DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN POKEMON. ELSE ASH WOULD HAVE RETIRED BY NOW.
17 year old Black handed his six year old, white haired sister a Casteliacone as she sat between his shoulders on Liberty Pier and gazed at the magnificent sunset.
"It's delicious!" she cried as she took a gentle lick. He smiled and continued gazing at the sea before speaking up.
"Did you know that they actually taste pretty dull and sour?" he asked. White furrowed her eyebrows in thought. How could they be sour when the one she had tasted was so sweet?
Chuckling at his sister's silence, he put her down and bent on one knee to face her.
"Doesn't taste sour to me," she lisped taking another lick at the cone. Black tapped her nose like he usually did.
"Of course it doesn't…." he replied softly. " Casteliacones only taste better with a friend."
Castelia City Gym, Castelia City.
The time was 7 AM. Two teens and one Jolteon stood right outside the Castelia City Gym looking slightly tired.
"Let's run through this again White, what's the first move to use against Burgh's pokemon?" Scarlet asked as he rubbed his forehead lightly. He had to wake up extra early so he could give the girl a quick warm up before her gym battle.
"Um…Arm thrust, right?" she replied uncertainly and received a pinch on the nose from the exasperated hunter.
"Wrong again Genius," he deadpanned as he twisted her nose slightly to the right. "We went through this yesterday remember? Fighting moves aren't very effective against bug-type pokemon."
Too tired to stay angry, he let go and pushed open the green, Ariados-web patterned doors. Rubbing her nose, White mumbled something about liking the way the move sounded before jogging after him.
"Can't you use just Beartic?" Scarlet asked as he and Jolteon eyed the gym. The reception they were in seemed almost hexagonal in shape like a beehive and… was that a wall of honey right in front of them?
"I told you silly! I was told only to use him if I'm in danger," White replied as she walked into the wall and disappeared in the honey. Scarlet and Jolteon stared for a while before the trainer's white covered head poked out from the glob of golden goo. "What're you guys waiting for? Jump in!"
Scowling, Scarlet huffed before closing his eyes and pushing himself after White. The trio found themselves in another room filled with paintings and more walls of honey.
"Guess we'll have to push through so we can reach the gym leader. Let's go Jolt," the hunter stated as he and White strode over to the wall and began their sticky journey through the hive-like maze. In 20 minutes, they had cleared the maze and were brushing off globules off honey sticking to their clothes.
"You are early my dear White!" a voice declared from behind. Turning around, the trio stood face to face with the grinning bug-centric artist.
"It's thanks to me that she's even here. She sleeps like a hung-over Snorlax," Scarlet grumbled as the artist led them into a big stadium with large areas of vegetation lining its edges. In the centre was a marked battlefield where White's gym battle would take place.
"Wow….looks even better than the last time," White remarked as she zigzagged over to the battlefield while admiring the gym. "Watch me coach. Pignite'll win this match in no time!"
"Just remember to use fire moves only," Scarlet replied as he and Jolteon sat themselves down at the spectator stands. That's her safest bet after all, he thought to himself as the girl gave a nod and went over to the challenger's spot.
Burgh strolled past to his challenger towards his spot and made a dramatic twirl to face her. "How I admire the ever-shining confidence pouring from your white heart. As you know, I am an artist and it is no surprise as to why I was drawn to these wonderful bug-type creatures. Bugs exude an intriguing beauty and grace when in and out of battle and my pure heart cannot but pump violently in awe at their magnificent power. Are you ready to experience this power, White?"
Expression changing to a look of determination, White nodded and snatched Pignite's pokeball. Pulling out a pokeball of his own, Burgh returned the expression. "I see. Let us get straight to it and paint this gym red with our artistic passion!" He cried as he flung his pokeball into the air. A purple pokemon shaped like a tyre came tumbling out.
"Whirlipede, the Curlipede Pokemon and the evolved form of Venipede. Protected by a hard shell, it spins its body like a wheel and crashes furiously into its enemies," Scarlet's pokedex beeped loudly as White's Pignite landed out of her own ball.
