Vulpixtrainer: Okay, this is it, my very first Gym Battle. Frankly, I am nervous that I will get the characters wrong and mess up canon some, so bear with me as I go into unknown territory for myself. Also, I have only seen the Boulder Badge battle once, so I am going on a faded memory of the episode.
The Rock-Hard Battle
It was now about four in the morning the next day and, amazingly, Matt and company were out running laps around the outside of the Pokemon Center.
"Why do we have to get up so dang early Matthew?" Ethan complained, as he was now having trouble not falling back asleep.
"So we can meet the sunrise and be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed…" Matt, at this, just trailed off before groaning at his own bad pun. Everyone else, though, just started laughing out loud, including the Pokemon, at the new inside joke that they had just made up.
"Anyway, it is so we can be ready and be the first ones at the Gym, since we stopped by and saw the time that it will open today is at nine in the morning. We are doing this so we can have breakfast before we head over to the gym," Becky replied to Ethan as she passed him on the final of four laps. They were all in a dead run. The winners of today's race were, in the order that they crossed the finish line, Matt Vixen, Matthew the Vulpix, and Becky. The rest came in at a steady pace and all close together. Sir Thief was last because of a slight detour to a garbage can for a half eaten apple, so he had to do two more than the rest to do his four laps.
"Matt," Ethan gasped, as he was having troubles breathing from the run, "please start off slow, I'm not in the same shape as you. I just evolved yesterday, and frankly I am still suffering from that rush of new energy and so not up to par." Ethan then just stopped so he could breathe through his mouth.
"Don't worry, Ethan, that was how I felt during Gym class after running laps. In fact, I was even worse running the mile." Matt said as he wrapped an arm around him and guided him through the sliding glass doors of the Center and to breakfast.
(Outside the Gym, 9:00 sharp)
"Well, are we all ready for this?" Becky asked as they stood before the double gym doors. They were metal set into a rock wall that looked very thick to the small band of kids outside them. Besides the humans, there were the two Vulpix, a Pikachu, and a Charmander.
"Yes, let's enter and face the Gym leader," Ethan said as he stepped forward and pushed on the doors, and they swung inward on hinges that creaked with age. They then walked forward into the darkness that came of entering a building on a bright, sunny day.
When their eyes had adjusted to the indoor lighting they looked around at the reception area. There was a desk for the assistant to sit at, but at the moment it was empty. However, there was a sign on the desk indicating that you could walk in to face the Gym leader
So, after walking through another set of small metal doors, they found themselves in the battlefield arena, momentarily blinded by the overhead lights that were shining onto the scene before them. It had wooden floors until you got the battle field, where the flooring turned to dirt, sand, and, of course, rocks spread out here and there, providing cover for those smart enough the use it. If a Rock Pokemon tackled one, then it would send rocks and pebbles flying everywhere. In the middle of the field was a man who looked to be getting into his early forties. His once blackish-brown hair had started to turn grey, his eyes fixed a permanent squint. Around him were a bunch of children, all chatting excitedly. Next to the father was also standing a slightly shorter guy, also with slightly dark skin and also squinting, but he was wearing a brownish-orange shirt, a green vest with two pockets near the shoulders, and brown baggy pants. They were all talking together.
Ethan then cleared his throat in a nervous way. This quieted the group. He then spoke, still in a nervous way, "Uh, if you're busy, I'll come back later today." He then turned to go but Flint just smiled before speaking up in the silence that had descended upon the room after Ethan's statement.
"That is quiet all right, young man. I forgot to lock up the doors. No worries, I was about to show them a mock battle anyway." He then turned to the younger man next to him. "Brock, why don't you referee this match?" The man known as Brock nodded and took his spot at the sideline and the kids took their seats in the bleachers where Matt and Becky had taken up a spot to watch the two trainers, who were readying themselves for battle.
"This will be a one-on-one match between Flint, the Pewter City Gym Leader, and the challenger Ethan Vixen from Vulpix Village," Brock said as he raised his two flags into the air, on red and one green. "Begin!" He yelled as he brought the two flags down, signaling the beginning of the match.
"Geodude, let's rock and roll," Flint yelled, borrowing a line from his oldest son while throwing a Pokeball into the air. It hit the ground next to a boulder and white light popped out of it as the Pokeball split open, releasing his Pokemon.
The Geodude slowly took form, and when it did, it looked like a round rock with rough edges and covered with valleys and hills. Its front had two eyes looking out from it, with rock eyebrow ledges over them and a crack that looked like it was a mouth.
