An Age of Valour
by the Lady of the Mists
Chapter Twenty: The Normal Gym
Lydia sat outside the Pokémon Centre, waiting for the siblings as Umbreon sat next to her, laying his head down into her lap. She smiled slightly, patting him, as she looked up towards the sky. The bright sky blazed overhead, lighting up the heavens as a flock of Pidgey and Pidgeotto flew over them, unaware of the young trainer.
"Heading towards the gym?" Nurse Joy had appeared, coming outside to look at Lydia.
"Yeah, if my friends ever get out here," she answered with a grin. "The plan was to get up and out of here early." She smiled slightly as Nurse Joy sat down next to her, stroking Umbreon behind the ears. "Don't spoil him," she warned the nurse. "He's getting hard enough to take care of."
Both of them laughed as Umbreon looked up at his trainer with a wounded look in his eyes. "I'm just kidding, buddy," she assured him.
"Well, good luck today," Nurse Joy said, smiling at her. "Wendy may be inexperienced, but she's learned from the best. Whitney is definitely one of the top trainers that Goldenrod has ever produced and she's passed on her skills to her sister, so be ready."
She smiled at Lydia, then stood up as a couple trainers inside approached the desk and headed back inside just as Jesse and Jennie came outside, looking towards Lydia.
"Ready?" she asked them as Umbreon climbed off of her. She stood up as the siblings nodded. "All right, then let's go." Heading through the crowded streets, Lydia glanced towards Jesse. "So, which Pokémon were you planning on using, anyway?"
"Definitely Gastly," Jesse said at once while Jennie perked up to listen to the conversation. "Maybe Natu or Ivysaur. But I'm definitely going to use Totodile, considering this will be his first gym battle. He needs the experience." Lydia nodded as Jennie looked over at her.
"What about you, Lydia?" she asked, looking interested. "Which ones were you planning on using?"
"Cubone has been getting really good, but he's never actually been in a gym battle," Lydia said, "so I'm probably going to start with him. And Umbreon, probably. How many Pokémon do you think they're going to let us use?" she asked, directing the question at no one in particular.
"I overheard a trainer in the Centre talking about his battle," Jennie told her. "He said that he had to use three. The only reason he lost was because he only had one, so that made things a little difficult."
"Yeah, I'll bet," Jesse muttered. "If it's three, then are you going to use Poliwag or Cyndaquil?"
"Don't know," Lydia muttered. "Probably take a leaf out of your book and decide when I'm on the field." Jesse grinned and Jennie frowned, looking curious and Lydia explained what her brother had done at the last gym. By the time she was finished, they had come up to the gym.
"'Goldenrod City Pokémon Gym,'" Lydia read. "'Leader Whitney, the Incredibly Pretty Girl.' Huh. Guess they haven't though to change the sign yet."
"Guess we should go in," Jesse said, striding forward and reaching for the handle, pushing the door open. The girls looked at each other, then followed him as they made their way through the gym. Behind them, the doors clattered shut as a young woman looked around at them, smiling towards them as they entered.
"Are you here for a match with the gym leader?" she asked curiously. Jesse and Lydia nodded. "Very well, my sister's waiting. Be kind to her, though," she added, "this is her first week of being gym leader and she's still a little nervous. It hasn't helped that not a whole lot of decent trainers have come to challenge her."
"What do you mean, 'decent trainers'?" Jennie wanted to know. The young woman looked at her and smiled.
"Bug catchers, mostly," she replied with a sigh. "They've been coming around here a lot, thinking that a new trainer will be easy to beat."
"So, would I be right in assuming that you're Whitney?" Lydia asked her. The young woman smiled and nodded. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Lydia Talon, this is Jesse and Jennie Turner."
"It's a pleasure," Whitney said as she led them to the gym floor, where a young girl that was around their own age looked towards them. She bore a remarkable resemblance to Whitney, right down to the pink hair. "Wendy, you have some challengers."
"Oh, joy," Wendy muttered as she looked towards them. "All three of you want a battle?"
"Just these two," Jennie offered, pointing towards the older trainers. "I'm not heading for the League."
"Thank goodness," Wendy said, letting out a sigh of relief. "So, which one of you wants to go first?" She was smiling pleasantly towards them as Jesse pushed Lydia forward. "All right, then, step on up," she told her as she walked onto the field.
"Three on three," Wendy told her. "The battle will be over when all of either trainer's Pokémon are unable to battle. Got it?"
"Got it," Lydia said as she handed her Pokédex over to the judge, who entered it into the computer before handing it back to her. "Thanks," she told him before taking her place while Jesse and Jennie took seats at the bleachers with Whitney and some junior trainers.
"This battle between Lydia Talon of Rosewaters Isle and Gym Leader Wendy of Goldenrod City will no begin!" the judge called. "Each trainer is allowed three Pokémon, no substitutions." He looked at the two as each held a Pokéball in their hand. "Begin!"
