Chapter 3 - Slowbro and Crossbones
The sun was up, and the skittish Pidove on Route 8 cooed and fluttered away at every small movement. Nearly the entire town had gathered outside to watch the spectacle. Mayor Wilkins and Irena stood next to Havila, trying to talk her out of it, but she was adamant. Their arguments continued until Lucian was spotted coming down the hill. Havila saw him and began walking towards him. They stopped roughly twenty meters apart. Mayor Wilkins sighed, and sent out a Drowzee. The Psychic Pokémon broadcast the mayor's words to the watching crowd.
"The battle is between Leader Lucian Grey and the challenger, our own Havila Wilkins. Both trainers will use a single Pokémon, and will continue until one is unable to battle." The Mayor looked to Lucian and spoke to him alone. "Please, do not be upset with her. We tried to talk to her, but she was…well, stubborn. Like her mother." Lucian nodded, his hand clutching his single Pokéball.
He and his opponent faced each other in silence for a long time, waiting for the other to make a move first. She looked much different now - her hair was up in a tight bun, and a bright red bandana was tied around her neck like a scarf. Instead of a uniform, she wore something more fit for a rough-and-tumble tomboy. Jeans, graphic tee, and a jacket emblazoned with the Acria League Logo. Artemis stood next to Irena off a way, so Havila's chosen Pokémon was a mystery.
Both trainers took their positions as Drowzee raised up a barrier around the battlefield. Lucian took a step back, poised to throw. A practiced movement that he had perfected to be his own. "Go!" The Pokéball sailed through the air. Havila took a deep breath and thrust the Pokéball out. Both opened, and the creatures within emerged.
The challenger sent out a Slowbro. Larger, but still as dopey, it was still essentially a Slowpoke. The twisted shell clamped to its tail improved its power several fold, and the natural bulk of the species was on full display. Its fur and teeth looked to be in near flawless condition - well bred, well trained, and well cared for.
On the other hand, Lucian's Pangoro was a tower of fur and muscle. Nearly seven foot tall, face stuck in a permanent scowl, the Dark Pokémon had a clear type and power advantage. Pangoro had seen battle in nearly every League he had challenged and had dealt with its fair share of Slowbro. This one would be no different.
Both Pokémon roared and the battle began. "Use Snarl!" Lucian commanded, and his Pokémon jumped to action. A gutteral noise echoed across the field, making the trainer and her partner flinch. The move was a success, and super effective at that. But Slowbro was bulky, barely making a dent in its reserve energy. She grimaced and taunted him.
"Starting off with such a dirty trick! Fine then: use Trick Room!" The space within the barrier was full of a strange energy, and Pangoro became sluggish. A classic maneuver, good for her pokemon. Slowbro seemed to speed up, moving as gracefully as a creature of its size could. "Flamethrower!"
A gout of fire shot forth from Slowbro's mouth at the command, hitting Pangoro directly. It responded with a roll and a brutal punch. A thick purple light flashed as the fist made contact. "Good work, Pangoro. Get ready for the counter attack!" Lucian said calmly. The murmurs started rumbling through the crowd.
"What happened? Did he give an order?" Irena whispered to her uncle while they watched. The Pokémon started circling each other, waiting for additional orders. Despite the attacks, Pangoro seemed full of energy. Slowbro on the other hand was slowing down.
"A Pokémon that can read it's trainer's mind…that looked like the move Poison Jab, and it looks like Slowbro was poisoned by the attack. Pangoro and Lucian are in perfect sync." He looked over to her. "Just like you and your Slowpoke. Poor Havila might lose this one."
Inside the barrier, Slowbro stumbled, queuing Lucian to the offensive. "Bulk up, then go for a Dynamic Punch!" Pangoro took in a sharp breath before rushing forward.
"Er, stop him Slowbro! Use Ice Beam." Slowbro blasted Pangoro and managed to sidestep the attack.
"Again!" Both trainers ordered. Slowbro pivoted, but stumbled from the poison. Pangoro's fist met Slowbro's face and a massive explosion rocked the Route. Slowbro went flying, crashing into the barrier and falling down a few feet from its trainer. Irena gasped and ran towards her daughter. But despite the chaos, Lucian remained calm. Pangoro didn't look too great at the moment.
"Get up Slowbro, get up!" Havila called with tears in her eyes. Slowbro slowly stumbled to its feet, but it kept stumbling. "Snap out of it, c'mon! Please, finish him. Flamethrower! Come-on! Flamethrower!" The pokemon responded, but the beam went wide, striking the barrier. But then it continued to attack, launching Ice Beams and Psychic blasts. The Pokémon stumbled and wobbled as it continued flailing away. Pangoro was dodging as best it could trying to close the distance.
"Pangoro stay back! Havila, stop your Slowbro before it gets hurt!" Lucian yelled, running around to where his opponent stood. Doctor Aisha and the Mayor soon followed. After flailing for a few moments, Slowbro dropped to the ground - completely exhausted. Havila looked as confused as her Pokémon and demanded an answer even as the doctor pulled some medicine from her bag. "Dynamic Punch confuses if it hits…you pushed your partner too far, a trainer needs to remain calm at all times during a battle." Lucian said, a bit of chiding in his voice.
