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.

7. Chapter 7

I position myself behind the painted white line.

"Alright! The rematch between Gym Leader Roxie and the challenger, Pokémon Trainer Catheri, will now commence! Are both trainers ready?"

"Ready," says Roxie.

"Ready," I acknowledge.

"Battle begin!"

"Go, Servine!"

"Go, Koffing."

"Servine, use Growth!"

"Koffing…uh, Smoke Screen."

As Koffing begins to cover the field in black smoke, Servine powers up.

"Servine, use Growth again!"

Servine becomes slightly larger still.

"Koffing, Poison Gas."

Even though I can't locate Servine from within the black cloud, I still give out orders. I say, "Use Growth once more!"

Servine becomes even larger.

"Servine will be a threat if it manages to hit Koffing!"

"Yeah, if it manages to hit," says Roxie.

Koffing sneaks up behind Servine.

"Servine! Use Leer!"

Servine uses it while it looks around in place. I catch the glimpse of those glowing red eyes through the thick smoke. There you are.

"Servine, use Leaf Tornado!

Servine whips up a twister of leaves in front.

"Great! Spin around! Get rid of all this smoke!"

Koffing sneaks in and exhales the poison gas onto Servine as its turning. Koffing gets hit with the sharp leaves and spins in the air. Servine's been poisoned, but now there's a pocket of clear air underneath that begins to open up.

"Servine! Use Tackle!"

Servine gains speed and springs upwards to Koffing, hitting it head on.

"Oh! And that would have hurt from Servine's gain in power from its Growth!"

"Don't let up! Servine! Use Wrap!"

Servine takes hold of Koffing and squeezes down.

"Now if it uses Poison Gas, it won't have any effect! Hold onto it until it faints!"

"Koffing, use Venoshock."

Oh, no. That's right.

Koffing attacks Servine. I don't know what a heart attack feels like, but that's how I imagine Venoshock must be like.

Servine takes massive damage. I can see its breathing laboured. It starts to loosen its grip on Koffing.

"Servine! Vine Whip!"

Fighting through its fatigue, Servine manages to hit Koffing with great power.

"Oh! And Koffing now looks like its about to give in as well! This is an exhilarating third bout!"

"Can you still go? Use Vine Whip!"

"Venoshock."

Servine summons its last bits of strength to manage to land a hit before succumbing to Koffing's Venoshock.

"I-I can't believe it! Servine and Koffing took each other out! Both trainers will be bringing out their second pokémon. Catheri, her Riolu. And Roxie?"

"Go, Grimer."

"Riolu! Close in and use Quick Attack!"

"Catheri goes straight for the attack! She is not messing about!"

Riolu rushing up to Grimer and attacks it with multiple hits, all not very effective and sinking into its body.

"Grimer, drench it in poison. Use Sludge."

"Dodge!"

Riolu dives out of the way.

"I'd hate to be the guy that has to clean this field later on!"

"Riolu, Force Palm!" Come on, use Harden already.

Then, as if reading my thoughts, Roxie says, "If you're waiting for me to use Harden so your attacks can hit properly, you'd better come up with a another strategy."

Riolu goes for the hit and strikes at Grimer. Its body is too viscous to become paralysed from the hit. And Fighting attacks don't do much damage on Poison types.

"Minimise."

"Quick Attack!"

Riolu strikes Grimer as its compressing.

"Quick Attack! Come on!"

Riolu attacks again.

"Again! Do it again!"

It strikes again.

"Minimise."

Grimer is now less than half its size but still too blobby to do any significant damage.

"Again! Faster! Faster! Faster!"

Riolu looks back at me.

"What are you waiting for? Attack it and end this match already!"

"Okay, now you're fighting angry," says Roxie. "Calm down and–"

"Don't tell me to calm down! I know what I'm doing!"

"Catheri!"

Roxie saying my name reminded me of my mother, when she used to yell out my name after I'd done something wrong. I lower my head.

"Listen," Roxie says, "deep breaths in, deep breaths out. Think about a happy memory you've had. Take yourself there for a moment. Relive it. Then, when you feel your heart is ready, come back."

I nod and close my eyes. Thoughts of home spring forth. Slow school days. Mr Cheren. Hueso. The arcade. Hugging Snivy. Servine. When we first me Riolu. Sitting crossed legged at Floccesy Ranch staring into the forest. I bring my breathing down to a steady rhythm.

"Are you ready?"

I nod. "I'm ready."

"Good. Lets carry on then."

I look at Riolu looking back. I smile and it smiles back. I nod.

"Riolu, focus your energy into your palm!"

"Okay, Grimer, use Harden."

Riolu summons power into its paw.

"We've got to tank this hit, use Harden again."

"Now, Riolu! Unleash your full powered Force Palm!"

"Minimise!"

