Hello all Storm here with a new chapter! Here we'll be picking up where the last chapter left off with Naruto bumping into Flannery, where we'll see proper introductions between them, as well as Naruto and May doing what they can to help her regain her fire. So, without further ado.
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"Watch where you're going, idiot!" Flannery snapped as she got up while quickly wiping her tears ways, not wanting them to see she was crying.
"Y-yeah, I'm really sorry about that, I didn't mean to bump into you." Said Naruto as he got up, wanting to avoid a confrontation.
"But um…sorry for asking this too, but are you Flannery?" Naruto asked, going off of the description they got of Flannery while searching for her and wanted to make sure that they've found her.
"We're only curious, since we've been looking all around Lavaridge for you." Said May, only for the redhead to scowl in anger at hearing they were searching for her.
"Then you either didn't see the note or just chose to ignore, so let me make it perfectly clear. The gym is closed and I'm not accepting challengers, so beat it!" Retorted Flannery, assuming that's why they wanted to challenge her to a Gym Battle, and they either didn't see the note or disregarded it.
"No, no, no! That's not why we were looking for you, honest!" May said, shaking her head to avoid upsetting her even further.
"Yeah, we did see the note, but we weren't looking for you just for a Gym Battle. We…just heard about what happened with the last Gym Battle you had and we wanted to see if you were alright. And to see if there's anything we could do to help." Naruto added, with Flannery calming down slightly but still looked at them in suspicion.
"And why would either of you do that?" Flannery asked, wondering why they'd want to check on her when she didn't even know them, making her believe they just wanted to help so they could battle her.
"Do we need a reason to want to help you?" Replied Naruto, May nodded in agreement.
"After learning what happened, we don't need a reason, we just want to help in any way we can." Said May as maybe it wasn't their business, but they still wanted to try and help Flannery.
With their responses surprising Flannery, looking between them with wide eyes, trying to see any sign they were lying to her. Only for the Gym Leader to find nothing but genuine concern and a desire to help, making her slowly let down her guard.
*Later*
"So…how did you two even learn what happened?" Flannery asked while looking between Naruto and May.
After seeing that the two were genuine in their desire to help her, Flannery took them back to the Gym's residential area, where she and the other Gym Trainers lived. With her now sitting across from the whiskered blonde and brunette. Curious of how they learned what happened with the last Trainer that came here.
"Well…I'll admit originally we did come here so I could battle you, until we saw the note you left about the Gym being closed. But we also saw someone standing outside the Gym and were curious about why he was there, if it was closed. He said his name was Mr. Fuji, when we asked him, and then he told us what happened." Replied Naruto, with May nodding in agreement.
"He saw the battle you had with…that monster, Shinji. What he did to your Pokémon and everything he said. And…it's honestly just disgusting that there are Trainers like that." May said, shaking her head at remembering everything Mr. Fuji told them.
Flannery frowned at this, guessing that Mr. Fuji was another Trainer that had walked in on her battle against Shinji, if he saw and heard everything. But was thankful he at least didn't try approaching her for a battle or try showing up again during the times when she wasn't at the Pokémon Center.
"After we learned what happened, we started searching all over Lavaridge Town to try and find you before heading back to the Pokémon Center, then you know what happened after that." Said May, making the redhead lower her head.
"…Sorry, for snapping at you before." Flannery said, knowing they didn't deserve her anger.
"No, you don't need to apologize, you have every right to be angry after what happened. The only thing we want to know is if…there's anything we can do to help?" Naruto asked while looking at the redhead.
"Anything at all you'd need help with, we'd be willing to do it." Added May, wanting Flannery to know they wanted to do anything they could.
While touched at their offer and willingness to want to help, Flannery wasn't sure what exactly they could help her with, if there's anything they could do to help her.
"Thanks for the offer…but I don't think there's anything you or anyone could do to help." Muttered Flannery while pulling her legs up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them.
With what happened to her Pokémon and feeling terrified of what else could happen to them if they're ever able to battle again. She wasn't sure if she'd even be able to battle again, let alone operate as a Gym Leader.
Her desire and passion to prove herself, that her grandfather was right to choose her to succeed him as Gym Leader, to show even if she's young she had what it takes. All of that's been extinguished, leaving Flannery doubtful she ever had a chance to succeed.
'Maybe I should just contact the Pokémon League so they can find replacement Gym Leader, someone that actually deserves it.' Flannery thought sadly, believing that's the only thing she can do anymore.
"You're the one that had to keep fighting rather than just letting me win! You just had to defeat Skuntank and cause this! I already defeated your other worthless Pokémon and was going to beat your stupid turtle next! But you just had to believe you stood a chance! This is your fault!"
"Don't try and play dumb! I have half a mind to report you to the Pokémon League for such irresponsibility and negligence! Making your Pokémon battle to the point they were left in such critical conditions, it's not even just negligence, it's beyond cruel to do such a thing! And you're a supposed to be a Gym Leader and know when to end a battle, not keep pushing your team to the point they can barely move! Honestly, you should be ashamed of yourself!"
Flannery buried her face into her legs as Shinji's and Nurse Joy's words echoed in her head, how it was her fault her Pokémon were injured so badly. That she was irresponsible for them getting hurt and cruel for what happened to them. It only reinforced her belief that she failed and didn't deserve to be a Gym Leader, let alone be a Pokémon Trainer.
"Hey, don't let what that bastard said get to you. You aren't to blame for what happened, the only one to blame is Shinji." Naruto said, with May nodding in agreement.
"Naruto's right. Mr. Fuji told us what Shinji said, and everything he said was just to be cruel and hurt you. You had no obligation to just give up and let him walk all over you, you're a Gym Leader and gave it everything you had." Added May, only for Flannery to shake her head.
"But it wasn't enough! I should've just surrendered! I already saw what he did to my Slugma and Numel, then what he did to Torkoal, he was going to kill her!" Flannery said, having been terrified that one of her Pokémon was going to be killed and there was nothing she could've done to stop it.
"He was still going to attack, anyway. Even when you got in the way, he was going to blast you and Torkoal. The only thing that stopped him was the referee ending the battle and since he couldn't keep physically attacking, he decided to hurt you mentally and emotionally, more than he already did. You did nothing wrong, Flannery. Even if you forfeited before sending out Torkoal, he probably still would've insulted and beat you down while probably calling you a coward for giving up. No matter what, he was going to keep attacking, at least you chose to keep battling rather than give him any satisfaction." Naruto said, believing Flannery was strong to keep battling to the end, only being willing to surrender after seeing her Pokémon's life was really in danger.
"And from what we heard, your Pokémon seem just as strong as you, refusing to surrender or be beaten by that monster. That shows how much you care about them and they care about you, to keep pushing themselves against anyone that'd hurt you." May said with the redhead wiping her eyes, feeling some slight comfort at their words.
She did love her Pokémon, having done everything she could to make sure they were taken care of and training them to be the best they could be, and she knew they loved her too. Which only made what happened to them hurt so much more.
"Still…I should've figured out what he was like the moment I first saw him battle, the kind of person he was. I'd rather be seen as a coward for surrendering rather than have my Pokémon brutalized. But I didn't, I just kept battling and I failed, I failed my team, my grandfather, the Gym Trainers that depend on me to be the strongest at the Gym. I'm just a failure as a Gym Leader!" Flannery said, still seeing herself as a failure that couldn't be a Gym Leader anymore.
"No, you're not. You're still new to being a Gym Leader, that doesn't make you a failure, it just means you still have a lot to learn. Having to deal with one terrible Trainer doesn't make you a failure, you can still learn from the experience and grow from it, to be better and stronger." Stated May, with the Uzumaki nodding in agreement.
"Yeah, failing doesn't mean you have to give up, it means you just need to pick yourself back up and try again. Everyone fails or messes up at least once, I know I have before." Naruto said, getting Flannery to look up at them.
"I doubt you had to deal with some psycho Trainer before." Flannery muttered but still looked at him curiously.
"Maybe not, but there have been times where I've messed up and believed I could've done better, that there's something I could have done so I didn't fail. I was born and raised in Fortree City, where all the houses and buildings are built up in the tall trees." Said Naruto, with the redhead nodding at this.
"I know about Fortree City, that's where Winona's Gym is." Said Flannery, knowing about all the cities and towns in Hoenn with Gyms.
"Yeah, it is. It's also where everyone is really physically fit and good at parkour since it's necessary to be able to get around quickly, so everyone learns to do it at a young age. And while it can easy for some growing up in Fortree, it's still really difficult even for those born there. It definitely wasn't easy for me, when I first started out." Naruto said, remembering when he first started his parkour training.
