This is actually my second attempt to write this chapter. I wrote a good chunk of it on my phone, but then I tried to save it as a draft, and my phone logged me out of the website, which deleted the fucking save. So, here's attempt number two of this chapter, so if this is coming out on a Monday instead of Sunday, that's why. Also, I'm saying this again, but I really need you guys to vote on a character to win the Master Class! Please? Anyway, enjoy.
Chapter 70:
Frosty Reception
Max has obviously seen snow before. But Snowbelle City is something else. He is blown away with just how pretty it is. Bonnie can't help but stare at Max's wonder. She has to admit, he looks extremely cute as he stared out at the city in amazement. Iris shivers slightly when she sees some of the ice types playing around the City. Georgia noticed this and gives her hand a comforting squeeze, which Iris appreciates. Then, the two head towards the hotel they're staying in. Max and Bonnie decide to stay at that place as well, both of them decidedly sick of sleeping in Pokémon Centres. Luckily for them, they manage to book a room with two separate beds. There's even a TV in the lounge, which they can use to watch the Master Class. Once they have their room booked in, they part ways with Iris and Georgia, who head off to their own room for the night.
After a good night's sleep, in two separate beds, thank Arceus, they meet up with the couple for breakfast in the hotel's food court. As they ate, Bonnie excitedly discussed getting her final badge and finally challenging the League. "Well, we'll be sure to be there to watch you when you do," Iris tells her. "But when you do get the badge, we won't be leaving just yet. Ash's girlfriend will be participating in the Master Class, so we're going to watch it." "We're planning on watching it was well!" Bonnie tells her. "The trouble is, there are 5 people I want to support, so I don't know who to vote for!" "Just vote for whichever one impresses you the most," Max replies, taking a bit of his pancakes. "That's what I'm going to do." Bonnie nods in agreement, then carries on eating.
When all four of them are finished, they leave the hotel and head over to the Snowbelle Gym for Bonnie's final badge. As they head there, Iris holds onto Georgia's arm for comfort, which Georgia is all too happy to let her do. "I think this'll be a great way for you to get over your fear," she says as they walk. "It's an ice type gym, so it should be a good way for you to get used to them." Iris tenses slightly. Clearly she had no idea that it was an ice type gym until right now. But still, she nods and follows the other three into the gym. "B-Be sure to w-w-win this quickly Bonnie," Iris tells her. "I d-don't want to b-be in h-h-here anymore than I have t-t-too!" Bonnie nods to her as the enter the building, trying, and failing, to keep a straight face. Max however isn't so good at doing this, especially when a few Bergmites come out to greet them, causing Iris to squeak with fear and jump behind Georgia.
As usual, Max and Bonnie separate at the door to the gym itself with Iris and Georgia following him into the stands while Bonnie goes into the arena alone. Iris makes sure to hide behind Georgia the entire way in, because the Bergmites seem to be staring at her. Bonnie walks into the battle arena, ready to face her final opponent before the League. On the opposite side of the arena stood Wulfric, already holding a pokéball in his hands. "I knew I'd see you here eventually," he says cheerily when Bonnie stands in front of him. "So, I'm guessing this is the final badge you need?" Bonnie nods, to which Wulfric smiles. "Well, there's a reason why I'm often the last one people face," he continues. "Despite being an ice type trainer, I am formidable. So, do you believe you can take me on?" Bonnie pulls her first pokémon from her belt. "Of course I do!" she replies. Wulfric smirks, then readies his own.
The referee ran through the usual rules about single battles, then steps back and allows this one to begin. Bonnie starts off with Talonflame, while Wulfric starts off with an Avalugg. Everyone in the room is expecting this to be an easy win for Bonnie. She has Talonflame start off with Flame Charge, enveloping Avalugg in an explosion. However, when the dust clears Avalugg is still standing. Bonnie can only stare in stock at this. But then things get worse when Avalugg uses Avalanche on Talonflame. Despite having the type advantage, the attack still does colossal damage. Talonflame is still flying however, and tries to use another Flame Charge. Max tries to warn Bonnie that that's a bad idea because of Avalanche, but it's too late. Talonflame charges in with the attack, and once again Avalugg survives. It uses another Avalanche, which takes her out.
"Talonflame is unable to battle!" the ref announces. Bonnie swear under her breath, then pulls out her next choice. She was hoping to save this one for last, but Talonflame was supposed to defeat Avalugg, so now she needs to use Max's backup plan if she wants a chance to win. So, she sends out Gardevoir and Mega Evolves her. Then, Gardevoir charges in with Psybeam, which does a lot of damage. Avalugg uses Avalanche again, but Gardevoir manages to teleport away to avoid it. Then, she teleports over Avalugg's head and shoots Psychic down on top of it. Before it can try to use any attack on Gardevoir, she uses Psycho Cut, managing to defeat the Avalugg, much to Bonnie's relief. Now she's back on track.
