AN/ Here's chapter three. Hope you enjoy, this one is mostly battling.
Day 2 started with a battle.
"Three-way bug battle! Begin!" Sora called.
Surskit, Jacket, and Stinger faced off with Ken refereeing.
"String Shot!" Sora and Tala called out.
"Freeze!" Astrid called.
To sticky strings shot towards each other and met in the middle, an Ice Beam struck a second later.
"Release and roll," Tala said. Stinger rolled to the side and shot a Poison Sting barrage towards Jacket. The ice covered string shattered when it hit the ground, Surskit's Ice Beam continued, aimed at the ground. Jacket panicked as she tried to avoid everything.
"Razor Leaf!" Sora cried. It was enough to block the Poison Stings, but Surskit had taken control of the terrain. Ice slicked the dirt and allowed the pond skater to glide around with ease. The Sewaddle skittered as she tried to keep her footing and tried to slow Surskit down with more String Shot.
"String Shot that branch," Tala called. Stinger hit the branch and pulled herself up. "Shock…now!"
Stinger released an Electroweb, hitting Surskit at right the moment he passed under the branch. Surskit cried out, another wave of Razor Leafs came in and struck Surskit knocking him out for the count.
Jacket had a moment to celebrate before she was hit with Poison Stings. She was about to retaliate when Stinger came swinging in on a String Shot and knocked against the Sewaddle. Stinger latched on with Bug Bite, knocking Jacket out a moment later.
"Winner!" Ken called. "That's gotta sting." Sora groaned at his pun.
A white light encased Stinger and her body began to change. When it ended a Kakuna sat in Stinger's place.
"Awesome job, Stinger," Tala cheered as they went to pat their Pokémon's head… shell. They pulled out their Pokédex to scan her.
"Kakuna, the cacoon Pokémon, Kakuna remains immobile as it clings to trees. On the inside it is busy preparing for its next evolution. When evolution grows near the shell will become hot to the touch. Upon evolution Kakuna has gained the ability Shed Skin and learned the move Harden."
"You'll be an awesome Beedrill yet," Tala said. Stinger didn't respond, but they could feel her joy none the less. They stood up and returned Stinger before turning to the group.
"Ready to go?" They asked. Sora nodded, Jacket finishing up an Oran berry snack. Ken was already prepared. Astrid was looking over her grumpy Surskit before nodding.
"Wait… where's Luke?" Tala asked.
On cue the Riolu rolled into their campsite. He ran over to Tala's bag, dug out a Pokéball and ran back into the bushes. Nobody said anything as they waited for something to happen. Luke walked back into the clearing with the Pokéball in hand. He tossed it to Tala, who stared dumbfounded.
"Did… did you just catch a Pokémon?" Tala asked.
"To be fair," Luke said, "he punched me first. Oh and I learned Fling… surprisingly easy."
"What is it?" Sora asked.
Tala released the Pokémon. A stubby green Pokémon looked around and huffed when it saw Luke.
"That was dirty," the Shroomish said.
"Okay," Tala drew attention to them. The Shroomish went bug eyed when he saw them. "I have so many questions, but there's one that's going to bother me the most. How did a Shroomish punch you?"
"With his whole body…" Luke cocked his head and looked at Shroomish.
"I guess… I mean the move is Drain Punch… you really weren't lying… that's really," Shroomish looked between Tala and Luke. He puffed up a bit and looked up at Tala, who crouched down to be more eye level with him.
"I agreed to be caught if he could beat me," Shroomish said, "I am honored to be your Pokémon. I understand you name us? I'll accept any name so long as it is bequeathed by you."
Tala glanced at Luke who shrugged.
"Seth?" They tried.
"Seth is perfect!" Shroomish nodded… with his whole body.
