It had been a few minutes since Dalton's gym battle had ended and Dalton had just exited the Pokémon Center, his Pokémon hadn't been seriously injured so it didn't take Nurse Joy's Chansey to give them a clean bill of health nor did it take Nurse Joy long to sow Dalton's newly won badge onto the inside of his jacket.
"One badge down, seven to go." Dalton commented to himself as he plopped down on the nearest bench, coincidentally the same bench that Christie had occupied earlier, and was feeling quite proud with himself. "Still I can't let this go to my head! Tristan was tough but he was just the first gym leader, I'll need my party in top form when we reach Cerulean City."
"Hey, did you here, there's a wild Pokémon just North of the city that's been stealing food from trainers whilst they camp." Dalton overheard a male trainer tell his female companion and he looked up. "I was going to suggest we stop for the night there but I think we can stay another night at the Pokémon center."
"Sorry, I couldn't help but overhear." Dalton apologized and the two trainers turned to him. "Has anyone tried capturing that Pokémon?" Dalton asked and the male shook his head.
"A few have tried but the problem is that the Pokémon has only been attacking at night." The male responded and Dalton nodded. "Most info we have is that it's likely a flying or ghost type because the Pokémon has left no footprints at the scene of the crime."
"And the only reason that we know that it's a Pokémon is the fact that the bags that the food was kept in was clawed through." The female trainer added as she shook her head. "Are you heading that way soon?"
"I will be I'm just waiting for my friends to finish their gym battles." Dalton responded and they nodded. "I've already got my badge and so did my female friend."
"Was she the tall brunette girl in the crop-top?" The male trainer asked and Dalton nodded. "Yeah, I saw her earlier, right before she returned to the gym."
"Off course you were looking at a pretty girl." The female trainer said as she rolled her eyes and the male trainer blushed.
"Well anyway she let her Combusken out of its Pokeball but it went to attack a pair of trainers." The male trainer added and Dalton's eyes widened. "Luckily she had the sense to call it back before it could get close enough to them."
"That's weird, that Pokémon's never gone after humans before." Dalton commented as he scratched his head before checking the time on his watch. "That reminds me, I'd better head back to the gym and cheer on my friends."
"Sure, see you around." The trainer responded as Dalton ran off towards the gym.
"Strange that Christie didn't mention that." Dalton thought as he made his way to the Pokémon Gym. "Still she probably had her reasons and I can tell them about the Pokémon stealing the food whilst I'm at it." Dalton thought as he made his way to the gym.
*meanwhile*
"Where is this brat?" Cassidy wondered out loud whilst she kept an eye out, Butch had fallen asleep by this point and she was on lookout. "I told him that we should've attacked that brat before he reached the Pokémon center but no! Zip had to start counting sheep!" Cassidy thought before noticing Dalton approaching the gym. "Hey, wake up!"
"No mommy, I don't want to use the school to count the Weedles." A half asleep Butch managed to blurt out and Cassidy sweat-dropped. "Mom, my name's not Yuri!"
"Good grief, even his mom got his name wrong!" Cassidy thought as a massive sweat-drop rolled down her head, she quickly shrugged it off as she started shaking him awake. "Zip, wake up! That brat Dalton has just returned from the Pokémon center!"
"My name's Butch not Zip!" Butch snapped at her as he finally awoke. "Wait, what was that about Dalton?" Butch asked and Cassidy face-faulted, before she could answer his question the Team Rocket members heard the door to the gym opening and they looked up seeing Dalton enter the gym.
"Ugh, this is great, just great! We've missed another opportunity because of your laziness Nicolai!" Cassidy yelled at him and Butch cleared his throat.
"First off, I was catching some sleep because I was jet-lagged from the journey from Kalos!" Butch responded and Cassidy folded her arms. "Second, the name's Yuri not Nicolai!" Butch yelled at her before realizing his mistake. "I meant Zip!" Butch added and Cassidy barely contained her laughter. "I meant Rusty!" Butch added and Cassidy burst out laughing. "Ugh! I meant Butch! Great, now I'm forgetting my own name!"