*Flashback*
"Alright Naruto, are you ready to begin?" Mikoto asked while smiling down at her godson, with Naruto smiling eagerly in response.
"Definitely! Just watch and see what I can do, I'll be moving through the trees in no time!" Said Naruto, having been eager to finally start his training to learn parkour.
Having seen everyone else doing it all the time in Fortree, climbing and moving through the trees like it was the most natural thing in the world. Even when they were on the ground they didn't let anything stop them, simply climbing or jumping over any obstacles.
Though kids like him started out with obstacle courses set up around Fortree City, having them start with something small rather than going straight to climbing trees. Allowing them to grow accustomed to parkour before moving onto the real thing.
With Naruto having been eager to get started on, pushing himself to do his best in the obstacle courses until he was deemed ready to start on the real challenges.
"Okay. Just remember the most important part to…" Mikoto said, only to see Naruto already took off running towards a tree.
"Yeah, yeah, I know! Make sure you have enough speed, keep moving no matter what and always be aware of your surroundings! I got this!" Said Naruto, already knowing what he needed to do.
It only took a moment for him to reach the tree and immediately put his foot on it, using his momentum to run up the tree. Though once he felt himself losing momentum in his climb, Naruto used the last of it to launch himself up to a branch, managing to grab it and pull himself up onto it.
"See?! Nothing to worry about Aunt Mikoto!" Naruto said, grinning at Mikoto as he began climbing up higher into the tree.
"I can see you're good at climbing a tree! But can you start jumping between them?!" Mikoto asked with a raised brow while crossing her arms.
"Of course I can!" Said Naruto, looking for the nearest branch he could jump to, before bending his legs and quickly jumped to it.
Landing on the branch, Naruto didn't stop there as he jumped to another one, knowing he couldn't stop now, with his grin growing each time he moved to another.
"This is way easier than I thought it'd be!" Naruto said, running along a branch and jumping around to the other side of the tree to a branch on the opposite side.
'He does seem to be a natural.' Mikoto thought, smiling at the sight of her godson's movements upon seeing how he moved without hesitation, never stopping as he went from tree to tree, jumping across branches.
Before the ravenette to grow worried when she saw Naruto jump to another branch, only for him to grab it and hang from it. The whiskered blonde then swung himself back and forth until he launched himself into the air towards the branch he proceeded to swing from.
"Uh, Naruto! Maybe you should stick to jumping and running?! Swinging like that can be pretty dangerous!" Said Mikoto, knowing that swinging from branches can a lot more risky if you miss grabbing one or there's no branch to grab after swinging from another.
"Relax Aunt Mikoto! If I can run and jump through trees, then swinging should be even easier!" Said Naruto, grinning confidently as he swung from another branch, propelling himself even higher and even flipped through the air.
"That doesn't mean you should take any unnecessary risks! Just stick to the basics and-" Mikoto said, only for her eyes to widen when Naruto swung from another branch.
"Everything is fine, you don't have to wor-" Said Naruto, glancing at his godmother while reaching out to grab another branch.
Only for his eyes to widen as well when he felt nothing but air, making the Uzumaki look before he paled at seeing there wasn't anything for him to grab, and now he's heading straight for a tree!
Mikoto winced as Naruto let out a short scream before he crashed into a tree, rushing over to him as he fell to the ground with a groan. With the ravenette sighing as she saw him shakily getting up, stumbling slightly as he stood up.
"So…what have we learned?" Mikoto asked while crossing her arms as Naruto rubbed his head.
"To make sure to look before jumping or swinging from a branch. I-I'll get it next time, j-ju-just watch a-and see!" Said Naruto before he took off running to another tree, refusing to give up now.
"Naruto, you need to-" Said Mikoto, sighing again when Naruto tried running up a tree but didn't build up enough speed and fell back to the ground.
"Stubborn, just like Kushina." Mikoto muttered, shaking her head as she went over to her godson to drag him back home to rest.
*End Flashback*
"Y-you…you actually crashed into a tree?" Flannery asked, smiling slightly as she imagined Naruto swinging through the trees only to end up crashing into one.
"Yeah, and I…might've also ended up sneaking out that night too to keep trying. But I…couldn't really see where I was going…and ended up running up a tree straight into a low hanging branch." Admitted Naruto, blushing slightly in embarrassment while May and Flannery soon began laughing.
"W-wo-wow! When you said you messed up during your own training…I didn't think it'd be like that!" May said, feeling better at her own mistake after learning about Naruto's own.
"Th-th-that's honestly pretty funny!" Said Flannery as she laughed.
"I'm so glad you find it amusing." Naruto said, rolling his eyes, though was glad to see Flannery feeling better compared to her earlier mood.
"Come on, there's gotta be something else?!" Flannery asked, wanting to hear more, with May sharing the sentiment.
"Well…there was this one time I tried going out…to try catching my own Pokémon. But…I ended up running into some Smeargle." Said Naruto, making the brunette and redhead smile in anticipation.
"What happened?" Questioned May, the whiskered blonde sighed at their expression.
"I messed up some paintings they were doing, so…they attacked and tied me up before covering me in paint. Even dragging me back to Fortree before leaving me tied to a tree." Naruto said, causing May's and Flannery's eyes to widen before they both began laughing.
"O-o-o-oh man th-that's…that's hilarious!" Said Flannery, not believing that actually happened.
"I didn't think Pokémon like Smeargle could do something like that!" May said, covering her mouth to try and suppress her laughter only to fail.
"Well they do if someone messes with their paintings!" Naruto said, having learned that Smeargle's really don't appreciate their artwork being ruined.
"Cl-clearly!" Flannery said as she calmed down her laughter before she looked at May.
"What about you then, May? We know how I've messed up before, what about you?" Flannery asked, wanting to know how May has messed up before.
"M-me? O-oh w-well…Naruto knows this but my family used to live in Olivine City in the Johto Region before moving here to Hoenn. And before we moved, my dad had…tried to help me catch a Pokémon, which…didn't really end well." May said, blushing in embarrassment at remembering when her father tried helping her catch a Pokémon.
*Flashback*
"Dad, why do we have to do this?" May asked, not liking how her father took her out to Route 38 just to catch Pokémon, something she wanted nothing to do with.
The brunette shivered at remembering when she had been surrounded by a horde of Tentacool while she was swimming. Before her mother then threw a Pokéball at her when she mistook May for one, which only made her dislike Pokémon as well as fear them after the experience.
Though she's had to keep it to herself, since May knew how much her parents and brother loved Pokémon. And if what she's heard is right, then soon her father may be becoming a Gym Leader soon in the Hoenn Region, which will also mean they'd moving there.
"It's so you can be prepared, May. You're almost to the age where you'll be getting your very own Starter Pokémon and going off on your Journey. I want to make sure you'll be ready and know to battle and catch Wild Pokémon." Replied Norman, smiling at his daughter, wanting to help make sure she knew what to expect when she sets out on her Journey.
"How am I supposed to catch a Pokémon, if I don't have any to use?" May asked, only for Norman to pull out a Pokéball and hold it out to her.
"I'll let you borrow one of mine. And don't worry, it's a Rattata so no worries of it being too strong and disobeying you." Norman said, making May mentally sigh as she grabbed the Pokéball.
'Let's just get this over with.' May thought, knowing the sooner they get this done the sooner she could go home.
"May! Look there, a Meowth!" Said Norman, pulling May from her thoughts, with the brunette looking to see the Scratch Cat Pokémon walk out of a bush.
"That'll be good one to try catching. Go on and throw Rattata out to begin the battle." Norman said, ushering May forward to face the Meowth.
"Okay. Uh…go Rattata!" May said, throwing the Pokéball with Rattata appearing before Meowth.
"Meow." Meowth stopped and looked at Rattata when it appeared before crouching down when it saw May, seeing the human wanted to battle.
"Now then…Rattata…use…uh…use…" Said May trying to think of what to do next, only to realize she didn't know any of Rattata's moves.
'Crapbaskets!' May thought, not knowing what she's supposed to do, but knew she needed to do something or she'll just look like an idiot.
"Rat?" Rattata looked back at May, waiting for a command only to see her confused and panicked expression.
"Oh! I know what to do, I just need to throw a…Pokéball! And then I catch it!" May said, pulling out one of the Pokéballs her father gave her.
"Wait May, you first need to-" Norman said, seeing she was going to try and catching Meowth before weakening it.
"Go…Pokéball!" Said May, throwing the Pokéball at Meowth, only for it to end up going much higher into the air than expected.