"As courtesy demands, please start White," Burgh stated.
"Let's win this Pignite! Use arm thrust!" White cried. At this point, everyone sweat dropped.
"Why did I even bother…?" Scarlet sighed as Jolteon rolled his eyes.
"Whirlipede, Roll Out!" Burgh ordered as Pignite dashed towards the bug pokemon. Letting out a grunt, it leapt into the air effectively dodging her attack and rolled in mid-air before coming down hard on Pignite. Not stopping with that attack, it continuously struck itself into the fire pig mercilessly before skidding to a halt in front of its trainer.
"Shake off the pain and use flame charge!" White called. With a nod, Pignite repeatedly stampeded her feet into the ground throwing up dust. Seconds later, she burst forth as a blazing trail of fire.
"Protect!" Burgh called as Pignite neared his pokemon. A shimmering green barrier appeared right in front of Whirlipede and blocked Pignite's attack, sending her flying back at her trainer as a result of the nasty impact.
"Get yourself together! Use Take down!"
Steadying herself, Pignite rushed back at Whirlipede. Burgh smirked.
"Now! Whirlipede, use Double-Edge!" He cried with a flick of his hair. Surrounding itself in a light purple aura, the Curlipede rolled at full speed towards the incoming fire pig.
You're better off using that attack to your advantage, Scarlet inwardly remarked.
"Stop, spin and use ember!" White ordered suddenly causing Scarlet to smirk and Burgh to gasp faintly. Grinding to a halt, Pignite spun inches around the rolling pokemon and let it barrel past her before blowing a powerful stream of fire at its exposed back. Caught by the unexpected dodge and the flames, Whirlipede smashed itself into the wall beside White before blowing up in a ball of fire. Moments later, the flames died down to reveal the charred pokemon with swirl marks in its yellow eyes.
"Beautiful work Whirlipede. You did well," Burgh stated calmly as he returned it to its ball. Taking out another, he called out an orange crab-like pokemon with a large stone shell.
"Dwebble, the Rock Inn Pokémon. After finding a suitable rock, Dwebble digs a hole in the rock's bottom, to use as a protective shell. Dwebble can make rock easier to carve by producing a liquid from its mouth," Scarlet's Pokedex beeped again.
"Let's see how you fare against this sturdy one," Burgh said as White eyed the bug/rock type pokemon.
"Pignite," she called raising her hand. "Arm thrust!" With a nod, Pignite threw her open palms at Dwebble. With an order from Burgh to dodge, the pokemon moved with amazing speed despite its heavy rock shell and dodged every one of Pignite's strikes.
"It's fast…" White observed as Pignite stopped to catch her breath. Taking that chance, the artist called for his pokemon to use Rock Wrecker. Digging its claws into the ground, Dwebble summoned a giant boulder and launched it at the panting Pignite.
"Dodge it!" the white-haired trainer yelled. Unfortunately, Pignite didn't react in time and got socked in the gut by the flying boulder.
If only she used another pokemon, Scarlet observed as Pignite doubled over in pain. Is this how she got on with her other gym battles?
"Your pokemon looks like it's had enough. If I were you, I'd withdraw it," Burgh advised as White looked anxiously at her pokemon. She shook her head however.
"I can't use the other one I have on hand mostly because he's too powerful. Also, Pignite promised me earlier this morning that she'd take down all of your pokemon and I'm sticking with that promise," she replied before throwing a smirk. "Besides Pignite looks alright to me."
At that statement, Burgh and Scarlet tore their eyes off her to face Pignite, the latter of whom was holding the boulder that Dwebble had just launched.
"Send it flying girl!" Her trainer cried as she sent the rock hurtling towards the opponent.
"Good guts but bad choice. Rock Smash!" the artist replied. Claws glowing red, Dwebble shattered the incoming rock only to see Pignite right behind with a palm opened and ready to strike.
"Go!" White cried and Pignite complied, raining her palms on the unsuspecting pokemon's head. Dwebble staggered back in a daze and passed out.
