without.
He looked down at the doodle drawing Jacob had drawn as a younger boy, and felt a tiny pang of sadness, as well as great pride as he thought of the young trainer, out there traveling the region with his new friends and loyal companions. In just a month's time he had already done and seen more than any other trainer at his stage of their journey had. He encountered a legendary roaming Pokemon, nursed its injuries and helped it escape capture from humans hunting it. He had helped a Salon regain its glory and status via a Pokemon Contest. He had even encountered the same Hunter that had frightened him as a young boy, learned more about him, and with the aid of his friends rescued Pokemon from the same group of criminals that had destroyed his life years ago.
(You grew up so fast Jacob, too fast for me to realize.) He said, remembering the day he first met Jacob as if it were yesterday. (One minute you were just a small boy, helpless and ignorant to the world of Pokemon that you wanted so desperately to understand and experience, and the next you are entering the very world you were ignorant of, full of knowledge beyond what you could have learned without me. I am ageless, and you are finite. One lifetime is but a mere fraction to me, but for you it is everything. Even when you are but a distant memory in the thoughts of others, I will remain the same as I am now. To me you will always be that same small boy cowering in fear of a Mightyena's pack.)
Arceus looked up at the sky one more time, lamenting for one final thought. (How time flies.)
(Jacob's PoV, Rustboro Gym Lobby, Midday)
"Jacob Beryl, are you ready for your scheduled match?" The receptionist asked him as he nervously stood there with Sara in his arms.
"Y… yes!" Jacob stuttered as Karen waited with the other trainers for the scheduled matches.
Hours ago Jacob had awoken from the Rest Area with Karen to get their Pokemon ready for their matches that day. It took him a long time to get going that day, but once he got over the fear and worry about performing badly in his first Gym Match he eventually got into his routine of making sure his team was well fed, prepared mentally and physically for the match to come. Then they strategized about which of his team would go in for the match, because the Gym Leader would be using three for her team, so by Pokemon League rules he had to use three as well. What those three the leader would use only time would tell. As for Karen, she told him that she already had a lineup for her match, not having much choice if she wanted diversity in her lineup since she had two Poochyenas on her team.
Which Jacob agreed with, two Poochyenas, a Shroomish, and a Zigzagoon did not give her much diversity for her first Gym Match.
Still they went over what kind of Pokemon they would fight, and strategized about how to counter them. They both knew the type beforehand, but not what kind Tara would use.
From his lessons with Arky he knew what rock type Pokemon were capable of and weak against, what their strengths were and what kind of tactics one using them would be using.
For his team's lineup he chose to start things off with Roran, his Tailow, for his superior speed and his ability to outmaneuver Tara's slower Rock types. Next in line would be Sara for her psychic abilities, she may not move around a lot but her powers should be able to best the Gym Leader's Pokemon. Third and final would be Harold, his Grovyle, because of his superior land speed and jumping capabilities combined with his Grass Type nature and moves, he stood the strongest chance out of Jacob's team to win the badge.
It took some convincing and explanation, but Ivan understood Jacob's reasoning for leaving the pooch out of the fight. Despite how tough Ivan was in a direct, one on one fight, his attacks just didn't work well against Rock types. Kora his Silcoon didn't have much in the way of mobility, seeing as she was a cocoon Pokemon at the moment, and he didn't have any experience with training her to move the way the Silcoon he had faced in the local tournament challenge had. Coral was also not going to fight, seeing as it was not a fight she could participate in without any body of water for her to swim in, something a Rock type Gym would not have, and aside from her tackle attack, she wasn't exactly the most diverse in terms of moves she could use.
A fish Pokemon out of water is one thing, a fish Pokemon out of water and told to fight a rock type that had the advantage was another thing entirely.
However that was all before, when he had time before the match to plan and prepare, now that he was about to walk through the door and take on his first Gym Leader, he was figuratively singing a different tune.
