It was the morning after Team Rocket's failed break in at the Pewter City Pokémon Center but Steve, Christie, Ann and Dalton where still asleep due to how late they were woken up the previous night, so who was the focus on?
"Another day, another bunch of rookies come by my gym to see if they stand a chance of getting to the Pokémon League." Tristan thought with a chuckle as he unlocked the gym's front door, he had heard that Team Rocket had tried, and failed, to break into the Pewter City Pokémon Center on the news earlier but it was thanks to the intervention of two young male trainers that they were stopped. "At a guess I'd say that at least one of those trainers was Steve but since he had two female trainers with him I can't say for certain who the other trainer was."
"Good morning Tristan, ready for another day of Pokémon Battles?" A female voice asked and he looked up seeing a young woman with black hair that went past her shoulders and blue eyes who was wearing a black t-shirt and blue jeans along with a pair of reading glasses on her face.
"I'm as ready as ever Rachel." Tristan answered as he unlocked the door and opened up the Pokémon gym. "Did you see any strong trainers in the city?"
"No one that looked particularly strong but I did see three trainers that match your description of the trainers you bumped into outside the Viridian Forrest." Rachel answered with a nod. "Tall female in her late teens with shoulder length Dark Brown hair in a ponytail wearing a crop top and denim shorts, tall male also in his late teens with messy red hair wearing a denim jacket, jeans and a t-shirt and a young girl in her pre-teens with shoulder length red hair wearing a black dress."
"Yeah, that sounds like Christie, Steve and Ann all right." Tristan nodded once he recognized the descriptions. "I wouldn't be surprised if they do challenge me but in the meantime I need you to increase security around the gym."
"Will that be necessary sir?" Rachel asked and Tristan turned to her.
"Two Team Rocket members were arrested for trying to break into the Pokémon Center, tell me, besides the Pokémon Center where would they go in this city to steal Pokémon?" Tristan asked and Rachel thought for a moment.
"They'd target the Pewter City Gym." Rachel responded with a nod. "I'll get on it right away sir!"
"Good, any challengers are to enter through the front and not the back and their bags have to be searched before entering the gym." Tristan responded and Rachel nodded before walking off.
*meanwhile*
"I'd say morning but knowing my sleeping patterns it's probably the early afternoon." Christie said with a laugh as she saw Ann wake up and get out of bed through the mirror, despite being woken up as early as they were the two girls had gotten plenty of sleep and where ready for the gym battle, right now Christie was brushing her hair in front of the mirror but she was still in her nightgown.
"As long as we don't sleep through the entire day I won't complain." Ann added with a grin as she hopped out of bed and Christie started tying her hair up in a ponytail. "Actually I've been wondering something since I met you."
"How I haven't got a boyfriend yet?" Christie asked with a grin and Ann laughed.
"No, why do you keep your hair in a ponytail?" Ann asked and Christie turned to her. "Your hair looks much better let down!"
"And it's also a bitch to brush in the mornings." Christie responded as she finished tying her hair up. "Besides, I'm a tomboy, as if the fact that I used to play soccer in school didn't make that fact obvious, gotta keep up the image somehow!"
"A tomboy who's wardrobe is made up mostly off crop tops?" Ann asked and Christie shook her head.
"Hey, I worked hard to get my abs the way they are! I may as well show off my hard work!" Christie responded with a grin as she stood up and let Ann take her seat whilst Christie started searching for an outfit to wear. "Besides, you don't hear Dalton or your brother complaining!"
"Or Dalton's Pikachu for that matter," Ann added and Christie frowned. "Still sore over your first meeting with Dalton?"
"Let's see, I got groped by a Pokémon that could knock me out with an Electric Shock and rather than help your brother decided to be a smart-ass." Christie responded as she removed her nightgown and started getting dressed. "So yeah, I'm still bitter!"
"He's just being a boy Christie, hell you're older than me so I thought you'd know that by now." Ann responded as Christie put on a black hoodie that showed off her stomach.
"Ann, remember when I told you about the boys in Pallet Town?" Christie asked as she put her jeans on and Torchic joined her on the bed. "To me "being a boy" means either slapping me on the ass or staring at my breasts for minutes on end until mom chased them off with her Tauros." Christie added with a sigh. "Steve, as far as I'm concerned, was just being a jackass for the sake of it!"
