Pokémon Centers frequently feature a battle area for trainers to put their Pokémon through their paces. The Stone Town location was no exception as truck driver Ken Worth found himself preparing to face off against arrogant young trainer Jackson Donington in a double battle. Both trainers had healed their Pokémon prior to the battle and rented a formal field for the contest to take place.
The fight would take place on a dirt field outside the center. It was a standard battle field. The parking lot was located alongside the battlefield but all of the vehicles, including Ken's Truck #653, were parked far enough away they weren't in any danger. Ken quickly went over to the truck and recovered his trainer bag including a few potions and other battle items. William and the other trainers from the Pokémon Center took up positions alongside the field to watch.
Trainers of all skill and aggression levels typically tried to keep their battles contained into the designated battle area; a misfired attack does not benefit any attempt to win the battle. Collateral damage to surroundings beyond the battlefield was also frowned upon in any somewhat formal battle; blowing out some windows happens sometimes in intense fights like gym battles but completely trashing the surrounding area could lead to Pokémon League suspensions or legal ramifications unless the battle was against a criminal team or something similar.
Ken gulped. He didn't expect to win this one but he hadn't really had a straight up trainer battle since that showdown on the Vermilion City docks back on his first day as a trainer or the road battle against Team Rocket. He was glad this was going to be an exhibition with no money on the line, only pride.
As Jackson stepped onto the battlefield a small crowd of the other trainers had gathered to watch. Ken stepped up to the opposite side with Fennekin and Eevee following. Ken looked toward the gathering crowd and saw a car pulling in with a familiar black and white livery accented by red lights. He got a slightly naughty smile because he had a hint just why it might be here.
For the battle Ken had to choose his Pokémon carefully if he wanted to stand any chance against his opponent. Maybe he'd get lucky and Jackson would send his out first and give him time to counter…
"Let's send both our Pokémon out at the same time," Jackson said. "It makes it more interesting."
…Well, that was out. Ken started thinking about his team. Fennekin liked to fight and was a natural fit for this, with flamethrower, ember, scratch, and tail whip at his disposal, but who would be his second Pokémon?
Spearow had fighting experience but it still only had two attacks; peck and focus energy. Absol's moveset included bite and quick attack but his only other move was leer. Ken used his PokéScan to check Eevee's attacks revealing swift, growl, tail whip, and mud-slap. That was pretty good actually but he wondered if it was too young.
"Fennekin, get ready," Ken said.
"Fen," Fennekin replied, striking a battle pose.
Eevee watched Fennekin and followed suit.
"Vee, Eevee!" Eevee barked, apparently ready to battle.
"You aren't seriously thinking of using that little Eevee in this fight are you?" Jackson said mockingly. "I hope you are better at driving that truck than you are at strategizing."
"Well, you know I am or you'd be roadkill right now," Ken retorted.
Suddenly Ken felt a little shock in his pocket. He reached in and touched the Thunder Stone, realizing it was the source and it was glowing with a subtle glance that Jackson didn't notice. Thunder Stones evolved Eevees into Jolteons. Was this fate telling him to do it? Since when do these things glow before use? Maybe it was worth the risk. Since becoming a trainer he had kind of been hoping to get an electric type. Ken made the decision to take the gamble and let Eevee battle but he'd hold off on the Thunder Stone for the moment, retaining it as an ace in the hole if he needed one.
"Let's rock kid," Ken said. "I'm ready."
"Alright," Jackson said. "Game on!"
"Fennekin and Eevee, drop the hammer!" Ken called as the two foxes darted onto the battlefield.
"Vaporeon and Mudsdale, onward to victory!" Jackson called out as he tossed two Great Balls onto the field revealing the selected Pokémon.
Fennekin and Eevee both stopped dead in their tracks. The female Vaporeon looked well trained and ready to attack while the male Mudsdale towered over both of them. Ken suddenly had a nervous look on his face, he was now already at a serious type disadvantage. He glanced at his bag but knew he didn't have anything in it to automatically turn the tide, just potions and other basic items.
"Say hello to Mom and Dad Eevee," Jackson said with a slasher smile. "This two are fresh out of the daycare, refreshed and ready to rumble."
Ken thought for a moment looking at the two Pokémon before letting out an audible "ew" as he realized exactly what Jackson meant. Eevee looked puzzled for a second but was too focused on its first battle to let that realization fully dawn. Thankfully the battle at hand took hold so they didn't have to dwell on it.
"Let's make this a little interesting to start," Jackson said. "Mudsdale hold back for later. Vaporeon go solo, you can still win this 2-on-1."
Mudsdale backed off as Vaporeon lunged toward Fennekin and Eevee. Ken called attacks to take advantage of Jackson's delayed start to his offense. With only one Pokémon attacking, an untraditional but allowable tactic especially in a pure exhibition like this, they could double team their opponent…even that meant Mudsdale would be fresh when it entered the fray later.
"Fennekin, flamethrower," Ken said. "Eevee, swift. Let'em have it and fry that fishy foe."
"FENNEKIN!" Fennekin shouted before cutting loose with a burning blast.
Eevee leapt into the air instinctively and launched a ton of stars at Vaporeon. Both attacks hit and stopped their opponent in its tracks, kicking up some dust in the process. As it cleared though it became apparent that Vaporeon hadn't really taken much damage.
