Episode 14: The dynamic duo!
The trip back to the Fight Area didn't take long, and it was hardly eventful. In the aftermath of Niko and Lauren's victory against the Arcade Star, Dahlia, the group set off for their final destination—the Fight Area—the following morning. Once more, they rode on gyarados and Fay rode on charizard, and the entire journey took a day and a half.
While on the journey, Niko sat there with Lauren sitting in front of him. Once more, it was an ideal time to reflect on his journey thus far. But most importantly, he had to focus on Palmer. Last time, what defeated him was the Tower Tycoon's dragonite, who knew the move dragon dance. To get around that, Niko needed to be swift enough, and to land a powerful enough attack quickly enough. At least, that's what he believed at the time.
Lauren went through a largely similar thought process. Only she had by now figured out a way to get around the dragon dance. It was all a matter of being able to land her planned counterattack. But more importantly, she wondered how Niko was feeling. Throughout their adventure on Battle Island, he seemed off. Often times, he wouldn't talk for long periods of time. And whenever he seemed happy, it would sour almost as quickly by some external factor. She hoped that—whatever the result in their rematch—they could stay together and figure out the next steps in their relationship.
The following day, they made it to the Fight Area, and went straight to the Pokémon Center to rest up Fay's pokémon, as well as eat up before training for a bit. Even if Niko and Lauren felt better about their chances, they both needed some time to work with their pokémon before the rematch. And so they did, walking out onto the practice battlefield.
"Alright guys!" Niko said, summoning his full team. "We're about to face the final Frontier Brain. A few of you have faced him before. He's the one with the dragonite." The ones who had faced Palmer previously shuddered a little at the thought. "Exactly. Well, we can do it this time. We've fought four other Frontier Brains, and beat each one of them. Plus, we've also battled Palmer. We know exactly what he's going to use, and his strategy." He smiled. "All of you are capable of beating that dragonite. But to be sure, let's train for a bit, alright?"
He and his pokémon then began working on their moves for the next hour or so. Lauren's did the same after she talked with them. For the most part, there wasn't much left for either her or Niko to teach their teams—they had peaked as far as moves were concerned, it was all about speed and strength at that point.
Brittany, JJ, and Fay watched from the bench. After a few minutes, they too got up and began training with their pokémon, except for Fay, who had to go back inside to do some work for Professor Oak.
As he walked in, he noticed two tall, older-looking men approach Nurse Joy's desk at the front. One of them had spiky yellow hair, the other a red afro. As he passed by, he casually waved to them, paying no attention otherwise. He then sat in a booth and got to work, casually looking over to the men presumably healing their pokémon.
"Alright, Flint, now can we get going…?" The yellow-haired man said in a bored tone.
"Nah, Volkner. I want to meet with the Tower Tycoon first. It's been a while since we've talked." The man named Flint said in a calm, yet excited tone. "Buttt…if you want to go back to Sinnoh, you're more than welcome to."
"No, it's fine. I've got nothing better to do, anyways."
"No challengers at the gym?"
"Nah," Volkner said, waving a hand away. "It's summer. I usually don't get too many of them this time of year."
"Fair enough. Alright, we won't be long." Flint said, picking up his pokéballs and turning to leave with Volkner. As he did so, he paused, looking out the window to the practice battlefield. "Except…wait…"
"What's up?" Volkner said lazily, turning to the practice battlefield. "Oh. It's those kids."
"You know them?" Fay finally said, attracting the attention of Flint and Volkner.
"Know them? They beat me." Volkner said. "You know them?"
"I travelled with them. Name's Fay." He said, getting up to shake Flint's and Volkner's hands.
"Volkner. I'm the gym leader of Sunyshore City. This is—"
"Name's Flint! I'm a member of the Sinnoh Elite 4!" Flint said excitedly, leaving Fay impressed. "I know that gang because we met back in Sunyshore City. That kid, Niko, is quite something. Just a lot to learn, though."
"You're right." Fay said, unsure of what to say next. Flint easily filled in the gap.
"Are they busy right now?" Fay shook his head. "Great! Volkner, let's go!"
"Go and do what?" Volkner asked, yawning.
"Just hang out with them!" Flint said. He then walked out onto the practice battlefield to greet the group. Volkner—and then Fay—ended up joining him. "Hey guys!" Flint said with a happy wave of his hand. "What's hot?"
"Oh, hey Flint." Niko said, turning to look with surprise at the Elite 4 member. "Just training to take on the Battle Tower."
"Woah, what!?" Flint said, taking a step back in surprise. "You guys are taking on the Battle Frontier? Incredible!" He said enthusiastically. "How many prints do you have?"
