xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Pinwheel Forest, 3:03 p.m. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Druddigon, use "Slash!'' Keats exclaimed as his Druddigons claws glowed white as the Dragon type rushed at Throh, the martial artist Pokémon.
Moving quickly, Druddigon swiped at Throh as the Fighting type ducked the swing and proceeded to extend its leg into Druddigons right knee.
"Druddi!" Druddigon screamed in pain as he clutched at his leg.
"Throh!" Throh shouted in slight pain before getting back to an upright position and grabbed Druddigon by the head and shoulders.
Laying backwards and pushing its leg out, Throh tossed Druddigon overhead as the Dragon type was flung into the side of a tree. Falling onto his chest, Druddigon looked at the Fighting type Pokémon with frustration in its eyes.
"Damn it!" Keats exclaimed as he looked on.
"That wazzzz "Circle Throw."' Rotom said as the phone Pokémon floated next to Keats before he grabbed the phone from out of the air.
"I know that! I read the listing you gave me already!" Keats said in annoyance as he looked at Rotom in his hands.
"Don't get angry with me juzzzzt because you're frustrated!" Rotom exclaimed in agitation.
"Thohoh!" Throh screamed as it tightened its belt around its waist and catching Keats and Rotoms attention. "Ohth. Throh-throh." The Fighting type said in a calm manner.
"Translation?" Keats asked as Rotom floated out of his hand.
"Throh says you need to focus on the battle at all times when it occurzzzz and that you should order Druddigon to have him stop in midair with his wings or feet." Rotom translated.
"Ugh! I know that already!" Keats said as he turned his attention towards Throh. "It's not easy for me to stay focused on this kind of thing." He said as he rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment.
"Drudd!" Druddigon said as he got up from the ground and approached Throh as Throh put up a hand in response.
"Druddigon says it wants to try again." Rotom said.
"Throroh." Throh said towards Druddigon before turning to Keats. "Throh-oh. Throhthroh." The Fighting type said towards the inexperienced and chubby trainer.
"Let me guess? "Not right now" to Druddigon and "you're not trying hard enough" to me?" Keats said with an unenthusiastic expression towards Rotom.
"Yup, zzzzt." Rotom replied as Keats shook his head.
"It's been four days and the stupid tournament is tomorrow morning... And I still haven't fully grasped this whole "battle" thing yet." Keats thought with a disgruntled face forming.
"Druddigon! Druddigon!" Druddigon exclaimed angrily towards Keats.
"Oh shut up, you dumb Dragon!" Keats screamed back towards the Dragon type as Druddigons jaw dropped in shock at the insult.
Tears beginning to form on his face, Druddigon dropped onto his knees and begun to dig dirt out of the ground. Making a small hole, Keats looked at Druddigon place its head into the hole and covered its head in dirt, partially burying itself once again.
"Oh no, not again, zzzzt..." Rotom said as Keats and Throh just looked at Druddigon making a scene.
"Eighth time in four days..." Keats said with a headshake.
"Throh-oh..." Throh said with its arms folded.
"Throh said that Dragon types should be stronger than this in termzzzz of willpower." Rotom said as Keats bent down and begun to dig out his easily depressed Druddigon.
"And yet here we are..." Keats said in a frustrated tone as he pulled Druddigon back to his feet.
"Pineco!" Pineco said as the group looked in her direction.
Hopping through the woods, Pineco had appeared through the trees as Timburr and Sawk followed behind her. In their arms, the pair of Fighting types were holding multiple Berries of blue, pink and light green colors.
"Oh good, our dinner for tonight is here." Keats said as he walked over to Pineco, Timburr and Sawk. "Got some Oran Berries, some Pecha Berries and some Aspear Berries." He said as he grabbed a few out of the arms of Sawk.
"I actually didn't have to explain what Berries they were. That was a surprise..." Rotom thought as the phone Pokémon looked at Keats and the other Pokémon.
"Alright! Where's the oil drum?" Keats said aloud with a smile as he walked away from the group.