"At least he didn't actually try it like that Team Rocket grunt." Ann pointed out as she got dressed and Christie nodded in agreement. "Still can't believe Dalton weaponized his perverted Pikachu!"
"You know, when I imagined finally starting my Pokémon journey over the past eight years, I never thought I'd be hearing this many weird sentences." Christie said with a grin and Ann laughed at that and neither girl noticed the door open at that point. "Then again growing up I thought I'd be dominating every trainer I met…..in battle….." Christie quickly clarified when Ann started giggling. "And that I'd win the Pokémon league ten years in a row!"
"Christie, is there a limit to how big your ego is?" Steve asked with a deadpan expression on his face and the two girls nearly jumped out of their skin, once Christie recovered she turned to him.
"Yeah, I've been meaning to clarify about that." Christie responded as she turned to him. "You already know that my mom had to raise me on her own after my dad died, well after I couldn't start my Pokémon Journey the first time she told me, what I guess is the family motto and I pretty much took that to heart!"
"And what's the motto?" Steve asked and Christie grinned in response.
"Dream big or don't dream at all," Christie responded as Dalton approached the doorway. "My mom pretty much called it the secret to her success as a trainer, the last time she competed in the Pokémon League she ended up winning the whole thing."
"That was eight years ago, right?" Steve asked and Christie nodded.
"Yeah, right before dad died." Christie sighed sadly and Steve shook his head. "She tried to find a way that she could balance being a single parent and being a Pokémon champion but she eventually settled on retiring."
"Christie, just a quick question, how old was your mom when she started her journey?" Steve asked and Christie thought for a moment.
"I think she was the traditional age when she started, most of the Pokémon she owns nowadays are descended from her original Pokémon." Christie added and Steve nodded. "Why do you ask?"
"Look, I'm not saying that isn't a good motto to have but your mom had a lot more experience than you by the time she was your current age, no offense but if you want to live up to that motto you have a long way to go." Steve added and Christie frowned. "Come to think off it, didn't you mention that the original plan was for your mom to join you on your journey?"
"I did, she even had a few warm-up matches against Professor Oak to make sure that her skills where up to par." Christie added before shaking her head. "Unfortunately she was too rusty for it, I asked her about it a couple of weeks before I finally started and she said that her skills weren't what they used to be and that she'd have to relearn everything in order to keep up." Christie added as she frowned. "The idea was that she'd show me the ropes in preparation for my first gym battle."
"But the truth was she wouldn't have been a good teacher at all." Steve added and Christie nodded. "Well, you've got us here to pick up the slack anyway so it's not like you're alone."
"I know." Christie responded with a nod. "So what's the plan as far as the gym's concerned? I checked the time on the alarm clock and it should be open by now."
"It is, I asked around before stopping by and the locals said that the gym leader usually opens the gym around this time every morning." Steve responded with a nod. "I checked the gym to be sure and yeah, it's open."
"But as eager as we are to get our first badges I think we all know what's more important." Dalton added and Christie frowned as she folded her arms.
"What's more important than getting the first badge?" Christie asked but before either of them could answer her stomach rumbled. "Never mind, my stomach just answered my question for me." Christie added as a large sweat-drop rolled down her head.
"Luckily for you we found a café in town whilst you two where having your lay-ins." Steve added before reaching into his pocket and producing a flyer for the place.
"Pewter Rocks Café, they don't serve rocks, right?" Christie asked once she read the name of the café and Steve and Dalton laughed.
"Nah, from what we saw it seems like typical café food, burgers, all day breakfasts, you name it." Steve responded as he pocketed the flyer. "Best part is the fact that it's literally around the corner from the gym."
"Well, I'm ready to go, what about you Ann?" Christie asked as she turned to the younger trainer turned to her.
"I'm ready when you are!" Ann responded with a nod and Christie grinned before the two girls left the room.
*meanwhile*
"The ETA is five minutes until we reach Pewter City guys." The helicopter pilot said as he drove the helicopter above Kanto, any trainers bellow would've heard it flying overhead but it was too far up for them to see.
And that situated the Team Rocket members inside perfectly.
"Good, I've wanted another shot at that punk!" Butch commented with a grin as he looked at his picture. "What do you we know about the other two trainers with them?"
"Just a pair of rookies, I doubt that have any decent Pokémon Biff." The helicopter pilot answered as he continued to pilot the helicopter.
"HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU? MY NAME IS BUTCH!" Butch yelled at him but the pilot ignored him.
