Episode 2: Kris the Battle Expert!

As Dylan and Aurora reminisced on the past, Ashton ran ahead with Vulcan towards the Gateway Arch. She was ready to take part in her first Gym battle, and when Ashton has her mind on something, it can lead to her getting major tunnel vision. She was so focused on getting to the Gym that she ended up running into another person!

"Oof!" the other person said. She rubbed her head, her partner Pokémon coming to her side. She was around the same age as Ashton and Dylan, with teal-colored hair that was held in upward-facing pigtails and green eyes. She was wearing a red shirt, a white jacket with red trim, yellow shorts with green trim, white and red sneakers, a yellow beanie, pink backpack, and a pink device hanging around her neck.

"Croc-croc!" Croconaw cried, helping its trainer back to her feet.

"Watch where you're going!" the teal-haired girl said.

Ashton shrugged. "Sorry, but you were standing in the middle of the street."

"I was looking at the Flying-Type Pokémon around the arch," the girl said, pointing up at the birds flying overhead.

"Look, I just want to get to the Gym, so…" Ashton started to walk around, only for the girl to step in front of her again.

"You need to give me a real applogy first," she said.

Ashton groaned. "Do I really have to?" She eyed Croconaw and got a wicked grin on her face. "How about we have a Pokémon battle instead?"

"We really don't have to do this," the blue-haired girl said.

"If you just get out of my way and into the Gym, then we don't have to fight," Ashton said. Vulcan readied himself for battle as his Trainer shouted, "So, since you're not budging, I challenge you to a battle!"

"ASHTON!" Dylan shouted, running up with Aurora and Vex. He panted slightly before continuing. "You can't just have a battle out in public!"

"Heck yeah I can!" Ashton said. "I'm challenging whatever-her-name-is to a Pokémon battle!"

"The name's Kris," the girl said. "If you're really insistent on having a battle, then I'll do it, but only if you apologize for running into me afterwards."

"Sure," Ashton agreed.

The two girls quickly jumped backwards, putting space between them. Some of the people around the area noticed a battle was about to happen and gathered around.

"This will be a one-one-one match between Trainer Ashton and Trainer Kris," Dylan announced. "Since this is a public match, try to keep property damage to a minimum. If any civilians are hurt, it will count as a forfeit against the person's Pokémon that caused the injury."

Ashton smirked and let Vulcan step up. "You can do this, Vulcan!"

Croconaw stepped up and gave a yell, with Kris pumping her fist in the air. "Alpha, now's your time to shine!"

Vulcan ran forward first, cloaking itself in fire for a Flame Wheel attack. Alpha stood its ground, taking the attack head-on and grabbing onto the Quilava with its bare hands. The Croconaw then spun it around, slamming Vulcan into the ground and delivering a series of strikes to the stomach. The Cyndaquil cried out as it took the attack.

"That's right, Alpha! Keep up the pressure with Chip Away!" Kris called.

"Vulcan looks really hurt by that attack," Dylan noted. "But that move should do neutral damage, being Normal type."

Kris laughed. "That's because Alpha has a special ability: Water Shift! It turns her Normal moves into Water attacks!"

Vulcan cried out as Alpha continued to use Chip Away, making Ashton lose her confident grin. "Vulcan, drop a Smokescreen and retreat!"

The Quilava coughed up a glob of ash, which dropped to the ground and covered the area in a thick smoke. Alpha was confused by the distraction, letting Vulcan slip away for the moment. Once he was out of the trap, Vulcan's tail started sparking with fire, ready to go in for another attack.

The Croconaw has a unique ability… Aurora mused. That will make it even harder for Vulcan to make an attack.

"You're right about that one," Dylan agreed.

Ashton grunted. "Alright Vulcan, I'll leave it up to you on how to handle this one." She pointed forward boldly. "Go for it!"

Vulcan let out a fry and jumped back into the smoke. He hit Alpha with a Quick Attack, before going into another Flame Wheel for extra damage. The Croconaw tried to bite down on the Quilava, but the Volcano Pokémon held fast and scratched away at his opponent. As Vulcan did so, his flames started to rise, going from orange to yellow, then white until settling on a bright blue.

"What is…?" Kris gasped.

Ashton smirked. "Your Pokémon isn't the only one with a special ability. Vulcan, Flame Wheel one last time!"

"Alpha, go for Chip Away!" Kris commanded.

The two Pokémon jumped back a bit, before charging in with their moves. Vulcan's flames rose around him in a mini inferno, while Alpha's claws became covered in water. As the two attacks met, steam rose from the impact, blocking the view of everyone. Once it cleared, the victor was decided…

"THEY BOTH FAINTED!?" the crowd shouted in shock.

Ashton tilted her head to the side, eye twitching slightly, while Kris fell over comically from the surprise.

Aurora sighed. Looks like they're evenly matched, she said. And both should get medical attention now.

"You've got that right," Dylan nodded.

