Note- Nearly two months without a chapter... yikes! As a teacher and tennis coach, Spring always kicks my butt! But even with less time to write, the warming temperature, longer days, and blooming plant life inspire me to work and give this story my all! We rejoin Chris after his defeat in the Winter Classic's Quarterfinals. Despite his loss, the trainer and his team put in some work and learned some valuable lessons. But the craziest experience of all came about when the team ran across a creature in the wild that could perhaps be Luke's Charizard! But with Luke not responding, Chris set his sights south, where a Gym Leader and a hefty medical bill potentially await him. It all shakes down today on another action packed installment of Heart and Soul! Hope you enjoy! Please Review and Subscribe!
Chapter 49
Mahogany Town's northern watchtower sat silent and foreboding against the night sky. The breeze that broke against it bore no snow but carried an icy chill all the same. Inside the tower, a trainer—just as still and silent—watched as dozens of lights glided down the snow covered road just west of his location.
"Tournament must be over," Kamon mumbled. That meant a week full of trainer battles, almost none of which would actually get his heart racing. Among these however, resided one battle that had already begun. That showdown promised to have a potentially—
"Sneak attack!"
Kamon spun around in time to see a dark shape racing toward him. A flash of light filled the open aired room, marking the presence of a released Pokémon. "Slash!" Kamon shouted.
Another flash of light blinded the Gym Leader, but didn't slow his Pokémon down in delivering his attack. The massive creature's clawed strike found something solid. The wooden building shuddered beneath the weight of the blow.
"Feral'?"
"Whoa, wait!"
A fire flickered to life, revealing the pointed visage of a Typhlosion. The Volcano Pokémon held the arm of Kamon's teammate with his front paws. The Fire-type had dropped to a knee in the process, his face scrunched as he tried to hold back the Gym Leader's Feraligatr. The flames around his neck revealed the extended arms and worried face of a familiar trainer.
"Chris?"
"Yes! Please don't attack!"
Kamon felt his heartbeat slow, but he couldn't keep the agitation from his voice. "What the hell kind of stunt were you trying to pull? Feraligatr nearly mauled you."
"Nah, Typhlosion always has my—hey, I bet that's the same Feraligatr you used in the Silver Conference!"
The sigh that followed created a long trail of visible condensation. Images of Mt. Silver flashed through his mind, but he instantly dismissed them and returned his starter.
"Did you watch any of the tournament?"
"I did not," Kamon replied. At the sight of the trainer's slumped shoulders, he threw in, "How'd you do?"
"Pretty well," Chris answered, a smirk returning to his face. "We managed to fight our way to the round of 8."
"I see. That means you must have won four or five battles then."
The young trainer's shoulders dropped again. "Three, actually. It could have been ten battles and I still don't think I'd ever have grown comfortable with the two-on-two format though." His eyes flashed in the light of his starter's fire. "I guess that's something me and my brother have in common."
Kamon held back a groan and actually decided to indulge the trainer. "I hope you don't plan on losing to me like he did."
Chris's howl nearly sent the Gym Leader over the railing. "That's the spirit!" he yelled, motioning to the south. "Would you be down to finish our battle tomorrow?"
"How does 10:30 sound?"
"Perfect."
As Chris and his starter turned to leave, Kamon asked, "How about you finish out the night watch with me?"
"Are you kidding?" Chris answered, hopping onto the ladder. "I've got to rest up for a big battle in the morning!"
As the future challenger and his Typhlosion slid out of sight, the Gym Leader found himself grinning.
"Even after all these years, you're still finding new ways to bug me."
Unsurprisingly, the Pokémon Center was packed. Chris managed to snag a room, but only upon agreeing to share it with three other male trainers. Thankfully, they seemed as exhausted as him. All three had fallen asleep not long after exchanging pleasantries. As the Cherrygrove native stretched out in the darkness, he felt his arms and legs hang over the twin size bed. Good thing I like to curl up when I sleep, he thought. But as his limbs began to withdraw, he received a sharp rebuke from somewhere in his subconscious. The battle. It had of course occupied his mind during the trip south, but nothing had been finalized.
Three Pokémon remained for both trainers. Ampharos had been Chris' partner when the battle had been put on hold. The trainer felt honor bound to lead with her once things got restarted. As for his final two teammates, Typhlosion was guaranteed a spot. This would make the third straight Gym Battle his starter had participated in, but his first as a fully evolved Pokémon. Not only was his trainer excited to see what he could do at this level, but Kamon's skill and power demanded they utilize type advantage. It would also be the reason he'd be keeping Nidoking and Crobat sidelined.
