AN: Hey everyone, I have the next chapter here. Here is where Neo makes here attempt to get a Gym Badge. The battle was fun to write and I enjoyed a lot of the plays. 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 12 – Shocking Twists
A few days later.
On the training grounds, Munchlax's fire punch collided with Hitmonlee's blaze kick. The two burning attacks released a heatwave that pulsated between then. The big eater Pokemon grinned while the kicking Pokemon glared down, neither giving an inch to the others assault. Suddenly, Yang walked over. Her hair was in a ponytail as she wore a light brown cooking apron. "Lunch is ready." She announced with a smile.
"Munch!" Munchlax said with his mouth drooling. He ran away from the clash, leaving Hitmonlee to fall over. The kicking Pokemon stood back up, blinking while he saw Munchlax speeding off. Yang smirked before she and Hitmonlee followed him back to their campsite.
As they arrived, Munchlax was already sitting at the table. In front of him was a massive plate of curry and rice. He was about to bite down until Yang paced her right hand on his head, "No, you're gonna make a mess that way." She said before handing her Pokemon a large wooden spoon, "Use this, take your time, don't choke."
"Lax…" Munchlax said while sadly holding the spoon. Hitmonlee walked over to sit next to him, a normal-sized meal and wooden spoon in front of him, "Munch?" the big eater Pokemon looked on in confusion as Hitmonlee picked up the plate and spoon. However, the kicking Pokemon looked back at Munchlax with a slight stare before turning away to eat. Munchlax tried to peak around but was not able to see. The big eater Pokemon then shrugged before eating his own meal.
Yang sighed relief while letting down her hair and taking off the apron. She then took a plate to make herself a serving, then walked over to another table. There, Leaf was already eating with a smile, "Got to say, you can cook a good plate of curry."
"Thanks, it was Summer's odd recipe." She said while looking at her plate, "She was a great cook." She said before smiling at the memories, "Ruby only really knew how to bake her mom's cookies." She said before eating a spoonful, causing her eyes to light up in joy, "But I picked up on everything else." In the middle for the table, the Egg was seen in its glass case. The blond brawler then looked over to see Neo, who was spoon-feeding Hatenna some curry. The two then looked over Cubone, who was using the bone club as a spoon, "Looks like the little guy is doing well."
"…" Neo smiled as she patted the lonely Pokemon.
"Cubone…" He said while blushing under the skull.
"Okay, I think we can start heading to our next Gym Challenge." Leaf spoke up, looking to Neo, "With ground and psychic types, that gives you advantages against our gym battles in Kanto." She said while holding up the same number of fingers in her left hand, "Rock, Electric, Poison, and Fire." She then just had her index finger up, "Now, Cubone is strong against all. However, he is only immune to electricity. So, I would say we go for that one."
"…" Neo nodded, then looked back to Hatenna and Cubone. Both of her Pokemon gave her a nod back as they all smiled.
"That's good, but how is she going to tell Cubone what to do?" Yang asked.
"We've been working on that." Leaf said as she turned to Neo, "Thanks to Hatenna, Neo can establish a mental link with any Pokemon she has caught." She said with the mute girl smirking.
"Alright, good enough for me." Yang said before taking a spoon full of curry, "So, where is the Gym?"
"This one is in Vermillion City, it's not too far." Leaf responded, "But, the gym itself is a little…annoying."
"Well, that's fitting." Yang said with a smirk, "Neo is a little annoying too." The mute girl looked on with half-open eyes, "What, I thought it was clever."
A short while later.
After a walk past Saffron City and a small route, the trio made their way to port side city. Upon recognizing their destination, they made their way to the entrance. However, a familiar obstacle blocked their path. "What's with these trees?" Yang commented with her arms crossed, "I'm not pulling this one out."
"…" Neo smirked as looked at the obstacle. Suddenly, she sprinted towards it, then jumped. In grabbing on one of the branched, the mute girl swung her body around and onto the other side of the obstacle. She turned back to Leaf and Yang, giving a bow.
