Disclaimer: I do not own anything, I make no money or profit from this.
Chapter 21
Ronnie Anne gave a nervous swallow, but went to stand where Lynn was. The older girl meanwhile walked to stand beside Clyde. As Ronnie Anne got her license scanned and got mentally prepared, Lynn leaned against the wall exhausted physically and mentally.
"You okay Lynn?" Clyde asked his mentor worryingly. He had seen the older girl in quite a few battles already, but this is the first he saw her look exhausted after one.
"I'm fine McBride, this often happens to me after Psychic and Flying Gyms" Lynn replied in a tired voice. "Because of my all Fighting team, I have a harder time against those types of gyms. I have to fight smarter in those battles and they are more stressful than other gym battles."
"Why didn't you use Lycanroc?" He asked curiously. "He isn't a Fighting Type, so he isn't at a disadvantage."
"Lycanroc has become one of my aces in the holes" she replied with a small smile. "I like to use him in situations that I might not come back from. Plus that makes it harder for people to predict when I'm going to use him, since I don't use him for every gym battle." Clyde nodded before both turned their attention to the battlefield.
"This is an official match between Sabrina of the Saffron City Gym and Ronnie Anne Santiago from Great Lakes City." The referee's voice was loud, clear, and echoed throughout the building. "Both trainers will be able to use three Pokemon, with only the challenger being able to switch out Pokemon. The battle is over when all of someone's Pokemon is unable to battle or one forfeits. The match begins now."
"Let's go Poochyena!" Ronnie Anne shouted. The Bite Pokemon came to the field growling at everything as usual.
"Go Metang" Sabrina said, releasing her Pokemon. It looked similar to Metagross, but only had two limbs instead of 4 and levitated. "Use Miracle Eye" the Iron Claw Pokemon glowed like Metagross and Alakazam in the previous battle.
"So it knows that move" the young girl muttered to herself. Clyde and Lynn, who were watching on the sidelines, weren't surprised by this and believed she had more Pokemon that knew that move. "Alright, let's start off with Sand Attack!" Poochyena simply growled at her trainer before going in for a Bite. Metang easily dodge the attack.
"Use Zen Headbutt" the gym ordered. Metang glowed with psychic energy before headbutting the little Pokemon of fur and anger, pushing it across the battlefield.
"Come on Poochyena, don't do this now!" The young dark hair trainer shouted with frustration and worry. "Please listen to me and use Mud Slap!" Unfortunately the dark fur Pokemon ignored and went to try to use Bite again.
"Use Reflect and then Metal Claw" a barrier surrounding Metang. Poochyena wasn't able to use Bite thanks to the barrier, then one of Metang's arms glowed silver and slashed her back across the field.
"Please Poochyena, just listen to me" Ronnie Anne pleaded with her Pokemon. "Bite isn't going to work. We can win battle, but we need to work together." Poochyena continued to ignore her tried Bite again.
"Finish this with Zen Headbutt" Metang nodded and got the attack ready. Once Poochyena was close enough, it used the move sending its opponent flying back and knocking her out.
"Poochyena is unable to battle," the referee announced. "The winner is Metang." Clyde had an expression of sadness but expecting this would happen, Lynn meanwhile could only let out a sigh. Ronnie Anne could only stare down at her Pokemon with frustration and sadness in her eyes. She truly believed if she and Poochyena could work together, then they really could beat Sabrina. However she took some deep breaths before recalling Poochyena, thanking her for trying, and got ready to send out her next Pokemon.
"I can't say that was unexpected," Lynn said, catching Clyde's attention. "Poochyena is probably still mad at all the losses she had since being caught and blames Ronnie Anne. All she can do is continue to try to work with Poochyena to build some sort of trust, trade her to someone for something else, or simply release her back into the wild. It's up to her on what to do." Clyde could only nod in agreement before focusing back on the match.
"Alright, your turn Houndour!" She should release her next Pokemon. The Dark Pokemon let out a howl upon being released.
"This is good," Clyde said excitedly. "Houndour Fire moves will be super effective against Metang."
"Yeah, but she has to deal with Reflect and Light Screen" the athletic Loud replied to her student. "Those two moves could reduce the damage Metang takes and she doesn't have a move to break them."
"Start things off with Ember!" Ronnie shouted.
"Use Light Screen" Sabrina orders calmly. The barrier appeared around Metang, blocking and reducing the amount of damage it received.