Causing the father and daughter along with the two Pokémon to watch it go up into the air and then down towards the Meowth. With the Meowth raising one of its paws at the Pokéball and immediately smacked it away once it was close enough.
May's eyes widened as she saw the Pokéball come flying straight at her, before falling to the ground unconscious when it slammed into her face.
*End Flashback*
May blushed in embarrassment as Naruto and Flannery both laughed at what happened during her first attempt to catch a Pokémon.
"It was my first time! I didn't know everything I was supposed to do!" May said in her defense.
"Look at it this way, you at least got better at throwing Pokéballs, you did hit that Azurill before!" Naruto said, which only made the brunette's blush intensify at the reminder of her other failed attempt at catching a Pokémon.
"Even I wasn't that bad when I went to catch my first Pokémon!" Laughed Flannery, only for her laughter to begin fading as she remembered Torkoal had been the first Pokémon she caught, who then helped her catch Slugma, while Numel had been…a gift from her father, one he hadn't even given to her in person and simply sent Numel to her.
Thinking about how she got her Pokémon only reminded the redhead of their current condition, not helped that it also caused her mind to wander to her absentee parent. Making Flannery pull her legs back up to her chest and bury her face in them, much to Naruto's and May's concern.
"I do remember something else. It actually happened not too long ago after we left Mauville City and headed up Route 111. You know what happened, May." Naruto said, smirking at the brunette, making Flannery look up at them.
"Yes…I do…" Said May, looking at the whiskered blonde in annoyance, knowing exactly what he's talking about.
*Flashback*
"You've got to be kidding me?!" May said in disbelief as she and Naruto looked over the desert portion of Route 111.
"I…wasn't expecting there to be a desert in the middle of Hoenn, like this." Stated Naruto, just as surprised at the forest they were in turning into a large desert, seeing nothing but sand for miles.
"Just great! So much for hoping to enjoy a walk through a forest. Now we have to walk through who knows how much sand to reach Lavaridge." Said May, sighing in resignation as she went to sit down, wanting to at least rest a little before needing to walk through a desert.
"Yeah. But at least it's past noon, so it won't be as hot as it'd normally be if we-" Naruto said, only to stop when he heard May screaming.
Looking at the brunette in worry if she's alright, Naruto saw May jump into the before landing on face first into the ground. Before the Uzumaki covered his mouth when he saw that when she tried sitting down, she ended up sitting on a Cacnea…which now currently stuck in her butt.
"What the hell kind of rock was that?!" May demanded, not expecting to feel a sharp pain when she sat down, only to flinch when Cacnea began flailing around.
"Nea! Cacnea-Cac-Cacnea!" Cacnea moved trying to free itself from the human's backside, along with being annoyed at being sat on.
"Y-yo-you…actually…sat on a…Cacnea, May…ahahahahahahahaha!" Naruto said, only to begin laughing when he couldn't hold it in anymore, much to May's annoyance.
"It's not funny! Get it off of me!" Said May, flinching again at Cacnea's repeated movements.
"Okay, okay! Just…calm down. And look, you were able to find at least one…point in the end." Said Naruto in amusement, which only annoyed the brunette even more.
"Naruto, I swear I'm going to-" May said, only to yelp when Naruto grabbed Cacnea and pulled it out.
"There you go little guy. You're fine now, May." Said Naruto, setting Cacnea down while May got up rubbing her butt.
"Ugh! First we have to walk through a desert, but now there are also sentient cacti here too?! They're bad enough with those spikes!" Said May in annoyance, missing how Cacnea narrowed its eyes at them.
"Uh, May, I don't think you should…" Naruto said, looking at Cacnea warily upon seeing the look in its eyes.
"Cacnea!" Cacnea suddenly leapt at them with the spikes on its arm glowing white before it fired a barrage of needles at Naruto and May
The sight making the Trainers panic before they took off running into the desert with Cacnea chasing after them, angrily firing more needles.
*End Flashback*
"I'm sure you learned your lesson not to insult Pokémon, huh May. Consider it another point you were able to get." Naruto said, smirking teasingly at the brunette, much to her annoyance.
"We'll see who's laughing when you end up getting a point in the end!" Retorted May, only to look at Flannery as she laughed lightly.
"Okay, that's pretty funny. Though you definitely need to be careful where you sit, you never know if it'll be an upset Pokémon." Said Flannery, smiling at the image of a Cacnea chasing the whiskered blonde and brunette, before she looked at the two.
"Hey uh…thanks…I…you two did actually help me. I…feel a little better, so…thank you." Flannery said, thankful with what they shared with her.
"We're glad we could help Flannery, letting you see that everyone fails from time-to-time, but that doesn't mean we should let failing stop us." Replied Naruto, smiling at the redhead, with May smiling as well.
"Naruto's right. And, if anything, I think you're really strong Flannery. Becoming a Gym Leader when you're so young, the pressure that'd come with it, but you didn't let that stop you and still kept doing your best." Said May, surprising Flannery at her words.
"You…do?" Questioned Flannery, with May nodding in response.
"I do. I…actually understand the kind pressure and expectations being placed on you. My dad…he's actually the new Petalburg City Gym Leader, and with me being his daughter…it makes it so people expect me to just be as a great of a battler as he is. That I have to be a great Trainer or else I'm not living up to his reputation." May revealed, surprising Naruto and Flannery that her father is a Gym Leader.
"Your dad…so Norman is a Gym Leader?" Naruto asked, with May biting her lip and nodding.
"Yeah, he is. I'm sorry I didn't say anything, but I didn't want you to look at me differently, knowing my dad's a Gym Leader, or have any preconceived notions about the kind of Trainer I am." Said May, only for the Uzumaki to shake his head.
"Don't worry about it, May, I'm not upset or anything. And I don't really care if your dad's a Gym Leader, you aren't him so you shouldn't have to worry about whether or not you measure up. Though with everything I've seen, I think you're a pretty great Trainer regardless of who your dad is." Said Naruto, smiling at the brunette, much to her surprise before she returned the smile.
"And the same goes for you, Flannery. It shouldn't matter how skilled your grandfather is, or if you're as strong as he is, what matters is the strength you have. And May's right, you're already really strong to become a Gym Leader so soon. Even with the setbacks you've had you still kept trying to prove yourself. And, as far I'm concerned, you've done more than enough to prove you deserve to be a Gym Leader." Naruto added, while May nodded in agreement, making Flannery looked at them both in disbelief.
"We…also learned about what happened with your parents, how you were raised by your grandfather. Something I can understand, my parents died when I was young, leaving me to be cared for by my godmother. I never really knew them, only really hearing about them through stories. How you feel the need to prove yourself even more, to yourself and to those that took us in, that they didn't make a mistake and that we were strong enough." Naruto said, with the redhead frowning and wiping her eyes.
Feeling touched that they'd tell her all that, and that they really did understand what she's going through. The pressure and expectations of being related to a Gym Leader, of needing to prove you have what it takes to live up to their reputation. And Naruto never knowing his parents just like her, being raised by someone else and only hearing about them. Which only fueled their desire to be strong, to show they could stand on their own.
It made the redhead feel much better to know there are others who understand her, that they want to help her even when they have no reason to.
"You two…that um…that…really means a lot. Th-thank…thank you." Flannery said, feeling her mood being much better than it was before.
Unfortunately, before any of them could say anything else, they soon heard shouting coming from outside. Making them look in the direction it was coming from, before getting up and heading outside to see what was happening. With them finding some of the Gym Trainers in front of the gate, being able to see they were blocking someone from getting in
"For the last time, the Gym is closed! Flannery isn't accepting any Challngers!" Said one of the Gym Trainers.
"I don't care! I came here to fight the Gym and I'm going to, either get out of my way assholes or I'll make you regret getting in my way!" The person shouted, with Naruto frowning when he recognized the voice.
'Don't tell me…' Naruto thought, having a guess who it was but hoped he was wrong.
"Making threats and insulting us isn't going to change the fact the Gym is closed. So you can either leave now and come back another time when the Gym is reopened or we'll have Officer Jenny come down to make you leave." Another Gym Trainer retorted.
"Then let's see what you'll do when my Pokémon start tearing you apart!" Said the person, making the Gym Trainers tense when they actually pulled out a Pokéball.
"Guys! It's fine, let them through." Flannery called out, motioning the Trainers to let the person through, not wanting to risk anyone getting hurt from some other crazed Trainer.
Looking at Flannery, the Gym Trainers frowned before doing as she said, letting the person through with them walking in with a smug smirk. While Naruto narrowed his eyes when he saw who it was, seeing his suspicions were right.
The person was a thirteen-year-old boy with fait skin, short light brown hair and stone-grey eyes. With him wearing a grey beanie cap, a light yellow sweatshirt with an orange collar, grey pants and black shoes.