"Tsk, I can do that too." Yang said before passing the Egg to Leaf, but Neo took out her whiteboard, "Just wait and see!" She said before sprinting, jumping, and grabbing the branch. However, the branch snapped as the blond brawler landed in the water. Upon resurfacing, Yang gasped for air before looking to Neo.
"…" Neo said nothing as she turned around what she wrote, "Nice splash." She said before walking away and entering the gym.
Yang gritted her teeth while Leaf sighed, "This is why most people just cut down the tree." The shrewd trainer said before reaching out her hand.
"Fine," Yang said before taking Leaf's hand. After a quick drying-off and tree pulling later, the two entered the Gym. Inside was a yellow room with numerous trash cans set up. On the back wall, an electromagnetic force field blocked the path to the rest of the gym. Neo stood near the trash cans, sighing as she investigated one, "What are you doing?"
"This puzzle." Leaf said with a groan, then turned back to Yang, "To battle the Gym Leader, you must turn off the two switches that power the force field. The switches are in the trash can."
"It doesn't sound that annoying?" Yang commented, seeing Neo smile as she found a switch in one can. "See, she's already halfway done." She said with the mute girl flipping it, causing the force field to weaken.
"Except the switches are random," Leaf said with half-open eyes, "and if you guess the wrong can after you pick the first switch, it all resets." She said as Neo checked another can but found nothing. Suddenly, the force field regained its strength.
"Oh…" Yang commented as Neo pouted. As the mute girl resumed her search, the blond brawler sighed. "Fine, let's search for these things together." Yang spoke up with Neo looking over in confusion, "This will save us time, but you better not lose this gym battle." She said while handing the Egg back again to Leaf.
"…" Neo responded with a smirk as the two continued their search.
After a few minutes, Yang said something at the bottom of a bin. "I found one." She said before flipping the switch.
"Good," Leaf said before looking to Neo, "The second one should be close by."
"…" Neo nodded before looking to the one to the right of the first trash can. She walked over and checked the can, then gasped. Inside, the second switch was seen. The mute girl flipped the switch, causing the force field to fully vanish. Neo smiled as Leaf and Yang walked over.
"We did it!" Yang said before raising her left hand, "High five."
"…" Neo smiled as she raised her left hand as well. However, as she went for the high five, Yang raised her own hand higher. With it, the mute girl was unable to reach up to make contact, causing her to pout while the blond brawler smirked.
"Will you too just get along," Leaf said with Neo and Yang remaining silent, both lowering their hands, "Now, the real challenge starts." She said before they
"Good luck," Yang said with Neo smirking. As the mute girl turned around, Yang raised her left hand again. However, after taking a couple of steps, Neo turned back around with half open eyes, "What?"
"…" Neo looked in slight anger before turning back around and walked further into the gym.
Leaf looked back Yang, a similar scowl on her face as she handed back the Egg. The blond brawler accepted it with a sigh before they continued.
After walking a short distance, the trio found a small arena. Standing on the opposite end was a muscular man wearing black boots, camo pants, and a green army jacket. His hair was a sparking yellow, but a pair of black glasses covered his eyes, "Well, look what we have here." He said with a grin, "Leaf, it's been a while."
"Hey, Lieutenant Surge," Leaf said with a wave.
"Lieutenant?" Yang commented, "I thought this was the gym, not the military."
"I was in the military, and my Pokemon saved me during the war." Lt. Surge responded, "Now, I run this gym to teach insolent kids about discipline." He said before looking to Yang, "And looking at this one, I see a girl who just does whatever she feels like doing."
"Well, you're not wrong," Yang commented, "Too bad I'm not the one challenging you."
"…" Neo smirked as she walked, causing Lt Surge to lower his glasses.
"What? This short stack?" He chuckled before taking off his sunglasses, "Hahahaha. Is she even old enough to take this challenge? I don't have any pacifiers when you lose." He said before sneering, "Or a change of diapers."
"…" Neo looked on with half-open eyes.
"Oh, looks like Baby hasn't said her first words yet." Lt. Surge responded.
