A/N: Here's chapter 11! I can't believe I've written this much of this fanfiction, and I appreciate all the support and submitted OC's! OC's are still wanted, feel free to submit!
Also, I really love and appreciate reviews, they help to give me motivation to write more!
In the two days after Rose's first Contest, both Gage and Elliot had managed to get their Gym Badges from the Violet City Gym Leader, Falkner. It was Poppy's turn now to battle for her first Gym Badge. She'd be doing that later this afternoon. Currently, she was in the town's Pokémon Center, using the video phone to make a call to her brother, Mitchell.
"Hi, Poppy!" Mitchell greeted through the screen.
"Hey, Mitch," she smiled. "Long time, no see."
"Yeah," he agreed. "So today's your first Gym Battle, huh?"
"That's right," she nodded. "Wanna see all my new Pokémon?"
"Of course!"
"Alright, everyone out!" she called, tossing out all her PokéBalls.
Out came Chikorita, Chinchou and Clefairy, while Dratini was already at her side.
"Wow," Mitchell said, peering closer to the video camera. "Chikorita, Chinchou, Clefairy and your old pal Dratini, huh? Pretty cool, little sis."
"Thanks," Poppy smiled.
"Can I give you a quick suggestion?" Mitchell then asked. After seeing Poppy's nod, he told her, "Well, I know that the Gym Leader you're going up against is a Flying-type specialist. As you know, Flying-types are weak to Electric-types. So, I wanted to know if you wanted me to send you Hannah."
Hannah was Poppy's favorite Mareep back home at the research lab. Poppy had watched her hatch when she was little, back when Poppy's grandmother ran the research lab, and the two became fast friends. Poppy loved tending to the Mareep anyways, but she really loved playing with and caring for tiny Hannah. She hadn't taken Hannah with her on her journey though, because Hannah was very skittish, and too attached to the herd of Mareep to leave them for an extended period of time.
"That'd be great," Poppy smiled. Then, her smile faltered, and Mitchell noticed.
"What's wrong?" Mitchell inquired, seeing Poppy's falling expression.
Poppy chewed on her bottom lip, worried to tell her brother what was really on her mind. So, she kept quiet, and smiled again and said, "I'm fine. Go on and send Hannah."
"Alright," Mitchell sighed, though he knew something was really up with his little sister, even if he was only seeing her over the phone. He plugged in Hannah's PokéBall to the PokéBall Transporter and then said, "Okay, she should be there."
Just as he said, Poppy received the PokéBall on her end of the line. She then thanked her brother, who wished her good luck, and ended the call. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, opened them again, and walked out of the Pokémon Center, as prepared as possible for her first Gym Battle.
Not so later, Poppy found herself standing on one side of the Violet City Gym, facing off with Falkner, the Gym Leader. Gage, Elliot and Rose sat behind her on the guest bench, with Deino and Lily joining them. Falkner's students had their own bench in the middle.
This was the day that Poppy had waited so long for, and now, she had no idea how she felt about everything. Dratini, still loyally by her side, did its best to encourage its Trainer.
"Are you ready, Miss Smith?" inquired Falkner, the Gym Leader, from his end.
"Ready as I'll ever be," she nodded, putting her best game face on.
"Okay then," the referee nodded, putting his arms into position. "This Gym Battle will be between the Violet City Gym Leader, Falkner, and the challenger, Poppy Smith of Rowan Town. This battle will be three-on-three and substitutions will be allowed. The Gym Leader will select the first Pokémon. Commence the battle!"
"Go, Hoothoot!" Falkner commanded, sending in the Hoothoot that had previously been perched on his shoulder.
Meanwhile, on the otherside, Poppy struggled. She knew Electric-types had the advantage, but she also wanted to give another Pokémon a chance. She was torn, so she just grabbed a PokéBall and threw it out, releasing Chinchou.
"Chinchou," remarked Falkner with a kind of grin. "So, you think you have the automatic upper hand just because you're using an Electric-type? I'll prove that notion wrong. Hoothoot, use Tackle!"
"Dodge it, Chinchou!" Poppy called.
Chinchou inched out of the way just in time as Hoothoot swooped in for a Tackle. Instead of looking frustrated, Falkner retained his calm and serious demeanor.
"Take down, Hoothoot," he commanded.
Poppy countered, by saying, "Chinchou, say exactly where you are and wait for me."
"Chin," the Pokémon nodded, putting on a brave face as it prepared itself and shut its eyes.
"What's she doing?!" Rose asked, concerned. "Chinchou will get really hurt if it takes on a Take Down!"
"I think Poppy knows what she's doing," Elliot assured her.