"Hibachi." Naruto said, making May and Flannery look at him.
"You know him, Naruto?" May asked with a frown, already developing a dislike of this Hibachi with what she just heard him say.
"I wish I didn't. He used to live in Fortree City and to keep things simple, he's about as much of a sociopath as Shinji is. He always used to bully me when we were younger, before he nearly got me killed because of a prank I pulled on him." Revealed Naruto, much to the girls shock and disgust.
"He did what?!" Flannery said, now really not liking Hibachi if he's just like Shinji.
"Yeah, I dressed up like a Duskull and scared him as a prank. Then he tricked me into going into the territory of a Shiftry that hates humans, due to the damage to the surrounding forest a group of Pokémon Poachers caused when they started a fire. I only survived thanks to Mikoto arriving with her Arcanine and driving the Shiftry away." Naruto replied, with May and Flannery both scowling at hearing what Hibachi did.
"I can't believe…over a prank?!" May said, not believing someone could be that petty to try and kill someone over a prank.
"Like I said, Hibachi's a sociopath. He thinks anyone that even so much as looks at him the wrong way deserves to die. After what he tried doing to me, he and his family ran away from Fortree and weren't seen again, but I guess they settled somewhere that his attempt on someone's life wasn't known." Said Naruto, before Hibachi approached them only to scowl and glare murderously at the whiskered blonde.
"You! What the hell are you doing here, you worthless trash?!" Hibachi demanded in anger at seeing Naruto, who in his mind is the reason his family had to leave Fortree, all because he wouldn't just roll over and die.
"I was here to battle the Gym Leader but, unlike you, I'm able to respect the fact that the Gym is closed and Flannery wasn't taking any Challengers. I'm only here now so I could help her." Said Naruto, only for Hibachi to scoff.
"I don't care if this Gym is closed, it won't take me long to crush whatever weakling Gym Leader is in this shitty town. And once I'm done with them, I'll be happy to tear apart you and whatever pathetic Pokémon you have!" Said Hibachi with a demented grin, eager for the chance to finish what he started years ago.
"Well I'm the Gym Leader and I'm not battling anyone, not now or any time soon! I'm especially not interested in battling those that insult the Trainers here, my home or my friends!" Flannery said while glaring at Hibachi, with him sneering at her.
"You're the Gym Leader?! Figures that this shitty town would have a shitty Gym Leader too if you hang around that waste of space. Why don't you just save yourself any more humiliation and just give me my Badge, right now." Hibachi said, making the redhead growl and step forward to simply throw him out, only for Naruto to stop her.
"How about instead you battle me? You think you're so confident you could beat Flannery, then prove it. You against me in a three-on-three match, if you win then you can battle Flannery but if I win you get lost." Said Naruto, with Flannery frowning at him while Hibachi smirked eagerly.
"Fine! It'll be even more fun showing the weakling what'll happen to her by crushing you first!" Said Hibachi before going over to one side of the battlefield.
"Naruto! What're you doing?! You know I'm currently not in a state where I can battle!" Flannery whispered to the Uzumaki, since none of her Pokémon were in any shape to even think of battling and she didn't want to risk using any of the Gym Pokémon only for them to get hurt too.
"And you won't need to. I'm sorry for wagering you battling, but I promise you won't need to Flannery. Just trust me on this." Naruto said, smiling reassuringly at the redhead with her frowning at him for a few moments before eventually nodding.
"Don't worry, Naruto wouldn't have made that wager if he wasn't certain he would win. You can just enjoy the battle, and seeing someone like Shinji being taken down." Said May as she put a hand on Flannery's shoulder, as the Gym Leader still frowned but nodded.
"Yeah…yeah, he does seem confident." Said Flannery, hoping May was right and Naruto would win this, along with part of her really wanting to see Hibachi be completely crushed while imagining it was Shinji.
Naruto and Hibachi stood across from each other on the battlefield with May, Flannery and the Gym Trainers standing off to the side to watch.
"Time to destroy another weakling Loudred!" Hibachi said while throwing out his first Pokémon, Loudred.
"Dred!" Loudred let out a loud cry, getting a few flinches from the volume.
"Loudred, huh." Said Naruto, remembering Zaku's own Loudred in Mirage Tower, taking out his Pokédex and scanning it.
"Loudred, the Big Voice Pokémon and evolved form of Whismur. Loudred has a voice powerful enough to blast a wooden house into splinters. Its round ears act as speakers."
"Okay. Trapinch you're up!" Naruto said, grabbing Trapinch's Pokéball and throwing it, letting the Ant Pit Pokémon out.
"Trapinch!" Trapinch, looked to see they were in a battle and got ready to fight.
"Crush that bug with Stomp, Loudred!" Hibachi ordered, with Loudred jumping high up into the air.
"Lou-dred!" Loudred then dived down towards Trapinch with one of its feet to stomp down on him.
"Dodge it using Dig, Trapinch!" Said Naruto, making Trapinch quickly dig his way underground, avoiding Loudred's stomp as the Big Voice Pokémon's foot hit the ground.
"Rah! Loudred force that stupid bug out with Stomping Tantrum!" Demanded Hibachi with a scowl at his first attack missing.
"Dred! Dred-Dred-Dred-Dred-Loudred!" Loudred began stomping on the ground repeatedly in frustration, before jumping up into the air.
"Trapinch, use Sand Tomb!" Naruto said, just as Loudred began diving back down.
"Pinch!" Trapinch let out a cry from underground before Loudred landed, shaking the ground upon impact, only for it to be surrounded by a sand tornado that began battering it.
"Loudred, get out of there now!" Hibachi said only to scowl when the tornado faded revealing Loudred's legs were trapped, leaving it unable to move.
"Now use Bite, Trapinch!" Said Naruto, before Trapinch burst out from the ground in front of Loudred, lunging at the Big Voice Pokémon.
"Tra-pinch!" Trapinch opened his mouth wide and bit down on Loudred's head, making it cry out as it tried shaking the Ground-type Pokémon off.
"Get that stupid bug off, Loudred! Use Uproar now!" Said Hibachi, causing Loudred to begin thrashing around to break free.
"Lo-Lou-Loudred!" Loudred soon broke its legs free and began stomping around while letting out a loud yell of blue soundwaves, trying to throw Trapinch off only for the Ant Pit Pokémon to keep biting down.
"Trapinch, let go…now and use Laser Focus! Then use Mud-Slap!" Naruto said, waiting for the right moment before having Trapinch let go of Loudred.
With Trapinch releasing Loudred and being launched up into the air from the momentum, before his eyes glowed fiery orange in focus as Trapinch then inhaled deeply.
"Pinch! Tra-pinch-pinch-pinch-pinch-pinch-pinch-Trapinch!" Trapinch then fired a barrage of mudballs at Loudred, with the Normal-type Pokémon crying out as each of the mudballs crashed into it as each hit pushed it back.
"AAH! Loudred use Icy Wind on that damn bug now!" Hibachi said angry at the repeated attacks against his Pokémon.
"Lo-Loudred!" Loudred, managed to regain its footing before releasing a blast of frozen wind with blue sparkles at Trapinch, who had no time dodge while in the air and cried out as the frozen wind hit him.
"Trapinch!" Naruto said in worry at seeing his Pokémon be covered in ice while falling to the ground.
"HAHAHAHA! That's right loser, time for your worthless bug to be crushed! Loudred, use Bite now!" Said Hibachi eagerly, with Loudred lunging forward at Trapinch.
"Try and break the ice and use Mud-Slap again Trapinch!" Said Naruto as Trapinch began shaking as he tried breaking the ice covering his body, only to let out a cry when Loudred was on him and bit down hard.
"Pinch!" Trapinch cried out as Loudred's Bite broke through the ice and onto his body.
"Harder Loudred, bite it harder!" Hibachi said, wanting to see the Uzumaki's Pokémon completely broken, with Trapinch letting out another cry as Loudred bit down harder on him.
"Trapinch! Use Mud-Slap and aim at Loudred's feet!" Said Naruto in concern, before getting an idea when he saw how Trapinch was positioned.
"Tr-Tr-Tra-Trapinch!" Trapinch managed to focus enough before opening his mouth, releasing a jet of mud straight at the ground and Loudred's feet.
"AHAHAHAHAHA! You must be even dumber than you were before to do something that stupi-WHAT?!" Hibachi said only to shout in anger when he saw Loudred lose its footing from the mud under its feet before slipping and falling to ground, releasing Trapinch as it did so.
