AN: Hey everyone, I have the next chapter here. We have a Yang focused chapter as she takes on the third gym battle. However, she must first pass a written test to take on Drayden. I had a lot of fun with the chapter and what it sets up for later. As I said, this will be the last chapter for a while, so I wanted to end it on a high note. 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 45 – Heart of a Dragon
At an old building with two dragon-shaped adornments, Hilda led Weiss and Neo inside. They found Blake and Yang sitting on a bench with the blond brawler sulking in her seat, "Hey we're back." Hilda spoke, "What did we miss?"
"About a couple hours of testing with that bearded gramps glaring at me the whole time," Yang spoke, "I couldn't have cheated if I wanted to." She said before yawning, "Or fallen asleep like I normally do."
"How do you think you did?" Weiss asked, but saw Yang rubbing her head in pain, "That bad?"
"We went over everything that was on the study guild," Blake responded, "But this was still a last-minute test, and she has already forgotten most of what she learned."
"That chart still confuses me," Yang said before seeing Drayden walking up with a piece of paper, "So, what's my score?"
"…You passed," Drayden said with a look of joy appearing on the blond brawler's face. She jumped in glee with her friends and hugged, "However, it was with a fifty-one percent, the bare minimum I would allow."
"Hey, passing is passing." Yang responded, then had a look of focus, "Now, let's move on to the real challenge."
"Right," Drayden said as he handed Yang the paper, "Follow me." He said with the blond brawler looking at her score again, smirking before putting the paper away. She caught up with the spartan mayor down a hallway, which lead to an arena. Yang looked around in awe, then saw her friends' taking seats in the nearby stands. There, Neo waved with a smile, seeing a matching one on Weiss's face. Yang smiled back as she waved, then looked towards Drayden, "This will be a four-on-four match." He said with his arms crossed as a referee in a black suit entered the arena as well.
"Cool," Yang said before hitting her fist together, "This is where I shine the most."
"We shall see," Drayden said as he readied a Pokeball, as did Yang.
"Begin," the referee called out with both arms raised.
"Druddigon, come forth!" Drayden said he tossed out his first Pokemon. A jagged dragon with a blue body and red head emerged, "Drud!" it roared while readying its claws.
"Go, Hitmonlee!" Yang said as she threw out her first Pokemon, causing the kicking Pokemon to appear with crossed arms, "Time to show your stuff, use High Jump Kick!" she said with Hitmonlee leaping into the air and then dive kicking Druddigon in the chest. However, the attack only pushed the jagged dragon a few feet back before it glared at the kicking Pokemon, who recoiled in pain, "Uh oh."
"Use Revenge!" Drayden said with Druddigon reeling its right arm back, which glowed in a blue aura. It then uppercuts Hitmonlee, sending him flying back.
"Don't let up, jump back with Blaze Kick!" Yang called out with Hitmonlee focusing, bouncing off the wall before its left leg ignited in a flame. He kicked Druddigon in the face, setting it ablaze, "How do you like that?" Yang called out before gasping at the jagged dragon's glare through the fire.
"It's not very effective." Drayden responded, "Use Dragon Tail!" he said with Druddigon whipping its body, putting out the flame while smacking Hitmonlee with its tail. The kicking Pokemon was sent flying back, but then was covered in red energy and returned to its Pokeball. Yang had a look of confusion as her own Pupitar was now called out from its Pokeball.
"Hey, what gives?" Yang called out.
"That move I just used forces your current Pokemon to be recalled with a new one to take its place," Drayden said as Weiss gasped.
"Oh no, I've seen this strategy before." Weiss said as she recalled her first gym battle, "The opponent wants to force Yang to switch back in, leaving her Hitmonlee open to another attack in order to-"
"Pupitar, use Stomping Tantrum!" Yang called out with Pupitar rushing in with a red aura, crashing into Druddigon to push it back.
"I think she is just gonna roll with it," Hilda said with Blake and Neo nodding, leaving Weiss speechless for a second.
