Note- I hope this long chapter makes up for the long wait I put you folks through! Chris' story is about to fire back up again as he trains to get his team's 'mojo' back. As a young trainer, Chris is still coming to grips with the consequences of his actions. Let's find out how he plans to right the ship and take a huge step forward in his Pokémon career! Please review and subscribe! Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 18
Despite the torrential downpour, the sky had quieted down. The front edge of the storm had brought lightning, but the wind was whipping the clouds past Goldenrod at a brisk pace. Now, rain was the only product of the swirling grey clouds overhead.
Chris had found a pavilion at the edge of the city to escape the rain. Chris was relieved to find the shelter empty of inhabitants. He had wanted a place to sit and contemplate his next move.
"If this storm doesn't blow over in a bit," the Cherrygrove trainer scanned the horizon, "it'll be too late to do anything."
The trainer decided that he should at least discuss the options with his team. He did not want to fall back into his previously self-directed path. The trainer hoped that his failures from the past week would forever be a driving force to improve his relationship with his Pokémon. Ben's words came back to Chris as he withdrew the Pokéballs of his land based members. The trainer could not bear the weight of his travels alone. He wanted their unit to improve both their strength and their resolve. Only as one cohesive unit could they experience the truth behind Pokémon and humanity. Only then, could they break through the plateaus set by Gold, Blue, and Red.
Chris caught a glimpse of sunlight piercing through the clouds. It was time to decide the group's next step. "C'mon out!" the trainer released the three Pokémon from their devices. Cyndaquil seemed less than pleased at their current soggy surroundings. The fire starter leaped onto the picnic table beside Chris and shot his trainer an annoyed look.
"You're tougher than that," Chris laughed, before turning to see Golbat and Nidorino standing beside him. "Alright guys," Chris stepped back to address his three Pokémon, "it's time to decide on our next move." Chris was overjoyed to see a break in the clouds nearby. "It looks like this storm is about over and we have several hours of daylight left. Would you guys wanna end the day training together?"
The three Pokémon turned to each other, but did not speak. They seemed to know what the others were thinking simply through their expression. They turned back to their trainer and Cyndaquil nodded in approval.
"Excellent!" Chris smiled back as he looked towards nearby Route 34. An idea had been stirring in the back of Chris' mind since he had made amends with his Pokémon. The trainer couldn't wait to see his team's expression. "To prepare for the rematch with Whitney, I thought it might be best to try a different approach with our training. He could see an anxious look pop into his Pokémon's eyes. "How about I let you guys run the training this time?"
Much to his relief, a deafening roar of approval hit the trainer. His Pokémon raced towards the edge of the shelter and were ready to sprint towards the nearby route.
"Wait a sec!" Chris quickly shouted. The trainer made sure he had all of his supplies and rushed over to his team. "How about we travel together?"
The rain had calmed to a drizzle as Chris and his trio of Pokémon set off. And by the time they reached their routine training location, the rain had stopped all together. Chris led his team to the beach and released Magikarp into the shallow water.
"So who wants to give us our first drill?" Chris looked expectantly over his Pokémon, but was surprised by his team's silence. The trainer realized that his Pokémon were all lost in thought and decided to give them time.
"Cynda!" the Fire Mouse Pokémon stepped forward.
"What'll it be!?"
The Fire type directed Chris to a spot in the sand a few feet away from himself. As soon as Chris took his place in the sand, Cyndaquil launched forward without warning. The trainer had no chance to defend himself as the fire starter slammed into his trainer's chest. The blow was strong enough to knock Chris off his feet and deposit the trainer into the sand. After the shock of the attack wore off, Chris jumped back up with a look of rage.
"What was that for!?" the trainer shouted as he locked eyes with his starter.
"Quil!" the Fire type pointed towards the trainer, as if using something Chris had said against him.
"Wait," the anger slowly faded off Chris' face. "Your drill is to practice the team's moves against me, isn't it?"
Cyndaquil simply nodded.
