AN: Hey everyone, I have the next chapter here. We are now in the new year as I am posting this. We get the continuation of Ruby's training as she takes on Giovanni. When you see his Pokemon, it might be a bit confusing, but it will make more sense when you remember something from an earlier chapter. Overall, this chapter was a lot of fun to make. 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 51 – Against the Boss
Back at the lab, Ruby looked at a machine with her Garchomp's Pokeball inside. The ball glowed with a warm light before stopping, allowing the red hooded trainer to pick it up with a smile. She then walked outside to see Rosa cuddling Sylveon, "She's so cute!" Rosa spoke with a look of joy as she nuzzled the ribbons, then looked to Ruby, "I can't believe you got her to evolve."
"I know, I thought I need a stone for her?" Ruby asked.
"Well, not all evolution for Eevee need one." Rosa said before taking out her Pokedex, "Sylveon, the Intertwining Pokemon. It sends a soothing aura from its ribbonlike feelers to calm fights. Sylveon cuts an elegant figure as it dances lightly around, feelers fluttering, but its piercing moves aim straight for its opponents' weak spots. It wraps its ribbonlike feelers around the arm of its beloved Trainer and walks with him or her." The Pokedex said before Rosa looked over to Ruby, seeing her nuzzling Sylveon with the ribbons coiled around her face, "Heh, I think this was the perfect one for you."
"Thanks," Ruby responded, "But, I was wondering. When she fought Garchomp, half of its moves didn't work on Sylveon."
"Well yeah, Fairy types are immune to Dragon-type attacks. Not only that, but Fairy-types are super effective against dragons." Rosa answered, "Something I think has to do with an old tale…I can't remember it."
"Oh," Ruby said before looking at the Garchomp Pokeball, "It's hard to think that something that powerful can be nullified to turn the tables."
"Well, don't worry, if run into a fairy type, Roserade or even Arcanine should be able to deal with them." Rosa answered, "And even Doublade will be able to take one on, as Steel is strong against fairy-types."
"Oh, cool! And I still have the Dusk Stone to evolve her." Ruby responded.
"Exactly," Rosa said before putting her hand on her chin, "Still that means that Ice Stone we bought is kind of worthless to you now."
"Well, we shouldn't throw it away," Ruby asked.
"Or have Roman try to resell it." Rosa added, "Where is he again?"
"He's talking with that guy who released Garchomp." Ruby responded, "I'd have you meet him, but-"
"I know, I know, keep watch here." Rosa responded, "Just, be careful." She said with Ruby nodding before walking away. The energetic trainer then knelt back to Sylveon, "Now, back to petting this adorable little one. Who's a cutie patootie? That's right, it's you!" She said as Sylveon enjoyed the attention.
Meanwhile.
Roman and Giovanni waited near a stone, "So, I ran into a couple of clowns who had your team's logo." Roman broke the silence, "You may want to hire more competent goons?"
"Those seem to be of a rarity higher than that of a legendary Pokemon." Giovanni responded, causing Roman to smirk, "I will send a broadcast to my remaining members to avoid you and this girl in the future."
"Thanks, but what exactly are they doing for you?" Roman asked, "A little birdy told me that your Team disbanded."
"We are, but some remained loyal to me despite my best efforts." Giovanni responded, then sighed again, "That, and some are too stupid to notice that Team Rocket is no more." He then turned to Roman, "You see, someone out there is hunting people like me?"
"Mob bosses?" Roman responded in slight disbelief, "Well, I was always told this field would make more enemies than friends."
"Until I can take care of this hunter, I can't get close to my wife and child." Giovanni continued, "Or else they would be made a target to get to me."
"Which is why you left her in the dark on this." Roman commented, "And why you had someone else impersonate you so you two could have a chat."
"I do what I must to keep them safe," Giovanni spoke, "After I'm done training this girl, I'm leaving to find this hunter before they find me."