*meanwhile inside the gym*
"Okay Ann, if you're sure you want to face some of my more powerful monsters it's your funeral." Tristan commented as Rachel handed over the Pokeballs to him. "Your brother might want to pay close attention to this as I'll be using the same Pokémon in my battle against him."
"Thanks for the warning." Steve commented dryly before the doors to the gym opened up and Dalton entered the gym. "Your just in time Dalton, the match is about to start."
"Yeah, I can see that." Dalton commented as he reached Steve and Christie. "Err, Christie, you mind if we talk privately?"
"Sure, what's up?" Christie asked as she followed Dalton to an area of the gym where the others couldn't overhear them.
"Alakazam, I chose you!" Ann I called out as she threw the Pokeball and the Psychic Type Pokémon emerged from it.
"You sent out a Psychic Type Pokémon? Not a bad choice compared to Christie and Dalton's first choices." Tristan commented as he glanced towards the two Teenagers, without another word he activated a Pokeball and got ready to send it into battle. "Rhyperior, go!" Tristan tossed the Pokeball and a massive Pokémon emerged from it.
"Rhyperior?" Christie asked before digging out her Pokedex and pointing it at the Pokémon.
"Rhyperior, the Drill Pokémon and the evolved form of Rhydon, from holes in its palms, it fires out Geodude. Its carapace can withstand volcanic eruptions." The Pokedex entry read out and Christie sweat-dropped as she processed the information.
"Is there any Pokémon my mom owns that doesn't have an evolved form?" Christie asked out-loud as she pocketed the Pokedex. "Not counting her Pidgey."
"I'd have to know which Pokémon she owns before I answer that." Dalton responded before shaking his head. "We're getting off topic, so Combusken went for those trainers and you don't know why?"
"Begin!" Rachel declared and the two Pokémon stared down each other.
"Rhyperior, Rock Smash, let's go!" Tristan commanded and the Rhyperior charged into battle.
"Alakazam, Psyshock now!" Ann commanded and the Pokémon leapt backwards before stretching his arms outward towards the charging Pokémon, soon afterwards the Rhyperior was bombarded by several beams of psychic energy but kept charging. "That usually knocks out the opponent."
"When I said that I save these three Pokémon for special occasions I meant it." Tristan responded as he folded his arms, Rhyperior closed in on Alakazam and slammed into his sending him skidding back a few feet. "Follow it up with Rock Throw!" Tristan commanded and the Ryperior picked up a huge rock and held it over his head…..
"It's time for something different then! Alakazam, Hyper Beam now!" Ann commanded and the Psychic Type put his spoons together before pointing them at Ryperior and firing a beam of white light, it hit before Rhyperior could hit his move causing him to drop the rock and sending it flying into a rock knocking it out.
"Rhyperior is out! Alakazam wins!" Rachel announced as Tristan called back Rhyperior, Ann did likewise to Christie's surprise as she and Dalton returned to where Steve was standing.
"Why did she call back Alakazam? He had plenty of fight left." Christie asked and Steve shook his head.
"Hyper Beam requires that the Pokémon recharge a turn after it's used besides Alakazam did take a nasty hit from that Rock Smash." Steve responded as Ann and Tristan prepared their Pokeballs. "Besides if her next two Pokémon get knocked out she has Alakazam as a reserve."
"Don't worry Steve I'll win my next badge before you know it!" Ann added before activating her next Pokeball and tossing it. "Foslass I chose you!" Ann tossed the Pokeball and the ice type Pokémon emerged from it.
"Good thing my Pokedex doesn't run on batteries, otherwise I'd need to charge it by now." Christie muttered under her breath before digging out her Pokedex and pointing it at Froslass.
"Froslass, the Snow Land Pokémon and one of the evolved forms of Snowrunt, it freezes foes with an icy breath nearly -60 degrees Fahrenheit. What seems to be its body is actually hollow." The Pokedex entry read out and she pocketed the Pokedex.
"Glalie's the other evolved form of Snowrunt, we caught one each in Kalos and decided to evolve them into its different forms." Steve explained as he turned to Christie. "My Glalie's with Professor Sycamore, it was a good Pokémon but my Litleo was stronger so I decided to bring that with my instead."