Still, he wasn't nearly as afraid as he imagined he would have been, thanks to his team giving him encouraging words and gestures before they left the Rest Area.
Coral had swum around in the pond making a figure eight to say he'd do great, which he thought was cute. Ivan barked to say Jacob would emerge the triumphant Alpha Male, why he keeps referring to him using wolf terms he couldn't figure out. Kora said he'd do just fine, although she also asked that if they did win if he would make them a victory feast. Roran said he would not let Jacob down for the first Gym match. Sara said she'd try her hardest, after she translated for everyone else. Harold merely gave him a confident smile, as well as his version of a 'thumbs up' with his claw-like hands.
So with his confidence boosted and his team ready to go, Jacob took one final calming breath, one last encouraging nod from Sara, and stepped forward and through the double door of the Gym lobby that lead into the main stadium.
He walked through into a blaze of light that temporarily blinded him and Sara before they became accustomed to it, but once they did they were met by a vast room filled with very rough and rocky terrain. There were boulders scattered here and there of various size and shape, obviously to make it more advantageous for one side or another depending on who used them correctly. But it wasn't just the terrain and sheer size of the Gym that amazed him, it was also the secondary level that was overlooking the field that was packed with spectators that amazed him.
"Wow." Jacob said as the doors behind him closed.
"Enjoying the view of your first Gym I take it?" A female voice asked.
He looked over at the opposite side of the Gym to see a woman wearing hiking jeans, a large heavy coat and a pickaxe hanging on her back smiling at him. "I'm guessing your Tara?" Jacob asked.
"Got that right newbie!" She said. "Welcome to the Rustboro Gym, it's here where new trainers earn their first Gym Badge. But don't expect me to just hand it over to you, first you need to show me that you have the grit and determination to back up your future as a Pokemon Trainer in the League Challenge! So tell me Jacob Beryl, do you have what it takes to make it past the first hurtle of your Trainer Career?"
"I think so!" Jacob said, adjusting his hat to make sure it stayed in place during the match.
"Then let's get this started!" She shouted as she tossed out a Pokeball out onto the field. "Geodude, you are up!"
As the Pokeball released its Pokemon, a boulder-like Pokemon with two rocky arms that stood about one foot tall, Jacob released his own Pokemon out. "Roran, you're up as well!"
In a flash Roran appeared and stretched its wings imposingly to make himself appear bigger. While the Pokemon were released for battle, Jacob heard what appeared to be some kind of announcer over an intercom proclaiming a play by pay recall of the match.
(AND HERE WE BEGIN WITH JACOB BERYL'S FIRST POKEMON GYM MATCH, AND THE FIRST ONE HE PICKS TO TAKE ON TARA'S GEODUDE IS A TAILOW! DOES HE HAVE SOME KIND OF STRATEGY FOR THIS UNFAVORABLE MATCHUP FOR HIM?)
"Alright Geodude, let's give Jacob a strong start!" Tara declared. "Start things off with Rock Throw!"
"Geodude!" Geodude said before he started grabbing rocks of varying size and tossing them at Roran.
"Roran dodge and counter with Quick Attack!" Jacob called out quickly.
Roran nodded and dodged the rocks before picking up his speed for the Quick Attack. Tara's Geodude kept trying to throw rocks at Roran but at his speed none of them could hit the flying bird. Then Roran came swooping in and smacked the Rock Type head on with the Quick Attack.
That was when Jacob realized he made a fatal error in his planning; Roran was a Taillow, a small bird Pokemon made of flesh and blood. The target of Roran's attack was a Rock Type Pokemon, with a body more familiar to a boulder's than any of Jacob's Pokemon. The Quick Attack had about as much effect on Geodude as a snowball in a volcano, instead of hurting Geodude Roran received the brunt of the damage. He recoiled away and tried his best to recover, but it was clear that Jacob's original attack plan was not correct.
This was only made more apparent by the announcer's words.