"Huh, do what you will." Roman responded, before seeing the red hooded trainer running over, "We can talk more later."
"I'm back and Garchomp is all healed up," Ruby said before tossing out the Pokeball.
"Gar!" Garchomp roared upon exiting its ball.
"So, what's next?" Ruby asked before Giovanni tossed her two items. They were a leather collar and glove, each with a stone with a DNA symbol in them.
"Put the collar on the Pokemon, it contains a Garchompite." Giovanni respoke.
"A what?" Ruby said as her Pokemon lowered its head, allowing her to put the collar on.
"It's the stone needed for its mega evolution." Giovanni answered, "The one in the glove is used by the trainer to cause a mega evolution with a corresponding Pokemon they own." He said as Ruby put the glove on her left hand, "Press your stone to trigger the mega evolution."
"It's that easy?" Ruby asked as she looked at the glove, then touch the stone. In doing so, a pink light erupted from it and the one attached to Garchomp. The Pokemon was encased in an orb, then shattered. The Landshark pokemon's form had changed, its frame large and jaw more jagged. Its fin-like arms were now blood-red scythes.
"GAR!" Mega Garchomp roared in its new form.
"Wow," Ruby said in awe, her eyes gleaming in delight, "You have scythe arms, EEEEEE!" she squealed as she marvel at the sight, "And there red too, so cool!"
"…" Mega Garchomp looked down at Ruby in confusion, then back at the others.
"Is this normally how she acts around deadly weapons?" Giovanni asked.
"Actually, she is rather restrained right now." Roman commented as Ruby jumped in joy at the sight of the red scythes, "Just keep talking, she's listening."
Giovanni sighed, "In any case, it's that easy for you because this Garchomp is already adapted to mega-evolving. Most go into a rage and attack their trainer before coming to their sense." He said before lowering his hat, "That is unless they are too late to realize what they have done."
"Oh, I see," Ruby said as stopped her hyperactive reaction, "Well, thank you for not eating me." She said to Mega Garchomp, who nodded his head, causing her to smile back. Suddenly, the Landshark Pokemon lowered in a pink light before returning to its normal form.
"That didn't last long," Roman commented.
"A mega evolution is forged with a bond between trainer and Pokemon." Giovanni responded, "Until you and this Pokemon for more acquainted, you will not be able to keep that form for more than a few seconds." He said before getting out a Pokeball, "Now, to face the gym leader, you must beat me in a one-on-one match with Garchomp. With or without being about to mega evolve, it is your choice when to fight."
"Okay, we're ready right now," Ruby said with a nod as Roman walked by.
"Careful Red, if this guy was willing to release something as scary as your new Pokemon. And give you a power ring for it." Roman said with a glare at the Pokeball, "There is no telling what monsters he has under his control."
Giovanni then tossed out his Pokeball, causing a pink Pokemon to emerge. However, it has a soft smile and sky-blue eyes, "Audino." It spoke in a soothing voice, its massive ears twitched with the sounds she made. Around its neck was a white scarf.
"…" Roman looked on in confusion as Ruby smirked at him, "I'm just sitting in the back right now."
"Hehe," Ruby giggled, but then looked to Garchomp, who snarled at the pink Pokemon, "I guess you didn't get along with this one when you were on his team." She said before looking back at Audino, "Still, where have I seen this Pokemon before?"
"Let the match begin." Giovanni spoke, "Audino, Simple Beam."
"Wait, don't we need a judge," Ruby asked before seeing Audino unleash a pale beam from its mouth. One that collided with Garchomp's body. The Landshark Pokemon gained a white aura for a second before fading, "Eh, what did that do?"
"Double Edge," Giovanni ordered as Audino rushed in at high speed with a white aura.
"Fine, let's do this!" Ruby said before pointing, "Use Dragon Rush!"
"Gar!" Garchomp roared before dashing in as well. The two Pokemon collided, bouncing off each other.