"I don't care if you swap out my Pokemon, we still going to keep fighting." Yang said before seeing Pupitar recoil in pain, "Wait, what's going on?" she said before seeing a few scratch marks on the rock skin pokemon's body, "I think I saw those same marks on Hitmonlee before." She said while recalling the two attacks from before, "Wait, I read something about an ability like this on that test…. What was it…Gah!" She racked her brain for the solution, "I forgot."
"Rough Skin, an ability that damages the opponent if they make contact." Drayden spoke, "And you did not forget it when you got it wrong in the first place." he said with a glare, "But if you do not care for me swapping out your team." He said before pointing, "Druddigon, use Dragon Tail again." He said with the jagged dragon Pokemon smacking Pupitar with its tail, forcing the rock skin Pokemon to return to its ball.
Emerging out this time was Snorlax, who laid on his back while resting, "Lax…" he snored.
"Oh," Yang spoke in worry, "Uh Snorlax, it's time to wake up?"
"Lax…" Snorlax still snored.
"Allow us," Drayden said before pointing, "Use Revenge." He said with Druddigon jumping to take flight, its arm reeled back with the blue aura light before. The jagged dragon Pokemon punched the big eater Pokemon in the center of the stomach, denting the ground below from the power of the impact.
"SNOR!" Snorlax awoke in pain, the wind knocked out of its breath.
"Nice to see you're up, now bounce it back!" Yang called out.
"Lax!" Snorlax thrust out its belly, pushing Druddigon back before standing up.
"Alright, so if we can't make physical contact, we'll do this then," Yang called out, "Hyper Beam, Let's go!"
"SNOOOR!" Snorlax gathered energy in its mouth before vomiting it towards Druddigon in a massive blast of energy. The jagged dragon Pokemon tried to block but took the attack head-on. Once the smoke cleared from the impact, Druddigon was laying on its back with swing eyes.
"Druddigon is unable to battle." The referee announced with Drayden recalling his first Pokemon.
"Yes, how do you like us now." Yang called out, "We took the lead."
"You may have defeated one of my Pokemon, but I have weakened three of yours." Drayden countered, "And right now, your Snorlax must recharge after that powerful move."
"Eh?" Yang responded before realizing Snorlax panting from using hyper beam, "Uh oh."
"Your wide open for my counterattack," Drayden spoke, tossing out a second Pokeball, "Go, Zweilous!" he said as two-headed dragon Pokemon appeared. Its body was a deep blue with black hair over its head and eyes, "Use Focus Blast!" the spartan mayor said with both heads unleashing an orange ball of power towards the big eater Pokemon. The orbs combined before colliding with Snorlax, resulting in a massive explosion. When the dust settled, Snorlax was on its back again, but with swirling eyes.
"Snorlax is unable to battle." The referee spoke as Yang remained gasped.
"That was her strongest Pokemon, right?" Hilda asked with Neo nodding, "Yikes."
"Tsk, not good," Yang said as she recalled Snorlax, "It's okay, we still got this." she said before readying a new Pokeball, "Come on back out, Pupitar!" the blond brawler said as the rock skin Pokemon reemerged, "Use Stomping Tantrum again!"
"Outrage!" Drayden said as Zweilous rushed in, causing both Pokemon to have a violent red aura as they crashed into each other, forcing both to push back from one another.
"Use Ancient Power!" Yang said with Pupitar launching the rocks with a purple aura towards the two-headed dragon Pokemon. However, its body continued to thrash in outrage as its body took the rock-type attacks, "Huh, why didn't it use something else?" she thought before remembering, "Wait, I think I recall learning that move on the guild!" the blond brawler said before smiling, "Outrage locks you in for a while. Afterward, you end up confused." She said as Zweilous's aura faded with its body stumbling, "Yes, I got it right!"
"Impressive," Drayden complimented, "But then again, you did get around half right."
