Hello! 087-B here once again with another chapter of GF:SA! In the last chapter, Mabel battled Gardenia and the result of the battle was a draw! But, because she proved her strength, she won the badge! Now with 2 badges and being a step ahead of everyone else, Dipper decides to take on Gardenia next, while Mabel and Soos have something equally important to deal with.
Oh, and my question today is: what other Gravity Falls characters would you like to see in the story? I'd like to hear who you'd like to see! …I'm probably gonna get a lot of 'Candy' and 'Grenda' responses now that I said that, maybe a few 'Stan' responses, even though he has already appeared WAY BACK at the start of this story (so long ago…). But enough of my rambling…
Now, on with the show!
Chapter 17: Galactic's Eterna Building Brawl!
The group reached the Pokemon Center and settled inside of their rooms. Dipper and Soos congratulated Mabel on her win as Wendy and Robbie entered the room.
"Hey guys." Wendy said. "Sorry we couldn't watch the battle, Mabel. Good job though, I'm sure it was awesome!"
"Thanks Wendy!" Mabel said happily. "It's been a while since my last gym battle."
"I've already challenged her and beat her." Wendy held up her Forest Badge. "It was thanks to the help of this lil' guy right here." Wendy took out a Pokeball and dropped it, letting it open. Out popped a little red dog like Pokemon with a light-yellow mane and tail. "Meet my Flareon."
"Aw, it's so adorable!" Mabel gawked and ran over to pet the Flareon, making it smile and purr.
"I caught Flareon back in my early Sinnoh days when it was an Eevee." Wendy said.
"Has Robbie gotten a badge yet?" Dipper asked. "Actually, what made you guys want to come to Sinnoh?"
"I came back to Sinnoh because you guys going on adventures reminded me of mine, so I decided what the heck, I'll come back." Wendy answered. "Meanwhile, Robbie recently took interest but he has no idea of what to do."
"I do so have an idea on what to do!" Robbie argued.
"You needed my help to pick your starter, get you to Sandgem Town, and catch your first Pokemon." Wendy said. "You don't know what to do. In fact, the only person you've ever battled was Roark in Oreburgh City." Dipper, Mabel, and Soos all snickered.
"Forget this." Robbie left the room, mumbling something incoherently.
"So what's next for you guys?" Soos asked.
"I'm gonna convince Robbie to challenge Gardenia soon." Wendy said.
"I'm going to take on the gym in a bit, see if I can get my next badge." Dipper said. "I already have the advantage with my Monferno, Starly, and Combee, so it should be really easy."
"Aw nice." Wendy said. "Me and Robbie will watch your match. Later." Wendy smirked and left the room.
"I'm gonna tell Soos about my adventures in my mind." Mabel said with a silly smile. "It'll be crazy!" She waved her arms around as she said the word 'crazy'.
"Alright then, I'll be making preparations." Dipper said, and with that, he left the room.
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A few hours later after Mabel healed up at the Pokemon Center, Dipper set out toward the Eterna Gym once again to challenge Gardenia and hopefully earn his second Gym Badge. The thought of Mabel being ahead of him was chilling, but at the same time he felt happy for her getting through Sinnoh so quickly. He arrived at the Gym in roughly 5 minutes and made his way through the maze. He got to the back of the large room and found Gardenia, with Wendy, and reluctantly Robbie, sitting in the sidelines.
"Ah, back for a battle, I presume?" Gardenia asked.
"You bet I am!" Dipper said, showing off a smile of determination. "I'm ready to beat you and take that Forest Badge!"
"Is that all you came here for?" Gardenia asked.
"Nope, I also want to battle you to learn how to improve." Dipper replied. "If I don't learn, I can't get better, and I can't get to where I want to go." Gardenia smiled.
"Smart trainer, you are." She pulled out a Pokeball. "You ready or what?" Dipper nodded and pulled out a Pokeball of his own. "Go Turtwig!" Gardenia tossed her Pokeball and out popped her Turtwig, ready for battle.
"Go Monferno!" Dipper tossed out his Pokeball and out popped Monferno, also ready for battle. "I know the advantage isn't everything, but honestly, I've got this battle in the bag!"
"We'll see about that!" Gardenia said. "Turtwig, Headbutt!"
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"…and the guy said some goons with blue bowl-cuts and gray uniforms ransacked the place!" Mabel explained her situation at the Bike Shop to Soos inside of their room at the Pokemon Center. "Those guys sound like the Team Galactic goons! They must be up to no good!"
"Well, they must have a base in this city." Soos said. "They wouldn't just attack randomly, would they?"
"Attacking a bike shop seems pretty random to me." Mabel said. "They probably did have a reason, we just have to find out what… like you said, they probably have a base in town."