"Use Brutal Swing," Ruby called out with Garchomp pivoting to whip his tail at Audino. However, the pink Pokemon grabbed the tail, "What?"
"Toss him," Giovanni called out.
"Audino!" the pink Pokemon said before chucking Garchomp into a nearby rock and smashing through it.
"Gar!" Garchomp gasped for air.
"I thought he had rough skin, why is she able to grab him so easily?" Ruby said before recalling the first move of the match, "Wait, does Simple Beam-"
"Yes, it changes the ability to Simple." Giovanni responded, "What now?"
"Tsk, use Earthquake!" Ruby said before Garchomp stomped on the ground, causing everything to shake.
"Protect." Giovanni responded, causing Audino to gain a green spherical barrier to block the attack, "Is that all?"
"No, we still have one more move, use Duel Chomp!" Ruby said before Garchomp rushed in with its maw opened.
"Double Edge again," Giovanni responded.
"Audino!" the pink Pokemon said before she dashed into Garchomp head-on but crashed into his maw before sending him flying back. Ruby gasped in dread as the Landshark Pokemon landed on the ground with his jaw almost broken.
"Oh no," Ruby said before she was about to run over to Garchomp.
"Now then, Heal Pulse," Giovanni added.
"Huh?" Ruby said before seeing Audino fire a pink beam from her mouth. It collided with Garchomp's body, causing him to recover in an aura, "What are you doing?"
"To strengthen your bond with Garchomp, the two of you will need to fight until one of you decided to give up." Giovanni responded, "And just so you know, Garchomp has never beaten Audino before."
"I-I see," Ruby responded, then sigh. She then looked over to Garchomp walking over, his mouth hanging open, "Oh, here, maybe I can…YA!" she while putting her hands on the Landshark pokemon's jaw, then pushing it back into place.
"Gar!" Garchomp responded before moving his jaw, seeing it back in place before nodding to Ruby.
"Okay, round two then!" Ruby said before turning back to Giovanni, "We're gonna beat you in no time!"
"Gar!" Garchomp added while Giovanni remained focused and Audino smile softly.
Four hours later.
The sun began to set as Garchomp was flung into another rock, his jaw broken as he twitched. Ruby looked on in disbelief as Roman yawned, "What does that make it now Red, forty-seven to none?" he said as Garchomp was getting heal pulsed again.
"No," Ruby responded, then looked away while speaking under her breath, "It's fifty-five."
"I know, just wanted to hear you say it," Roman said with a smirk.
"No matter, we can keep going!" Ruby said before her stomach growled, causing her face to go red.
"…I'll get you some grub." Roman said as he stood up and stretched, "As much fun as it is to see you lose over and over again, I need to stretch my legs a bit." he said before walking away.
"Uh, thanks." Ruby said before refocusing on the fight, "Okay, let's beat him now before Roman gets back with a victory meal!"
"Gar!" Garchomp responded as Giovanni and Audino had the same expression they had the whole time.
As Roman walked back to the lab, he saw Professor Oak trying to pull a massive bag behind him, "Oh, perfect timing." He said as the orange-haired criminal showed up, "Can help you feed the Pokemon in the field?"
"Don't you have an assistant for this?" Roman responded.
"He's away on a trip, going to a place he can draw new species of Pokemon for me." Professor Oak responded, "Rosa is off to another section of the lab with Sylveon. You would just need to go along where you saw before." He said before handing the massive bag to Roman, followed by a smaller basket, "And here, I made some donuts for you and Ruby."
"Fine, as long as I get some food out of this, I'm starving," Roman said as he took the bag and basket, then went back out to the lab field. He carried the bag over his left shoulder while fumbling in the bag for a donut, only to pull out what seem like a rice ball. Looking at it with half-open eyes, he sighed before eating it.
In making it to the flying Pokemon, he found Murkrow on the ground in exhaustion, "Mur…Mur…" he said in between breaths before seeing Roman walk up, "Murkrow!" he said before sitting up.
