Kanto Chapter 3 - The Vermillion Gym Leader
It had been a few days since the attack. Lt Surge was released from the hospital, and was back at the gym. He was still far from healed and temporarily confined to a wheelchair; he would be out of action for a least 6 more weeks. Amber and the other gym trainers worked very hard restoring the Vermillion City Gym to its former glory and was ready (and needed) to receive new challengers. The only issue was who would take over the responsibility as Gym Leader?
Sat in his wheelchair at the side of the arena, Surge went over the rules as referee of this battle. "Dis will be a royal rumble! 1 pokémon each. No time limit. Last one standing assumes 'da position of acting Gym Leader. Any questions?"
Amber stood with Jolteon at her side, they had been practising some new moves and eager to battle again since defending the gym from Team Rocket. Baily had his Voltorb, Dwayne chose Magnemite and Tucker, Pikachu. They all nodded in agreement.
"Let the battle…BEGIN!"
"Voltorb sonic boom at Magnemite"
"Magnemite use swift!"
"Jolteon. Sand Attack!"
"Pikachu use quick attack on Jolteon!"
The Pikachu stopped dead in his tracks, visibility diminished, waves of sand hitting him hard.
"Now Jolteon, hit Pikachu with Shadow Ball!" Jolteon jumped through the sand and delivered her attack, it was a direct hit on the Pikachu.
"Pikachu try quick attack again!" the attack landed but Jolteon easily recovered.
"Jolteon Shadow Ball again!" the hit landed - KO.
"No Pikachu!" Tucker cried out to his fainted pokémon.
"Pikachu is unable to battle – Tucker is out".
Looking over Amber saw Voltorb and Magnemite going at each other "Time to join that party"
"Magnemite protect!" The Magnemite protected itself from the incoming attack from Voltorb but this left it open for the oncoming follow up Swift attack from Voltorb. Direct hit, but Magnemite was still in this fight.
Hmm seems they are mostly just using moves sonic boom and swift…her sand attack might not help Amber internally noted "Jolteon use Light Screen"
The two trainers turned to the direction of the voice and both had the same idea.
"Magnemite use sonic boom against Jolteon" "Voltob you too"
The attacks may hit, but the damage will be minimal compared to what we're about to do Amber smiled to herself in complete confidence.
"Jolteon charge up your Hyper Beam take them both out!"
The two attacks hit Jolteon but thanks to the light screen the impact was minimal and didn't stop her powering up.
"Now Jolteon lets end this. HYPER BEAM!"
Jolteon unleashed the move catching both pokémon in a brilliant light. As the dust cleared two pokémon lay on the floor completely out of it and one stood tall.
"Magnemite and Voltorb are unable to battle. Jolteon is the winner!"
"We did it!" Amber cheered running over to Jolteon and patting her on the head, the Pokémon yipped with glee.
"Well done kid" Surge wheeled himself over to the duo. "What'd I tell ya 'eh? Just like ya old man."
Amber cringed again with dad thing…
But she couldn't dwell on that too long as Surge continued "I now officiate you as Acting Gym Leader of the Vermillion Gym for as long as I'm banged up in dis chair."
Imagine a Gym Leader and all before her 16th Birthday! Ok acting Gym Leader but still it's one up on her brother Cole! He wasn't running a Gym at her age. She phoned home eager to tell her family the good news. A familiar beautiful face with Cerulean blue eyes and orange hair appeared. "Mom! I'm so glad you picked up I have the best news" Amber couldn't help her smile, she had no poker face.
"Amber! Oh I'm always so happy when you call, how are you sweetie? Has everything been OK at the Gym after what happened? How is Surge? You'd tell me if anything else happened right? What's the big news?" Her Mother was a barrage of both excitement and concern. The news at what happened at the Vermillion Gym had not sat well with the former Cerulean Gym Leader at all. She was all set to jump on her Swanna and drag her daughter back from Vermillion City, fortunately Surge had managed to play the incident down and talk her and Ash round into allowing Amber to continue her training.