"Now if only he didn't steal more stuff from that construction site..." Rotom thought with annoyance as Keats brought up the oil drum he was cooking in.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Pinwheel Forest, 6:40 p.m. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
With the moon now overhead, Keats, his Pokémon and the Fighting types that were mentoring him on battling were standing in a circle as Keats stirred a massive red soup filled with chopped Berries that filled up a large portion of the drum with a burning flame underneath. Taking a group of bowls, Keats poured some of the Berry soup into them as he passed them to Sawk, Druddigon, Timburr and Throh, who sat on the grass to eat.
"Good?" Keats asked the group as Pineco hopped over to her trainer's side.
"Druddigon." Druddigon said.
"Tim!" Timburr said in a happy tone.
"Sawk!" Sawk exclaimed in a satisfied tone.
"Throh!" Throh exclaimed with a smile.
"Four zzzzatizzzzfied customers." Rotom said while looking at Keats.
"Yup- ouch!" Keats said as he put his hand on the drum and the immense heat burned his hand. "Ow! Ow! Pfff! Pffff!" He muttered repeatedly before blowing on his hand. "Ugh... That hurt... But at least it wasn't like last time." Keats said as he sat down with the Pokémon.
"What wazzzz last time?" Rotom asked as it floated above the group.
"One time I was home in my trailer on the ranch and I went out into the woods to pick Tamato Berries for a sauce I wanted to make when I was having an off day. I wound up inside Ursaring territory and ran back home. Thought I was fine until one of them hopped the fence while I was cooking the sauce." Keats said as he remembered a story. "An Ursaring got into my home when I wasn't looking and got behind me, I reached for something thinking it was a wooden spoon and I wound up pulling the Ursarings hand into the pot." He said as everyone looked at Keats with odd expressions.
"...That'zzzz one way to deal out Burn damage..." Rotom said with an exasperated tone.
"Oh! Oh! I know that! That's when a Pokémon gets set on fire by a move that leaves the effect! It even makes them weaker when it comes to attacking." Keats said loudly with an interested tone.
"Zzzzurprizzzzed he cares about that..." Rotom thought as he looked at Keats' enthusiasm as everyone besides Pineco ate.
"Sawk-awk." Sawk said as it put down its bowl and looked in Keats' direction.
"Was that a criticism? I think I'm starting to understand when Pokémon criticize me..." Keats asked towards Rotom.
"Sawk says that you're still struggling even after four days, and you don't appear to be compatible with the Pokémon you have right now." Rotom translated as Keats took a deep breath.
"Wish I could say that I didn't agree... But it's kind of obvious." Keats said as Pineco looked at her trainer with Druddigon and Timburr doing the same. "I keep trying to do all the offensive junk like "Tackle" and "Slash" but once the attack moves out, I don't think to do anything else afterwards. Heck, I understand using "Protect" when I want Pineco to block, and I know not to use "Self-Destruct" all the damn time, but this stuff is hard to prep for mentally." Keats said as he ate his soup.
"One of the thingzzzz about training Pokémon is understanding what battling style fits you as the trainer." Rotom explained as Sawk and Throh nodded as Keats looked at the two Fighting types with confusion.
"Why are you nodding?! You're wild Pokémon!" Keats exclaimed at Sawk and Throh.
"Regardlezzzzzzzz..." Rotom said. "In order to beat Carter, you need to figure out how to beat all three of his Pokémon but before that, you need to be able to beat the other trainers in the tournament if Carter makes it to the end." The phone Pokémon explained further.
"Yeah, and my track record in battles is worse than Nidorino dung." Keats said as he put his soup down as Druddigon, Pineco and Timburr looked at him. "Closest thing to a "victory" I can say is the number of times we sent Stunfisk flying with Pinecos "Self-Destruct."' He said as he scratched at his beard.
"Not a real victory, zzzzt." Rotom said bluntly. "Winning real battlezzzz doesn't involve knocking out your own Pokémon." The phone Pokémon continued as Keats looked at Druddigon, Timburr and Pineco.
"How do you guys feel?" Keats asked towards his Pokémon.
"Timburr. Timtim." Timburr said as Keats looked at Rotom for translation.
"He says that he wantzzzz to fight some strong Pokémon." Rotom said.
"Druddigon-drudd." Druddigon muttered as he slurped up his bowl of Berry soup.
"He says that he doesn't care as long as he reclaimzzzz his honor." Rotom translated as Keats looked at Pineco.
"And you?" Keats asked towards the Bug type.
"Co..." Pineco said in a nervous tone.