Chris released a long sigh. "This oughta be fun."
The trainer took his place in the sand once more and attempted to create a firm base. He refused to let Cyndaquil knock him off of his feet again. The Fire type waited until Chris seemed set before igniting the flames on his back.
"Cynda," the fire starter reared back, prompting Chris to immediately abandon his stationary position, "Quil!"
Chris dove face-first into the sand as bolts of fire raced over his head. The trainer remained still for several seconds, letting the sensory nerves in his body tell his brain that he hadn't been scorched. This moment also gave Chris the chance to calm himself and observe the situation as a whole. His Pokémon had forgiven him of his mistakes, but these drills could provide his team with an opportunity to vent any final frustrations. He owed it to the unit as a whole to toughen up and accept whatever his Pokémon threw at him. Besides, these drills would give the trainer a chance to examine each creatures' moves up close.
"Have to keep that glass-half-full mentality," Chris mumbled to the sand as he slowly stood back up. He threw on a determined smile as he turned towards his awaiting Pokémon. "That was a pretty strong Ember attack," Chris nodded towards Cyndaquil, "but it did seem a little too spread out to deal any major damage. Let's work on that for a bit."
For the next couple of hours, Chris worked with each of his Pokémon on their individual moves. He received singed hair on his arms, several bite marks from Golbat, a twisted ankle from fleeing Nidorino's Horn Attack, and even a couple of bruises from Magikarp's hard scales. As the recipient of these attacks, Chris discovered which angles Golbat attacked best from, how well Nidorino could turn at full speed, and how flexible the Fish Pokémon was. The trainer felt as though he had learned more about his Pokémon in these two hours of training than he had in the past week. On top of this, the Pokémon themselves seemed to have opened up and displayed genuine excitement in the company of each other along with the training.
"Let's take a quick vitamin break," Chris suggested with a laugh as he collapsed beside his backpack. "I need a breather anyway. You guys have pushed me to my limit!" Chris gave Cyndaquil a Calcium vitamin after deciding that it was time to really focus on Cyndaquil's projectile attacks. He decided on Carbos vitamins for Goldbat and Nidorino in order to build on their already exceptional speed. Chris chose the strength-building Protein for his Shiny Magikarp.
"How about we end the day with Nidorino's training?" Chris asked after noticing that the sun was beginning to set behind the expanse of ocean.
"Nido!" the Poison type roared in agreement as he motioned for everyone to follow him.
The Poison Pin Pokémon began to lightly jog down the long stretch of sand. The pace was steady and Chris found himself enjoying the light exercise with his team. Nidorino was quick to increase the speed however, as Chris soon found himself running behind the rest of his team. He glanced at the shallow water nearby and noticed that Magikarp was having no problems with keeping up. The golden creature seemed to snake through the water with minimal effort. It was great to see a Pokémon often considered worthless compete at such an impressive level. The fish's aggressive attitude would someday prove to be an invaluable asset.
Chris turned back to the Pokémon he was following and was shocked to find that they were 20 yards ahead of him. The team had burst into a full sprint, prompting Chris to push his athletic body to its absolute fullest. The trainer managed to close the gap significantly after several seconds, but he soon found that catching them would be impossible. As he sprinted behind them, Chris noticed that Nidorino was leading the pack towards a tree at the edge of the sand. Golbat suddenly diverged from this path and raced towards the ocean. The young man looked on in confusion as Golbat rushed to the edge of the water and scooped up something from beneath the surface.
"Magikarp?" Déjà vu struck Chris like a punch to the gut as he remembered Golbat's previous attempt on Route 32 to devour the Fish Pokémon. Surely, after all this time, Golbat wouldn't give in to hunger.
The Bat Pokémon carried Magikarp towards the tree that Nidorino and Cyndaquil were racing to. Chris noticed the Poison Pin and the Fire Mouse Pokémon strike the tree with powerful tackles. Golbat launched the Fish Pokémon towards the tree, much to Chris' horror. Magikarp had improved his toughness greatly, but hitting the tree at that speed could cause severe damage.
