Chapter 7
Oreburgh City Gym
"Rampardos use head smash." The dinosaur Pokémon popped out of the water and blasted Omastar with his head, nearly doubling his speed, "Goodnight Miracle."
"Not good." Miracle was at a loss, but as her thoughts drifted to her first possible loss in a few years, she saw Pineco knock Chimchar out of the way, taking the hit all by his self, "Pineco!"
Pineco was surprisingly holding its own against the powered up attack, then his small body began to envelope itself in an orange aura.
"What's happening?!" Rocca said in surprise. In that moment an explosion occurred between Omastar and Pineco, sending the ball shaped Pokémon flying through the air and into the wall behind its trainer, out cold.
"Omastar is unable to battle, we have a one on two Pokémon battle remaining. So let's continue," The referee declared.
"I'm still lost as to what happened."
Miracle was smiling as she examined her small Pokémon during the brief intermission. "I'm shocked you don't know that move, seeing how it's a very common defense against powerful rock types. He just used counter."
Rocca was a bit shaken, "How, it's a very rare move in that breed of Pokémon. Like one in a couple thousand rare."
"I will admit I was a bit shocked, but my Pokémon tend to…Man up, when the time arises."
"That's not ordinary. I'll have you know that I asked around to some other gym leaders, especially in Kanto, and Hoenn and it seems you have a knack for pulling the impossible, even more so then your father did as a kid."
"Have faith will travel I guess. Chimchar grab hold of Pineco, and Pineco use drill run." The small Pokémon both began to spin and then took off at Rampardos.
"Intercept with head-butt!" Rampardos leaped into the air to blast the pair.
"Chimchar let go and use double kick." The monkey Pokémon let go, he dropped below Rampardos' head while the weight change lifted Pineco up over the strike. This allowed him to change direction and hit Rampardos from behind, while Chimchar blasted him in the gut.
The dinosaur came crashing down on the ground at his trainers feet, but was still, barely able to get to its feet, "Your guys may have been stronger Rocca, but it seems like the big guy here is running out of steam." Miracle smiled, "Pineco use drill run!"
"Rampardos intercept with head smash!" Rocca yelled.
"Chimchar use double kick to increase Pineco's speed." Chimchar nodded and as his partner flew by he flipped backward and placed a pair of kicks to Pineco's top, almost doubling its speed, and most likely its damage.
Rampardos swung its head to meet the spinning bug Pokémon and the resulting crash and explosion threw the pair of Pokémon to their trainers, both out cold.
"We have a double elimination, resulting in a win by Miracle Ketchum and her Chimchar!" The ref declared with a shout.
Miracle ran out and grabbed Chimchar before making her way over to her fainted bug Pokémon, "Good job you guys, and you were both amazing. Especially you Pineco, I think you have just earned the label of tank."
"Pineco…zzzzz." Her little bug Pokémon tried to cheer before falling back to sleep.
"Okay Miracle. You have beaten me and have earned yourself the Coal Badge. Proof you have defeated me and my Pokémon." Rocca smiled, handing off the badge.
"Thanks Rocca," Mira said happily. "It's a badge I will always reflect upon."
"Good, now ill invite you all to join me and my boys for lunch. Maybe I can inform you on your opponents here in the Sinnoh region."
"We never turn down a free meal," Azula said jumping down to the battlefield with Harmony in tow laughing.
"Teran tell the cook we will have four guests. Garret why don't you go close up the gym for a few hours."
"Yes mom." They said in unison.
"Now girls, follow me back to the house."
"So Rocca, what are the reasons you use rock types," Sakinah asked.
"My dad was a miner all his life, on top of that he was also the leader in Canalava City. He was obsessed with fossils, and his passion for them seeped into my consciousness as well. Then came the day he finally found a shield fossil."
"And that is?" Zula asked.
"It's a fossil named for its shape, and when put through the regeneration process, out comes a Shieldon." Miracle said.
"Your father the first person to find a shield fossil wasn't he?" Sakinah added, "I read that it's what turned the gym from a rock gym to a steel gym."
"It was. It was also the first thing my dad and I had a major blow up about. That was followed by him catching me in make-up, and then in dresses. Then shortly after I met Ash…WE had made up after what seemed like forever, he caught me and my partner at the time engaging in some naughty things on this very battlefield. And then it was like the gates of hell were opened."
