"Haro?! Wh-What are you doing here? Where's the gym leader?" Davin asked with confusion and shock.
A smirk grew on the blonde's face. "You're looking at him."
Davin gasped with utter horror. "WHAT?! No way! All this time, you were a gym leader?!"
Haro shook his head. "You're so dense. If I was a gym leader, why would I spend my time going to different places to collect badges when I've got challengers waiting to battle me?"
Now Davin was really lost. "But... you just said..."
Haro put his hand up to silence him. "It's like this: A few days ago, I came here to battle the actual gym leader, Juan, and get my last badge, which I did. After he gave me the badge, he complimented me on my battle skills and said that he had important business to attend to and that he needed someone to fill in as gym leader until he returned."
"At first I declined the offer, but then he mentioned something about him being the former teacher of Wallace, the Hoenn League Champion. As soon as I heard that name, I immediately changed my mind and decided to do it."
Haro tightened his hand into a fist. "As temporary gym leader, I'll PROVE that I'm stronger than that jerk!"
Davin tilted his head. "Am I missing something here?"
Haro lowered his fist. "Never mind. You want a battle or what?"
"You bet! For what it's worth, there's no way I'm losing to you this time!" Davin said.
The blonde merely scoffed. "We'll see..."
"All right, listen up! The judge accompanied Juan for whatever business he had, so the battle will be self-judged. Each of us will use five Pokemon and the battle will be over when all five Pokemon on either side is unable to battle. Plus, only you can make substitutions. Got it?" The unofficial gym leader stated.
Davin nodded from the other side of the battle field. "Yeah."
Haro pulled out a Poke ball. "Then let's get started! Linoone, you're up!" The ball was thrown and Haro's weasel Pokemon appeared as it opened. It stood on its back legs as it tried to give an intimidating glance.
"So, he's starting off with Linoone..." Davin got out his own Poke ball. "I know just the Pokemon. Luck, I choose you!" A single throw of the ball released his Vigoroth. "Luck, time for revenge of your lost on Route 110. Remember? That's the same Linoone that defeated you when you were a Slakoth."
"Vigo?" Luck took a closer look at the Linoone and noticed the familiar boy standing behind it. Memories of the defeat flashed in his head, making him even more determined to win as it yelled, "Vigoroooooooth!"
"That's the spirit! Now... let's start with Focus Punch!" Luck ran over towards the Linoone as his fist started to charge power.
"Just as expected, you always come rushing in. Linoone, use Thunder Wave!" Blue sparks covered its body as it released a blast of electricity. As soon as it hit, Luck stopped running and fell to his knees as the after-sparks appeared on his body. "You see?" Haro spoke as Davin gasped. "Now, Iron Tail!" Linoone's bushy tail glowed white and it hit Luck with it, sending him skidding across the floor.
"Luck, you okay?" Davin asked it. Luck tried to stand, but failed because of the paralysis.
"Water Pulse!" A sphere of water formed in Linoone's paws and a blast of water shot out from it, hitting its mark on the opposing Normal-type.
Luck struggled to get back on his feet until Davin shouted, "Luck, return!" which sent the paralyzed victim back to its ball in a red beam of light. "Sorry, Luck, but revenge will have to wait another time."
"You're so predictable." Haro frowned. "Half the time, I doubt you even think about what to do; like you just improv in every battle you're in."
Davin took out his second Poke ball. "You just be quiet! Now, Ferro, let's go!" The Aggron made its appearance and roared a battle cry. "Let's see you mock this! Ferro, use Stone Edge!" Upon hearing that, Ferro created circling rocks around its body and fired them.
"Dodge it!" Swiftly, the Pokemon leapt aside to allow the rocks to hit the ground. "Now, use Iron Tail!"
"Block it with Iron Defense!" Ferro crossed his arms to shield himself and when Linoone made contact, it only hit its arms. Ferro took the advantage and pushed Linoone back with force, sending it skidding back to Haro's side.
"Now, Iron Head!" Lowering its head, the Aggron rushed at Linoone with its head glowing white. Success was made as Ferro bashed Linoone with its cranium.
"Water Pulse, go!" Another blast of water shot out from the aqua sphere as Ferro was hit, though the Pokemon was still able to fight.
"Headbutt!" Ferro retaliated with a normal bash to Linoone's body. That proved too much for the Rushing Pokemon as it fainted after the hit.