"Just ignore him Hutch." Cassidy responded whilst ignoring the glare she got from Butch. "The Pewter City gym is a rock one last time I checked."
"Nowadays it's more of a Rock/Steel hybrid." The pilot corrected her as he checked the info. "It's been that way ever since the current leader took over."
"Doesn't matter, from what I remember about the Bishops they only have one Water Type between them and that is Ann's Greninja." Butch chimed in as he folded his arms. "I say we wait until after they finish their Gym Battles and then crash the party knowing that their Pokémon will be too tired to put up much of a fight."
"Don't forget about the gym leader, his Pokémon are bound to be powerful." Cassidy added and Butch turned to her. "Those grunts may have failed but they were idiots, we won't make the same mistake."
"Tell me about it, they had the Pokémon from the hospital section of the Pokémon Center, why go up to where the rooms where and not go out the front door? It's not like Nurse Joy would've been awake." Butch added and Cassidy nodded in agreement.
*meanwhile*
By that time Christie, Ann, Dalton and Steve had eaten their breakfast and had left the café before heading straight for the Pokémon Gym, now that they were there though Dalton was having second thoughts.
"Actually guys, I changed my mind, Christie should go first." Dalton stated and she turned to him. "She could use the experience."
"That works for me." Christie responded and Steve and Ann nodded in agreement. "So…do we go in?"
"That's the idea." Steve nodded in response before Christie grinned and opened the door the gym was mostly dark with a rock type field. "Hello? We're here to challenge the gym!"
"So you are Steve." Tristan's voice rang out as the tall man stepped into view with a Pokeball in his hand. "Welcome challengers, I am the Gym Leader Tristan!"
"Wait, you're the gym leader?!" Ann asked as a look of surprise washed over her face. "Why didn't you say so back at the lake?"
"Oh that? That was my day-off, I went to that lake to relax." Tristan responded and the teens sweat-dropped. "I understand you arrived yesterday evening."
"Err, yeah, why?" Christie asked as she scratched her head.
"It shouldn't have taken you that long to reach the city from Viridian Forrest, that's why." Tristan responded and Christie sighed.
"You can blame Dalton for that." Christie responded as she pointed out the trainer. "We met him the day after we met you, he promised to take us on a shortcut to the city since our Pokémon were tired but his idea of a shortcut isn't really that short!"
"I see." Tristan nodded in response. "Okay, let's get the formalities out of the way, first I'll have to have the guards search your bags because of the break-in at the Pokémon Center last night." Tristan explained as a pair of security guards approached them but, besides some misunderstanding regarding Torchic and Mankey there wasn't any problems. "Now if there was only one challenger I'd challenge him/her without hesitation but there's four of you, have you decided on an order?"
"Yeah, we did." Christie responded with a grin as she grabbed a Pokeball. "And we decided that we should stick to the old saying "beauty before age"."
"That's not the right quote." Tristan responded as a large sweat-drop rolled down his head.
"And we're just going to ignore that comment." Steve added with an annoyed tone to his voice and Christie laughed nervously. "Besides if that were true Ann would be going first because she's the youngest in the group!"
"Your friends have a point Christie." Rachel's voice rang out and they looked up seeing Rachel standing to the side of the arena. "I am Rachel, the official referee for this gym!" Rachel introduced herself and the challengers winced. "Not to mention unofficial talent scout…..what's up with their reactions anyway? I'm not that cut-throat!"
"Okay, err, just one question before we get started." Christie said as she glanced towards Dalton before turning back to Dalton and Rachel. "Hypothetically, how would Rachel react if a Pikachu leapt up and made it's comfy in between her breasts?"
"…..what…" Tristan and Rachel asked simultaneously as they stared at Christie like she had just started acting like a Tauros.
"That has got to be one of the weirdest questions I've ever been asked in my career as a Gym Leader and trust me, I've heard them all!" Tristan sighed once the shock of the question passed. "That would depend on Rachel."
"Gee, thanks for deflecting the question too me!" Rachel sighed to herself before shaking her head. "I'm not going to sugar coat it, the trainer would have five seconds to recall the Pokémon before I disqualified them, kicked the whole team out of the gym and made sure that you are all blacklisted from the Pokémon League."
"….seriously?" Steve asked and they nodded.
