Trainers, what Pokemon would not be a good choice to fight Candice?
a) Infernape
b) Torterra
c) Rampardos
Lucas and Dawn met at the edge of town, ready to exchange their stories. But before they could…
"Hey, there, Lucas! Long time, no see! How's Team Galactic going for ya?"
"Wait, how did you?"
"Haha! Dawn, do you hear this kid? What happens between you and Team Galactic is a complete secret. Everyone and their mother is fully aware of it!"
"Barry… wow… I'd say something, but I really can't get my thoughts straight…"
"I want to challenge the people responsible for battling Team Galactic. Can I? Please?"
Lucas and Dawn are challenged by PKMN Trainer Barry!
PKMN Trainer Barry sent out STARAVIA!
Go! CRANIDOS!
Cranidos stomped on the ground, ready for battle at last. Barry's Staravia used a Double Team, to try and avoid Cranidos. Cranidos knelt down, and sped around, Head-butting every Staravia clone into another two. The real one did faint… it was really hard to tell which it was.
PKMN Trainer Barry sent out ROSELIA!
Roselia spread a Leech Seed onto Cranidos. Cranidos planned on using a Headbutt, but was losing his HP. Roselia won out with a Mega Drain.
Go! STARAVIA!
Staravia shot like a bullet, piercing the Roselia right through. It worked on a Roserade: a Roselia was no challenge after that.
PKMN Trainer Barry sent out PONYTA!
Ponyta's Flame Wheel sent Staravia crashing and burning. He tried to get off another attack, but constant burns had whittled down his efforts.
Go! GIBLE!
What? GIBLE is evolving!
Time stood still, as Gible shot up like a spring. His skin grew a darker blue, and several jet-like attachments appeared: Two 'engines' of a sort, and two wings on new arms that actually were limbs. In addition to this, his face became smaller, to the benefit of actually having a head.
Congratulations! Your GIBLE evolved into GABITE!
Gabite used a mighty Earthquake, easily demolishing the Ponyta.
PKMN Trainer Barry sent out PRINPLUP!
Gabite launched a Dragon Claw at the Piplup, to be met with a Metal Claw. The two blows countered each other rather effectively, before Prinplup shot a BubbleBeam. Gabite's claws pierced Prinplup's defence just as the bubble's got in Gabite's eyes.
"Can you see?"
"Yeah… but my speed's going to be hurting."
Much more slowly, Gabite edged towards the Prinplup. Prinplup shot another BubbleBeam.
"GABITE! DRAGON RAGE!" Dawn commanded. Gabite instantly tried this. The bubbles were bounced harmlessly off, and Prinplup fainted.
Lucas and Dawn defeated PKMN Trainer Barry!
"Wow! How did you know Dragon Rage was going to work?"
"Dragon Rage deals a fixed amount of damage. No matter what you hoped for, your Prinplup was taking that damage."
"Yeah… but wow… I can see why Team Galactic loses to you! Don't forget to always use that knowledge of battle mechanics to your advantage! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to give a shot at thrashing Team Galactic."
Barry ran off, and Lucas and Dawn began their journey to Veilstone City, prepared to give their stories along the way. Mostly about Yuki and the Relic Badge.
"Wow… so that's why we have time travel, but don't know about the future."
"Yeah… it's sad for poor Yuki here. Who knows? He might have forgotten a sibling or something."
"Yeah, well… how about you take the Gym Battle this time?" Lucas asked. Dawn took his Pokémon, and entered the Veilstone Gym. Inside, the Gym's Leader was pounding on a punching bag.
"Hello there, challenger."
"Hello."
"You, and your Pokémon there, it's all about trust. Trust and companionship. If you don't have trust, you don't have anything. And when you don't have anything… Let's see how much you trust each other."
Dawn is challenged by Leader Maylene!
Leader Maylene sent out MEDITITE!
Go! STARAVIA!