"Still, an Ice Type to challenge a Rock Gym? That's an interesting choice." Tristan responded as he activated a Pokeball. "Especially since it's also a Ghost Type, I'll need a new tactic." Tristan thought as he deactivated the first Pokeball and selected another. "Nidoqueen, I choose you!" Tristan called out and the large female Pokémon emerged from it. "It looks like we have a catfight on our hands."
"You just had to say it." Rachel responded as she face palmed and Christie, once again, got her Pokedex out.
"Nidoqueen, the Drill Pokémon and the evolved form of Nidorina, it uses its scaly, rugged body to seal the entrance of its nest and protect its young from predators." The Pokedex's entry read out and Christie decided to keep it out this time.
"You won't need to worry about using that as much when you reach the Pokémon league, by then you should know most Pokémon like the back of your hand." Steve commented when he saw her annoyed expression.
"That time can't come soon enough." Christie responded with a sigh before they turned their attention back to the match.
"Begin!" Rachel commanded and the two trainers grinned.
"Froslass, Ice Fang now!" Ann commanded and the Ice/Ghost Type flew towards Nidoqueen….
"Nidoqueen, Shadow Ball!" Tristan commanded and the Nidoqueen put her hands together before forming a ball of dark energy and tossing it at Froslass, the attack hit causing a large explosion but Froslass continued on and hit the attack. "It seems you forgot that Nidoqueen is weak to Ice Type attacks."
"I'm the gym leader, I didn't forget." Tristan responded as he folded his arms. "But you seem to forget that type effectiveness doesn't account for much if the Pokémon's Level is much lower than the other's."
"To bad for you that my Froslass is the same level as my Alakazam!" Ann responded with a grin and Tristan smirked.
"We'll see how well that helps you! Nidoqueen, Flamethrower!" Tristan commanded and Nidoqueen opened her mouth before letting lose a stream of flames from it.
"Froslass, show him a real Shadow Ball!" Ann commanded and the Pokémon generated a ball of dark energy before launching it at the flames, it managed to hold back the flames for a few seconds but was overpowered by Nidoqueen's Flamethrower which hit, and knocked out Froslass.
"Froslass is out! Nidoqueen wins!" Rachel announced and Ann frowned as she called back her Pokémon.
"One defeat for both of us and my Nidoqueen has plenty of fight left." Tristan commented with a smirk as he folded his arms. "Are you going to send out Alakazam?"
"That's what you're expecting but me? I like playing with expectations!" Ann responded as she activated another Pokeball. "In fact here's a Pokémon from my home region! Greninja, I chose you!" Ann called out as she tossed the Pokeball and her starter Pokémon emerged from it.
"One of the Kalos starters and it's in its evolved form no less." Tristan commented as Greninja got ready for battle. "This will be interesting indeed!" Tristan added before turning to Rachel.
"Begin!" Rachel called out and Ann grinned.
"Greninja, show him how we do things in Kalos with Water Shuriken!" Ann commanded and Greninja leapt high in the air before letting lose with several jets of water….
"Nidoqueen, dodge it!" Tristan commanded and the Nidoqueen showed surprising speed by weaving in and out of the water blasts. "Now, use Hyper Beam!" Tristan commanded and Nidoqueen started firing up its Hyper Beam…..
"Greninja, use Double Team now!" Ann called out and the water type quickly split into several duplicate copies of himself and the Hyper Beam launched but hit one of the duplicates rather than the real one. "Now, use Water Pulse!" Ann commanded and the Pokémon fired a single jet of water at the Nidoqueen sending her slamming into the far wall and knocking her out.
"Nidoqueen is out! Greninja wins!" Rachel called out as Tristan called back the Nidoqueen and Greninja's remaining duplicates disappeared one by one until only the real one remained.
"Looks like you're down to your last Pokémon." Ann commented with a cocky smirk as Greninja landed on the ground. "At this point you may as well just give me the Boulder Badge."
"If this was a two vs. two battle then I would, besides I have one more Pokémon up my sleeve." Tristan responded as he activated his last Pokeball. "But I saved the best for last! I chose you, Skarmory!" Tristan tossed the Pokeball and the metallic flying Pokémon emerged from it.