"She's not entirely zzzzure." Rotom said.
"You and me both..." Keats said as he slurped up some of his soup. "How the heck are we gonna do this...?" He thought as he scratched his head.
"Sawk." Sawk said as it caught everyone's attention. "Sawkwak-Sawsaw." the Fighting type continued.
"Pinecoco-pine?" Pineco said in Sawks direction.
"What are they saying?" Keats asked.
"Sawk says that you need to develop a combat strategy that workzzzz for you." Rotom said towards Keats. "And Pineco responded by telling Sawk that the best zzzzhe can do is blow things up to be useful." The phone Pokémon continued.
"What does that mean?" Keats mentally questioned.
"Sawk-wak" Sawk said as he pointed at Keats after putting down its soup.
"Zzzzawk says that you don't have much time to think about it." Rotom translated.
"Yeah... I know." Keats said as he finished his soup. "Throh, Sawk." He said towards the Fighting types as they finished their soups before everyone stood up. "Thank you for all the time you spent with us, I really needed it." Keats said in a thankful tone.
"Sawk." Sawk said with a smile as he put his hands together.
"Throh." Throh said with a similar gesture as the duo bowed before turning and walking away into the woods as Keats and his Pokémon waved goodbye.
Taking a deep breath, Keats proceeded to take out his Pokéballs and returned all of his Pokémon back inside of them. Grabbing the leftovers of the soup that was in the bottom of the oil drum, Keats took out of a plastic bag and scooped up the last of it. Pushing down the barrel onto its side, Keats rolled it over to a nearby tree and sat down on it as he looked up at the night sky.
"Rotom. Come here." Keats asked as he motioned for Rotom to float over to him.
"Got it, zzzzt." Rotom said as the phone floated towards the chubby trainer. "Mind if I ask, you are aware of your major opponents Pokémon, right?" The phone asked.
"I know Lopunny and he had some weirdly wriggly thing that could float..." Keats said, unsure.
"Carter hazzzz a Pawniard, an Eelektrik and the big one, Mega Lopunny." Rotom said as its screen changed to Carters trainer profile and his Pokémon.
"And has a douchey attitude..." Keats thought with an agitated expression on his face as he remembered the thief.
"Pawniard is a Dark and Steel type. Eelektrik is an Electric type and Lopunny is a Normal type until it Mega Evolves where it gains the Fighting typing, zzzzt." Rotom said as it flipped between the Pokémon Carter has in order. "Juzzzzt out of curiosity, you remember what the types are weak to?" The phone Pokémon asked.
"...Uhhhhhhhhhh..." Keats mumbled as he stared off into space.
"Dark and Steel izzzz weak to Fighting types, like Timburr." Rotom said.
"Uhhhhhhh..." Keats continued to mumble.
"Electric is predominantly weak to Ground, which since Druddigon knows "Dig" should be helpful but Eelektrik can float so it can make it immune to the move, zzzzt." Rotom explained.
"Uhhhhhh..." Keats babbled as drool begun to come out of his mouth.
"Keatzzzz!?" Rotom exclaimed as Keats snapped out of his daze.
"Ah!? Wha- oh. Sorry." Keats said as he wiped the spit off his lip. "You said a period of training would help my Pokémon with gaining moves, right?" He questioned.
"That izzzz correct." Rotom replied. "It's like talking to a wall..." The phone Pokémon thought with frustration.
"Can I see?" Keats said as the phone floated closer to him. "You track my Pokémon, right? Can I look at stats or whatever?" He asked as Rotom changed its screen to a series of icons for Keats' caught Pokémon.
"Reminder; you can only keep zzzzix Pokémon on hand." Rotom said.
"I know that! Just go back to the icons!" Keats exclaimed in annoyance as Rotom went into Keats' hand.
"Woopzzzz, sorry." Rotom said apologetically before switching back to the previous screen.
Clicking on Timburrs icon, Keats looked at the Fighting types ability "Guts" and then scrolled down to Timburrs move set, still the same as it has been since Keats caught him. Going back to the multiple icons, he clicked on Druddigon to do the same and looked at his ability, "Rough Skin."
"Hey, what does "Rough Skin" do?" Keats asked as Rotoms face returned to the screen.
