=Chapter 31, The Balance Badge=
(Jacob's PoV)
"Here we are again Jacob buddy, Petalburg City!" Karen said as they strolled down the street from the Pokemon Center to the Petalburg Gym. "I wonder what kind of a Gym Leader your friend's father is."
"I don't know, I only ever knew he was a Trainer and then Gym Leader from Jessy's descriptions of him." He answered. "She never described what type he was a specialist in or what type he used, she just always said he was a better teacher than mine was."
Jacob shouldn't have been as afraid to battle Jessy's father as he was, and Sara was in agreement with this thought. They weren't the same as the day he left Littleroot, he was more experienced, and his team was well rounded and very strong this time. They had spent the last two months preparing for this battle, going over every possible strategy, tactic, anything to get them ready for this battle.
Still, the fact that he was about to face his friend's father in a battle got to him.
There was still that old argument between him and Jessy that had when they were younger and even as they both started out. Who had the better teacher, Jacob's Arky or Jessy's father?
(I think we'll prove your teacher was better today!) Sara whispered to him confidently as she rode atop his shoulder as usual.
"I hope so Sara, we've been traveling for a while now." He said to her, reaching up and scratching her green hair and making her giggle. "So hopefully I've learned a few things since the last time we've been here."
(It has been a while since we were last here.) Sara told him as they passed by the Pokemart where he purchased the extra Pokeballs out of pity for the shop owner. (Everything looks the same as we last saw it. At least I think it does.)
"Yea it pretty much looks the same since we were last here Sara." Jacob said. "The Petalburg City Gym should be around here somewhere."
"There it is!" Karen shouted as he spotted the building at long last.
The Petalburg City Gym resembled a dojo, and hasn't changed its look in all the years it's been there. Jacob heard about the old owner Norman who once held the title of Gym Leader, but retired from old age, and since then Jessy's father has taken over the gym, though he was also on the verge of retiring for good now. He knew Jessy's father often took vacations and spent time away from the gym, more often than not leaving the position to be filled by another person. What Jacob was curious about was why Jessy's father didn't just retire officially.
"So how do we do this…?" Karen asked as they walked toward the front door.
"You start by entering it and showing my father that you have the number of required badges to challenge him!" An all too familiar voice called out behind them.
They turned around and spotted Jessy Garnet sitting in a tree that stood outside of the building, smirking as she watched Jacob almost enter the building. "Hey Jessy." He said as she hopped down and grinned at him.
"So… show them to me!" She said, ignoring Karen.
Jacob had no choice but to tilt his hat so she could see all four badges pinned to it, causing Jessy to nod as though she were confirming something to herself. "Well Jacob, it's about time, but as always you are slower than a Slowpoke." She said, unraveling her bandana and revealing five badges on it. "I just earned my father's badge a couple days ago, not surprising that the children must surpass their…"
Her voice trailed off as Jacob went stiff, and through their link he felt Sara tense up slightly. Karen looked confused as her eyes shifted between the two of them before Jessy changed the subject. "Yea, as I was saying, we just have to see if you can keep up with me now!" She said, using a snobbish voice to remove the tension. "Seriously Jacob, I said I'd be waiting for you in Lavaridge Town, it took you so long to get there that I just decided to move on back here to Petalburg City!"
"Just watch Jessy, I'll win this badge with no sweat, my team is ready for this!" Jacob said.
"I hope so, you're going to need your entire team to face my dad." Jessy said. "My dad used a full team of six for his Gym Battle against me."
"What, a full team of six?" Karen asked suddenly. "But I've only got four, and Lance isn't ready for a gym battle!"
Lance, Karen's Riolu, was sitting on her shoulders similar to Sara was sitting on Jacob's shoulder, and nodded in agreement, though he did frown at Karen for saying he wasn't ready to battle.
"My dad battles with a team based on how many Pokemon each trainer has." Jessy said. "So if you have a team of four then he'll use a team of four, if you have a full team of six then its six, and so on. So the question is are you ready to take on my dad?"
Jacob only had to glance at Sara before he nodded in agreement, they were ready. "I think my team is ready."
"Well then let's go introduce you to dad!" Jessy said as she led the way into the gym.
Once they were inside they found the building very spacious, with a single room for battling and spectators to view any battles taking place on the sidelines safely. In the very center of the field was Jessy Garnet's father, Ordin Garnet, sitting in a meditative position with his hands clasped together and eyes closed in deep thought and meditation. Though Jacob knew about Ordin Garnet, this was the first time he ever met him personally. Jacob saw that he was wearing a dark brown vest with light blue jeans, and had light brown hair, similar clothes to what Jessy wore.
"Yo dad, it's Jacob and his girlfriend here to battle you!" Jessy shouted.
"I'm not his girlfriend!" Karen shouted angrily. "I'm his traveling companion!"
"That's what they all say." Jessy said with a snicker, waving off Karen's statement with a flick of her hand. "Next you'll say something like your only sticking with him because he owes you a new bike or something!"
"Not true, she only sticks with me because she can't cook to save her life!" Jacob said, his face getting slightly redder at the thought of Karen being his girlfriend.
"Yea, and now you'll tell me that you two don't share a sleeping bag?" Jessy asked as Jacob and Karen dropped their traveling packs on the floor. "I see the size of that bag Jacob, you can't tell me that you sleep in that thing all alone!"
Through their psychic link he felt Sara become just as embarrassed when Jessy mentioned the sleeping bag, though she quickly recovered and instead forced herself to suppress a snicker.
*You're not helping Sara!*
(Sorry Jacob…) She said to him, though she sounded thoroughly embarrassed.
"Jessy!" Ordin shouted, causing all three of them to go silent. "I thought I told you to keep your voice down when in this gym."
"Sorry dad…" Jessy whispered.