"So we should go find it, then." Soos suggested, a smile plastered on his face.
"Exactly, Soos." Mabel said, showing a smile of determination.
They both left the Pokemon Center and searched around the city but didn't turn up any leads. They searched a little more before finally stumbling upon a large blue building with a yellow ring going around the top and a gray dome on the roof. On top of the dome was a big golden 'G', most likely standing for Galactic.
"How did we miss this?" Mabel asked.
"Who knows." Soos answered. "Let's get inside there, lil' dude." They both were about to run inside but were stopped when they saw a large tree sitting in front of them, blocking the door way. Mabel tried to push past it.
"I… can't… get… through…" Mabel said, huffing from trying to push her way past. She took a breath. "We probably need an HM."
"You do." A feminine voice said. The two turned to see a lady in a long black, white-buttoned dress, with long blonde hair. She held up a small white disc with the words 'HM01 - Cut' embedded on it.
"Who are you?" Mabel and Soos asked in unison.
"My name is Cynthia." The woman introduced herself. "I'm a Pokemon Trainer, just like you two." She held the disc out to them. "If you want to get past the tree, you'll need the HM01, which contains the move Cut."
"Where do we get it?" Mabel asked.
"Take this one." Cynthia tossed her the disc she had, and Mabel caught it. "You need it more than I do."
"Thanks, Miss Cynthia." Mabel said.
"No need for thanks! Really!" Cynthia said with a smile. "Oh, I have a Pokemon egg with me that I can't take care of on my own, would you like it?"
"A Pokemon egg?" Soos asked in confusion. "What's that?"
"A Pokemon egg is an egg layed by a Pokemon after it has finished breeding." Cynthia explained. "The actual egg itself is quite complicated. The moves the Pokemon knows can be passed down by their biological parents, as well as the stats and the ability, sometimes the nature of the Pokemon."
"Wow, a lot can come from an egg Pokemon." Mabel said.
"Here, you can have it." Cynthia handed the egg to the two of them. "I hope you take care of it." Then she walked off.
"…weird." Soos said. "Well hurry up Mabel, use that HM on this tree!"
"Right!" Mabel put the egg in her backpack, then took out the HM01. "Go Bibarel!" Mabel called out her Bibarel and taught Cut to it, then put the disc away.
"Now Bibarel! Use Cut!" Mabel commanded. Bibarel's claws began to glow white as it hacked away at the large tree, cutting it to pieces. "Excellent!" Mabel recalled Bibarel, and she and Soos stepped past the remaining stump and pushed open the glass double doors of the Galactic Building. As soon as they entered, they were pulled to the side by a male Galactic Grunt.
"It's you two!" The Galactic Grunt said. Mabel and Soos trembled at being caught, but the Galactic Grunt chuckled and snapped his fingers, and a puff of smoke appeared around him, and when it cleared, the Galactic Grunt was revealed to be none other than Looker. Mabel and Soos sighed in relief.
"We haven't seen you in a while, Looker!" Soos said. "How's it hangin'?"
"I'm doing fine, my young friends… err, young and slightly older friend." Looker said. "What are you two doing here?"
"We're here to stop Team Galactic!" Mabel said angrily. "They attacked a bike shop and destroyed it, as well as have the people of Eterna City thinking that they're trying to help!"
"Ah, I support you two in your efforts to defeat those scoundrels." Looker said. "Meanwhile, I'm here in disguise to research the shady gang, study their plans and see what they're up too."
"Well, good luck." Mabel said, calming down. "Do you know if the leader of the team is here?"
"Unfortunately, the leader is not here, but a commander is." Looker answered. "I've identified her as Commander Jupiter, and she appears to be in the same ranking as that Mars fellow you met back at the Valley Windworks."
"Thanks for the info, Looker." Soos said. "Good luck spying." The two went up a set of stairs while Looker snapped his fingers again to change back into his disguise.
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Dipper stared in shock and disbelief as his Monferno fell to the ground unconscious. He stuttered his speech as he was filled with confusion. Meanwhile, Gardenia's Turtwig barely had a scratch, or in this case, a burn, on it.
"How did… but you… I should've… what?!" Dipper twitched and spazzed a little, before taking a deep breath and recalling Monferno into its Pokeball. "N-No matter… Go Starly!" Dipper threw out another Pokeball and Starly popped out, stars bursting from it.
"Well, a shiny Pokemon? Interesting…" Gardenia said. "Turtwig, use Headbutt!" Turtwig rushed forward toward Starly.
"Starly, dodge it!" Dipper commanded. Starly flew up and out of the way, evading Turtwig's attack. "Now use Arial Ace!" Starly shot down toward Turtwig and pierced it with its beak hard, sending it flying over to Gardenia, knocked out.