'"Rough Skin" is an ability where if an opponent strikes the Pokémon with a physically attacking move with said ability, the opponent takezzzz a portion of damage." Rotom explained as Keats raised an eyebrow.
"...Huh, that's pretty useful actually." Keats said with interest. "And explains why Throh winced earlier when it hit Druddigon with his attacks." He continued.
"Maybe you should tell that to Druddigon so he doesn't keep burying himself in depression fits." Rotom thought with a judgmental expression. "Hey can I azzzzk something?" The phone asked as its face appeared once more.
"What?" Keats replied.
"You showed interezzzzt earlier in the Burn effect. And now you said, "Rough Skin" is an interesting ability." Rotom said.
"Yeah?" Keats said with a raised eyebrow.
"Any particular reazzzzon?" Rotom questioned.
"...I don't know. I just think the concept is really cool." Keats said as he stood up from the drum. "The idea of how much it annoys the trainer or the Pokémon that everything they're doing is on a timer because eventually they might give out." He said as he paced around with a smirk forming. "Man, that would be fun to piss off Carter with something like that. Now that's something I would want to keep my eyes on." Keats said while he held Rotom in his hand.
"...Then why don't you, zzzzt?" Rotom said.
"Huh?" Keats muttered. "What'cha mean?" He asked.
"You could probably do that with the team you got currently, zzzzt." Rotom said as Keats walked back towards the barrel and sat down on it once more.
"...Go on?" Keats said, intrigued.
"Click on Pinecozzzz icon then scroll to the very bottom." Rotom said as its screen returned to the icons page.
Interested, Keats pressed on Pinecos image as he looked at her stats and images. Scrolling down, Keats saw a list of moves Pineco had available currently like "Tackle" and "Self-Destruct" and then a list of moves Pineco could learn at the moment to replace them.
"What's all this?" Keats asked.
"Like I zzzzaid at the beginning of the week, Pokémon can utilize four moves at a time, but they also have a myriad of moves that they can learn through proper training or via a visual aide." Rotom explained as Keats listened. "Pineco should be able to utilize a certain move that can fit what you're looking for. Check for "Zzzzpikezzzz." The phone Pokémon continued.
'"Zzzzpikezzzz?"' Keats said as he scrolled all the way to the bottom of Pinecos move possible list and couldn't find anything with a "Z" in it. "You sure this is a move Pineco can learn?" He asked with confusion.
"It'zzzz with an "S," Keats..." Rotom said with an exasperated tone.
"Oh. Hold on." Keats said as he scrolled back up to the move "Spikes." "What does this move do?" He asked.
'"Spikes" is a Ground type move with two usages, its predominantly a support move but it can sometimes be used as an offensive move if aimed." Rotom explained as a video played on its phone of how the move worked. "Its direct purpose is to throw out caltrop-shaped projectiles onto the ground that sink into it. It turns the opponent's side of the land into a hazard zone where if a swapped-out Pokémon that touches the ground enters it, they will take a portion of damage." The phone Pokémon continued as Keats looked with interest. "It can stack up to three times. The more stacks, the more damage it inflicts." Rotom said.
"...Okay. That is awesome." Keats said with interest. "Okay, how do I give Pineco that?" He asked as he took out her Pokéball.
"Hold me over her Pokéball while I zzzzcan her." Rotom said as Keats put Rotoms phone body above Pinecos ball as the phone Pokémon scanned it with the camera lens. "What move do you want to get rid of, zzzzt?" The phone Pokémon asked.
"...Oh yeah, I gotta do that too huh?" Keats said in an unsure tone. "That move "Protect" is way too useful so not that. And "Self-Destruct" is practically Pinecos signature move, I should keep that as well but I think there's a better version of it though... Hmmmm..." He thought. "Okay, hold on. Any other moves I can move around for others?" Keats asked.
"Hmmmm... Ah! Yezzzz. Druddigon and Timburr can also have some moves swapped around." Rotom said as it checked its records for Keats. "But are you sure you shouldn't be getting some zzzzleep?" The phone asked.
"Screw sleep. This is more important." Keats said as he continued to scroll through Timburr page and then Druddigons.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Castelia City, 9:40 a.m. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Within the hustle and bustle of Castelia City was the Club Battle Arena, a stadium built for the tournaments sponsored by the Don George Battle Club. With crowds beginning to form and moving into their seats in the bleachers, Don George proceeded to walk into the center of the battlefield as he looked up at the people and was handed a microphone.
"Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the PokéPotluck!" Don George said into the mic as the crowd begun to cheer. "Sponsored by a multitude of your favorite companies throughout the region, the grand prize of today's competition is a large cash reward." He said as he looked towards a prize stand next to a commentary table that had a briefcase containing a large amount of dollar bills inside it. "Today's commentary for the tournament will be myself and current Castelia City Gym Leader, Burgh." Don George continued as he pointed towards a man approached the commentary desk.
Tall and skinny, a man with wavy brown hair sported a V-neck long sleeve shirt, a small red scarf, a dark red pair of pants with green stripes and matching green and red shoes had appeared. Casually waving at the audience, the man known as Burgh continued to walk towards the commentary table as females in the audience looked on with romantic interest in their eyes at the local Gym Leader.
"Hello! So glad to see all of you here!" Burgh said as he sat down at the commentary desk.
"I would like to direct everyone to the big screen to meet our eight competitors in today's competition." Don George said as he raised his arm in the direction of the big screen.
Appearing in order of the placements from the fishing contest were the images of Carter, several other contestants before ending in Keats. Set up around the battlefield was the watch area for the trainers participating as Keats walked up to the edge as he looked around at the crowd.
"Yikes... Look at this audience... Haaaaa..." Keats said with a yawn as Rotom popped out of his pocket.
"This is normal for tournamentzzzz. The allure of competition and the intensity of trainers in combat with their Pokémon. It's exciting, isn't it?" Rotom said with an odd vigor.
"More like nerve wracking..." Keats said unenthusiastically as someone approached as Keats turned his head to the sight of someone he didn't want to see, Carter.
"Thought you'd turn tail and run." Carter said with the same smugness he normally displays as he looked upward at the taller man.
"Yeah well... I thought you'd... Grow a few inches in the few days away." Keats said in an attempt to insult Carter.
"I've heard better insults from Grumpigs in their sleep." Carter said with his arms folded.
"You're gonna feel more insulted when I beat you..." Keats said angrily as he stood in front of the teenage thief.
"Ha! As if!" Carter said, laughing off Keats' threat. "Doubt you'll even make it past the first match, "Mr. Zero wins, two losses."' He said as he took out his phone and showed Keats his own trainer card of his win/loss record.
"Really wish they didn't track that..." Keats thought as he bit his lip before Don George begun to speak up on the announcing system once more.
"I will now display the brackets. Let's see who will go first in the PokéPotluck!" Don George said as he directed everyone's attention to the large screen once more.
In the brackets, Keats was up first in the entire tournament against a young woman named Valesca followed by a battle with two other trainers before the third-round match with Carter participating against a man named Kingston, ending with a final match between two trainers in the fourth round.
"Looks like I won't be having to wait that long to see you out of here." Carter said with a smirk before walking away as Keats took a hard breath.
"Jerkwad..." Keats said as looked out onto the battlefield.
"Good luck Keatzzzz. I won't be able to help you out there." Rotom said as it floated over into Keats pocket.
"Ooookay... Fingers crossed..." Keats said to himself to try and prep himself.
Walking out onto the field, Keats took his position at one end of the battlefield while opposite of him was his opponent. Standing to face him was a young fair skinned woman in her mid-twenties with light brown hair and sporting a black V-neck shirt with black pants, brown snow boots and a bright yellow blazer with a large yellow necklace around her neck.
"Not sure what to say so... Hi?" Keats said with a shrug.
"You can say "I quit" because you don't stand a chance!" Valesca said with a confident smirk.
"...That's a heck of a greeting..." Keats thought with a surprised expression at the forcefulness in her tone.
"This will be a one-on-one battle between Keats from Ecruteak City and Valesca from Driftveil City." An employee of the Battle Club said as he took position on a podium to referee the match. "Winner is decided once the opponents Pokémon has been knocked out." The referee said as Keats and Valesca locked eyes.
"And I'm raring to go!" Valesca said as she pulled out a Pokéball. "Come on out! Maractus!" She exclaimed as she threw her ball, calling out her Pokémon.