Ordin opened his eyes to reveal hazel colored eyes and stood up to look at Jacob and Karen with his arms crossed. "So you two seek to challenge the Petalburg City Gym?" He asked, to which they both nodded. "Very well, but before you challenge me I must demand you both reveal to me that you have the necessary four badges to face me! I won't accept any challenges made to my gym unless the challenger has the required number of badges. Not even to an old friend of my daughter from our hometown."
Jacob turned his hat to show the four badges pinned to it, and Karen revealed the inside of her jacket to show her badges. Ordin nodded in approval and closed his eyes in deep thought, smiling as he did so.
"So now it comes to this, first my daughter beats me, and now her longtime friend and rival challenges me." He said with a hint of sadness and happiness. "I must be getting too old, to see the younger generation rise to challenge mine when I ought to be watching you from the sidelines. But I am still the Petalburg Gym Leader, just as Norman had to challenge his child to a battle, so too did I have to, and now I once again challenge a friend of my daughter and his friend as well." Jacob nodded as Ordin walked toward the opposite side of the room so that their Pokemon would have ample space to battle. "So which of you will be going first?"
"I guess I should go first Karen." Jacob said to her.
"Got it, I'll just watch from the sidelines!" Karen said with her usual grin.
Jacob wasn't aware of what Pokemon Jessy's father would use, but he was sure that whatever he threw at them, his team was ready to face. So he and Sara went over their plan from the start. (First is Roran right?) She asked him as he helped her off his shoulder.
*Right, and afterwards depending on how the battle shapes we'll use either Coral or Ivan, then go from there with you or Kora. We'll save Harold for last.*
Jacob had asked Professor Nomel for Kora to return to his team for the Gym Battle, since Kenna was still not willing to battle in a Gym Battle due to her inexperience and unwillingness to battle at all. Since Kora had some battle experience and thanks to their training over the last month with her, they were ready this time compared to before.
"So how many will you be using Jacob?" Ordin asked as he reached his position and turned to face them.
"Six!" Jacob called out, taking Roran's Pokeball.
"Very well, then I will use six as well." Ordin called out, taking his starting Pokeball out as well. "Let the challenge for the Balance Badge begin between Jacob Beryl from Littleroot and Ordin Garnet of the Petalburg Gym. I choose you, Persian!"
Ordin tossed out his first Pokemon, and in a flash of red light a three foot tall, fierce cat-like Pokemon with pale-tan colored fur, red eyes and a red jewel in the center of its forehead. As it stared at Jacob, it didn't let off any sort of battle cry as other Pokemon did, instead it merely sat and licked its sharp fangs, as though it were unconcerned about what its opponent could possibly be.
It was a well raised Pokemon, well trained and well disciplined.
"Alright Roran, you're up!" Jacob said, releasing his first team member.
"Swellow!" Roran chirped as he landed and stared at their opponent.
"One would think that based on the two starters we have on the field, that I would have the advantage." Ordin shouted. "But I know your no fool, you have a reason for using your Swellow against my Persian. Well let's see what your plan is, Persian Fake Out!"
"Roran Quick attack!" Jacob shouted.
Roran took to the air and flew straight at Ordin's Persian, but the Persian was just as nimble and struck Roran with its claws. Roran flinched and failed to carry out his Quick Attack, missing his target entirely as he flew straight onward.
"Crud… that Fake Out is powerful, Roran Quick Attack once more!" Jacob shouted again.
"Swellow!" Roran shouted as he recovered from the attack and soared straight at the Persian, this time his attack connected and Persian was unable to evade it.
"Persiaaaaan!" Persian shouted as he recoiled from the attack, and tried to counter but missed the faster flyer.
"Roran, Double Team!" Jacob shouted.
"Swelloooow!" Roran replied as he started flying in a circle and creating duplicates of himself.
"Per… Per…" Persian said, trying to follow the flying Roran but unable to track the real one.
"Persian stay focused, force that Swellow into attacking by using Taunt!" Ordin called out.
"Persian…" Persian said as it turned to look up at Roran, and licked his claws lazily, as though it didn't care that Roran was even battling.
"Swell…" Roran chirped angrily, and almost immediately all of the duplicates faded as he stopped using his Double Team.
"Roran ignore that taunt, keep using Double Team!"Jacob shouted hopefully, but he knew it was no use, once Taunt was used the victim had no choice but to attack.
Sure enough Roran shook his head and refused to use Double Team, enraged at the Persian mocking him in the middle of a Gym Battle. Persian however didn't care at all, instead he resumed his battle position and obeyed Ordin's next instruction, which sent him charging toward Roran with his claws ready.
"Roran use Aerial Ace!" Jacob commanded.
"Persian, Night Slash!" Ordin ordered.
"Swellow!" Roran shouted as he quickly picked up his speed and smacked the Persian twice in rapid sucession.
Persian was knocked around a bit, but it quickly counter attacked and slashed at Roran instantly, dealing a critical blow to Roran and knocking him out of the air. Roran wobbled slightly before he managed to get back into the air, though shaking slightly and sporting a bruise and deep scratches along his chest. "Your Swellow seems to be stronger than it looks, that attack normally knocks out my opponents with one blow!" Ordin called out. "Are you ready to call it quits?"
"Not even close!" Jacob shot back. "Roran use Steel Wing!"
"Swellow!" Roran chirped as his wings started glowing slightly, and then his feathers became hardened to the point of becoming metallic, then he charged straight at Persian using both his height and momentum to target the cat Pokemon.
Persian couldn't counter attack fast enough, and received the full sting of Roran's newest attack as he sped right past and smacked him with metallic-like feathers. Persian was knocked back and tried to stand up, but could not even lift up its body before it collapsed once again. Ordin nodded in acceptance and recalled his Persian. "Well done, you've taken the first step to defeating me, but believe me this battle isn't over yet!" He shouted confidently as he prepared to release his next Pokemon. "Alright it's your turn, I choose you Linoone!"