(THE ROOKIE'S TAILOW RESPONDS WITH AN AGGRESSIVE ATTACK AGAINST THE GYM LEADER'S GEODUDE, BUT ROCK TYPES DON'T TAKE MUCH DAMAGE FROM DIRECT ATTACKS AGAINST THEM. HOW WILL THIS UNFAVORABLE MATCHUP DEVELOP FOR THE UP AND COMING ROOKIE?)
"Roran, quickly get back in the air!" Jacob ordered, knowing that while he was on the ground he was vulnerable.
Roran nodded and got back into the air, just as Geodude started throwing rocks again, and avoided many of them. "You can only dodge so long Jacob Beryl, your Taillow can't run forever and eventually you'll have to attack." Tara said with a grin. "So what are you going to do against a Pokemon whose defense is greater than your attack?"
"You'll find out." Jacob said boldly. "Roran, use Double Team!"
"Taillow!" Roran replied, and in a flash there were now two Taillows flying around, and a second later they became four, then eight, than sixteen.
"Geo… dude…" Tara's Geodude said as he watched a circle of Taillows flying around him high above, unable to keep track of one before three flew past.
(INCREDIBLE, JUST WHEN IT SEEMS TO BE ONE SIDED, THE ROOKIE CHALLENGER PULLS OUT A NEW TRICK FROM HIS HAT AND SEEMS TO TURN THE TIDE! THE GYM LEADER'S GEODUDE IS GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME KEEPING TRACK OF THIS BIRD NOW!)
"Stay calm Geodude, use Rock Throw until you hit that bird!" Tara called out.
"Geodude!" It replied, before once more grabbing rocks to throw up at Roran high above him.
"Roran keep using Double Team!" Jacob called up to his Taillow.
He knew that Geodude could bring down Roran with one hit if he got lucky, and Roran didn't stand a chance in a head on fight. This is why he was using the tactic that he, Sara, and the rest of his team had come up with for Roran to counter the Rock Type Gym leader. Roran had learned how to use Double Team before, and now they were putting it to good use. Each time he used Double Team he created more and more after-images of himself in order to fool his opponent with, all he had to do was keep using it. His plan was two parts, the first was to wear the Geodude down with Double Team and keep Roran unharmed for as long as possible.
"Alright Roran, now come in for a Wing Attack!" Jacob called out.
Roran nodded and in seconds all six dozen images of himself flew down toward the Geodude. Then as one they swarmed the rock type, but only the real Roran swooped by and smacked it with his wings as he flew by.
Geodude recoiled from the attack and tried to counter attack, but just as quickly as Roran came he flew back into the air with all of his after-images.
Part two of his plan involved hit and run attacks with Roran, keep Geodude from hitting him with Double Team and slowly whittle down his opponent into submission.
"Now that's more like it, this is what I expect from a trainer entering the Pokemon League!" Tara exclaimed. "Let's see if you can keep this up!"
It was a slow process but eventually his plan paid off! As he gave Roran the signal to attack one final time, his Taillow struck Geodude, who by this time was well exhausted from constantly hitting nothing but after-images with Rock Throw. Roran swooped in and gave one final swipe of his wings to the Geodude, and after a long five minutes, Geodude was knocked flat on his back, with spirals in his eyes, clearly and undeniably defeated.
(GEODUDE IS UNABLE TO BATTLE; THE ROUND GOES TO THE CHALLENGER FROM LITTLEROOT AND HIS TAILLOW!)
Tara recalled her Geodude as Roran came in for a landing, and Jacob saw that the strain put on the bird's wings was quite a bit. He was exhausted, even more so than Geodude was. He was panting heavily, but there was still a gleam in his eyes that showed he was immensely proud of himself. "Well done Roran, now rest up while its Sara's turn." He said with a smile and patting Roran's head, before he recalled the hard working Pokemon back into his Pokeball. "One down two to go, you ready Sara?"
Sara smiled confidently and gave him a fist pump to show him. (You bet… I am!) She told him confidently. (They won't know… what hit them!)