"And it was the right half," Yang counted before pointing, "Use Dark Pulse!" she said with Pupitar unleashing the black energy rings from its body.
"Dark Pulse as well!" Drayden said as Zweilous snapped out of confusion, unleashing the same attack from its mouth as well. They collided with a massive explosion in the middle of the arena, "Now, Focus Blast!" he said with the orange energy balls being expelled from the mouth. However, in passing through the smoke, they completely missed their target.
"Hm," Yang thought, the reached for a Pokeball, "Pupitar, return!" she recalled her Pokemon, "Hitmonlee, come on back out!"
"She switched?" Weiss commented, "That doesn't seem like the Yang we know?" She said before noticing Neo writing something.
"Maybe she has a plan now?" the message from Neo read.
"Let's see," Blake commented with a smile, "But I have faith in her."
"Zweilous, use Take Down," Drayden said with the two-headed dragon Pokemon rushing in.
"Endure!" Yang called out with Hitmonlee taking a blocking stance, tanking the takedown, "Now Reversal!" she said with Hitmonlee grabbing Zweilous, then tossing it away and into a wall, "I think I was right, your Pokemon is a dark type." Yang commented, "And fighting is super effective against the dark." She said before pointing, "Now, High Jump Kick!" She said as Hitmonlee leaped into the air for a dive kick again.
"Use Focus Blast!" Drayden called out with Zweilous unleashing the orange energy ball attack.
"And I also figured out something else," Yang said before pointing at the two-headed dragon Pokemon, "With a haircut like that, you can't hit anything dead on!" She said as the focus blast missed, allowing Hitmonlee to kick Zweilous in one of its heads, which collided with the other head. The kicking Pokemon then used its other leg to kick the other head again, sending Zweilous backward before it laid fainted on the ground.
"Zweilous is unable to battle," the referee called out with Drayden recalling his second Pokemon.
"Impressive, you may have potential after all." Drayden responded, "But the true test has only begun. Go Altaria!" he said as a blue bird with a white cotton body was seen. Hilda then took out her Pokedex to scan the new Pokemon, "Altaria, the humming Pokemon. It flies gracefully through the sky. Its melodic humming makes you feel like you're in a dream. Altaria sings in a gorgeous soprano. Its wings are like cotton clouds. This Pokémon catches updrafts with its buoyant wings and soars way up into the wild blue yonder. On sunny days, it flies freely through the sky and blends into the clouds."
"If it's covered in white fluffy stuff, let's see what happens when we set it on fire." Yang said before pointing, "Hitmonlee, use Blaze Kick!" she said with the kicking Pokemon leaping into the air with the ignited foot.
"Too bad we can fight fire with fire," Drayden responded, "Use Fire Blast!" he said with Altaria unleashing a flamethrower in the shape of a body, which collided with Hitmonlee on every limb. The attack sent the kicking Pokemon back to the ground, which resulted in a blazing explosion. When the smoke settled, the kicking Pokemon was seen with a charred body and swirling eyes.
"Hitmonlee is unable to battle," the referee called out with Yang gasping again, still in shock at her lead being taken again.
"It looks like an ariel battle is in order." Yang said before tossing out her final Pokemon, "Go, Vibrava!"
"Vi!" the vibration Pokemon said as she flew over the area.
"Wait a second," Weiss thought as she looked at Altaria, "It's the evolved form of Swablu, that was the Pokemon with that singing move." Weiss commented, recalling her first gym again, "I think I get what his plan is now." She said before gritting her teeth, remembering the Perish Song, "If Yang can't beat this before losing another Pokemon, it's all over."
"Use Dragon Breath!" Yang called out with Vibrava unleashing a green flame from its mouth.
"Dragon Pulse!" Drayden responded with Altaria unleashing a purple beam of energy. The two attacks collided with an explosion, "Now Fire Blast!" he said with the human-shaped flamethrower emerging through the smoke.
"Dodge it!" Yang said with Vibrava flying though two of the limbs on the fire blast, "Now Rock Smash!" she said with Vibrava crashing its head into Altaria's, "Bug Buzz!"