The next Pokemon to be released was a Linoone, similar to Karen's Linoone Ziggles. Only it looked even tougher than the Persian was. "Alright Roran you did well, but take a rest for now!" Jacob said as he recalled his Swellow. "You're up now Kora!"
Out of her ball came a colorful display of colors on her wings a beautifly named Kora. "Beauuuu!" She said as she flapped over the battlefield.
"Alright then Linoone, start this off with Hone Claws!" Ordin said.
"Linoone." Linoone said, and instantly started sharpening his claws, making them sharper and focusing on his target.
"Kora use Stun Spore!" Jacob ordered.
"Beauuu…." Kora cried as she flapped her wings and sent a torrent of spores toward her opponent, but unlike her last gym battle, this time her torrent was much faster and caught Ordin's Linoone completely off guard.
"Lin… oone!" Linoone whimpered as it tried to move, but wasn't able to move properly because of the paralyzing effects of Kora's spores.
"Alright Kora, now use Attract!" Jacob said, grinning widely.
"Beau!" She said, nodding in understanding, before turning her back to flash her colorful wings and go into a special mating dance.
"Linoo…" Linoone whispered as it suddenly blushed at the show of affection.
"Linoone focus, ignore that attract and use Fury Swipes!" Ordin shouted.
"Linoone…" Linoone said, but unable to move because it was suddenly infatuated by Kora's displays and the paralyzing effects of the Stun Spores.
"Alright we've got the Linoone where we want it Kora, now use Silver Wind!" Jacob shouted.
"Beaaaau!" Kora responded as she turned around and flapped her wings rapidly, sending a cascade of silver powder toward her opponent.
Linoone felt the full sting of the Silver Wind attack, and could not stand any longer. It collapsed with a resounding thump to the floor, and Ordin nodded before he recalled the defeated Linoone into its ball. "Beaau!" Kora squealed happily as she flew in circles around Jacob.
"Nicely done Kora!" Jacob congratulated, watching as Kora landed on his shoulder and started tickling him while Sara started dancing and twirling around him.
"Don't celebrate too soon Jacob, you've only begun to challenge the Petalburg City Gym." Ordin shouted confidently. "Now let's see if you truly have what it takes when I decide to take you serious. Jessy, I choose you!"
From the third Pokeball, a two foot tall pink and blue Pokemon with triangular body parts appeared. Jacob had no clue about what this Pokemon was, so out of curiosity he opened his Pokedex and had it scan the Pokemon.
[Porygon, the Virtual Pokemon, A Pokemon that consists entirely of programming code. It is capable of moving freely in cyberspace. This Pokemon is copy-protected so it cannot be duplicated by copying.]
"Well that's an unusual Pokemon." Jacob said as he returned his Dex. "Alright Kora, return for now girl."
Kora nodded and was swiftly returned to her Pokeball, before Jacob pulled out his next team member, Ivan and released him. "Grawr!" Ivan barked as he faced off against their opponent.
(Karen's PoV)
"He named that Pokemon Jessy?" Karen whispered as they watched the battle continue.
"Yea, looks like my dad's finally putting on the pressure." Jessy said. "He normally would wait until later to use one of his two Porygons. He named this one after me when I was born, and his second is named after my mother."
"Whoa, he's got two of those?" Karen asked.
"Yup, and those two Porygon are by far his strongest, I'm surprised he's using his Jessy Porygon this early. Guess Jacob's tougher than I imagined."
"Oh yea, you have no clue about how tough he is." Karen replied back with a grin. "So tell me, getting eager to take him on are you?"
"Not yet, I'll save that battle for the Pokemon League Challenge! For now let's just see what my friend does against my dad, and if whatever this 'Arky' taught will be enough to beat what my dad has learned from being a trainer for over thirty years!"
(Jacob's PoV)
"Well you've got a fine Mightyena, but Jessy and I aren't going to lose easily." Ordin said, and his Porygon responded with a confident nod. "Alright Jessy, use Tackle attack!"
"Pory!" Porygon responded and charged forward, angling its nose forward toward Ivan.
"Ivan use Thunder Fang!" Jacob shouted, not sure what sort of tactic Jessy's father was planning to use with this strange Pokemon, but he and Ivan weren't about to let it carry out.
"Rawr!" Ivan barked as he let electricity flow into his fangs, before charging forward to bite the Porygon.
The attacks connected, and while Jessy's attack looked powerful, it was not nearly as strong as Ivan's Thunder Fang. Jessy flew backward in pain, but easily recovered its fighting stance against Ivan and Jacob. "Jessy use Conversion 2!" Ordin shouted.
"Porygon." It replied before its body started glowing, then it stopped glowing.
"Conversion 2… I know that move!" Jacob said to himself as Ivan awaited further instructions.
(Jacob, what's Conversion 2?) Sara asked him privately.
*Conversion 2, my teacher taught me during the last year before I left Littleroot. He never mentioned the Pokemon it was used by, only that when used it becomes resistant to whatever type of move was used against it. I never guessed it would have been Porygon that knew the move.*
(So that Porygon is now resistant to Ivan's Thunder Fang, and it can resist whatever move was last used on it? How are we going to beat that thing?)
*We'll just have to use other moves besides Thunder Fang, that's all!* Jacob thought back as he returned his attention to the battle. "Ivan use Take Down!"
"Rawr!" Ivan barked as he charged once more towards 'Jessy' the Porygon, recklessly pushing forward to deal as much physical damage as his charge could inflict.
"Porygon, counter with Tackle!" Ordin responded, and his Porygon counter charged.
The two attacks connected and once more 'Jessy' felt the heavier hit of their exchange, their opponent was flung backward, and shakily regained its balance, but was clearly not standing very tall. "Not bad Jacob, you adapted to that situation rather quickly." Ordin said with a smile.