That left him with one remaining spot and only two Pokémon to decide between. Gyarados had seen more Gym Battles than Scizor for sure. And with Scizor still adjusting to his recent evolution, it'd be tough to expect him to counteract an opponent as touted as Kamon.
"But it has to be him," Chris muttered.
Despite all the arguments against him, Scizor had earned a spot. Having put in the work in Mt. Mortar and in the Winter Classic despite no recent Gym battle opportunities showed the drive of the Pincer Pokémon. And that same commitment had scored them their last victory in the tournament. "He can do this… and we can do this."
Kirk welcomed Chris the moment he stepped into the icy Gym.
"Saw some highlights from a couple of your battles. You guys looked good!"
Chris shook his hand. "Thanks, man. Things been cool around here?"
Kirk did his best not to snicker. "Wow. You must be feeling pretty relaxed to be cracking dad puns right before a big battle. You're not nervous at all?"
"Wait till we step onto the battlefield," Chris assured him.
The two continued to catch up as the former escorted the challenger to the center of the facility. As the battlefield came into view, the trainer caught sight of the trademark ice pillars that always decorated the space. Looks like diamond formation today, Chris mentally noted.
"Kamon should be here soon," the judge said as he made for his designated area.
Chris tapped his Pokégear. "He'll never hear the end of it if he's late."
"I wouldn't bet on it happening," Kirk replied.
"You know you didn't answer my question earlier. I hope it was because of the pun."
Kirk shrugged. "What can I say? It's been busy, as always. I'm sure things will get even more crazy with all you tournament trainers passing through."
With a guilty smile, Chris quickly changed subjects."The next Kanto League Challenge starts in about five months. You still thinking you'd like to take a stab at it?"
"I put in a request for a Pokédex last week."
"That's what I'm talking about!"
Kirk let his toothy grin show as he reached the judge's box. "If all goes well, me and Shuckle will be storming that region come Spring."
"So Kamon will have someone to replace you?"
"He can put in a request. I'm sure he'll be happy to have a more competent worker around."
"I've seen how hard you work, man. You've more than earned your keep."
"Thanks," Kirk said, his eyes flashing to the nearby hall. Footsteps echoed from the corridor. "Looks like you'll get to save your breath."
Kamon strode into the open room and made for his trainer box. His gaze never found Chris or Kirk, but the former could sense an unspoken understanding between the two. They both knew why he was here. Any pre-battle pleasantries had been exchanged in the watchtower the previous night.
Chris tightened his toboggan as he stepped into his designated area. The metallic Poké Ball in his hand soon sent his teeth into a chattering fit. I hope it's just because of the cold, Chris told himself. He had to clear his mind. Anything having to do with the Winter Classic or his medical bill would have to be put on hold. His teammates would need his undivided attention. The challenge Kamon presented demanded that much.
"With the postponed battle now recommencing," Kirk boomed, "I'll remind both trainers that they have four—three Pokémon remaining." The judge took a deep breath. "You may release your next battler."
As Ampharos appeared from her capture device, her opponent—a stout, tusked creature with fur obscuring his face—materialized across from her. Starting things off with a type disadvantage, Chris thought. Good to see nothing has changed.
"You may begin!"
"Power Gem!
"Hail."
Ampharos surrounded herself with dozens of shimmering energy fragments. These quickly took on the form of jagged rocks, which the Electric-type wasted little time in firing. The barrage pounded her stationary opponent, whose attention never wavered from the grey cloud forming over the battlefield.
"Follow that up with a Signal Beam!" Chris directed. With Piloswine being notoriously slow moving creatures, even Ampharos's average speed would give her the opportunity to lay on the blows.
The Light Pokémon's attack found her foe using Stealth Rock to summon a ring of sharp stones to the edge of the battlefield. That's going to be an issue, Chris realized. But he couldn't afford to worry about any future battles just yet. Despite taking the full brunt of consecutive attacks, the Swine Pokémon had barely moved an inch. And as Ampharos geared up for another Power Gem, a flurry of hail stones rained down upon her.
"Push through!" Chris encouraged.
The energized rocks smashed their way through the precipitation and found their slowly approaching target.
"Avalanche."
All at once, a rush of ice and snow swelled around Piloswine's feet. He rode the frozen wave across the distance that still separated the opponents. There was no time for Ampharos or her trainer to avoid the crashing wave. The flurry of ice that broke on the Electric-type slammed her into the ground and carried her a dozen feet closer to her trainer. Piloswine let the wave carry him toward his opponent, setting him up to carry out the Earthquake command that followed.
