Scene 62: In-Training
Kari and Nachi decide to meet up at the Saffron City Gym in two-days time, "And that means…" She's shoveling porridge into her mouth as Eevee and the others devour the Pokémon food in their bowls, "We have two days to Train for our Gym Battle!" Kari straightens her ball cap and pulls the straps of her backpack tighter, "You guys ready?" She looks around at her team as they all give a cheer.
They're standing in the middle of the Pokémon Center making quite the ruckus, but over the past few days the other Trainers in the building have gotten used to this eccentric girl. Nurse Joy walks over having overheard her plans. She offers a suggestion, "If you're wanting to train, you'll want to visit the Saffron City Dojo." Kari cocks her head to the side, questioningly, "A 'dojo'?"
Kari follows Nurse Joy's directions to a Dojo on the edge of town. She had left to towering skyscrapers and tall office buildings some time ago, entering a suburb area of Saffron City. As Nurse Joy told her, Kari arrives at the only traditional-style facility in the area. A real old-fashioned kind of dojo, for sure.
Kari pokes her head over the threshold before stepping all the way across. She looks side to side, wondering if anyone was home. The courtyard is barren. She looks at Eevee who nods her forward. They continue towards the building, entering through the front door. Although she can hear sounds of people and Pokémon, there's still no one here. Noticing the traditional style of the floors, Kari removes her shoes and walks on the wood in her socks.
Kari walks through the place, taking in the architecture and the beauty of a the garden in the back. She could tell that the people who lived and worked here must have a lot of patience and skill to manage all those different types of plants. Hearing voices coming from a nearby room, Kari approaches. She pulls back the sliding door, noticing the dark looks immediately.
Kari gulps. Looking around the large room she notices a few things: Each one of the Trainers here are adults, they're wearing matching white robes for combat, are tall and bulky, and they each seemed to be paired a Fighting-Type Pokémon. A man slams his opponent into the ground. Kari jumps at the resounding sound his body makes upon impact.
With his sparring match won, the man bows to the other. The loser takes a place amongst the line of students. The man who had won pulls out a towel and dries himself from the sweat. Only then does he notice Kari standing in his doorway. They lock eyes. Kari stands a little taller, knowing that she mustn't show fear. She couldn't let these adults know that she's intimidated by them.
With her chest out, Kari steps forward, "My name is Kari Naegi from Viridian City. I came here to do some Training… please..?" She bows her head, as if an afterthought. The students sitting around the room snicker at her remark, but Kari ignores them. She knows better than to break her eye contact with the Dojo Leader before her. He's impressed. Intrigued by her boldness he steps forward, "I am Kiyo, a karate master. I understand that you want to Train; however, we only accept Top Battlers here. Why should we accept you?"
Giving a huff and rolling her eyes, Kari slips the straps of her backpack off. She was used to this by now, but that didn't mean it still wasn't annoying when people doubted her abilities. She unzips the Pokéball-shaped front pocket of her backpack and pulls out her Badge Tin. She opens the lead to reveal her 4 Gym Badges, "I've already proven my worth to better Trainers than the likes of you- I'm only here because I was told this was best place to prepare for my Gym Match." Kari sure sounded a lot tougher than she felt right now…
Kiyo has a grin on his face. He seems to like her spunk, unlike the others, it seemed, Kiyo was very interested in this small girl. A child toting around an Eevee and yet here she was, standing before him and demanding a challenge. His eyes scanned the 4 badges in the silver tin. He knew very well the kind of strength one had to have to get them, "Very well. If you can defeat my disciples, I will battle you myself." Kari breaks into a smile. Looks like her fake confidence won them over.
Kari battles one Trainer after another. Kari's never fought against a Trainer with a Fighting-Type Specialty, so she had to think and consider which Pokémon she ought to use in battle. Although Eevee, she was sure, would be able to beat them through sheer willpower and speed, she knew better than to risk it. She picks a Pokéball from her belt loop, "Besides, it's not fair if you're always getting to have all the fun." She winks at her friend.
Her first opponent is using a Mankey. Kari decides to use Gastly. The old man wearing a cloth headband seems a bit annoyed with her choice of a Ghost- Type Pokémon, but there was nothing in the rules about it. Mankey was having a hard time fighting back since its physical moves couldn't touch Gastly. Quickly enough, Gastly hits Mankey with a Lick, paralyzing it and finishing the match with a powerful Night Shade Attack. Proving to them all that she was no ordinary little kid, the adults around them aren't laughing at her now.
As Kari enters her 4th match a young boy walks into the room. He's carrying a backpack and his karate belt is messily wrapped around his waist. He didn't remember Master Kiyo having any battles in the plans for today. His shoulders slump. The boy had been hoping he would be able to train with him today.