"I've been training and drilling my team so they'd be prepared for almost any situation sir." Jacob responded, and Ivan nodded in agreement, their training had toughened out Ivan so much, that he wasn't nearly as shaky or injured on his legs after his Take Down. "Now Ivan, finish this with Snarl!"
"GrrrrrAWR!" Ivan roared, and despite not actually causing physical harm to Porygon, but affected it quite deeply. It backed off and closed its eyes in pain, unable to protect them from the attack, it collapsed to the ground, clearly defeated.
"No way… you beat Jessy without even a struggle?" Ordin shouted, shock and awe in his voice as he recalled his Porygon. "Clearly I'm getting old… 'We're' getting old…"
A few seconds of silence befell the room as Ordin held 'Jessy's' ball in his hand. "I've faced a lot of trainers, but I don't think I've ever faced any besides my daughter who've been able to do this well against my best. I am very impressed, may I ask where you learned such tactics and how you've learned to raise your team so well?"
"I had a great teacher, he taught me everything I know, but it was my team who deserve the credit." Jacob answered, as Ivan grinned in approval.
"I see, I'd like to meet this teacher of yours someday, he seems like he knows his stuff." Ordin said as he pulled out a new Pokeball. "But enough of that, we still have a gym battle, I choose you now, Tauros!"
Ordin released his forth Pokemon, a bull-like Pokemon that stood four feet tall, had brown fur with three tails and two very intimidating horns. It huffed and pawed the grounds with its hooves at it awaited Jacob to send out his next team member. "Alright Ivan, well done, now return for now!"
Ivan nodded and returned to his ball in a flash of light, then Jacob judged their opponent and decided that Coral would be his best bet for this mighty bull. "Coral you're up girl!" He said, and released Coral the Milotic.
"Milooo!" She cried as she landed on the floor and glanced at Jacob, before nodding in understanding.
"A Milotic, so what my daughter said was true, you have quite a pretty Pokemon at your side." Ordin said with a smile.
"Milotic." Coral said gently, using her tail to cover her face a little. "Milotic… tick Milo…"
After Sara translated what she said, Jacob replied, "She says thank you, but she says she's more than just for show."
"I hope so, otherwise Tauros won't be very happy with me if he won an easy match." Ordin said with a grin. "Tauros, Horn Attack!"
"Rawwwwr!" Tauros roared as he charged Coral, horns aimed directly at her.
"Coral counter with Water Pulse!" Jacob ordered.
"Tic!" Coral shouted as she sent a jet of pure blue water toward Tauros.
The attack connected and knocked Tauros' attack off course, confusing him slightly and making him miss Coral entirely, hurting himself in the process as it smacked into the ground by mistake. "Not bad, but Tauros isn't that weak!" Ordin replied as his Tauros stood back up and glared at Coral. "Tauros use Rage!"
"Rawwrawwr!" It roared again and charged Coral once more.
*Crud, it knows Rage as well?* Jacob thought quickly, remembering his lessons about a Tauros' rage being nigh unstoppable, as well as Tauros being known for not stopping in it's rampage until it hits something! "Coral quick, use Water Pulse once more!"
Coral responded quickly and with ferocity as she sent yet another jet of water at Tauros, but its attack did not stop, and instead angered the raging bull further. Unable to get away in time, Coral took the full hit of the Tauros' Rage attack, and was all but trampled beneath its hooves. Fortunately she avoided the worst of the attack because of her body type being serpentine, but she still wasn't unscathed as she lost quite a number of scales from her tail region being stomped.
After Ordin's Tauros charged it turned and glared at Coral as she coiled herself up, preparing for the next attack as well as sporting a new set of bruises, marring her scales. "Coral use Aqua Ring!"
Coral nodded and started releasing a thin and very fine jet of crystal clear water from her mouth and over her body, starting with her tail and ending with her head. Instantly her scales sparkled and gleamed like stars on a dark night. As Jacob watched, he saw the healing effects of her Aqua Ring already taking effect, restoring and repairing the damaged scales and healing the bruises she sported.
"Tauros don't let that Milotic heal herself up, use Rage once more!" Ordin commanded.
"Rawwwr!" It roared in acknowledgement, before charging horn first at Coral.
"Coral Water Pulse now, aim for the eyes!" Jacob shouted.
Coral nodded and released a second Water Pulse at Tauros, and again hit her mark, but like before Tauros' attack merely increased because of it. This time however he was thrown off course in his attack, and instead missed her, almost smacking into a support pillar before he turned around and tried to aim at her once again.
"He's confused Coral, now's our chance! Use Dragon Tail to finish him off!"
Coral nodded and raised her tail as it started glowing. "Milooooo… Tiiiiiiiiic!" She shouted as she swung it forward, smacking Tauros full on with the brunt of her attack.
Tauros received the attack, but his momentum kept going and he smacked into Coral heavily. The two were sent flying off to the side and a large part of the floor was destroyed where they landed, but fortunately the room was designed to allow such destruction, as the floor revealed a layer of sand to cushion the falls. Unfortunately neither Pokemon escaped cleanly, as Tauros sported a huge bruise on his forehead where Coral smacked him with her Tail. Coral as well sported several new bruises, and she looked to be in pain as she wearily lifted her head up.
"Coral!" Jacob shouted, and he and Sara ran forward to help the wounded Milotic out of the pit along with Ordin. "Coral are you alright?"
Coral wearily smiled as she nodded and coiled her tail around him, nuzzling his cheek to reassure him that she was alright.
"Tauros, you alright there buddy?" Ordin asked as he helped his bull out of the hole.
"Grawr…." Tauros replied wearily, shaking as he stood on his legs.
"Alright you've had your fun for today, getting harder to stay on your feet I guess." Ordin said as he scratched his Tauros' head. "Getting harder every day to keep up that strength like we used to."