"VIIIII!" Vibrava said before unleashing green sound waves from flapping its wings.
However, the damage was minimal as Altaria flew in the sky, "Let's try Rock Smash again!"
"Not this time, Cotton Guard," Drayden said as Altaria flapped its wings, causing the white fluff to expand to cover its whole body. Vibrava then bounced off the cotton, sending her flying back, "Now Dragon Pulse!" he said with Altaria's head poking out before unleashing the purple beam. It collided with Vibrava's body, pushing it to the ground with an explosion.
The dust settled to reveal the vibration Pokemon fainted and on its back. "Vibrava is unable to battle," the referee called out with Yang recalling her Pokemon.
"You did great," Yang said to the Pokeball before switching to her last one, "Now it's up to you!" she said while tossing out the Pokeball, causing Pupitar to reappear.
"This match is now over," Drayden said with his arms crossed, "Altaria, use Perish Song!"
"Alt," The humming Pokemon sang, causing blue lyrical notes to emerge from its beak.
"That's what I was afraid of," Weiss said in worry, recalling the move that fainted her Zangoose in her first gym, "And if she can't switch out, there nothing she can do-"
"Pupitar, use Screech!" Yang called out with the rock skin Pokemon unleashing a pulse wave of sound from its body. They collided with Altaria's body, flinching it from completing its song, and lowering the cotton guarding its body.
"Impossible!" Drayden said in a gasp.
"T-that works?" Weiss called out in shock.
"Now Ancient Power!" she said with Pupitar unleashing the rocks with a purple aura causing them to crash into the humming Pokemon into multiple limbs. The rock skin Pokemon then radiated a red aura as its stats boosted, "Nice, take it out with Dark Pulse."
"Dragon Pulse!" Drayden countered with Altaria unleashing the purple beam again. The two pulse attacks collided, but this time, dark pulse won out. The attack collided with the humming pokemon's chest, sending it back and into the back wall of the gym.
"Altaria is unable to battle," the referee called out with Drayden recalling his third Pokemon.
"It's done to a one-on-one." Hilda called out, "But I know the last one he has."
"Go, Haxorus!" Drayden said as the armored dragon Pokemon emerged again.
"Hax!" it roared before glaring at Pupitar and Yang, but both remained unflinching.
"We aren't backing down!" Yang said before pointing, "Use Ancient Power!" she said with the rock skin Pokemon unleashing the barrage of stones again. However, Haxorus dodged them with ease, "Tsk, use Stomping Tantrum!" the blond brawler said with Pupitar charging in.
"Use Iron Tail!" Drayden said with Haxorus's tail glowing silver. The armored dragon Pokemon whipped Pupitar when it was close enough with its tail. The attack sent the rock skin Pokemon skidding back before landing on its face, "You should face the facts, it's over. You cannot win." The spartan mayor said with his arms crossed.
"Facts?" Yang spoke as she clenched her fists, "You know why I hate tests so much?" she said with the others around her remaining quiet, "People think they know someone because of what their score was. Like, they must be smart to get that score. Or they must be dumb if that's as high as they could get," She said with her teeth grit, "So? What do you know about who they really are? You're just judging based on some results or expectations they weren't aware of." She said as her mind flashed to Tyrogue being left by its trainer, the egg that was left at the daycare, and her own abandonment, "And when they don't meet either, you just case the individual aside." The blond brawler then glared at Drayden, "Let me tell you a fact. I may have barely passed your dumb test, but not one of those questions would tell you that we will never give in!" She said as Pupitar started to push up its body, struggling while having a focused gaze, "We aren't finished yet, we're just heating up!"
At that moment, Pupitar's eyes focused as its body glowed white. The others gasped as its body grew. Yang looked in awe as its shape was that of Larvitar, but much larger. The light faded but with the green armored body now returned. The blue armor on its chest was the only part that resembled Pupitar now, "TYRRR!" the evolved Pokemon roared as a sandstorm erupted from its body.
