Chapter 28: Battle on the Bridge
We spent the night in Solaceon, since I figured that we didn't have time to get to Jublife before the middle of the night. The next day, we ate a quick breakfast and after everything was ready, Moka flew me to the big city. It took slightly longer than the flight to Solaceon from Pastoria, mostly because we had to go around Mt. Coronet instead of flying in a straight line to the city. I watched the mountain as we flew by. The one thing confusing me about this entire deal is Team Galactic I thought. In the games, they would either go after Palkia or Dialga depending on which game you bought. Since I was playing Diamond when I got dragged into this, I assumed it would be Dialga, but now I'm not so sure.
The gyms in some areas are different, I fight Fantina before Maylene, and I had no idea who Looker was. This place is acting on it's own, I don't know what'll be waiting for me in the end. I sighed and focused my attention forward. "Hey Moka, this is going to be a tough gym battle, eh? Steel-types and all that."
Moka chuckled. "Sure, for someone like me and Mufasa, yeah." she said. "But everyone should have no problem. You've got three super-effective pokemon against steel, and Rose can do great damage against a part ground-type like Steelix. We should be fine." We soared ahead, and I noticed Oreburgh passing under us. Soon after that, we landed in a park area at Jublife.
"Thanks Moka, take a rest." I said, returning the Golbat. I was halfway down the block, making my way to Canalave when it suddenly hit me. "I don't have any pokemon on me that can learn Surf." I said deadpan. "Dammit!" I growled, turning around and heading to the nearest PokeCenter. I ended up wasting a lot of time, but eventually I stood on the pier at Route 218. "Okay Snellie, let's go!" I called, releasing the Shellos. She seemed pretty happy to be out and about, playing around in the water. "Okay Snellie, I taught you Surf back at the center. So, how should we do this?" I asked.
The east-coast Shellos was small, barely a foot-tall at the top of her head. It looked like there was no way that she could carry my weight if I was a toddler, let alone a full grown man. "It's easy!" she said cheerfully. "Just jump in and hang onto my back, I can drag you through the water!" she explained.
I stared at her as she held the cheerful expression for a few minutes. "You're serious?" I asked, hoping she was joking. She shook her head no. "Great, not only am I behind schedule, I'm going to be soaking wet too." I muttered. Thank god I had purchased a waterproof bag when I started this. I knew rain was going to be an issue, but I never thought I would be taking a swim. I sighed, taking my shoes and socks off and placing them in my bag along with my pokeballs and PokeTech. "Okay, everything electronic is safe and sound. Let's do this." I said as I jumped off the pier into the water.
It was cold! Really, really cold! I should have known better, honestly. It was close to the middle of fall in a northern country, of course the water was going to be cold. I wouldn't be surprised if the water was never actually warm. Quickly clutching on to Snellies back with both arms I managed to get above the surface. "Go Snellie, get me out of here!" I shivered.
And boy did she. My only interactions with Shellos had been on land. I was either battling the wild ones, or hanging out with Trish and now Snellie. They always seemed like some of the slowest pokemon to me. As it turns out, they just need to get in the water. Snellie sped off, much faster than I thought she would. I almost lost my grip. Wild pokemon, Magikarp and Tentacool mostly, tried to attack us as we crossed into their territory, but they were knocked back by the waves in Snellies wake. After getting over the initial shock, I started laughing madly. This is fun! I thought wildly as we careened around a particularly tough bend in the river. Not long after we had departed, I spotted land and a path up ahead. "There Snellie, aim for that!" I called out, pointing. She changed direction and moved right towards the shore.
I started to get concerned when I realized she wasn't slowing down a bit. "Uh, Snellie? Slow down!" I cried as we hit the shore. Her gelatinous body instantly came to a stop on the dirt, perfectly fine. I, on the other hand, was thrown right over her head, loosing absolutely none of my speed. I crashed and tumbled across the ground, gathering a rather nice new set of bruises and scrapes. When I finally came to a stop about 20 yards away, I crawled to my feet and stretched, everything aching.