Riolu strikes Grimer down with its Force Palm. Dust is unsettled into the air again.

"Grimer still stands!"

"Riolu! Quick Attack!"

Riolu's fist impacts Grimer.

"Disable!"

"Force Palm!"

"Now! Sludge!"

As Riolu closes in to strike Grimer, Grimer drenches it in its vile Sludge, poisoning it.

"Counter!"

Riolu strikes back, but Grimer stands healthy.

"Riolu, retreat!"

Riolu runs back to me.

What to do? What to do?

"Grimer, use Minimise."

"Okay, we'll use our powered up Force Palm. Ready?"

Riolu nods.

"Riolu, concentrate your energy!"

Riolu's paw glows blue.

Roxie says to Grimer, "Wait for them to move in close."

"Now, Riolu! Use Force Palm!"

Riolu closes in with its blue aura flaring and trailing from its right paw. Even though its been poisoned, it moves at quick speed and closes in for the attack.

"Venoshock!"

Riolu swats down at the tiny blob. Grimer's attack strikes. Dust is kicked up again as I feel another shockwave from the impact.

The referee sways away dust in the air as he moves closer to check Grimer. He coughs a bit and says, "Grimer is unable to battle! Riolu's powerful Force Palm has felled the little blob!" Roxie returns it to its pokéball. She gives me a small grin.

"Roxie will now be bring in her final pokémon!"

Whirlipede appears and cries out loud.

"It's Whirlipede!"

"Okay, Whirlipede, lets do this. Use Rollout!"

I tell Riolu, "Hold, position."

Whirlipede closes in.

"Now! Endure!"

Riolu takes the hit, Whirlipede spins in place.

"Counter!"

"Protect!"

Whirlipede fully protects itself, taking little damage.

"Quick Attack!"

Riolu doesn't move.

Ugh, still disabled.

"Whirlipede, Poison Tail!"

The four horns begin to seep poison.

"Riolu, retreat!"

"Catch it! Use Rollout!"

Whirlipede spins and moves across the field while secreting poison from its horns. It catches up to Riolu.

"Dodge!"

Riolu dives out of the way. Whirlipede turns to a stop.

"Screech!"

"Cover your ears!"

Riolu does so, but it seems like the move still lowers its guard a bit.

"Rollout!"

"Endure!"

Whirlipede impacts Riolu.

"Force Palm!"

Let Riolu do its move.

"Protect!"

Switch. "Feint!"

This time, Riolu hits the towering Whirlipede.

"How long can you hold out? Use Poison Tail!"

"Dodge!"

Riolu dives out of the way. Whirlipede strikes the ground.

"Quick Attack!"

Riolu quickly strikes Whirlipede from the side. It rolls backward.

"Rollout!"

"Retreat!"

Whirlipede chases Riolu across the field.

"Endure!"

Riolu stops and takes the Rollout.

"Poison Tail!"

"Dodge!"

Riolu dives.

"Protect!"

"Feint!"

"Oh, no!"

Riolu strikes Whirlipede's side again.

"Quick Attack!"

It strikes again.

"Retreat!"

It returns back to me. I can see Riolu breathing raggedly. It's about that time.

"Power up. One last strike."

It nods back at me. It's right paw begins to glow.

"It has to give. Whirlipede, use Rollout!"

"Hold."

Whirlipede dashes across the field. As it closes in, I yell, "Endure!"

Riolu is shoved on its feet as its dragged backwards on the ground.

"Force Palm!"

"Protect!"

A large plume of dust is kicked up as a shockwave knocks me off my feet. Whirlipede stands, exhausted, while Riolu lies on the floor, fainted.

"Riolu is unable to battle! The winner of the rematch is Roxie!"

As the crowd cheers, I return Riolu back to its pokéball and say, "You did good. You and Servine."

I stand back up. Roxie returns her pokémon back to its ball. She comes over to me and says, "Get in a bit more training and come back stronger."

"You sound like my friend."

"I'm sure he's a good friend."

I look at her inquisitively. "…I'm sorry. I don't know what got over me."

"It's all right but, you should say that to your pokémon, not me. I understand. These are the emotions of battle. You just have to learn to control them and not let them get out of hand."

"Thank you, Roxie."

She turns around and says, "I don't know what you're thanking me for but, sure. Anyway, see you around, kid."

She leaves the field. I turn around and go too.

At the pokémon centre later that night, I sit down on the floor to eye level with Servine and Riolu. I hug them both. With my hands still on their shoulders, I say, "I'm sorry." Servine and Riolu look at me with concern. Their eyes stare back into mine. I smile and say, "I could never be mad at you two." They smile back. Servine lets out a cry then Riolu.

I stand up and say, "I think I may have an ingenious idea. I hope it'll work."

Servine and Riolu look at me with curiosity.