Emerging from the Pokéball was a waist high creature that looked like a living cactus. With no legs on its green body, it sported a pair of green protrusions on its head that ended in flowers, yellow eyes and was covered in prickly spikes.
"Maractus!" Maractus shouted from Valescas side of the field.
"Hmmmm..." Keats mumbled as he reached into his pocket and pulled out one of his regular Pokéballs. "It looks like a Grass type... So, in that case..." He thought as he picked out what to use for the battle. "Timburr, you're on call!" Keats said as he threw his ball, summoning out his Fighting type Pokémon.
"Timburr!" Timburr exclaimed as he took position on Keats' side of the field.
"Valesca has chosen Maractus and Keats has chosen Timburr. Clear advantage with one over the other." Don George said from the commentary desk.
"However, that doesn't particularly mean one side is going to have it easier than the other. Both trainers are looking to win the grand prize." Burgh said with interest as he looked on.
"The first-round battle between Keats and Valesca is about to begin. Are the participants ready?" The battle judge said.
"Yes!" Valesca said.
"As I can be..." Keats said.
"Then let the battle... Begin!" The referee exclaimed, the match finally commencing.
"Maractus! Use "Needle Arm!"' Valesca ordered as her Maractus leaped towards Timburr with its right arm glowing green.
"Timburr, dodge!" Keats exclaimed as Timburr rolled out of the way, Maractus slamming its glowing right arm into the ground. "Timburr! Use "Focus Energy!"' He shouted as Timburr begun to glow a red aura, increasing its ability to land a critical hit.
"Should've attacked, big guy!" Valesca said in a mocking tone towards Keats. "Maractus, use "Seed Bomb!"' She ordered as her Maractus jumped into the air.
With the flower pedals on its head protrusions glowing green, a series of projectiles in the shape of large brown seeds emerged from its head and barreled towards Timburr. Putting up his squared log to use as a shield, the seeds slammed into Timburr, sending him flying backwards and landing on his back.
"Ah! Timburr, get up!" Keats said in shock from Timburr getting hit.
"Tiiiim..." Timburr said in slight pain as he got back to his feet and grabbed his log from the ground.
"Okay, time to put my battling style thing into action." Keats thought as he looked at Timburr then at the smug expression on Valescas face. "Timburr, drop the log... And use "Poison Jab!"' He said as Timburr put the log down and rushed at Maractus.
With Timburrs right hand glowing purple, The Fighting type struck Maractus in the center of its chest with an open hand jab. Sending Maractus back while still upright, the cactus-like Pokémon begun to feel woozy as its cheeks begun to show a shade of purple and a series of bubbles emerged from its mouth from a cough.
"Marac... Cauh!" Maractus coughed in slight pain.
"My, my!" Burgh said in a slightly impressed tone.
"That was quite the strategy. Not just using a super effective Poison type move against a Grass type, "Poison Jab" also left a nasty toxic effect." Don George commented.
"Perhaps the increased critical hit from "Focus Energy" might have played a role in that." Burgh surmised.
"Ah! Maractus!" Valesca exclaimed in surprise. "Grrr... Only option left. Maractus! "Sunny Day!"' She exclaimed as Maractus lifted up its hands.
"Maractu- caug!" Maractus said while coughing up more poisonous bubbles.
Suddenly, the sun begun to shine brighter than normal as the heat begun to turn up. Putting on sunglasses, Valesca smirked as Keats put his hand over his forehead to use as a visor as Maractus still coughed up bubbles.
"Ahhh! Too bright, too bright!" Keats mentally complained as he started to pull up his sleeves because of how much hotter it was getting as well.
"I'll take you out your Pokémon with our full power! Maractus! Now use "Solar Beam!"' Valesca exclaimed as Maractus charged up an orb of yellow and white energy and then immediately fired it at Timburr, slamming into the Fighting type.
"Timburr!" Timburr exclaimed as he was hit with the beam and getting knocked to the ground.
"Oh crap!" Keats thought in a panic.
"Using "Sunny Day" and then "Solar Beam." A classic combination." Don George commentated.
"Because of "Sunny Day," it allows for "Solar Beam" to completely bypass its need to charge up before use." Burgh explained.
"Oh that's useful- shut up!" Keats said before complaining towards the commentators.
"Marac- caugh!" Maractus said, still coughing from the poison effect.