"Yikes, what a jerk," Yang commented with a sight scowl. But then saw Leaf look over with half open eyes, "What? Mine weren't that mean."
Leaf then looked back to Neo, "He's just trying to psych you out. Don't take it personally." Leaf said before speaking to the Gym Leader, "This is Neo's first gym battle, she only has two Pokemon."
"In that case, I'll use two of my own." Lt. Surge said while holstering his sunglasses in the collar of his jacket. He then reached towards his belt, taking out a Pokeball.
"…" Neo remained focused as she took out a Pokeball for herself.
Leaf and Yang took their seat on a nearby bench, now seeing a referee stand at attention to the right side of the arena, "The battle will be a two-on-two match. The winner will be declared when all of one trainer's Pokemon have been defeated." He said before raising his hands, "Begin!"
"…!" Neo tossed out her Pokeball, which Hatenna emerged from.
"Go, Voltorb!" Lt. Surge said as he tossed his Pokeball. Emerging was a ball with piercing eyes on the red half of its body, while the other half waited.
"D-did he just send out a Pokeball?" Yang commented at this new creature, but then looked to Neo, "Also, she's not starting with Cubone?"
"She probably wants to save it for his ace." Leaf responded, "I just hope Hatenna can hold her own."
"Look at that, Tiny girl has Tiny Pokemon as well." Lt. Surge commented, "Voltorb, Charge Beam!"
"Voltorb," the ball Pokemon spoke in an eclectic voice. Its body pulsated with a charging aura before unleashing a static beam.
"…!" Neo pointed as Hatenna glowed in a pink aura, causing her to unleash a Psybeam. The two blasts collided and struggled for dominance. However, an explosion occurred in the middle of the arena, "…?" Neo and Hatenna could not see past the smoke.
"Use Gyro Bal." Lt. Surge said before Voltorb emerged from the smoke, spinning at high speed. Hatenna gasped before getting struck by the ball Pokemon, launching her into the air, "Hit her again with another one!"
"Volt," the ball Pokemon said as it reversed spinning. Voltorb crashed into Hatenna before she could even touch the ground, juggling the calm Pokemon.
"…!" Neo focused as Hatenna did as well. The calm Pokémon's body flashed blue.
Suddenly, Voltorb's body stopped mid-spin, covered in the blue aura, "Orb?" It spoke while caught in confusion. Hatenna landed on her feet before launching the ball Pokemon away. it slammed against the wall before bouncing toward the opposite wall.
"…" Neo smirked at giving the Pokemon a taste of its own medicine.
"Not bad, for a Squirt!" Lt. Surge commented, "Voltorb, breakthrough and use Spark."
"Volt!" Voltorb said as its round body gained a static aura, shattered the blue one from confusion. The ball Pokemon then rolled into Hatenna, sundering her back and sliding against the ground.
"…!" Neo focused as Hatenna glowed in a light green aura, causing Life Dew to drip onto her forehead. The move worked, but Hatenna's body still sparked, "…?"
"She was paralyzed." Leaf commented, "Life Dew can't heal that away."
"Now Voltorb, Gyro Ball!" Lt. Surge said while pointing.
"Volt!" the ball Pokemon said as he spun towards the calm Pokemon.
"…!" Neo focused as Hatenna glowed in blue light. Suddenly, Voltorb stopped right in front of her. "…" the mute girl smirked, but Lt. Surge grinned.
"Oh no," Leaf said in a panic, "Neo, tell Hatenna to toss Voltorb aw-"
"Too late," Lt. Surge spoke, "Use Self-destruct!"
"Volt," the ball Pokemon said as it glowed in a bright white light, causing Neo and Hatenna, "Orb!" the Pokemon spoke before detonating, creating a massive explosion in the middle of the arena. Rolling out of the smoke was the ball Pokemon with swirling eyes, "Voltorb…"
"Voltorb is unable to battle." The referee said while raising his left arm, causing Lt. Surge to return his Pokemon.
"He sacrificed his Pokemon like that?" Yang commented.
