Chapter 4: A force-feed of humility
Under the radiant sun, the beach came alive with a symphony of soothing waves and the playing laughter of a few different Pokémon frolicking in the sand. The golden sunlight painted the sky with hues of orange and pink, creating a canvas that mirrored the vibrant world of battles.
It was the perfect setting for a battle, especially for Juliana's first. There was even a small little battlefield for Trainers to duke it out on.
The compact battleground stretched out in a vibrant teal blue, resembling an expansive canvas under the azure sky. It was about the same size and length as an average football pitch, yet its significance eclipsed those boundaries.
At the heart of the arena, a bold Poké Ball insignia gleamed with many different bright colors, commanding attention. The symbol, like a guardian emblem, symbolized the nexus where Trainers' dreams converged with the boundless energy of their Pokémon.
Standing at the ends of the battlefield, were Juliana, the new student who had yet to even set foot in Naranja Academy, and Nemona, who was not just the president of the student council, but also a champion-ranked Trainer in her own right. Quite possibly the strongest Trainer to have been spawned by the prestigious academy in over a decade.
Their eyes locked in a determined gaze. The air crackled with anticipation, as the sun cast elongated shadows over the sandy expanse.
Juliana was the first to speak, breaking the silence that her and Nemona were indulging. "Wow, you weren't kidding, this place is just the perfect spot to have a battle. So I hope you're ready to do this, because I know me and Sprigatito are!" The girl exclaimed with a resolute glimmer in her eye.
"Tito, Sprigatito!" The little grass starter cried out in agreement with her new Trainer. The Pokémon stared down the Quaxly who was standing on the opposite end of the battlefield in front of its Trainer.
"You're quite confident in yourself. Much too confident." Nemona said in a monotone voice. "If you seriously think you have even the slightest chance of victory, then you're in for a big surprise."
"Oh yeah, didn't you say you're el gallo del corral?" Juliana asked with a sly grin. "You should know that grass type Pokémon like Sprigatito are strong to water types like Quaxly! Meaning you're the one who doesn't have the slightest chance of victory!"
Off to the side of the battlefield stood the director. Clavell watched as the two continued to bicker with curiosity. So, it seems Juliana's at the very least acquainted with basic type advantage and disadvantage... but if she thinks that alone will be enough to best Nemona, then maybe this really will be a great start to her curriculum.
"Alright!" Clavell cried out loudly getting the attention of both students. "This will be a one-on-one battle between both Trainers! The battle will end when one Pokémon on either side is unable to battle!"
"The Pokémon that'll be unable to battle is going to be Quaxly!" Juliana said confidently stretching her arms overhead, too happy going to have a care in the world.
"Good grief..." Nemona muttered quickly scanning her new water type with her Rotom Phone's built-in Pokédex. Taking another look at her Pokémon's move set.
Juliana did the same, briefly before their walk to the beach, the director explained to her how the Pokédex could thankfully tell the moves of a captured Pokémon.
"Awesome, I can work with this." Juliana said with a smile with her Rotom Phone sent to her back pocket. "Okay, I'd say I'm ready now!"
Nemona didn't return her smile. Instead she shut her eyes and spoke. "The same goes for me, Mr. Clavell, if you will..."
The director gave a nod of his head before uttering the words that allowed them to start. "Okay, now may the battle begin!"
The cool sea breeze, once playful, seemed to hold its breath, as a surge of pressure gripped the battlefield.
"Okay Sprigatito, let's do this, start with Leafage!" Juliana yelled signifying the battle's start. With that, the leaves around Sprigatito's neck glowed a light green in color, and it released multiple green glowing leaves from them straight for Quaxly.
The sharp, vibrant leaves hurled straight for the water type with the impending doom of a death sentence. Or at least that's how it felt for the cocky newbie Trainer as she knew an attack like that had a great chance of doing significant damage to the opposing water type.
Juliana watched intently before commanding her Pokémon. "Quick, dodge it with Water Gun!"
"Quaxly!" The Pokémon cried out giving a shout of its name before turning its attention to the ground. The pressurized stream of water that released from Quaxly's mouth was enough to propel Quaxly like a rocket off the ground and into the sky, the super affective Leafage attack entirely missing the water type thanks to it.
With a brush of shock, Juliana was taken aback. I had no idea you could use that move like that, amazing...! The girl thought before realizing Juliana had commanded her Quaxly to use another move in her hesitation.
In midair, Quaxly was encased in what could only be described as a veil of water, the attack looked quite beautiful, if Juliana weren't in the middle of a battle, she would be completely awestruck. The Duckling Pokémon blasted towards Sprigatito with a stream of water following it.
"That's Aqua Jet!" Juliana cried recognizing the move before countering. "Dodge it, fast!"