"That's my Sara." Jacob smiled with equal confidence, knowing that she had been pumped about battling since yesterday, though where she got this sudden burst of confidence and energy he didn't know.
As he turned to watch Sara walk onto the battlefield, the announcer continued to commentate on the match. (THE CHALLENGER HAS PULLED AHEAD OF THE GYM LEADER BY ONE POKEMON, AND NOW HE SENDS OUT A PSYCHIC TYPE POKEMON, A RALTS. WHAT WILL THE GYM LEADER CHOOSE TO COUNTER THIS NEW MATCH TYPE, AND WHAT IS THE CHALLENGER'S PLAN?)
Tara smiled as she pulled out a new Pokeball, twirled it for effect before she declared in a loud voice. "Nosepass you are up!"
In a flash of light, another rock Pokemon that stood just over three feet, had a reddish 'nose' and two closed eyes in shadow, two arms that resembled compass needles.
It silently waited for Sara to reach her battle position before the match could begin. Meanwhile Jacob and Sara communicated telepathically about their strategy.
(Jacob you know… I can only… use my confusion… a total of… three times now.) She told him. (So what are… we going to… do?)
(Do you know how to use that Double Team that Roran showed you?) He thought to her. (Besides we can use that Teleport move you learned how to do today, I know it's still unpracticed in battle but it might give us the advantage.)
(I can… but I don't… know if they'll… be effective… against this Nosepass!) She said. (We can only… use one move… at a time… I can't teleport… and use that… move at the… same time!)
(Just do your best Sara… do your best, that's all I'm asking of you.)He thought.
Once Sara was in position the announcer declared, (THE CHALLENGER'S RALTS VS GYM LEADER TARA'S NOSEPASS, BEGIN THE MATCH!)
"Nosepass take down that Ralts with Rock Throw!" Tara shouted.
"Nose… pass…" Nosepass said before its body had a blue aura around it, and suddenly rocks in front of him flew at Sara, much faster than the Geodude could manage.
(Teleport now!) Jacob thought.
Sara nodded and instantly vanished, avoiding the incoming barrage of rocks by just seconds. She reappeared to the left of the Nosepass, and it only turned to face her before it sent yet more rocks at her.
Sara teleported again at Jacob's command, and this time appeared to the right of the Nosepass. Their plan was the same as his plan with Roran was; wear down the rock type by constantly moving, than strike as he's confused.
Just as Nosepass turned to face her again, she gathered all of her psychic energy, took careful aim, and at his command, unleashed her first confusion against it. The attack connected and Nosepass temporarily stopped moving as his eyes swirled for a few seconds.
(NOSEPASS TAKES A CONFUSION ATTACK DIRECTLY; IT SEEMS OUR GYM LEADER HAS UNDERESTIMATED THE CHALLENGER! CAN SHE TURN THE TIDE AGAINST THIS PSYCHIC MATCHUP? OR HAS OUR CHALLENGER TAKEN A LEAD THAT SHE CANT OVERCOME?)
Tara looked unconcerned as to the plight of her Pokemon's problem. Then she declared in a loud voice, "Nosepass, use Thunder Wave!"
"Nose… pass…" It whispered before its nose glowed brightly, sending out an electrical wave toward Sara.
Before Sara could teleport away she was hit by the attack, racking her body with electricity and making her cringe in tiny bursts of pain. Jacob could feel it thanks to her psychic connection, and it was making him feel the paralyzing effects as well.
(OH THAT WAS A TREAT POKEMON FANS, RUSTBORO'S GYM LEADER GAVE THE CHALLENGER A WAKEUP CALL THAT I DOUBT HE WILL EVER FORGET. AFTER SUCH A WELL EXECUTED SERIES OF ATTACKS, THE GYM LEADER COUNTERS WITH THUNDER WAVE; WITH HIS PSYCHIC POKEMON PARALYZED CAN HE TURN THE TIDE?)
(Sara, are you okay?) He asked her.