"Now, use Sand Tomb, Trapinch!" Naruto said with Trapinch's eyes glowing blue as he created a sand tornado around Loudred.
"Get up! Get up right now, Loudred!" Demanded Hibachi only to see Loudred completely trapped by the sand, unable to move or get up.
"Okay Trapinch, use Laser Focus and finish it up with Mud-Slap!" Said Naruto, as Trapinch's eyes glowed a fiery orange in focus.
"Trap-pinch!" Trapinch then fired multiple mudballs that slammed right into Loudred, making the Normal-type Pokémon cry out from each hit.
Before Trapinch inhaled deeply and unleashed a powerful blast of mud at Loudred, getting a loud cry from Loudred as the mud crashed into it. Once the Ant Pit Pokémon ended the attack, it showed Loudred lying motionlessly on the ground with swirls in its eyes.
"L-Lo-Lou…Loudred…"
"AAAAHHH! Stupid weakling, you can't even handle one worthless ant! Return!" Hibachi said, scowling in rage as he returned Loudred, with everyone frowning at his attitude to his own Pokémon.
"He is just like Shinji." Muttered Flannery with a scowl, remembering how Shinji would do the same thing to his Pokémon when she beat his Skuntank, along with how he didn't care whenever she attacked it and Drapion.
"Then it'll be even better when Naruto beats him." Said May, with the redhead nodding in agreement while feeling more confident in Naruto's victory after beating Loudred.
"Good job Trapinch, you were great." Said Naruto, smiling at the Ground-type Pokémon.
"Pinch-Trapinch!" Trapinch stomped his feet at his victory.
"You won't get so lucky this time, loser! Go Shedinja!" Hibachi said while smirking wickedly as he sent out his next Pokémon, confident that Naruto won't be able to beat this one.
Shedinja is a Pokémon resembling a cicada's shed exoskeleton. Most of its body is light brown, but the abdomen is gray. It has four protrusions on its underside instead of legs; the top pair is brown, while the lower is gray. There are round protrusions on the side of its head with narrow slits for eyes. Two lines encircle its abdomen and a white crescent-shaped halo floats above its head. On its back is a pair of tattered wings divided into three wingtips. A hole between its wings reveals that its body is completely hollow and dark, as it possesses no internal organs.
"Shedinja." Shedinja floated in front of Hibachi, with Naruto frowning at the sight of the Pokémon.
"Shedinja?" Naruto said, pulling out his Pokédex and scanning it.
"Shedinja, the Shed Pokémon. Shedinja possesses a hard, powerful body, giving it strong defenses."
"Trapinch return! It's your turn Duskull!" Naruto said, returning Trapinch to his Pokéball before sending Duskull out next.
"Duskull." Duskull appeared in front of Naruto, eager for the chance to have his first battle while seeing he'd be fighting Shedinja.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Send out whatever worthless Pokémon you want, nothing you have will be able to beat Shedinja! Use Shadow Ball now!" Said Hibachi, eager to begin crushing each of Naruto's Pokémon and then him.
"Shed!" Shedinja charged up a black ball in front of it, before firing it right at Duskull.
"Dodge it and use your own Shadow Ball, Duskull!" Naruto said, with Duskull quickly flying out of the way of Shedinja's attack.
"Dus-skull!" Duskull held his hands out, creating a black ball in between them and launched it at Shedinja.
Hibachi's smirk only grew at the sight, not saying anything to have Shedinja dodge or counter the attack, wanting to see the look on the whiskered blondes face when it does nothing.
But the moment the Shadow Ball impacted Shedinja, Hibachi's smirk vanished as he was shocked and angered when Shedinja was thrown back before crashing to the ground.
"Sh-Shedinja." Shedinja hit the ground with swirls in its eyes, much to Hibachi's rage.
"What?! That's impossible, Shedinja is supposed to be immune to all damage!" Hibachi shouted, with Naruto looking at him dryly.
"You…didn't really learn a lot about Shedinja, did you. Wonder Guard protects it from all damage, except super effective attacks. And since Shedinja is a Bug/Ghost-type, it's weak to other Ghost-type attacks." Said Naruto, not sure if he should even be surprised Hibachi didn't know about that.
"I'm not the most knowledgeable about Pokémon and even I knew that." May said dryly at the rather underwhelming match.
"I'm pretty sure most Trainers know that." Stated Flannery, just as underwhelmed at Hibachi's lack of knowledge.
"RAH! Shut up! Stupid, worthless bug, what good are if you can still be hit?!" Hibachi yelled before returning Shedinja to its Pokéball.
"You won't be laughing with this Pokémon! Crush the weaklings, Seviper!" Said Hibachi, sending out his last Pokémon.
Seviper is a serpentine Pokémon. It is mostly covered in black scales, but it has several markings on its body. It has yellow hexagon markings that run from its head to its tail, small yellow bumps where it touches the ground, and various purple scar-like marks. It has elongated red fangs that protrude from its upper jaw and fierce red eyes. Its tail is partially red and has a blade-like shape.
"Seviper." Seviper hissed as it focused on Duskull and the Uzumaki.
"And now a Seviper." Naruto said scanning the Pokémon.
"Seviper, the Fang Snake Pokémon. Seviper is known for its angry disposition, immobilizing its opponents by wrapping its body around them."
"Alright, Duskull return. Let's finish this up, Zoroark!" Said Naruto, returning Duskull and sending Zoroark out next.
"Ark!" Zoroark let out a cry as he appeared before staring down Hibachi and Seviper, causing both to unconsciously shiver at the Baneful Fox Pokémon's appearance.
"Wh-whatever! Send out whatever Pokémon you want, Seviper will turn them all into food! Use Poison Fang now, Seviper!" Hibachi demanded, with Seviper lunging towards Zoroark.
"Se-viper!" Seviper opened its mouth as its fangs glowed a sickly purple to bite down on Zoroark.
"Dodge it, Zoroark, and use Snarl!" Naruto said as Zoroark jumped out of the way of Seviper's lunge.
"Zoro!" Zoroark then roared loudly before unleashing a beam of multiple black and purple rings that crashed into the Fang Snake Pokémon, knocking it into the ground.
"Viper!" Seviper released a cry from the attack as it impacted the ground.
"Don't you dare go down, Seviper! Crush that dumb fox with Sludge Bomb!" Demanded Hibachi, refusing to have his last Pokémon be beaten.
"Se-Se-Seviper!" Seviper quickly got up and began spitting out globs of brown sludge at Zoroark.
"Use Swift to stop those globs, Zoroark!" Said Naruto, with Zoroark opening his mouth and firing a barrage of yellow stars that collided against the sludge globs and destroyed them.
"Now attack with Take Down, Seviper!" Hibachi ordered, causing Seviper to immediately lunge at Zoroark, making Naruto smirk at the sight.
"Sevi-per!" Seviper slammed right into Zoroark, only to be shocked when rather than impacting the Baneful Fox Pokémon it instead passed right through him.
"What?!" Hibachi shouted, scowling at what happened.
"Use Shadow Sneak now Zoroark!" Naruto said, seeing their chance to strike.
"Zoroark!" Zoroark's head snapped towards Seviper as his shadow extended out towards the Poison-type Pokémon before it rose up and struck Seviper, sending it skidding across the ground.
"What did you do?! How'd you avoid my attack?!" Demanded Hibachi as he glared at Naruto.
"Zoroark's a Ghost-type, so that means Normal-type attacks don't work on him. But you know what does work, this! Use Extrasensory!" Said Naruto, with Zoroark's eyes glowing gold.
"Zor-oark!" Zoroark then opened his mouth and unleash a rainbow-colored beam that smashed into Seviper, making it cry out in pain from the attack.
"Fine! Seviper use Crunch on that damn fox!" Hibachi said, knowing that attack will be able to hit.
"S-Se-S-Sevi-Seviper!" Seviper struggled to get up after being hit by the Extrasensory, but forced itself to do so and lunged at Zoroark with its fangs glowing white.
"Wait for it, Zoroark…now! Use Bitter Malice to finish it!" Said Naruto once Seviper was close enough, with Zoroark's eyes glowing a dark blue while black, purple, and dark blue energy began emitting off his body.
"Zoro…" Zoroark flexed his claws at Seviper grew closer, waiting until the last moment when the Fang Snake Pokémon had no chance to escape.
"…ARK!" Zoroark spun around Seviper avoiding its fangs, before bringing his claws down right on top of Seviper, making the Poison-type Pokémon release a silent cry of pain as it crashed into the ground while the energy exploded off of Zoroark's body.
When the energy faded, it revealed Seviper lying on the ground with swirls in its eyes, occasionally twitching, much to Hibachi's rage.
