Waving bye to Lilly, Riley stepped onto the elevator pod, Burndillo sitting itself down next to its trainer's feet. As it raised, Riley sprayed one of the Super Potions he'd bought over Flaradillo. What could this elevator pod lead up to? Was Derreck up here, where it was?
COLD!
Riley shivered, wishing he'd brought with him a thicker jacket. The gigantic moon was on the horizon, all of Eclisse City below him now. He was on the roof of the skyscraper. Derreck was waiting for him. "So you made it, huh?"
Riley confirmed, and Burndillo walked up to the white side of the PokeBall design on the concrete rooftop that signified that this was a battlefield.
"The strength people see in us can be either more or less than what we really possess," Derreck began. "But what's really important is that we use the strength we really do have for the things we truly believe in. Although it can sometimes be beneficial to hide behind a false disguise, staying true to yourself is the greatest deed you will do for yourself, Riley. Remember my words."
Derreck tipped his fedora so that it covered his eyes. His blank face morphed into a smirked as he smugly threw a PokeBall onto the field. "Rip-ill!" the gigantic Water- and Dark-type Pokemon that came out of the Pokemon screeched, the zipper across its mouth ripping violently open.
Riley knew Flaradillo was not fit to take on a Water-type Pokemon, but before calling his partner back, he scanned Ripgill with his PokeDex. "Number 31, Ripgill. Water- and Dark-type. The Zipped-Up Pokèmon. Because their habitat has been polluted and become dark, Ripgill evolve to be very solitary and frankly rude. Since the pollutants block out sunlight from the water, their eyes glow in the dark to improve their visibility. Unlike Zipgill, Ripgill can control their zippers at will. The primary reason that their gills are covered by zippers is so that they can store oxygen and close off their breathing in highly-polluted areas."
Riley sent out Maskoon, who knew Grass Knot! Little known to Riley, though, Maskoon had actually also learned Leaf Blade, and has sacrificed Grass Knot in favour of the stronger attack!
Ripgill started by using Surf! It created a huge wave of water and launched it towards Maskoon! But Maskoon rolled out of the way of the attack! It procured its grassy sword and spun around inside its shell, holding onto it with its tiny black arms that reminded Riley of how Concealpillar's arms had looked in its previous form. It built up its momentum by spinning before launching the Leaf Blade at Ripgill. It landed right in the big fish's forehead, right through its pompadour fin.
"Giiiiiii!" the Pokemon screamed, flinching!
Maskoon took the opportunity to use the attack again, bringing Ripgill's health down by a quarter of what it had started with. It was stressing to Riley to leave his tiny, weak Maskoon on the battlefield after it had only done this much damage to Ripgill so far, but he sighed, clearing his mind and putting his trust in the Cocooning Pokemon.
Ripgill used Aqua Tail, slamming its fishy tail into Maskoon. It caused Maskoon's round body to roll across the rooftop like a football. It bounced back up and used Leaf Blade again! It landed a critical hit this time, and Ripgill was reduced to about a quarter of its health!
It tried to use Hydro Pump, but luckily for Maskoon, it missed! just barely!
Maskoon used Leaf Blade one last time, and Ripgill fainted. Derreck's face went red with rage. "Ripgill, how could you!? How hard is it to use one attack!?"
Riley cringed. Could he not have even congratulated the Ripgill on its good effort?
"Alright, time for an actually useful Pokemon! Go, Astunine!"
This Pokemon looked like a larger, more muscular version of Sournox. It almost resembled the ancient Egyptian God, Anubis, because of its fur patterns. It had white markings running along its muscular black body, and the jewel on Sounox's forehead had now evolved into crystals that ran along its forearms and shins and added a glimmer to its thick mane.
"Use Stone Edge!"
It did, but Maskoon just barely managed to roll out of the way! Maskoon countered with the Fairy-type attack Dazzling Gleam that it had learned during the battle that made it evolve! It was super effective on Astunine, but Astunine didn't faint. It was left with about a quarter of its health, and with that quarter it used Stealth Rock again! Rocks shot out of the concrete and jabbed into Maskoon. It fainted immediately!
Riley sent out Barksky! Rock- and Dark-type would be very, very weak to Barksky's Fighting-type Brick Break!
Using Brick Break, Barksky slammed its paw down on Astunine! It fainted!
"Go, my sidekick," Derreck called. "Racrook!"