Amber shook her head "No, no more trouble nothing like that. Surge is ok, he's back here now but still recovering, he's not able to battle yet so I'm filling in as the Gym Leader!"
Misty's heart swelled with pride. "That really is great news. I'm so proud! I'm going to call your father straight away and tell him the news!" Misty was ecstatic. Maybe she takes after me more than I thought. Maybe she'll inherit the Vermillion Gym, settle down there and will forget all about going travelling ... The mothers mind raced with her happy ideals.
"Ok well I better go, give my love to everyone. Love you Mom."
"I love you too sweetie, take care, speak soon!" With the final goodbye Amber hung up and the monitor went blank.
She made her way to the training room where Surge was waiting. A challenger had arrived and Amber had all the gym pokémon at her disposal, ready to finally start battling for real.
"Now I'm sure yous heard the rules before from ya family before but as a refresher here goes. You must accept all challenges when 'da gym is open so longs as ya have battle ready pokémon. It's our responsibility to ask 'da trainer how many badges they have before determining the rules of 'da match, which Pokémon you use and how many etcetera etcetera. Remember we are not here ta bully but to test skill level. Dat's not to say we are here to go easy on nobody, we ain't here ta give badges away but ya don't put out a level 50 Electrode against a challenger who just started out and only has a level 10 pokémon, ok? If da challenger wins, they get da Thunder Badge and we give 'em the TM for Thunderbolt. Got it kid?"
"Got it."
"Den your first challenger awaits, good luck kid I'll be watching"
She walked out onto the gym floor, her challenge awaiting.
A young man stood before her. He was in his late teens - early twenties. He had sweeping mid length strawberry blonde hair and stood posed with an air of confidence. "My name is Frankie from Cinnabar Island! I am here to challenge the Gym Leader of the Vermillion Gym for a Thunderbadge!"
"Hi my name is Amber, and I accept your challenge…how ma"
"Waitwaitwait… you? You're the gym leader here?"
"… Um yeah that's right, now how ma"
The guy started laughing, holding in his stomach and pointing. Amber's face was starting to heat up, she looked at the guy unsure how to proceed, except maybe with her fist… The man stopped laughing and wiped his eye "Nooo ok, ok good one girly, now stop kidding around, I'm here to be serious, where is Lt Surge?"
"Your battle is with me, and yes I am serious!" She was losing her cool.
"Huh? Really, I got to beat this kid?!" He looked over to the side-lines where Dwayne, Baily and Tucker whom he recently defeated, dwelled. Sat with them was Surge, in his wheelchair. He sat arms crossed, eyes closed. He nodded, confirming.
The challenger's face lit up. "Ha no way looks like the Thunder Badge will be a cinch! I'll be able to qualify for the Pokémon League Championship tournament in no time!" The trainer grinned, clicking his fingers with boastful confidence.
Amber also looked to Surge, he motioned his clenched fist hitting his open palm. Amber smiled she knew what that meant "No holding back!" This will be a 3 on 3 battle! No time limits. Do you accept? Then let's battle!"
Amber was on fire. She was around 4 weeks into her new position and so far, had given away 0 badges. She had faced a couple of total newbies who miraculously made it past the other trainers which she struggled to hold back enough, using a newly caught inexperienced Magnemite from the field just outside Vermillion to give them a chance. But seriously who brings a low level Pidgey to an Electric Gym match? Most trainers she faced were 3-4 badges in, this was her comfort zone where she favoured the use of Voltorb, Pikachu and Jolteon. Magneton, Electabuzz and Raichu coming out for the tougher opponents, the latter being her ultimate safety net.
She was 10 for 10 and her confidence was brimming, almost to the point of ego… just in time for a life lesson in humility.
A tall girl from Aspertia City in the Unova region came to challenge for the Thunder Badge. She had long brown hair and bold blue eyes. Nothing remarkable, no bravado, no nerves, just walked right in. She got through the traps and faced off against Dwayne, Baily and Tucker. She earned the right to challenge the Gym Leader and was 6 badges into the Kanto league.