"So you were caught banging your girlfriend in your gym, what's wrong with that?" Azula said.
"Yeah, my girlfriend was banging me." Rocca said red in the face. This comment also caused Mira and Saki to go red as well.
"I admit, that sounds pretty hot," Azula chuckled.
"Yeah, but even after I married her, we had the boys and they started growing I let that hateful man be a part of my life till the day he died. And in turn he tried turning my own children against me."
The group walked into the house and saw that the table had already been set and was filled with sandwiches and an assortment of salads. There was also water and juices on a cart nearby.
"Good spread Rocca. You trying to fatten us up or something." Mira laughed.
"Yeah, I'm sorry but none of you are my type." She replied, "But why don't you all take a seat, and we can talk business."
The trio settled in on one side while Rocca and her boys took up the other and Harmony was placed on the end to make feeding her easier.
"Okay Rocca. What information do you have for me?" Miracle asked.
"So first things first, lots of changes have happened in the last few years. Gardenia and Candice are still leaders of their gyms, same with me. Crasher Wake retired and was replaced by his protégé Barry."
"Really Barry is a gym leader now? My Aunt Dawn could have told me that." Miracle sighed, "Is he still trying to fine people?"
"Oh yeah, he has always been crazy. Next in line is Veilstone which is now a tag team gym consisting of Maylene, the previous leader and Fantina the former leader of Hearthome City."
"That's an interesting pairing?" Saki questioned.
"Actually it's a partnership that works in both their favors." Garrett spoke up, "Maylene has become so focused, that she is on the short list for the next member of the Elite Four. And Fantina…. She found a person she could help grow up, since she sadly lost her child early in life."
"I forgot about that," Sakinah said, "She had a few miscarriages before she gave birth to her son, who sadly passed away at the age of three."
"Her ex Aaron, a former member of the Elite Four, took over her gym when they finally split up." Teran added.
"Who took over your dad's gym?" Azula asked.
"She is a newcomer on the scene, a real super soldier badass. Her name is Motoko; she still uses steel types but trains with psychics and fighting types. There is a reason she is now considered the hardest gym in the region."
"I like this gal," Zula added.
"So that leaves Sunnyshore City." Miracle said.
"And that's the only gym that is unused at the moment." Rocca said sadly.
"Oh I remember, he was shot a few months back. He was protecting the gym from a mess of poachers and took a couple bullets." Sakinah said.
"Yeah, sadly he is in a medically induced comma while they try to get his body to a point it can take care of itself. So as of now they are looking to bring in a Gym Leader to substitute for a while, if not completely taken over."
"Wasn't he married to another gym leader?" Miracle asked.
"Another sad situation, they were in the midst of a divorce when this all happened. She had moved back to Jhoto when this had happened, but no one has heard from her. I think she is having a hard time taking all the information in and was about to have a nervous breakdown." Rocca sighed, "But I know how strong she can be, and sooner rather than later, hopefully this will all fix itself."
"Well I sure hope it looks up for everyone," Saki said.
"Thank you for the well wishes, I'll pass it on to all the others. But with all that being said I should probably wrap this lunch up and get back to work. But if you all come back tomorrow afternoon, I think I can make your last day here in Oreburgh a little more fun."
"I think that will be fine, you guys up for one more day of fun here?" Mira asked.
"Sure, Harmony seems to like it here as well," Saki said.
"Good, so how about you come by around one. Then we can start the fun." Rocca smiled, "I will see you all tomorrow." They all said their goodbyes, and everyone parted ways knowing they'd see one another tomorrow.
SOMEWHERE IN HOENN
The long slender shadow weaved its way over the volcanic terrain, its wound still prevalent but healing.
"Need to find Miracle, Lady Miracle." The form finally fell over in exhaustion.
When the shadow awoke it was in a large room laying on a bed, its wounds patched up and energy through the roof.
"Looks like you are finally up," A female voice said, the figure turned to see a woman in red standing at the door way, "Now I know I have not seen a lot of Pokémon, but I have studied what you are."
"What are you going to do with me?" The being asked.
"Depends on what you tell me. Now how about we start with why you're looking for my daughter in law?"
