"I don't understand…" Nate said slowly, "How can you be the Pewter City gym Leader? Where's Brock?"
Nara laughed warmly and curled a piece of her red hair back behind her ear. "Haven't you heard? Brock was offered a place in the Elite Four. He's there right now."
"So you're the gym leader?" said Zoe disdainfully, looking the skinny woman up and down.
"For the moment at least," chuckled Nara, the wrinkles around her eyes crinkling as she smiled. "I used to run a Pokemon trainer centre and Brock was one of my students. When he decided to go he had to find someone to replace him at the gym. I guess as I'm one of the few residents of Pewter town who can beat him, he figured I could handle the job." Zoe raised an eyebrow at this, eyeing the poke balls strapped to Nara's waist.
"Unfortunately, I was unable to stay at the gym and look after this lot," she gestured to her four ginger children, who huddled round her, tugging her skirt and begging her for hugs. "So I had to close down the gym and move all the battles to the playground here."
Zoe yawned loudly, "Great story. Now can I just battle you and get my badge?"
Nara burst out laughing, "I see you're the sort to get right to the point eh? Very well." Nara strode across the playground to a drawn out concrete square, clearly designed for Pokemon battles. "We will have a one on one battle, first to KO their opponent wins."
"Awesome! I'm up first!" cried Zoe, pushing past Nate to get into the trainer semi-circles drawn out on the concrete.
"Wonderful. Nate, I'll play you afterwards. Johnny, Annie, Jack and Emily will act as referees for our match." The four kids ran giggling into the refereeing box, excited to be involved in another Pokemon battle.
"Ok Zoe, you can see what pokemon I'm going to use before you choose yours. Sudowoodo I choose you!" Nara's poke ball opened in a flash of light revealing a small tree made from rock which bopped happily from side to side.
"Ok I'm ready! Squirtle come on out!"
Squirtle's eyes glinted as the two pokemon prepared to do battle.
"It's time for the semi-final!" screamed the MC as Mac and Allegra took their places opposite one another. "These two combatants will fight it out two on two to decide who's going through to the final and has a chance to earn that glorious Pewter Ribbon! Our combatants must use beautiful contest moves to lower their opponent's score whilst at the same time fighting a gruelling battle. Now let the battle begin!"
"Pikachu, Eevee, let's do this thing," cried Allegra throwing out two poke balls. A small yellow and brown striped mouse appeared, sparks crackling from its cheeks. Beside it a small brown fox appeared, it's fluffy white tail waving happily.
"Alright, Corphish, Bulbasaur, come on out!" Yelled Mac, revealing his determined fighters.
"Eevee, quick attack now!"
"Corphish, use harden in front of Bulbasaur." As Eevee sprinted towards them, Corphish glowed silver, his armour becoming even stronger.
"Eevee, slow down and use sand attack!" Eevee skidded to a halt, kicking a wave of sand into Corphish, causing it to totter; it's eyes clamped shut.
"Now, Eevee and Pikachu use quick attack together on Bulbasaur." Allegra's two pokemon flitted across the stage, flanking Corphish and Bulbasaur from either side.
"NO! Corphish quick! Use vice grip on Pikachu. Bulbasaur, Razor Leaf on Eevee!" Bulbasaur shot a flurry of twisted leafs crashing into Eevee, causing it to stumble and fall. However, Corphish, still blinded from the sand, was unable to connect with Pikachu, allowing it to sprint through and smash headfirst into Bulbasaur.
Mac grimaced as Bulbasaur whined and his score dwindled on the electronic board. Allegra was down to 94 whereas Mac was already reaching into his seventies.
Bulbasaur got up slowly, breathing heavily, beside it Corphish shook the remaining sand from it's eyes and readied itself for another attack.
"Corphish, Bubble beam! Bulbasaur, Vine Whip!" Both pokemon surged forwards towards Allegra's side of the field.
"Pikachu, Double Team!" Suddenly dozens of Pikachus filled the field and Corphish and Bulbasaur looked around confused as bubbles and vines soared straight through them.
"Eevee, Shadow Ball! Pikachu, thunderbolt!" Bulbasaur and Corphish were thrown back towards Mac, who gasped as his score fell down to 35. He watched, filled with fear as both of his pokemon struggled to stand. He was filled with a sudden desire to run away.
"Squirtle, finish it with water gun!" shrieked Zoe, determination shining on her face. The badly bruised turtle unleashed a jet of foaming water, throwing Sudowoodo lifelessly to the floor.
"Sudowoodo is unable to battle! The winner is Zoe Paine from Pallet Town!" Zoe screamed with excitement, rushing onto the field and pulling her Squirtle into a bone-crushing hug.
"We did it! We did it Squirtle! You were amazing!" she cried bouncing from one foot to another. "Come on Nara! Gimme the Boulder badge!"
Nodding happily, Nara reached inside her coat and pulled out a velvet box. Inside were several Boulder Badges pinned into the fabric.
"Zoe, you battled fantastically and I'm proud to present you with the Boulder Badge! I wish you good luck on your adventure and I hope to have a chance to battle you again sometime."
"Count on it!" Zoe replied with a grin, pinning her badge onto her t-shirt.
