AN: Hey everyone, I have the next chapter here. This chapter was a pretty fun series of events. To help slow down on the pace of the story, I will probably have more than two chapters before switching to another group. We are back to, what I will refer to as, the Lyn group. With it, the blond brawler tackles her first Gym. Will beginners luck favor her, of does she need to go grind before going against this flowery foe? Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review with your comments and questions, and have a nice day.
See the most recent Save State Chapter for Cover Art details.
Chapter 9 – Grass is Greener
A Corviknight Taxi had touched in the middle of a dirt road. Exiting first was Yang, who stretched out her back. "Man, what a long trip." She said while Neo and Leaf exited the taxi. The blond brawler then looked to the pilot, "Thanks for the ride." She said before winking, "And that's a cool jacket you got." The pilot nodded before taking off, causing Yang to turn back to the others, "So, where are we exactly?"
"You two are in my home region, Kanto." Leaf responded, "More specifically, we are right on the outskirts of Celadon City." She said while smirking at Yang, "And here, you will get your first gym badge."
"Sweet," Yang responded with a smirk herself, cracking her knuckles, "I'm ready to hit the gym." She said before hitting her fist together. However, a slight growl was heard at her abdomen, "Uh, maybe after lunch." She said with a sight giggle, causing Leaf and Neo to sigh.
The trio started to head towards the nearby city, but Neo heard a rustling in the tall grass. She turned, but only saw a faint image of a white and brown creature running away. However, not wanting to fall behind from the others, the mute girl caught up to them instead.
Leaf led the two through the city. Yang and Neo were fixated on the large building in the distance, "That's the department store, a place full of a lot of useful items."
Yang then looked to Neo, "Probably should buy you something to help communicate with us." She said before her stomach growled again, "After we eat, you can just point to what you want on the menu."
Suddenly, Yang's Pokeball opened, causing her partner to appear at her side, "Munch," the big eater Pokemon said as he held his stomach.
"You hungry too," Yang said while petting Munchlax on the head, seeing him nod, "Okay, I'll need you at your best later today." She said before picking up her Pokemon, "But boy, you need to lose some weight!"
The group made their way through the city to a small establishment. Upon entering, the blond brawler knew what type of restaurant they were in. A noodle shop. After sitting at the counter and placing their orders, they were served reasonably quickly. The girls were given medium bowls, while the big eater Pokemon had one larger than his body placed in front of him, "Munch!" Munchlax cheered before biting into the noodles.
Yang smiled before looking back to Leaf and Neo, "So, I'm able to change this gym with just Munchlax?"
"Yes," Leaf answered while Neo was eating, "While I battled her partway through my journey, Gym leaders scale their use of Pokemon to the challenger's experience." She said before coiling some noodled in the chopsticks, "Since you don't have any badges, I can't see Erika using more than one or two Pokemon."
"I see now," Yang responded.
"And since Munchlax knows Fire Punch, it should be a simple win." Leaf added on, then turning to Neo, "While Yang is winning the badge, we will be doing a little bit of shopping." She said with Neo smirking back.
"You two can have your fun," Yang said with a confident smile, "But, it shouldn't take me too long to get this ba-" She said before feeling her head get pulled back. In turning her head slightly, she discovered the Munchlax had already finished his meal. With a blissful look on his face, the big eater Pokemon chewed on the blond brawler's golden locks, "AAAAAAAAHHHHH!" Yang screamed as she jumped out her seat, "NO MUNCHLAX! STOP!" She said while swinging her head in a panic. However, Munchlax refused to let go. His body crashed into the bowls and chairs of the establishment.
"Yang, call him back to the Pokeball!" Leaf called out as she and Neo evaded the thrashing.
"AAAAAHHHH! RETURN!" Yang screamed as she managed to reach her Pokeball, recalling the big eater Pokemon before he could take a chomp out of her locks. Tears were in the blond brawlers as she looked at her chewed up ends, "I can never feed him noodles again." Yang said in a traumatized voice as Neo walked over and patted her on the back.