Tauros nodded sadly as he returned to his ball as was Coral. "So that means its four to zero in favor of the Challenger." Ordin said, returning to his previous position with Jacob. "I've only got two left to face you with, so now it's your turn Delcatty, I choose you!"
He released his fifth Pokemon, a three foot tall cat like Pokemon with Tan colored body and purple tufts, tail, and collar. It at Jacob before sitting down and calmly started licking its paw, as though unconcerned with the battle.
"What the…" Jacob whispered as he once more pulled out his Pokedex, not knowing what a Delcatty was.
[Delcatty, the Prim Pokemon,Delcatty prefers to live an unfettered existence in which it can do as it pleases at its own pace. Because this Pokémon eats and sleeps whenever it decides, its daily routines are completely random.]
"Why would you use a Pokemon that doesn't want to fight in the first place?" Jacob asked as he watched his opponent continue to lick its fur clean.
"You'll find out soon enough why I chose my little lady here." Ordin said with a smile.
Jacob nodded and looked down to Sara and subconsciously asked if she was ready. (You bet I am!) She replied with a smile.
"Alright, Sara is next!" Jacob said as Sara walked out onto the field.
"Alright then let's get this started, Delcatty Fake Out!" Ordin shouted, and instantly his Delcatty ran forward, fierce and determined with paws ready.
*Sara!* Jacob thought, but Sara couldn't react fast enough as small claws appeared on Delcatty's paws, and scratching Sara's arms, causing her to flinch.
Instantly Delcatty returned to her former position and started cleaning her paws again.
*Sara, use Calm Mind!* Jacob thought, and Sara nodded and began focusing her powers to make them stronger.
"Delcatty, use Assist!" Ordin commanded.
Delcatty's eyes glowed as one of the Pokeballs on Ordin's belt glowed as well. "Delcatty!" She cried as she started sharpening her claws and making them stronger.
"Wait, it used Assist?" Jacob said, thoroughly confused at what was going on. "But that's Hone Claws, why is Delcatty using Hone Claws when he said to use Assist?"
(What does Assist do?) Sara asked, also just as confused.
"Now Delcatty, use Assist once more!" Ordin shouted.
Delcatty nodded and once again her eyes glowed, and another one of Ordin's Pokeballs glowed. "Delcaaaaaty!" Delcatty shouted as she started running forward toward Sara, claws extended.
*Uh… Sara use… Confusion!* Jacob said, but his reaction was too slow as Sara, unable to initiate her attack or gather herself for the attack, suffered the full effect of Delcatty's Furry Swipes.
Swipe after swipe, Sara could do nothing but try to endure the attack as she covered her face to avoid the worst of it.
"Furry Swipes… how is it using another move? Unless…" Jacob said as the attack ended and Delcatty returned to her previous position, smiling as she cleaned her claws again.
(Unless Assist does what it suggests and uses one of her ally's moves.) Sara completed for him, thinking the exact same thing as she recovered.
*So she's using the moves that Ordin's team knows as if she knew them herself!* Jacob thought. *In that case we need to attack before she uses any stronger moves. Sara use Confusion!*
Sara nodded and focused her energy, and finally unleashed her first attack, hitting Delcatty directly, causing her to shake her head with a pained look on her face. "Delcatty focus girl, use Assist once again!"
Delcatty nodded and her eyes glowed, causing one of Ordin's Pokeballs to glow as well. "Delcaaaaaaaaaat!" She shouted, opening her mouth as a ball of light started growing in front of it.
*It's a Hyper Beam!* Jacob shouted to Sara. *Get out of the way!*
He knew what it was after seeing his teacher use it so many times, more often to remove the black messes that were his cooking attempts during their many lessons. He learned from his teacher's many uses of it, that Hyper Beam was an extremely powerful attack in which the user gathers a lot of its energy and condenses it into a single powerful beam. Its weakness however is that it drains the Pokemon greatly, and forces the Pokemon to rest and recuperate before it can do anything else, but the beam will inflict massive damage to whatever it hits, including people who aren't fast enough to dodge it.
Heeding his own advice, Jacob jumped out of the way along with Sara just in time. "Tyyyyyyy!"
Delcatty released the Hyper Beam and it flew straight at where Sara was, narrowly missing the Kirlia as she dodged it at the last second. As the attack continued it was cutoff just before it hit the wall. As Delcatty stopped her attack she began breathing very heavily, looking very unhappy about having to use the attack and missing with it.
*She's vulnerable, Sara hit her with a Confusion fast!*
Sara nodded and gathered all of her psychic powers, using the time she had while Delcatty could do nothing because of how taxing a Hyper Beam was and how much energy it took to create the beam. Delcatty was clearly a clever and difficult Pokemon to face, what with that ability to use Assist and its ally's moves. But Jacob figured that because it wasn't interested in actively battling, Ordin's Delcatty didn't have the stamina or the energy to release or sustain a Hyper Beam of any magnitude for long or with much strength.
Once Sara gathered her full strength, she concentrated on the Delcatty, and unleashed her attack on it. Hit with the full force of her attack, Ordin's Delcatty could not stand any more under the strain her mind was feeling, and collapsed to the ground defeated. Ordin nodded with a smile as he recalled his exhausted Delcatty, knowing she did her best.
"Way to go Sara!" Jacob shouted happily.
"Kirlia!" Sara shouted as well, twirling around and performing pirouettes as a result of Jacob's enthusiasm.
Jacob ran over and picked up Sara as she jumped excitedly into his arm, giving him a big hug around his neck because of her small size. (We're one win away!) She said to him in his mind, and he could feel her excitement and enthusiasm as she claimed victory over Ordin and his Delcatty.