"Now use Scary Face and then Snarl!" Houndour's expression changed which caused Metang to feel slightly intimidated. She then released dark energy with Snarl, hitting her opponent.
"Use Zen Headbutt" the Iron Claw Pokemon glowed with a familiar energy, before charging at its opponent.
"Dodge it Houndour, then use Howl!" The Dark Pokemon just barely dodge Metang's attack. She started howling, her body glowing faintly. "Now hit it, Incinerate!" Houndour stopped howling and started releasing a torrent of fire. Metang avoided most of the attack, however one of its arms was glazed.
"Use Psychic" the gym leader ordered calmly. Metang's eyes glowed and Houndour began floating in the air. Suddenly she was slammed into the ground, this process was then repeated.
"Quickly use Leer and then Incinerate!" The young trainer shouted, worried filling her voice. Houndour was in pain and couldn't move that much, but howled in understatement. She then started leering at her opponent, causing the Psychic onslaught to cease momentarily. Seeing her chance, she released the fire again. This time it hit its mark, the attack was strong enough to knock it out and caused Houndour to drop to the ground.
"Metang is unable to battle," the referee announced. "The winner is Houndour." Ronnie Anne and Clyde started cheering, while Lynn smiled and clapped. Sabrina called back her Pokemon and got ready to send out her next Pokemon.
"Go Natu" the Pokemon that came out to the field was a small round green bird with colorful small wings. "Use Miracle Eye."
"Use Snarl!" Houndour shot dark energy, only for her opponent to avoid the attack.
"Now use Confuse Ray" Natu made a small glowing orb and shot it at Houndour. It hit its mark and the Dark Pokemon started to stagger on her feet. "Now use Psyshock" due to her confused state Houndour wasn't able to dodge.
"This isn't good, use Bite!" Ronnie Anne shouted in concern. Houndour attempted to attack, but tripped over her own legs and hurt herself.
"Use Reflect then Future Sight" the emotionless gym leader commanded. Natu put the familiar barrier around itself before closing its eyes and concentrating.
"Try using Ember this time!" The young trainer ordered, knowing what her opponent was setting up. Houndour, still confused, shot the attack. Half missed her opponent, while the other hit Natu.
"Use Light Screen and Calm Mind" Natu's barrier change and then it started to meditate.
"Try to snap out of it and use Incinerate!" Houndour shook herself out of confusion and released her flames at her target. It hit, but the barrier took a large portion of the damage.
"Now use Stored Power" Natu came out of meditation and started to glow brightly with psychic energy. It then shot a beam made from the energy at Houndour. It hit, sending its opponent across the field and knocking her out.
"Houndour is unable to battle," the referee announced. "The winner is Natu." Ronnie called back Houndour and thanked her before getting her last Pokemon ready. Clyde was starting to worry, not just about Ronnie Anne, but his own match next. Lynn meanwhile could only let out a small sigh and continue to watch on.
"Okay, you up Nidorina!" The young trainer said releasing her starter Pokemon. "Now use Ice Beam!" Nidorina opened her mouth and the blue beam shot out. Unfortunately Natu's small stature and speed was enough for it to dodge it.
"Use Confuse Ray and the Light Screen." Natu nodded and created the familiar orb, hitting Nidorina then making its barrier. "Now use Calm Mind" it then started to meditate again.
"Not this again, Nidorina use Poison Tail!" The Poison Pin Pokemon attempted to use the attack, but tripped and only hurt herself like Houndour. Then out of nowhere, Natu Future Sight attack hit Nidorina.
"Keep using Calm Mind" Natu continues to meditate.
"Not again, try using Ice Beam!" Ronnie Anne called in desperation. Still confused, she fired the beam and hit Natu, but Light Screen reduced the damage Natu took.
"Now end this Stored Power" Natu opened its eyes and fired the psychic blast. This blast was bigger than the previous one and when it hit, it knocked Nidorina out.
"Nidorina is unable to battle" the referee announced while holding his hand on Sabrina's side up in the air. "Natu is the winner and Gym Leader Sabrina has won the match." Ronnie Anne looked to the ground clenching her teeth, feeling frustration and disappointment. Clyde had a mixed expression of worry and nervousness, Lynn meanwhile had a neutral expression.
"You will not be receiving the Marsh Badge, but you are able to try again another day" Sabrina told her young opponent. She then turned her attention to Clyde, who flinched when she did. "It's your turn now."