"Dude, that was awesome!" a gruff male voice said. Looking around, I saw that I had a bit of an audience. Two fisherman were sitting nearby, rods in the water. The speaker was a tall, lanky man in a straight-up rockstar outfit complete with guitar. Band shirt with the sleeves torn off, chains handing from his belt, kneecaps cut out of his skinny jeans, whole nine yards. He grinned under his long dyed-blonde hair. "We've got to battle man, I gotta test my might against your crazy technique!" he said.
I sighed. "Alright, fine." I muttered, digging through my bag and finding Armstrong's pokeball, recalling Snellie. "Let's battle."
It didn't take that long at all. The rocker guy had a pair of Magnemites, which fell quickly to Armstrong's fighting-type attacks. In the end, however, I was grateful for the fight. When Armstrong and I walked through the gate to Canalave victorious, I glanced over at him. "Armstrong, we need to talk." I said.
"What about? My amazing physique? My prowess and might in that battle?" Amrstrong crowed, purple flesh bulging slightly as he flexed.
"Close, actually." I said, turning in front of him so he'd stop walking. I looked up at him seriously. "Armstrong, I might have to replace you on the team soon."
The news seemed to finally snap Amrstrong out of his narcissistic haze. His expression hardened as he looked me straight in the eyes, all business. "And what is your reason for this decision?" he asked quietly.
I sighed and looked away, not able to hold his stare. "It's not that I don't like you or anything like that. You're a great person to have around. But that last battle showed me something. Your ability, No Guard, is a serious damper on your health. You can't dodge attacks, and it shows. Almost every battle I've had with you has ended with you barely alive. I've had to switch you out for someone else at the last few gyms because it got to rough!" I looked back at him, hopefully showing that I wasn't being mean-spirited about this. "I know the next two gyms are weak to fighting-types. I know you're an excellent battler. I just-"
Armstrong raised a palm to cut me off. "I understand." he said. "You do not wish for any more of your comrades to come to harm. But listen to your own words. The next two gyms will be an even tougher challenge without me. I know you Lola has fighting-type moves, but they do not match the strength of my own. And training someone from scratch would take a long time, which I know is something you do not wish to do." I nodded.
"Then the answer is simple." Armstrong grinned. "Either evolve me, and make me stronger, or find a suitable replacement soon. If you do, I will step down without hesitation."
I stared at him. "Well I can't evolve you, there's no one to trade with." I muttered. "But are you sure you'd step down? Just like that?" I asked.
Armstrong grinned widely again. "While I live to test my strength in battle, I will always respect your wishes. A good soldier must obey his generals orders, correct?"
I snorted. "General. Right. Okay Armstrong, you've got a deal. I'll keep you around until I find someone I can replace you with."
"Excellent!" he bellowed as we continued through the checkpoint.
Arriving on the other side, we found ourselves on a small patch of earth that abruptly ended and became a steel pier. The entire city was built on piers, small bridges connecting most of them. A rather large drawbridge was built across the main channel, allowing pedestrians to cross from one side to the other. Across the river I could make out the gym, built on its own small pier. I glanced up at the sky, seeing that it was midday. "We've got time, let's heal up and head for the gym." I said.
It didn't take long to get a room for the night and get everyone in fighting shape. I ate a quick lunch while they were healed and once the team was fed, I ran across the piers towards the bridge. I wasn't halfway across it when I spotted a familiar face. "Oh, hey Barry." I said.
He started slightly, apparently lost in thought as he gaze out at the ocean. "Hey, just who I wanted to see!" Barry exclaimed. He grabbed a pokeball and gave a smirk. "I just beat the Canalave gym. Let's battle!"
I sighed. "Barry, why do you even keep battling me? You never win! Last time, I didn't even get scratched!" I grabbed a pokeball anyway.
Barry's eyes narrowed. "I know. That's why I keep challenging you. I'm supposed to be the greatest trainer ever! I'm going to be the next champion!" He pointed an accusing finger at me. "So why is it that I can never beat you!? What makes you better than me? You were supposed to be a fan from Sandgem, not this big obstacle in my way to the top!" He tossed the pokeball and released William, now evolved into a Staraptor. My heart twinged a little at the sight of him. "Come on Nick! I'm going to prove once and for all that I'm better than you!"