Leaf sighed but then heard the restaurant owner clear his throat. She looked back to see him scowling, expecting compensation for all the damages. Leaf had an uneasy giggled before reluctantly taking out her wallet.
A short while later.
The trio gathered near a forest next to the town. However, while most of the trees were massive and old, the girls stood in front of one on which was barely at waist level, "In ordered to get to this gym, you need to get passed this tree." Leaf informed Yang.
"Okay," Yang said with a shrug before spitting in her own palms, then rubbing her hands together. She stood in front of the obstacle tree, grabbing it, and pulled upwards. With her teeth grit and boots slightly digging into the soil, the blond brawler uprooted obstacle tree, "HA!" She called out before tossing the tree aside, "That was easy."
"…" Neo looked on with half-open eyes, then glanced to Leaf
"Hey, with was a lot more annoying for someone like me." Leaf responded while Yang flexed her left arm, "I needed to teach one of my Pokemon Cut to get pasted this."
"Why did you just bring an ax?" Yang inquiries.
"Because walking around with a weapon in the middle of a city is not the norm here." Leaf responded, then sighed "Regardless, good luck with the gym battle. Meet us back at the building with the red roof, that's a Pokemon Center." She said before walking away, "Don't burn the place down." She said before speaking under her breath, "Wouldn't be the first time though."
Neo was about to follow Leaf but did turn back Yang. She gave a slight wave and a smirk before turning around. Yang did not say a word to the mute girl but did wave back. While Yang had a smile at the time, it faded from the blond brawler's face, "I have to keep my guard up around her." Yang thought before clenching her fist, "We may be working together now, but after we get back to our world, it's back to enemies." She said before making her way down the path, seeing a building nearby, "That must be the gym." The blond brawler said before seeing someone else.
A man was peeping through the window to the establishment with a smirk on his red face, "Heh, I love this gym." He said with a giggle, "It's full of strong trainers." Suddenly, he felt someone tap on his shoulder. In turning around, Yang was standing with a judging gaze, "Wow, you're really strong too!" He said without making eye contact with the blond brawler, who then cracked her knuckles.
On the inside of the Gym, a trio of young ladies with colorful hair was talking. Suddenly, a loud thud was heard. They turned just to see Yang then entering the gym, dusting off her hands with a confident smile, "What was that?" the orange-haired lass asked.
"Not important." The blond brawler answered, "My name's Yang. I'm here for a Gym battle." She said before crossing her arms, "Which one of you is Erika?"
"None of us." The blue-haired lass answered, "You will have to beat us before you can meet her."
"That's right." the brown-hair lass said before all spoke in unison.
"We are the Angels of Beauty!" the three said with Yang having a look of boredom.
"…Can't I just battle Erika right away?" Yang inquired.
"No!" The Angels of Beauty responded, "You much understand True Beauty."
"True Beauty?" Yang responded.
"Yes," the orange-haired lass responded with her head leaned back, "Like the proper amount of make-up to apply."
"Or using nail polish." The brown-haired lass said with her arms across her chest, flashing her fingernails.
"Or smelling nice with perfume." The blue-haired lass added as well.
"…All three of you are shallow people." Yang responded in slight anger, "None of you know a thing about true beauty." She said before grinning and crossing her arms, "It's about having well-kept hair." She said before slightly wiping her golden locks.
"Like yours?" the orange-haired lass responded.
"I wouldn't say yours is that well-kept." The brown-haired lass added on, "It looks messy."
"Are those teeth marks at the ends?" the blue-haired lass commented.
"Shut up!" Yang shouted back, flinching the Angels of Beauty, "Look, if it means I have to beat the three of you get to my first gym battle, so be it."