"Use Razor Leaf!" The boy is surprised to hear a girl's voice. He walked over to where Master Kiyo was standing, his eyes catching sight of the small girl standing across the way, "Who's that kid? What's she doing here?" He waits for a response, but Kiyo doesn't say anything. The boy looks up and notices the way Kiyo is watching her. Observing her intensely as if she was some kind of cool science experiment. He pouts, what was with Master Kiyo?
"Energy Ball!" Kari and the young man she was battling now called their attacks at the same time. She was battling with her Bulbasaur and he was using a Pokémon he called Breloom. Since Dex had no data on it she could only make out what she had learned through the battle, that it was some kind of Fighting and Grass-Type Pokémon.
The two attacks collided in the center of the field. Breloom was pushed back, but was able to stand his ground. But before they could react, Bulbasaur was barreling down on him with a Tackle Attack! Breloom crashed into a pile of sparring dummies lying in the corner. He was unable to battle.
As Kari went to congratulate her Pokémon, the boy who stood beside Kiyo looked around at his fellow students. What was with their faces? Kiyo suddenly burst out into a fit of laughter. They all turned to stare. When he had finished he looked down at Kari, "I've got to say, you certainly surprised me. Surprised all of us, I'm sure! No wonder you were able to get those Gym Badges." The boy gives a start at his comment, "Master! Did you say Gym Badges?" Kiyo nods.
He walks onto the battlefield as he explains to his disciple, "That's right, Aaron. This young girl, no… This Trainer, Kari, has already won herself 4 Gym Badges, one of which is rumored to be the hardest in the League to obtain, am I right?" Kari screws up her face, hoping not to give her secret away.
"I-if you're talking about the Earth Badge from Viridian City, then yes. In fact, it was my very first Gym Badge." The men sitting around them start to whisper excitedly. Kiyo smirks, "And I assume you plan on challenging our very own Saffron City Gym, then?" Kari crosses her arms, "Once I've finished here, that is." Kiyo chuckles, though Aaron is a bit put-off with this little girl's attitude. He looks her up and down.
[ "She's younger than I am by a good couple years and she dares to talk that way to Master Kiyo!?" ] Aaron looks at the Pokémon she has: a Gastly, a Magnemite, a small Tyrogue, and the Bulbasaur she had used in the last match. But wait, was that an Eevee hanging around her ankles, too? He furrows his eyebrows, how could they have lost to a little girl like this?
Kiyo readies his Pokéball, "Now it's time for you to challenge me." The others sit forward on their knees, watching with anticipation. Kiyo calls for his strongest Poke'mon: Hitmonchan. Before Kari can even consider her options Tyrogue steps forward, accepting the challenge. He seems to want to prove himself against these larger Pokémon. Kari nods, wanting to give him this chance. She pulls out Dex to check out Hitmonchan's information. She gives Tyrogue a look, "Oh, I see now. It's your evolved form, huh? Alrighty, then…" He looks back at his new Trainer. She gives him a confident smile, "Let's prove to them just how strong we are, shall we?"
The two Fighting-Type Pokémon go head-to-head, punch-to-punch. Tyrogue seems to have the advantage for a time, being smaller and quick on his feet but Hitmonchan finally starts to show its real power and battle experience. Kiyo and Hitmonchan are going full-out. Hitmonchan wails Tyrogue hard in the gut, knocking the wind out of him. Tyrogue is goes flying straight into the back wall. Everyone stares. Even Aaron is stunned. He collects himself, smiling cockily. That ought to show her.
"Don't give up!" Kari calls to her Tyrogue. Aaron gives a start. He looks at the girl, Kari was her name. She wasn't even faltering- how could she be so confident in her Pokémon? Didn't she know it wouldn't stand a chance against Master Kiyo's top Pokémon. He looks to Kiyo, but there's something in his eyes. Expectation..?
On the other side of the room Tyrogue is back up. He struggles to stand, but he refused to stop now. He sees Kari in his line of vision. He thinks back to that day- to how she stepped between him and that Mightyena, risking her life for his. Kari nodded. Tyrogue hadn't realized how much he'd come to depend on that smile, those eyes… How this girl's belief in him, in all of her Pokémon, seemed to have a special power. For some reason, he wanted to do better- be stronger. Tyrogue took a deep breath, closing his eyes. He composed himself and when he opened his eyes next, Kiyo was happy to see the fire was still burning bright, "That's right. Keep fighting."
Tyrogue walked back to the battlefield. He stopped at Kari, looking around at his new group of friends. He gives Kari a thumbs up. She chuckles, "You ready to finish this, or what?" Tyrogue laughs. They both turn back to face their opponents. Kiyo and Hitmonchan seemed happy to keep this match going.