"That would technically count as an assault on a referee, unintentional mind you but my point still stands." Tristan added and they turned to him. "It may seem harmless at first but what if the Pikachu lets lose a Thunderbolt unprovoked?" Tristan added before frowning. "Why do you ask?"
"Dalton has a perverted Pikachu it greeted me the same way I just described to you." Christie explained and they sweat-dropped in response. "I wish I was making that up! Part of the reason I'm wearing this hoodie is to see if it tries the sane stunt whilst I'm wearing baggy clothing!"
"I'm not even going to ask." Tristan said after a few minutes before going over to a panel. "Is it safe to assume that none of you have any badges?"
"Well, unless you count the Kalos Region, yes." Steve responded and Tristan shook his head.
"No, I wasn't counting the other regions when I said that." Tristan responded as he selected two Pokémon. "Very well, as gym leaders are required to base their choice of Pokémon on the strength of the opponent I choose these three Pokémon!" Tristan added as he grabbed three Pokémon. "Do the honors Rachel."
"Off course, this match is an officially sanctioned gym battle for the Stone Badge and it will be a three on three battle between the Pewter City Gym Leader Tristan and Christie Monroe from Pallet Town! Once a trainer's Pokémon are all defeated they lose the match and only the challenger can switch Pokémon!" Rachel announced as Tristan and Christie choose their Pokémon. "Trainer, Gym Leader, do you understand the rules?"
"I understand perfectly." Tristan nodded before turning to Christie. "Do you?"
"What he said." Christie responded and Rachel nodded.
"Right then, trainers, send out your Pokémon and begin!" Rachel commanded and the two trainers grinned confidently.
"Evee, you're up!" Christie called out as she sent out the Pokeball and her starter Pokémon emerged from it.
"You're starting with Evee huh? Interesting choice, but allow me to demonstrate your first mistake in your career as a Pokémon Trainer!" Tristan added as he tossed the Pokeball. "Geodude, go!" Tristan called out and the Pokeball opened revealing the rock type Pokémon, Christie dug her Pokedex out of her jeans pocket and pointed it at the Geodude.
"Geodude, the Rock Pokémon are often found in fields and mountains, mistaking them for boulders, people often step or trip on them." The Pokedex's entry read out and she pocketed it just as quickly.
"Err, Christie, one quick question, why would you send a Normal Type Pokémon like Evee into battle against a Rock Type gym?" Steve asked and Christie glanced at him. "Unless you've been holding on to a Water Stone this whole time then I'd suggest calling him back."
"I haven't and I won't." Christie responded and Steve went to object. "Evee's had no battle experience outside of our match when we first met and besides, my mom beat the Rock gym with a flying type Pokémon so I'll be just fine."
"Let's see, egomaniac, is setting a high bar by comparing herself to Sarah Monroe…." Tristan trailed off as he counted on his fingers and Christie face-faulted.
"I came here for a gym battle, not a psych evaluation!" Christie quickly asserted as she sat up.
"And a short temper." Tristan finished off as Christie got back to her feet only to face-fault again. "Deal with it Christie, I often like to evaluate my opponents mentally before the match starts."
"At least ask first!" Christie responded as she got back to her feet. "And you knew my mom?"
"Well, yes, she was a Pokémon trainer, wasn't she?" Tristan pointed out and Christie sweat-dropped as she laughed nervously. "I wasn't the one she challenged however, it was my dad she challenged as I was just a boy at the time, and needless to say her Pidgey got a lucky critical hit in as the Battle ended."
"Well maybe I'll have similar luck with my Evee! Evee, Quick Attack!" Christie commanded once Rachel started the match and the Evee started charging at a high speed.
"Geodude, Rock Throw!" Tristan commanded and the Geodude started throwing rocks at the charging Evee but the Evee either dodged or leapt over most of them as it continued his charge. "Your Evee may be fast but it can't dodge forever! Geodude, keep up the Rock Throw!" Tristan commanded and the Geodude kept throwing rocks this time throwing it quicker than it before, it managed to catch Evee a couple of times but Evee hit it's quick attack sending it sliding backwards.
"Err, Christie, does Evee know any moves other than Quick Attack and Take Down?" Steve asked and Christie thought for a moment.
"Maybe I should've used Evee more often before sending it into a gym battle." Christie admitted causing her friends to face-fault.
"Just think of this as a learning experience for you and your Evee, unfortunately it'll end in his defeat!" Tristan responded before pointing to Geodude. "Geodude, Magnitude!" Tristan commanded and Steve's eyes widened as the whole arena started to shake.