"Four. Palmer will be our fifth." Niko said, turning to venusaur. "Wait…what are you two doing here?"
"Oh, I'm here on League business. Volkner's here just to tag along. He doesn't have too many challengers during the summer, and why not spend that time with ME on Battle Island?" Flint said, eying Volkner eagerly. Fay then popped up behind the gym leader. "Oh. And we just met your friend. You all travel together?" Niko nodded. "Wow, you popular guy. Anyways, how's your rampardos doing? I saw what happened, and just wanted to check in."
"Rampardos is doing better. Which reminds me…I want to call my parents soon, just need to focus first on Palmer first."
"Ah. No worries! Just checkin'!" Flint then turned to Volkner again, and winked. "Hey Niko, how would you like to battle us? You know, as a warm-up for your battle against Palmer?"
"Against who? You or Volkner?"
"Why not both?" Flint shrugged.
"Well…who'd be my partner, then?" Niko asked. He turned to his friends. Just as Lauren was about to suggest that she partner, Niko turned to Fay. "Hey Fay, why not you and me? It's been a while since I've seen your pokémon in a real battle."
Fay raised his eyebrow, especially after seeing Lauren's apparent interest in wanting to battle alongside Niko. Nevertheless, he shrugged. "Sure, let's go."
"Great!" Niko said. "How many pokémon are we using?"
"Two each." Flint said, and the group made way for the four trainers to take their spots on the field. Flint and Volkner on one side—Niko and Fay on the other. "Ready? Begin. Flareon, I choose you!"
"Jolteon, let's go!" Volkner shouted.
"Torterra, I choose you!" Niko commanded.
"Kingdra, you're up!" Fay shouted. "Use whirlpool on flareon!"
Just as the dragon pokémon conjured a powerful whirlpool, Niko commanded torterra to use leaf storm on jolteon. Meanwhile, jolteon used pin missile on torterra. Flareon used overheat on torterra as well. Luckily, the torrent of leaves blocked the pin missile and hit jolteon without much effort, and the overheat's power was minimized by leaf storm. Then a swirling pool of water hit flareon, engulfing the flame pokémon in it and launching it high into the air.
"Flareon, giga impact on kingdra!" Flint commanded.
"Jolteon, charge beam on kingdra!" Volkner commanded.
"Kingdra, dragon pulse on jolteon!"
"Torterra, razor leaf!" Niko commanded. All four attacks commenced once more. Flareon, from midair, charged downwards at kingdra, as if running through the air. Meanwhile, all attacks focused on jolteon, as a powerful beam of draconic energy collided with a charge beam in the middle of the field, only disrupted when flareon impacted with kingdra, knocking the dragon pokémon to the ground.
While flareon was recovering from the attack, and jolteon was charging forward to use quick attack, Niko turned to Fay, and then to torterra. "Do it." Fay said. "Kingdra, leap into the air, now!"
"Thanks, Fay. Torterra, use earthquake!" Niko commanded, dropping to one knee and thrusting his hand onto the ground. Suddenly the battlefield began to shake. Kingdra was briefly unaffected as he leapt into the air to dodge the move. Flareon—who was recovering from the giga impact—and jolteon were both hit by the move, and seemed to have difficulty dealing with it. "Now, energy ball on jolteon!"
"Kingdra, dragon pulse on flareon!" Fay commanded. Both attacks shot forward, crossing across the field and hitting their intended targets. Both Volkner and Flint attempted to use moves, but they weren't quick enough. Flareon and jolteon jointly fainted.
"Flareon and jolteon are unable to battle!" JJ, who acted as the referee, declared. Flint and Volkner returned their pokémon, turned to one another, and smirked.
"Magmortar, I choose you!" Flint shouted.
"Electivire, you're up!" Volkner shouted. "Thunderpunch on kingdra!"
"Magmortar, flamethrower on torterra!" Flint commanded. A powerful, light orange jet of fire struck torterra directly on the head, lighting the continent pokémon on fire. Meanwhile, the thunderbolt pokémon charged forward, slamming an electrified fist onto kingdra just as the dragon pokémon shot out dragon pulse. However, the force of the thunderpunch knocked dragon pulse back towards kingdra and, at a close range, created an explosion that knocked kingdra backwards, past the field and into the wall separating the Pokémon Center from the rest of the Fight Area.
"Kingdra is unable to battle!" JJ declared.
"Return, kingdra. Well done." Fay then searched for another pokémon. "Dragonair, I choose you!"
Meanwhile, torterra collapsed from the flamethrower, forcing Niko to return him as well. As JJ declared torterra unable to battle, Niko considered who to use now. The choice, in that moment, seemed obvious. "Magmar, I choose you!"