"Hey, no need to look tough when it is just me around," Roman said before pouring some of the bags into a nearby bowl, filling it with hard brown Pokemon food. As his Pokemon ate the food, he looked up to see other flying types still sparing in the sky, "Red's bird is still at it." He thought to himself before seeing Murkrow fly up as well, regrouping after a quick meal, "Heh." Roman smirked before walking off.
Roman made his way back through the woods, reaching a clearing where the grass Pokemon were. As he poured the food into a bowl, Snivy and Bayleef went up to eat from it, causing him to back away from the one that nearly broke his spine. In looking over, he discover Roserade breathing heavily as she was facing a tree covered in vines, Bulbasaur neat her.
"Bulba," Bulbasaur advised.
"Rose," Roserade said before focusing on the tree again.
"Hm," Roman said before looking around, trying to find his other Pokemon. Nearby, he heard a loud crash. In running over, he discovered a Grapploct and Heracross locking eyes.
"Hera!" Heracross rushed in with his fist glowing in a blue light.
"Grapple!" Grapploct said as she radiated an aqua aura from its eight limbs, parrying each focused punch of the blue beetle Pokemon.
"Someone's got a new move," Roman said with a smirk before walking away, "They'll find the food eventually." Roman continued towards the small pond before, pouring food into the bowl before Torkoal and Donphan came up to eat. He then looked back to see Doublade clashing with Sceptile and Squirtle. One sword slashed with a left blade, the other challenged the defense of the small shell. He then made his way out of the woods to where the fire Pokemon were. In pouring food into the bowl, Pignite and Infernape went up to eat his while the others were still sparing. Arcanine dashed in ablaze while crashing into Charizard who repelled the fire with his claws. The two glared at each other as they reposed for another clash, while Roman walked away again.
Roman held the nearly empty bag of food before making his way back to Ruby and Giovanni, "Hey Red, and you winning yet?" he said before seeing Garchomp tossed into another rock, "I'll take that as a no."
"I almost had him, you should have seen it." Ruby responded before walking over, taking the basket, "Now, I'll just eat this quick and get back to it."
"You should probably also feed your Pokemon as well." Giovanni commented, "Garchomp, was known to be very angry when hungry."
"Lucky us then, since I have just enough food left so the land shark does not eat me." Roman said as he handed Ruby the hard Pokemon food, "So, while the kid is on a lunch break." The orange-haired criminal said before looking to Giovanni, "How about you and I have a round?"
"Why, do you intend to challenge the gym leader?" Giovanni asked.
"Nah, I'm too old for this challenge." Roman said before smirking, "Besides, she's not my type." He said as Ruby and Giovanni scowled, "In any case, I don't know, I feel a bit left out of the fun." He said before readying a Pokeball, "So, let's have some fun, Golbat!" he said before tossing out the massive blue bat Pokemon.
"Very well," Giovanni responded, "Audino, Double Edge."
"Audino." The pink Pokemon spoke with a smile and nod before dashing in at high speed and jumping into the air. However, Golbat moved out of the way, "Audi."
"Heh, Air Cutter." Roman said before Golbat flapped her wings with wind-slicing waves that crashed into Audino's back, "You see, I noticed a bit of pattern that Red was too dumb to see."
"Hey!" Ruby spoke with half her mouth full of the rice ball.
"Pinky over there only has one move that does damage, and it's ramming into the target at a reckless speed." Roman spoke to Giovanni, "So, all we need to do is stay in the air and blast you from afar. Air Cutter again!" he said with Golbat doing so.
"Protect," Giovanni ordered with Audino gaining the green barrier, absorbing the air cutter's slashes.
"You can't use move forever." Roman responded, then smirked, "Is this all you have?"
Giovanni sighed, "No, it isn't." he said before reaching into his coat and pulling out a silver pocket watch. However, in the back was a round stone with a DNA emblem on it. Roman and Ruby gasped as a pink like glowed on Audino, revealing a similar stone hidden in the white scarf. The green barrier was shattered by a pink expanding orb before exploding.