"Save him!" Chris shouted towards the grounded Pokémon, but the duo did not move.
Magikarp seemed to gain control of himself as he sped towards the tree. The Fish Pokémon reared back his tail and brought it forward right as he collided with the bark. A loud snapping sound accompanied the strike, prompting Chris to believe that the Pokémon's insides had shattered. The trainer arrived at the scene within seconds of the incident.
"Is Magikarp-" Chris stopped mid-question as he noticed the Fish Pokémon flopping healthily along the ground. He looked up at Golbat, who was racing towards the tree. "Why did you-"
The trainer was again interrupted by Golbat, who delivered a powerful strike to the tree with his wing. Chris finally gave up on speaking and examined the tree. Four different cracks rested in the tree bark, with each varying in size, but all of them impressive. The trainer finally realized that this had all been a part of Nidorino's training. Chris noticed that each of his Pokémon were giving him an expecting look. He released a long sigh before drawing back his fist. Chris threw all of his weight into his right arm as he drilled the bark with his strongest punch.
"Son of a-" Chris dropped to the ground, clutching his hand as the Pokémon around him burst into laughter. The trainer's knuckles felt as though a Snorlax had fallen on them, but Chris tried to keep a clear mind. He looked up at the area of the bark where his punch had landed. Chris' strike rested in the middle of the other blows, but it had left the smallest crack. "I guess you guys are a lot stronger than I thought." Chris stood up, gently nursing his wound. "I think that drill is a good one to end on," Chris announced. The sun had almost completely set below the edge of the water, leaving the sky a dark purple. "How about we finish up our training with Magikarp and Golbat's drills tomorrow?"
Chris was relieved to see his Pokémon nod in agreement. The trainer would need to get some ice on his hand as soon as possible. "I'll get you guys all healed up so you'll be fresh tomorrow. Are you guys okay with battling Whitney on Monday?"
Nidorino and Golbat seemed to perk up at the question, and both creatures stated their approval with battle cries. Chris noticed Cyndaquil's head slightly drop at the question. The trainer quickly returned his Pokémon back to their Pokéballs and began the short trip back to Goldenrod. The city of Goldenrod was becoming more familiar to Chris as he weaved through previously traveled blocks until he came to the Pokémon Center. Nurse Joy provided him with a bag of ice for his hand after he gave her his Pokémon. It only took a few minutes for his Pokémon to be treated and then he was on his way once more. Chris made it to his hotel quicker than expected and the trainer quickly took care of his hygiene. As the trainer settled in for the night, a sudden urge to speak with his starter overcame the young man. After being released from his device, Cyndaquil pounced onto the bed beside Chris.
"Quil," the Fire type knew why he had been summoned.
"About this rematch," Chris looked over the other Pokéballs in his backpack, "I just feel like Nidorino and Golbat deserve another shot at Whitney."
The Fire Mouse Pokémon's brow furrowed in thought as he stared at the floor. The fire starter seemed to be rationalizing Chris decision.
"I know you haven't been able to battle in the last two Gyms," Chris acknowledged, catching Cyndaquil's attention, "but that doesn't mean I think you're weak. You certainly proved how strong you are today." Chris waved his partially swollen hand at the Pokémon. "And it has nothing to do with the fact that you haven't evolved yet. I wouldn't take Nidorino, Golbat, or even Charmeleon over you if I had the choice." Cyndaquil's back burst into flame upon hearing Luke's starter Pokémon's name. "So do we understand one another?"
"...Cynda," the fire starter nodded.
"Awesome!" Chris smiled, placing a hand over his starter Pokémon's head. "Now let's get some sleep"
The next day seemed to fly by for Chris as he and his team continued training. Golbat's training drill took place on the beach, just as the other two had. The Bat Pokémon decided on a sparring drill in which all five team members engaged in combat at once. Chris found it difficult to strike back at his Pokémon, but soon discovered that he would have to in order to stay conscious. The drill carried over into the clouded afternoon, leaving Chris soaked in a pool of his sweat. The trainer and his Pokémon crashed beneath the shaded base of a large tree as Chris prepared lunch. Each Pokémon received the same vitamin as the day before to go along with their meal.
