10: Gym The First
"The leaves block out strong light. More specifically, the frequency of the light wave. The leaves actually filters the light, weakening it by a large amount. That way, the sun actually seems to have disappeared in the forest, while the forest itself remains lit. Weaker light, like ones reflected off the moon leaks through, but not all of it. Similarly, the moonlight is filtered and most of the moon is obscured as well. That's why the moon looks like a crescent in the forest."
"I see."
"Are you done?" Maribel asked as she came back with food.
"Almost." I said, reaching into my pocket, "Do you know what this is?"
Rikako eyed the orange rock with surprise, "...You should ask Reimu about that."
"Of course." I sighed and gave Maribel her Dolldex back.
"Are you going to call Reimu now?" Maribel frowned as she ate her sandwich.
"Sure." I said, opening my Dolldex, "Why not?"
"Well for one, what happened to the Gym? You said you were going to challenge it."
"I know. But this stone was something that CReisen risked her life for. I need to find out more about it."
"Is that so?" Reimu asked as she appeared on the other line, "Seems you've been busy."
"I'll say." Maribel sulked as she ate her sandwich.
"That's a Sun Stone." Reimu said.
"What does it do?" I asked, "Should one of my Dolls hold it?"
"No." Reimu said, pouring herself a cup of tea, "It's magic is different."
"Different?"
"You're in a Center right now right?"
"Yeah."
"Remember how Centers heal your Dolls?"
"A secondary Magical Source right?"
"Yes. The Sun Stone you're holding...think of it as an Outside Source."
"Outside Source?"
"Yep. That stone has a Magical Source inside it. It's not exactly perpetual, but it's alive. It has to connect to another source. The thing is, the magic in the stone is powerful enough to change the host source. A sort of trigger-able evolution."
"Really?"
"Yep. There are limits to it though."
"What?"
"The Magical Source in the Sun Stone resonates with certain Magical Sources. That means the Sun Stone can only be used on certain Dolls. Furthermore, the Magical Source in the stone can only be connected to a source with a similar amount of magic."
"So it can't be used on the Center's Magic Source."
"Yep." Reimu said, sipping on her tea.
Maribel finished her sandwich.
"...Do you know why Dolls attack humans?"
Maribel banged her head on the desk.
"Ask me again later." Reimu said as she put down her tea, "It appears Maribel's getting bored."
Maribel jolted.
"Also, I have to take care of a pesky crow." Reimu frowned as something flashed outside.
"Bye." I said as I put away my Dolldex.
"Geez. What's with you and having to know everything?" Maribel frowned.
"I don't want to know everything. I just have questions and want answers." I said, "Anyway, we should probably restock on supplies at the Mart in this town."
"Okay." Maribel said, quickly putting down her sandwich.
"Wait, I thought you finished your sandwich."
"I ate yours."
"..."
"What? It's not like you were going to eat it anytime soon."
"Welcome!" The clerk cried when we entered, "How may I help you?"
"I would like some orbs-" I began.
"Perfect! I just got a new supply of the New Moriya Great Orbs! Only 600-"
"Don't want it." I said, annoyed, "I'll take 5 of the regular, red, Hakurei Orbs."
"You sure? Alright."
The clerk muttered something else as he took my money, but I didn't care enough to listen. Then Maribel came up,
"Hi, I would like to buy 5 orbs-"
"Ah, the Great Orbs right? Perfect, we just got a new shipment!"
Maribel visibly struggled against the temptation. She bit her lip and reluctantly said, "No...Just...the regular orb...please."
"Kids these days don't have any guts." The clerk mumbled as he took her money.
"You okay?" I asked as we left.
"What? Oh yeah, I'm fine. Hey, let's get you to the Gym. No! You said you would challenge a Gym, don't back down now! Now, let's go, Renko!"
She began to drag me to the Gym.
"So this is it?" I asked.
"Yeah...or at least...it's supposed to be."
Maribel and I stared at the Gym as construction crews ran around, moving materials. Maribel tapped one on the shoulder, "Excuse me, is the Gym still open?"
"Dunno lassie. Wasn't told anything like that. If you feel up to it, go in an' ask."
As the worker left to yell at someone, we exchanged glances and shrugged as we walked in.