"Ha! What do you say to that?" Davin boasted.
Haro recalled Linoone. "I say: You're annoying!" Davin scowled at that as Haro's next Pokemon was about to come out. "Hariyama, let's go!" The fairly large Arm Thrust Pokemon made its appearance upon the opening of the Poke ball.
"Ferro, use Iron Head!"
"Block it with your hands!"
Ferro ran towards Hariyama with its head lowered, which the latter prevented by sticking its hands out and stopping it as told.
"Seismic Toss!" Grabbing hold of Ferro's head, Hariyama jumped into the air and started to spin the Aggron in mid-air. Soon, Hariyama threw it down to the ground, which sent pain to the steel Pokemon's body.
"Can you get up, Ferro?" Davin asked. With little effort, it stood to its feet. "All right, use Stone Edge!" The circling stones were fired at the opponent.
"Focus Blast!" Hariyama put its hands together to form a light blue ball. When it was thrown, the Stone Edge shattered to pieces upon contact and the owner of the Rock-type move was hit in the chest.
"End it with Brine!" The Fighting Pokemon put its hands beside each other and launched a blast of salt water that hit the Aggron's body and made it fall on its back, unconscious.
"Return, Ferro!" The large Pokemon was absorbed by the red beam. "You did great. Take a good rest."
"If that's all you got, I don't see how you're going to make it through this battle." Haro commented.
"What you've seen doesn't come close to what's in store for later! Halo, let's do this!" The Butterfly Pokemon flittered upon her release.
Haro shook his head. "Oh, please. Hariyama, use Focus Blast." The light blue orb was fired on the boy's order.
"Dodge and use Stun Spore!" With a flip, Halo avoided the attack. She flew over Hariyama as she sprinkled the orange dust on it, making it shake. Haro's response was, "Huh?" as he had his eyes closed when he called for Focus Blast.
"Use Gust!" Wind made Hariyama flinch as it came out from the Beautifly's wings.
"There's no way I'm allowing you an advantage. Hariyama, Brine!"
"Use Bug Buzz!" A loud and ear-piercing sound emitted from her antennae as Hariyama cried out at the noise and ceased its Brine move.
"Now, Energy Ball! Then follow after with Gust!" An explosion was made when the Energy Ball connected with Hariyama and the smoke was blown away by the wind from Gust.
"Hariyama, no!" Haro cried.
"Let's wrap up with Bug Buzz!" The loud sound was made again while shock waves came with it. The said shock waves knocked Hariyama off of its feet and it fainted when it hit the ground.
"Nice! Way to go, Halo!" Davin cheered.
"Beau, Beau!" Halo rejoiced.
Haro grunted as he recalled his Pokemon. "So you got lucky... Well, here's where the luck ends. Let's go, Dustox!" Throwing a Poke ball released the Poison Moth Pokemon from it. "You remember Dustox, don't you? I recall that your Beautifly lost to it."
"If you think you can intimidate me with that, you're wrong. Halo has grown much stronger since that time. Right, Halo?"
"Beautifly." she nodded.
"Really? Do you think so, Dustox?" Haro asked with mock in his voice.
"Dus, Dustox." It shook its head while grinning.
"I agree. We'll just see if those words can be backed up. Dustox, use Air Cutter!" 'S' shaped blades of air came flying out of Dustox's flapping wings.
"Dodge it!" Halo ascended further into the air, the blades passing by right under it. "Energy Ball!"
"Dustox, Attract!" By flapping its wings, pink hearts floated towards the target.
"No way we're having a repeat of that! Blow them away with Gust!" The hearts burst upon contact with the wind. As an additional effect, Dustox was caught in the Gust and was blown to the ground.
"Now, use Bug Buzz!"
"Dustox, use Psybeam, now!" Lying with its back towards the ground, Dustox fired the multi-colored beam from its eyes. Halo dodged the beams and then released the red shock waves that caused the moth more damage. Haro grunted in frustration.
"Now, Energy Ball!" Halo's proboscis fired the attack once it was formed and Dustox was hit again.
"Come on, Dustox! Get up!" Haro shouted.
"Dus... Dusto..." It struggled to do as told but it ended up going back down to the ground, not to mention into unconsciousness.
"YEAH! What'd I tell ya?" Davin boasted again.
Haro sneered as the Bug/Poison type was recalled. "All right..." He slowly took another Poke ball out.
"Time to get serious!"