Interesting. She's just like him, Burgh remarked before recalling his pokemon. "I must admit, you've grown up to be quite the battler White. But your art stops here."
"We'll see about that, won't we Pignite?" White replied as she gave her pokemon a high-five. Scarlet gazed at the girl, slightly impressed. It felt like another person was battling in her place for a second.
"Leavanny, come forth and show our guests just how pure our hearts shine!" the artist exclaimed dramatically as he let out his last pokemon.
"Leavanny, the Nurturing Pokemon. Upon finding a small Pokémon, it weaves clothing for it from leaves, using the cutters on its arms and sticky silk," beeped the pokedex as Scarlet eyed the pokemon warily. Although Alphinia's Salamence had had the advantage, Leavanny's Leaf Storm had looked pretty powerful and so had its Protect. If not for the dragon's sheer size and strange ability to teleport, Scarlet was sure that Burgh's Leavanny could have put up a better fight.
"White, you'd better be careful with that one!" Scarlet called. White nodded and faced the bug/grass pokemon. Fire will be doubly super effective against it, she deduced as Pignite took on a fighting stance.
"Pignite, get in real close and use ember!" she called. Big mistake, Burgh exclaimed inwardly.
"String Shot!" he called. With excellent speed, Leavanny spun a thick, whitish thread and lassoed the charging Pignite's stubby legs effectively bringing her tumbling towards the ground. Without another order, the bug pokemon spun Pignite around with the strong thread and slammed her into the ground at regular intervals.
"Oooohh…that's gotta hurt," Scarlet winced as Jolteon covered his eyes at the graceful but brutal scene.
"Pignite ain't giving up yet. Use ember!" White ordered.
"Not a chance. Send Pignite flying and follow up with X-Scissor!" Burgh countered. Before Pignite could even get up, she was hurled around again before getting thrown into the air. In no time at all, Leavanny had delivered ten powerful slashes unto her with its sharp, leaf-like hands. Pignite fell not too gently into the ground leaving a small crater.
"She couldn't even land a hit," Scarlet muttered as Pignite remained static. "That pig is probably at her limit."
Leavanny landed beside its trainer. "You did well White. Perhaps you should consider using your other-"
"It's not over yet! Pignite promised she'd win and she never goes back on her words!" White cut in sharply as she willed her pokemon to stand. "Get up Pignite! We're not disappointing Scarlet and Jolteon after they worked so hard to coach us!"
Like magic, Pignite flinched slightly before getting enveloped in a tornado of flames. Everyone shield their faces from the searing heat.
"This is-! " Scarlet stuttered as his clothes billowed from the strong wind coming from the tornado.
"Blaze?" Burgh exclaimed as Leavanny took on a defensive stance. The tornado died down to reveal a glowing red Pignite with steam pouring out of her nostrils. Scarlet stared in awe at the intimidating appearance. He had heard that when certain fire-type pokemon were pushed to their absolute limit, they could experience a powerful rush of energy at the cost of reduced stamina and that was what he was seeing before him.
"Now the real fight starts!" White called as Pignite let out a large grunt. Burgh grinned widely. I'm mistaken…she's better! Much better than him!
"Leavanny, fight like you've never fought before! Struggle Bug!" he cried in excitement. Leavanny glowed a faint green and charged towards Pignite in an all-out power attack.
"Ember- no, Flamethrower!" White called confidently. Pignite took a huge breath and let loose an impossibly large (and hot!) wave of fire at the speeding Leavanny.
"Stop and use protect!" Burgh yelled and Leavanny stopped to put up a familiar wall of light in order to block the attack. However, the flames were so powerful that a visible crack was formed in the wall.
"Leavanny's Protect cracked?" cried the gym leader before the wall shattered and Leavanny was engulfed in the flames. "Could it be time to bug out of here? No, no, I refuse to be squashed!"
Leavanny jumped out of the flames and glowed bright green. Swarm, Scarlet commented as he observed the bug equivalent of Blaze. To be brought to that extent by a single flamethrower, I'm surprised.