"Unreal, her Pupitar evolved into a Tyranitar," Hilda said as she took out her Pokedex, "Tyranitar, the armor Pokemon. Its body can't be harmed by any sort of attack, so it is very eager to make challenges against enemies. The quakes caused when it walks make even great mountains crumble and change the surrounding terrain. If it rampages, it knocks down mountains and buries rivers. Maps must be redrawn afterward." The Pokedex spoke, "Yikes, talk about a powerhouse."
"It does sound like something that fits Yang," Blake commented.
"…!" Neo smiled and nodded, but then looked over to see someone missing, "…?" she looked over to see Weiss a distance away.
"I-I'm good," Weiss called out with a wave, "I just need to use the restroom." She said with Neo having a look of confusion. Once out of sight, the white heiress sighed, "Why did it have to turn into that Pokemon?" Weiss said as she recalled her first day in this new world and the poacher's Pokemon that blasted her with rocks.
"Awesome, you just evolved for the first time not too long ago." Yang comment with Tyranitar looking back with a smile, "Okay, time to show your stuff, use Dark Pulse!"
"TYRRR!" Tyranitar roared while unleashing the dark energy beam.
"Dodge it," Drayden called out with Haxorus moving out of the way of the beam, "Now rush in with Iron Tail." He said with the armored dragon Pokemon charging in with tail glowing silver. It then whipped it into Tyranitar left side, causing her to flinch in pain.
"Don't give in," Yang called out, "Instead grab that tail!" she said with Tyranitar focusing, her arms grabbing Haxorus's tail. She then picked up the armored dragon Pokemon, swinging it over its head before slamming it into the ground. She repeated this action, causing Tyranitar's eyes to glow red before tossing Haxorus aside, "Wait, was that a new move?"
"I think that was Thrash." Hilda called out, "It's like Outrage but normal-type."
"I see," Yang said with a smile, "In that case, let's Thrash!"
"TYRRR!" Tyranitar roared as she rushed in.
"Haxorus, use Outrage!"
"HAXXX!" Haxorus roared as it did the same, its eyes also red while charging in.
Both armored Pokemon types crashed into each other and unleashed a barrage of wild and power hits. Haxorus bashed its tail and bladed jaws against Tyranitar's body. While Tyranitar responded in kind with its tail and skull. The two eventually locked arms with focused eyes on the other, but their vision was starting to get blurry.
"You need to break through the confusion and hit with a Dragon Pulse," Drayden said with Haxorus opening its mouth a few inches from Tyranitar's face.
"Oh no you don't, lean back to dodge!" Yang called out, with Tyranitar doing so as the purple beam fired. It just barely grazed her chin while in that position, keeping its balance with its tail, "Send his straight into the air!" The blond brawler said with the armored Pokemon kicking both its legs into Haxorus's gut, sending the armored dragon Pokemon into the air, "Now Dark Pulse!"
"TYRRR!" Tyranitar repositioned itself and fired the beam of dark energy vertically into the sky. It collided with Haxorus's body, keeping into constantly being assaulted by the attack until the armored pokemon's stream ended. Haxorus then fell from the sky with a loud thud. Once the smoke settle, the armored dragon pokemon's eyes were swirling.
"Haxorus is unable to battle," the referee called out before pointing to the blond brawler, "The winner is Yang!"
"TTTYYYRRRRRRR!" Tyranitar let out a victory roar. She then looked over to see her trainer running up to hug her.
"I'm so proud of you," Yang spoke with a smile, "You were just an egg and now you're gotten so big and strong in front of my eyes," she said with tears forming on her face.
"Try," Tyranitar said with a soft smile as she petted her trainer on the head.