Things turn around in this second half of the match. Tyrogue is jumping from foot to foot, ready for more and proving just how strong a punch his little body could hold.. Tyrogue and Hitmonchan are fighting with all their strength, it's almost inspiring. The other Trainers and their Pokémon can't take their eyes off of them. There are whispers floating around the room, "Who would have thought that little Pokémon would be strong enough to take on Master Kiyo's number one!?" Aaron looks between Master Kiyo and the girl, Kari, as the match drags on. Both of them are so passionate. His eyes fall on the small girl… How is it that she was so strong at her young age?
Hitmoooon! Tyrooooo! Both Pokémon go in for the final attack! Everyone sits with bated breathe. Aaron blinks. Tyrogue's small body had been the advantage he needed to barely push past Hitmonchan's deadly punch and land a direct hit. Hitmonchan's punch had only grazed Tyrogue as he jumped swiftly, landing his Low Sweep. It's a delayed reaction as Tyrogue's kick sends Hitmonchan spinning. He crashes against a nearby pillar and falls to the ground, unconscious. Kari is breathing heavily and so is Tyrogue. Like an engine being revved up, the students slowly start to cheer, getting louder and louder. The little girl actually won the match against Kiyo!
Tyrogue falls to his knees, exhausted. He nearly jumps out of his skin as Kari and the others jump him for a group hug. He's still having to get used to all the touchy-feely stuff, but he supposed it felt nice, too.
Unlike the other students, Aaron wasn't cheering. He was still trying to grasp how this kid, who was younger than he was, somehow managed to defeat the great Master Kiyo. But it was his Master's laughter that brought him out of her revery. Kiyo patted Aaron's shoulder heartedly, "Just think! If you put your heart into your Training, someday you might even be as strong as she is, Aaron!" He's surprised by Kiyo's words. He pouts, "Are you saying that girl is better than me? How would you know if I never got the chance to challenge her?"
Kiyo laughs, thinking of the best way to phrase his words, "Well, I guess it's just the fire." Aaron doesn't understand. Kiyo looks across at the girl and her Pokémon. She's now talking with the other men, happily. The tension from the match is now gone.
"You see how the others are looking at her now? It's because she inspired them to believe… To throw away everything they thought out the window and to believe in the strength she has… She brought hope to her Pokémon and a strength beyond what we thought imaginable… Trust me when I say, this girl has a fire in her, and that fire is what will take her farther than anyone before her…" Looking down and smiling at his student, Kiyo leaves Aaron to his confused thoughts.
Kiyo calls out to the others. Now that the matches were over, they needed to show Master Kari the proper respect. They all nodded. Lining up single-file, the men all turned to Kari and bowed their heads. She was embarrassed at the sentiment, "Really, that's not necessary..!" She laughs at them.
Kiyo approaches Kari, telling her that she's been granted a splendid award for her victory. Kari blinks, "Oh? And what's that?" He gestures to his Pokémon and Hitmonchan steps forward. Kari blinks, "Really? Your Hitmonchan?" Kiyo nods, "I would greatly appreciate it if you would continue being its Master. You see, Hitmonchan has learned all he can with us at our Dojo." He pats its shoulder, "I believe that if he travels with you, Hitmonchan can become even stronger. So what do you say?" After a moment's hesitation, Kari agrees.
"I feel terrible taking your precious friend away, but… If that's what you want…! Then I'll be sure to take good care of him!" Hitmonchan bids farewell to his dear friend, Kiyo as he gives him a parting hug. He hands over the Pokéball to Kari.
"Don't worry, Hitmonchan, I'll make sure we become even stronger! Together!" Monchan! Ty! He looks down at the small Tyrogue. They shared a respectful understanding between them now. She had been defeated fair and square. The two match fists.
"Thanks for everything!" Kari waves to the Trainers of the Pokémon Dojo outside. as they make their way back to the Pokémon Center Kari thinks on the day's events. She looks down as she clenches her fist. She actually feels stronger, even if it's just a little bit. She knew she was ready for her challenge..!
{{Current Team: Eevee, Sandshrew, Poliwrath, Bulbasaur, Magnemite, Gastly}}
Total Pokémon: Eevee, *Pidgeot*, *Raticate*, *Butterfree*, *Beedrill*, Ceffairy, Spearow, Ekans, Sandshrew, Goldeen, Poliwrath, Jolteon, Drowzee, Horsea, Tentacool, Magikarp, Psyduck, Slowpoke, Magnemite, Voltorb, Zapdos, Elekid, Gastly, Meowth, Growlithe, Tyrogue, Hitmonchan…
Eevee: Tackle, Swift, Shadow Ball, Hyper Beam
Sandshrew: Dig, Rollout, Aerial Ace, Sand Tomb
Bulbasaur: Tackle, Vine Whip, Razor Leaf, Energy Ball
Magnemite: Tackle, Thunder Shock, Supersonic, Magnet Bomb
Gastly: Lick, Shadow Ball, Psychic, Night Shade
Tyrogue: Double-Team, Brick Break, Hidden Power, Low Sweep