"Shroomish, the mushroom Pokémon, Shroomish are often found dormant under decomposing leaf piles. If they sense danger they will shake spores off their body. The spores are so toxic they make trees and grass wilt. They feed on rotten leaves. This Shroomish is male and has the ability Poison Heal. He knows the moves: Tackle, Stun Spore, Absorb, Poison Powder, Leech Seed, and Drain Punch."
"Welcome aboard, Seth," Tala said.
"In Safria Pokémon catch Pokémon," Ken murmured. He had his joke smile on, but again nobody understood.
Day 3 involved a great deal of training at their new campground. The group was halfway through the forest and planned to stay at the current campsite for another day before moving on.
Day 4.
The group just finished packing up camp, ready to move to their last decided spot when a boy came crashing out of the brush.
"I'm here to save you!" The boy declared. Everyone looked at each other confused before staring at him.
"Save who?" Tala asked.
"Why you my fair ladies," the boy said, "I heard your frighten screams and came to rescue you from whatever horrors you faced!"
"Screams?" Sora glanced at Astrid then Tala before all three looked back at Ken. He was giving Elizabeth a throat lozenge.
"You mean her Disarming Voice?" Astrid asked. "I told you you practiced enough." She huffed.
"Ah so a young boy has already been protecting you three ladies," the boy said, he flipped his hair from his eyes and grinned. "Cute, but wouldn't you delicate flowers prefer a man to be you shield?"
"Delicate… flowers?" Sora's eye twitched.
"Lady…" Tala murmured and scuffed their foot against the ground.
Nobody noticed Astrid's face redden.
"But of course," the boy continued to grin. He clearly didn't see their irritation. "Such lovely flowers such as yourselves must've been led astray by such a foolish boy. I would never forsake you in such a way. I would protect you all from such dangers."
"No thank you," Sora tried for a polite grin.
The boy's face fell. The "nice" attitude he had disappeared as his face turned into a sneer.
"I was being nice," he said, "you should be grateful I even bothered. Little girls like you will only get hurt alone."
"Okay, first of all," Astrid finally snapped, "they," she jabbed a finger towards Tala, "aren't female, let alone a lady, you shouldn't assume," she pointed to Ken who waved, "second, he is our friend. Third, none of us need protecting. We made the decision to be here together and none of us are "delicate flowers." So thanks for being "nice" but we don't need it."
The boy's face grew red.
"Arceus, didn't realize it was that time of the month," the boy said.
"You poor boy." He shook his toward Ken.
"Alright, that's it!" Astrid screamed. She pulled out a Net ball. "Battle me! Three on three!"
The boy scoffed. "Fine by me. This will be easy."
The two went to opposite sides of the clearing, Ken moved to referee while Sora and Tala moved out of the way.
"I know Lightning is really O.P. and Surskit would be surprising, but… her Magikarp," Sora glanced at Tala nervously. "Not to mention Astrid isn't really all that great at battling. She gets lucky, sure, but this guy is more experienced than any of us."
Tala stared at Astrid for a moment before speaking.
"You remember Benny Emmit?" They asked.
"Yeah?" Sora's face scrunched up in confusion. "He was a huge bully."
"Was." Tala nodded. "Remember one day he just… stopped?"
"Yeah… yeah, he acted really strange one day and stopped harassing people," Sora said.
"Astrid whooped his butt in a high-tier battle." Tala glanced at Sora and smirked at her face.
High-tier battles were used by the teachers to demonstrate the difficulty in using high powered Pokémon by rookies. The Pokémon belonged to the teachers and most never listened to the students, some liked to put on shows while ignoring the students. Actually winning one was considered to be god-like by the students… Tala never had a problem with them.
"She… what… how?" Sora stammered out.
"When Astrid's determined, well… just watch."
At her look Tala promised to tell the story later before nodding to the battle.
"Begin!" Ken called.
The boy sent out a burly Heracross.
"Where's your Pokémon?" The boy asked.
Derp flopped upwards from the grass then disappeared in it again. The boy broke into a fit of laughter.