I sent out Cerberus, who growled deeply at his opponent. "Finally!" he exclaimed. "It's been forever since the last time I got out!"
"Cool your jets, we've got a battle to win." I told him. "Flamethrower!"
The move had been worth every bit of the night spent gambling at the casino in Veilstone. It absolutely wrecked anything that had been hit by it so far. Which would explain why I was so shocked when William took the fiery attack full force, and remained standing afterward. "No one shot for you this time!" Barry cried. "Double Team now!"
William sped in tight circles around Cerberus, clones starting to appear in the air. The hound merely grinned and I did too. "Still up to the old strategy Barry?" I asked. "You should know better than me that it's not going to work." Cerberus suddenly disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Barry stared, wide-eyed at the spot the Houndoom had been. "Where...where'd he go?" he asked quietly. Williams clones squawked something that was probably similar.
"It's Faint Attack. A dark-type move." I explained. "The user turns invisible for an undetectable attack. The best part? It never misses." right on cue, Cerberus reappeared, slashing at one of the Staraptors with his claws. The bird screeched in surprise, the other clones fading away as the real William fell to the wooden deck, fainted.
"Dammit, I'm not going to loose again!" Barry roared. "Erik!" Just like William, the Buizel had evolved, now a powerful Floatzel. When he did his signature pose, it actually looked pretty good, impressive even.
I recalled Cerberus. "Come on out Mufasa." I called, letting the cat out of the pokeball so to speak. He roared at Erik, which normally would have sent the water-type scurrying away. But he seemed to have gained a huge boost in confidence since evolving, and simply barked back.
"That's right, show them who's boss!" Barry encouraged. "They're not the only ones with unblockable attack! Use Swift!" Erik quickly slashed at the air, large glowing stars homing in on Mufasa. He tried to dodge, but like Barry had said, the attack was unavoidable. They zoomed around until they found their mark, hitting Mufasa at every angle. Despite their boast, the attack didn't do an incredible amount of damage.
"Take him down Mufasa! Spark!" I ordered. Electricity coated Mufasa's body as he charged forward. Erik tried to get out of the way, but on land there was no way he would outspeed Mufasa. He slashed with his claws, raking the sides of Eriks orange fur and the transferred electricity sealed the deal, knocking him out in one blow. "What was that you said about no more one-shots?" I taunted.
Barrys face was dark, a uncharacteristic scowl etched into his features. "I'm done playing the fool to you." he muttered. "Hercules! Teach them a lesson!" he cried, releasing a new pokemon. Blue shell covering its entire body. Thin arms that ended in wicked claws that promised crushing power despite their appearance. A large horn ending in a fork sprouted out of its head. A Heracross! I thought wildly. When did he get one of those!
I shook my head, clearing my thoughts. It doesn't matter, I can still beat it. I let Cerberus out of his pokeball again. "Mufasa, back off! Let Cerberus handle it." I called. Mufasa obeyed, returning to my side as the hound passed.
"Watch how a real pokemon wins." Cerberus snapped. Mufasa didn't say anything, either because of his quiet nature or because he simply didn't want to taunt the fire-type.
"Cerberus, use Flamethrower again!" I ordered. The attack had hurt William pretty badly. I figured that with a type disadvantage, Hercules would be put down quick enough that he couldn't use any fighting-type moves on Cerb. The dogs opened his maw, releasing another fierce pillar of flames at the bug. Hercules merely stared at the attack as it washed over him, coating him in flames. "Done and done." I said smugly.
"Stop underestimating me." Barry growled. "Brick Break!" Hercules jumped out of the fire, badly hurt but still able to fight. His arm snapped out, crushing Cerberus' back. He yelped in pain, cutting off the Flamethrower attack and fell, barely breathing.
"Cerberus!" I cried, but Mufasa was already moving. He leaped at Hercules, electricity already coating him fangs in a Thunder Fang attack. Hercules dodged out of the way, before retaliating with another vicious Brick Break. Before Mufasa could recover from the blow, Hercules hit him again, knocking him back several feet. Holy shit, this thing is barely alive and it's beating them both half to death! I screamed in my head. I frantically reached for Moka's pokeball. Before I could let her out to help, Mufasa roared back into the fight, latching on to Hercules' arm with his teeth. He sent surge after surge of electricity into the bug, before it finally fell, fainted.
