A/N: Hey guys, a wild update appeared!
I wanted to apologize for being away from FF for so long, but unfortunately for me, I've been really busy with studies and I didn't have much free time or inspiration to write.
The story is still going don't worry(don't kill me D:), so I'll ask for your patience cuz' this story will surely move on, specially once I get some free time - for now, I got some chapters in draft format, which I'll try to deliver soon.
666funtimes: Damn, reading your review really made me happy, since that chapter where I messed up a bit of both chars. It's just like you said, Colt is very reckless and his love for battling is incredible, but that doesn't make him dumb xD When I think of Colt, I picture him being the older-bro type of char towards Neo since they complement each other really well. In fact, I think all the mains - and even some side chars - complement some chars really well. I'm glad you liked the battle and the way I described stuff and just as you wanted, we have a Lyon's chapter.
Big Bravo: Of course I'd use your char, she's great and it was really funny to write those scenes with our innocent Colt xD I'm glad you liked the way I used your char :D
sonofthetrigod: Haha! I think anyone would react that way towards Svetty xD she's way too flirty and as you said, Colt is just too innocent. I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter and the battle bro.
Ckbrothers: Well, I'm sure our heroes need to be extremely careful with Gym leaders :O we never know what our dear readers had in mind \(^.^)/
Hoenn, Rustboro City, Lyon's POV
As I sprinted towards the Gym, I was almost run over by a huge crowd of people exiting the orange-roofed building.
"Crap... Excuse me! Passing through!" I shouted as I tried not to bump into anyone, while cutting through the excited group of fans.
Barely managing to survive and gasping for air, I was able to make it into the entrance, where I noticed someone rushing towards me.
"Excuse me, sir!" A brown haired man dressed in a formal suit shouted, to get my attention. "We are closed for now. The Gym leader just finished her performance and she's taking a break..."
I thought he was probably confusing me for one of those water show perverts, so I tried to make my intentions clear. "No, you've got it wrong. I'm here to get a Gym Badge!" I announced confidently.
With this, the man's expression stiffened a bit and he said, "I'm sorry, but you'll have to try another time. The Gym leader is now resting before she starts her next performance-"
I clenched my fist as I tried my hardest to not explode at the man. This was supposed to be a Gym, and they were obligated to accept challengers instead of worrying about some stupid water show! Thankfully someone decided to interrupt the porter.
"It's okay, I'll handle this!" shouted a feminine voice.
Looking to my left, I noticed a young woman approaching us, with a towel in her hands. She was drying her long hair, which was light-green, thick, and wavy like some sort of aquatic plant.
I assumed she was the Gym leader because she was still dripping with water, probably from the performance earlier.
She wore a white summer dress over her athletic body. The dress was low-cut, revealing a bikini top.
Staring a bit too long, I jerked my eyes elsewhere in an effort to keep dirty thoughts out of my head. She was an incredibly beautiful woman and I think I could understand why they paid to watch her swim around.
"Francis, you can leave now, I'll show our young trainer to the arena," she said in a calm voice, smiling gently.
The man clicked his tongue in an annoyed manner and left the two of us, returning to his post.
"C'mon, follow me!" She said cheerfully, pointing towards the automatic doors from where she just come. She draped the towel around her neck and strode towards them confidently.
We were now facing the battle arena, the swimming pool with some floating platforms on it, "Just like yesterday!" I thought to myself.
"My name is Kristel and I'm the Gym leader!" The woman announced, beaming warmly.
Her personality was so radiant that I almost found myself smiling at her without meaning to. "I-I'm Lyon and I'm here to challenge you for a Gym battle!" I proclaimed with confidence, trying to ignore the woman's warm personality and focus on the battle to come.
"You have confidence, that's nice!" She said, chuckling merrily at me. "But don't get too cocky! Just because yesterday someone exited this Gym victorious, I won't go easy on you." She suddenly switched to a serious, stern tone-but it vanished as fast as it had appeared, replaced with a smile.
I froze. Her split-second change in mood was unnerving, but she was right. I was being cocky, but I couldn't let that brat take the lead!
"Well, I just wanted to apologize in behalf of my assistant..." Kristel, said letting out a sigh, "As you can see, the League's personnel can be somewhat vicious when it comes to sales and they treat me and the others leaders as pawns for moneymaking."
Her mood swings reminded me of my mother, or, to be more exact, the times she had scolded me. One second she had this motherly aura around her, but once irritated she had no problem in expressing her anger, which was scary even for a guy as cool and strong as myself.
Nevertheless, I nodded after hearing the woman's rant. It wasn't like I didn't understand what she was saying, but right now there was only one thing on my mind: winning my first badge.
"Don't worry, it's fine. But thank god you appeared though! That Francis guy was getting on my nerves," I said, smirking, "So, can we battle or do I need to come back another time?" I wanted a direct answer.
As she finished tying up her hair, Kristel smiled and answered, "Of course, let's battle! You're probably a rookie like your friend from yesterday, right?"
I almost gagged at the word "friend" and answered immediately "Yes, I'm a new trainer. But that brat wasn't my friend!" It irritated me, being labeled as a "friend" of Neo's.
"Hehe! I'm sorry," The Gym leader said, letting out a joyful giggle. "That reaction tells me that you guys just need to settle your differences."
I was about to explode and tell the woman to stop meddling in my life, but she just continued talking, "Seel, come on out!"
As she shouted her command, the white water Pokémon emerged from bottom of the pool and rolled onto one of the platforms, as if it was performing a trick.
