Ever since I got to this Gym it's just been a rollercoaster of emotion, literally, I feel like I've been torn apart mentally with each thing said to me, and I'm not exaggerating about that.
However, I'm finally here, standing opposite to the Gym leader Misty who stands on the other side of this giant pool, her friendly smile and general warmth still plastered all over her face. While a battle is supposed to be wild and heated she just makes me feel bad for challenging her.
"Now that you're here Sora" She says with a mic strapped to her head so the camera crew can pick up her voice while also broadcasting to me without straining her voice like usual, "While I know this will be an interesting battle, let's make it more exciting"
I stand there confused, my head tilts like a confused Pokemon staring at her, "..What's more exciting than being filmed on live T.V." I ask speaking into my own microphone.
Misty flicks her hair with a hand, "How about your brother gets involved too, he's here for a badge too right? Why don't we get it over and done with in one go, you two versus me. Two of your Pokemon each verse three of mine" I almost stumble over in shock on my platform to her suggestion.
"W-What!? That's-" A loud voice to my side cuts me off almost making me fall off said platform.
"Perfect let's do this!" I notice Tom to my side already strapped with his on mic set ready to battle. Clearly he was told about this before and agreed without my knowledge.
Readjusting my stance on the platform I glare over to Tom in my emotional huffy mood, "Tom what are you doing this is my battle!" I yell at him, my voice echoing in our headsets.
Tom just waves his hand dismissing my complaint, either he's very eager about doing a tag battle with me or he just can't wait for his turn, "Come on Sora, when does anyone get to battle a Gym leader on T.V. and do so in a tag battle, we can't pass this up!" He says confidently. My rings faintly glow because of this intrusion on what was supposed to be my battle, however, I just let out a soft sigh and let it slide. I can't say no to him this was his dream after all.
Misty smile starts to fade away for the first time since meeting her, it slowly turns into one of malicious with her eyes showing no sign of mercy. She raises her hand up snapping her fingers. I hear faint muffled clicks of mechanical workings as suddenly floating platforms burst out from the water, breaching the surface and rocking the water in many different sections as part of the pool becomes rocky footing for non-water types.
My eyes glance towards my brother and his expression is priceless, just the sight of the pool morphing into a cool battleground for pokemon triggers his love for battles. Hands clenched and arms shaking from sheer excitement he's raring to go, "Alright boys, you ready to have some fun? Decide what you wanna do. Starmie let's go!" She calls out. I'm expecting a Pokeball to be thrown out to release her Pokemon but nothing came, I stand there confused before the swirls and shifting of water draw my attention down into the pool.
Where the floating platforms were released there lays open areas down below the pool itself leading into tunnels to who knows where. Before I can even figure out what those tunnels are for I get my answer handed to me as the Starmie she called out for spins out from one of the dimly lit underwater tunnels and rapidly heads to the surface. Break out through the surface it spins through the air landing hard on one of the platforms that shake and shift under the pokemon weight and impact, thankfully though the platform stays generally in the same spot as it's held loosely by cables connecting it to the bottom of the pool.
"That's so cool! Your Pokemon are just down there waiting to be called!" Tom screams out in excitement, I couldn't help but raise a paw to my ear to adjust my headset due to his loud volume.
Misty yet again snaps her fingers pointing to us, "You know it, pokeballs are old news and pokemon are much happier being out and about doing what they love, so I got this gym redesigned to house a more unique way of battling" She explains cheerfully happy with the creation of her gym, and I won't lie, what she has here is very cool and I can see from her Starmie that it's really well looked after. Misty seems to be a gym leader I would have really loved to get to know more and learn more about her ways of looking after her Pokemon if my circumstances were different.
However now is not the time to think about what-ifs, right now it's battle time so time to get started. I reach behind myself and pulled off a pokeball from my belt, my eyes never breaking from that Starmie as I tried to size up what it could do. Throwing my arm forward I release the pokeball I picked out, "Dash, it's time!" I yell as the ball spins rapidly in the air before the machinery of the ball starts to hum and click open releasing a bright white light that shoots down towards one of the platforms, a small form of my little buddy forms before the glow fades. Now on one of the floating platforms.