"Ok, Nate you're up," said Nara, gesturing for Nate to take Zoe's place, "Same rules, one on one. I will use Mankey!" Nara threw out a poke ball, which revealed a small monkey type creature, which snarled ferociously.
Nate nodded slowly, his hand moving amongst his poke balls, not entirely sure which to choose. Finally he grasped one and threw it out yelling, "Taillow, I choose you!"
The bird squawked loudly, excited and ready to battle, deep in his mind Nate wished he could be as confident.
"Mankey, growl!" Ordered Nara. Mankey darted forwards and unleashed a vicious howl and Nate noticed Taillow back off a little, it's eyes filled with what looked like doubt.
"Taillow, don't be afraid! Hit it with Quick attack." Taillow shot forwards, but Nate noticed it was slightly slower than normal.
"Scratch, now!" Mankey took advantage of Taillow's fear lashing out and cutting it across its chest. "Now Mankey, whilst Taillow's stunned hit it with high jump kick!" Mankey launched itself into the air, smashing Taillow with a powerful kick, sending it down into the ground with a resounding thud.
"Taillow, no! You can do it buddy, get back up!" Taillow struggled back up to its feet.
"Mankey, don't let it get back in the air. Low kick, now!"
Mankey span into a sweeping kick but Taillow dodged it just in time, flitting back into the air, causing Mankey to stumble and trip.
"Yes Taillow! Good work! Now while he's down, Focus Energy!"
Taillow's wings started to glow, as Mankey pushed itself back on its feet, ready for more.
"Mankey, go for another scratch."
"Taillow dodge it!"
Taillow's superior speed was starting to show through as it shot past Mankey's claws.
"Mankey, go for a High Jump kick!"
"Taillow, keep dodging!"
Mankey launched itself into the air, foot outstretched, but at the last moment, Taillow darted just out of reach, leaving Mankey to tumble back down into the hard concrete.
"Now Taillow, use wing attack!" roared Nate, his eyes blazing with exhilaration. Taillow began to beat it's wings rapidly, before swooping down into Mankey and throwing it onto it's back.
"Before he gets up! Use peck!" Taillow slammed down into Mankey's chest, beak first, causing Mankey to squeal in pain and then lie still.
"Mankey is unable to battle! The winner is Nate Marlow from Pallet Town!"
Nate fell to his knees cheering, as Zoe went wild from the sidelines. Taillow fluttered, exhausted, back to Nate's shoulder and promptly fell asleep against his neck.
Laughing, Nate returned Taillow to its poke ball and went across to Nara to receive his Boulder Badge. All the while saying in his head, "Look out Logan, here I come!"
"Pikachu charge the Shadow ball with a thundershock!" yelled Allegra, as her Eevee created a swirling ball of purple, Pikachu's thundershock caused the ball to crackle and spark violently as it flew across the field towards Mac's battered team.
"Corphish, Protect! Cried Mac. Corphish darted in front of Bulbasaur, but it was too weak to perform protect effectively, the shadow ball smashed through Corphish, throwing it, unconscious, to the floor.
"Uh oh. With Corphish KO'd, looks like Mac's gonna have to battle 2 on 1!" Yelled the MC, watching as Mac's score dropped even lower. It was obvious that Mac could only take one more hit whereas Allegra's score was still almost full.
"Corphish, return! You did great Corphish," Mac whispered, clipping the poke ball back to his waist.
Bulbasaur, let's go! Trap Pikachu with a Vine whip!" Bulbasaur, shot out long snakelike green vines, which ensnared Pikachu, lifting it up off the ground.
"Now, poison powder!" Bulbasaur shot out a haze of poison, causing Pikachu to cough. Mac smiled as, for once, Allegra's score dropped a bit.
"Eevee, lets finish this with bite!" Mac gasped, caught off guard, as Eevee jumped at Bulbasaur teeth bared.
"And there goes the battle! Allegra Sauverget is the winner and she will move onto the Final! But let's give a big hand to Mac Frasier, for his performance!" The crowd erupted with cheers and Mac smiled a weak smile, kneeling down to congratulate his fatigued Bulbasaur.
"You were amazing Bulbasaur," he whispered stroking it's back, "don't worry, next time we'll win!"
"The winner is Allegra Sauverget!"
Mac watched with a small smile as Allegra vaulted her way onto the podium her Pikachu and Eevee dancing happily alongside her. She grinned widely as the Judges handed her the Pewter City Ribbon. She held it above her head to show to the adoring fans.
Mac gave her a half wave from where he was standing before heading off to join his two friends.
Their two boulder badges glinted in the dying light. Nate watched as the sun slowly began to sink beneath the mountain up ahead. Beside him Charmander cut through the grass with a look of deep concentration, above, Taillow soared happily, calling out to wild Taillow's nearby, below, Wurmple slid through the grass, looking for tasty morsels. Nate wondered what his brother would say if he could see Nate's team.
"Come on guys, let's go," said Nate, "Next stop Mt. Moon!"
I know I haven't updated for ages
But I kinda got sidetracked by my other stories
But now I'm back and I hoped you enjoyed!
Just to say I don't need anymore characters
As I am sorted but thanks very much for your characters
Nara was a great addition
and I will try to include aspects of Santiago and Ann-Marie
Thanks for reading :D