"So, you've come to challenge me all the way from Unova? What a long way to travel just to lose!" Amber beamed rubbing her finger under her nose, the challenger stood un-waivered in her composure. "Nothing to say? Ok Let's make this 2 on 2 battle. No time limit. Call out your Pokémon and we'll begin".
The Challenger released Serperior. Amber knew this Pokémon, her father battled with one a lot, it was one of his favoured go to grass types. I got this.
"I choose you Electabuzz"
The trainer started the battle off "Serperior Leaf Tornado"
"Electabuzz use Iron Tail to block the attack!" Electabuzz managed to counter the move, taking minimal damage.
"Serperior Leech Seed"
The attack caught and sapped a little of Electabuzz.
"Light Screen"
"Serperior Leaf Blade!"
"Alright now's our moment! He's in close range! Electabuzz counter with Ice Punch!"
Serperior and Electabuzz clashed the damaged each received was around even.
This Serperior is strong, must be at a high level… "Electabuzz go in with another Ice Punch!"
Electabuzz was slowing being sapped by the earlier Leech Seed.
"Giga Impact"
Both Pokémon went in hard. The impact caused both to fly backwards and fall to the ground. Within 30 seconds Serperior was shakily rising to continue the fight. Electabuzz stayed down.
"Electabuzz is unable to battle – this round goes to Serperior
"Electabuzz Return". Amber looked down at the pokéball "Thank You. Please rest now, Raichu you're up!"
A stream of red took form "Raiiiiiiiiiii"
"Serperior Return. You were wonderful, there is no reason for you to battle anymore". With that the girl released Excadrill.
Hmm an Excadrill. Ok let's try to exploit its Steel side "Raichu Mega Kick!"
"Excadrill Rock Slide"
Raichu executed the mega kick but unfortunately Excadrill evaded just in time causing Raichu to crash into the arena side. The Excadrill executed the Rock Slide with Raichu floored and in close range, with no way to dodge, it inflicted a lot of damage to the electric mouse and made him flinch.
"Now Poison Jab Excadrill". Another damaging blow to the electric pokémon, luckily caused no poisoning effect. "Poison Jab again!"
"Raichu!... use Dig! Go underground to avoid it!" Raichu dived underground
Amber looked up at her opponent who was smiling. It was a confident smile and then said a word that made a chill run-down Amber's spine and her brown eyes go wide.
"Earthquake".
It was over.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid!" Amber cursed herself walking up and down the corridor of the Vermillion Pokémon Centre. She'd lost. She'd lost outright. Ugh Dig on a ground type, of course it knew Earthquake! ... what was I thinking?!
She continued to berate herself when a familiar voice boomed down the hallway. "We all gotta lose sometime kid". A figure came rolling into view. Lt Surge.
"But I didn't just lose, I stunk! That trainer was way better than me" Amber walked over and took a seat next her mentor head in hands.
"That lady's name was Rosa and she is very good, da real deal. She's a champion in the Unova League and I heard she did real good in Johto recently too. 'Aint no shame losing to her." He gave his protégé a nudge. "Not like losing to some baby with a Pikachu" He smiled as he said it giving her a wink. Amber smiled and gave a faint blush, she'd heard the story of her father's first battle at the Vermillion Gym a few times.
"Look kid no matter what, 'der's always gunna be someone out there better. Dat's why we train and why we gotta keep training. You got a lot going for ya but an awful lot to learn".
Amber averted her gaze from the floor and looked up at Surge, he continued "Dis aint no setback. Dis was a lesson."
With that the light above the treatment room blinked off and Nurse Joy appeared with two pokéballs.
"Raichu and Electabuzz are just fine now" Joy said with a smile. Surge nodded and nudged Amber in the Nurse's direction. "Go get 'em."
Authors note: Hope you enjoyed the small cameo B&W2 fans, maybe we'll hear off Rosa again in the future...