"Christie, Evee won't be able to dodge this attack! Call it back!" Steve called out to her and Christie nodded before grabbing Evee's Pokeball and pointing it at Evee, however it dodged the attempted call back both times as the attack knocked him off his feet but didn't knock him out. "Evee may be resilient but there's no way he's still in fighting condition."
"Evee can still win this!" Christie asserted and Tristan shook his head.
"You're just as stubborn as your mother was when she challenged the gym." Tristan commented as he shook his head. "Your Evee's obviously on its last legs, the battle will be over soon."
"Maybe but I'm not giving up that easy! Evee, Sand Attack!" Christie commanded and Evee started running around Geodude kicking up a significant amount of Sand.
"Geodude, stop that attack with Rock Throw!" Tristan commanded and the Geodude started throwing rocks at Evee but it dodged each one.
"It seems I didn't need Sand Attack to affect your Geodude's accuracy." Christie responded and Tristan chuckled. "What's so funny?!"
"Just watch." Tristan responded and Christie did so, Evee kept up the attack for a few more minutes before tripping over one of the rocks sending him flying. "Like I said it can't dodge forever!"
"Yeah well, from the look of things it won't need too!" Christie responded and Tristan blinked before realizing that Geodude's eyes were completely covered in sand.
"Geodude quick, get that sand out of your eyes now!" Tristan commanded and the Geodude started swatting at his eyes.
"Now's your chance Christie, finish him!" Steve responded and Christie grinned before nodding.
"Evee, Take Down!" Christie commanded and the Evee charged towards the Geodude as it tried to get the sand from his eyes, however by the time it could it was too late for the Geodude as the attack hit knocking the Geodude out.
"Geodude is out of the battle! Evee wins!" Rachel announced and Christie grinned broadly as Tristan recalled Geodude.
"Impressive strategy but you've only taken out one of my Pokémon!" Tristan responded as he activated another Pokeball. "Let's see how you handle something bigger!"
"First male to make a perverted joke takes a Take Down to the balls from my Evee!" Christie warned them and Steve and Dalton laughed nervously. "You don't want to know what'll happen to the second." Christie added and they shut up.
"Shame, I was hoping to see if she went through with it." Rachel thought to herself with a chuckle as Tristan activated his Pokeball.
"Go Steelix!" Tristan tossed the Pokeball and a massive, steel colored snake like Pokémon emerged from it easily towering over Evee and everyone else in the room, Christie dug out her Pokedex again and pointed it at the Steelix.
"Steelix, the Iron Snake Pokémon, the Evolved form of Onix, tempered underground under high pressure and heat, its body is harder than any metal." The Pokedex entry read out and Christie looked back up at the Steelix.
"I thought the Pewter Gym was purely a Rock Type gym?" Ann asked and Tristan shook his head.
"Once upon a time that was true." Tristan admitted with a nod. "But when I took over I already had Steelix here and a Skarmory in my party, rather than release them I got permission to change it to a Rock/Steel hybrid."
"If that's the case I'm changing my Pokémon as well." Christie responded as she got Evee's Pokeball out. "Evee, return and take a rest!" Christie called out to her starter Pokémon and Evee nodded as the light emerged from the ball calling it back. "You did great Evee but I'm not about to risk losing a Pokémon this early!" Christie thought before taking off her backpack and letting Torchic out not noticing that another Pokeball had opened up. "Ready for your first gym battle Torchic?"
"I don't know about Torchic but it seems that your Magicarp is!" Tristan responded and Christie looked up seeing her only Water Pokémon splashing around on the field, she face palmed before calling it back.
"One of these days that Magicarp will end up costing me an important match." Christie sighed to herself as Torchic marched onto the field unafraid of the much larger Pokémon. "Anyway, this should be easy enough since Torchic's a Fire Type Pokémon!"
"Torchic may have a type advantage over Steelix but I'm willing to bet that it doesn't have its experience!" Tristan responded before pointing at Steelix. "Steelix put the squeeze on that Torchic with Bind!" Tristan commanded once Rachel started the match and the Steelix started charging towards Torchic was surprising speed.
"I'll have to act fast! Bind on its own is bad enough but combined with Torchic's claustrophobia…." Christie's thoughts trailed off before pointing to her Torchic. "Torchic, put the heat on him by dodging and using Ember now!" Christie commanded and the Torchic started running backwards whilst firing several fireballs at the much bigger Pokémon and it was quickly evident that it was doing some damage.