"Make for that closest ice pillar!" Chris directed. If they could get off the ground, the super effective move would lose some of its bite. But as Ampharos rushed for the ice pillar behind her, another wave of Hail rained down. She stumbled as the golf ball sized precipitation struck the back of her head and neck. A moment later, the earth exploded beneath her.
"Ampharos!"
The rolling ground spit a flurry of rocks and dirt into her torso and face. She went airborne, skidding to a halt on her side near the ice pillar she'd been running for. As Chris grabbed her Poké Ball and Kirk went to raise his hand toward Kamon's corner, the Electric-type began to stir. She rolled onto her stomach, the red light on her tail taking on a brighter glow than before. With a grunt, she pushed off the ground and made it back to a vertical base.
"Avalanche."
As the wall of ice approached again, Chris took aim with Ampharos's capture device. The battle was over, and what fight Ampharos still possessed could be attributed to pride. But if that were so, why then was the orb on her tail now green? He inhaled sharply.
"Signal Beam!"
Ampharos spun around. The green light leapt from her outstretched tail and found Piloswine atop his much smaller icy wave. The beam knocked him from his perch but couldn't stop the frozen tide that bore down on Chris's partner. The Light Pokémon disappeared amidst the crashing ice, emerging only when the attack had finally ceased. As Chris sprinted the short distance to check on his teammate, he made note of a still standing Piloswine at the center of the battlefield.
"Ampharos is unable to battle," Kirk declared. "Kamon and Piloswine take this round!"
The Electric-type had already regained consciousness when Chris reached her side. He helped her sit back up, praising her toughness all the while.
"Amph'."
"I don't know," Chris replied, glancing over at the Ice/Ground-type. Despite still standing, the trainer took note of the Pokémon's wobbly legs. Examining what little of his face was visible, he noticed a strange expression. "I think you may have done more than you realize."
"The match will continue once the challenger brings out his next Pokémon."
Chris nodded to Kirk, then looked down at Ampharos. "Thank you. We've got this."
With the Electric-type back in her device, the challenger returned to his box. Given the current situation, he already had his next Poké Ball in hand.
"Let's go!"
From the flash of light releasing him to the fiery band around his neck, the battlefield fell under a strong glow with Typhlosion atop it. But from the scattering shadows came four swift obstacles. As the now visible stones struck the Volcano Pokémon, Chris felt a sharp pain in his jaw. He'd completely forgotten about the entry hazard. Noting Typhlosion was still in fighting shape, he looked across the battlefield and found the Gym Leader's attention still on Piloswine. He knows.
"Begin!"
"Retreat, Piloswine."
"Flamethrower!"
From his position at the center of the battlefield, Piloswine would have had little chance at avoiding the attack. But even as slow as he was, it was obvious by his awkward footfalls that he wasn't in the right frame of mind to avoid anything. The flames overtook the confused creature, scooping him up and launching him into the ice pillar closest to his trainer. The spire fractured like glass and the ground shook as Piloswine tumbled back to earth.
"Quick Attack!"
Typhlosion had covered half the battlefield by the time Piloswine had landed. Chris felt his gaze pulled to the right, half expecting to see Scizor charging ahead as well. No doubt battling with either Pokémon would have him seeing the other for a while. The command for Flame Wheel came once Typhlosion had closed the distance. The call came not a moment too soon as hail began to fall only seconds later. The Volcano Pokémon blazed through the icy debris, melting it before it could even touch his body.
Kamon's call for Earthquake never had the chance to be carried out. As the Swine Pokémon's mind settled and he rose up to deliver his attack, Typhlosion swept in under his guard. The Volcano Pokémon's flaming tackle drove Piloswine into the pillar of ice once more. Fragments of the reflective material exploded in all directions as the heavy creature crashed into and went completely through the rounded pillar. The frozen spire toppled and shattered into a billion pieces. As he landed, and the sharp shards settled, the Ice/Ground-type's condition became apparent.
"Piloswine is unable to battle! Chris and Typhlosion take this round!"
Kamon made his way onto the battlefield and knelt beside his fallen teammate. He put a hand on the creature's side and said something the challenger couldn't hear. Then he'd returned Piloswine and retreated back to his corner.