Meditite began to meditate, and the air around him quivered. Staravia charged through, and landed an Aerial Ace, which never missed. Meditite stood up, and let out a tuft of energy, which surrounded his fist. Meditite charged with a Drain Punch, which Staravia circled around and Aerial Aced.
Leader Maylene sent out LUCARIO!
Lucario took no time. He used a Force Palm on the Staravia, paralysing it. Dawn hurriedly changed.
Go! MONFERNO!
Monferno ran forward, and surrounded Lucario with a Flame Wheel. Lucario channelled his aura, and attempted to deflect the blow. Monferno added more fire to the attack, knocking both out from over-exertion.
Leader Maylene sent out MACHOKE!
Go! TOGEPI!
What? TOGEPI is evolving!
Time stood still before Dawn had the chance to wonder what on earth had happened when Togepi appeared on the field. Togepi's shell had changed instead into feathers, as did his cream skin. He was entirely composed of feather, and the shell had shrunk to be indistinguishable. All five of Togepi's limbs extended, including his head and neck, and two small wings appeared on Togepi's back.
Congratulations! Your TOGEPI evolved into TOGETIC!
Togetic looked forward, and sent out a mental energy. With a tuft of energy, the Extrasensory attack caused a lot of damage and a flinch. Togetic spread her wings, and used an Air Cutter, which landed a critical hit.
Dawn defeated Leader Maylene!
"Magnificent. If that wasn't faith in your Pokémon, I don't know what is. The way that Togetic pulled off that move. And with some serene grace, I might add. Anyway, you deserve this!"
Dawn received the Cobble Badge from Maylene!
"The Cobble Badge will allow you to spread your wings and Fly from town to town. I don't Fly much. But I'm sure you will with that Staravia of yours."
"We might. But I enjoy the travel too much."
"Hi, Dawn! Beat the Gym Leader?"
"Yes, and she was a really nice one."
"Glad to hear it!" a woman called from above the Gym. Lucas and Dawn looked up, before a pile of snow appeared on the ground, and a black-haired girl showed up in it.
"The name's Candice. And I'm one of Maylene's friends. I'm also a Gym Leader of this region."
"A Gym Leader? Can we battle you now?"
"No. By regulation, I have to use a specific team according to your Badge count. I don't have that team on me."
"Makes sense," Dawn said. Yuki peeked out from around Dawn's legs, and looked up at Candice.
"You come from a snowy place. Have you heard of the Ice Rock?"
"Wow, an Eevee! It's so adorable! Dawn, what do you think of evolving him into?"
"I haven't thought about it. What does he want to evolve into?" Dawn asked, looking into Yuki's eyes.
"A Glaceon, cool and fair, the king of the snow, the… oh, right. I can't rhyme."
"Glaceon, Candice."
"An excellent choice. Eevee, do you want this?" Candice asked, pulling out a snowy chip of stone. Yuki pressed his paw to it.
What? EEVEE is evolving!
Time stood still, as Yuki looked down at his paws. They were extending, and turning shades of blue. His tail turned into a crystal shape, as did his ears. Ice crystals also extended down from his hair, trailing along his body.
Congratulations! Your EEVEE evolved into GLACEON!
"Finally… I think my whole family has evolved now!"
"No, you're the first. Remember?" Dawn asked. Yuki's face plummeted.
"I've got to get used to this time travel thing."
"And as for you, Lucas, I've got a different sort of gift. Gotta share with both of you, right?" Candice tossed Lucas a Poké Ball. Lucas opened it up, and found a Sneasel.
"Guess you're an Ice type Gym Leader, huh?"
"Yeah. When we do battle, remember my Ice typing, and bring Pokémon of super effective types."
"Wouldn't that make it harder for you?"
"Don't most Trainers research the Gym Leader's type before the challenge?"
"Most do. We just bring our team and hope for the best."
"Remember, that may not always work."
"We can hope, right?"
The correct answer is b) Torterra. Remember, it's twice weak to Ice.
Next time, on High Road To Giratina, Wake will be fought. How much we do after that is honestly an unknown.