"Tito!" The Grass Cat Pokémon yelled before leaping back right as the water type was mere meters away from crashing into it. As Quaxly landed upon the ground, the veil of water splashed upon the battlefield, sparkly droplets of water landing all across the arena.
With Sprigatito still leaping back, Nemona continued the onslaught. "Now, Water Gun, and don't miss!"
Quaxly once again prepared for the iconic water type move. The Pokémon pulled its head back before firing another torrent of high-velocity water at its opponent.
Sprigatito had no time to dodge and so was blasted with a direct hit from Water Gun. The Pokémon began falling to the ground before catching itself midair redirecting itself on all fours without so much trouble.
"Sprigatito!" The Pokémon exclaimed, with exuberant confidence matching that of its Trainer's from earlier.
Juliana, who was momentarily worried gained her cocky grin back. "Hah! I admit that was smart what you did, but it won't matter, a water type move of that level is nothing to Sprigatito!"
"That so?" Nemona replied. "Then how about I use a move that's not a water type attack? Quaxly, continue with Pound!"
The water starter once again rushed forward towards its opponent. For a Pokémon with a type disadvantage, it sure was on the offensive.
"Leafag-" Juliana was about to call out before realizing something. If she were to use the same attack over again, then she'd have to do it in a manner where Sprigatito would sure to be able to land the attack, otherwise Quaxly could just fire Water Gun at the ground again and dodge it. "Actually Sprigatito, counter with Quick Attack!" She yelled.
Sprigatito, fueled by a surge of swiftness, executed the move with lightning speed. Bursting off the ground with enough speed and force she broke pieces of the floor below it. The nimble grass type was easily able to close the distance between herself and the oncoming Quaxly in the blink of an eye.
"Qu-axly!?" The water type squealed as all of a sudden as its opponent darted in front of it with such speed a bullet couldn't even compare. With uncanny agility and a sudden sidestep, Sprigatito effortlessly avoided the impending strike from Pound. Seizing the opportunity, the agile Pokémon delivered a precise counterstrike crashing into Quaxly's gut with Quick Attack.
The water type Pokémon was sent hurling across the battlefield with a cry of pain all before redirecting itself midair landing on its feet. "Qua... Quaxly." The water type exhaled reeling in pain from the move.
Okay, not bad. Nemona thought giving her opponent credit where it was due. The director felt the same way as he analyzed both Trainers.
Clavell smiled. Going for Quick Attack, it appears Ms. Juliana's actually thinking on her feet. How will Ms. Nemona respond? He couldn't help but wonder.
The thrill of the moment evermore fueled confidence in Juliana, evident in the glint of her eyes and the smirk that widened over her face. "You see that, Nemona!? My Sprigatito's got you licked! And I'll prove it with this next attack. Continue with Scratch!"
"Spriii!" Sprigatito screeched extending her right arm. Sharp claws protruded from her paw, glinting in the light like unsheathed daggers. Leaping off the ground she lunged straight for Quaxly who recovered from the damage it received from Quick Attack just in time to heed its Trainer's order.
"Now Quaxly, use Aqua Jet to put some distance between you and Sprigatito!" Nemona shouted.
Once again, the water type Pokémon was encased in a burst of aquatic energy, zooming off the ground floor and into the air managing to avoid the Scratch from Sprigatito who forged through the Aqua Jet landing on the floor in front of Nemona. The grass type swiftly turned around to get a look at its opponent who had been thrusted at least 25 feet off the floor, no longer covered in the water veil that was the move.
"Darn, if it's going to jump into the air, then so are we!" Juliana yelled getting a bright idea. "Now Sprigatito, leap into the air with Quick Attack!"
With a burst of kinetic energy, Sprigatito became a swift blur as it leaped into the air with the added speed of Quick Attack; being just the thing they needed to get high in the sky as she was heading straight for the airborne Quaxly. The surrounding air hummed with rapid movement as the nimble Pokémon was getting up-and-close to its opponent.
Only it didn't worry Nemona at all who seemed just as confident as her opponent— just not in an eccentric way. Finally, for the first time in the battle, Nemona's lips curled upward as she gave a smile which was quickly overshadowed by her sudden shift in demeanor. "Quaxly, use Wing Attack and fast!"
"W-Wing Attack!?" Juliana cried out in sheer shock. "T-that's a flying type move!"
Quaxly's wings unfurled like blades, catching the light as it launched into a Wing Attack that would inflict super effective damage if it were to land. As the water type began to descend towards its adversary, its wings sliced through the air as its speed began to increase dramatically.
Unfortunately for Sprigatito, there was no time to change her trajectory. She had already launched herself into the air after Quaxly like a rocket blasting off. On the moment of impact, the Wing Attack and Quick Attack birthed a turbulent swirl of smoke, enveloping the battlefield in a haze cloud, blocking both Trainers view.