Kristel started to walk towards one of the edge of the pool and said, "C'mon, show me if you and your partner are worthy of a badge from my Gym!"
This was what I was waiting for. I held my anticipation as I fixed my jacket and felt my fauxhawk to make sure it was in place, then rushed to the other side of the pool and let out my Pokémon. "C'mon Ty, let's win this!"
As soon as the lights dimmed, my Tyrogue was on top of one of the blue platforms, already stretching his arms and punching the air energetically.
Despite only interacting with Ty once before this battle, I knew he was eager to prove himself. I like that quality of his, and his energetic attitude was pretty similar to my way of acting. I was sure that we would get along just fine.
"Let's start this, shall we?" The woman said and her gentle smile switched to her other, serious expression that just got me even more pumped for the battle.
"Ty, let's start this with a Tackle!" As soon as I gave my command, Tyrogue rushed towards Seel, using the platforms to jump and gain speed.
When he was near his target, Kristel shouted, "Seel! Roll over and counter it with a Headbutt!"
As if it was participating in a stupid Contest, Seel avoid the attack in a flashy, dance-like maneuver and launched itself headfirst towards Tyrogue.
Seeing that sharp horn getting closer to my Pokémon, I shouted, "Ty use Fake Out and follow up with a Tackle!"
Just before Seel was able to make contact with Ty, the fighting type clapped his hands together and released a beam of energy that made Seel flinch.
Taking advantage of the opening created by the first attack, Tyrogue ran towards the water type and tackled it, making his Seel fall into the pool.
Being a Gym battle, I knew that this wasn't over. I needed to pressure my opponent, attacking as much as I could.
On the other side of the pool, I noticed Kristel smirking as she said, "So you're the type that covers his weaknesses by attacking his opponent non-stop? The best defense is a good offense, is that your battle strategy?"
This wasn't good at all, she read through me in no time and since me and Ty were inexperienced there wasn't really a better plan. I gritted my teeth.
"Yeah, damn right! Ty and I will strike you down, right Ty?" I shouted back, trying to motivate my Pokémon, who seemed somewhat agitated.
"Seel, do one of your aerial spin and use Growl!" The water type appeared from underwater, and, while spinning artistically in the air, opened its mouth and let out a loud, piercing cry that distorted the air.
With this, Tyrogue's attack stat was brought down, meaning that I would need to attack that fancy dancing Pokémon a couple more times than I would have earlier.
"Ty, don't waste time and use Tackle while Seel's vulnerable!" Knowing that I was at a disadvantage now, I had to keep pressuring my opponent.
"Oh, no, you don't! Seel slow him down with Icy Wind!" The water type started to blow a beam of blue snow, freezing a good part of the arena and hitting Ty's knee, slowing down his movement.
"Stop Seel's attack with Fake Out and Tackle it!"
As the wind continued to blow, Tyrogue struggled to keep his balance on the platform. He clapped his hands once more, creating a wave of energy that negated Seel's attack.
Flinching from the Fake Out, the water Pokémon fell onto the icy field, taking some damage from the fall.
However, after the effect of the ice attack, Tyrogue's movement speed decreased and it took him more time to reach his opponent. This allowed Kristel to make her move first. "Seel, use Headbutt!"
The white Pokémon launched itself headfirst towards Ty and both of their attack collided, creating a smoke screen that settled down to show both sides gasping for air and with a good amount of bruises.
"This is it... I have to use it!" I thought to myself, knowing that the next attack would probably decide the match winner.
"Tyrogue, use High Jump Kick!" I shouted as I decided to put all of my hopes on this last attack. After receiving Tyrogue, I found out that a fighting specialist that was trying to breed a stronger Hitmonlee had abandoned him. I was lucky that my Pokémon knew such an attack from the start, but it was a gambling move- if Tyrogue missed, he would take damage and I would lose.
I noticed that Kristel froze for a second, probably not guessing that I had such a powerful move on my disposal. However, she also shouted her last command of the battle, "Seel! Use Heabutt once again!"
As Tyrogue closed the gap between himself and Seel, he slowly lifted his knee and waited until the water type was close enough to launch himself in the air, striking his opponent right on its head.
Unfortunately for me, if Ty's speed hadn't lowered, he probably would have been able to strike Seel without taking damage from the Headbutt attack. But that horn hit my Pokémon as well.
After the impact, both Pokémon fall onto the platforms and seconds after, they passed out from exhaustion, meaning that this was a tie.
"That was surprising!" Kristel said cheefully as she recalled her Pokémon, making her way towards me.
Calling back Ty, I thanked him for his effort and agreed to her words, "Yeah that ice attack really messed up my battle strategy. That was lame..." I said, somewhat crestfallen, ashamed that I couldn't get a clean victory.
"Cheer up, you still managed to take out my Pokémon and that's a win in my book!" She extended her hand, offering me a Gym badge.
"Take it- you deserved it! Now you and your partner need to keep practicing. There will be Gym battles much tougher than this one, and in the future, you won't be able to get far by just attacking all-out." Her words and warm smile made me feel like I was being given advice by my mother, or older sister.
If it wasn't for her kind personality, I would probably have been angry by now, after hearing such comment, but I knew that she was right. "Thank you. Tyrogue and I will work harder in the future," I said, mimicking her smile and finally taking the Gym badge.
"It wasn't the best outcome, but I still managed to catch up to you, Neo!" I thought to myself, finally giving in to the pride that I was feeling and regaining some of my confidence while looking at my first achievement as a trainer.