The mouth opened up and the word "Geodude" (ready) came out of the mouth of the Rock Hard Pokemon
"Eve, let's show that we can fight," Ethan said, throwing his Pokeball and releasing the Umbreon; as soon as she was formed she walked over to Ethan as rubbed her head against his leg. "Not now, Eve, we need to take down that Geodude."
"Umbreon eon umbre," (Whatever you say, kid,) she said, acting like he was just an oversized Eevee to her.
"Hmm, you must think relying on high-level Pokemon will help you. Well, you will learn a lesson when I crush you with the Power of Rock Pokemon," Flint said as he gave Geodude his first attack of the day. "Geodude, Rock Throw."
"Eve, dodge that Rock Throw," Ethan yelled to counter.
"Dude, Geo Geodude," (It's time to see who's a sturdy Pokemon,) the Geodude said as he picked up a rock and threw it at Eve.
"Um Umbreon eon," (I don't think so, I will scare you silly,) Eve called as she seemed to lunge at a boulder, only to melt away into the shadow, reappearing moments later on the other side of the Boulder in the light shining from the hanging lamps.
"Good job, Eve, now use your Pursuit, followed by a Tackle attack," Ethan yelled, thinking as fast as he could and hoping that the attacks could be pulled off.
"Geodude, take the Pursuit but dodge the Tackle and then use your own Tackle," Flint yelled back to counter the other's attack.
"Eon Umbreon," (I'll do my best, kid,) she cried as she sent tentacles of dark matter at the Geodude. They wrapped it up but it did very little damage. While they were still wrapped around the Geodude she shot forward to Tackle the Geodude, only to hit empty air. Before she could jump into any nearby shadows, she was hit by the Geodude.
"EONNN!" (OWWW!) she cried as rock smashed into her side and she was knocked into the small boulder that was next to her.
"Eve, Tackle while he is still there. You're at a higher level than him, so you should be able to win by level." It was a flawed plan, but not bad for a newbie.
(Stands of Pewter Gym)
"Ethan is making a few rookie moves out there," Becky commented as the battle continued.
"If I remember correctly, I know of a little girl who sent a certain fire puppy against a new Squirtle, one that only knew Bubble. The puppy was level ten, but the little girl went home crying if I remember correctly," Matt said in jibe to Becky's comment about his younger brother.
"Okay, so we all make those mistakes. No one is perfect in the beginning of a battle…." Her words were at that moment interrupted by Brock yelling out a verdict.
"The winner of the Boulder Badge is Ethan of Vulpix Village." Brock was now pointing the green flag in Ethan's direction. On the field were two Pokemon, a fainted Geodude and, lying near a shattered boulder, Eve.
"What happened?" Becky asked while looking everywhere, perhaps hoping to see an instant replay.
"Pikachu, Chu pika Chu chu pikachu pi," (Shadow move…she used her natural ability to melt into shadow to lead Geodude to start ramming into boulders, thus hurting himself, and Eve only had to prevent herself from getting tired,) Ruth commented as she hopped from Becky's shoulder and started to race to the stairs so that they could battle next.
(Gym Floor)
"Well done," Flint said as he walked over to where Ethan was standing waiting for whatever came next. "You have earned this badge; have also earned this TM." He then handed over the Boulder Badge, along with a disk about the size of a CD, which was TM 08. Becky then walked up, only to be stopped by Flint, who said he needed to heal his Geodude for the next battle.
"Okay, I'll just wait here until you get back," Becky said as she turned to go back to the stands and wait. A few minutes later Flint returned from the back room, holding the Pokeball in front of him and smiling.
"Are you ready to battle?" Flint asked. The only response Becky was to unclip a Pokeball from her side with a smile. "How is a one-on-one, young lady?" Becky only nodded before tossing the Pokeball, revealing her Arcanine.
"Geodude, let's go with a rock throw," Flint commanded. Becky only tilted her head right, and Drake waited until the last moment before jumping right, then left, and then takes a quick bound forward to dodge the third rock. Then he bounded forward again to use a Take Down.
"Geodude! Geo geodude dude?" (What! How did you dodge?) Geodude didn't get to say another word as the Arcanine bowled him down.
"Rock Throw now, Geodude, while it's still above you," Flint yelled, seeing the perfect time to do a major hit.
"Geo." (Right.) He then grabbed a boulder and launched it into Drake's stomach. This made him skid to a stop and turn around to look briefly to Becky. Seeing a small and quick nod, he opened his mouth and let out a giant Fire Blast, charring the Geodude and fainting it.
"The winner is the lovely Rebecca of Vulpix Village!" Brock shouted out in a slight daydream state. (A/N Hey, Brock hits on every girl that he meets for the first time, so don't yell at me for that.)