Dash standing there on all fours looking very determined staring at this new Pokemon before him, "Oh yeah it's time! Ah.. huh.." He suddenly pushes himself up onto his two paws looking around, before glancing back to me, "..Uh.. Sora, where's Pulse?" he asked worriedly.
I shake my head shrugging apologetically, "Sorry buddy I can only use one pokemon at a time, you'll have to do it without him" I smile clenching my hand and pumping my arm in the air, "But you got this I know how awesome you are, besides Tom is joining us you'll be working with his pokemon" I add, glancing to Tom who just has the widest grin nodding back to me.
"Don't worry Dash you got this!" I hear from the sideline, as I follow the sound I see Luna with Tabatha off by the side of the pool, Luna trying to encourage my little brother for the battle. The little man nods confirmed of his strength, turns to face the enemy head-on determined to win, his paws reach up rubbing the sacs on his cheeks, letting off some sparks, "Yeah I can do this, I'll win it so Pulse doesn't even need to come out and get hurt. Let's do this Sora!" I hear him, smiling excitedly for Dash's success my tail wags swiftly back and forth as I yet again fail to contain any emotions.
Tom chuckles to my side just as excited as all of us, "Look at you, all ready to have fun huh?" He asks me, grabbing one of his pokeballs and lets it go in the air chucking it hard. It spins quickly as the lid flicks open letting out a bright light just like with mine, impacting on it's own platform forming into a small bird. As the ball returns to Tom the glow disappears to show a Pidgey, Wing is up first to battle.
The flying Pokemon's head twitches about looking around, staring back to us, "It's time for the Gym huh?" He asks. I nod in response as Tom doesn't know what he's saying. Wing seems to get it as he focuses back on the field.
Tom excitedly points out over the field, "You ready Wing? We got a Gym battle to win!" He yells with confidence, yet I can't help but bounce slightly on the spot feeling my brother's excitement. Focused on the pokemon ahead I'm ready to get rolling.
The clearing of a throat interrupts our excitement, my ears twitch with my gaze glancing up to Misty on the other end, "This is a tag battle, I do have one more Pokemon to bring out" Her happy smirk that replaced her smile proudly on display, "What didn't think it was going to be a two on one deal, did ya?" Misty shakes her head disappointedly at us before calling out yet another Pokemon, "Dewgong, let's play!".
Out from the dimly lit tunnels under the pool, comes a large swaying creature that calls the depths home, bursting from the shadows the aforementioned Dewgong shoots for the surface, breaking the calming water as it gets airborne, doing a couple flips before smacking belly first on a platform. It almost looked like it was about to sink down into the water before it manages to balance out rocking back into place.
It would have been nice to know her second pokemon before we made our choice, really it doesn't affect me in any way with my Pokemon choice, however for Tom with Wing, he's going to have trouble with that part ice-type pokemon. Glancing over I see Tom's lack of care in this calling as he's grinning away eager to get to battling. With a sigh I shake my head hearing Misty over the headset, "You guys can take the first move" Oh how generous.
Trying to plan over what I could do, my eyes dart at her two pokemon. She said she will only use three with our allowed two each, so if we can just take out her current two we're guaranteed to have a number advantage over her final pokemon. However, are Dash and Wing ready for this? I know Dash's moves pretty well and I think I know a few things I can do, however I haven't seen Wing do much, I hope Tom has been training him lately.
However, like the ever excited trainer he is, Tom blurts out his command before I could think of my first move, "Wing, soar up and use Quick Attack" My eyes dart over in time to watch Wing speed off into the air, his wings flapping giving him flight over the field.
Soft chuckles a head from Misty as she seems amused, "Yes flying types could have an advantage here, however, Dewgong will make short work of your small feathered friend" Her words hold weight as she orders a move that would devastate Wing right away, "Dewgong use Ice Beam!" If that struck him Tom would already be down a Pokemon, and with Wing about to dive down into Misty's Pokémon he wouldn't be able to dodge.