Chris called Typhlosion back to his side and turned his attention to the Poké Ball in his hand. Should he pull Typhlosion and use him as the closer if necessary? Scizor would also possess a type advantage. And if Chris's hunch was correct, he'd need all the speed he could use to handle Kamon's final teammate. A flash of light on the other side of the battlefield revealed Aurorus. The first time the trainer had seen the creature, it'd taken his breath away―it being the first Fossil Pokémon he'd seen in person. But the Ice/Rock-type's natural beauty and towering grace had been equally awe inspiring. And he holds a double weakness to Steel-type moves, Chris reminded himself. But as he went to return his starter, he caught sight of two jagged stones, each standing at the far corners of the battlefield. Stealth Rock. If he pulled Typhlosion and brought him out later, these super effective rocks would strike again. Shoot, Chris inwardly screamed. Kamon's neutral expression had returned, and with it, a renewed confidence that only served to frustrate Chris further.
The trainer focused back on his starter. Steel wasn't the only typing Aurorus held a double weakness to. And this one, unlike Scizor's Steel-type moves, Kamon wouldn't see coming.
"Up for another round?" Chris asked his starter.
Without turning around, the Volcano Pokémon gave a short nod. Having taken no damage in the last battle aside from Stealth Rock, Chris would have been forced to drag his starter away at this point.
"Begin!"
"Close the distance!" Chris directed.
Typhlosion took off at a dead sprint an instant later. Having seen Aurorus in battle, Chris knew it to be a long range striker that didn't like physical exchanges. These insider secrets had been just one of the perks to working in the Gym for a week. Kamon had seemingly already figured out his game plan, calling for an Ancient Power to halt his approach.
"Counter with Flamethrower!"
The rocky spheres crashed into the stream of fire and crumbled to the ground. The challenger wasted no time in continuing his advance, shrugging off another, weaker wave of Hail.
"Hyper Voice."
"Dodge it with Quick Attack!"
Typhlosion pivoted to the left as a visible wave of sound echoed out from Aurorus's mouth. He looked to be in the clear as he continued his approach, but the concentrated blast only expanded outward as it went on. The Volcano Pokémon tried to veer out further but the burst of sound ballooned out to encompass him. As he was driven back, Typhlosion brought his paws up to his ears to fend off the sonic wave. It didn't help. The fire starter staggered back and turned away from the high pitched shriek. Facing his trainer now, Chris could see ice crystals covering his cream colored stomach and chest.
"What just happened?" he accidently let slip.
"That's Aurorus's Refrigerate ability," Kamon calmly explained. "I'm sure you don't need me to say anymore."
"No," Chris agreed. He should have guessed such an ability would be behind this move's added power. That also explained the melting ice that had momentarily covered his starter.
"Frost Breath."
Another attack issued from Aurorus's maw, this one a concentrated batch of frozen fog.
"If they think they can freeze us out… let's show them our firepower! Flame Wheel!"
The spinning, sentient ball of fire didn't slice through the frozen fog as quickly or easily as Chris would have expected. Nevertheless, Typhlosion forced his way through and delivered the flaming tackle. As Aurorus reeled back, Chris called for a Flamethrower. Typhlosion complied, and for a brief moment the trainer believed they had the Ice/Rock-type on the ropes. But the Tundra Pokémon's special bulk and Rock-typing must have been more valuable than even the challenger realized.
"Toxic."
Even as she stumbled back, Aurorus managed to catch Typhlosion square in the chest with a dark glob of hissing liquid. The Volcano Pokémon reared onto his hind legs and let out a sharp hiss. The clouds overhead began to clear, but not before dropping one final layer of hail onto the vulnerable starter.
"Frost Breath."
"Quick Attack out of the way!"
Typhlosion attempted to move but tripped over the several inches of ice that now lay scattered around him. He continued to churn his feet without really moving, all while the slow, ominous ice cloud drew closer.
"Clear a path with Flame Wheel!" Chris shouted, panic filling his voice.
The entire room lit up like a raging fire pit as golden flames burst from Typhlosion's shoulders. The ice at his feet melted instantly, shooting steam into the air around him. With an unnatural jerk, the fire starter spun away just as Aurorus's attack filled the space he'd inhabited. Not the worst time for Blaze to show up, Chris acknowledged.
"Ancient Power, let's go."
Aurorus had now become the battler hunting for a finisher. The super effective Rock-type move might have been the one had Chris not remembered why he'd kept Typhlosion in the battle to begin with.
"Now, Focus Blast!"
Shrugging off the sting of poison, Typhlosion rose up onto his hind legs and put his front paws together. Three large stones now hurdled his direction, but he kept his gaze on his real target. The rocks had nearly reached him when the golden sphere between his paws had taken shape.
"Fire!"