"Oh my Arceus! That's the best you got? Heracross, Stomp that thing's lights out." The boy double over in laughter that only increased at Astrid's order.
"Splash!" She called.
Derp flopped back and forth in the grass each time getting a little higher, but to no other effect. Heracross took his time getting to Derp, finding the situation as humorous as his trainer. One more step closer and Astrid called:
"Now!"
Derp hit the ground once more, using the momentum of the splashes, she shot into the air. Heracross looked up in surprise and was met with a small fish to the face. Despite her size, the Bounce was powerful with all the speed added to it. A final Flail to his face and Heracross fainted. Derp flopped happily before being returned.
The boy was no longer laughing.
"Heracross has Heralossed!" Ken called. Sora groaned.
"You got lucky!" He shouted. "Masquerain go!"
The white bug was met by its first stage as Astrid released Surskit.
"Ha!" The boy scoffed, "you think the pathetic first stage Pokémon can be its evolved for –" He was cut off as Masquerain was hit by a powerful Ice Beam that froze it solid. The iced bug hit the ground with a thunk.
"Masquerain is Masqueice!" Ken said.
"No." Sora huffed.
"I… you…" The boy's face colored. "Crustle! Crush her!"
Astrid was whispering to her Starter ball before releasing Lightning. The Slowpoke yawned in the large bugs direction.
"X-scissor!" The boy screamed.
Crustle scuttled forward, but Lightning disappeared before he even got close. Lightning reappeared over Crustle, her body hung in the air with her head down towards the ground. She released a harsh torrent of water from her mouth and shot upwards while blasting Crustle. The bug screeched in pain until Lightning disappeared again and came back in front of Astrid.
"Cheap trick, but Crustle is far stronger than that!" The boy shouted.
"Psychic," Astrid said, her voice hard. Lightning's eyes glowed blue then so did Crustle's body. Crustle was lifted a few feet up before being slammed to the ground then dragged across the ground into a tree.
"Crustle is Bustle!" Ken announced then ducked under a rock thrown by Sora.
"Where'd she even learn this?" Sora asked.
"Well she did say she was going to train yesterday," Tala said.
Astrid returned Lightning and stared at the boy, his face was purple with rage. Before she could say anything to him he grabbed a Starter ball from his belt and tossed it. An Arbok appeared with a hiss. Astrid froze, her face paled.
"Poison Fang!" The boy shouted.
"Fling!"
Arbok's mouth snapped shut on the Hardened shell of Stinger. A glow encompassed her for a moment before a Beedrill emerged from the shell.
"Enough!" Tala stepped forward. Stinger flew backwards and Arbok shrunk back as Tala approached.
"You," they pointed at the Arbok, who looked ready to slither into a hole, "should know better than to attack a human. I don't care what your trainer tells you! Apologize, now. Then return."
Arbok bowed his head toward Astrid before slithering back to his trainer and returning himself.
"And you," Tala turned on the boy, "get out of here. If I ever see you again…" They didn't finish. The boy had lost all color and fled for his life. The Scary Face Tala used probably helped cause that.
They waited until they couldn't hear him any longer before relaxing.
"Techno?" They glanced at their Pokédex.
"Photo sent to the nearest police station, along with an explanation of the situation," Techno reported.
Tala nodded before turning to their friends.
"Ready to go?"
XXXXXXXXXXXxxxxxxx
Six months ago.
"I just want to go home," Astrid groaned. "Why won't the teachers just flunk me already?"
"Because they realize you're doing it on purpose?" Tala suggested. They had a headache that day and it was not being helped by Astrid's whining. They were sitting in the courtyard, Tala attempting to study for their next quiz.
"Well, if it isn't Hackstrid and the Cheater." Tala joined Astrid in her groan. Benny Emmit and his friends were heading towards them.
"What do you want Benny?" Astrid asked.
