Gee I hope that wasn't too long of a wait. I think I'm getting back into the swing of things and hopefully will get a regular schedule soon Kay peoplez?
Disclaimer: Boi I hate these things but Honestly does it look like I would own this stuff? Really I don't own POKEMON!
Gyms of terror chapter 14
Riley could feel his face grow increasingly warm as he, Lucario, Aurora, and Gardevoir neared the Canalave gym. He felt his heart steadily increasing its pace and his knees weaken. The only thing in his mind that kept him upright and walking towards this goal was Aurora's cheeriness and never ending smiles of enthusiasm. Throughout the entire walk towards the gym Aurora had been telling him how much stronger he had become, how ready he was, and any other moral support she could give him. It wasn't like she could battle for him, but he still wished it.
"C'mon Riley, you've come too far and trained too hard to get scared now! You can do this! Just have faith and before you know it you'll be polishing that gym badge on that black cotton T of yours!" Aurora wrapped her arm around Riley's shoulders and gave him a slight squeeze. Only Aurora however could hear Gardevoir's support following hers. It is true Riley; you've grown much stronger in that little time than I would've known to be possible! Aurora just translated it over to him.
"Th- Thanks guys, really… but Derek is ruthless. Especially towards me… he patterned his skills just to be one above me every time…" Riley shook off Aurora's arm from his shoulders and looked towards the ground.
Aurora's optimistic face turned glum, and her eyes filled with Riley's fear and disappointment that was inside of him. They stopped right in front of the door to the gym. Riley inhaled and heaved a sigh and was about to walk in when Aurora caught his arm. He blinked at her to ask what it was that she wanted, but he just saw a hopeful smile etch itself across her face. She pulled him close to her and she wrapped her arms around his neck in a warm embrace. Riley was startled at the gesture at first not knowing where it came from but soon he found himself wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her into a tighter hug. Aurora then whispered in his ear, "If for any reason you don't win this battle… I'll still travel with you, and make sure that I get you that battle I still owe you!" Then she pulled away.
Riley found himself lost in Aurora's gaze, her light sea blue eyes enchanting him into a calmness that he found a lust for. "Thank you Aurora… for everything you've done! I'll make sure that this time entering the Canalave gym… is the last." Riley felt the fire of determination once extinguished now burning hotter than ever before inside of him, and he had Aurora to thank. He watched as her smile went from her face to deep within her eyes and before he knew it he grabbed her hand and dragged her into the gym with the two Pokémon following closely behind.
As the four made their way to the battle room Riley sprung to the center of the battle arena and caught Derek by surprise as he yelled, "Derek, I challenge you to a battle!" The three stood in awe as the once shy boy now had his voice echoing throughout the entire gym. To Derek however this was not shocking; he had been waiting for this day ever since Riley first challenged him. He just nodded and smirked.
As he stepped forward to speak he noticed the girl in back standing with a Gardevoir and Riley's Lucario. He froze, stared and pointed dumfounded and stuttering. "Th- That's the, the Aurora you've t- t- told me about Riley? That trainer there, standing next to your Lucario?"
Riley glanced over to Aurora. "Yeah that's Aurora, what about her?"
"I'm sorry have we met before?" Aurora innocently chimed in.
"You beat my entire set of six Pokémon with your Ralts then in the middle of the battle it evolved… into a Kirlia! I was on my way to the Pokémon league at the time!"
"Ohhh! You're the famous Derek? Wow… how could I forget the man that allowed my Ralts to evolve into my trusted Kirlia to allow the evolution of my Gardevoir? My goodness, you've made something of yourself here haven't you?" Riley glanced back and forth as the conversation continued. Derek would go something like, "You're the one that put me here!" while Aurora would just say something simple like, "You got yourself here by your talent…" It took awhile for them to finally remember that Riley was standing in the middle of the arena with Reese sympathetically patting Riley's shoulder.
Derek blinked "Oh I'm sorry Riles… your battle right!"
"Yes thank you!" Riley walked over to his side of the field and readied his first Pokémon once the rules have been stated. Aurora gave him a pat on the back and wished him luck as she and Gardevoir sat in the bleachers off to the side to observe.
Derek could feel something different about his old challenger; he saw it in his dark eyes. A spark that was never there before, but maybe it was just the new hat, he couldn't tell. Derek took a breath and told him to choose his first Pokémon accordingly, and then he tossed out his Pokéball. Before the trainers' eyes a Marowak took form. It looked a little stronger than when Riley last saw it, but none the less he would have to KO this Pokémon soon if he wanted a decent chance at winning this battle.
Riley felt his various Pokéballs flowing across his finger tips and found the one with Skarmory inside of it. He lifted it free and tossed it out onto the field ready for battle. The moment it composed itself Riley gave the first command. "Skarmory use spikes then follow it with drill peck!"
As the silver bird went hurdling across the plain Derek was amused by this sudden offensive maneuver. He didn't have to time to think about it though as the Skarmory was closing in fast. "Marowak dodge it quickly!" The spikes showered the Marowak briefly thrusting fear in its mind giving Skarmory the perfect opportunity to plant its attack. As its glowing beak made contact with the Marowak's side it was sent hurdling across the room bouncing off of the wall. A direct hit had started off Riley's battle as he watched the Marowak try to his feet. "What? Marowak are you good?" It gave a brief nod and Derek gave the order to use brick break.