"Time to finish this!" White smirked as Pignite stamped on the ground repeatedly. "Signature move, HEAT CRASH!" she cried as Pignite generated a red ball of heat around her chubby frame and took off into the air.
"Same here! Struggle Bug!" Burgh replied as Leavanny crossed its sharp arms and launched itself down at Pignite. Both attacks collided with each other and a loud explosion reverberated throughout the gym, shattering its windows and throwing up dust and smoke.
In the midst of the smoke, White coughed and looked for her Pignite. Burgh had done the same and was peering through the smoke to see who had won. To the left, Leavanny lay head-first and uncocnscious into the ground and a panting Pignite was sitting on top of it. (Pignite had actually dodged the bug pokemon and crashed onto it with all her might.)
"We won…WE WON!" White cried joyously and ran up to her hard worker. Embracing each other tightly, White and Pignite laughed in victory and glanced over to Burgh who had recalled his pokemon with soothing words of encouragement. Facing downwards, the gym leader's shoulders shook violently as soft sobs racked his slim frame.
Trainer, Pokemon and open-mouthed hunter stared at the man confused. White started to speak.
"Uh…Burgh-"
"B…Beau….BEAUTIFUL!" the artist cried as he took on a dramatic pose and wailed causing everyone to sweat drop. "THE SPEED! THE POWER! BUT MOST OF ALL THE DETERMINATION SHOWN BY BOTH THE TRAINER AND POKEMON! THAT WAS A BATTLE THAT COULD HAVE ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS A MASTERPIECE OF ITS TIME! ENCORE! ENCORE!"
Rushing over to an utterly confused White, he wrapped her in a bear hug and bawled his eyes out. The 'beauty' of the battle was too much for him to take in. Of course the airhead in White took back full-control of her senses and she started bawling too causing the rest to drop anime-style.
10 minutes later…
One sniffling gym leader, two teens and a Jolteon stood outside the gym looking slightly tired.
"Take this. It's the insectible-I mean, incredible Insect Badge!" Burgh sniffled as he handed a green wing-like badge to the equally sniffling victor. "This battle has given me over a hundred ideas for my next set of paintings and I will be forever grateful to you for this battle."
"Well, I couldn't have done it without Pignite and my coach," White replied as she winked at the hunter causing him to cross his arms and humph.
"The next gym is in Nimbasa City. Go there and give its Gym Leader an unforgettable battle!" Burgh stated as he placed his hands on White's shoulders. "And make your brother proud…" he whispered as he brought his lips to her ear. White smiled softly and nodded before turning to face her companion.
"Well…you did okay," he muttered with a mock frown. White grinned madly, "…for an airhead anyway!" He added before receiving a kick on the shin, a punch on the gut and a fist to the head from Jolteon, Pignite and White respectively.
"Jerk!" she retorted before hugging him tightly. Scarlet momentarily forgot his aches and looked down at the girl before catching a smile from Burgh.
"What?" he asked the gym leader with a reddening face, slightly entranced by how warm the hug felt (Lech was right, she did have a nice set of hooters for a 14 year old, Scarlet inwardly remarked).
The gym leader only shook his smiling head and mouthed a "Take care of her." Giving a small smirk, Scarlet peeled White off his chest and faced her.
"Seeing as its afternoon already…pack your stuff and get some sunglasses! I heard there's a sandstorm brewing in Route 4 and we've gotta get to Nimbasa by tonight!" he exclaimed.
"Awwww…can't we go tomorrow?" White groaned as her companion started walking towards the Pokemon Center. Turning to face her, the cool afternoon sea breeze blew between them and Scarlet shook his head before giving a grin.
"There's ten celebratory Casteliacones waiting for you at the PC and a ride on Nimbasa's Ferris wheel if I'm in the mood. So get your butt in gear and let's go...Partner..."
And White couldn't have asked for anything else as she bit into a delicious cone with her tsundere friend and his Jolteon later that wonderful afternoon.
Author's Corner.
Scarlet: Did anyone notice that the author's corner was placed at the bottom.
White: Yeah... is Sly feeling okay?
Slybill *holds a letter saying University PTA*: Urf...