The same species of Pokemon that Night Shadow had used was now facing against Riley. It was huge, muscular, and mysterious with its pure-white eyes and domino mask fur pattern. Dark- and Fighting-type... Riley didn't know how to counter it! Barksky was Ice- and Normal-type, which would have been double weak to Fighting-type. Riley switched to Flaradillo! The light from its Fire-type attacks would be super effective against Racrook's darkness!
"Racrook, use Aerial Ace!"
Riley had not expected that! Flaradillo would be weak to that Flying-type move! Thankfully, though, when the bipedal raccoon Pokemon used its skillful and fast moves on Flaradillo, the Fire-type Pokemon was left with a little health left. It used Flame Wheel, and it was super effective against Racrook's dark heart!
Riley withdrew Flaradillo, and Derreck withdrew Racrook at the same time! Derreck sent out a really scary and intimidating Pokemon, Spiritomb! This Spiritomb was different than the ones Riley had seen in books and heard about in stories, though. As opposed to being purple with green aura orbs, it was blue with purple aura orbs. But no matter, Riley was sure it would have the same single weakness just the same: Fairy-type!
He coaxed a revive into Maskoon's mouth, and the moment it ate it it jumped up, ready for action!
"Spiritomb, use Shadow Claw!"
It did, but it only did regular damage on Maskoon! Maskoon retaliated with Dazzling Gleam, and Spiritomb only narrowly survived! It used Dazzling Gleam once more! But Derreck withdrew Spiritomb! He sent out Racrook again! It was hit with Dazzling Gleam, but it was left still with a little bit of health left!
It ran up to Maskoon and used Vital Throw, tossing the Pokemon right off the rooftop! It hit the wall of another skyscraper and began falling down. Riley ran up to the edge of the rooftop, absolutely traumatized. He watched as Maskoon, now unconscious, hurtled toward the ground dozens of storeys below them!
But then a Pokemon whisked Maskoon up!
"Vekta!" the proud Corvekt called, ruffling its neck feathers as it dropped Maskoon into Riley's arms and perched itself on the railing that was meant to keep people from falling off the rooftop. It thrust its wooden sword into the concrete, so strongly that it wedged itself in there, and stuck its head into its wing to clean it.
It had familiar eyes. Could this have been the Crowtact that Riley had fought in the alleyway, only now evolved? It had the exact same eyes as that Crowtact. Riley gave the Pokemon a tight, loving hug, tears streaming from his eyes. The Pokemon looked shocked to have been hugged, its eyes wide and its pupils small, but it eventually accepted that it could not escape Riley's hug and wrapped its wing over the Pokemon Trainer's shoulder.
It scolded Racrook, waving its wing feathers in the Pokemon's face, and punished it by using Aerial Ace on it. Racrook had fainted, and it wasn't even one of Riley's Pokemon's doing!
Tears still streaming from his eyes and his breaths still shallow and choppy, he sent out Flaradillo again, holding Maskoon close to his heart, tight in his arms. He ordered Flaradillo to use Ember on the Spiritomb that had been sent out by Derreck, and it did! It launched the Fire-attack on Spiritomb and because it was weakened, the Ghost- and Dark-type Pokemon fainted!
"Then it's settled!" Derreck sighed, still red in the face from exerting himself. "Your third badge; I have it right here!" He gave Riley the Moon Badge, a black badge in the shape of a crescent moon. Riley pridefully pinned it to the strap of his messenger-style bag.
He felt as though he was emanating with light from all his pride! He could feel his head spinning with excitement! He had just won the Moon Badge! He was on the same level as Lilly now! He was one step closer to beating the Pokemon League! He was one step closer to-
"VEKT!" the Corvekt crowed, absolutely launching Riley out of his joyous trance.
Riley gasped, virtually hopping out of his shoes. What did Corvekt want?
It flapped down from the railing it was perched on and walked slowly towards Riley in a strutting fashion.
Did it want to join him? He asked it.
"Crekt!" it cawed, nodding.
Riley couldn't say no. He threw a PokeBall at Corvekt and it entered it without resistance. It was caught!
"Corvekt. Flying-type. The Tool-Using Pokemon. As far as bird-like Pokemon go, Corvekt are considered one of the first to use items as a method of attacking. They enlist the help of Skarmory to help them chop thick branches into sharp swords, and in return they build nests for the Skarmory to rest their eggs."