Yang then looked over to Drayden, who approached after having recalled his last Pokemon, "This bitterness that floods me after a defeat…" he said with a joyful look in his eyes, "The heart that does not succumb to such a feeling is filled with energy and life. That is the heart of a dragon." He said before offering Yang an item, "And as proof of your heart, I present you with the Legend Badge." The spartan mayor said as Yang picked up the badge, seeing the black and white design with the red gem in the center, "I am grateful that we had a chance to meet and battle."
"Same," Yang said as she accepted the badge with a smile, "Your actually pretty cool, Gramps." Said with a wink, "But maybe lighten up on the test questions next time." she said with him letting a slight laugh.
A short while later.
The gang of five made it back to Undella Town, discovering Leaf in a lounge chair with sunglasses and a colorful drink, "Oh," Leaf said as she noticed the group staring at her, "I see you're back now." She said before finishing off the drink, "So, how did it go?"
"These two each caught a Pokemon," Yang said as she pointed to Blake and Weiss, "And I got me a powerful Tyranitar and Ledged badge." The blond brawler said as she held out the ball and badge.
"Nice," Leaf said before looking to Weiss, "But I thought you were going to get a badge too."
"I'm saving this one for last," Weiss said before looking to Blake, "When we get to Kalos, I will get one there and then we can come back here."
"Cool plan, but I have a better one," Leaf responded, "You see, while all of you were away, I made some calls and got us on a trip to the Alola region."
"Alola region," Weiss asked, "Wait, I think I've heard that name before."
"Is that where we can get another badge?" Blake asked.
"No, Alola doesn't have gyms, it has something else that the league does not offer as a substitute." Hilda said before smiling, "But it is a good place for training."
"Exactly," Leaf said with a smile, looking to Neo, Yang, and Blake, "This place is where the lot of you can prepare for the final gym battle and catch the sixth Pokemon if you find one you like."
"It sounds like a good plan," Yang said before turning to the white heiress, "But are you okay waiting a bit before your next badge."
"Yes, I am fine with this." Weiss responded, "This was where my Vulpix was from, so I would be happy to see where she lived."
"Awesome, and we can really go surfing there!" Hilda said before looking to Leaf, "When do we leave?"
"Tomorrow morning, a boat will take us there." Leaf responded, "So we can sleep in the cottage one last night."
"Might be a little cramped with all of us." Yang commented, "Luckily, I know good bunk bed trick." She said as they all walked back to the cottage.
However, Neo walked up to Leaf, holding a message on a whiteboard, "Who do you know that would help us get to that region?"
"Oh, just a couple of old friends." Leaf spoke, then smirked, "One of them I think you will have a lot to chat about."
"…?" Neo had a look of confusion on her face before.
The next morning, the six girls waited near a section of the shoreline as they stared into the sea. However, they could barely make out something approaching. It was a white boat traveling at high speed. As it docked near the shoreline, a young man jumped down from the driver's seat. He had spiked orange hair, a black collared shirt, and purple plants with a white pack on his hip, "Hey, it's been a while." He spoke with a somewhat arrogant voice towards Leaf, yet with a sincere tone, "You've been busy making so many friends I thought you forgot about us."
"It's been a while, Blue." Leaf spoke, then saw another young man jump down from the boat. He wore a red jacket with short black sleeves, blue jeans, and a yellow backpack, "And Red, how are things?"
"…" Red did not say a word, only tipping his red cap forward.
"…" Neo then looked back to Leaf with half-open eyes.
"Welp, no point in sitting around here," Blue spoke with a smirk, "Let's head to Alola."
AN: There you go, Yang has her third badge now and a powerful Tyranitar to add to her team. I liked that I got to give it some cool Godzilla references in this fight, as well have Weiss get a bit of PTSD from the first few chapters of this series. Overall, the battle was one of my favorites for all the action and plays on both teams. And at the end, this big group is not going to Kalos, but Alola first. Along the way, we'll have a little bit of a chat with the remainder of the color trio, Red and Blue. Now, it is time for a break, as I have been on this series now since Lumiose. So, I will be gone for a while to work on other series but will return with more of the Ruby and Roman side of this series later. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.