Juliana instinctively raised her arm in an attempt to shield her eyes from the collision of attacks. Her hands pressed against her eyes; she finally began to uncover them after about 10 to 15 seconds in order to assess the situation.
Thankfully, the dust had quickly passed to reveal the outcome of the struggle. At the center of the ring lay Sprigatito who was covered in scratches. The wounded Pokémon staggered each step a laborious effort as it teetered on the brink of exhaustion. Her movements, once swift and agile, were now marked by a visible struggle.
Clavell delicately removed his glasses, a brief pause in the midst of the battle. He meticulously wiped away some dust that had accumulated from the swirling cloud that had just formed. Placing his glasses back, he further evaluated the situation. Ms. Nemona, excellent as usual. Even on the same footing as Ms. Juliana, her talent and experience shines like a polished gem.
"Sprigatito, are you okay!?" Juliana cried out to her damaged Pokémon in fear. She didn't like the look of her starter. Of course, taking a super effective move like Wing Attack head-on would do that. It was then when she looked back towards her Pokémon, just to see Quaxly standing over it.
The battle wasn't over yet, but Quaxly's eyes were victorious and resolute. Standing tall over its half-conscious opponent, a silhouette of dominance. With an unwavering gaze, it stared fixedly with its struggling opponent.
For a brief moment, Nemona remained silent. Instead of calling out a finishing move she simply turned around. Turning away from the battle. Turning away from her opponent, confusing Juliana. Or at least until she finally spoke the words that would signify the end of the battle. "Quaxly, let's end this, use Pound." She commanded; her tone of voice triumphant.
The Duckling Pokémon raised its arms overhead, cupping them with a momentary pause that seemed to hold the battlefield's breath. Sprigatito, battered and attempting to walk away, persisting in the face of her injuries. However, the attempt proved to be futile, as Quaxly swiftly brought its arms down, delivering a decisive Pound to the back of the Grass Cat Pokémon's head.
"Sprigatito no!" Juliana cried out calling for her Pokémon. But it was too late. The grass type Pokémon began a slow descent to the ground as its weakened legs gave way, and with a graceless surrender at that.
"Spri... i...to.." Juliana's partner Pokémon uttered on the floor in an unconscious state. Clearly in no condition to continue.
"And with that, Sprigatito is unable to battle! Meaning Ms. Nemona is the battle's victor!" The director cried out as Juliana rushed forward towards her fallen Pokémon.
"Sprigatito, Sprigatito, are you alright!?" The girl panicked on her knees with her Pokémon in her arms as she tried to shake her awake. Much to her relief, Sprigatito's eyes began to slowly open, revealing a glint of consciousness as she began to emerge from its momentary stupor.
"Thank goodness you're alright, Sprigatito." Juliana cried bringing her Pokémon closer to her as she hugged her starter. "You battled like a warrior. Thank you so much. We may not have won, but that battle showed me that I was right to choose you." The girl said encouraging her Pokémon before looking up at the sound of a Pokémon returning to its Poké Ball.
Nemona recalled Quaxly back to its Poké Ball. Before she placed the ball back, she held it close to her chest and spoke. "Buen trabajo, Quaxly. That was an amazing first battle, now have a good rest." The girl said having vanquished her opponent's Pokémon. With her eyes no longer on her Poké Ball, they drifted off to the defeated Trainer before her.
With a posture exuding triumph, Nemona stood tall, her eyes conveying a mix of accomplishment and dominance. Juliana, still on her knees with Sprigatito clutched in her hold looked towards her opponent once more locking eyes with her.
Nemona's demeanor once again shifted as she dropped the intense gleam in her glare. She instead gave a sigh with a tinge of disappointment.
Juliana, cradling her weary Pokémon, was simply waiting for Nemona to say whatever it was she was going to say.
"You sure did talk a lot. Despite how unlikely it seemed; I had hoped that you would be a Trainer with potential that could pose some sort of challenge to me." Nemona explained, gripping her fists tightly. "I tried to hide that hope in an effort to not let myself down when I inevitably won. But despite that, you still manage to disappoint me."
"Nemona, please!" Clavell said, raising his voice. "She may have lost, but it was her first Pokémon Battle. You must give her some credit, she did quite well for a novice."
The girl paid the director no mind and instead kept belittling her defeated opponent. "You're lucky I even entertained the idea of battling you. Cause frankly, it'll take you 1,000 years before you're anywhere near my level. I hope that'll teach you to challenge a champion-ranked Trainer again, idiota." Nemona said as she swaggered past the newbie Trainer without so much as a second glance at her.
Her words stung deeply. But it was obvious to Juliana that every word the girl had said was right on the money. Juliana got up from her knees still holding her grass type in her arms with a drop of sweat on her face.