"My Pokedex is getting a lot of millage today." Christie muttered under her breath before pointing her Pokedex at Skarmory.
"Skarmory, the Armor Bird Pokémon, despite being clad entirely in iron-hard armor, it flies at speed of over 180 mph." Christie's Pokedex entry read out and she pocketed the Pokedex once it was done.
"Those things have a reputation for stealing food and being hard to capture." Steve commented as he glanced over at Christie. "He probably caught it late in his journey."
"Actually Skarmory was the third Pokémon I caught." Tristan responded as he patted his Skarmory. "And easily my post powerful Pokémon, as Steve said I caught it whilst it was trying to steal food from me just outside of Pewter City."
"Actually, come to think of it." Dalton chimed in and the others turned to him. "On my way back from the Pokémon Center I heard a couple of trainers comment that a wild Pokémon had been stealing food from trainers."
"I had heard of that, if I had the time I would've gone and dealt with the problem myself but as the gym leader I rarely get any time for rest and relaxation." Tristan responded with a nod and a frown. "If you ask me it's a wild Skarmory and if any of you want to catch it I won't stop you."
"Good, I've wanted to catch one since one got away whilst me and Ann were in Kalos." Steve responded and Ann nodded in agreement. "That's, off course, if what you say is true."
"Trust me kid, as a Skarmory trainer I know of that Pokémon's habits." Tristan responded before nodding to Rachel.
"Begin!" Rachel called out and the two trainers grinned.
"Skarmory's a Steel Type so I'll have to change up my strategy." Ann thought before pointing to Greninja. "Greninja, Rock Slide now!" Ann commanded and the Pokémon grabbed several large rocks and leapt into the air before throwing them at Skarmory.
"Dodge them!" Tristan called out and the Skarmory effortlessly dodged each rock to the surprise of everyone but Tristan and Rachel. "Now, use Steel Wing!" Tristan commanded and Skarmory took flight before its wings glowing.
"Greninja, Hydro Pump!" Ann called out and Greninja let loose with the most powerful Water Type attack only for Skarmory to fly right through it before connecting with the Steel Wing knocking Greninja down to the floor and out of the match. "No way, Greninja's my strongest Pokémon!"
"Greninja is out! Skarmory wins!" Rachel called out as Ann reluctantly called back Greninja.
"Ann, don't forget that Alakazam was never knocked out!" Steve called out to her and Ann turned to her older brother. "You can still turn this around!"
"I know that!" Ann responded as she activated Alakazam's Pokeball. "I guess it's no secret what my last Pokémon is, Alakazam, I chose you!" Ann called out as she tossed the Pokeball and Alakazam returned to the field. "Are you still good to go Alakazam?" Ann asked and the Psychic Type Pokémon gave her a reassuring nod in response.
"We'll see how long he lasts." Tristan responded before turning to Rachel who nodded knowing what he was going to say.
"Begin!" Rachel called out and two trainers grinned.
"Skarmory, Steel Wing!" Tristan called out and the flying type's wings started glowing as he flew towards Alakazam…..
"Not this time! Alakazam, Teleport!" Ann called out and the Alakazam disappeared seconds before Skarmory could make contact.
"Are you trying the same trick Dalton used? It won't work! Skarmory, Whirlwind!" Tristan called out and the Pokémon flew up high before whipping up a whirlwind with its wings and within a few seconds Alakazam was forced to reappear as it was hit with the attack and whilst it didn't do enough damage to knock him out it did do significant damage to Alakazam. "Good try Ann but I guess you'll have to try again after Steve's finished! Skarmory, Steel Wing!" Tristan commanded and the Pokémon made a dice bomb towards Alakazam as its wings glowed…..
"Alakazam, use Double Team and quickly!" Ann called out and Alakazam quickly split up into duplicates and Skarmory stopped in his tracks as he tried to find the real one.
"That worked once but not again! Skarmory, use Whirlwind one more time and attack all of them!" Tristan called out and Skarmory flapped his wings before calling up another Whirlwind…..