"Furret, I choose you!" Wendy yelled, throwing her Pokéball and Furret appeared, landing on the field as Lydia tossed her own into the air.
"In the case, the Pokémon I choose will be . . . Cubone!" she called, releasing the ground Pokémon. Wendy's eyebrows went up at this, but she said nothing as Furret growled at Cubone, who only scratched his bone calmly without looking at his opponent.
"Fury swipes!" Wendy shouted.
"Bone club!" Lydia countered. The attack hit its mark, but unfortunately left room for Furret to move in for the fury swipes, effectively scratching Cubone. Lydia frowned, casting a quick glance towards Jesse, who gave her an encouraging smile from where he sat. "Boomerang!"
The attack was launched as Cubone released his club, effectively hitting the normal Pokémon head on, sending him flying backwards into the wall. Wendy's eyes wide as she slowly turned around to face Lydia, who met her gaze evenly as she gawked at the young trainer from Rosewaters Isle.
"One down," Lydia murmured under her breath. "Two to go." Wendy was seething as she recalled Furret.
"You've had some beginner's luck, kid," she warned Lydia. "But this match is far from over." She pulled another Pokéball out and released it. "Go! Clefable!" The small pink Pokémon emerged from the ball, landing gracefully onto the field.
"Lydia, look to Cubone," Jennie's voice suddenly spoke in her mind and she jumped, glancing towards the blonde before looking to her tired Pokémon. Cubone was worn out from the battle with Furret. He couldn't continue like this, she realised as she recalled him.
"How'd you do that, Jennie?" she asked mentally. "How come I'm able to talk to you telepathically?"
"Hey, remember, you're psychic."
"Yeah, but you're not." Lydia glanced at her and realised that Smoochum was sitting in her lap. Not only was Smoochum an ice Pokémon, but she was also a psychic. "Oh."
"Yeah, pay attention to your match and send out your next Pokémon," Jennie told her. "Before you get disqualified for waiting too long."
She had spoken too soon. Umbreon, tired of waiting for his trainer's instruction, darted forward and into the match, growling towards Clefable. Whatever he said, it made Clefable angry, because she moved in for a doubleslap attack without waiting for her trainer's instruction. Wendy winced slightly, but didn't reprimand Clefable, as the attack at close range packed a serious punch. "Nice one, Clefable," she commented. "Now, let's try the metronome."
"Umbreon, dodge with quick attack!" The move was effective and managed to escape the metronome attack as he dived out of the way and before Lydia could call it, plunged forward into a take down attack. "Good job, Umbreon! Now, bite!"
"Moonlight!" barked Wendy as Umbreon bit Clefable in the leg, almost knocking her out of the match. Lydia blinked, mouthing 'moonlight' towards the siblings on the bench as a stretch of moonlight appeared in the stadium and Clefable healed her injuries instantly.
"Oh," Lydia muttered. "Cool move."
"It's not as effective as it would be during the night, but it still works," Wendy said, though she grinned at Lydia. "If you were ever going to attack, I'd suggest doing it now."
"Thanks for the tip," Lydia mumbled. "All right, Umbreon, let's show them that we're not ready to give up just yet. Move in for tackle and then you know what to do."
Umbreon barked as he lunged forward, tackling Clefable before she had the chance to recover from the healing. Clefable squealed, glaring at Umbreon just as Umbreon jumped up into the air. Wendy stared at Lydia, wondering what she was up to, as Umbreon's tail flashed white and landed accurately onto the normal Pokémon.
"Clefable is out of the match!" the judge called as Clefable struggled to stand up from being attacked by the steel-type move, but finally passed out, her energy sucked dry. Wendy scowled as she recalled Clefable, clutching the Pokémon in her hands. Lydia let out a slow breath as she glanced towards her friends. Only one more battle left, she thought. But she knew perfectly well that Wendy would save her best for last.
"Blissey, you're up!" Wendy released the dark pink Pokémon that was the evolved form of Chansey, the Pokémon that were usually found helping out Nurse Joy (any of them) in the Pokémon Centres. "Minimize!"
"Umbreon, dodge it!" Unfortunately, Umbreon had been out a lot longer than Blissey and he wasn't able to get away from the attack that would make it harder for him to dodge any attack that Blissey made. "Sand attack!"
The dark Pokémon turned around and kicked sand towards Blissey just as she released an egg bomb attack. Umbreon roared as he was hit on the shoulder, sending him flying across the stadium, where he landed unceremoniously on his feet.
"Lydia, switch Pokémon!" Jesse stood up, looking at her. "Umbreon's too tired to keep battling like this!" Biting her lip, Lydia looked to her Pokémon carefully, trying to decide.
"Umbreon, do you want to keep going?" she asked. The dark Pokémon looked up and nodded once, going back into the rink, only limping slightly. Lydia let out a slow breath and nodded. "All right, then," she said softly, "then we'll do it together."