"Do please forgive Nemona. I apologize in her stead." Clavell stated with Juliana looking over to him. "She didn't always behave like that, she used to be quite energetic and friendly. You see, she truly does love Pokémon and especially battling. But ever since she completed the gym challenge last year, no students at the academy dare battle her let alone talk to her. They're terrified of her..."
"I can see why." Juliana replied with her eyes beginning to water. "But, everything she spoke about was right. I got way too cocky, I thought losing wasn't possible since Quaxly had a type disadvantage to Sprigatito. But now I see that the only person with a disadvantage was me."
"Don't be too hard on yourself." Clavell said. "Think of this as a learning experience. That's what I intended this to be."
Juliana delicately rubbed the tears that lingered on her cheeks. With a determined inhale, she forced a smile to surface trying to mask her sadness. "Right! A learning experience!" The girl exclaimed trying to sound like her normal self. "I was being arrogant thinking I could defeat a seasoned Trainer like Nemona as I am now, but that's okay. Because I have a whole lot to learn when I'm at Naranja Academy. I— no, we, are going to get a whole lot stronger!" Juliana said shifting her attention to the starter in her grasp. "One day, we'll battle Nemona again. And I promise we'll defeat her, how do you feel about that, Sprigatito?"
The Grass Cat Pokémon's eyes wavered for a split second before it was overcome with a shroud of resolve. The starter inspired by her Trainer's determination. "Sprigatito! Tito, Tito!" She exclaimed matching Juliana's energy.
Clavell smiled at the girl's spunk. "Oh dear. You actually remind me a bit of myself back in my youth... the passage of time, never let it grasp through your fingers." He said getting a laugh out of the girl. "Alright, at the fall of dusk, we'll be setting off for Mesagoza, where the Academy is located. You're welcome to join us, Miss."
"Really!? Well... that certainly beats walking there!" Juliana agreed. "Well, where will we meet up?"
"Why Nemona's house of course. That's where I'll be residing in the meantime, of course." Clavell answered.
"Sounds good to me, Mr. Clavell, ¡hasta pronto!" The girl said saying her goodbyes as she released Sprigatito from her arms as the starter was finally feeling like she could move around by herself freely now. Juliana and her Pokémon simply ran along running past the beach which would forever mark the first ever battle they ever had as Trainer and Pokémon.
The two weren't even sure where they were heading off to. Maybe back home. Maybe into the forest to try and battle some wild Pokémon. That'd be a good way to get some training in before starting her first day at Naranja. As she ran past the entrance gate of Nemona's house, she saw her mom standing outside the gate with a bag in her hand.
"Mamá!" Juliana cried out surprised to see her there. Mother immediately smiled seeing as she wasn't too late to see her daughter before she went off for her first day. But the soon noticed which Pokémon was standing by her daughter's side."
"¡Es increíble, mi hija!" Mom cried out. "So you chose Sprigatito, I had a feeling you'd like that one!"
"Yeah, I love her already!" Juliana said glancing at the spirited starter by her side before returning her attention to her mother. "But what're you doing here? You come to try and see my off again before I leave for school?"
"I had realized I had forgotten to give you a few things." Mother said pulling out from her bag a wrapped sandwich. "Some lunch for you while you're on your way to Naranja." She said as she held it out for her daughter to take.
"Oh wow, thanks, I just hope you didn't put any mayonnaise on it." Juliana said placing it into her bag with her mom pulling out something else.
With a swift motion, mom deftly pulled out a Poké Ball from the bag. The ball glistening under the sunlight. It definitely caught Juliana's eye at least.
"I have 6 Poké Balls in here for you. That should be enough to catch some Pokémon for sure. I hope you use them wisely." She said as she handed the entire bag to her daughter.
"Thanks mamá! That really saves me the trouble of having to buy these from a Poké Mart or store, I appreciate it." Juliana said placing the Poké Balls in her bag.
"Now, what will you do next?" Mother asked as Juliana began to give it some thought. The girl hatched an idea turning over to Sprigatito beside her with a wide grin on her face. "How about we use some of these Poké Balls here? What do you say we try and catch a Pokémon!?"
"Spriga, Spriga!" The grass type shouted feeling ready for another battle already recovered from her previous match.
"Yes! Let's do it then!" Juliana cried running off into the distance, no longer feeling upset about the tremendous loss she and Sprigatito had taken. As she ran, she turned back to see her mom one last time. "Love you mamá! I'll call you when I get to school!" She said as she ran off straight for the forest.
Think this is my longest chapter yet, but that's a wrap for this one! I hope you guys enjoyed. Also, that was the first battle scene in the story so far, so I hope it was good. I tried to be as descriptive as possible, let me know if you guys think it was any good.
Also, I have 3 reviews as of writing this! I want to thank everyone of you for leaving reviews. If you're reading this story and have something to say about it, then please leave a review, as it gives me the encouragement I need to keep going.
Anyways, see you guys soon!