"That's just what I was hoping for!" Ann thought with a grin. "Alakazam, jump and use Teleport!" Ann called out and Alakazam nodded before leaping into the air and disappearing as the other duplicates disappeared.
"What's she playing at? She wasted a Double Team just to use Teleport mid-jump?" Tristan thought with a frown as Skarmory looked around for Alakazam, a few seconds later Alakazam reappeared above Skarmory. "Skarmory, he's above you!" Tristan called out and the shocked Skarmory looked up seeing the Psychic Type falling towards him.
"Alakazam, use Psybeam before he can get away!" Ann commanded and the Pokémon fired a beam of energy at Skarmory that hit him in the back driving him to the ground and causing a large dust cloud to come up from the impact.
"I can't see a thing!" Steve commented as he and the others coughed into their hands, seconds later the dust settled revealing that both Pokémon where on the ground, Ann's Alakazam was able to get to his feet first and whilst Skarmory struggled it eventually collapsed out cold.
"Skarmory is out, Alakazam wins!" Rachel called out and the trainers cheered. "The winner of this match is the challenger, Ann from Lumiose City!" Rachel added and Ann hugged her exhausted Alakazam in victory.
"You were great Alakazam!" Ann said and the Alakazam grinned at that, she let go of the Pokémon before turning him to his Pokeball and turning to Tristan. "Steve, you have my Trainer's Case, right?"
"Yeah, it's right here!" Steve responded before handing it over and Ann gladly took the badge before adding it to her case. "Well, you don't really have a reason to go back to the center so what do you want to do?"
"Go back to the center, Froslass, Greninja and Alakazam need a check-up before we move on!" Ann responded as she handed over the case.
"Wait, you had trainer's cases all this time whilst I was worrying about walking around in an open hoody with nothing but my bra underneath it?" Christie asked and Steve shook his head.
"Actually I only have two, one for me and Ann." Steve responded as he turned to her. "I'm only holding on to it for her until she gets a bigger back-pack."
"You're in luck then, there's a great back-pack shop in town, cheap too." Tristan responded as he approached them. "When you leave the Pokémon Center take a right and a left before walking down the street for a bit and you'll find it."
"Thanks, I'll give it a look before I come back." Ann nodded in response before she left the gym. "Don't start without me!"
"We won't." Tristan responded as he gave Rachel his Pokémon. "Well Steve, are you ready for your battle in the Kanto region?"
"I was born ready." Steve responded with a grin. "And unlike my sister I have more than one Kalos native Pokémon in my party so if anything I should ask if you are ready for me!"
"We'll see when the battle starts." Tristan responded with a nod and a grin.
*meanwhile*
Whilst the gang were in the gym getting their badges the local police force was busy handling calls, doing paperwork and other police business related things.
"I'm sorry but unless you have a description of the Pokémon that broke into your campsite I can't help you." Officer Jenny responded with a sigh as she talked to a trainer on the other end of the phone. "Yes, I understand that it is likely a flying type Pokémon but do you realize how many flying type Pokémon are known?" Jenny asked before someone approached her desk. "You'll have to try capturing the Pokémon yourself, I'm sorry." Jenny added before hanging up and realizing that a male trainer had approached her. "Can I help you?"
"I'm here to report a robbery." The male responded and Officer Jenny pinched the bridge of her nose in annoyance.
"I'm sorry but I can't help you if it's to do with that wild Pokémon that's been robbing campsites in recent weeks." Officer Jenny responded with an annoyed sigh before looking up at the trainer revealing it to be the original owner of Christie's Houndour.
"It has nothing to do with that, a female trainer stole my Houndour whilst I was in Viridian Forrest." The trainer responded as he barely contained his grin. "I last saw her entering the Pokémon Gym."
"You mean the Pewter City one, right?" Officer Jenny asked and the male nodded. "I'll need a description of this trainer but as soon as you give it to me we'll go down to the gym and get this sorted out."
"Sure thing Officer." The trainer responded with a grin as he sat down. "That bitch may have beaten me in Viridian Forrest but I'll have the last laugh and that Houndour will pay for abandoning me!"