"Oh, this is your first gym challenge?" The brown-haired lass spoke up with a smirk, "Well, I'll show you while this challenge isn't for everyone." She said before taking out a throwing a Pokeball, "Go, Bellsprout!" emerging from the ball was a type of yellow flower in the shape of a gourd. Its body was a brown root with two leaves for arms.
"Bellsprout." The flower Pokemon spoke, blinking his dotted eyes.
"Finally, we get to battle." Yang said with a grin as she tossed out her partner, "Go Munchlax!"
"Munch!" the big eater Pokemon said as he entered the battlefield.
"I will show you the power of flowers!" the brown-haired lass spoke before pointing, "Bellsprout, use Sweet Scent."
"Bell," the flower Pokemon said while shooting out a pink mist from the gourd-like flower, "Sprout!"
The aroma made its way over to Munchlax who sniffed the air in joy, "Lax." He said with a smile on his face.
"Munchlax, focus," Yang ordered, "Run in for a Fire Punch!"
"Munch," Munchlax said before his right fist was set ablaze, he then rushed towards the flower Pokemon.
"Bell-" Bellsprout was saying until a fist full of fire was jammed into his mouth. The brown-haired lass gasped as her Pokemon fell over, "Bellsprout…" the flower Pokemon said before fainting.
"Munchlax," Munchlax said before flexing arms.
"Yeah, that's how we do it!" Yang spoke up, "Flowers have always been more Ruby's thing anyway."
"Let's see how you deal with my beauty!" The orange-haired lass said as she took out a ball, "Come on out, Paras!" Emerging from the Pokeball was an orange crab-like bug with two tiny mushrooms on his back.
"Alright, let's keep going." Yang called out, "Munchlax, Fire Punch!"
"Munch!" the big eater Pokemon said as his fist was set ablaze again.
"Paras, use Slash!" the orange-haired lass called out.
"Paras!" The mushroom Pokemon said as it crawled into battle. The sharp claw collided with a burning attack.
Meanwhile.
At the department store, Leaf and Neo shopped for supplied. However, the shrewd trainer had a look of sorrow at her funds, "We're not able to restock as much as I would like," She said before closing her wallet, "But I have a few friends who can wire me some pocket money in the future." She said before looking to the mute girl, "For now, you need something to talk with."
"…" Neo nodded.
"Good," Leaf said before looking around, "Now, what can you use?" She said before seeing something, "Ah, this can work." Leaf then picked up and passed a whiteboard, "And this." She said while passing a black marking with an eraser, "Go on, test it out."
Neo looked at both items and smirked. She uncapped the marker and wrote on the whiteboard, then turned it toward Leaf, "This works." The message read, "But I want more colors."
"Heh, fine." Leaf responded, "That won't help you in battles, but at least you communicate with Yang and I better." She said as Neo erased the message, "Anything else you need?" Neo thought for a second before drawing something, then turned to the image to the shrewd trainer, "…Is that an umbrella?" Leaf asked with Neo smirking.
Meanwhile.
Back at the gym, the colliding attacks forced both Pokemon backward. Munchlax skidded on halt, slightly cut from the slash. However, Paras was turned over. His eyes swirling as his body was slightly charred, "Paras, no!" the orange-haired lass called out in sorrow.
"Two down," Yang said with a smirk, to the last of the Angels of Beauty, "One more to go."
"You may have bested two of us, but now you face me." the blue-haired lass said as she took out a Pokeball, "Go, Oddish!"
"Oddish!" a blue weed Pokemon emerged from the ball. It had no arms, but two tiny legs and red eyes. On top of her head were a few green leaves.
"Another plant? I guess I know what we need to do." Yang said while pointing, "Munchlax use Fire Punch."
"Munch-" the big eater Pokemon was about to set his fist ablaze again. However, his body froze a type of static electricity.
"What happened?" Yang said in a slight panic.
"Hahaha," the orange-haired lass laughed, "Paras' effect spore gave paralyzing spores to you Pokemon."