Ordin let them have their moment of celebration before they returned to normal, knowing that they still had one more opponent before they could actually celebrate. "So now it comes down to this, my last versus your best, tell me Jacob, do you have what it takes to triumph against me and my strongest team member?" He asked as he held up a sixth Pokeball, this one gleaming white on both upper and lower sections instead of the usual red and white.
Jacob put Sara down on the ground to let her rest, and nodded as he held up Harold's ball. "I think we're ready." He replied.
"In that case let the final battle begin, I choose you, Suzan!" Ordin shouted as he released his final team member.
In a flash of light another two foot tall bird-like Pokemon appeared with a mostly pink body with blue feet, tail and beak. It looked similar to Ordin's Porygon that he named 'Jessy', but this one had a smoother body and much rounder features instead of the sharp edges his 'Jessy' Porygon had. "Porygon." It said as it floated above the floor, waiting for Jacob to release his last team member.
(Another Porygon?) Sara asked Jacob, thoroughly confused. (But this one looks different.)
*Let's see what the dex has to say about it.* He said to her while pulling out his Pokedex again.
[Porygon 2, the Virtual Pokemon, Porygon2 was created by humans using the power of science. The man-made Pokémon has been endowed with artificial intelligence that enables it to learn new gestures and emotions on its own.]
"Another Porygon, and this one is an upgraded version of the other one?" Jacob asked as he returned his dex to his pocket.
"That's right, Suzan's been with me the longest and even helped me to meet my wife. That's why I named it Suzan, in honor of what it's done for me!" Ordin said with a smile, to which the Porygon responded with a nod of happiness. "Suzan's helped me out in the past, and Suzan will always be my last choice in any battle. So show us what you've got Jacob, because Suzan here will not be easy to defeat!"
"Alright then, Harold you're up!" Jacob shouted as he released his final Pokemon, Harold his starter.
"Grovyle!" Harold shouted as he appeared from his ball, not needing to look at Jacob as he already knew that if he was out, he was the last one to battle.
"So it's come down to this, Suzan versus Harold, let's begin, Suzan start off with Tri Attack!" Ordin ordered.
"Porygon!" Suzan said as it charged up an attack in front of its beak, fiercely determined as it released three simultaneous attacks, each representing a different type element of Fire Ice and Lightning.
"Harold watch out!" Jacob yelled.
"Grovyle!" Harold responded as he jumped over the beams, barely avoiding them as his tail brushed with the attack.
"Good, now counter attack with Leaf Blade!"
"Gro!" Harold replied as he charged forward, preparing to swipe at their opponent with the leaves on his arms.
"Suzan take the hit, then use Conversion 2!" Ordin ordered.
"Porygon!" Suzan replied as it stood its ground, waiting for Harold to deliver the blow.
Harold delivered his attack without fail, and sent Suzan falling back with a large scratch on its body, but its body glowed brightly and she looked determined once again, still ready for battle. Knowing what Conversion 2 did, Jacob had to switch tactics, and this gave him an idea.
"Harold use Fury Cutter!"
Harold nodded and leaped high above Suzan, claws and leaf blades ready. Suzan didn't have a chance to counter or dodge as Harold landed and started swiping away furiously.
Fury Cutter was a powerful bug type attack that Harold learned from a Ninjask Trainer near Petalburg Woods. The attack doubled in power each time it was used, and with Harold's speed the damage was starting to gain strength.
"Suzan, get out of there quick and use Recover!" Ordin shouted.
"Pooory…goon!" Suzan shouted as she forced herself away from Harold's furious assault, and got distance before its body glowed again. After a second the glowing stopped and all of the damage Harold did was gone.
"Well done, now use Conversion 2 Again!"
"Porygon…" Suzan replied, its body glowing again as it changed its type to resist Harold's Fury Cutter attack.
"Harold use Leaf Blade, quick!"Jacob said.
"Grovyle!" Harold responded, jumping forward and quickly giving Suzan a powerful swipe of his leaf blades.
Unfortunately the attack had little effect, as Suzan didn't seem at all phased by the attack. Its body seemed to have become a type resistant to Bug and Grass type attacks. "Well done Suzan, now use Hyper Beam!"
Suzan nodded and looked at Harold and focused on him while another ball of energy started appearing in front of its beak. "Poooooooory…" It said as it continued to gather energy.
"Harold!"Jacob said, trying to tell him to flee, but it was too late as Suzan released the attack much more quickly than the Delcatty did.
"Goooooooooon!" Suzan shouted, releasing the Hyper Beam.
(Harold's PoV)
Harold saw the attack, it was powerful no doubt about that, and this Porygon 2 was powerful as well. But he was not about to lose to a single attack no matter how strong. He didn't need Jacob his bonded trainer to warn him of the attack, he sensed it instantly. Before the beam had even been launched, he sensed it was coming, and the instant it was released he jumped to the side and avoided it entirely.
After he dodged it the Porygon 2 named 'Suzan' stopped the attack and glared at him as it lowered itself to the ground. Unable to attack because it had to recover its strength from using such an intense move.
"Alright Harold move in with Quick Attack while it's tired!" Jacob said.
Harold nodded and went into his fastest move, moving at a speed greater than the Porygon could achieve. He braced himself and smacked head first into his opponent, and disengaged before it could have a chance to counter attack.
"Alright Harold one more Quick Attack before they get back up!"
Harold nodded again and repeated his last move, moving rapidly to strike at the Porygon 2 before it could finish resting itself from the Hyper Beam. He charged head first and smacked 'Suzan' again, and he saw his strikes were starting to wear it down after he retreated again.
Slowly it levitated back into the air and stared angrily at him. "Are you alright Suzan?" Ordin their opposing Trainer asked the Porygon.
"Yes master, I am still at an optimal fighting condition!" It responded, but of course humans couldn't understand Pokespeech, heck even Harold barely understood what this Porygon was saying. However she nodded and looked back at him with fiercely determined eyes to get the message across.