He flung his entire body behind the attack as he launched the orb at the biggest of the three rocks. The two attacks struck and momentarily halted one another.. The other two rocks crashed on each side of Typhlosion, catching the occupied creature in their crossfire of exploding fragments. Just as it seemed like the two clashing moves would stay in a stalemate, the last of Ancient Power's rocks shattered in the center and imploded from the inside out. The golden sphere blasted through, whipping side to side as its equilibrium adjusted to its new found freedom. Aurorus, being such a large target, could not avoid its erratic flight path. She let out a haunting cry as the golden energy exploded on the pale skin just below her neck. She kicked wildly with her front legs as her body lifted up and toppled backward. The floor shook as she came crashing down.
"Aurorus is unable to battle! Chris and Typhlosion take this round!
Seeing the Gym Leader go to his Pokémon, Chris moved toward his teammate, but the pulsating, golden flames prevented him from getting very close.
"You've got us back in the driver's seat," he said.
"Ty'."
Chris found it a little odd when the Fire-type didn't turn toward him. That's when he caught sight of his teammate's hunched shoulders and rigid, arched back. The trainer bit his lip and brought out Scizor's Poké Ball.
"Hey… I can give you a breather and—"
"Ty'."
"But you've—"
Typhlosion spun around. Bruises peppered his body from his forehead to his arms. Toxic had coated his chest with a purple stain nearly invisible in the shadows cast by the flames above. His stomach looked to be darkening as well.
"We gotta' be realistic. Going back in your Poké Ball will slow the spread of that poison and give you a breather in case Scizor can't finish the job. If you stay in, you'll be fighting his fresh ace with barely a leg to stand on!"
"'Phlosion!" the Volcano Pokémon roared. The temperature on the battlefield skyrocketed for a moment.
"This last opponent won't be like the first two. He'll outspeed us—especially now!"
Typhlosion lifted his head and jabbed a clawed appendage at the capture device in Chris' hand. He then motioned to himself and let loose a stream of fire into the air.
"But if you return now you can—"
The Volcano Pokémon silenced his trainer with a look. The young man hadn't seen his starter this fired up since his pre-evolved days. The stationary creature nodded toward the floating jagged rock in the corner nearest them. That's fair, Chris realized. Even if they slowed the poison, the minute Typhlosion returned to the battlefield, Stealth Rock would most likely finish the job. But the thought of leaving his teammate in this condition to battle what he knew was coming…
"Are both trainers ready?"
Chris took a startled step back. The judge had yet to raise his arms but had them in position. Looking over at Kamon's side of the battlefield, the sight of a Weavile came as no surprise. At least it's not THE Weavile, he thought.
"You good, Chris?" came Kirk's voice.
The trainer's eyes returned to his starter's. The Volcano Pokémon couldn't hide the pain he felt. Even so, the creature's fierce stare echoed his resolve in a way words never could. The young man took a long breath. "We're ready," he said.
As Typhlosion turned back to the battlefield, Kirk brought both arms up. "Begin!"
"Charge!" Chris called. With his teammate poisoned, they couldn't afford to waste a single second.
The grey clouds that had hung over the battlefield were absent as Typhlosion took off. Already starting things off on a positive note, the trainer thought. The challenger was surprised to hear Kamon call for a Night Slash. Would have thought he'd want to keep his distance and let Toxic do the rest.
At Chris's direction, Typhlosion met the dark swipe with a flaming tackle. Boosted by Blaze, the living fire sphere pushed past Weavile's glowing claws and struck the Ice/Dark-type in his chest. The follow-up command of Flamethrower felt like a sure thing, but Weavile avoided it without much effort.
"Swords Dance."
A mistake, Chris's mind screamed. "Flamethrower!"
But as Typhlosion reared back to release another stream of golden fire, he suddenly dropped to a knee. The Volcano Pokémon shuddered and began to cough. Purple goo plopped onto the ground in front of him. The trainer's eyes went wide. Had Kamon predicted that?
Typhlosion dropped to all fours as Weavile finished his strength-enhancing move. The golden fire around his neck had begun to weaken.
"I'm pulling you!" Chris shouted, retrieving his starter's Poké Ball..
"Pursuit."
As the device's retracting beam shot toward its target, Weavile beat it to the spot. The Sharp Claw Pokémon delivered a full body tackle while shrouded in a familiar dark energy. With his foe retreating, Weavile's blow took on added strength, launching the Fire-type over a dozen feet backward. An ice pillar was there to catch him—its reward a six foot crater from Typhlosion's back. As the starter fell to the ground, Kirk brought up his arms and Chris made for his teammate.