"Hello?" Maribel called.
"I hear voices." I frowned as we explored the Gym, "This way."
Following the voices, we found the stadium. Someone stood on the other side talking with a worker.
"AH!" I cried, "You!"
"No way." The man turned around, "How..."
"It's that businessman!" Maribel cried, "The one we met in the forest!"
The businessman scowled and shooed away the worker, "What are you 2 doing here?"
"I should be asking you the same thing." I scowled back, "This is a Gym! What do you think you're doing here?"
"I AM the Gym Leader." The businessman smirked as she straightened his suit, "Newly appointed."
"Appointed?" Maribel frowned, "Why would they appoint You?"
"Perhaps appointed was the wrong word." The businessman smiled, "Perhaps...the new owner...yes, that sound correct."
"The new owner?" I said, "You...brought the Gym?"
"Yes. I have a contract to prove it."
"Who would let you buy their Gym?" Maribel scowled.
"Don't give me that tone." The businessman frowned, "This Gym was run down and running out of business! It's leader opposed me, but I eventually won! That's why this is perfect! The purpose of Gyms are to win anyway is it not?"
"It's not!" Maribel cried.
"Bah, why am I even discussing business with children? You've already wasted too much of my time! Do you want something from the Gym Leader of Caesius Town or not?"
"Yes." I said, stepping up, "I challenge you. And as a Gym Leader, you cannot decline."
"I never intended to." The businessman man smiled as he smoothed back his hair, "My name is Raphael. I am the Gym Leader of Caesius."
Gym Leader Raphael wants to battle!
"Go. Medicine!"
An evolved Doll." Maribel bit her lip, "That's not going to be good."
"Medicine." I read off the Dolldex, "Grass/ Poison. Then...Go, CTokiko!"
"Tweet!" CTokiko chirped as she took to the air.
"Medicine. Acid."
Medicine reached out with her hand and blasted out green acid. CTokiko yelped and dove to the side, dodging it.
"CTokiko, Air Cutter!"
CTokiko swept her wing across, sending a disk of air flying at Medicine, knocking her off her feet.
"Good, follow it up with Fury Swipes!"
CTokiko dove, knocking into Medicine as she tried to get up. As she laid on the floor, CTokiko raised her arms and began to slash at her.
"Acid."
Medicine reached for CTokiko, but she flew away before she could touch her.
"Yes!" Maribel cried, "That's a good start!"
Raphael smirked.
CTokiko yelped and began swaying in midair.
"W-What's wrong?" Maribel squeaked.
"Poison Body." Raphael smiled, "Touching Medicine will poison any Doll."
"That was careless of me." I frowned.
"Medicine! Razor Leaf!"
With a wave, Medicine summoned leaves and fired them at CTokiko. Struggling against the poison, CTokiko could barely gaze them.
"Acid."
Medicine shot her acid at CTokiko, catching her as she dodged between her Razor Leaf. CTokiko fell straight to the ground.
"Air Cutter!"
CTokiko struggled up and sent a disk of air spiraling at Medicine again. Medicine barely took a step back as it hit.
"Poison Sting."
Medicine smiled as she reached for CTokiko.
"...Sand-Attack."
CTokiko smirked as she suddenly threw the dirt she had in her hands at Medicine, hitting her eyes and sending her reeling back.
"Air Cutter!"
CTokiko fired 3 disks of air, slashing Medicine even further back.
"Now, Metal Claw!"
CTokiko's hands hardened and she slashed at Medicine, cutting a small wound on her arm.
"Not bad." Raphael smiled, "But I think your CTokiko is done for."
CTokiko looked disappointed as she collapsed from the poison.
"Too bad."
I frowned as I returned CTokiko.
"CReimu!"
"I'm ready." CReimu smiled as she appeared, "And I've been hoping I could do this."
"Razor Wind."
Mini tornadoes whipped around CReimu.
"Acid."
Medicine reached out and fired acid at CReimu. CReimu fired the tornadoes, scattering the acid and slashed Medicine into the air.
"Close in on her! Use Seal Needle as cover fire!"
CReimu scattered Ofudas and fired them at Medicine, striking her at different intervals, sending her flying into the air even more.