"Alright girl, use Recover!" He ordered, and once more their opponent's body glowed to erase all of the damage they did.
Harold growled in frustration, all the damage that he just did was now gone, as if it never happened. They were back to square one.
*How are we going to win this…*He thought to himself as he awaited instructions from Jacob.
(Jacob's PoV)
*Not good, if that Porygon 2 keeps using it's Recover every time we weaken it, we'll never win this battle.* Jacob thought as their opponent finished recovering. *We can't keep using Fury Cutter or Leaf Blade because of that Conversion 2, and if we do enough damage Ordin has Suzan use it's Recover. If we keep this up Harold will just tire himself out, even with Mega Drain he doesn't have the same endurance this Porgon has.*
(If we attack, we just waste our time and Harold's energy and stamina, if we don't attack we can't win. This isn't good…) Sara whispered to him nervously. (How are we going to win if we can't defeat this Porygon?)
*We could keep dodging and using Fury Cutter, but that will take forever with that Conversion 2 still in effect. We need to go on the attack or else we'll never win!*
That was when it hit him, they had to go on the attack just like that girl told him. (You cannot win on defense alone, and to win you must attack!)
(What's your plan Jacob?) Sara asked as she read his thoughts, knowing what he was thinking about.
"Harold, get ready! We need to go on the Attack!" He shouted, causing Harold to look back and nod in understanding.
As Harold turned back to face their opponent he closed his eyes again, and Jacob knew he was focusing his energy, both of their energy that they shared through their bond, preparing to deal the critical blow that they were taught to do for such a situation. Suzan the Porygon 2 didn't have the speed but it sure had the defenses to outlast them, now was as good a time to deal that critical blow needed to win.
"I have no idea what you and your Grovyle are planning Jacob, but Suzan and I aren't interested in standing around to find out!" Ordin shouted. "Suzan, Hyper Beam!"
"Pooooory… Goooooooooooon" Suzan shouted as she charged up and released a second Hyper Beam.
Harold dodged the attack once more, using his senses to avoid the attack entirely.
"Harold use Quick Attack!" Jacob shouted.
Harold nodded and ran forward, and hit their opponent hard, sending Suzan flying backward and landing heavily on the ground. Yet still it looked capable of fighting as it glared angrily at Harold, unable to move because of the Hyper Beam's effect on it, but unwilling to surrender.
"Harold finish it off pal, one more time Quick Attack!"
"Grooovyleeee!" Harold shouted as he charged one final time at Suzan, and this time he hit it so hard that Suzan was flung all the way to the back wall, only to fall and land heavily on the floor.
"Poory…goon…" Suzan moaned as it glared angrily at Harold, struggling to get back up and shakily levitate toward the battlefield. "Porygon… Pory… gon…"
*Incredible, even after that massive hit it still won't give up?* Jacob thought to himself as they all watched Suzan return to its previous fighting position, battered and bruised but still fiercely determined to fight. *How can it keep fighting even after all of that?*
(It must have a powerful bond with Ordin to be able to endure that kind of damage.) Sara whispered to Jacob in an awed voice. (I can feel it's absolutely exhausted, it barely has the strength to levitate and yet I can feel it's determination to keep fighting for Ordin. It doesn't want to lose in front of him and it's using all of its energy to stay in the fight. Jacob, Suzan doesn't look like she will surrender even if we did enough damage to knock her out, she looks prepared to fight to the bitter end!)
It was indeed how it looked, Suzan's 'legs' were shaking like a jackhammer, she levitated barely a few inches above the ground, her smooth skin had bruises and patches of dirt or dust on it, and her left eye was twitching with pain every time she blinked. Yet still she floated there, prepared to battle Harold again. Harold bent low in preparation to attack or counter attack, and it was clear that Suzan didn't stand a chance against Harold now. If it tried using Recover Harold would use Quick Attack before it could take effect, if it went on the attack Harold would dodge and counter attack, either way the fight wouldn't end well in Suzan's favor.
"Suzan!" Ordin shouted, causing the Porygon 2 to look back at the Gym Leader. "That's enough my friend, you've done enough. It's clear who the winner is."
"Porygon…" Suzan said, nodding in understanding and backing away in shame.
"No don't be so ashamed." Ordin said with a smile, patting his Porygon's head in understanding. "You and I are just getting older, we aren't in our prime anymore, and it's understandable that we'd lose. Besides Jacob clearly trained his team well, and their bond is strong, otherwise they wouldn't have made it this far against us. I think it's safe to say that there's no shame in this defeat."
"Porygon…" Suzan replied, though still looking slightly depressed.
"Why is your Porygon so depressed?" Jacob asked Ordin.
"You have to understand Jacob my father's Porygon 2 and Porygon are both old friends of his." Jessy said as she, Karen and Lance walked over to them. "Suzan and Jessy have both been with my dad since his early days, in fact they were his starters. He found Suzan first and then Jessy afterwards, and they've never left his side ever since, so they both feel like they have to win every fight. When Suzan doesn't win is when she gets depressed because she feels like she failed dad."
"Indeed, but even Suzan knows when defeat is clear." Ordin said as he comforted his brave and fierce companion. "Jacob I can't express how happy I am that you and my daughter have beaten me. While I don't like to lose, as a Gym Leader I must be prepared to lose. Your team has a great bond with you, especially Harold your Grovyle, nothing but the bond between Trainer and Pokemon could have beaten me here. Therefore as proof of your victory, I award you the Balance Badge!"
Ordin reached into his pocket and handed Jacob the Balance Badge, which looked like two circles connected to each other with the appearance of counter balancing each other. "Thank you Sir." Jacob replied with a short bow, mirrored by Sara and Harold.
Then the sound of Pokeballs opening sounded, and Jacob saw that all of his team, including Kenna were standing around him. "We did it team, we won our fifth badge!" Jacob yelled happily, and all at once they cheered in joy at their achievement.