"Wait!"
Chris nearly did a triple take at Kamon's animated tone. The Gym Leader had not moved and showed none of the energy his voice had just carried. His eyes were fixed on Chris's starter. When the challenger turned his attention there, he found Typhlosion willing himself back to all fours.
Without taking another step forward, Chris said, "You've done your part, Typhlosion. Let Scizor take it from here!"
"Ty'!" came the Fire-type's ferocious denial.
"I won't leave you out there to be a punching bag!"
The Volcano Pokémon rose back onto his hind legs. The few flames that remained on his shoulders flared back to life. He turned to his trainer and his eyes went to the Sport Ball in Chris's hand.
"'Phlosion."
Chris's arms were numb. His mouth tasted of iron. "Focus Blast," he heard himself say.
Typhlosion brought both arms together as Weavile began a swift approach. With Focus Blast's shaky accuracy, the Volcano Pokémon had always needed time to be very deliberate in its creation and aim. But Weavile's strides were too quick and Typhlosion too fatigued to even have a chance at releasing the move in time. The Sharp Claw Pokémon took one final step and leapt into the air, the frozen earth rising with him to form four icy spears. The golden orb in Typhlosion's arms looked to be about half its usual size, and yet the Fire-type reached out to send it anyway. He never got the chance. The barrage of massive icicles found nothing but air. As they shattered against the battlefield floor, the last remaining red light vanished into the Poké Ball in Chris' hand.
"The challenger has chosen to withdraw his Pokémon," Kiyo needlessly announced.
As Chris stared at Typhlosion's Poké Ball, he swore he could feel the metal shell simmering in his hand. He switched the device to his left hand and took hold of Scizor's Sport Ball with his right. Though he still hadn't grown accustomed to his body, the Pincer Pokémon could adapt and make the most of his limited familiarity. We have a type advantage, he rationalized. And indeed when Scizor burst from his capture device, Chris caught sight, even from this distance, of lines across Kamon's pale forehead. Having only seen a few of the trainer's Pokémon, the red headed Gym Leader would have no idea of Scizor's current adjustment period. If they could mask it from the start, perhaps he never would.
The swarm of stones at the corners of the battlefield rushed in to strike the newly sent out Pokémon. Scizor managed to get his pincers up and absorbed the blows without much effort. His trainer was just thankful Weavile had not chosen to strike on the switch-in, as was legally allowed when a Pokémon had been withdrawn and not technically defeated. Looks like they might be extra careful early, Chris realized. If we're patient...
"Advance," Kamon directed.
Weavile took off at a jog. Even going half speed, the Sharp Claw Pokémon had crossed midfield before Chris could properly weigh his options. It looked as though the challenger might have been wrong, but he wasn't yet willing to have Scizor chase after their faster opponent. "Hold your ground," he finally said.
As Weavile drew close, his trainer called for a Night Slash. Chris made sure Scizor had an X-Scissor at the ready. Black and green energy mixed as the creatures exchanged a pair of swings. Scizor threw a quick look back at his trainer after Weavile managed to physically beat him back.
"He's increased his strength with Swords―"
Weavile had shot forward before Chris could even finish. The Sharp Claw Pokémon's Icicle Crash found its mark. Scizor's attempt to counter with another X-Scissor did not. The challenger tried to slow his breathing. They couldn't show their hand just yet.
"Get behind him and use Night Slash."
"Counter with Wing Attack!"
The challengers managed to catch the flanking Weavile by surprise with their backward attack. Despite his awkward lunge, Scizor's first metallic wing managed to bat away Weavile's claws and opened the Ice/Dark-type up to a direct hit from the second. The strike sent the smaller creature deep into the challenger's section of the battlefield. By the time he had halted his backward momentum, Weavile stood twenty feet to Chris' left.
"Swords Dance."
As Kamon's Pokémon began to rock back and forth, Chris knew it was time. "Bullet Punch!"
Scizor took two slow steps forward as a silver glow slid over his body. His third step fell too fast for his trainer to see. His eyes flashed over to Weavile's location and he caught a glimpse of Scizor's forearm under the Sharp Claw Pokémon's chin. A clang echoed out a half second later. Weavile ricocheted off the ground and slammed into a mound of ice that had accumulated at the edge of the battlefield. For the briefest of moments, the challenger thought that might have done it. But Weavile didn't stay still for long. Pushing off the small ice wall, he had made it back to his feet before Kirk could even assess the situation. As the challengers went to build on their momentum, Kamon's voice stopped them.