"Oh, that's not good," Ken said.
"Vaporeon, hit'em both with hydro pump," Jackson said.
"VAP-EON!" shouted Vaporeon as it blasted the two foxes with a giant, powerful blast of water.
Both Fennekin and Eevee were tossed back toward Ken. Both got up shaking off the water. Fennekin looked a little bruised, that hit was super effective, but the little fox that just took a licking was still ready to keep on ticking. Eevee saw Fennekin being slow to get up and quickly ran at the opponent.
"Eevee, use swift!" Ken said.
"EE-VEE!" Eevee said as he again leapt into the air and launched his stars at Vaporeon.
The attack connected but Vaporeon shrugged off any damage.
"Fennekin, scratch!" Ken called out.
The recovering Fennekin launched straight at Vaporeon claws barred and hit with enough force it did force Vaporeon back for a second. It left a mark. If fire type moves won't going to work than maybe normal ones could balance it. It was enough to make Jackson play defense for a second.
"Vaporeon, acid armor," Jackson said. "Let's tense up before laying into them."
Vaporeon almost seemed to liquify before reforming and looking stronger than ever. Ken knew the move increased defensive power and with his team struggling to damage it already this was not a good turn of events. Ken decided maybe it was time to try and see if his little trick could work…but with evolution there was no turning back. He pulled out a super potion from his bag and signaled both of his Pokémon over to him. Jackson gave a pause.
"I'm going to use my turn to give the Pokemon a little break in the action," Ken said. "I'm going to use a super potion on Fennekin…and for Eevee…"
Ken reached into his pocket and pulled out the Thunder Stone. Jackson got a bit wider eyed at that but smiled. He was more than willing to let Ken play that card. He was going to have fun with this.
"Eevee, this is a Thunder Stone, using it will evolve you into an electric type Jolteon but there is no going back if we do it," Ken said. "It will give you a type advantage on Vaporeon and it will make you stronger but I'm not going to force it. This is just a battle and it's alright if you'd rather wait."
"Oh, how over dramatic," Jackson said. "If you are going to evolve that bashful pet, evolve it. It's young but evolving quick gives it more time to learn at a more powerful stage. You don't need to make this some "we'll win with our inner bond power" moment out of it. Either way you are going to lose this one."
Ken, Fennekin, and Eevee all looked at Jackson annoyingly. Ken still put the Thunder Stone on the ground and Eevee looked at it. It had never seen an evolution stone before and yet it was drawn to it. Evolution has an almost natural allure for Eevees. Eevee pondered his options for a moment.
"Get on with it," yelled Jackson. "I want to get this battle going again sometime today and that little wimp isn't going to make a difference evolved or not."
Eevee looked at Jackson and growled. In anger he turned to the Thunder Stone and bit right into it. It did it so fast Ken barely had time to process Eevee's choice as the little brown fox began to glow bluish white. It absorbed the stone and with a burst the little guy got bigger and spiker before bursting out of its evolutionary energy to reveal its stunning new yellow and white appearance. Its eyes and inner ears were now a brilliant purple. Eevee had evolved into Jolteon.
"JOLTEON!" Jolteon roared, his new appearance sparking with power.
"Fen, Fennekin fen fen," Fennekin barked, as if to say "yeah, I like this" to his teammate.
DING! Ken's PokéScan went off in his pocket. Ken pulled it out as a message on the screen displayed that upon evolution Jolteon had forgotten growl and learned a new electrifying new attack: thunder shock. Jolteon took up a heroic pose ready to release its new power.
"Alright, now we're cooking with gasoline," Ken said. "Go get'em Jolteon!"
Jackson still looked smug.
"Vaporeon, acid armor again," Jackson said, clearly with a plan in mind.
Ken had a smile of his own.
"You may need that defensive buff," Ken said. "Jolteon, use thunder shock!"
"JOLTEON!" Jolteon shouted as blasted off a massive amount of yellow electric energy straight at Vaporeon.
The attack hit with lightning speed. It was a direct hit, kicking up a lot of dust in the process.
"That's super effective, how do you like them apples Jackson," Ken said.
The dust cleared…and Vaporeon was still standing. It had a little damage but had largely tanked the hit.
"More than you would expect," Jackson replied smugly. "Vaporeon, return fire with scald."
Vaporeon sent a blast of super-heated water that hit Jolteon head on. The new evolved Pokémon was thrown back and KOed.
"Jolteon is unable to battle," William chimed in.
"You may have evolved it to have a type advantage but its still just a low level Pokémon," Jackson said. "I've trained Vaporeon to be strong enough a move like that isn't going to be enough to stop her."
"Well, that didn't work," Ken said, before taking out Jolteon's Quick Ball. "Jolteon, return."
Fennekin gasped a bit at seeing Vaporeon knock out Jolteon so quickly. He and Ken weren't out of this fight yet but the odds were getting longer. If they were going to shut down Vaporeon though they may have to resort to some unorthodox tactics…and honestly Fennekin kind of liked those. Meanwhile a women in a blue had taken a position in the crowd and was looking right at Jackson.
AUTHOR NOTE
Thank you all for helping this fic reach 100 followers. I hope you are still enjoying the journey and there's more adventure to come.