"Avalugg is unable to battle!" says the ref. Bonnie sees Wulfric grin a bit at this, and begins to worry. But then he sends out his own Bergmite, much to Bonnie's relief. The battle resumes, and Gardevoir goes in with Psychic, but Bergmite manages to dodge it and use Rapid Spin, dealing a bit of damage. Gardevoir tries to use heal Pulse, but Bergmite is just a bit faster this time, and manages to hit her with Ice Beam. To Bonnie's horror, Gardevoir is frozen by the attack. Bergmite uses the opportunity to use Sharpen twice, then hit her with a much more powerful Rapid Spin. Luckily, it doesn't defeat Gardevoir, but it does hurt her a lot. It also breaks her free of the ice, so she quickly uses Psybeam and takes Bergmite out.
"Bergmite is unable to battle!" calls the ref. "Gym Leader Wulfric is down to his final pokémon!" Bonnie swallows nervously. If she recalls correctly, the next one is... Finishing her thought for her, Wulfric sends out Abomasnow. Then, he Mega Evolves it, making it hairier and bigger. Once he's fully Mega Evolved, Abomasnow uses his ability to whip up a hailstorm. Bonnie pushes down her nerves then refocuses on the battle. She tries to start with Heal Pulse, but Abomasnow gets there first. He strikes Gardevoir with Ice Shard, taking her out in one hit.
"Gardevoir is unable to battle!" exclaims the ref. "Challenger Bonnie is down to her last pokémon!" Now, Bonnie knows it's over. She only has one left, and she was supposed to be used against Bergmite. But with no other choice, Bonnie sends out her last pokémon, Fennekin. Up in the stands, Max closes his eyes. In all the battles they've had, Max's strategy has yet to fail. And yet, for the first time, it does. Fennekin doesn't stand a chance. She tries to hit Abomasnow with Ember, and it does a little bit of damage, but not enough. Abomasnow strikes her with Wood Hammer, knocking her backwards into the wall. As she tries to stagger to her feet and attack again, she's hit by Ice Shard, and goes down in under a minute.
"Fennekin is unable to battle!" shouts the ref. "Making Gym Leader Wulfric the winner of this battle!" Bonnie returns Fennekin, then walks over to Wulfric. "Good try girlie," he says. "You know, so far this season, I've yet to have someone beat me on their first try." Bonnie looks up. "Really?" she asks. Wulfric nods. "In fact, the girl before you talked big, very big in fact," he says. "But she took four attempts to beat me." He chuckles at this. "Give it another shot tomorrow, I'm sure you'll have better luck then." Bonnie nods, thanks Wulfric, then exits the stadium. Max, Iris and Georgia follow after her, Iris notably glad to be leaving the gym.
They sit around in front of the hotel while Bonnie tends to Fennekin, who looks particularly upset about how quickly she lost. "Don't worry about it Fennekin," Bonnie tells her. "You did great! It's amazing you even managed to damage the Abomasnow!" But Fennekin still looks disappointed in herself. "Perhaps she's upset that she's still in her base form?" Georgia suggests. At this, Treecko, who came out of his ball to comfort his friend, points to himself, as if to say, "I'm still at my base level. You aren't the only one!" Fennekin nods at this, but still looks upset. "Perhaps you should use her first next time?" Iris suggests. "Have her beat the Bergmite, that might help." Fennekin looks quite worried about that. Max kneels down in front of her. "It wasn't your fault Fennekin," he tells her. "It was mine. I should've come up with a better plan." Bonnie shakes her head at this. "No, your strategy was excellent!" she says. "How could you have predicted Gardevoir being frozen?" "That's not the only reason you lost," comes a voice from inside the hotel. "There's more to strategy than keeping your pokémon conscious." The four of them turn around to see the Alola gang stepping out. "Sometimes part of a good strategy is allowing one of your pokémon to faint, so you can weaken the opponent as much as possible" Gladion says.
As I feared, this ended up being a day late, sorry about that. I got to near the end of the battle when I decided to stop and save. That's when A03 logged me out of my account, (I was updating it there first to save space on my laptop) and I lost any interest in finishing this thing off yesterday. But, it's out now instead, and don't worry, it's still being updated on Wednesday. Trust me when I say, you'll like the next one. It's going to have quite the battle. Also, sorry that this was so short, I couldn't think of much else to add to it. But anyway, see you all in the next chapter.