(Barely… it feels… like my whole… body is hurting!) She told him as Nosepass prepared to attack again.
"Nosepass use Rock Throw again!" Tara ordered.
"Nose…pass…" It declared, glowing once again and sending more rocks at Sara.
"Sara teleport!" Jacob shouted.
Sara nodded, and at the very last second, managed to teleport to safety before the rocks could hit her. She reappeared behind the Nosepass, and it slowly turned to attack her again.
He wanted her to use Double Team, like they had originally planned, but in her current condition she couldn't manage the concentration necessary to teleport and create after-images of herself to fool the Nosepass. They would have to rely on her ability to Teleport around and avoid damage.
(Don't shout your… instructions… it makes it… harder for me… to concentrate!) She told him.
He nodded and thought his next instruction to her. (Sara use confusion.)
Sara concentrated as hard as she could, gathering her psychic powers before unleashing it again at the Nosepass, just as it was about to resume its attack against her. It took a step back, shaking its head in pain as it was unable to clutch its head with its small arms. Jacob saw that the confusions were taking effect against it; it was starting to be confused and would eventually start hurting itself. All she had to do was hit it with one more Confusion attack, and it would most likely collapse from the mental attacks against it.
"Nosepass, focus, use Rock Throw quickly!" Tara called out desperately.
"Nooooose… paaass…" It moaned before it glowed again, sending rocks from far away in front of it flying toward it.
The rocks slammed into it, knocking it back yet again. (AMAZING, THE CHALLENGER'S PSYCHIC ASSAULTS HAVE CONFUSED TARA'S NOSEPASS TO THE POINT WHERE ITS ATTACKING ITSELF!)
(Sara, finish it off with one last Confusion!) He thought confidently.
Sara nodded in understanding, and with her full powers focused on the confused Nosepass, she brought it down with one final blast of psychic energy. The Nosepass stood tall for a brief second, before it fell over backward.
(NOSEPASS IS UNABLE TO BATTLE; THE ROUND GOES TO THE CHALLENGER AND RALTS!)
Sara gave a happy little jump before she took a second to teleport back over to Jacob, who quickly swept her up in his arms, giving her a happy hug. "Well done Sara, you took out that Nosepass and he was three times your size!" Jacob said in congratulations.
(Thank you… Jacob!) She said happily, before she suddenly started glowing the same way Kora and Harold did.
"Sara?" Jacob said as his eyes were temporarily blinded by the light.
As his eyes couldn't see through the light, he only had his hands to tell him what was happening. He felt Sara becoming a little heavier in his grip, he felt her short arms growing slightly longer, and as the glowing started to dim he saw that she seemed to have doubled in size.
When he could see her clearly again, he saw that she had indeed doubled in size. She had evolved.
Now Sara had a mostly green body with a white tutu-like skirt, a white face where her amber eyes were prominently seen with her green hair extending and ending in two hairpins. Her single red horn that she had as a Ralts, now doubled in number, had shifted to both sides of the top of her head. Her hands now ended in two fingers, and her legs ended in pointed feet that resembled dancer's shoes.
"Sara, you evolved, but how did that happen?" Jacob asked her.
"Kirlia?" She replied in her native dialect before translating into telepathy. (I don't know… I just felt the same feeling Harold talked about, then the next moment I'm feeling like I have all this pent up energy!)
"Hey you're not pausing on every other word anymore!" Jacob exclaimed.
(I think it's my evolution, I feel so much stronger… and my mind is so much more focused and… everything! I feel like I could blast off a dozen Confusions without a problem!)
"I'd like to congratulate you on your Pokemon's evolution, and now I would like us to continue with our match." She said with a smile as she held a third Pokeball in her hand. "I can see you and your Pokemon have a strong resolve that rivals Rock's hardness, it would give me great pleasure to present you with the badge, but first you must pass my final test, as well as my final Pokemon."