[***]

"So, you guys are from Texas?" Kris asked. After the battle the three of them went to the nearest Pokémon Center to heal Vulcan and Alpha, and now they were sitting in the waiting room eating lunch.

"Yep," Dylan replied. "We're taking on gyms to compete in the Pokémon World Challenge."

"I heard that a big-name Trainer was currently at the gym here in St. Louis, so we came to check it out," Ashton explained.

Kris perked up. "I was training at the gym here, actually!"

"So, are you part of the PWC as well?" Dylan asked.

Kris shook her head. "I participated in the Johto League last year, but now I'm working as a battle researcher. I want to study the way Trainers and Pokémon bond through battling together, and going between gyms is a great way to do that."

Who do you study under? Aurora asked.

Kris suddenly looked around, then locked eyes with the Lucario. "Oh. My. Gosh! You're Lucario can use telepathy!? That's exceedingly rare!"

"Yep, Aurora is special," Dylan said. "I caught her and Vex on the same day."

"I caught Vulcan back then too," Ashton said. She looked over at her Quilava, seeing him in a growling match against Alpha. "Those two really want to fight again, huh?"

They keep calling each other names, Aurora translated. A rematch will be inevitable.

"What was that ability your Quilava used?" Kris asked. She tapped the device around her neck and pulled up a holographic notepad. "I want to record it for my notes."

"We call it Blue Flare," Dylan explained. "Whenever Vulcan takes a good amount of damage, his flames go into overdrive, making him stronger and giving a chance to burn his opponent on contact."

"Cool," Kris nodded. "Are you both here to challenge the gym, then?"

"Nah, it's just me," Ashton gestured to herself. "Dylan will take the next gym we come across, and so forth until we've both got eight badges. Then it's off to the UK to register for the World League!"

Kris nodded. "I'll be interested to see what your battle style is like when the time comes, Dylan."

"I'll do my best," Dylan scratched the back of his head. "Aurora, think you could separate those two before they start a fight here in the Center?"

On it, the Lucario responded. She stood up and got between Alpha and Vulcan, pushing the two apart with her aura. Vulcan gave out a puff of smoke, while Alpha crossed her arms and huffed.

"That's better," Dylan sighed. "So Kris, who do study under? You didn't answer when Aurora asked you before."

"I'm admittedly mostly doing independent study at the moment," Kris said. "But I do report to one of the top Pokémon researchers in the world, though I haven't met him in person yet."

"Sounds kind of shady…" Ashton pondered. She then smiled and slapped Kris on the back. "Then again, there's a lot of weird people out there, so an anonymous researcher doesn't sound too farfetched!"

"I mean, he posts his findings for public use," Kris said. She pulled up an article talking about Z-Moves on her Pokégear. "He travels the world studying the bonds between Pokémon and their Trainers. Recently, he did a study on Z-Moves in Hawaii."

"Achroma," Dylan read the username. "I think I've heard that name before. Sounds like a big achievement for you to get an internship under him."

Kris smiled. She then gasped and looked at a clock on the wall. "Oh my gosh, it's late! If you want to battle in the gym today, we need to head over there, fast!"

"Then why are we sitting around here for?" Ashton asked. She recalled Vulcan and made a mad dash for the door, only to slam right into it face-first. "This door… isn't automatic…" she groaned, sliding down the glass in pain.

Kris gave Dylan a concerned look. "Will she be okay?"

The boy sighed. "Ashton is pretty smart when it comes to battles, but she can be a bit reckless when it comes to just about everything else."

[***]

Heading back over to the Gateway Arch, the newly formed trio entered into the underground area, following the signs to where the gym was. Upon entering the area, they found that gym was a fairly simple battlefield, with a few bleachers where people sat.

"Looks pretty small," Ashton said.

"Well, it was made in an established building. They had to work with the limited space that wouldn't structurally compromise the building," Kris explained.

"That doesn't mean we're going to hold back, though!" came a confident voice.

Walking up to the group was a young woman with brown hair that came down just past her shoulders and blue eyes. She was wearing a teal raincoat over a pink shirt with a white pack strapped over her chest, black short-shorts, black and green shoes, and a camo-pattern bucket hat.

"Wait, no way…" Dylan said in recognition.

"You're serious right now!?" Ashton shouted in surprise.

"Kris didn't tell you that I was the Gym Leader here?" the woman asked. She laughed a bit. "At least it seems I won't need to give a full introduction. I'm the current Gym Leader here at the Gateway Gym and member of the famed Kanto Trio, Leaf!"

Author's Note

Introducing the final member of the main trio, Kris! Azakael and I both agree that she has one of the best player character designs, so we picked her to be the companion on Dylan and Ashton's adventure.

Leaf's outfit here is based on her Sygna Suit from Pokémon Masters. Now that we have our trio brought together, it's time for the first Gym challenge! I hope you look forward to what Leaf has in store in the next chapter!