"Voltorb is a is basically a rolling bomb," Leaf spoke, "Lt. Surge knows when to detonate it."
"Your psychic type was getting a little too dangerous with Confusion and Life Dew." Lt. Surge spoke as the smoke started to clear, "Now, this fight is a one-on-!" he said before he gasped.
"…" Neo smirked as the smoke dissipated, reveling Hatenna in a spherical green barrier. The barrier faded as the calm Pokemon smiled.
"Heh, she pulled one over on him," Yang commented with a grin.
"Protect!?" Lt. Surge responded, then gritted his teeth, "Clever little brat!" he then started to grin, "No matter, the real fun starts now." the gym leader said before taking out his second Pokeball, "Let's see you deal with this one." Lt. Surge then tossed out his Pokemon, "Go, Raichu!"
Emerging out of the Pokeball was a large, light brown and yellow rodent. His wire-like tail had a yellow bolt on the end of it. His ears were coiled, and his stomach was a flat white, "Rai!" his let out a battle cry while his cheeks sparked with electricity.
"Awe!" Yang spoke with her eyes lighting up in glee, "It's as adorable and awesome at the same time."
"Heh," Left commented before looking over the blond brawler, "I guess it does have your colors."
"Alright, Shrimp, let's see you protect against this." Lt. Surge said before pointing, "Raichu, hit'em with a Thunderbolt!"
"Rai Rai!" Raichu said before unleashing a massive wave of electricity.
However, Neo smirked, "…" She took out her Pokeballs. In recalling Hatenna into one, she tossed out the other. Upon opening, Cubone emerged with his club at the ready.
"Cubone!" the lonely Pokemon said as he saw the bolt of lightning heading toward him but stuck out the bone club. Suddenly, it absorbed the electricity into nothing, "Cu!" he said before reposing with his bone club.
"Nice, she picked the perfect moment to switch out." Leaf commented, "Raichu is a strong electric type, but moves like Thunderbolt are useless against Cubone."
"She does know how to make a quick escape." Yang commented as Neo had a look of focus on the battlefield, "I give her credit, she's determined to beat this jerk."
"A Cubone eh?" Lt. Surge spoke up, "If you think a ground type is all it takes to shut me down, you're wrong." He said before pointing, "Raichu, Mega Punch!"
"Rai!" Raichu said as he dashed forward, his right fist glowing with a white aura.
"…!" Neo pointed, causing Cubone to hear her commend in his mind.
"Cubone!" the lonely Pokemon said as he tossed his club at an angle, causing it to spin through the air.
"That's Bonemerang," Leaf pointed out.
"Raichu, Double Team." Lt. Surge said as his Pokemon slit into five clones. The Bonemerang passed through one of the clones. However, the club changed its trajectory as it circled back. It collided with the back of Raichu's head, but it was another clone. Cubone caught his club but was now staring down the real Raichu.
"Rai!" Raichu said before reeling back his arm for the punch.
"…!" Neo focused as Cubone jumped, smashing his head into the Raichi's.
"He used Headbutt, hoping for a flinch." Leaf said as she saw Raichu's eyes close for a second, but then saw them open back up, "but it didn't work!"
"Chu!" Raichu said before punching Cubone in the gut, sending him flying in the air.
"…!" Neo gasped but, but Cubone recovered in midair, "…!" She said before Cubone tossed his bone club again.
"Raichu hit it out of the way with Slam." Lt. Surge ordered.
"Rai!" Raichu said before whipping his tail towards the Bonemerang. The club was batted away and into the arena a few meters away. The large electric mouse then grinned as his cheek sparked with electricity.
"Cu…bone…" the lonely Pokemon said while taking a step back, not having his weapon to defend. However, the memory of a familiar moment of fear came to his mind. The moments before he lost his mother. Cubone then stopped himself before taking a step forward, "Cubone!"
"…" Neo smirked before pointing, "…!"
"Cubone!" the lonely Pokemon said before rushing forwards with a light brown aura, his eyes glowing red, "CUBONE!"