"If she keeps this up she'll be two for two in the wins department!" Ann said with a grin on her face and Steve shook his head.
"Ann, if Tristan was this easy to defeat he wouldn't be a gym leader." Steve responded as he turned to her. "We both know that from our travels in the Kalos region."
"You guys have nothing to worry about!" Christie responded with a grin as she turned to them. "His Steelix is surprisingly fast but Torchic is obviously faster!"
"Err, Christie, you might want to turn around." Dalton told Christie and Christie blinked before turning around, her eyes widened when she realized that Torchic had caught his foot on one of the rocks that Geodude has used to trip up Evee earlier and by the time he was able to get back to his feet Steelix had him surrounded. "Torchic, quick get out of there now!"
"Sorry Christie but there's no were for Torchic to run! Steelix put the squeeze on him!" Tristan commanded and the Pokémon's body closed in around Torchic quickly before squeezing him. "You may think me cruel for using such a move on a Torchic who's claustrophobic but this is a lesson that you'll have to learn! If you want to succeed as a Pokémon trainer you have to pull out all the stops!"
"Guys, I'm open to suggestions here!" Christie said with a nervous gulp as Torchic cried out in pain.
"Call it back and send in Houndour to finish the job!" Steve called out and Christie nodded before grabbing Torchic's Pokeball.
"Sorry Torchic but this will be a lot less painful than being in that Steelix's bide." Christie thought as she pointed the Pokeball at Torchic however she was met with the same problem as she had with Evee but this time Steelix was moving his body to deflect the attempts. "That's gotta be against some rule!"
"Nothing in the rule book about using your Pokémon to deflect the call back attempts, sorry." Rachel responded with a shrug and Christie glared at her.
"No use glaring at the ref, she's just the messenger." Tristan added once he saw the glare that Christie was giving Rachel and she let up when she realized that he was right.
"There's gotta be something I can do though!" Christie thought as the squeeze on Torchic tightened causing the Pokémon to cry even louder. "I'm not letting my future Blaziken go out like this! Maybe the Pokedex has some answers." Christie thought before checking her Pokedex for moves that Torchic could learn most of the moves didn't seem like they would work until she saw one that caught her attention. "Did I ever learn the level Torchic was at when I caught it? Well anyway it's a shot in the dark but at the same time it's my best bet!" Christie thought before pocketing her Pokedex. "Torchic, I know it's hard but try a Fire Spin!"
"Torchic doesn't learn that move until it's at Level Twenty Five, you caught it outside Viridian Forrest." Tristan responded as he folded his arms. "Do the math." Tristan added but to everyone's surprise Torchic nodded before using the move to generate a ring of fire around Steelix causing the massive Pokémon to reel back in pain letting Torchic go in the process. "What on Earth?"
"I'm just as surprised as you are to be honest." Christie admitted before grinning. "But now is my chance to turn this around, Torchic, use Ember one more time!" Christie commanded and the Torchic leapt up before letting loose with an Ember attack, the Steelix struggled to stay upright for a few moments before finally toppling over out cold.
"Steelix is unable to battle….." Rachel trailed off as Torchic started glowing white. "It's evolving as well?!"
"Okay, I'm beginning to think that there's a lot more to this Pokémon than just claustrophobia!" Tristan commented and the others nodded in agreement as Torchic finished evolving growing into Combusken. "Christie, are you certain that you saw no other trainers nearby when you saw it?"
"I was getting changed out of wet clothing behind some bushes near that lake we met at I think I would've noticed some spying on me getting dressed, and I'd rather not think about what they would've been doing with their hands in the process." Christie responded as she pointed her Pokedex at the newly evolved Pokémon.
"Combusken, the Young Fowl Pokémon, the evolved form of Torchic, Its kicking mastery lets it lose 10 kicks per second. It emits sharp cries to intimidate foes." The Pokedex entry read out and Christie pocketed it.
"That is true but maybe we should talk to Officer Jenny and see if there are any trainers who reported a missing Torchic, even if it got that strong on its own the Pokémon around Viridian Forrest are too weak to give it any significant experience." Steve added and Christie nodded in agreement. "After the gym battles that is."
"Right, as I was saying, Steelix is out, Combusken wins!" Rachel added as Tristan called back his Pokémon.