"It makes it harder for your Pokemon to move," the brown-haired lass added on, "And thanks to Bellsprout using Sweet Scent, your Pokémon's evasion fell."
"Now, all I have to do is stay out of the way that Fire Punch." The blue-haired lass said before pointing, "Oddish, use Acid!"
"Oddish!" the weed Pokemon said before shooting purple gunk out of her mouth.
"Get out of the way," Yang called out to her Pokemon.
"Munch-" the big eater Pokemon tried to move but was still paralyzed. Without being able to dodge, the acid hit him in the chest, "Lax!"
"Munchlax!" Yang called out in panic.
"Now you see," The three lasses spoke at the same time, "This is the deadly strategy of the Angels of Beauty!"
Yang gritted her teeth, "Damnit, what do I do?" She thought before seeing another acid about to be shot out. Suddenly, the blond brawler had an idea, "Munchlax, use Bite!"
"Munch?" Munchlax heard before looking at Oddish. In his mind, he now was what resembled a massive blueberry, "Munch!" the big eater Pokemon said before dashing at high speed, his mouth opened wide.
"Odd!?" the weed Pokemon said in shock before Munchlax was right in front of her. He bit down for the blue body, but Oddish dodged. However, the teeth managed to chomp on the leaves. Munchlax thrashed with the weed Pokemon in his mouth, soon tasting the greens. With a look of disgust filling his eyes, he spat out Odd and sent her into the air.
"Oddish!" the blue-haired lass cried out.
"Time for the finisher," Yang called out, "Munchlax, Fire Punch."
"Munch," The big eater Pokemon said before reeling his fist back, which now caught fire. Once Oddish was within range, he unleashed the punch. "Lax!" the fist collided with the weed Pokémon's blue body, seeing her into a wall. The Angels of Beauty gasped as Oddish had fainted.
"You did it!" Yang cheered as and the big eater Pokemon was flexing.
Suddenly, the two heard a new person approaching from deeper in the gym. Walking towards them was a beautiful woman with short, deep-green hair with a red band. She wore a yellow and marron kimono, one that had blue Pokeball symbols on it, "You have done well to overcome my challenges." She spoke in an elegant voice.
"Erika," The Angels of Beauty spoke.
"So, you're the Gym Leader," Yang spoke with the elegant lady nodding.
"I am," Erika responded, "Celadon City's Grass Type Gym Leader." She said before turning around, "Follow me for your final battle."
"Cool," Yang said as she and Munchlax walked. However, she saw her Pokemon studder a bit in paralysis. "Hey, you going to okay for one more battle?"
"Munch!" Munchlax responded with a smile, causing Yang to smile back.
"Alright, let's go all the way here." The blond brawler said before she and her Pokemon followed the gym leader.
They met up at an arena in the middle of a garden, to which as glass roof showed the clear skies. Yang stood on the right side, Munchlax already on the battlefield. Erika stood on the left, which a massive tree was stood behind her. She then took out a single Pokeball, "Since this is your first gym battle, I will only use this one Pokemon." The gym leader spoke before tossing out the ball, "Go, Tangela." Emerging from the ball was a creature made of a ball of blue vines. He had two eyes within his body, as a set of red shoes for feet.
The Angels of Beauty took the place of the judges now, "The match is over when one Pokemon faints." They spoke in unison, "Let the battle begin!"
"Alright Munchlax, use Bite!" Yang ordered, hoping for the same results as before.
Munchlax looked at his opponent, seeing a massive bowl of blue noodles waiting to be eaten, "Munch!" the big eater Pokemon spoke before leaping with his mouth open.
"Tangela, use Vine Whip." Erika spoke in a calm voice, causes her pokemon's blue vines to lash Munchlax while still standing a few feet away, "Now Constrict" The gym leader ordered as the vines soon ensnared Munchlax's body. Yang gasped as Erika smiled, "Brute force will only get you so far."
Yang gritted her teeth, "Munchlax, use Fire Punch on the vines."