"Yeah," Gage nodded. "I have an idea that I know what she's doing."
Just as Hoothoot was mere centimeters away from making contact with its powerful attack, Poppy called, "Now, Chinchou, Discharge!"
"Chinchou!" the Pokémon shrieked, releasing a powerful electric attack that scored a direct hit. It was extremely effective against Hoothoot, who passed out.
"Hoothoot is unable to battle!" the referee called. "Chinchou is the winner!"
Falkner called his Hoothoot back into its PokéBall, seemingly unaffected, as he said, "Great job, Hoothoot."
Then, he pulled out his next PokéBall, which he tossed out. A Dodrio emerged from it, materializing on his end of the floor.
"Dodrio?" Poppy asked, slightly confused. "Dodrio can't fly."
"Well, if that's what you think, you're about to be proven wrong," Falkner told her. "Jump, and use Agility, Dodrio!"
Amazingly, Dodrio launched itself into the air, so that it looked as though it could've been flying.
"Now, Quick Attack!" Falkner commanded, as Dodrio landed back on the ground. The leap into the air had Chinchou effectively confused.
"Chinchou, do your best to give that big bird a shock!" Poppy called.
Though Chincho tried its best, it couldn't keep track of Dodrio as it raced forwards. It tried sending out multiple electric attacks, all of which missed by just enough room that they were rendered ineffective.
"Drill Peck!" Falkner commanded.
And, before Poppy or Chinchou knew it, Chinchou was taken out of the battle after being hit with an extreme Drill Peck attack.
"Chinchou is unable to battle!" the referee announced. "Dodrio is the winner!"
Poppy called Chinchou back into its Pokébal, smiled, and said, "Great job, Chinchou. Take a good rest, you really deserve it."
"Go, Hannah!" Poppy hollered, tossing out her next Pokémon.
Her favorite Mareep, the one with the purple ribbon and silver bell tied around its neck, emerged on her end. Poppy's friends, who'd just met Hannah the Mareep before the match, nodded in approval.
"Okay, Dodrio, jump again!" Falkner called. As his Pokémon launched itself into the air, he added, "And use Quick Attack back down on the ground!"
"Cotton Spore, Hannah!" Poppy called.
"Cotton Spore?" Rose asked, as Hannah launched the attack.
"Mhm," Gage nodded. "Cotton Spore slows down the opponent. That's smart on Poppy's part - she's reducing Dodrio's speed."
Just as Gage said, Dodrio's speed was extremely low compared to what it had been before the Cotton Spore. Falkner clenched his fist, as he saw this.
"Okay, Dodrio, Drill Peck!" he called.
"Thunder wave, Hannah!" called Poppy.
Hannah, who'd never really been in a battle before, was paralyzed in fear as Dodrio rampaged towards her. She was so paralyzed with fear that she let the Drill Peck attack make contact with her, causing a lot of damage.
"Hannah, you've got to give it a Thunder Wave!" Poppy hollered, trying to save her Pokémon from further injury.
It took her a minute, but Hannah finally mustered up the courage to launch the attack. Dodrio quaked in the electric attack, and fell to the ground.
"You've got to get up, Dodrio!" yelled Falkner. "Show everyone how tough you are!"
To Poppy's surprise, Dodrio managed to get up, but, within a few seconds, it fell again, finally passed out.
"Dodrio is unable to battle!" called the referee. "Mareep is the winner!"
As Falkner recalled and praised his Pokémon, Poppy praised, "Amazing, Hannah! You're doing amazing!"
"Just wait until you see my last Pokémon," Falkner said. Chucking out his final PokéBall, he called, "Come on out, Pidgeot!"
Then, just about the biggest Pidgeot that Poppy had ever seen emerged, ready to battle.
"Okay, Hannah, give it some thunder!" Poppy commanded.
"Fly, Pidgeot!" Falkner called.
Pidgeot obeyed, and effectively avoided the electric attack by flying out of reach. Poppy clamped her jaw, trying to think on her feet.
"Now, dive, and use Wing Attack!" Falkner called.
Hannah, who was already weak from Dodrio's Drill Peck, was knocked out cold by Pidgeot's Wing Attack.
"Mareep is unable to battle!" announced the referee. "Pidgeot is the winner!"
Now, Poppy was really trying to think, after recalling Hannah and thanking her. She tried to think of which Pokémon she could use next. There was Dratini, but the only attack that it had effective against Flying-types was its Thunder Wave, which could either be ultra effective, or barely work at all. There was Clefairy, but Clefairy wasn't really suited for battle yet. It had Metronome, but that wasn't reliable either. So, Poppy had her last resort - Chikorita. Sure, Grass-types were weak against Flying-types, but a Flying-type had just taken out her Hannah, which gave her some hope. And, Chikorita was one of the strongest members of her team. It was worth a shot…
"Go, Chikorita!" Poppy called, tossing out her last PokéBall.