"What's that move?" Yang commented.
"Stomping Tantrum," Leaf said with a smile, "If the previous attack failed, this ground attack is double in power."
"Wow," Yang said with a grin forming, "I kind of like that move, a lot."
"He wants a frontal assault; we'll give him one." Lt. Surge said, "Raichu, Mega Punch!"
"RAI!" Raichu said as he rushed forward with his glowing white fist.
"CUBONE!" the lonely Pokemon said as he charged into the large electric mouse. The attacks collided in the middle of the arena, creating a large dust cloud in the center. Both trainers where silent as they waited for the dust to settle. However, Neo gasped as her side cleared first, "Cubone…" the lonely Pokemon said while on his back, his eyes swirling. On the other side, Raichu stood with a heavy breath. Despite taking heavy damage, the gym leader's ace was still standing.
"Cubone is unable to battle." The referee announced.
"It wasn't enough to faint Raichu." Leaf responded, "Now it's one to one."
"Cubone gave it all he had." Yang said as Neo recalled her fainted Pokemon to his ball, seeing the mute girl warming smiling at it, "It's up to Hatenna." The blond brawler said as Neo tossed out her other Pokeball, causing the calm Pokemon to return. However, Hatenna stuttered with electricity still radiating from her body.
"For a small fry, you put up a good match!" Lt. Surge commented, "But the Gym Challenges are a place for grownups." He said before pointing, "Raichu, go in for a Mega Punch!"
"Rai!" Raichu said before rushing into battle again, his fist already clenched.
"…" Neo focused as Hatenna created the green barrier of Protect again. The fist bounced off the barrier, but Protect quickly wore off, "…!" Neo pointed as Hatenna was about to fire a Psybeam. However, the calm Pokemon shuddered in paralysis. "…!" Neo gasped in fear, but then noticed something in on the arena, "…?"
"Too bad for you," Lt. Surge commented, "Raichu, end this with a Thunderbolt!"
"Rai," Raichu said as his cheek sparked with electricity, causing Neo to flinch at the end. "CHU!" the large electric mouse said before unleashing the voltaic power of his attack. Hatenna was about to be zapped, but the stream of electricity redirected towards something else, "Rai?" Raichu said as the thunderbolt collided with Cubone's club, which was still embedded in the arena, "Rai?"
"What!?" Lt. Surge said in shock.
"…!" Neo pointed as Hatenna now could move, unleashing a powerful Psybeam into Raichu's face.
"Rai!" The large electric mouse was launched a few meters back. Now, his eyes were a radiant blue, "Rai…Rai…Rai…" Raichu spoke in confusion.
"Snap out of it!" Lt. Surge called out, "Use Slam!"
"Rai!" Raichu said before hitting himself in the head with his tail.
"No, hit the opponent," Lt. Surge called out, "Use Mega Punch!"
"Rai!" Raichu said before his fist glowed again, "Ch-" he called out before punching himself in the face.
"…I think I'm not the only one who's confused." Yang said before turning to Leaf, "What happened?"
"Well, Neo got lucky." Leaf explained, "Cubone's ability is Lightning Rod, which draws in all-electric moves and makes them useless. It does so with the club he is always holding." Leaf said as Yang remembered when Cubone blocked the thunderbolt at the start of his battle, "However since Cubone lost the club in the middle of the battle, it stayed on the field and redirected Raichu Thunderbolt again."
"Wow," Yang said while looking at Hatenna, who still sparked with electricity, "Still, that paralysis will not make things easy."
"The use of a fainted pokemon's item is not allowed in an official gym battle." The referee announced, "Due to that, the challenger is disq-"
"No, we will continue." Lt. Surge interrupted, "In war, you have to use every advantage on the battlefield to survive. Even if it means using a fallen comrade's equipment." He said before grinning at Neo, "I may have underestimated this pipsqueak. She may have a soldier's mind after all."
"…" Neo smirked back.
"Rai, Rai, Rai!" Raichu said as he shook his head. In opening his eyes, the confusion had warned off.