"Munch!" the big eater Pokemon said before his fist caught fire, then grabbed onto one for the blue vines.
Tangela flinches in pain from the burn, but Erika remained focused, "Use Slam."
Suddenly, Munchlax was raised high into the air, "Lax?" he spoke before being tossed straight done into the ground, creating a small crater. "Mu…nch," the big eater Pokemon tried to push himself up, panting as he was reaching his limit.
"This is bad, really bad." Yang thought as she started to sweat, While Erika remained focused, "Think, I have to throw her off her game somehow." She thought before having an idea, "Well, that might work." She said before smiling, "Munchlax use Metronome!" She said as Erika and the Angels of Beauty gasped.
"Munch!" the big eater Pokemon said before wagging his fingers, "Munchlax. Munchlax. Munchlax."
"Tangela, brace yourself," Erika ordered as her Pokemon recalled his vines, then taking a defensive stance.
"Munchlax. Munchlax. Munch," The big eater Pokemon said before pointing up. "Lax!" Munchlax declared as metronome picked a move. A white light flashed as everyone waited to see what happened, "Munch…lax…Munch…lax."
"I-is he sleeping?" the orange-haired lass asked.
"He is." The brown-haired lass confirmed.
"It randomized into Rest." The blue-haired lass informed.
"AGAIN!" Yang shouted out in disbelief, "How is that move supposed to be random?"
"Resting now is a very good tactic." Erika commented, "It removed the paralyze and heals all the damage from Munchlax's battles." She said before smiling, "Such is the benefit of a needed nap."
"Really?" Yang said before smiling and putting her hands on her hips, "then that was my plan all along." She said with the Angels of Beauty looking at her with half-open eyes.
"However," Erika said while glancing up at the glass roof, "He is now open for a direct attack." She spoke before looking back at her opponent, "Tangela, start absorbing sunlight." The Gym leader spoke with a focused gaze. The vine Pokemon began to glow in yellowish light, matching in radiance to the sun.
"Uh oh, that doesn't look good." Yang said before looking at her sleeping Pokemon, "Come on Munchlax! Wake up!"
"Munch…lax…" the big eater Pokemon spoke in his sleep.
"Come on!" Yang called out, then noticed the light around Tangela was getting brighter. She began to rack her brain again for another idea. Suddenly, one came to her, "Munchlax," The blond brawler spoke with a smirk, "Dinner time."
"Munch," the big eater Pokemon said as his eyes shot open, looking around for food. The Angels of Beauty gasped as Erika slightly gritted her teeth. "Lax!" he spoke to Yang with sorrow in his eyes.
"Before we have our victory meal, lets' finish this." Yang said before pointing at Tangela, "Fire Punch, let's go!"
Munchlax turned back to the vine Pokemon still absorbing light, "Munch," the big eater Pokemon spoke with a focused gaze, his right fist setting on fire, "Munchlax!" he cried while running in for the punch.
"Oh no, Erika already had Tangela commit to another attack." The orange-haired lass pointed out.
"They can't use the vines the push Munchlax back." the brown-haired lass added on.
"Hahaha," the blue-haired lass laughed, confusing the other two, "They don't need to push him back like that."
Suddenly, Tangela reached the apex of his glow, "With the light of the Sun," Erika ordered, "Tangela, use Solar Beam!" she called out with the vine Pokemon unleashing a beam of light.
"Munch?" the big eater Pokemon gasped before getting enveloped by the light, "Lax!"
"Hm, a valiant effort," Erika spoke while the beam was still being fired, "But, this match is ov-" Suddenly, her eyes widened at the sight. Walking forward, Munchlax's fire fist was cutting through the solar beam, "I-impossible!" Erika commented, "How can that be?"
"You said that attack was made from the light of the Sun?" Yang called out before hitting her fist together, "Well, too bad Munchlax and I burn hotter than the sun!" The blond brawler called out as Munchlax only a couple of feet away from his opponent, "Now, show Tangela just how much you burn!"
