Pokémon Trainer Catheri

by palmagamboa

Catheri is a small town girl with no ambitions in life. Living through uneventful days, after graduating school she and her childhood friend decide to become pokémon trainers and go out into the world. Little does she know, the world that awaits her outside her home is one of frustration, desperation, triumph, wonder and amazement.

4. Chapter 4

Snivy and I returned to Aspertia with our new friend. We were psyched to get things started so we came straight to my former school.

Earlier in the morning, I stopped by Alder's ranch to check Riolu's moves.

After witnessing Buffalant taking a retaliation hit from tackling the firm standing Riolu, Alder says, "Hmm, that looked like Counter."

"Counter? I thought it was Feint."

"Let's see if it knows that one."

He brings out Conkeldurr.

"Whenever you're ready, call out an attack, let Riolu get close to Conkeldurr. I'll call out Detect then you'll call out Feint."

"Okay," I take a deep breath. "Riolu, use Quick Attack!"

Riolu rushes up to Conkeldurr.

"Detect!"

"Use Feint!"

Conkeldurr one of Riolu's fists while the other one strikes it on the arm.

"That's one combination," Alder says. "Riolu can learn Endure. Let's test it. Call it out seconds after I give out my attack."

"Got it."

He calls out, "Conkeldurr, Dynamic Punch!" and his pokémon sends a fist flying at Riolu.

I give my command so fast it sounds like one word. "Riolu, use Endure!"

Conkeldurr's Dynamic Punch connects with Riolu. Its ridged body moves back a bit as he takes the hit. It successfully endures it, but stumbles around right afterwards.

Alder says, "Maybe I should have used Hammer Arm instead. Dynamic Punch caused confusion."

"It's okay. It's so great knowing all my pokémon's moves. Now I won't stumble not knowing what to do."

"That's another great combo. Endure and Counter. Wait for your opponent to make a move, call out Endure, take the hit, and immediately after call Counter."

"Thank you so much for helping me out. Thank you."

"Anytime, Catheri."

With the knowledge I now have, I'm sure to be able to stand up to Cheren. I just know it. Confidence. Gotta have confidence.

I make my way into the school courtyard out back. I see Cheren standing in the middle of the ring with his hands on his hips. The assistant teacher is also there.

"Catheri. I've been waiting for you."

I step forward, face to face.

"Mr Cheren, I've come to challenge you to a pokémon battle."

"I know. Come, show me how much you've grown in such a short amount of time. Not only do I want to see how much you've progressed but, selfishly, I want you to show me how much I have progressed as a teacher."

"Mhm." I nod.

We both take our side on the field. The assistant, acting as referee, raises his arm and says, "This battle will be Gym Leader Cheren against the challenger, Pokémon Trainer Catheri. Both sides are allowed to use up to six pokémon."

"I'll use three," Cheren says.

Just as Hueso said. "I only have two," I say.

"Are both trainer's ready?"

Cheren says, "Ready."

I too acknowledge. "I'm ready."

"Battle begin!"

"Go! Patrat!"

"Go! Riolu!"

"Patrat, use Work Up!"

The Patrat rouses itself and raises its offensive stats.

"Hold, Riolu. Let him attack first."

"Use Work Up again."

"Hold."

"Aren't you going to attack, Catheri? You seem rather relaxed about all this. I sense an air of confidence."

I smirk.

"We'll wipe that smile off your face! Patrat, Tackle!"

Patrat moves in, dashing towards Riolu.

Closer. Closer. Closer! Now!

Inches away from Riolu, I call out, "Endure!"

Riolu takes the full force of the Tackle, moving back a bit in it's stiff stance.

"Counter!"

Riolu braces a fist and sends it flying at Patrat. It stumbles backwards, but keeps its footing.

"Patrat, Bite it!"

"Lets finish it, use Quick Attack!"

Riolu lunges forward.

"Detect!"

And in that instance, I shout, "Feint!"

Just as Conkeldurr did, Patrat too catches one of Riolu's arms, but the other one connects perfectly. Patrat gets knocked out.