"Jump Kick."
CReimu leaped into the air and aimed a kick, the last ofuda hitting Medicine and sending her flying right into her kick.
"That's honestly not bad." Raphael smiled, "But that was only one. Next up is you, CHina!"
CHina appeared and looked surprised to see CReimu. Nonetheless, she bowed politely.
"CHina, Spinning."
CHina spun around, tendrils reaching out, forcing CReimu to jump into the air to dodge it.
"Toxic. And then follow that up with wrap."
CHina suddenly stopped spinning, the tendrils taking a sharp turn and shot up, wrapping up CReimu in her surprise.
"Perfect!" Raphael smiled, "With this my victory is assured."
"What do you mean?" I frowned.
"What do I mean? I mean that since your Dolls is poisoned, all I have to do is wait and she'll die without me lifting a finger."
"What makes you think she'll just stand there?"
"Do you really think she can break free?"
At his words, CHina tightened her wrap. CReimu cried out in pain.
"...Yes."
CReimu smiled a bit and began to struggle against the tendrils. CHina yelped as CReimu pushed away her tendrils.
"Heh. Hey, Renko. Mind if I improvise?" CReimu asked.
"...Sure."
"All right." CReimu smiled as she reached into her sleeve. Pulling out an Ofuda, she stuck it on the tendril and let it explode. CHina yelped in pain as her grip loosened. Taking the chance, CReimu jumped off the tendril, into the air and Jump Kicked CHina in the stomach. CHina flew through the air and smashed into the wall.
"There we go." CReimu said, landing and falling to her knees.
Raphael kept his smirk, "What makes you think that is the end of her?"
"What?" CReimu cried, getting back up.
"Mega Drain."
A tendril burst through the dust and wrapped around CReimu again. CReimu cried as energy was absorbed from her. When it was over, CReimu crumpled to the ground as CHina dusted herself off.
"And that's the end of it." Raphael smirked, "You've lost."
"...What makes you think that?" I asked.
"What? You only have 2 Dolls do you not?"
I almost smiled as I pulled out another Orb.
"Y-You didn't."
"Go, CReisen!"
"PUU!" CReisen cried as she leaped out from the orb.
"You caught that Doll?" Raphael cried, "Tsk. How troublesome."
CReisen recognized Raphael and growled.
"Let's take a bit of revenge shall we?" I smiled.
"Puu!"
"Tsk. CHina! Toxic!"
CHina reached out with her tendrils.
"Double Team."
CHina grasped CReisen only for her to grasp air as CReisen ran across the tendril.
"Don't let her attack! Wrap!"
CReisen yelped as the tendril moved, tossing her off and quickly gripping her in midair.
"Now! Toxic!"
CHina looked around.
"What's wrong?"
"Confuse Ray." I smiled, "I had CReisen fire it before you caught her with your Wrap.
"What?"
"You're so afraid of this attack. I wonder why. CReisen. Confusion."
CReisen wriggled one of her arms out of CHina's grip and aimed at her. With a bang, she fired her blast of psychic waves. CHina yelped as the attack and her mind went numb.
"You won!" Maribel cried, "On your first try too!"
"Don't get too excited." I frowned.
"What?" Maribel looked confused, "Why are You saying that?"
"Raphael. You're a businessman. Are you sure you should be battling?"
Raphael scowled at me, "Take the damn badge and leave already."
I caught the badge as he threw it at me. I stared at the badge in my hands. My first badge. But...
"I refuse." I said, throwing the badge back to a surprised and indignant Raphael.
"R-Renko!" Maribel cried.
"Don't misunderstand me." I said, "I'm not doing this to spite you. You're a businessman, not a trainer. You weren't meant to be in battles. But if you plan on holding onto this Gym, you better become much better than that. Become stronger and I'll be back to reclaim that badge."
"..."
"Are you sure you want to do that?" Maribel asked as we left.
"Yeah." I said, "It wouldn't feel right for me."
"I suppose." Maribel smiled.
"You have a surprising noble side to you." CReimu smirked.
"Shut up." I said, turning around to take one last look at the Gym. At the entrance, a new sign was being placed:
Caesius Town Gym Leader, Raphael Dominus.
All are welcome and to All their luck.