"On one hand, I have to be the luckiest girl who's ever wanted a Blaziken in Kanto." Christie thought as her newly evolved Combusken took several deep breaths. "On the other hand he may be down by two Pokémon but two of my Pokémon are severely weakened by their fights, I'll have to think of some kind of back-up plan if Combusken and Evee as defeated."
"You may have defeated my Steelix and Geodude but you've yet to see the best of my Pokémon." Tristan said as he grabbed his final Pokéball. "And it'll be a Pokémon your very familiar with, go Rhyhorn!" Tristan tossed the Pokeball and Rhyhorn emerged from it ready for battle. "If you want to switch out Combusken now is the time."
"He's got a point, there's no way that Combusken is in any shape to fight after his fight with Steelix." Christie thought before nodding. "Combusken, return, you need a rest!" Christie called out to him but Combusken stayed put. "Err, Combusken, I just gave you an order." Christie added but the Combusken gave her a reassuring look. "Does he really think that he can still fight?" Christie thought before grabbing Combusken's Pokeball. "I can't take that chance!" Christie thought before activating it and pointing it at Combusken only for the Pokémon to leap out of the way before the beam could hit, a process that repeated several times. "Oh great, now what will I do?"
"If Combusken wants to fight then let it." Tristan responded as he folded his arms with a frown. "But from where I stand you have a long way to go in terms of earning your Pokémon's respect."
"Earning my Pokémon's respect? I thought capturing them was enough to do that." Christie thought before reluctantly deactivating Combusken's Pokeball. "Fine, I'll battle with Combusken!"
"Isn't she taking a risk?" Dalton commented as he scratched his head. "Combusken's still tired from its battle against Steelix."
"She is but I don't think Combusken's giving her much choice." Steve responded as he folded his arms. "If we had a net handy we could try it that way but then we'd look stupid chasing the same Pokémon all over the gym."
"That and it could easily burn its way through with a Fire Spin." Ann added and Steve nodded in response.
"All right Rhyhorn, Take Down now!" Tristan commanded once Rachel started the match and Rhyhorn charged into battle.
"Combusken, Fire Spin!" Christie commanded and the chicken like Pokémon let loose with a flame attack that collided with the charging Rhyhorn too little to no effect.
"Fire attacks won't do too much damage to a Rock Type Pokémon Christie you should know that by now!" Tristan commented as Rhyhorn's attack hit sending it skidding back.
"Maybe but some damage is better than no damage at all!" Christie responded as Combusken stood his ground. "But I don't know if Combusken has enough energy left to do some major damage to that Rhyhorn." Christie thought before checking her Pokedex for Combusken's moveset.
"Doing research on your Pokémon won't help you if that Pokémon's defeated! Rhyhorn, use Rock Smash!" Tristan commanded and the Rhyhorn stomped its foot down causing a fissure in the ground below it.
"I got it!" Christie thought as she quickly pocketed her Pokedex. "Combusken, jump and use Double Kick!" Christie commanded and the Pokémon leapt up in time to avoid the fissure before launching a pair or kicks at Rhyhorn that sent it skidding backwards. "Now use Peck!" Christie commanded and the Pokémon leapt up.
"Rhyhorn, Rock Throw!" Tristan commanded and the Pokémon launched several rocks with its horn at Combusken, Combusken dodged the first two but not the last two knocking it out. "Well, well, it seems I've turned this around in my favor!"
"Combusken is out! Rhyhorn wins!" Rachel announced as Christie called back Combusken with her Pokeball.
"So, what are Christie's options right now?" Dalton asked and Steve thought for a moment.
"Well, Evee's already been entered into battle and he's too exhausted to make a dent in Rhyhorn at the moment, Spearow and Pidgey, well if she sends either of them in she may as well concede the match to Tristan right now." Steve responded as he thought for a few more minutes. "The only Water Pokémon she has is Magicarp and well, I don't really need to say anything else about that!"
"So her best choice is Houndour." Ann responded and Steve nodded in response. "Well, he already has plenty of experience under his previous trainer so that might prove to be Christie's advantage."
"That's if that experience will be enough." Steve responded as Christie activated a Pokeball.
"Go Houndour!" Christie called out as she tossed the Pokeball and Houndour emerged from it.
"A Houndour, that's not a bad choice." Tristan complemented her and Christie grinned at that. "But this match as far from over and Rhyhorn still has a lot of fight left in him."