"Patrat is unable to battle!" the referee says, "Cheren is taking out his second pokémon."

Out goes Patrat, in comes Pidove. It warbles.

Cheren says, "If it's speed you want, speed you'll get. Pidove! Use Work Up!"

At his command, the Pidove rouses itself into raising its offense.

"Lets wait for it to make a move," I assure Riolu.

"I wouldn't wait around if I were you! Pidove, use Leer!"

Pidove's eyes glow red as it uses Leer, dropping Riolu's guard.

"Use Growl!"

It trills a piercing cry, hurting even my ears. Riolu holds its paws up to its ears.

"Pidove, Quick Attack!"

"Riolu! Quick Attack!"

Riolu dashes away, towards Pidove but, Pidove flies up and then, at an angle, swoops straight down at Riolu and hits first.

It's faster.

"Pidove, once more, use Quick Attack!"

"Endure!"

Pidove drives its beak from above, moving Riolu back, his feet dragging on the ground.

"Now! Use Counter!"

Riolu unleashes its full power against Pidove, but its not enough.

Fighting isn't effective on flying types.

"Pidove, finish it off with Quick Attack!"

I can see that Riolu's exhausted, but its not over until its over.

"Endure!"

Riolu takes the hit. But, before I can counter it, Cheren calls out, "Gust!" With a flap of its wings, Pidove rains down a gust of wind that knocks Riolu off it's feet.

"Riolu is unable to battle! Catheri is switching out for her second pokémon!"

"You did great, Riolu. Rest up." I place the pokéball back into my bag and take out Snivy.

"Snivy! I choose you!"

I know it seems rather hopeless at this point. A grass type versus a flying type. But giving up would mean losing confidence and losing confidence would mean losing the trust of my pokémon, and that in turn would mean a waste of time. All the time I spent searching for Riolu. All the work I did at the farm. The strategies I learned from Alder. Meeting Bianca. Leaving my home. It would be wrong and selfish of me to stop now. If I lose, I'll lose with dignity. I'll lose knowing I gave it my all and never gave up along the way.

"Ready, Snivy?"

It answers me with its shrill cry.

"Me too. Okay, lets do this."

"Pidove, Quick Attack!"

"Dodge it!"

Snivy dives out of the way at the last second. Pidove comes straight down, driving its small beak into the ground. It struggles slightly to set itself free, lasting only a few seconds in a vulnerable position.

"Use Gust from above!"

Pidove flies up and whips up small but strong winds.

"Dodge them! Run around and dodge them all!"

Snivy dives and runs around, frantically avoiding nearly all of the gusts except for the last one that connects. Just before it made contact, Snivy rolled on the ground. Just like when we were catching Riolu, I remember.

"Snivy! Stay on the ground!"

"Quick Attack!"

Pidove dives in from above.

Wait. "Roll!"

Pidove flies straight into the ground once again, trapping itself with its beak buried.

"Now! Use Wrap!"

Snivy rolls over to the now free Pidove and, before it flies off, wraps itself around it. With Pidove unable to fly away and at the mercy of Snivy, I call out Vine Whip one after another.

"Keep using Vine Whip!"

"Use Leer!"

Pidove's eyes glow red, but before its move has a chance to take effect, I command Snivy to, "Close your eyes!" When Pidove's eyes stop glowing red, I tell Snivy to, "Use Leer back!" With the Pidove's guard dropping, I command once more to, "Use Vine Whip!" And with a flurry of repeated attacks, Pidove faints.

"Pidove is unable to battle! It all comes down to the last pokémon from Cheren and Catheri's Snivy!"

"The next one is relentless. We won't hold back."

"Us too."

"Okay. Go! Lillipup!

From the pokéball emerges a Lillipup. It barks courageously. So cute.

"Lillipup, use Work Up!"

"Snivy, Tackle!"

Snivy moves in close.

Cheren shouts, "Drive it back with Take Down!"

Lillipup begins to charge and when it reaches close to Snivy around the middle of the field, I shout, "Dodge!"

"Oh no you don't."