Flint raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Since when did you catch one of those?"
"Since I've been here, actually. Magmar, sunny day!" Niko commanded.
"Oh, Niko…" Brittany said, shaking her head.
"I think it's better for him, considering the type advantages magmar and dragonair both have." Lauren said. Brittany thought about it for a moment, and then nodded in agreement.
"Dragonair, use dragon rush!" Fay commanded. The dragon pokémon surrounded himself with a light purple aura. White streaks surrounded it as a dragon-shaped energy emerged out of it and slammed into magmortar just as the battlefield suddenly got brighter.
"Magmar, fire punch on electivire!" Niko commanded. The spitfire pokémon charged forward, right fist on fire as he quickly met electivire's electrified thunderpunch. The obviously more powerful pokémon—electivire—quickly subdued magmar, knocking him to the ground. "Flamethrower!"
"Brick break!" Volkner shouted. This time, the flamethrower seemed to be doing damage due to sunny day, but the thunderbolt pokémon seemed to succeed all the same, dropping its hand down onto magmar, knocking him down a second time.
Meanwhile, the dragon rush met magmortar's hyper beam, thus repelling the attack. Fay then asked dragonair to use dragonbreath this time, knowing that magmortar needed time to recharge. Much to his surprise, the blast pokémon used another hyper beam in succession, surprising Fay and dragonair and hitting the dragon type with the orange beam of energy.
"Now, solarbeam!" Flint commanded. Out of its other hand-cannon, magmortar unleashed a bright green jet of energy, slamming into dragonair and knocking it into the ground.
"Magmar, use flamethrower again!" Niko shouted as magmar finally managed to get back up. The attack hit electivire, knocking the beast-like electric type backwards. However, while it affected electivire, it didn't seem to deter either it nor Volkner, who commanded the thunderbolt pokémon to use giga impact.
Electivire blew through the flamethrower and slammed into magmar with the full force of its body, launching magmar backwards and nearly hitting Lauren and Brittany in the stands. Magmar collapsed onto the ground, unable to get back up.
"Magmar is unable to battle!" JJ declared.
Niko ran over to the spitfire pokémon, who slowly got back up, not wanting to look at Niko. "It's okay, buddy. You did your best." Niko said. Magmar slowly nodded in understanding. They both looked at Fay and dragonair, who tried to fend off magmortar and electivire on their own.
"Dragon rush!" Fay commanded. Just as the dragon pokémon was about to use his attack, magmortar used one final hyper beam, and electivire used fire punch—aided by sunny day—to finish off dragonair before he could even use his attack.
"Dragonair is unable to battle! Electivire and magmortar are the winners! The victory goes to Volkner and Flint!" JJ declared.
"Return, dragonair. It was nice to battle again, wasn't it?" Fay said with a smile. "Niko, that was a good battle. I really enjoyed it."
"Same here, buddy." Niko said, turning to magmar, who continued to look down in shame.
While Volkner approached their former opponents, Flint rushed back into the Pokémon Center for whatever reason. "He's getting something, I think." Volkner said, looking after his more excitable friend. "Anyways, that was a good battle. As always, Niko, you still have things to learn, but you're on the right path. Fay, I don't know you, but you battled nicely as well."
Volkner then went silent as Flint turned back up again, this time holding a red box that fit in both of his palms. He walked up to Niko and magmar, and held it out.
"Niko, if there's one thing I know, it's how to train fire types. Specifically a magmar. I noticed how it felt after losing and, trust me, I've been there with my own." He then placed the red box in Niko's hands. "This is a magmarizer. It's packed with magma energy, and loved specifically by magmar." He turned to Niko's magmar. "It's for you, if you want it."
"What does he do with it?" Niko asked, looking down at the magmarizer. He could definitely see magma sitting in the middle through what looked like a glass hole in the center.
Flint winked. "You'll know. Anyways, Volkner and I have to get going. It was great seeing you all again. Niko, Lauren, best of luck against Palmer. I'll let him know you guys are coming for him!" He held his hand out, which Niko clasped.
"Thanks, Flint." Fay, Lauren, Brittany, and JJ all did the same.
"Niko," Volkner said. "Good luck."
Niko thanked the gym leader, as did Fay and Lauren. Then, the duo left the practice battlefield, leaving the group alone as the sun began to set.
"Now, I just have to figure out what this does." Niko said, holding the magmarizer in his hands. He then felt Lauren grab his arm.
"You will. We will." She said with a warm smile. Niko returned it, and led the group inside the Pokémon Center to heal up his pokémon. Soon, he and Lauren would face Palmer for their fifth and final Frontier Print.