"Nice one Starly!" Dipper cheered. Starly smiled at Dipper before it began to glow white, then slowly change shape. Dipper's eyes widened as he smiled, while Gardenia smiled as well, recalling her Turtwig. Starly grew to a bigger shape and the white glow cleared, revealing a larger tan/brown and white bird Pokemon with a bigger curl on its head and a more serious look on its face with a slightly longer beak and slightly visible legs.
"Starly! You evolved into Staravia!" Dipper pulled out his Pokedex.
Staravia, the Starling Pokemon
Normal/Flying Type
Ability: Intimidate
Recognizing their own weakness, they always live in a group. When alone, a Staravia cries noisily.
"Finally you evolved!" Dipper cheered, but he quickly put on a determined smile. "Now let's do this!"
"Go Cherrim!" Gardenia tossed out a Pokeball and out popped Cherrim.
"Staravia, use Arial Ace!" Dipper commanded. Staravia shot itself towards Cherrim ready to pierce it with its beak.
"Cherrim, dodge it, then use Leech Seed!" Gardenia commanded. Cherrim sidestepped out of the way of Staravia's attack and launched a Leech Seed at Staravia, striking it and draining its energy.
"Staravia, shake it off and do another Arial Ace!" Dipper commanded. Staravia began to dart towards Cherrim again, but it was held down by the sprouts left over by the Leech Seed, sapping away any energy Staravia had to attack in the first place.
"Now go Cherrim!" Gardenia commanded. "Magical Leaf!" Cherrim shot out multiple multicolored leaves toward Staravia, making contact and sending it tumbling back over to Dipper, knocked out.
"W-What?!" Dipper was even more shocked then he was when Monferno was defeated. He recalled Staravia into its Pokeball. "I had the advantage twice… how did you beat me both times?!"
"Advantage isn't everything." Gardenia said. "Maybe you need to train more?"
"No no, I've trained enough!" Dipper shouted. "I'm ready, and I'm going to beat you here and now!"
"Whoa, Dipper doesn't seem like himself." Wendy said. "He's all power hungry and stuff. Isn't that weird, Robbie?" She turned to see Robbie asleep. She angrily stomped on his foot, crushing it and waking up immediately.
"YEOWCH!" Robbie let out a cartoon-like shriek as he grasped his foot in pain.
"Now for my next Pokemon! It's my newest team member!" Dipper pulled out another Pokeball and threw it out. "Go Combee!" The Pokeball landed and Combee popped out, prepared to battle.
"Ah, a Combee!" Gardenia said with a smile. "You have been training if you've caught such a rare Pokemon!"
"Enough talk! Combee, use Gust!" Dipper commanded. Combee shot out multiple whirlwinds at Cherrim, striking it and knocking it out. "Yes! We did it!"
"Cherrim, return!" Gardenia recalled Cherrim into its Pokeball. She pulled out her third and final Pokeball. "My last Pokemon, you might actually beat me! Go Roserade!" She tossed out her final Pokeball and Roserade popped out.
'Here we go, her last Pokemon, her Roserade!' Dipper thought. 'I better plan out my next move carefully…'
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Mabel and Soos had managed to reach the top floor of the Eterna City Galactic Building. The design of this room was very different than the others; the wallpaper was a starry sky design to replicate that of space, and it was animated. No windows were in the room and the lights were heavily dimmed. In the middle of the room was a lady in a galactic suit with magenta colored hair and behind her were two cages, one containing a Buneary and one containing a pink star looking Pokemon called Clefairy. In front of the woman was a man with brown hair across the sides of his head but not the top, and a white turtleneck sweater and brown cargo pants.
"Please, just give me back my Pokemon!" The man pleaded.
"We simply want to research them." The woman said, smirking. "Leave now if you don't want to get hurt."
"Hey you!" Mabel called out angrily. The woman and man took notice of their presence.
"Ah, you must be here to free the Pokemon." The woman said. "I'm Commander Jupiter of Team Galactic, and I'm not letting these Pokemon go so easily."
"Mabel, I've got this." Soos said, taking out two Pokeballs. "Jupiter, I challenge you to a double battle!" Jupiter continued smirking as she took out two Pokeballs of her own.
"I accept your challenge." Jupiter said.
"If I win, you set these Pokemon free!" Soos said, setting some terms for the battle. "But if you win, we'll leave and never return!"
"Very well…" Jupiter tossed out her Pokeballs. "Go Zubat and Skuntank!" Out of the left Pokeball popped a Zubat, and out of the right Pokeball popped a large skunk-like Pokemon with its tail going up and over its back, resting on its head. Intrigued, Mabel pulled out her Pokedex and aimed it at Skuntank.