I have to think fast I have to act so my brother doesn't get humiliated on live T.V.! Damn those cameras making this seem harder than it actually is. My eyes flick to Dash I short out without even thinking, "Dash, use Swift on Wing!" I hear the audible gasps of questioning from over the headset from both Tom and Misty, who are confused as to why I would attack my team's pokemon. Really now that I think about it my body is way ahead of my mind at this point.
Dash doesn't even question me, he holds faith in anything I ask. Before anything knew it the cute little plusle starts spinning on the sport as spinning starts start flying out from him towards Wing while Wing starts his dive bomb.
The Dewdong has this ball of freezing energy form before it, opening its mouth and leaning forward the beam fires off up towards the falling Pidgey, "Ah wait, Wing!" I hear Tom call out finally realising what is about to happen, he's relying too much on the speed of quick attack and not taking into account the experience Misty's Pokémon have. At this rate we would have an icicle Pidgey slamming into the head of a Dewgong. That is until I stepped in. The stars spinning rapidly as the make it to their target striking into Wing causing him to coo out with some pain, but the impact sent him out of the path of the beam as the beam completed missed and hits the roof the Gym freezing part of it over.
That's not all, as Wing got knocked out of the way his body started to spin briskly around like a drill while his descent proceeded. While out from attack range now he was knocked away his spin turns him slowly back into the Dewgong allowing him to drill and strike it across the face letting wing attack past him and swoop back up into the air. While leaving a serious mark on that ice-type's face. I heard a whimper come from the Dewgong as it shakes his head, "Wow that was…" I hear Misty mutter, "-An amazing dodge" her voice chimes louder with her kind smile returning, "I mean, attacking your partner is reckless but it ended up with an even better result!"
I smile back happy from the praise, "Swift always hits it's target" My head turns to Tom as he just watches over the field dumbfounded, "Sorry about hitting Wing, Tom. I didn't know how else to save him"
His head flicks over to me, slowly blinking, "..Huh? Oh, yeah it's okay that was pretty cool" His smile returns, looking back over the field determined, "So it knows ice moves does it, alright then"
I almost fell off our raised platform hearing him, he didn't even know that Dewgong was a dual-type pokemon! "Tom, it's a Water Ice type, it'll ruin Wing if you're not careful"
"Oh" he responds thinking about it, "Wing keep your distance!" he commands as Wing gets higher into the air. Finally, some a thought process is happening.
With a flick of my arm out in front of me staring off determined to Dash, "Do as your namesake, and Dash to them!" I call out to my little furry brother. With a quick nod, he gets down on all fours and sprints from platform to platform towards Misty's Pokémon.
Misty calls out to Starmie, "Use Hydro Pump, Starmie! Knock that small guy into your domain!" She intends to knock my brother into the water so he'll guarantee to lose to a battle. I won't allow that, "Wait Da-"
At the same time, I hear Tom call out to Wing, "Now, Air Slash!" My eyes flick over to Tom surprised, Air Slash? Since when did Wing know Air Slash, or did he always know it? Maybe Tom has been training. With a flap of his wings, the air twists in front of Wing shooting down towards Starmie.
The pointed pokemon tilts downwards, one of its points builds up pressure ready to attack the approaching Dash, however the slash of air slices down into the point violently flicking the Starmie on the spot, spinning it. It's attack halted in an attempt to regain its footing. With Tom's help Dash makes it over them without any trouble. I just give a thank you nod to Tom, keeping my focus on the battle, "Dash, Thunder Wave them both!"
Dash hops up between the two Pokemon, rubbing his cheeks quickly letting off a spark of electricity, flicking his paws out the spark turns into a flash as all around him sparking power travels along with the platforms and through the water, and, more importantly, Misty's pokemon freezing them in place, "Seriously!?" Misty exclaims barely able to do anything at this point, just how we want to keep it.
"Dash point-blank range Swift attack that Dewgong!" I command, at the same time Tom also chimes in with and order.