Jacob nodded and after placing Sara back on the ground, he grabbed Harold's ball in preparation. "Thanks, though I still don't know how she evolved so fast, she's never been in many battles, in fact this is probably only her second!"
There was a twinkle in Tara's eye as she gripped her Pokeball in preparation to throw it. "I'll explain how after this battle, but for now, let's show them what we're made of Onix!" She declared, throwing the Pokeball.
In a flash, the largest Pokemon Jacob had ever seen appeared in front of him, it was even larger than Fera's Gyarados. Its body was about twenty eight feet long, and towered high above Jacob and Sara. Its body was comprised of several boulders, each of varying size, all interlocked with each other.
"Grwooooooooar!" It roared.
Jacob nodded, knowing that this was the most powerful Pokemon she had, else she wouldn't have saved it for last. Then he took a breath and tossed Harold's ball. "Harold, you are up!" He declared.
In a flash Harold appeared, and looked up at the towering Pokemon high above him.
(IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS FINAL POKEMON OF THE GYM LEADER, CAN TARA'S ONIX BREAK THE LOSING STREAK OF HER TEAM, OR WILL THE CHALLENGER'S GROVYLE EMERGE VICTORIOUS?)
"Well Jacob I wish you good luck, because my Onix here will not be going down without a fight!" Tara said. "Onix, show this up and coming trainer how the League plays out from here on out, give it a taste of your Rock Throw!"
"Grwooooar!" The Onix shouted as its tail swept forward, grabbing several rocks each the size of Harold before lobbing them at him.
"Harold, dodge it and counter with Absorb!" Jacob called out.
Harold obeyed instantly and got out of the way just in time to avoid the rocks that flew at where he had been mere moments ago. This Onix was indeed powerful, and its sheer size meant that with one tail swing it could send more projectile rocks than either Geodude or Nosepass could. However because of Harold's evolved form he was able to outmaneuver the Onix's massive size advantage and close the distance between him and it.
"Onix give that Grovyle a taste of your Rock Tomb!" Tara shouted.
"Grwoooooar!" It yelled, before taking another sweep of its tail and gathering up a large number of rocks, before it slammed them down atop of Harold.
However his speed was too much for the giant rock snake, Harold managed to dodge the attack and landed on top of Onix's back thanks to a powerful leap from his muscular legs. Then his tail glowed slightly as he held on tightly. The Onix slumped slightly as Harold absorbed energy from the Rock type, and because of its type weakness the Rock Type's slight slump became even worse as the seconds grew.
"Harold, keep using Absorb for as long as you can!" Jacob told his starter, knowing that the grass move was the strongest he had against this mighty foe, and knowing that a single Absorb would not win the match.
Harold nodded and used the claws on his hand and his feet to dig into the giant rock Pokemon so he could not be dislodged easily.
"Onix counter attack with Rage!" Tara shouted. "Keep using Rage and knock it off however many times you must!"
"GrwOOOOOOOOOAR!" Onix shouted as it glared determinedly, before it slammed itself onto the ground with so much force that the entire ground beneath Jacob shook. "GRWOAR, GRWOAR, GRWOAAAAAAR!"
It kept shouting, over and over, slamming itself with Harold still wrapped on him again and again onto the ground, trying to hit the gecko Pokemon between itself and the ground. The attack the Onix was only growing stronger as the damage from Absorb grew with each passing second. After the sixth slam a dust cloud had risen up and blocked the view of the field, but he could still see the Onix writhing and slamming itself onto the ground, trying to smash his starter.
(LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I CAN'T SEE WHAT'S GOING ON FROM I CAN SEE, ALL I CAN SEE IS THE FIELD COVERED IN A DUST CLOUD AS TARA'S ONIX CONTINUES TO USE ITS RAGE ATTACK! THE DAMAGE IT MUST BE TAKING EACH SECOND FROM THE CHALLENGER'S GROVYLE MUST BE SO MUCH BECAUSE THAT ATTACK'S GETTING STRONGER AND STRONGER WITH EACH PASSING SECOND! THIS MATCH CAN END LITTERALLY IN A SECOND AND GO EITHER WAY!)