"NO! No, no, no, no, no, NO! Not fair, not fair, not fair, not fair, NOT FAIR! You cheated! You kept switching your Pokémon for fresh ones! So I win by default because you cheated!" Hibachi yelled while stomping his feet, refusing to accept he lost.
"No you don't. I won fair and square, which means you need to leave, now." Said Naruto before he went over to May and Flannery, with the girls smiling at him.
"That was a great battle, Naruto! Way to go!" May said, impressed at the battle.
"Yeah, it was really great. You were amazing, you and your Pokémon." Said Flannery, seeing she really didn't have anything to worry about.
"Thanks. I never doubted my team for second, though I'm sure Duskull is disappointed he didn't get to really battle, but hopefully there'll be more times he can really show what he can do. And you really showed how much stronger you're getting Zoroark." Naruto replied before smiling at his Starter and patting him on the head.
"Zoro." Zoroark merely nodded while feeling pleased at being able to release some of the anger he's felt after hearing Shinji's name and the knowledge he had been here.
Hibachi scowled as he returned Seviper, swearing he's going to throw these worthless Pokémon into Mt. Chimney if they're so weak they can't even handle that trash's own team. Before he glared at Naruto, his rage only growing at seeing how happy he is at winning. Wanting nothing more than to make him suffer for humiliating him in such a way. Only for Hibachi to smirk cruelly as he remembered the other Pokémon he had, one he knew would make all of them suffer.
"Hey trash! The battle isn't over, I still have one other Pokémon!" Hibachi said while taking out a Pokéball, making Naruto, May and Flannery frown.
"The battle is over! You agreed to a three-on-three match and Naruto defeated all of your Pokémon! And now you have to leave!" Said Flannery, wanting him to get out of her Gym already, only for Hibachi to glare at her in madness.
"Shut up! The battle isn't over until I say so! And I say it's over when that waste of space and his entire team are begging for mercy! Go Shiftry!" Hibachi said, throwing the Pokéball, while Naruto's eyes widened as the Shiftry appeared.
Shiftry is a bipedal, portly Pokémon that appears to be made of wood. A shaggy white mane covers most of its face and trails down its back. Long pointed ears poke out the top of its mane, and it has a long, pointed nose and a large mouth with teeth that are usually bared. Its eyes are yellow with black sclerae. This Pokémon's feet resemble tengu-geta. Three broad leaves with brown spokes form each of its hands.
"Shiftry!" Shiftry glared around at everyone with nothing pure hatred and rage in its eyes.
"Hibachi, what did you do?!" Naruto said, knowing this wasn't just any Shiftry, it's the same one Hibachi sent him to years ago.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Yeah, remember this Pokémon?! The same one that almost got rid of you for good if it wasn't for that stupid bitch saving your worthless life! I wasn't going to let a Pokémon like that go, so I made sure to find it and catch it. Hoping that one day, I could use it to finish you for good! Luckily for me, it's happened sooner than I hoped!" Hibachi said with a twisted smile, excited to see the Uzumaki die.
"Now go Shiftry, kill that trash and anyone that gets in your way!" Ordered Hibachi, making Zoroark immediately step in front of Naruto while growling warningly at the Shiftry, fully intending to tear it apart if it hurt his Trainer.
But rather than attack, Shiftry turned and glared at Hibachi, much to his annoyance that it wasn't following his order.
"Hey! I gave you an order, now do it! Kill the trash, right now!" Hibachi shouted, much to the shock of the others.
"Are you crazy?! Get away from it, now!" Said May, not believing he actually thinks Shiftry will listen to him.
"There's no way that Shiftry will listen to you, just run now!" Flannery said as despite her dislike of Hibachi, with the way Shiftry's looking at him, Flannery knew that she really didn't want to see what she knows will happen next.
"Shut up! I caught this stupid Pokémon, so that means it obeys me! You hear that you dumb creature, I'm your master so you do what I say! And I say you'll ki-" Said Hibachi glaring at Shiftry, only for the Wicked Pokémon's to glow light green.
"Try!" Shiftry then lunged at Hibachi faster than he could react, slashing its leaves across his chest with enough force to send Hibachi flying back and crashing into the wall of the Gym.
Much to everyone's shock and horror as they saw the large, jagged slash across Hibachi's chest, dripping blood. As well as the blood staining the wall where he crashed into it, before his body fell to the ground.
"Oh Arceus!" May screamed, covering her mouth in horror.
"I-it…it actually…killed him…" Said Flannery, horrified at the sight, knowing that some Pokémon could be very dangerous, especially those owned by cruel Trainers, but she's never seen or heard of one actually killing someone.
Before they all tensed when Shiftry's attention soon turned towards them, with the Grass/Dark-type Pokémon narrowing its eyes at the human. Until Shiftry suddenly curled itself into a ball and began rolling towards them at high-speed.
"Everyone, get out of the way! Zoroark use Shadow Ball, quickly!" Naruto said, with everyone running to avoid being hit by Shiftry's Rollout.
"Zor!" Zoroark, meanwhile, stood his ground and charged up a black ball in his mouth before fire it at Shiftry with it colliding against the Wicked Pokémon, sending Shiftry skidding back.
"Shiftry!" Shiftry didn't take long to recover from the impact before it began swinging its arms, unleashing multiple waves of razor sharp leaves at the Baneful Fox Pokémon.
"Use Swift Zoroark!" Said Naruto, with Zoroark shooting out dozens of yellow stars from his mouth that collided against the leaves.
"Shift!" Shiftry then suddenly began flapping its arms, unleashing several blue energy blades at Zoroark and Naruto.
"Get out of the way, Zoroark!" Naruto said, diving out of the way as well, with Zoroark following his lead and moving to avoid the blades.
Only for the Normal/Ghost-type to grunt in pain when Shiftry unexpectedly lunged and slammed its arm into Zoroark with Sucker Punch.
"Try!" Shiftry grabbed ahold of Zoroark as it glowed green, with Zoroark grunting again as he felt his energy being drained.
"Zoroark!" Naruto said in worry for his Starter.
"Go Combusken, help Zoroark out with Ember!" May said, sending out Combusken.
"Combusken!" Combusken appeared and leapt into the air before shooting multiple fireballs at Shiftry with the Wicked Pokémon grunting as the fireballs hit it, forcing it to release Zoroark.
"Thanks May, Combusken! Now let's show it what we can do Zoroark, use Shadow Sneak!" Said Naruto, with Zoroark getting up and glaring at Shiftry.
"Ark!" Zoroark roared at Shiftry as his shadow extended out towards it, before rising up and lunging at Shiftry.
"Shiftry!" Shiftry flexed its arms as a ring of dark energy surrounded its body before it shot forward, blasting through the shadow towards Zoroark.
"Combusken use Bounce!" Said May, with the Young Fowl Pokémon bending her legs before leaping high up into the air.
"Com-busken!" Combusken then kicked her leg out at Shiftry as she dived down at it, only for the Grass/Dark-type Pokémon to suddenly stop the attack and turn to Combusken.
"Shif-try!" Shiftry rapidly flapped its arms creating powerful gusts of wind that slammed into Combusken knocking her back, with Shiftry then firing multiple blue energy blades at the Fire/Fighting-type as she fell from the air.
"Busken!" Combusken let out a cry as the energy blades hit her, sending her skidding across the ground with a grunt.
"Combusken!" May cried out in worry, which only grew as Shiftry rushed at her Starter.
"Hey, over here you walking tree! Zoroark use Dark Pulse!" Said Naruto, getting Shiftry's attention away from Combusken,
"Zoro!" Zoroark put his hands together in front of his chest, firing a beam of black and dark blue rings at Shiftry.
"Try!" Shiftry swung his arms releasing blue energy blades that slashed through the ring, continuing on towards Zoroark.
"Dodge it, and use Shadow Ball Zoroark!" Naruto said, with Zoroark leaping out of the way and charging up a black ball in his mouth before launching it at the Wicked Pokémon.
"Combusken use Fire Spin!" Said May once Combusken got up.
"Combusken!" Combusken charged at Shiftry, opening her mouth as a fireball appeared in it before releasing a spiraling flame at Shiftry.
Seeing the attacks coming at it, Shiftry began spinning around at high-speed, forming a tornado around it filled with light green glowing leaves. Before it began moving the tornado around, pulling Zoroark and Combusken inside of it much to their surprise.
"Zoroark/Combusken!" Naruto and May said at seeing their Starters getting pulled into the tornado.
"Shif-try!" Shiftry then began swinging his arm, releasing razor-sharp leaves into the tornado, making Zoroark and Combusken grunt in pain from the leaves slashing them.