"Wing Quick Attack over and over that Starmie" his head turns to me smiling, "Let's knock these guys out before they can recover!" I nod in agreement with my brother as our Pokemon get to work. A fantastic show of brutality to win this battle. Dash is spinning over and over again in front of the paralysed Dewgong striking it over and over again with spinning stars while Wing loops back and forth with a quick attack against the Starmie, making it rock back and forth on the platform. At this rate we'll finish this battle without any problems!
"AHhh!" I hear Misty scream out, "Come on you two, you going to give up just like that!?" Her words echoed in our head trying to get her Pokemon to act, "Starmie Psychic that Pidgey and Dewgong Aqua Tail the furry thing out of here!"
As if on cue her two Pokemon both break out of their paralysing effects at the same time, like they could have at any point and were just playing with us. We couldn't even react to the fast shake off of the effects as Starmie and Dewgong follow her instructions. The gem on the Starmie glows bright red, so too does Wing as it catches him in a psychic hold something that he could never escape from. With little effort it slams Wing down into a platform and flings him off back to our side of the field into the side of the pool, almost cracking the siding letting Wing flop onto one of the platforms.
As for Dewgong its heavy-looking tail swings from side to side behind it, water starts building up and swirling around it as it becomes a vicious torrent of swirling liquid. With and adjustment of it's flipper it's body turns and flicks its tail towards Dash, "Fly little one" I hear it say as this mighty wave of a tail comes impacting and striking Dash hard, enveloping his small body in the water and at the same instant flinging him across the pool at high speed, right back towards me!
I have to save him, I can't let him fling into the wall like Wing did, my arms open wide for Dash and with a swift motion my chest gets impacted hard by his small body making me slide back along our platform from the impact, my arms closed around his small wet body, regaining my balance. Staring down into my arms I see a completely knocked out Plusle that tried his hardest, I sigh sad staring down at my injured brother, it hurts me so much to see him like this.
A tear rolls down my cheek as my emotions flare, clenching my eyes tight my rings start to glow with my tail flicking downwards sad. Why am I doing these Gym battles again? To hurt my family? I can't keep doing that this pains me too much, why must I keep going on…
"..S-Sora"
My eyes open wide to see Dash staring back up to me exhausted, "..I-I'm sorry, I'll have to leave the rest to Pulse".
I could help but smile down to him, even if I maybe want to stop all this Gym stuff later down the line, at least at this very moment I need to see this through, for Dash's hard-worked efforts, "Don't worry buddy, Pulse will do us proud" I hold Dash close to my best in one arm as I reach for another pokeball.
Lifting the ball in front of me I see Wing shake himself back up to his clawed feet, "..Oof that hurt" Fluttering his wings he takes to the sky once again.
"Sorry about him, Sora" I hear Tom say, my head turns to him noticing him staring down to Dash, "You helped Wing but I couldn't help Dash for you" I only smile back.
"Don't worry about it, this isn't over yet" With that I throw the ball up, letting it crack open with a bright light shining down to a platform, just like Dash this small body forms into Pulse as the ball returns to me.
Pulse stands there on a platform, his gaze moves all over the battlefield and over back up to us where he sees Dash in my arms, "D-Dash!" he stands up worried.
"S-Sorry I couldn't.. Be strong enough to keep you out of the fight, brother" Dash tells him weakly still recovering from that impactful strike.
My head shakes holding a smile for both of them, "You did great Dash, just that Dewgong was stronger than even I expected, I shouldn't have had you up so close" Keeping my smile my attention moves to Pulse, "Your brother did such a great job, think you can wrap it up for us?"
This was all Pulse need to smile once again and nodded back, "Yeah of course, just rest up Dash, I got this for us!" He jumps and twists back to pay attention to the other Pokemon now, ready to fight.
"Well isn't that sweet, don't know what you're talking about but sorry for giving them a good old whacking," Misty says clapping her hands together, "Ready to get going again?"
"Yeah!" I call out ready to win this, my plan to still have the number advantage on her third Pokemon can still work, I just need to act on knocking these two out right now.