"Think you can keep underestimating me?" Barry asked, returning his fallen pokemon as I did the same to Cerb and Mufasa. "Come on, send out the next one! I'll beat you so badly you won't ever look down on me again. George!" he called, releasing his starter. Standing much taller now, with blue markings over his eyes and a long mane of fire topping his head. He wore small golden plates over his chest, natural armor to protect himself. George had evolved into an Infernape.
I've got to use Moka I thought, reaching for her pokeball. I stopped suddenly, remembering how I promised her a rest today. Would she be in any condition to fight after flying me all over? I thought. Shit, I can't do it. I've got to use someone else. Lola and Rose were out of the question, they both had type disadvantages. Cerberus and Mufasa were both to injured to face the fire monkey. That left only one option.
"Armstrong! Let's go!" I called, releasing the Machoke. He flexed menacingly, eying the other fighting-type. "So! You've become even stronger since the last time we battled!" he crowed. "Come, then! Let us see who remains the stronger warrior!" I grinned at his antics. I can win this I thought. No one's going to die here.
Barry started laughing. Actually laughing. "You know, this is exactly what I wanted to happen." he said. "George has a bit of a rivalry going with your Machoke there. Ever since Hearthome. So I taught him some new moves, just in case this ever happened again." He pointed at Armstrong. "Use Aerial Ace!" he ordered.
"What!?" I shouted in utter confusion. Aerial Ace!? How the hell can he learn that!? Sure enough, George leaped high into the sky. Armstrong watched, a gleeful expression on his face as George spun, gaining speed and power as he fell towards the Machoke. Right as they collided, George lashed out with an open palm, knocking Armstrong flying back. "Armstrong!" I cried, concerned about the super-effective attack.
"I'm fine." Amrstrong smirked. "A strong attack, to be sure. But one that lacks the feeling of a true flying-type. I commend you for learning it!" He adopted a new stance, arms crossed over his chest. "Let me show you one of my new moves." He ran forward, right at George who was still recovering from the landing. Armstrong slashed with both hands in an X shape, hitting the Infernape hard enough to send it as far back as he had gone.
"Oh cool, he learned Cross Chop!" I exclaimed.
Barry looked livid. "We're not going to loose here! George! Another Aerial Ace!" he cried. George jumped up into the air again, already twisting around for another strike.
"Armstrong, use Cross Chop! Finish this!" I shouted. Armstrong stepped back into the stance. George careened forward, and flashed by him. As he did, Armstrong unleashed his own attack, hitting Georges side. Both pokemon stood, their backs to each other for the longest time. Then Armstrong fell to one knee. "Armstrong!" I cried, about to run forward when I saw George. The Infernape grinned over his shoulder at Armstrong, said something in pokespeak, and collapsed onto the ground. Armstrong was the winner.
"Great job Armstrong!" I yelled, returning him to his ball. I turned to Barry. "Are we done?" I asked.
He scowled. "Yeah, we're done. You're just going to use that Houndoom on my Roserade anyway." While it was news to me that Henry had evolved, I didn't question it. I just crossed the bridge and held out a hand. Barry stared at it, then glanced up at me. "The hell is this?" he asked.
"An apology." I said sincerely. "I didn't mean to make you feel like you're not good enough. Even if you can't beat me, you're still an amazing trainer. Just look at this battle! You managed to get three of my team on the ropes! That's better than most gym leaders I battle!" I exclaimed. "On top of that, you've beaten six of the gyms in Sinnoh! Not a lot of other trainers can even claim that! I have no doubt that you'll be able to challenge the Elite Four."
Barry stood still for a while before reaching out and roughly shaking my hand. "Yeah, you're right, I am pretty good." he grinned. "Let's agree, right now, that the next time we battle, it'll be at the Pokemon League. We'll decide there who's the best, and who should challenge."
"Agreed." I said, happy that we had salvaged our friendship.