Shiftry kept the tornado spinning before it finally brought it down, only for its leaves to glow light green as it lunged right at the Normal/Ghost-type and Fire/Fighting-type Pokémon. Slashing them both with its leaf hands, getting Zoroark and Combusken to cry out as they went skidding across the ground.
"Try." Shiftry looked at Zoroark and Combusken before going to finish them off, much to Naruto's and May's fear.
"No! Leave them alone!" May shouted, making Shiftry narrow its eyes at her only to grunt when a rock hit it.
"No! Look over here, asshole! Remember me, when you got your ass kicked by an Arcanine!" Said Naruto, throwing another rock at Shiftry, only for the Wicked Pokémon to bat it side and glare at the whiskered blonde.
With it actually remembering that time, recognizing the boy that entered its territory only to be saved by an adult human and an Arcanine. Much to its anger that it had been forced to flee to escape the stronger Pokémon.
"Shiftry!" Shiftry rushed towards Naruto, intent to finish what it started years ago, only to grunt when another rock hit it.
"Hey, leave them alone! Try picking on someone your own size! Unless you're scared of a little fire?!" Flannery said, not wanting either Naruto or May to get hurt, even if she had no means of battling Shiftry herself, she refused to do nothing.
While Shiftry was getting angrier at the constant insults and attacks from the humans, intending to take out every single one of them. Only to tense when it felt the temperature in the area slowly rising.
"How about a lot of fire, instead?! Typhlosion use Flame Wheel!" Someone said before a flame covered Pokémon rushed forward and slammed right into Shiftry, sending the Grass/Dark-type Pokémon crashing into a wall.
With everyone being shocked when the flames dispersed revealing the Pokémon, recognizing it as a Typhlosion.
Typhlosion is a bulky Pokémon with a long, yet agile body. Most of its body is cream-colored, but its back and the top of its head are a dark green-blue. It has a short, rounded snout and small, triangular eyes and ears. When its mouth is open, its sharp canine teeth and thick tongue are visible. Each of its paws has five digits and there is a coarse, spiky fringe of fur along its rear. Across the back of its neck, there are several red spots.
"A Typhlosion?!" Naruto said in shock at the sight of the Volcano Pokémon.
"Mr. Fuji?!" Said May upon seeing Mr. Fuji appear alongside Typhlosion.
"That…Typhlosion?" Flannery said with wide eyes at the sight of Typhlosion.
"You kids did a good job, but I'll take it from here. It's time to heat things up, Typhlosion!" Fuji said, with Typhlosion roaring as flames erupted from the red spots on its back.
"Try…Shiftry!" Shiftry glared at Typhlosion before curling into a ball and rolling straight at the Fire-type Pokémon.
"Using Rollout, eh? Typhlosion, show it what a real Rollout looks like and combine it with a Flame Wheel!" Said Fuji, the Volcano Pokémon quickly lunged forward and curled into a ball before rolling towards the Wicked Pokémon with a Burning Rollout.
With both Pokémon colliding against each other, only for Shiftry to be sent flying into the air by Typhlosion as it was burned by the flames of Volcano Pokémon's Flame Wheel-infused Rollout.
"Now use Eruption!" Fuji said, with Typhlosion rushing to get underneath Shiftry before roaring as the flames on its back grew more intense.
Before Typhlosion opened its mouth and began charging up its fire until it unleashed burning red hot flames straight at the Wicked Pokémon, making Shiftry cry out in pain as it was engulfed in the fire.
"And now…finish it with a Fire Punch!" Said Fuji, causing Typhlosion to cut off the flames before it then jumped surprisingly high up into the air, above Shiftry.
Letting a roar, Typhlosion covered its fist in fire and slammed it straight down into Shiftry's chest with Shiftry letting out a silent cry until it was sent crashing into the ground.
"Sh-Shi-Shif…try…" Shiftry grunted as it tried getting back up, refusing to let itself be beaten only for Fuji to hold out its Pokéball.
"That's enough out of you, return!" Fuji said as Shiftry was forced back into its Pokéball, much to everyone's relief.
"Woah, Mr. Fuji…thanks for the help, but I didn't think you'd have such a powerful Typhlosion!" Naruto said, looking at them in amazement at how quickly they dealt with Shiftry.
"Yeah, you really saved us and our Pokémon. Thank you." Said May as she and Naruto went over to Zoroark and Combusken, returning them to their Pokéballs to be healed at the Pokémon Center.
"I'm merely glad I was able to arrive when I did, though…it seems I didn't arrive soon enough." Fuji said while frowning at the sight if Hibachi's body, while Flannery went over to Typhlosion.
"Typhlosion? You're…you're grandfather's aren't you." Said Flannery, recognizing the Typhlosion as her grandfather's, with Typhlosion grinning at the redhead and bumping its head against her.
"Th-that's your grandfather's Pokémon?! Then…" May said in surprise before they looked at Mr. Fuji, only for him to revealing his brown hair was a wig showing his curly grey hair along with taking off the sunglasses and mustache while putting on a smaller pair of glasses.
"I suppose I should properly introduce myself. I am Mr. Moore, former Lavaridge Gym Leader and member of the Hoenn Elite Four, and Flannery's grandfather." Mr. Moore introduced, much to Naruto's and May's surprise, while Flannery looked at her grandfather with wide eyes.
"Gr-Grandfather…y-yo-you're…you're back? Wh-when d-d-di-did you get back?" Flannery asked nervously at when her grandfather came back and how much he's heard of what's happened since she took over the Gym.
"I…I returned not too long ago. I had been worried about how you must've been settling into your role as Gym Leader, so I came back to check on you, watching from a distance to see how you did. That…includes the last battle you had." Revealed Mr. Moore, making Flannery wince that he's been back that long and that he saw her battle against Shinji.
And if he saw that, then he likely also saw all her blunders and mistakes she made as Gym Leader, making the redhead lower her head in shame. Once again remembering Shinji's and Nurse Joy's words, that she's nothing but a failure as a Gym Leader.
"I…I'm sorry grandfather…I've tried my best…I've tried doing everything like you taught me…but I failed. Again and again I kept failing, now I can't even battle. I'm sorry I failed you." Said Flannery, only for Mr. Moore to shake his head.
"No, you don't need to be sorry for anything Flannery. Perhaps your start as Gym Leader could've been better, but never once did you fail me. You never let anything stop you from doing your best and proving yourself, always picking yourself back up. You might not have had a good start, but didn't let that stop you. The only thing I feel for you is pride in the young woman you've become, and I know that in time you'll be an excellent Gym Leader." Mr. Moore said while smiling proudly at his granddaughter, while Flannery looked at him in shock and tears shining in her eyes which she quickly wiped away.
"I…I-I…th-thank y-yo-yo-you…grandfather, th-thank you! I-I h-ho-hope I can live u-u-up-up t-t-to-to-to y-y-yo-yo-yo-your e-e-e-ex-ex-ex-expectations!" Said Flannery, touched at the belief her grandfather had in her and that he wasn't disappointed.
"I have no doubt that you will. And if anyone should be apologizing, it's me. I'm the one who truly failed you. It was selfish of me to push my title of Gym Leader onto you, so I could pursue my own interests, when you weren't ready to take up the mantle. I could've done more for you to prepare you for the position, instead I left you to fend for yourself when you needed guidance." Said Mr. Moore while bowing his head in shame, with Flannery shaking her head.
"D-don't b-be sorry, I…I could've done better at learning what I needed to do, training more in preparation. Y-you picked me, but I-I could barely remembered the basics of what being a Gym Leader meant." Flannery said, believing she could've focused more on learning about her duties as a Gym Leader and trained herself more for when the time came.
"Well I suppose what's done is done now, there's nothing we can do about it now. But there is something we can do; you've only ever explored the area surrounding Lavaridge Town yet there's still so much of Hoenn and the rest of the world to see. So, I believe that it's time you went off on your own Pokémon Journey to help you grow as a Trainer and as a Gym Leader." Mr. Moore said, much to Flannery's surprise.
"B-bu-but what about the Gym? I can't just leave it." Said Flannery, not sure how she's supposed to go on a Journey when she needed to stay in Lavaridge.
"Don't worry about the Gym, I will handle it. I'll need to postpone my retirement for a while, but I still have some fire in me to keep battling." Said Mr. Moore, surprising Flannery again.
"I-I…I still can't just leave! Torkoal, Slugma and Numel need me, I need to be here when they can leave the Pokémon Center and help them get better!" Flannery said, not wanting to leave her Pokémon when they'll need her when they're able to leave the Pokémon Center.