"Me? I was just wondering how it felt to be the worst student to ever attend Pokémon Academy?" Benny grinned down at her. He leaned over her with his hands on his hips like was lecturing a small child.
"I don't know. What's it like to be the ugly child?" Astrid asked.
Benny's face colored.
"You're one to talk," he scoffed, "your parents didn't even want you around. Had to send you to another country to get rid of you."
Tala joined Astrid in her glaring.
"I don't know why the school lets you stay here," he continued, "or any of you weaklings. The girls are the worst. All of you should just go home and play with dolls. Leave battling to the men." He puffed up his chest.
"You couldn't beat a Rattata let alone be a strong trainer with that attitude," Astrid snapped.
"Says you, but I've never seen you win a single battle," Benny sneered.
"Let's battle then," Astrid stood up and nearly smacked into him. "One on one, high-tier battle."
"You're on," Benny said.
"Um… how are you going to get the Pokémon?" One of Benny's friends asked.
Tala sighed and stood, brushing the grass off their pants.
"I've got it," they said and started walking away. "Arena 1, ten minutes."
Nine minutes later.
Tala arrived at Arena 1 with the battle instructor, Mr. Johnson.
"How'd you convince him?" Astrid asked.
"Told him the truth," Tala shrugged. "It's a battle for honor."
"Alright you two," Mr. Johnson said, "pick your Pokémon at random." He held up a case of six normal Pokéballs. Astrid grabbed one and walked over to her side of the field. Benny got to the other side a moment later.
"First knock out wins." Mr. Johnson moved to the referee spot and held up the flags. "Begin!"
Both students threw their ball at the same time. Benny's Pokémon was a Charizard, the large brute of a Pokémon roared flames to announce her arrival. Astrid's Pokémon was a Hydreigon.
Benny and his friends laughed. Hydreigon was infamous for never listening to anyone but Mr. Johnson, and even then the stories the teacher told to gain his respect were horrifying.
"Hydreigon," Astrid got the dragon's attention. "We're going to win." She said, her voice confident and solid. The dragon stared into her eyes with all three heads before nodding the middle one and turning to face Charizard.
"Begin!"
"Dragon Pulse," Benny said.
Charizard loafed around.
"Scary Face," Astrid said, "twice, then Stone Edge."
Hydreigon glared at Charizard, lowering her speed.
"Dodge and use Dragon Pulse!" Benny shouted.
Charizard used Flamethrower.
The stones came charging toward Charizard and the orange lizard let it hit her before getting serious. She shot Flamethrower after Flamethrower at Hydreigon.
"Surf and Charge Beam." Astrid said. Tala was impressed she remembered the names of the moves.
One head opened and blasted a stream of water while another head released an electrical beam into the water. The blast struck Charizard and she fainted on impact.
"Charizard is unable to battle," Mr. Johnson announced, "Astrid is the winner!"
"You… you cheated!" Benny shouted. "Nobody can control that thing! You cheated!" He stormed towards Astrid, red faced. Hydreigon moved between them, all three heads growling. Benny stopped and paled at the sight.
"Astrid won because Hydreigon knew she was serious about this battle," Tala said. They walked over next to the large dragon and patted one of his necks. The dragon cooed affectionately toward Tala.
"Hydreigon is many things, but he knows when a person deserves respect," Mr. Johnson added, "and in this moment, Astrid deserved it enough to obey."
Hydreigon nodded all three heads in agreement. Benny stared, wide-eyed.
Mr. Johnson turned to Astrid.
"I knew you had potential," he said. "There's no way we're sending you home now." He grinned and took the Pokéballs back, returning his Charizard and walking off with Hydreigon.
"Fudge," Astrid groaned. Tala patted their shoulder sympathetically.
AN/ Hope you enjoyed! Astrid has skill she simply doesn't want to be a battle focused trainer. Next chapter will be the first gym battle. It'll probably be out by tomorrow. Thanks for reading~