Tom takes a step forward throwing his arm out in front of me breaking my concentration, I turn to watch him confused, "Don't worry, I got this" He says, "Ready to show them what your training has given you Wing?" Wing up in the air only nods and clearly knowing what to do he soars on over towards the Dewgong and Starmie. Tom clenches his fist all ready for his next move, "Wing use Twister between them both, we're going to use that water against them!" He calls out to Wing. Twister? When did Wing know that? I really should stop asking these questions.
In an alternating form, his wings flick forward with a powerful gust following them while the air around him gets faster and faster not to mention stronger. It wasn't long before there was a full-blown twister indoors! Not only that it was drawing up the water from the pool, dragging up the platforms along with the water and drawing in the Dewgon and Starmie, powerless to pull away from this twisting vortex of power, "What is that!?" I hear Misty scream out.
I agree, what is that what has Tom managed to do? He's taken a page from my book and worked in solid planning into his battle, using the pressure of his twister to create a cascading typhoon, among the twisting white water I can barely see Misty's pokemon tumble about within. Wing escapes flying away from it leaving the attack to slowly die down. Not containing itself anymore the water within flys off in all different directions soaking the entire room, with most of the water falling back into the pool, Pokemon, on the other hand, get flung off into the walls opposite each other, cracking the structure and fall down to the paved ground below. Not moving completely spent. Wing's final attack combined without attacks before must have actually done the trick.
I can't help but smile that Tom managed to take out those two almost on his own with such a powerful move. At first, I almost about scolded him for not battle correctly but now I'm just proud of him and his efforts, "That was amazing Tom! W-When did you learn to do that!?" I yell out excitedly next to him, just his smile in return makes me my tail sway back and forth again.
"Early in the mornings, I trained, while you slept. I learnt Wing's move set and thought about things I could do like you" He happily tells me, I didn't know I did have such an impact on his battling style after all this time but honestly, I'm happy he's expanding his knowledge and learning new things.
"Well damn" we hear Misty, leading us both to turn to her curiously, "I didn't expect that. With such mighty pokemon I might as well show my new skill" She smiles excited, raising her arm out, "Gyarados, come on out!" Soft rumbling is felt below us, I freeze up slightly, holding Dash tighter.
"..D-Did she say Gyarados..?" I ask nervously only to have my question answered by the appearance of said pokemon. The snake-like pokemon slivers around through the water and out one of the tunnels. It's long body leaves the water and floats out above it with it's wide open mouth intimidating me.
"Do you like him? You won't win this, sorry boys~" She sounds a soft chuckle, "Gyarados, Aqua Tail" She commands so calmly it's terrifying. This huge pokemon turns it's body as just like with the Dewgong water starts twisting around it like a powerful tsunami, so powerful in fact as it comes raises up to come down upon Pulse and Wing it draws up some of the pool water with it.
"Oh no!" I mutter worried, "Pulse quickly, protect!" I yelled out to him, hoping he'll put it up in time, which thankfully he does as the green barrier forms around his small body. The tail of the giant brute slam down into the pool parting the water like it was nothing, shooting out to the sides and flooding the paths on the sides. The water almost drag everyone back into the pool with the sheer force the water had, not to mention soaking everyone in the process.
Pulse floats around in the turbulent waters in his little bubble of safety, unharmed from the strike, "W-Where's Wing!?" I hear Tom yell, in the commotion, I didn't hear Tom give a command to him nor did I see him move away.
My eyes swiftly scan the room before noticing a floating bundle of feathers in the water, "..T-There! Oh no…" Staring down at the motionless pokemon I grow extremely worried, not for the fact he could be knocked out, but far worse after being struck by that monster.
Tom takes out his pokeball, "I-I'll put him away quickly" he Tom aims his ball to draw Wing back in, the bundle of feathers suddenly jump and jolt about, splashing in the water.