Snivy dives to the side, but Lillipup still headbutts it, it's full body slamming down onto Snivy on the ground.

"Bite!"

It digs it's teeth into Snivy and shakes its head around shaking Snivy as if it were a rag doll. Lillipup's cute face belies its aggressive battle style.

"Use Wrap!"

Snivy coils around Lillipup, locking itself around its neck. They're facing each other head on.

"Use Leer!"

Lillipup's eyes glow red, Snivy's guard drops.

"We'll keep using Leer until you shake it off!"

"Snivy, use Leer back! Don't let go!"

Back and forth, Lillipup and Snivy trade Leer all the while Lillipup thrashes around like a Tauros trying to knock Snivy off.

"Use Vine Whip!"

Freeing one hand, Snivy using it to hit Lillipup with a Vine Whip.

"Again!"

And again.

"Again!"

And again.

"Enough of this! Lillipup! Take Down on the ground!"

What?

Lillipup stops thrashing and stands still for a moment before body slamming itself against the ground. It does this multiple times, Snivy taking the initial impact every single time.

Cheren says, "It can't hold out for much longer! Keep at it!"

What to do? What do I do? I let out a gasp from a realisation. "Snivy! Move around to it's back!"

Nodding it's head in understanding, Snivy shifts around, positioning its body on the neck now facing the back of Lillipup's head.

"You just did us a favour. Now Snivy will be easier to knock off. Lillipup, shake it off!"

"When I say let go," I say to Snivy as Lillipup starts to thrash around again, "jump off!"

Snivy nods back.

As Lillipup thrashes around, I can see Snivy beginning to slip off. I wait for the opportunity. And then, sensing an opening coming up, I yell, "Let go!"

Snivy lets go at the exact moment the force of inertia transfers from Lillipup's momentum. Snivy nearly flies across the battlefield.

"Hold," I say.

"Now, Lillipup, use Take Down!"

"Hold."

Lillipup charges at Snivy head on, set on finishing its move. But I deny it as I yell, "Dodge!"

In the blink between Lillipup charging inches away, Snivy rolls to the side. Lillipup collides with the ground, damaging itself and ending the match.

"Lillipup is unable to battle! The winner is Catheri!"

Snivy cries out in victory. I cry, but then, I see Snivy begin to glow. The glow turns into a blinding shine.

"It's evolving," Cheren says in wonder.

Snivy's shape elongates. The shining stops, marking the realised evolution of Snivy. I take my pokédex out to register it. It reads out loud, "Servine, the Grass Snake pokémon. It moves along the ground as if sliding. Its swift movements befuddle its foes. They avoid attacks by sinking into the shadows of thick foliage and retaliate with masterful Vine Whips. When it gets dirty, its leaves can't be used in photosynthesis, so it always keeps itself clean."

Servine cries out in joy. As it does, it creates a tiny cyclone of leaves that spin around.

"That was Leaf Tornado albeit meek," says Cheren.

"Leaf Tornado…we'll work on it to make it strong! Right, Servine?" I crouch down and hug it. "You did great. You too, Riolu. I couldn't have done it without you two. Thank you very much."

Cheren holds a hand out, helping me stand.

"You did great, Catheri. I am proud of you as my former student. For your courageous effort, I award you your first badge. Take it, you've earned it," he says handing me the Basic Badge. I look at it shimmering in my hand as he says, "The road to the pokémon league is a long. I know. Keep growing, not just stronger, but as a person, too."

"Thank you, Mr Cheren."

"Just Cheren now. I'm not your teacher anymore."

"Thank you."

"I'll see you off at the front, come."

At the front gate to the school, Cheren says, "The next gym awaits you in Virbank City. I believe with your skill and duo of Servine and Riolu you'll be able to cinch victory from the leader there."

"What type is it?" I ask.

"Poison, so make sure to take plenty of antidotes or Pecha berries with you."

"Thanks for the advice, and thank you once again."

"This is farewell for now. Stay safe."

I nod. And after one last glance at Aspertia, I leave with my pokémon in the direction of Virbank City.