"Finally," Lt. Surge commented, but saw Raichu was panting in exhaustion, "Can't let this drag on anymore, we need to finish this." He said before pointing, "Raichu, move it with Double Team. Then, hit her with a Mega Punch!"
"Chu!" Raichu said before splitting into five clones, all rushing towards Hatenna with a glowing fist.
"…" Neo pointed as Hatenna fired off another Psybeam. However, the beam went right through one of the clones, "…" She decided to a different move, causing Hatenna to use confusion. However, the blue aura only could surround one Raichu, and the one that was hit was a clone, "…!" A Raichu was within range to punch, causing Neo to grit her teeth, She thought as Hatenna used Protect again, but the attack was another clone. In missing the timing, the barrier faded as the real Raichu swung his fist. The Mega Punch launched Hatenna back a few meters, skidding on the ground before coming to a stop, "…!" Neo gasped as Hatenna barely could push herself up but stuttered in paralysis.
"Stubborn one, aren't you!" Lt. Surge responded with a grin, "Raichu, do it again!"
"Rai!" Raichu said before using Double Team to split into five clones again. As each charged in, a Mega Punch was ready to decide the match.
"…!" Neo gritted her teeth as she racked her brain for the right order for Hatenna, but nothing was coming to mind. The calm Pokemon looked like she was about to use Psybeam. However, Hatenna started glowing in a lighter pink aura instead. Suddenly, as the Raichu and clones were about to punch, a blinding light blasted all. The clones faded as the real Raichu was launched back in pain.
"Oh, look at that," Leaf said with a large smile, "Hatenna leaned Dazzling Gleam!" she said before looking to Yang, "It's a fairy move that flashes power energy in all directions."
"Awesome!" Yang said as she watched at Raichu struggled to get back up, "She might have this now."
"It's not over yet," Lt. Surge said before noticing that his ace Pokemon landed near the bone club, "Raichu, hit that club near Hatenna, then hit her with a Thunderbolt!"
"Rai!" Raichu said before whipping the bone club at Neo with his tail, "CHU!" he said before unleashing the blast of electricity from his body.
"…" Neo focused as she and Hatenna smirked, "…!" She pointed with her Pokemon glowing in the blue aura of Confusion. But rather than the opponent's Pokemon, it was the Bone Club that was targeted. It then reversed its trajectory like a Boomerang, redirected the Thunderbolt as well.
"Rai?" Raichu said as Lt. Surge gasped. Before the gym leader could give an order to dodge, the club collided with his ace Pokémon's forehead. Right afterwards, the Thunderbolt slammed into the large electric mouse, "RAI!" he screamed in pain from his own attack. After a few seconds, the attack and screamed settled. Both Pokemon now sparked with an aura of static. However, one started to fall over, "Rai…Chu…" the large electric mouse said before fainting.
"Raichu is unable to battle," The referee said before raising both hands, "The winner is the challenger, Neo!"
"…!" Neo smiled as she jumped with joy, causing her calm Pokemon to let out a similar quiet outburst of joy. The mute girl then ran over and pick up Hatenna, hugging her.
Raichu was recalled to his Pokeball as Lt. Surge let out a sigh, "Well, you pulled it off." He said while walking over to Neo, "I thought you would protect, which the club would have broken, and the thunderbolt would have finished the battle." He said as he reached into his left jacket pocket, "However, you surprised with some quick thinking." He said before pulling out an item, "With your victory, take the Thunder Badge."
Neo looked in his hand, seeing a yellow eight-pointed star with an orange center, "…" Neo smiled at the badge before noticing her Hatenna had a similar expression. She then took the badge, letting out a slight giggle.
"For a little girl, you definitely shocked me." Lt. Surge commented, glancing or to Leaf, "Granted, this isn't the first time a kid like you pulled one over on me with a little Pokemon."
"…" Neo turned back to him with a pout, one that Hatenna had as well. While the mute girl took out the whiteboard, the calm Pokemon used confusion on the marker to write, "We aren't little," the message read, "We're just pintsized."