"You want to keep Umbreon battling?" Wendy was startled, but Lydia caught Whitney's eye and she smiled slightly, nodding with understanding. "But he's hurt . . . he can't go on like that."
"He can and he will," Lydia replied. "Umbreon, pursuit!" Launching into the attack, Umbreon managed to get it off before Blissey was able to respond, landing carefully on his feet as he growled to her. "We're not giving up, not yet. Not here, not ever."
Wendy frowned, but shrugged. "All right, then. Blissey, let's give them our grand finale!" Blissey opened her mouth and started the chords that would put Umbreon into sleep . . . and out of the match . . .
. . . until at that same moment, Umbreon jumped forward and gave Blissey a take down attack that sent her flying into the opposite wall. Lydia winced slightly. "We have got to stop doing that," she murmured as Wendy shrieked, racing to see if Blissey was safe.
"Blissey is unable to battle!" the judge announced. "The victory goes to Umbreon and Lydia Talon of Rosewaters Isle!" Lydia laughed as she threw her arms around Umbreon, who licked her face as Wendy stood up with Blissey, a relieved look on her face.
"Is she okay?" Lydia asked and Wendy nodded, surprised that she'd asked.
"Yeah, she'll be fine," she answered, looking towards Jesse. "All right, your turn now." Lydia and Umbreon headed up to the bleachers.
"Good luck," she whispered to Jesse as she took his place next to his sister. Jennie grinned as Smoochum started talking to Umbreon while their trainers turned their attention to the match that was starting to take place down below.
"Which one do you think Jesse's going to start with?" Jennie asked and Lydia shrugged.
"Don't know," she admitted as she scratched Umbreon behind the ears. He enjoyed the attention. "If I were Jesse, then I would probably start with Gastly; he's got an advantage over normal type Pokémon, because they can't hit him with any attacks."
"Of course, that can work both ways, 'cause ghost type moves don't work against normal types," Jennie reminded her. Lydia nodded with a grin. "But yeah, so would I. Does Gastly know any different type moves?"
"Hypnosis," Lydia answered, frowning as Wendy sent out an Aipom. "Oh, wow, I've never seen an Aipom before." Jennie grinned. "And I think Gastly also knows Mean Look, but that's not much good unless Jesse doesn't want the other Pokémon to escape from battle."
To both girls' surprise, Jesse released Ivysaur, planting him in the middle of the battle field. Lydia sighed and looked towards Jennie. "Since when does he listen to either one of us, anyway?" she asked.
"Older brothers," Jennie sighed as the battle commenced. The battle between the two trainers was hard and ferocious, almost as hard as Lydia's had been. Wendy was definitely as good a trainer as people said her sister was. Ivysaur won the first match, but was knocked out by Granbull, who also won against Jesse's Totodile.
"This doesn't look good," Lydia murmured as Jennie bit her lip worried as Jesse pulled out a Pokéball, a strange look on his face. He threw the Pokéball, releasing Natu. "Okay, this might work."
"It'd better," Jennie replied, looking at her. "This is his last Pokémon; if he loses this one, he loses the match." She stood up. "Come on, Jess, you can beat her! Show her that us Turners are winners!"
"Way to put the pressure on him," Lydia mumbled as Jesse, after rolling his eyes towards his sister, released a powerful psychic attack onto Granbull, who had been out in the match for a long time. The attack successfully took him out of the match, leaving both Jesse and Wendy with only one remaining.
And Lydia had been wrong. Blissey hadn't been her most powerful Pokémon. Not by far. And the one that she did she was now using against Jesse, with only one Pokémon left. "Go! Girafarig!"
"Is this a problem?" Jennie asked.
"Well, considering that it can use a dark attack, which are extremely powerful against psychics, I'd say yeah," Lydia replied as Natu flew above the stadium, circling the newcomer as he released a pysbeam attack.
"Natu, dodge it!" The psychic bird managed to avoid it as she launched a leer attack before she rose into the air again. "Now, move into peck attack!" Lydia saw, rather than sensed, the problem with that move.
Jennie shook her head. "No," she whispered. "He's got to win these battles on his own two feet." Lydia frowned, not liking that, but fortunately, Jesse realised, a second later, the problem.
"Natu, pull up!" he yelled and the bird screeched to a stop, flying above the giraffe Pokémon before he could hit her with a crunch attack and take her out of the match. "Teleport before it hits!"
The bird shimmered out of view, reappearing behind Girafarig and immediately threw a psychic attack towards her opponent from behind. The close range attack caused a massive explosion and when the smoke cleared, Natu was circling around her unconscious opponent.
"Girafarig is unable to battle!" the judge called. "Victory goes to Natu and Jesse Turner of Alyson Town!" At that moment, Lydia felt as though everything were going to be all right again. Little did she know, it was only the beginning.