"Now Skarmory use Arial ace to dodge and attack!" As the bird whipped around at an incredible speed it landed its attack flawlessly ending the battle between the two in three minutes. "Yes! You did an incredible job Skarmory!" Riley heard Aurora cheering loudly over in the sidelines.
"No Marowak! … Return to your Pokéball and get some rest…" Derek looked at the Pokéball in his hand. Marowak had normally taken care of most of Riley's Pokémon, but he was just bested. "That was unexpected huh Marowak… We'll get 'em in the future don't you worry pal." Derek took a good long look at Riley. It was the hat, but he reallyhad changed too, he just didn't catch it when he should've. Riley isn't the same scared little boy anymore is he? "Not bad Riley… You must've been training hard!"
"Ha! You'd better believe it; I almost have the entire island memorized just like you told me!" Riley chuckled.
"No! I told you to memorize it, not to almost memorize it Riles!"
"Oh well! …Your turn Derek!"
"Oi, don't remind me, ha ha ha!"
From the sidelines Aurora yelled down to Derek. "What are you afraid that you might lose this one?"
"Not at all Aurora, I'm just afraid that I'll make a fool of myself with you here… again!" All four people in the gym laughed as Derek's Pupitar soon took place in front of them. "How will you fret with this one huh?"
"I mighthave an idea…" Riley thought for about a second. "Wait nope I don't have one, never mind… Let's just see what we can do here…" Riley felt the Pokéball that was home to his Metang. He recalled his Skarmory and as he sent out Metang he thought of a great way to start off. "Metang use bullet punch!" As the vast metal Pokémon neared the smaller Pupitar Derek screamed "dodge it!" in his mind but the words never came out.
Wait I can use this to my advantage!"Pupitar use payback!" As the Pokémon began to gather the energy it needed for the attack several of the spikes that were launched up into the air came crashing down on its head causing it to stall its attack.
"Quick Metang this is your chance, use Psychic!" The attack came swiftly and it left the Pupitar badly damaged. They both knew that Pupitar wouldn't be able to handle another hit like that.
Before Riley could give a command Derek withdrew his Pokémon and sent out his Golem. "Golem use double edge!" The moment the Pokémon took form it attacked the unsuspecting Metang causing a great deal of damage to both users. "Alright Golem you can do this finish it up with Magnitude!" The ground began to quake and dirt and gravel was bouncing off the ground and it eventually attacked the Metang bringing it to faint. It was a critical hit that brought shock into Riley's eyes.
"No Metang!" Riley withdrew his Pokémon and then brought out his Mawile. "C'mon you can do this! Use bite!"
"No! Golem use explosion!" Once the Mawile was close without the chance to back off the rock like Pokémon went up in a ball of light and fire so great that all had to shield their eyes. Once the vicious commotion was done and over with both Pokémon was found unconscious on the battle field. In slight frustration and satisfaction Derek withdrew his Golem. Riley did the same only annoyed at what Derek had done.
"You've only got one last Pokémon don't you Derek?" Riley speculated.
Aurora looked hard at the field. "Those last attempts to faint a Pokémon are very sloppy yet effective and better than having his Pokémon go down alone… but still."
Riley called forward his Lucario while the Pupitar took its place back on the battle field. "I'll allow you to have the first call Derek!"
"Oh how kind, I might just do that! …Pupitar use earthquake!" As the ground began to tremble Riley forced his mind to go calm and think of the next thing to do… but nothing came. Derek stood proud of himself as the Lucario's health was depleted greatly. He was so proud that he didn't see the Lucario head for the Pupitar with a metal claw ending the battle abruptly. He hadn't even heard Riley tell Lucario to do so, but it was done and he had lost. He heaved a heavy sigh once his general shock was over and recalled his Pupitar. He smiled at his Pokémon inside of the duo toned ball, then at Riley. "Great job Riley… It pains me to say so… but you won fair and square, plain as that."
Riley was so confused and in awe. "I- I actually… won? Me, I really won?"
Aurora had jumped from the bleachers and gave Riley a huge hug. "Yes you won you star!" She pulled away and dragged him over to Derek who was getting the case from the referee.
The case was a hard red wood that gleamed in the bright light which seemed to enchant Riley. Once Derek finally opened it Riley was so shocked he finally made it this far. "This is yours Riley… You've earned it very much so… Then, go on take it!"
Riley's jaw dropped slightly, as he shakily took that Badge from the soft red velvet and once he finally rested it in his hand he held it so that they all could see it. Once the excitement finally sunk in he jumped and yelled a victory cry. Once he finally calmed down however they said their thanks and left.
As they were walking along the road of the city Aurora nudged Riley who was still gawking at the badge in his hand. "So then Riles how does it feel to finally have that badge?"
"It feels great… Did I ever tell you that I hate that nick name?"
"I gathered!" A huge smile spread across her face. "Let's get to a Pokémon Center and get some rest Riley. We've got a long adventure ahead of us yet!"
Riley nodded and followed her, but before he did he caught her arm and pulled her into a warm hug. "How can I thank you for all you've done?"
Aurora smiled and tenderly hugged back. "Travel with me! Please?"
He pulled away and nodded his head. "Alright then… I'll travel with you." He watched as a smile spread across her face and he felt that he did the right thing, traveling with her just seemed perfect and he would follow her, anywhere he thought.