"Hahahaha, whatever you say," Lt. Surge said before turning around and walking away.
Leaf and Yang then regrouped with Neo, causing the trio to leave and exit the Gym. However, upon turning the corner, Yang groaned, "How do these trees keep growing back!?" She said before handing Leaf the Egg. However, as the blond brawler cracked her knuckles, she turned back to Neo. "Hey, uh, nice job in that Gym battle." She said before raising her right hand, "High-five?"
"…" Neo looked back with half open eyes, as did Leaf.
Yang sighed again, "Look, sorry about all that before." She said before smiling, "For real this time."
"…" Neo looked at the hand of the blond brawler, then extend her own. In extending her own, they clapped together, causing the mute girl to smile back.
"See," Yang said with a smile, looking then towards Leaf, "I'm not always rude."
"Enthusiast on not always." Leaf commented with a grin, "Now pull out the tree."
A short while later.
In the Pokemon center, Nurse Joy handed back two pokeballs to Neo. The mute girl nodded before walking over towards a table with Leaf and Yang. The blond brawler was looking at her Rainbow Badge, comparing it her to Neo's Thunder Badge. "You know, I sort of like your badge's design a little more." The blond brawler commented, "Wanna trade?"
"You can't trade badges," Leaf interjected. "That defeats the whole purpose of earning them for the league."
"Fine," Yang said before handing Neo back her Thunder Badge, causing the mute girl to pin it on the inside of her jacket. The blond brawler continued while doing the same with her own badge, "So, where do we go next?"
"Well, we would head to a different region for your Gym challenges," She said before smirked, "but, we just got invited to the Isle of Armor."
"You mean that place were those dojo students went?" Yang commented with Leaf nodded.
"Yeah, that custodian girl and I have been taking. I told her about training Tyrogue to evolve, saving Cubone, and your involvement in the worldwide league." Leaf said before reaching into her bag, "So, she called and told the head of the dojo there, and they were impressed," She then pulled out three tickets, "Another reason why I thought Vermillion City was a good stop, we can take a cruise all the way there."
"Are you serious, that's amazing!" Yang said as she and Neo had matching smiles of excitement. However, the blond brawler had a realization, "Wait, if we go there, I might run into the jerk that abandoned Tyrogue." She said before grinning, "Good, I can give him a piece of my mind, personally."
"Please focus on training and catching strong Pokemon while we are there." Leaf said with a sigh putting away the tickets, "We still have a while before the boat leaves." She then turned to Neo, "Since you won that gym battle today, I'll let you pick what we do with our last moments in Kanto."
"…" Neo thought for a second before taking out her whiteboard. After writing her message and showing it the other, they both gasped before having a soft smile.
Later in the day.
In Lavender town, the trio was inside the Pokemon Tower. More specifically, they stood before a recently placed tombstone. Leaf looked on in silence, bowering her head at the sight. Yang did the same, the memories of being there for Ruby at Summer's grave filled her mind, causing a tear to form. Neo was directly in front of it, holding her Cubone in her arms. She set down the lonely Pokemon, who was still transfixed on the gravestone. He knew this was where they had buried what remained of his mother, which caused tears to pour onto the skull. Neo petted her Pokemon on the back, as well as handing him back his bone club. The lonely Pokemon hugged his club with both arms, causing a look of determination to fill in his eyes now. While he had lost in battle today, Cubone knew he would get stronger for the sake of his mother, and the sake of his trainer.
AN: There you go, Neo takes the win against the Lt. Surge. It was an overall fun battle to write, I even rewatched a bit of the anime for context, (However, it took lot for me not to write Dunerbolt in dialogue here). With it, Hatenna gets a new move to replace Psybeam. Some may say Confusion should have been forgotten, but that move is used a bit more creativity in combat, so I will keep it for the time being. Cubone got to show a lot of his skill, but lost. Still, with his determination restored, he looks to get even stronger as this trio moves onto the Isle of Armor for training. Next up, we go back to the HBW gang and see where they went for the gym battles. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.