"And the same goes for me!" Christie responded and Houndour nodded in response.
"Rhyhorn, Take Down!" Tristan commanded once Rachel started the match and Rhyhorn started charging towards Houndour.
"Houndour, use Bite now!" Christie commanded and the Houndour charged in towards Rhyhorn, the two attacks hit at the same time sending both Pokémon skidding backwards. "Houndour, Ember!" Christie commanded and the Houndour let loose with some flames.
"Dodge them!" Tristan commanded but quickly realized that Rhyhorn wasn't moving. "Oh no, it flinched!"
"That's music to my ears!" Christie responded with a grin as the Embers hit doing significant damage to Rhyhorn. "Looks like I'll win this match yet!"
"We'll see about that!" Tristan responded as Rhyhorn got back to its feet. "Rhyhorn, Rollout!" Tristan commanded and the Rhyhorn leapt into the air before rolling into a ball and charging at Houndour with impressive speed.
"Houndour, use Ember again!" Christie commanded and the Houndour let loose with the Ember attack but the flames bounced off of Rhyhorn before the Pokémon collided with Houndour knocking it out.
"Houndour is out of the battle! Rhyhorn wins!" Rachel announced as Christie called back Houndour. "Your down to Evee Christie, you may as well give up now."
"Huh?" Christie blinked as she attached Houndour's Pokeball to her belt. "I can't use another Pokémon?"
"No, you can't, this is three on three and you've entered three Pokémon into the match." Tristan responded and Christie went to argue that point. "And yes, Torchic and Combusken count as one Pokémon and besides, your other Pokémon are Spearow, Pidgey and Magicarp, they wouldn't stand a chance."
"I guess you're right." Christie admitted as she grabbed Evee's Pokeball. "Evee, go!" Christie called out as she tossed the Pokeball and the clearly exhausted Pokémon emerged from it. "I was hoping to avoid using Evee again but it seems like I have no choice, let's just hope that Houndour did enough damage and Evee has enough energy left to win me my first badge!"
"Rhyhorn, keep up the Rollout!" Tristan commanded as the Rhyhorn rolled into a ball again and charged at Evee.
"Dodge it!" Christie called out and the Evee started running all around the arena.
"It can't run forever Christie!" Tristan responded and Christie grit her teeth as Evee continued to evade the Rollout before eventually coming to a dead end. "Just like I said, he can't run forever! Get him Rhyhorn!" Tristan commanded as the Rhyhorn closed in on Evee.
"There has to be something I can do!" Christie thought as the Rhyhorn neared Evee. "I got it! Evee, jump on top of Rhyhorn!"
"What?" Tristan responded as the Evee jumped up on top of the rolling Rhyhorn. "What do you hope to accomplish with that move?"
"I'll show you! Evee, direct Rhyhorn towards those rocks!" Christie commanded and despite some initial difficulty Evee was able to send Rhyhorn flying into some rocks, it didn't knock out Rhyhorn but it did do some significant damage. "Looks like Houndour did more damage than I thought!"
"This match isn't over yet! Rhyhorn, Horn Attack!" Tristan commanded but the Pokémon struggled to get to its feet.
"Now's my chance, Evee, finish it with Take Down!" Christie commanded and the Pokémon charged towards Rhyhorn as it tried to get to its feet, it failed however as Evee delivered the finishing blow.
"Rhyhorn is out! Evee wins! The winner of the match is the challenger Christie Monroe!" Rachel announced and Christie jumped for joy once she called back Evee. "You want to give her the Boulder Badge now?"
"Sure, just make sure that Geodude, Steelix and Rhyhorn are ready for the next match." Tristan told her and she nodded as he handed over the three Pokeballs and she ran off. "Congratulations Christie." Tristan added as he handed over the Boulder Badge. "You've earned it!"
"Thanks." Christie responded with a grin as she took the badge. "Now I need to decide where to keep my badges."
"Your hoodie has a zip so you can sow it into the inside of it." Steve pointed out and Christie sweat-dropped. "If you have no experience doing that don't worry, Nurse Joy will be happy to do it for you."
"Well in that case, I'm heading back to the Pokémon Center." Christie responded as she went towards the doors to the gym. "I'll try to make it back in time for Dalton's match."
"You'll have plenty of time, don't worry." Tristan reassured her and Christie nodded before leaving the gym.