"The Gym Trainers and I will look after them, all of us are fully capable of looking after Fire-type Pokémon, making sure all their needs are fulfilled. By the time you return, they'll be here waiting for you." Mr. Moore assured, the Gym Trainers all nodded in agreement to help take care of her Pokémon while she's away.
"I…I-I…y-you're sure?" Flannery asked hesitantly, with Mr. Moore nodding in response.
"I am. You need to do this Flannery, to help yourself grow and learn." Said Mr. Moore, making the redhead look down for a moment before lifting her head.
"O-okay…I'll go on my own Journey then." Said Flannery, with her grandfather smiling at her before she looked at Naruto and May.
"I don't suppose you guys would mind if I joined you?" Flannery asked, preferring the chance to travel with others rather than going off on her own.
"You're more than welcome to join us, Flannery." May replied with a smile as Naruto nodded in agreement with his own smile.
"Yeah! It'd be great having another friend joining us as we go across Hoenn and the rest of the world!" Said Naruto, making Flannery smile slightly at the enthusiasm.
"Thank you. Then I just need to pack and do a few things before we leave." Flannery said, with Naruto and May nodding in response.
"That's fine, we need to take our teams to the Pokémon Center to be healed after the fight with Shiftry." Said Naruto, wanting to make sure their Pokémon were fully healed.
"I also need to make a call to my family." May said as she wanted call her parents, especially her father, and warn them about Shinji.
If he's battling Gyms and being as brutal them as he was to Flannery, she wanted to make sure her father was prepared. Along with wanting them to make sure to keep Max away from the Gym since knowing her brother, he'd do something like pretend to be the Gym Leader or say something without thinking. Both things would likely anger Shinji and cause him to attack Max in retaliation, that is if he'd even needs a reason to attack someone.
"Okay, then let's meet back here once we're all ready to go." Said Flannery, with the whiskered blonde and brunette nodding in agreement as they all left to get ready.
*Later-With Flannery*
Flannery frowned sadly as she stood in her teams room in the Pokémon Center, having wanted to say goodbye to them before leaving. Still feeling the pain at seeing them in such conditions, hooked up to machines to keep them alive while they were healing. It still hurt so much seeing them like this, but at the same time she felt a new determination filling her.
"Hey girls…sorry I didn't see you earlier, today. I…I just couldn't handle it, I blamed myself for what happened to you all and…I wasn't sure what I'd do seeing you all like this. It…it still really hurts." Flannery said softly, gently petting Torkoal's head.
"But…I couldn't leave without saying bye, since…I'm actually going on my own Journey. Grandfather had actually returned and saw that…battle we had and he decided to return as Gym Leader, so I could go on a Journey to grow as a Trainer and Gym Leader. And I'm not going alone, I made some new friends that helped me out, who understood what I was going through. I just…I just wish you all could come with me and that I could be here when you're able to leave." Said Flannery, lowering her head before looking up at them.
"But I'll be back and I'll be stronger, a better Trainer, one you all deserve. I'll also probably catch more Pokémon, though I'll always care about you three no matter what. No matter how long it takes, until we can battle again, there'll always be spots open on my team for you. You'll just have more friends to help you when I come back. But for now…you three need to stay here to rest and recover. Grandfather and the Gym Trainers will be helping to take care of you while I'm gone. I'll make sure to call whenever I can to see how you're doing, to show I haven't forgotten any of you." Flannery said while wiping her eyes as she felt tears in them, before going over and kissing each of them on their heads.
"I love you three, and I know you're all much stronger than anyone knows. You have unstoppable fires in each of you that won't ever go out, so I know when you get out of here, nothing will stop you guys from getting even stronger. To keep on fighting. Until then…stay safe and rest." Said Flannery, smiling at her Pokémon before going to the door, giving them one last look as she left.
*Later*
"You have everything, Flannery?" May asked while looking at the redhead as they stood outside the Lavaridge Gym.
"Yeah, I made sure to pack everything I'd need." Replied Flannery, having packed away all the essentials she'd need.
"You did forget one thing." Mr. Moore said while walking up to the trio, surprising them when they saw he was holding an Egg case with a Pokémon Egg inside, with it being mostly green with a cream colored bottom and three red spots near the bottom.
"A Pokémon Egg?" Said Naruto in surprise at the sight, with Flannery being further surprised when her grandfather held it out to her.
"F-for…me?" Flannery asked while taking the case gently.
"That's right. I had intended to give you this, once I saw you no longer needed me here to watch over you. But now that you're going off on your Journey, I believe it will serve as the perfect Starter Pokémon for you." Mr. Moore said, much to the redhead's disbelief.
"I…I don't know what to say. Thank you grandfather, I promise to take good care of it and the Pokémon that'll hatch from it!" Flannery said in gratitude for such a gift.
"I know you will. Now off with you three, I'm sure you want to get started on your travels before nightfall." Said Mr. Moore, waving to three, which they returned as they set out to leave Lavaridge Town.
"So…where exactly are we going?" Flannery asked once they left Lavaridge.
"We're going to head for Fallarbor Town, from there we'll be going through Meteor Falls and Route 115 to reach Rustboro City." Naruto replied, with the redhead nodding in response.
"I'm guessing you'll be challenging the Rustboro Gym." Stated Flannery as the whiskered blonde nodded as well.
"Do you think we'd be able to stay in Fallarbor Town for a little while, once we get there? Since I heard there's going to be a Pokémon Contest there and…I'm interested in participating in it." May said, interested in the chance to try participating in a Contest.
"Sure! It'd be pretty cool seeing you in a Contest, May. It also just gives us one more reason to get to Fallarbor." Said Naruto, smiling at the brunette which May returned.
"Then what're we waiting for? It's still a long way to Fallarbor Town and we have a lot of ground to cover." Flannery said with her own smile, feeling excited at taking the first steps of her Pokémon Journey alongside her new friends.
So, what did you think, good. Yep we see Flannery snapping at Naruto due to not being in the best of moods, with Naruto apologizing to help avoid a fight. Before he and May reveal they were looking or Flannery, while assuring her they didn't want to challenge her and they only wanted to help, surprising Flannery as she sees how genuine they were, making her let down her guard.
Before we see them in the residential area of the Gym, with Naruto and May revealing how they learned what happened and offering their help in any way they could, only for Flannery to be unsure if there's anything anyone could do to help her. With Naruto and May giving some words of encouragement as well as sharing some moments they messed up, being shown with some flashbacks, helping to lift Flannery's spirits and even laugh a little. With it helping more as Naruto and May can emphasize with her, Naruto with not really knowing his parents and May with the expectations that come with her father being a Gym Leader.
Though they're soon interrupted by a commotion outside the Gym where they find Hibachi, one of Naruto's old bullies from Fortree that nearly got him killed in retaliation over a prank. With him demanding to battle Flannery, only for Naruto to make a wager that he could if he beats him in a three-on-three match, which Hibachi accepts eager to crush Naruto.
Only for Naruto to do the crushing against Hibachi's Pokémon, while also seeing Hibachi isn't the best battler or Trainer, only to get anger and accuse Naruto of cheating for switching out his Pokémon. Before he sends out the Shiftry he tricked Naruto into going after years ago to kill him, only for Shiftry to kill Hibachi much to everyone's horror.
With Naruto and May having Zoroark and Combusken battle Shiftry to hold it off, though Shiftry proves stronger and defeats them. Luckily Mr. Fuji arrives and defeats Shiftry with his Typhlosion, returning Shiftry to its Pokéball before revealing his true identity as Mr. Moore. Much to Flannery's sadness that he saw her blunders and defeat against Shinji, only for Mr. Moore to not be disappointed and only feel proud of the young woman she's become, fully confident she'll be an amazing Gym Leader.
With him also apologizing for pushing his title onto her before she was ready, along with believing she should take the chance to go off on her own Pokémon Journey, assuring her he and the Gym Trainers will look after the Gym and her Pokémon while she's away. Making Flannery eventually agree to go on Journey, with Naruto and May being happy to let her join them.
Finally we see Flannery saying her goodbyes to her team, promising she'll be back as a stronger, better Trainer with plenty of new Pokémon, but will always want them as part of her team. Before we see the trio head out, but not before Mr. Moore gives Flannery a Pokémon Egg as her Starter (which I'm sure you can guess from its design what it'll be). With them setting out for Fallarbor Town to pass through Meteor Falls to Rustboro, while also stopping in Fallarbor for the Pokémon Contest. So, for those that like the story, thanks for your support. For those that don't or at least don't like the direction taken, you're more than welcomed to drop the story. But thanks for giving the story a chance anyway.
Storm out