Emerging, the pokemon's pink fur changed to white, forming a cloak in shape. The ears were standing up more while the eyes were a reddish pink, "Audino." Mega Audino sang before scowling at Golbat.
"Wow," Ruby said in awe, "I didn't know that Pokemon could mega evolve?"
"It doesn't look that much different." Roman commented, the pointed, "And our stagey is still the same, Air Cutter!"
"Double Edge," Giovanni responded, causing Mega Audino to dash through the slicing wind to crash into the massive blue bat pokemon's body. The two crashed back into the ground with a plume of smoke. As it cleared, Golbat's eyes were swirling as Audino cheerfully smiled.
"Huh…" Roman commented before taking out his Pokeball, "Should have gone for Poison Fang." He said while recalling Golbat.
"That would have dealt more damage, as when Audino mega evolves, it becomes party fairy-type."
"What!?" Ruby commented, "The Pokemon can change types when it mega evolves?"
"Some do, yes." Giovanni responded, "Now that you have had your meal, are you ready to continue."
"Uh…" Ruby thought before an idea came to her mind, "Can we hold off for a little bit longer?"
"…I do not have all day." Giovanni responded, then held out his hand with his index finger extended, "You have one hour before I will consider your absence a sign of quitting."
"We're not quitting," Ruby said before rushing off, Garchomp following, "I just need some time, be right back!" She said as Giovanni and Roman looked on. Audino reverted to its normal form as two mobsters looked at the time pass on the pocket watch.
Sometime later.
Almost an hour passed. Roman sat on a rock and yawned. Giovanni looked up from the pocket watch to see Ruby rushing back, "See, I'm back!" She said while catching her breath, "And this time, the two of us will win!" the red-hooded trainer said before tossing out a Pokeball, causing the Landshark Pokemon to appear.
"Gar!" Garchomp roared.
"We shall see." Giovanni said before pointing, "Audino, Simple Beam."
"Audino." The pink Pokemon said before a pale beam from its mouth.
"Use Dragon Rush," Ruby commanded as Garchomp rushed in. The Landshark Pokemon collided the beam, changing his ability, "No use in dodging, but it does leave you wide open." She said before Garchomp crashed into Audio, pushing the pink Pokemon back.
"Double Edge," Giovanni ordered as Audino rushed in.
"Now, use Earthquake." Ruby called out as Garchomp stomped on the ground, shaking the area as Audino's dash became off balance, "You can't protect from it that way, now Duel Chomp!"
"Gar!" Garchomp attempted to bite down on Audino as it got close. However, before his jaw could make contact, a pink orb encompassed its target. Ruby gasped as Mega Audino was seen now.
"What now Red?" Roman commented.
"Tsk, Garchomp!" Ruby called out.
"Gar!" Garchomp responded as he pivoted his body, whipping his tail. Mega Audino was ready to grab the attack, but gasp as the tail glowed in silver light.
"Audi!" Audino cried out as she was flung back by the attack.
"That wasn't Brutal Swing," Giovanni said in slight shock, "That was Iron Tail." He said before grinning, "So, that was you why you left." He said as she giggled, "Don't act like that will be enough, Double Edge." He said as Mega Audino rushed in.
"Dragon Rush," Ruby responded as Giovanni gasped.
"Red, you know those moves don't work now." Roman called out as Garchomp rushed in. however, the moves missed as the two Pokemon passed by each other, "Huh?"
"The attack may not do any damage, but the speed is still worth it." Ruby said before pointing, "Now, Iron Tail!"
"Gar!" Garchomp recovered from his rush to target Mega Audino.
"Audi?" Mega Audino could not reposition itself from the trajectory of Double Edge before getting hit by another iron tail attack, "Audino!"
"Tsk," Giovanni said seeing a second swing of the tail, "Protect!" he said before the tail made contact but sent Mega Audino's green barrier.