"Don't…don't tell me -" she started, shame and anger in her voice. But she was interrupted by slow clapping from behind them. A small gathering had approached - six trainers in black uniforms, led by a man in similar outfit a pirate hat.
"Well fought, little miss. But I'm a-feared you're as piss a trainer as dear old dad." The leader said, a typical pirate accent piercing the air. Irena stood and stormed forward. Her face was red with fury.
"Leave, you…you bastard." the man chuckled and backhanded her before stepping closer. Havila yelped and ran over to her mom. The town folk seemed to shirk away from the gang, and cleared a path for them as they approached Lucian.
"I hear that there be a new leader in town, and I hear he be giving my boys some…difficulty. Do it be true?" There was a open threat in his words. The group behind him snickered. Lucian recognized a few of them from the port. It seems they went running to their boss after he humiliated them.
"...I think you heard wrong. It wasn't difficult at all." Lucian answered flatly. Pangoro behind him did not sound as calm. It stomped up behind its trainer, breathing deeply and furiously. Its jaw was clenched, its fists tight and a deadly aura fell upon the group. The grunts backed off, but the leader stood face to face with Lucian. His scraggly beard and golden teeth added a sinister weight to his presence.
"First ye crush em and now ye insult them? We ain't no prissy fanclub, landlubber. Acria fears us. And I may need to teach ye why that be." The man pulled out a Pokéball and opened it. A rough and ready Feraligatr appeared behind the man, nearly matching Pangoro in height and bulk. "I be the First Mate of the Crossbones, Donnelwin. Bite his arm off, Feraligatr." Both Pokémon moved before either trainer could react. Chaos erupted as Pangoro and Feraligatr grappled and pummeled each other.
"Mayor, take everyone to a safe distance and raise the Barrier!" The grunts threw their pokemon into the mix, making the fight seven against one. But the barrier was up, sealing the Pokémon inside. "Pangoro, focus on Feraligatr, Thunder Punch!" Pangoro tossed aside a Treecko and decked its target across the maw. A few teeth chipped from the impact, and Feraligatr took a few steps back. A bug-type Pokémon shot a web at Pangoro to slow it down, leaving him vulnerable as Feraligatr swung its tail. Pangoro was hit with a devastating Aqua Tail attack knocking it back against the protective wall.
"Alright, change of plans." Lucian nodded and called out behind him. "Hold on to something: Pangoro, Earthquake!" Pangoro roared and slammed both fists into the ground, knocking the small fry airborne. Feraligatr darted forward and hit Pangoro with a wicked Slash. Lucian's Pokémon clutched its chest and stumbled.
"A good effort, but yer outmatched. Let's end this, Feraligatr. Giga Impact!" Feraligatr inhaled sharply, its body flexing from the strain of preparing such an attack. It bellowed and charged forward, dodging attacks from Pangoro and jumping around. Each small impact built momentum until the gator leapt into the air and dove down in a corkscrew motion. The two Pokémon crashed into the broken earth and into the barrier, shattering it completely. A cloud of dust blocked out everything from view.
Everyone was silent, waiting to see the result of the clash. "Pangoro…are you ready?" There was a moment of quiet before the pained grunt sounded from the center of the cloud. The Crossbones were in shock as a tall figure rose from the dust, holding up the struggling Feraligatr. It needed to recharge from the attack, leaving it completely helpless. "Use Counter!" Pangoro roared and slammed Feraligatr into the dirt once. The still-shocked Crossbones were frozen as Pangoro tossed Feraligatr at the First Mate, then proceeded to scare off the other small-fry Pokémon.
Lucian stepped forward, standing next to his Pokémon. He glared at the gang, and watched as the First Mate struggled to get out from under his fallen Pokémon. "You're the ones who are outmatched. Now leave - next time I won't be so merciful." The grunts started running off, but Donnelwin stood after returning his Pokémon.
"Ye ain't seen the last of me, nor the Crossbones Crew…sleep in fear, Gym Leader. Ye'll get yers…" he took a few steps back before turning and limping back down to port. The quiet chirping of bugs and birds returned within a few moments, prompting everyone to take a collective sigh of relief. Pangoro let out a low sigh before its legs buckled and it crashed to the ground. Lucian knelt down next to it and gently patted its stomach. "Get some rest, friend. You did great."
The rest of the people didn't wait around. They muttered a small thanks to Lucian before leaving. Only the doctor, the Mayor and his family remained. Havila took a few steps forward and tried to speak a few times before she worked up the courage to speak. "...now you've done it." Tears welled up in her eyes and she slapped Lucian across the face. "You…you're…I hate you!" She turned and ran, leaving Slowbro laying in the dirt. Irena stood, holding her red cheek. She just shook her head and left with Doctor Aisha and Slowbro.
"I'm sorry, Lucian…thank you for standing up for us." He adjusted his tie, looking at the devastation that the Pokémon had wrought. "That was on another level. I've never seen so much raw power. Very glad that you are on our side… I am confident that you can protect us." Mayor Wilkins nodded and walked back up the hill to Old Sun City, leaving Lucian alone on the Route. After the stinging on his face calmed down, he put Pangoro back into the Pokéball and headed up towards the Gym.