"MUNCH," Munchlax screamed as he broke through the rest of the solar beam, "LAX!" he finished before landing a punch right between the eyes of Tangela. The force of the punch launched the vine Pokemon backwards at high speed, passing by Erika before slamming into the tree. Leaves fell as the Tangela's eyes were swirling.
"Tangela is unable to battle," The Angels of Beauty said as Munchlax blow the smoke off his fist, "The winner is the challenger, Yang!"
"Yes, we did!" Yang said as she ran over to Munchlax, picking him up and tossing him into the air, "We won!"
"Munch!" Munchlax cheered as well, a big smile on his face.
Erika returned Tangela, "You did well, I'm proud of you." She said to the Pokeball with a smile, then walked over to Yang and Munchlax, "The two of you proved to be quite the formidable duo." She said with the Angels of Beauty walking over with a small case, "Against a seemingly impossible challenge, you overcame them through sheer determination." The gym leader said as she opened the case, taking out the lone object inside, "Now, I present you with the Rainbow Badge."
Yang looked to eye the badge. It resembled a flower with petals of different colors multiple. "Thank you," the blond brawler said as she accepted the badge, then turned to her partner, "We did it, we got our first badge." She said while hugging Munchlax tight.
"Lax!" Munchlax said as he hugged her back.
Erika looked on with a soft smile, "The bond one shares with their Pokemon," She thought to herself before closing her eyes, "That is True Beauty."
A short while later, Yang left the Gym. She waved while walking out, passing the still unconscious peeping man, "So, Erika likes to arrange flowers in her spare time." She said before talking out the badge she won, "I guess that explains this floral design." The blond brawler said before her mind began to wander, "Ruby, I'm sure you two would have gotten along. Heh, probably Weiss as well."
"Munch," Yang turned to see her Pokemon walking beside her, holding his stomach, "Munchlax."
"Okay, I'll get you something to eat-" Yang was saying until she saw an obstacle block her path, "What!? How did this tree grow back?" She said before sighing, then pocketing her badge. Munchlax watched as Yang pulled out the tree again, but was more focused on his growling stomach, "Don't worry, once we meet back up with Leaf and Neo, it's off for a victory meal."
"Munch!" Munchlax said with a smile, then had a look of confusion as Yang squatted, "Lax?"
"Here, hop on my back." Yang offered, "You must be tired, even though you took a nap in the middle of the fight."
"Munchlax!" the big eater Pokemon cheered as he leaped on, allowing Yang to carry him.
"Heh, I used to do this for Ruby all the time after sparring practice." Yang spoke as she smiled, "She's my team leader, so I usually trusted her gut over my own. But she's also my little sister, so I have to look out for her too." She said as Munchlax smiled, closing his eyes, "What I'm getting at is, while I might not be the best at giving out orders just yet, I'll be looking out for you in these battles. You and I, we're a team. And we're going to win next gym battle toget-" The blond brawler was saying until she felt a tug. In turning her head, she saw Munchlax chewing on her hair in his sleep, "AAAAAHHHH!" Yang screamed as swung her head in a panic, "Munchlax, wake up! Please! It's dinner time!" She called out. However, this only made the big eater Pokemon dream of noodles, causing him to bite down on more of the golden locks, "AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
AN: There you go, Yang gets the Rainbow Badge. I had a lot of fun playing around with the gym and the Angles of Beauty. Erika was also cool to write here, much more entertaining than I was expecting. Yang and Munchlax pulled out the win thanks to the bond they are forming together. Despite his constant munching on her hair, Yang still cares for the big eater Pokemon a lot. It may seem like it was esay, but this is the first gym battle. As the series goes on, the challenges will increase in difficulty. While no new Pokemon for our friends here, that will be the focus of the next chapter. You already see a small hint at someone for Neo, and out favorite mute now has a way to talk with her teammates. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.