She then bowed politely to Flint, smiled, and raised Drake's Pokeball to recall, him only to have Brock swoop down and hold both of her hands in his and start to declare his undying love for her. Drake, seeing this, just stepped up and growled at Brock in a tone that states, "Back off." Brock does so, breaking his sappy attitude and returning to his more respectable self.
Matt was standing on the sidelines with Ethan during the entire match and smiling at the way Becky was communicating with Drake by making small movements of her hands or head, while at the same time changing her body language as well. That is something I have got to learn sometime. Of course, that may come as naturally and slowly as the Pokemon heal stuff. I mean, last fall I dropped a hammer on my hand and the pain lasted for weeks, but just last week I hit my thumb with a hammer while fixing some of the Pidgey homes and that only lasted an hour, so I guess my body is still adapting to this change.
"Uh, Matt," Ethan said, waving his hand in front of his older brother's face as best he could, "Flint has been ready for about a minute now. So, are you going to battle him?"
"Yes I am, I just fell into thinking about some battle strategies, that is all," Matt said as he walked forward with Matt on his right and Firestorm on his left. Soon he is in the proper place on the right side of the battlefield, waiting for whatever would happen next.
"This will be a one on one," Flint said, looking silently at the stands. Normally the kids can't stand this long of a losing streak before I have to remove them. Then he saw that the kids had fallen asleep, having worn themselves out from the early morning teaching session that he and Brock had done.
"That's fine by me, Gym Leader Flint," Matt said when Flint had turned his attention back to the battlefield.
"Let's see you handle my best Pokemon." With those words, Flint threw his Pokeball into the battlefield. When it opened up the Pokemon that it released began to grow larger and larger, taking on the shape of multiple boulders stacked one upon another; soon, the Rock Snake Pokemon was fully formed and let out a roar of "OOOOOONNNN!" (Freedom!)
"Flare, let's go," Matt yelled, throwing out a still-shiny Pokeball, which gave away that either he was really rich and had only just now begun to travels or he takes really good care of his Pokeballs, the latter of which is the truth.
"Flareon, eon areon." (Matthew, I am ready.) With those words the two totally different Pokemon faced each other, waiting for the other to make a move.
"Onix, let's start out with a Bind attack," Flint ordered. In response the Rock Snake Pokemon rumbles forward, making a grinding sound as it moved forward at an amazing speed for a Rock-Type.
"Flare, dodge left and then do a Fire Spine to trap Onix," Matt shouted, pointing to his right by accident. Flare, however, knew what he meant and, using his leg muscles, dodged the Onix by jumping onto its tail and then off. As soon as he was away, he turned around faced the Pokemon. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, and as soon as his eyes opened it could be seen that they had gone a red color. He then shot out a tornado-shaped funnel of fire from his muzzle. This surrounded the Pokemon and began to hurt it.
"Onix, let's do a Rock throw," Flint shouted at his Pokemon, worry on his face at the medium-level Fire Spin. Onix just nodded in pain, then moved his tail. Digging into the ground, he sent about five rocks flying. Flare dodged the first three right away, but the last two connected, scoring some hefty damage.
"Flare eon!" (That was a good shot!) He then stopped to breathe for a few more seconds, watching as the tornado slowly dissipated. "Eon on flare flareon?" (But can you handle me up close?) With those words he shot forward into the tornado to the shock of both trainers and the Onix. In doing so he powered up his fire sack and let out an ember right at the Onix's weakest part. The Onix let out a low groan before collapsing to the ground as Flare looked smug about his first real trainer battle.
"Looks like your Flareon has a few things to teach you, kid, but first you have earned this, the Boulder Badge," Flint said after he had recalled his Onix into the safety of its Pokeball to be healed later in the back.
"Yes, Flare surprised even me; he must have seen some weakness that I didn't," Matt said as he also recalled Flare into his Pokeball. However, before they could continue any further a few police officers ran into the gym. Motioning Brock to them, they whispered quickly into his ear and he then looked around, nodded, and ran after them. Flint, seeing the concern that had crossed over Brock's face before he left, just left, waking the kids and taking them through the door reserved for Gym leaders and their families.
"What was that all about?" Ethan asked as he walked over to where Matt and Becky were already standing.
"The entrance to the Mount Moon cave system had a cave in. No one was hurt, but they need some rock pokemon to help move stones and clear a path," Becky responded as she looked around. Nodding her head, she also left through the main entrance, followed by Matt and Ethan.
Kyle: Well, that is it for chapter 28.
VulpixTrainer: Also, I would like to say that 93 years ago this week, on the 14th of April, a disaster at sea occurred: the Titanic sank and, in doing so, cemented her grandeur and mythology for all eternity.