"N..No.." I hear come weakly from Wing, his small wet body pulling himself onto a platform, "I..I can't.. Give up.." Tom and I watch surprised, even though he can't understand him Tom can feel what's going on with his pokemon. Wing shakes himself, flapping his wings to try and dry them, "I.. I can't keep being useless.. I.. I must do better" I keep listening, "I will do better, I will be useful to everyone!" His sharp bird eyes piece at the Gyarados, a soft roar and a tremble follows before the room is filled with a blinding light. Wing's body is glowing so brightly his form starts to morph and change.
"...Is… Is he?" Tom asks weakly trying to understand, I can only nod, wordless to this whole situation and to Wing's resolve. His want to be better and help us all, the feeling of being useless has lead him to push past his exhausted state and evolve. Before long the glowing stops and before us on a platform stands a strapping Pidgeotto.
Wing squarks out with his wings pulled out flapping them, leaving us all speechless. Pulse as pulled himself up onto the same platform staring up at this mighty bird, "...You're super cool!" Pulse tells him staring up with a smile.
Wing stares down and with a beaky smile back, "..I hope I can be useful now. Want to fight with me?" A hit of fear of rejection in his voice, still nervous about being useless despite all he's done today. His fear sated when Pulse just nods happy with a soft giggle.
Watching on a smile proud of these Pokemon, the little family we have built. I'm glad they're with me, and together we'll win this. Reaching over I bump Tom's arm, "Ready to finish this? One powerful strike will take him down, I just need to get close"
Tom let's out a chuckle reaching over bumping my arm with his fist, "You got my support always" Nodding he throws his arm out, "Wing, take to the skies!"
Joining him I call out, "Pulse get on his back!" with Wing as large as he is now he can easily carry Pulse, which will lead us to victory. Following our commands, they do as told with Wing flapping those powerful wings taking flight quickly while Pulse grabs his tail feathers climbing up to his back.
Misty shakes her head surprised none of the Pokemon are knocked out and one even evolved, "Hey, what do you think you're doing? Don't think you got the upper hand here. Gyarados take them both out with Hyper Beam!" Throwing her arm out the Gyarados gives off a deep chuckle as a powerful light starts to form in it's open mouth.
"I don't think so, Wing use Quick Attack and get over there!" Trying to hurry Wing bends and flaps his wings as his feathers flutter with his speed to get over in time, however it's not time we have as the beam wizzes up to power and fires off with a powerful straight beam that could crack the moon.
My wings glow brightly, my eyes locked on to my target almost like I'm in Pulse's position. It clicks to me I'm yet again in tune with my Pokemon, just like I get with Coal. My hand and paw reach out in front of me and grab onto nothing as Dash jumps down to the ground and sits confused watching me, however, Pulse does the same grabbing onto the feathers on Wing.
"Don't feel fear Wing, dodge and keep going!" He screams out in desperation for his feathered friend to keep pulling off. Time almost slows down, the beam about to strike into our friends. Wing bends in a wing and flips midair, moving around the beam and soars upside down above it, his feathers and the Pulse's fur skim along the beam as they get singed. The wall behind us just evaporates and crumbles away as the beam shoots off into the sky beyond, before dying off from the Gyarados. As soon as it disappears Pulse let's go of the upside down Pidgeotto falling down towards the giant floating snake. My hand and paw reach up and rub my cheeks roughly as Pulse does the same, causing a sparking storm to arise, prying my hand and paw from my checks they spread out, "This is our victory!" I call out slamming them together.
Pulse slams his paws together, a bright powerful spark shines off in the building before a thunderous echo sounds, a thunderbolt emits from Pulse and down to the Gyarados, the bolt travelling back and forth the extremely weak pokemon. It's snake-like body arches while it roars in pain slamming down into the half-empty pool. As soon as it reached the water, it lets off a noticeable electric zap as it all explodes into a cloud of steam.
The sight is something to behold. The newly evolved Wing flapping above with a descending Pulse heading into a cloud of steam where a defeated Gyarados lays with its body zapping with electricity. It was over, our Gym battle concluded with that final move. With Wing's determination and everyone's teamwork, we have won.