Chapter 9
Fuchsia City Pokémon Center
29 Ananeosis, 20 Zenoheld / March 30, 20—
Nurse Joy led the two Trainers downstairs to a facility under the Pokémon Center proper. The room was a vast square that was as big as the entire main floor of the Pokémon Center. Inside were two Pokémon battlefields.
"Wow," Tracey said. "I had no idea that you had a place like this!"
"Impressive setup," Volt commented.
"Given this Pokémon Center's location in the middle of Main Street, there's no way that we could have an outdoor battlefield like other Pokémon Centers do," Nurse Joy explained. "So I recently decided to have this place installed for Trainers to hone their strategies before facing the Fuchsia City Gym.
"If you don't mind, I would like to referee this match," she continued. "I never get a chance to see a new Trainer use his first Pokémon. It didn't look like there were many people coming today, and there's an intercom for Chansey to contact me with if something comes up that needs my attention."
"Fine by me," said Volt.
"Same here," said Tracey.
The battlefield was a big rectangle, 30 yards by 50 yards. Sticking out from the rectangle's short sides were two smaller rectangles, each six by ten yards. The closest of the smaller rectangles was a short walk away from the staircase, which was near the corner of the room. A white line halfway down the length of the battlefield split the field into halves. At the very center of the battlefield was a picture of a Poké Ball, ten yards in diameter.
Tracey took his place at the rectangle closest to the staircase. Volt took his place on the other end. Nurse Joy stood at the sidelines, halfway between the two Trainers.
Nurse Joy announced, "This will be a one-on-one Pokémon battle—"
"Two-on-two," Volt interrupted.
"Sorry?" Nurse Joy asked.
"I have two Pokémon, and I would like to use them both. Let's make this a two-on-two match," Volt answered.
"So do you want a Double Battle, or a Single Battle with each Trainer using two Pokémon?" Tracey asked.
"Wait, what?" Volt asked.
Tracey matched Volt's puzzled expression. "Didn't you say that you were from Unova? I heard that they even have Triple Battles there!"
"I haven't been a Trainer for long," Volt quickly interjected. "My specialty is in robotics, so I don't know a lot of the ins and outs of Pokémon battling."
Tracey frowned momentarily, but decided not to press the issue. "Well, the default battle format is a Single Battle, where each Trainer uses one Pokémon at a time. In a Double Battle, each Trainer uses two Pokémon at once," he explained.
Hmm. So it's like a brawl with the "Double Battle" Gate Card in play, Volt thought to himself.
"Then I meant a Singles match with two Pokémon per trainer," Volt said.
"I'm fine with that," said Tracey.
"But wait a second," Nurse Joy commented. "You just got your starter Pokémon today. How do you have two Pokémon, Volt?"
"I was in the Safari Zone, remember?" Volt answered.
After a few seconds, realization finally dawned on her. "Oh, yeah! I get it!
"OK, then. This battle will be a two-on-two Singles match, no time limit. The battle is over when both Pokémon on either side are unable to battle. Both Trainers are able to switch Pokémon at any time. Ready?"
"Ready," answered Tracey.
"Ready," said Volt.
"Battle, begin!" said Nurse Joy.
"Scyther, I choose you!" Tracey said, throwing a Poké Ball into the battlefield.
A five-foot-tall green insect emerged from the Ball and landed expertly in the center of the field. It had stocky legs and long, sharp scythe-blades for arms.
Volt pointed his Pokédex at the insect to get a reading on it.
"Scyther, the Mantis Pokémon. Its blindingly fast speed adds to the sharpness of its twin forearm scythes. The scythes can slice through thick logs in one wicked stroke. "
Those scythes can slice through logs, huh? Volt thought. Well, I bet they can't slice through rock!
"Pokémon, brawl!" Volt said, tossing a Poké Ball into the battlefield. "Rise, Rhyhorn!"
"So that's what you got from the Safari Zone. Nice catch!" Tracey said after Rhyhorn finished materializing. "Let's see what it can do. Scyther, Swords Dance!"
At its Trainer's command, Scyther started to move its scythes in hypnotizing patterns. It bounced from one foot to the other, dancing to a tune that only it knew. The Trainers' only clue to the nature of the music was Scyther's rhythmic chanting, which was to a steadily accelerating beat. Volt noticed that as Scyther danced, its scythe-arms started to glow purple.