=Later That Day=
*Jacob to Arky*
*After we celebrated I recalled my team to allow Karen a chance to battle for her badge, and Ordin left to recover his team so that he could meet her challenge. We watched her win her badge but it was a very close victory, nevertheless it was a victory. After that we celebrated with Jessy and her father, and he treated us all to a sweet feast. Then we stayed at a hotel to let our team's rest and enjoy their victory.*
*I know our next stop should be Fortree City, but Karen, Jessy and I decided to visit Littleroot before heading on. I miss home badly, it's been almost a year since I left and I want to visit home again. Even if I don't really have a home… but enough of that, we'll be there tomorrow, Ordin said he'd take us there in his truck so we can cut the journey short.*
*Would you like it if I visited you again? Hope so, I know you prefer your privacy but I'd really like to introduce my team to you if nothing else!*
*In any case, see you then, your student and good friend, Jacob*
=Unknown Location=
(Viridian's PoV)
"So that is what we're traveling in?" He asked coldly as he eyed the vehicle Masquerade had designed and built over the past two months. "Why did you choose this particular design?"
"What, not a fan of the color blue?" He asked sarcastically. "I figured since the only Pokemon capable of reaching that island are the natives, maybe if we designed it after the natives, we'd have a better chance of reaching it."
"If you insist so be it." Viridian said.
"In any case, the design matters not if we have no idea where to go, so without that this will all be a waste." Masquerade said as he left the hanger, leading the way to the meeting room. "Personally I would have spent our time and money tracking down another legendary, like maybe one of the Super Ancient Pokemon that Hoenn is known to have. If we could find the resting places maybe we'd have a better chance!"
"Are you insane, going after one of those would have catastrophic outcomes, we can't control them without their special Orbs, and we have no idea where those are. After Mt. Pyre's chimney collapsed there haven't been any visitors there, and the Orbs it is said that it enshrined and housed were taken away by two different trainers."
"Picky picky, really now Viridian, after failing to capture not one but two Legendary Pokemon, we shouldn't really concern ourselves with what we find as long as we find it. Even I know that!" He said with a sadistic laugh.
Viridian gritted his teeth as he entered the meeting room and sat down, waiting for his boss to call on the screen. "Remind me again why we're here?"
"The boss said to be here at this time, I assume he's got news for us." Masquerade said as he sat down. "What do you think the odds are of him finding the info he said he'd find. I'm betting zero chances."
"Why are you so adamant in thinking that nobody has the information we seek?" Viridian asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Because as I said, the people who know will either never share the information with just anyone, or they are dead. The only others who know are the island's natives, and I highly doubt one of them is going to appear in front of us, and show us the way." He said with a smug grin behind his mask. "If we were to find them without going to the island in the first place, we wouldn't need to go to it, so that's why I highly doubt he's found anything. I spent a long time searching, asking everyone and inquiring about every person who might know the subject. I even dug into the Pokenet to try and find someone, and you know what it's like, rumors and speculations on every forum and message board about the topic. I'd have better luck finding pictures of a trainer doing naughty things with their Gardevoir in five seconds than I would finding concrete evidence about that island's location."
Viridian's eye twitched at the last bit of information. "What do you mean by that?" He asked.
"Oh come on, lonely trainers with female and male Pokemon all alone on the roads, mountain paths, forest clearings, meadows and other such isolated places? It doesn't take a PHD in Biology to know what happens out there." Masquerade said with a giggle. "You know how trainers are, they don't get much human contact as people who live in the city do. It's common knowledge that at some point, their Pokemon go into their heat cycles, and if there's no suitable species around to mate with, they look to their human Trainer's for help. Or perhaps they even wait for their heat cycles to tempt their trainers, or perhaps the trainer waits for the heat cycle and deliberately ensures there isn't a suitable mate for them just to do the nasty with them."
"I find it… interesting that you know this…" Virdian said in a low voice.
Masquerade was about to reply when the video screen turned on and was static for a few minutes, before the shadowed image of their boss appeared. [Gentlemen, I'm glad to see you on time.]
"Indeed, so what is it you have for us?" Viridian asked cooly.
[Watch what you say Viridian, remember I'm signing your pay checks.] He snarled. [I have the information you failed to obtain! The location of the Southern Island.]
"Impossible, who could possibly have told you this information!" Masquerade said suddenly. "I've spent over a year trying to find that information, nobody would share it willingly."
[I didn't ask anyone, I found it through research.] The digitized voice said with a hint of smugness. [I learned that Norman of the Petalburg City Gym once knew the Southern Island's location, and through him a certain Sailor who visited it. From there I dug up some old ship logs of his private ferry, and thanks to that I learned where he went to. He visited the Southern Island at these coordinates.]
Viridian watched as a display of numbers appeared on the screen, and scribbled them down so that they could go to the location. "Are you sure these coordinates are correct?" Masquerade asked. "If we go to these coordinates and there's nothing there, we'll be wasting quite a lot of money to find a good fishing spot."
[These are correct, unlike you I actually try to find this information.] Their boss said. [Now I want you to be ready to go in the morning, go to the coordinates, find one of the island's inhabitants, and bring it to this facility. No excuses this time!]
With that declaration made, the screen went black.
Viridian smirked as he looked over at Masquerade, apparently dumbstruck at what just transpired. "Any words to say?" He asked, savoring every second of this moment.
Masquerade was silent as he sat there, before he finally got up and left the room. "Let's just hope these coordinates are accurate…" He said, without looking at Viridian once.
Viridian watched Masquerade walked out, and again he tried to figure out what went on behind that mask. *If I didn't know any better, I'd say he wasn't happy about our boss finding this information.* He thought to himself, before he shook his head and remembered that the face behind that Mask made a day with Giratina look like a vacation.