Skuntank, the Skunk Pokemon
Poison/Dark Type
Ability: Stench
It attacks by spraying a horribly smelly fluid from the tip of its tail. Attacks from above confound it.
"Go Piplup and Shinx!" Soos threw out his Pokeballs and out popped Piplup and Shinx, both of them prepared for battle. "Shinx, use Spark on Zubat! Piplup, use Bubblebeam on Skuntank!" Shinx shot out a small bolt of electricity toward Shinx, and Piplup shot out a rapid stream of bubbles towards Skuntank.
"Both of you dodge!" Jupiter commanded. Both of her Pokemon avoided the attacks. "Zubat, use Wing Attack on that Shinx! Skuntank, use Bite on that Piplup!" Zubat darted towards Shinx and smacked it with its wings, sending it tumbling over to Soos, and Skuntank bit hard into Piplup.
"Piplup, counter with Peck!" Soos commanded. "Shinx, one more Spark on Zubat!" Shinx shot out another bolt of electricity at Zubat, but this time it was followed by multiple shocks, striking it and knocking it out immediately. Jupiter recalled Zubat.
"That's a Thundershock attack!" Mabel said. Then, Shinx began to glow white and began changing shape. Soos and Mabel's eyes widened. When the glowing ended, Shinx was now bigger and had a black mane and a black tail with a little yellow four-pointed star on the end.
"Shinx! You finally evolved!" Soos said happily. He pulled out his Pokedex and aimed it at the new Pokemon.
Luxio, the Spark Pokemon
Electric Type
Ability: Intimidate
Strong electricity courses through the tips of its sharp claws. A light scratch causes fainting in foes.
Meanwhile, Piplup's beak glowed white and began pecking away at Skuntank, but couldn't get away. It continued to make attempts at breaking free before it to began to glow white and change shape. It grew big enough to break free of Skuntank's grasp.
"Piplup's evolving too?!" Soos's eyes widened again. When the glowing cleared, Piplup was now bigger with a stern expression on its face with two golden ridges on its head, going down and connecting to its beak, as well as going down the back of its head and meeting just above the nape of its neck. Soos aimed his Pokedex at the new Pokemon.
Prinplup, the Penguin Pokemon
Water Type
Ability: Torrent
Because every Prinplup considers itself to be the most important, they can never form a group.
"Prinplup, use Metal Claw!" Soos commanded. Prinplup's arms glowed a metallic steel color and it slashed away at Skuntank, sending it tumbling back to Jupiter knocked out.
"Hmph." Jupiter wasn't shocked over the loss and simply recalled Skuntank back into its Pokeball. "I better report this back to HQ in Veilstone City…" She turned and walked down the stairs, evacuating all the Galactic Grunts and researchers from the building. Mabel opened the cages and freed the Pokemon.
"Oh thank you so much!" The man said. "Those Team Galactic people were trying to take away my Pokemon because they thought Clefairy was connected to the moon!"
"The moon?" Mabel asked.
"Yes, it's an old rumor that Clefairy came from the moon!" The man explained. "I run a bike shop downtown. Stop by sometime and I'll give you a reward as my thanks." The man left the building, followed by Mabel and Soos.
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Mabel and Soos returned to the Pokemon Center to find Dipper, Wendy, and Robbie. Dipper's forehead was on the table and his eyes seemed bloodshot as he stared into space.
"Hey Dipper!" Mabel greeted. "How'd your battle go?"
"…I lost." Dipper answered solemnly.
"Oh…" Mabel looked down, but then looked up again with a smile on her face. "Don't worry, its just one loss! I bet you'll win next time!"
"Yeah… you're right, Mabel!" Dipper got up and smiled. "I can't be that bad at battling, I just didn't have a strategy."
"It was weird though, you seemed possessed and power hungry at the gym." Wendy said.
"I was just so focused on winning I didn't think about what I said." Dipper said. "Maybe tomorrow will be a better day."
"Meanwhile, me and Soos expelled Team Galactic from this town!" Mabel said proudly. The others were surprised. "We found their base and beat their commander, then rid this town of their presence!"
"Awesome job guys!" Dipper said. "Tell us about it tomorrow, we should hit the sack, it's getting late."
Back in their rooms, Dipper stared up at the ceiling as the others had fallen asleep.
'I can't be that bad a trainer… can I?' Dipper thought. 'It's only one loss, it can't happen again… right?' Then he drifted off to sleep.
-(End Of Chapter)-
This took FOREVER to finish, but its done! Soos' Pokemon finally evolved, Dipper finally used his Combee, and Robbie finally spoke some lines in this story! A new record, I must say! Dipper seemed strange at the gym though… but I hope you enjoyed this chapter, reviews are highly appreciated, and as always…
Stay Tuned!
~087-B