Is this some kind of power-up move? Volt thought. Well, I'm not going to let it finish dancing!
"Rhyhorn, charge!" Volt commanded.
In response, the Pokémon tilted its head to the side and grunted in confusion.
"Why are you still standing there?" Volt demanded. Pointing at the Scyther, he yelled, "Charge!"
The Rhyhorn still made no move towards the still-dancing mantis.
"Uh, Volt," Nurse Joy interjected. "'Charge' is an Electric-type move. Rhyhorn's a Rock/Ground-type; it doesn't know that move."
"What?" Volt exclaimed. "I'm not telling it to charge up electricity; I'm telling it to ram into that dancing bug!"
In the commotion, Scyther had completed its dance, its scythes now glowing a deep shade of purple.
"A Pokémon won't respond unless you get the attack name right," said Nurse Joy. "You can use the Pokédex to find out what moves your Rhyhorn knows."
After Volt pressed a few buttons, Dextra spoke. "Rhydon's moves, number one: Horn Attack."
O … kay. Let's see what it does. "Rhydon, use Horn Attack!" Volt commanded.
Rhydon lowered its head and charged at Scyther, its horn poised to strike the mantis.
"Scyther, dodge and use X-Scissor!" Tracey commanded.
At the last second, Scyther dashed to its right, sidestepping the charging Spikes Pokémon. It then flew at Rhydon's side, its scythes crossed in front of it. It then slashed at the Pokémon in a cross pattern and bounced back a few feet after attacking.
The attack, however, did little damage; Rhydon's only reaction was to shake its rump as if someone had merely tickled it there.
Volt consulted the Pokédex again.
"Rhyhorn's attacks, number two: Stomp," Dextra said.
"Rhyhorn, use Stomp!" Volt said.
"Scyther, dodge and use Swords Dance again!" Tracey commanded.
Rhyhorn turned to face Scyther and reared up upon its hind legs. It then attempted to stomp on the Mantis Pokémon with its front legs, only to hit the ground; Scyther darted away at the last second and began another Swords Dance right next to Rhyhorn. Rhyhorn shuffled again towards Scyther and tried to land another Stomp, but its second attack was no more successful than the first; Scyther was too fast a target for the slow-moving Rock-type to hit.
"Scyther, use X-Scissor again!" Tracey commanded.
Scyther jumped back a few yards, then flew at Rhyhorn again, its scythes now glowing an electric blue. Rhyhorn had no chance at dodging the strengthened X-Scissor, which elicited an annoyed grunt from it upon impact.
So, Pokémon can use their moves more than once, Volt observed. Good thing to know, but useless unless I can find some way to slow that bug down!
Volt checked the Pokédex again.
"Rhyhorn's moves, number three: Magnitude," Dextra said.
"Rhyhorn, use Magnitude!" Volt commanded.
Rhyhorn reared onto its hind legs again, then slammed its front legs onto the ground with as much force as it could muster. The immediate area started to crack and buckle, but Scyther flew over the shockwave when it crossed the battlefield.
"It's not every day that you run across a Rhyhorn that knows Magnitude! That Pokémon must have an interesting lineage," Nurse Joy commented.
"Unfortunately for you, though, Scyther can fly right over Ground-type attacks," Tracey said. "Good try, though."
Volt's annoyance was clearly visible on his face. Argh! That bug has an answer for every single thing that I do! There has got to be a way to slow that thing down!
"Rhyhorn's attacks, number four," said Dextra. "Rock Tomb."
"Sounds promising," Volt said. "Rhyhorn, use Rock Tomb!"
Rhyhorn reared onto its hind legs again. Its front feet glowed white, and it slammed the ground hard. Giant rocks then protruded around Scyther, trapping it.
Finally, we've got that bug in place! Now to bring on the hurt!
"Rhyhorn, use Horn Attack!" Volt commanded.
"Scyther, use X-Scissor to get out of there!" Tracey said, frantic.
From inside the Rock Tomb, one could hear the sounds of Scyther hacking away at the stone. Meanwhile, Rhyhorn charged at the Rock Tomb from outside.
As Scyther felt the footsteps of the charging Rhyhorn get closer and closer, it hacked at the Rock Tomb more frantically. A small hole eventually broke from the Rock Tomb, and when Scyther looked through it, it knew that there was no hope.