"Time for the final play," Ruby said before pointing, causing Garchomp to pick up the green barrier with Audino inside, tossing both into the air. The Landshark Pokemon dashed into the sky and soared above Mega Audino, "Let's do this, Earthquake and," Ruby said before pressing her mega ring stone, "Let's go full power!"
"GAR!" Garchomp roared before mega evolving in midair, then slashed his arms into the green barrier, "GAAAARRRR!" with that battle cry, he slammed into the ground with a massive quake and eruption. As the dust settled, Mega Audino's eyes were swirling before it reverted to its normal form, "GAAARRR!" Mega Garchomp roared in its victory.
"YES, WE DID IT!" Ruby cheered as she jumped in joy, then rushed in to hug her Pokemon, "You were amazing and so cool!"
"Gar," Mega Garchomp said with a slight smile before reverting to normal.
Giovanni remained speechless for a moment before sighing, then recalling his Audino, "Very well, you have passed the tests required to face the gym leader." He said before walking over to Ruby, "She will accept your challenge as soon as you are ready."
"Got it," Ruby said before having a smile on her face, "And when I do, it will be a first-try win."
Giovanni did not say a word at first, but lowered his hat, "You have her eyes as well as her smile." he said with a smile forming as well.
"Huh?" Ruby asked, "Did you say something?"
"No, just thinking out loud." Giovanni said as Ruby looked on in confusion, "I will take my leave now." He said before walking away, but gave a wave back, "Good luck, Ruby Rose."
"Uh, thanks, Mister!" Ruby said as she waved back, "Come to think of it, I never got his name…But when did he learn mine?" she thought before Roman walked over, "You didn't tell him, did you?"
"What do you think, Red?" Roman responded with half-open eyes, causing her to do the same, "Don't sweat it, the point is you won. So, you can take on that last gym in the morning?"
"Not yet, I still need a bit more time for the rest of my Pokemon to finish their training." Ruby responded before looking back to Garchomp, "And I want to make sure we can use that Mega Evolution for long enough in a battle."
"Oh yeah, he mentioned something to me while you were gone." Roman added, "That Mega Garchomp is slower than its normal form, something he said to keep in mind."
"It is?" Ruby responded, "Huh, okay?" she said before smiling, "Time to come up with a new plan!"
"Hopefully this one does not take all day to figure out." Roman commented as scowled and Garchomp glared, "…Uh Red, please make sure your maneater here does not eat me."
"He won't," Ruby responded, then smiled at the Landshark Pokemon, "But let's go back and get you a victory meal and introduce you to the rest of the team."
"Gar!" Garchomp said, nodding before walking with his trainer. Roman let out a sigh but tipped his hat before following them.
Meanwhile.
In a Lumiose City back alley, a staircase leading down to the hidden chambers of a gang was littered with its goons. In the final room, The Princess cowered before a young woman in a black attire with a hood, and a white mask with red markings covering he face, "No, I'm not the kind of person you are looking for. Please don't hurt me!" The Princess spoke before having an idea, "But, I know someone who is exactly like who you're after, a real crook." She said with a desperate smile.
"…" The mysterious person knelt to listen to what The Princess had to say.
AN: There you go, Ruby managed to beat her stepfather. Him having that pokemon might be a bit odd, but I think you might know who that Pokemon really belongs to. The question is which Pokemon did he trade for the absurdly overpowered Audino. Outside of this, Ruby has a mega stone for Garchomp and can mega-evolve him, but not for long. It might seem like she got it easy, but she lost a lot before finally winning. She managed to overcome this challenge by teaching her Pokemon Iron Tail…which sounds a bit familiar. Roman on the other side only took a loss, but his Grapploct did learn Liquidation. Now we have one more chapter before I'll go on another break from this series, but it will be the first final gym challenge. A Daughter verse Mother brawl to end all. And regarding this person at the end of the chapter here, you will have to wait and see what happens. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.