Chapter Twelve: Nacrene City Rematch

Touko approached the Gym the following morning. She had spent the night in the Pokemon Center, introducing Tympole to Snivy and the Pokemon Egg. She even trained him a bit with the last few hours of daylight in the forest and even during the nighttime in the Pokemon Center's battlefields. She found that Tympole was very timid though and often times he had to have help from Snivy. Touko kept on encouraging Tympole though and she told him how much she believed in him. Most of the time he was able to finish a fight then. Hawes greeted her with a smile, glad to see her looking more determined than she had left the previous day. She just nodded her head and kept one arm in her bag, holding onto Tympole's Pokeball and one arm cradling her Pokemon Egg.

...

"Lenora. I want a rematch." Touko took her place at her end of the battlefield with Lenora at the other end, reading a book. She looked up from it and grinned, setting the book down and walking to her place on the field.

"So I can see. Do you really think you can handle us this time?" Touko nodded, setting her Pokemon Egg down besides her and clenching her fists.

"We're stronger and we're prepared. Don't go soft on us either." Lenora just laughed and grinned.

"I never even planned it." Taking out a Pokeball, she tossed it in the air, the red light forming to Herdier.

"Here we go." Touko whispered to her Pokeball, kissing it before tossing it up and deftly catching it. "Tympole, it's your time to shine!" The Tadpole Pokemon hopped up, landing with a bounce on the ground.

"So I see you have a new addition to your team, let's just see how well he really listens! Herdier, Leer!" Herdier hunkered down, glaring at Tympole and baring his teeth. Suddenly, Tympole's fear sparked and he hopped over to Touko and hid behind her legs, shuddering and whimpering. Lenora looked confused, as did Herdier, looking over at Touko who was staring down at Tympole. "Is that a give-up?"

"No, just give me a minute." Touko shouted over to Lenora, kneeling down to cup Tympole's cheeks and force him to look at her. "Listen, you are stronger than your fears." Tympole looked up at her, still shuddering. His eyes looked frozen and Touko shook her head at him. "I want you to remember, remember everything that has brought you to this point. Think of everything that has scared you. You're better than all of that now." Tympole continued to stare up at her, still in a state of disbelief. "I want you to remember that other Tympole and anyone who has ever bullied you. I want you to realize you're on my team now. You have Snivy and you have me. No one will change that. Ever." Tympole blinked, something changing in his eyes. "All those people who have hurt you will be wronged today. They may not watch what this battle brings but they will know you have changed if they ever see you again. More importantly, I will know. Snivy will know. Whoever's in that egg will know. You will overcome and you will continue to overcome. You're no ordinary Tympole, you're strong. Together, we're strong." Tympole looked up at Touko, closing his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, they narrowed suddenly and he grinned devilishly. Touko smiled and she nodded at Tympole.

"Touko? Are you going to fight?" Lenora called over, not having heard what Touko had said to her Tympole. Tympole looked up at Touko one last time and grinned before hopping back on the battlefield. Touko beamed, turning to face Lenora.

"Bring it."

"Herdier, Leer once more!" Herdier barked, hunching and baring his teeth at Tympole. He shuddered but stood his ground with narrowed eyes at Herdier. "Fine then, Take Down!" Herdier barked once, rushing full speed at Tympole.

"Mud Shot, Tympole!" Tympole nodded, conjuring up balls of mud and flinging them straight at Herdier. They slowed her down and hit her square in the head, yet she kept charging. "Dodge it!" Tympole jumped up using his tail, easily able to avoid the attack because of Mud Shot. Herdier kept going though, crashing into the wall and recoiling from the pain.

"Herdier, honey! Take Down once more!" Yipping, Herdier rubbed the mud off his eyes and growled, charging at Tympole and smacking him, sending him rolling across the battlefield.

"Tympole!" Touko called out to her Pokemon which was recovering from the hit. Touko grinned, an idea forming in her head. "Aqua Ring!" Tympole was downed, injured from the Take Down, although as was Herdier. Yet as the blue watery rings formed around Tympole and he absorbed them into his skin, he gained more energy. Turning, he bounced up and flipped, facing the kneeling Herdier. "Blast her with Bubblebeam!" Tympole opened his mouth wide, thousands of bubbles erupting from his mouth towards Herdier. They hit her square and bursted into a million sparkles, leaving Herdier knocked out and swirly-eyed.

"Well, I'll be." Lenora put her hands on her hips, calling back her Pokemon. "I guess you did grow stronger." She laughed put shook her head. "Watchog, it's time to boogie!" Touko glared at the Watchog, grabbing Tympole's Pokeball.

"That's fine by me but someone else wants a rematch." Touko smirked, calling back Tympole. "I knew you could do it." She whispered to the Pokeball before tucking it away and grabbing Snivy's Pokeball. "Snivy, hit the stage!" The Grass-Snake Pokemon flipped in circles to land gracefully on the stage.

"Great to see her again, Watchog! Retaliate!" Watchog zoomed at Snivy, faster than she had anticipated and knocked her around badly. Snivy kneeled down, already looking weak from that one attack. Touko grit her teeth, Retaliate was a strong move.
"Snivy! Leaf Tornado!" Snivy narrowed her eyes, mustering her strength to stand up and glare at Watchog. She summoned a cyclone of leaves and shot it at him, the razor edges cutting him up.

"Watchog, hang in there and use Hypnosis!" Watchog stood, removing his arm that protected his face and made eye contact with Snivy. He blinked once and Snivy suddenly dropped down, asleep. "Here comes the pain, sweets! Bite!" Watchog ran at Snivy, but Touko laughed.

"I told you we came prepared, Snivy, do it!" Snivy suddenly grabbed a Chesto Berry from behind her back, taking a bite and her eyes blinked open. She saw the oncoming Watchog and was quickly able to dodge. "Now Wrap!" Snivy shot the vines from her collar, squeezing Watchog tight.

"Watchog get out of there!" Lenora called to her Pokemon, which struggled.

"Snivy! Mega Drain!" Suddenly, Snivy's vines began to glow green, surrounding both herself and Watchog in the light. As Watchog's energy drained, Snivy gained back that energy.

"Watchog! Bite those vines!" Watchog struggled to bend his neck before chomping down on a vine and causing Snivy to cry out.

"Snivy, hang on! Now throw him down!" Snivy clenched her teeth but held on until she no longer could. She threw the weak Watchog down on the ground, slamming him and creating an indent, dust flying everywhere. As it settled, Watchog was seen with swirly-eyes.

"Well, I'll be. You won!" Lenora smiled, returning Watchog and walking over to Touko. She shook her hand and smiled, Touko returning that smile. "Your fighting style is so enchanting. It is charming." She took out a small box from her pocket and flipped it open. It revealed a small golden badge with purple gems in the middle. Touko took it and gently ran her finger over it before placing it in her badge case. "You are a Pokemon Trainer worthy of receiving this Basic Badge!"

"Thank you Lenora, you really taught me a lot." Touko beamed and Lenora laughed. Although the two were interrupted as Hawes burst through the double doors.

"Dear! Come quickly! Team Plasma is threatening to steal some bones!" He talked so fast that Lenora had a hard time hearing him for a moment but then deciphered it.

"What? What's going on!" She looked to her husband before looking back at Touko. "Touko, you come, too!" Hawes and Lenora ran off, leaving Touko to return Snivy before she followed them.