"I'm surprised you didn't use that move earlier," he said. Chris had to rub his eyes twice before he believed the small smile on the Gym Leader's face actually existed. "Then again, we were prepared to counter it earlier."
Chris flashed his own smile. "Curveballs are pretty tough to hit when you don't expect them." He threw a punch at the air. "Close the distance!"
Scizor's long strides thankfully looked much more natural than after he'd first evolved. Even so, Weavile had little trouble getting out of the corner they'd tried to trap him in. But as the Ice/Dark-type looked to rush past Chris' teammate, the challenging trainer called for another surprise. Scizor jerked toward his retreating foe, a familiar dark energy washing over his body. Pursuit's speed boost brought Scizor into contact with his opponent, though Kamon had managed to prep his teammate at the last second. In a testament to his speed, Weavile managed to rebuff Scizor's tackle with a pair of Night Slashes. The tide seemed to shift again when the swift footed creature immediately followed this up with an Icicle Crash. Scizor barely managed to get his pincers up to absorb the the frozen strikes. And Weavile had already prepped his claws before the barrage of ice spears had even finished.
"Spin and use Wing Attack!"
Scizor turned his back toward his approaching foe and unsheathed his metallic wings once more. He managed to power through what was left of the resisted Ice-type move and met Weavile's Night Slash with two swipes of his wings. The abrupt meeting drove Kamon's teammate back despite the clash ending in a stalemate.
"Icicle Crash."
"Bullet Punch!"
Weavile had readied his attack long before Scizor had begun his. The four ice spears shot out from the frozen earth and hurdled toward the silver coated Pincer Pokémon. The frozen projectiles came together in a collision that launched a cloud of frozen moisture toward the ceiling.
"We missed!"
Kamon's animated warning came a split second before the sound of a collision. Scizor's shoulder slammed into Weavile's crimson crown. The Sharp Claw Pokémon's back smacked the ground and he slid all the way to the center of the battlefield. Scizor lurched forward but managed to extend a pincer to the ground to steady himself. He and his trainer both turned their attention to their downed opponent. Though he'd stopped sliding, the Sharp Claw Pokémon made no attempt to stand up.
"Weavile is unable to battle! That means Scizor has taken the round!"
"And the Gym victory," Kamon added.
"Well, yeah. I thought maybe that went… nevermind."
Chris met his teammate where he stood. He put an arm under Scizor's despite the Pokémon's objection. "You know it's called Bullet Punch, right?" he teased. Scizor said nothing, but Chris thought he could see a grin lurking behind the creature's small mouth. "Bet it felt nice to finally have a type advantage," he continued. "Dealing with all the super effective moves in the tournament probably made these resisted attacks feel like nothing."
"Sciz'."
"Seriously though, you were great. I can see you getting more and more comfortable out there."
The Pincer Pokémon nodded and closed his eyes. The majority of his weight shifted on to his trainer, forcing Chris to fumble for the Pokémon's capture device. He managed to return the exhausted creature before the two of them went crashing to the floor. When he looked up, he found Kamon only a few feet away.
"Go heal your team," he said. "We'll talk after."
As Chris made for the door, he passed a Weavile on the sideline. It hadn't been the one Kamon had battled with, leading the victorious challenger to recognize it as the Gym Leader's long-term teammate. He might have been there for the entire battle; Chris had been too focused to notice anything else. The creature's gaze followed him to the door, but the Ice/Dark-type said nothing.
The wait at the Pokémon Center proved to be longer than expected, due in no small part to the long line of trainers at the counter, many of whom he'd seen at the Winter Classic. It was around noon before he could begin the trek back to the Gym. Without a cloud in the sky, the town and her travelers were bathed in its warm light. Even so, the crisp, cool air still managed to nip at Chris' ears. He'd succumbed to the understanding that it would stay this way until he got out of northern Johto or spring finally came around. And with such serene, calm beauty to ease his mind, a revelation slid its way to the forefront.
Holy mother of Arceus... we just beat him. The man that had gone toe-to-toe with Ethan. The trainer that had won the Silver Conference. The champion that had defeated his brother to achieve it. After watching and taking from Matt's example, he'd managed to do what his older brother could not.
He wasn't using his actual team, though.
Chris shook his head. That didn't really matter.
He might have let you win so you wouldn't have to pay your bill.
"No." The short time he'd spent with Kamon had provided ample opportunity to see the man's intensity. He hadn't gone easy on any challenger, whether it be their first attempt to earn a badge or their last. The notion that he would slack off for this specific matchup was ludicrous. Where the heck did these thoughts even come from? Chris asked himself. After earning his seventh badge, these were the last things he should be worrying about.