It kept going for a few minutes, with Jacob hoping feverishly that Harold was alright. He knew that Absorb, as its name implied, absorbed energy from the user's target, but with Rage's ability to increase its damage output based on how much damage the user was receiving, there was no way the most basic of his Grass type's moves could keep up with that output. If one of those attacks connected with Jacob's Harold, the starter stood no chance of holding up.
Finally Onix gave one last attack, before the stadium became eerily silent, the dust cloud still hanging over the arena. As it began to settle and dissipate, Jacob saw that Tara's Onix had collapsed to the ground, with a large crater-like hole where it had continued to smack into the ground to try and hit Harold. Speaking of the starter, Jacob saw that Harold was still indeed holding onto the rock snake, shaking furiously with his eyes were closed and breathing heavily. He had a few bruises, a lot of dirt stuck to his green skin, and his leaves were all bent and sticking at odd angles, but he was still very conscious, unlike the Onix who had swirly eyes.
(ONIX IS UNABLE TO BATTLE!) The announcer shouted in amazement. (THE WINNER IS JACOB BERYL OF LITTLEROOT TOWN!)
"Yaaaaaaaaa!" Jacob shouted excitedly as he and Sara ran over to Harold and, with careful hands, pried the starter off of the Onix and into a big group hug. "You did great Harold! That was amazing how you held on!"
"Groo…vyle!" Harold said nervously, but proudly as he slowly calmed down from the adrenaline rush of surviving an Onix's Rage rampage.
(He says, that was… so intense!) Sara translated happily.
While Harold and Jacob celebrated with Sara, Roran somehow let himself out of his Pokeball and joined in the group hug. In the background Tara recalled her Onix and allowed Jacob and his team to enjoy their moment of triumph, seeing that it was an important moment for them. When the excitement and companionship of the trainer and his Pokemon died down, she approached them with a smile.
"Congratulations Jacob Beryl, you've proven that your will and determination is strong enough to survive and overcome the trials of the future." She said, clapping her hands together in applause. "You see, my Gym, as well as my predecessors before me, have always used Rock Types here because they represent the hardiness a trainer needs to be to endure the long journey all trainer that walk through those doors must have! While I don't like losing I have no qualms when I do. You have a hard journey ahead of you, it's something I must make sure you and every other trainer can handle. Now here you go Jacob, the first of many badges I hope, I present to you the Stone Badge!"
Tara handed him a small badge, which looked like a small rock between two arrows. He accepted it and showed it to his team. "Thank you very much Tara, but before we leave can you explain how Sara was able to evolve so fast, you said you knew?"
"Yes, you see Jacob; Ralts are Pokemon that are known for connecting with others via their feelings." She said with a smile. "Normally it takes an exceptionally long time of battle experience and bonding with a trainer, for example, before it can evolve. However I'm betting you keep your Ralts out and bring it with you wherever you go all the time, am I right?"
"Yea." Jacob said as Sara nodded to confirm.
"Well there is another way for a Pokemon to gain battle experience, and that is observing a battle and learning from it. In other words, every time you've battled a Pokemon, whether it's just for practice or if it was more serious, each and every time your Ralts observed a battle between your team and another's, she gained experience. I'm also guessing that you being proud of her after a difficult fight, probably just boosted her feelings and emotions enough to help her evolve."
"Wow, that's amazing." Jacob said as he looked down at Sara. "But still, each of you did amazing in your own battles. I'm proud of each of you!"
"Taillow!" Roran chirped happily.
"Grovyle!" Harold said, nodding with a grin.
"Kirlia!" Sara said with a joyous laugh, twirling around on one foot and going into a dance in front of them.
While Sara twirled and danced, Jacob and the other two only stared in confusion at her burst of enthusiasm. "Oh yea, Kirlia's are known to dance and spin with joy when exposed to their trainer's feelings. If you feel happy or compliment her for doing well, she'll express her feelings like this." Tara said with a small giggle.