"Maractus isn't looking so hot. One more move and we're done for. Gotta make this quick..." Valesca thought with worry. "Maractus, use "Needle Arm!"' She exclaimed as her sickly Maractus fought through its illness as it jumped towards Timburr.
"Timburr! Use "Poison Jab!" One more time with a duck!" Keats exclaimed as Timburr got back to its feet as Maractus leaping towards him.
"Timburr!" Timburr shouted as his right-hand glowed purple once more.
Maractus swung its glowing green arm at Timburrs head but the Fighting type ducked down to avoid the attack before hitting the Grass type with another "Poison Jab." The super effective attack damaging Maractus once more, Maractus clutched at its chest before falling to the ground, its eyes swirling to show its unconscious state and the "Sunny Day" dissipating.
"Maractus is unable to battle! Timburr wins!" The battle judge proclaimed as he declared Keats the winner.
"...Holy crap! Really?!" Keats said in surprise as Valesca took out her Pokéball and recalled her Maractus and sighed in defeat. "We won?!" He said in surprise as Timburr picked up his log and approached Keats.
"Tim! Tim!" Timburr said in a happy tone as he approached his trainer.
"Yeahaha!" Keats exclaimed in excitement. "We did it! We did it!" He continued to scream.
"A very good opening match. Utilizing a strategy that would weaken the opponent over time. Quite the showing, don'tcha think, Don George?" Burgh said into the announcing mic while looking at his play-by-play partner.
"That was quite the showing but remember, that was only the first round." Don George said from his commentary spot towards Keats as he stopped celebrating.
"...Right." Keats said embarrassingly as he took out Timburrs Pokéball as he walked back towards the inside of the stadium as Rotom popped out.
"Keatzzzz! You won an official battle!" Rotom said, congratulating Keats
Standing in the tunnel to the inner area, Keats proceeded to put his hands on his face and proceeded to bend over.
"Graahh!" Keats screamed into his hands.
"Keatzzzz?" Rotom questioned.
"Ah! Ah! Okay... Okay I'm good." Keats continued to scream into his hands before standing back up and looking at Rotom.
"You zzzzure?" Rotom asked.
"That was rough... And I just needed a moment. Hoooo boy..." Keats said.
"You got two more battlezzzz ahead." Rotom said.
"Yeah... And Carters match is in the third round... I'll be rooting for his opponent..." Keats said in a slightly nervous tone.
Well call me a Mankey's Uncle! Three cheers for Keats! The dude has finally won an official battle against another trainer! Now that his training is over with the Fighting type duo of Throh and Sawk, Keats took a moment to look at his Pokémon and mess around with their move sets thanks to Rotoms moves database. Against a Maractus, Keats' Timburr had won him the first-round battle to allow him to move on. But that's only one down out of three... Can Keats go the distance? Find out next time on Wannabe!
Keats' Pokémon:
1. Pineco. Gender: Female. Ability: Sturdy. Moves: "Spikes," "Explosion," "Bide," "Protect."
2. Timburr. Gender: Male. Ability: Guts. Moves: "Poison Jab," "Smack Down," "Focus Energy," "Scary Face."
3. Druddigon. Gender: Male. Ability: Rough Skin. Moves: "Slash," "Dig," "Roar," "Dragon Tail."
Authors Note: (Okay several things in this note.)
1. For the sake of story, I'll be using a combination of the version of "Spikes" from the games with the triple stacking entry hazard effect and the version introduced in Legends: Arceus where it can be used as a low damage offensive Ground type move. It won't cause the "splinters" effect introduced in Arceus and I will not be using this for "Toxic Spikes" or "Stealth Rock," where they will work the same as in the games as entry hazards. I'm doing this predominantly as a way to make the move work in a more useful sense.
2. I did NOT know Timburr couldn't learn "Karate Chop" and I know now that Pineco couldn't learn "Pin Missile" via level up. I am sorry because I do try, and research moves and stuff and this was an oversight. I won't go back and change it because it's a bit late now, but I rather bring it up because I'm pretty sure someone noticed, and I apologize. It's one of the reasons I removed them from their move sets.
3. Just a fun question for anyone commenting: What's a Pokémon that YOU like that NO ONE else likes? Reasons could be anything. I'll post mine in the next chapter.