When he returned, he found Kirk and Kamon waiting near the entrance. The latter stepped forward and extended an open hand. A silver snowflake glinted atop his palm. "By defeating us, you've earned yourself the Glacier Badge. Congratulations."
Chris went to take the badge but stopped himself. He reached into his pocket and released his six Pokémon. There was some confusion as the six creatures tried to ascertain the situation. All became clear when Ampharos drew attention to the badge in Kamon's hand.
"I wanted to bring you guys out so we all could thank the Gym Leader," Chris explained. Only Ampharos's face showed any hint of understanding. "He's taking care of... something that otherwise would have really held us back from our goals."
At that, the six voiced their gratitude in a wall of sound that mixed together nonsensically. Eevee gave another shout when Chris finally took the badge from Kamon.
"An interesting team you have here," Kamon said. Chris followed his gaze back to Gyarados, whose head nearly touched the ceiling.
"I've got a companion in the PC that I'll be subbing in before we leave as well."
The small smile on the Gym Leader's face vanished. "Speaking of companions, do you have anyone to travel east with?"
"Just my team."
"I think it would be wise if you linked up with at least one other trainer."
Chris frowned. "Why's that?"
Kamon took a long breath. "Ice Path is dangerous this time of year. Most trainers shouldn't go in alone."
"I've got Typhlosion to keep me warm," Chris countered. He looked back at his starter for support, but found the Fire-type's gaze on the ground. He turned to Ampharos. "I have her light as well."
Kamon shrugged. "It's… just a suggestion. Maybe you'll meet someone from the tournament on the way there."
"Based on my trip to the Pokémon Center, I'd say there's a good chance."
Kamon gave a short nod and extended his other hand. "Well, keep at it. You've got just four months to earn your eighth badge and round your team into Silver Conference shape. I expect to see a stron—better unit."
Chris grinned and grabbed his hand. "When that time comes, I expect you to actually watch the tournament."
Kamon scratched the top of his crimson scalp with his free hand. "You'll have to give me a show worth watching."
"Good luck, Chris," Kirk piped in. The young man had stayed silent since Chris' return.
The victorious challenger shook the judge's hand next. "Thanks, man," he said. "Best of luck to you come April. And who knows? Maybe I'll see ya over there!"
"I'd love to be able to say I beat the champion of the Silver Conference."
The two teens laughed and shook hands once more.
"You best get going," Kamon interjected. "It's looking like we won't get another round of snow for a couple days, but Ice Path seems to pull its weather more from the mountains. Route 44 is a bit long to boot. Thankfully, it's straightforward. If you keep up a good pace you should reach Ice Path's entrance by morning."
"Got it."
Chris returned his teammates and made for the door. As he went to step outside, Kamon's voice grabbed his attention.
"As someone who used to have even longer hair," he said, pointing to his hair bun, "I'd encourage a haircut before you leave town."
"How does that look, sir?" the barber asked.
Chris took the hand mirror and studied his reflection. His light brown hair had been cut close to the skin on the sides and left longer up top. His even lighter bangs had been pushed back. The low cut fade looked better than anything his barber in Cherrygrove had ever done. Then again, when your mother was your barber and didn't charge… you accepted that she could only do buzz cuts. "Looks fantastic," he finally said.
Once he'd paid and left, he made the familiar trip back to the Pokémon Center. The line at the counter looked even longer than before, but thankfully that did not extend to the PC. He'd been given some time to think during his haircut and he'd finally made up his mind about the inevitable substitution. He took out Scizor's Sport Ball and placed it in the transfer device. He hated having to box his teammate after his recent success. The Pincer Pokémon would no doubt want to accompany his trainer when traversing a dangerous place like Ice Path. Even so, Chris knew the Bug/Steel-type wouldn't fuss. They'd made great strides and Scizor had earned himself a period of rest.
The Sport Ball vanished and was replaced an instant later by a normal Poké Ball. Chris snatched the device off its stand, wasting no time in getting back outside. He reached the eastern gate a short while later. From here, he could see the path slither into the distance: passing over streams, around leafless woodlands, and hugging rock faces. The road to their eighth and final badge lay ahead.
The conqueror of Chris's brother has been vanquished! The prize? The Glacier Badge and a paid bill! The trainer and his team now look to the east, where their final gym badge awaits! What encounters and experience do Route 44 and Ice Path have in store for our crew? We may find out soon! I hope you'll join me in the next chapter of Heart and Soul! Please Review and Subscribe!