As if to confirm this, Sara spoke to them all through her telepathy. (Jacob complimented me, I feel so happy!) Sara declared, still dancing in front of them with joy.
They all laughed as Jacob recalled his team, with exception to Sara, whom he just picked up as she finally stopped dancing, blushing with embarrassment because of her open display of joy. As he left the arena he saw Karen getting ready for her match. She congratulates him after he tells her the news, and says she'll join him later at the Pokemon Center after her match.
(Many Hours Later, close to Eleven PM)
Jacob pulled Arky's book out of his pack, after Sara had fallen asleep on his chest in the Pokemon Center's bedroom he had been provided with. He thought about everything that happened that day, and decided to write everything down before going to sleep.
*Jacob To Arky*
*Arky, today I won my very first Gym Badge, the Stone Badge! It was so intense Arky, I really wish you could have seen it live, telling you through this book does not do the match justice. First it was Roran my Taillow against Tara's Geodude. Roran was flying this way and that, using Double Team again and again, hitting with hit and run tactics to fight the rock type. Then it was Sara's turn to battle, and while the Nosepass was difficult, she managed to use Teleport and Confusion to bring it down, and get this; she evolved right after the match! I never knew that Pokemon could gain battle experience without ever battling just by observing one. That was how Sara was able to become stronger so quickly, all of the battles she witnessed, coupled with my praising of her abilities, helped her evolve into a Kirlia! Then it was down to Harold, my starter, vs Tara's Onix. I thought I'd seen a towering Pokemon in the form of that Gyarados belonging to Fera, but that Onix was even Bigger! Harold barely held on but he managed to defeat it with his Absorb.*
*I wish Karen had won her match though, she said that she couldn't pull out the win because her Ziggles and Laura couldn't hold their own against Tara's Onix. Her Shroomish, Shrew, didn't last long either, despite their best efforts. She said she was going to have a rematch with the Gym Leader in a few days, and was planning on training each day to win the badge. I would stay but, she told me to go on ahead to the next Gym because I will have to wait anyway before I can even fight it. Something about waiting to board a ferry that travels between Dewford and Route 104, and that it takes a week before the ferry arrives at either destination. She said that I would have to wait for the ferry to arrive and that I can battle trainers near there to practice, or I could help my other Pokemon prepare for the next Gym.*
*Partially I'm glad she's not joining me for a few days, I don't think my back, or my food stores, would survive the first week without me preparing ahead of time.*
*Now speaking of Fera's Gyarados, Segan caught up with me just a few hours ago. He said that he wanted to thank me properly for helping him and Glace, as well as his Salon. I said that it wasn't necessary, but he insisted. Not that I'm complaining! He gave me and my Pokemon a Pokeblock Bundle, at least a month's supply of Pokeblock sweets for my team as thanks, as well as a small crystal.*
Jacob paused in his writing to look at the very crystal he was talking about, currently around the neck of Sara as she slept soundly on him. The shiny gem was cut expertly in the shape of a teardrop, with a beautiful chain to allow it to be worn. It glinted beautifully in the pen's golden light, reminding him of how much joy Sara had expressed when she was told it was hers.
*Segan said it was crafted for Sara, why her I don't know, but I do know what the crystal was. It was a Froslass Tear, having come from Segan's very own Glace. She had apparently cried it while we were in Snagem's hideout, just as he told her that he was happy she was alright when we found her. He told us that the whole day he had spent finding someone to carve it into a small necklace for Sara in memory of their adventure with us that day.*
*Man am I tired Arky, right now I'm in the Pokemon Center because Karen and I didn't feel like sleeping at the Rest Area again or bunking at Segan's Salon again. Tomorrow I'll begin the journey back to Petalburg woods and from there to the ferry to Dewford. Wish me luck Arky, the real part of my journey has just begun!*