"Chikorita?" Falkner chuckled. "Bad choice. Don't you know that Grass-types are weak against Flying-types? Oh well, guess you'll have to learn the hard way."
Poppy clenched her fist, annoyed with his petty insults, and called, "Razor Leaf, Chikorita!"
"Chiko!" the Pokémon exclaimed, sending out the attack.
Pidgeot flew into the air, dodging the attack with ease, which only enraged and inspired Poppy and her Pokémon even more.
"Quick Attack, Pidgeot!" Falkner called. "And keep it up!"
Poppy watched, feeling the pain that Chikorita had to endure. It couldn't do anything against the attacks from Pidgeot.
"Vine Whip!" she called, trying to think of a strategy.
"Fly up and dodge!" Falkner countered. Pidgeot did, swiftly and easily avoiding Chikorita's vines. "Now, Wing Attack!"
"Try to dodge, Chikorita!" Poppy suggested.
Chikorita tried, but Pidgeot was too fast, and had too much of an advantage from the sky. Poppy winced for Chikorita, realizing that it was really getting hurt. She thought it was over, when, something spectacular started to happen that took everyone in the Gym by surprise.
Chikorita started to glow.
It was evolving.
"Bayleef!" exclaimed the new Bayleef that was formerly Chikorita.
"Wow, Chikorita!" Poppy exclaimed with a beam. "You're Bayleef now!"
"Bay, Bay!" the Pokémon grinned back at its Trainer.
And then, Poppy had it. She'd been so inspired by her Pokémon's evolution that she finally formulated a plan.
"Okay, Bayleef, Sweet Scent, go!" Poppy hollered enthusiastically.
Falkner watched, surprised, as Pidgeot started to descend, attracted to the Sweet Scent.
"Pidgeot, fly up!" he yelled, to no avail. Pidgeot was far too attracted to the smell to even hear him.
"Tie that Pidgeot up with a Vine Whip!" Poppy added. Bayleef obeyed, wrapping Pidgeot up securely with its vines. "Now, send it flying!"
"Bay!" the Pokémon exclaimed, as it body-slammed Pidgeot down onto the Gym Floor.
"Solar Beam!" Poppy called.
"You've got to get up, Pidgeot!" Falkner hollered.
It didn't do any good. Pidgeot's wing had gotten hurt when it collided with the ground, and couldn't even get up. Meanwhile, Bayleef launched an extremely powerful Solar Beam that was a direct hit, and completely knocked Pidgeot out.
"Pidgeot is unable to battle!" stated the referee. "The winner is the challenger, Poppy of Rowan Town, and her Bayleef!"
"Pidgeot, are you okay?" Falkner asked, seriously concerned as he ran to the aid of his Pokémon. The Pokémon nodded as Falkner lifted it into his arms. "Good. You fought a great battle."
"Bayleef!" Poppy praised, as she ran to her Pokémon. The newly evolved Grass-type tackled her to the ground in a hug, licking and nuzzling her face, as she laughed and added, "You're amazing, Bayleef. Absolutely amazing! I love you!"
"Bay, Bay!" the Pokémon replied joyfully, as Poppy's friends cheered for her victory.
Falkner approached her, offering her a hand to help her up, which she took gratefully.
"Here's your Zephyr Badge," he told her, handing her the silver-winged badge. "You deserve it, Poppy. It was an honor to battle you."
"Thanks, Falkner," she smiled, examining the badge in her palm. "It was really great battling you, too. I learned so much from this experience."
They shook, and Poppy ran back to her friends, who all congratulated her and cheered for her. With Bayleef and Dratini at her side, Poppy leapt into the air, and exclaimed, "Sweet! I got my first badge! I got my Zephyr Badge!"
And, another day set on our four heroes. A successful day had passed. Chikorita evolved into Bayleef, and helped Poppy earn her first badge. Things could only get better from here on out.
POPPY's current team:
Dratini, Bayleef, Chinchou, Clefairy & Hannah (Mareep - typically stays at home)
GAGE's current team:
Ivysaur, Raichu, Hitmontop & Snorlax
ROSE's current team:
Lily (Chikorita), Flora (Sunflora), Buttercup (Bulbasaur)
ELLIOT's current team:
Deino, Oshawott, Ferroseed, Litwick & Gligar