Once everyone had finished eating, Chris lead the group back to the edge of the water and placed Magikarp into the shallows. "What drill would you like to do, Magikarp?"
The Fish Pokémon immediately swam off towards some powerful waves in the distance, prompting Chris to give chase. "Let's battle some waves!" Chris shouted back at his Pokémon. The trainer was soon joined by Golbat and Nidorino, who pushed through the waves that were beginning to slam into them. The trainer looked over his shoulder and noticed that even Cyndaquil had jumped into the water. The Fire type was doing his best to battle through his natural weakness.
The water felt wonderful in the searing summer heat. The partially clouded sky did not tell the full story of the day's temperature. After the previous days' rain, the humidity had become almost unbearable. Because of this, once Magikarp's drill was through, Chris decided that the group could relax for a bit in the calmer waters. 'A bit' turned in to several hours as the team found itself content in the remarkably clear water. By the time Chris stepped back on to dry land, the sky had turned a dark orange. The trainer noticed Cyndaquil relaxing on the beach beneath a palm tree, proving that even the tenacity of the fire starter had its limits. What surprised Chris was the presence of Golbat beside the Fire type. The duo seemed to be carrying on an interesting conversation. Nidorino emerged from the ocean behind the trainer, carrying Magikarp on his back.
"Looks like we're all accounted for," Chris collapsed beside Cyndaquil. Nidorino dropped Magikarp off beside Chris before sitting nearby. "I hope you four have had fun leading your own drills."
The Pokémon seemed to exhausted to respond, leaving Chris with a strange feeling of satisfaction. He and his Pokémon had bonded more in these two days than the trainer could have ever imagined. The team's exhaustion just demonstrated the effort each Pokémon had put into the drills. Chris felt a real sense of confidence, a feeling he had not held before his first battle with Whitney. The trainer knew exactly what challenge awaited him the following day. He also knew that his Pokémon would be up to the challenge.
As the sun began to set below the horizon, Chris called for his Pokémon's attention one last time. "I don't want us to get wrapped up in our battle tomorrow. We know exactly what to expect from Whitney and there is no doubt in my mind that we'll be ready. I want to leave you with some encouraging words."
"Nido?" the Poison type tilted his head at the trainer.
"I want to let you all know how proud I am of each of you," Chris let a grin come to his face. "And I don't mean that in some cheesy way; I'm being completely serious. You four have helped me come to grips with my mistakes and I think these couple of days have shown me what it takes to be a great trainer. Training is essential, but without the love and respect of your team, that training won't get you anywhere. I hope this recent training we've gone through has helped build on those two components."
The four Pokémon moved forward until they had surrounded their trainer. Chris looked over each Pokémon to ensure that he did not miss any signs of doubt, as he had done before. Nidorino gave the trainer his usual comforting smile, which broke a great deal of the tension Chris had begun to feel. Golbat swooped down to land on Chris' shoulder, mustering up a creepy, but genuinely friendly grin. Cyndaquil gave the trainer a thumbs up before laying back down in the sand. Finally, Chris picked up Magikarp, making sure to keep the Fish Pokémon at a distance from his face. "That blank look in your eyes tells me all I need to know!" Chris turned his focus toward Nidorino and Golbat. "Do you two feel ready for the battle?"
Nidorino let loose an excited roar, but Golbat did not immediately respond. The Bat Pokémon dropped to the ground beside Cyndaquil and pointed a wing at Fire type. Cyndaquil leaped onto his feet once he saw confusion in the trainer's eyes.
"Cynda!" the Fire Mouse Pokémon pounded his small frame with his fists.
"So you're letting Cyndaquil fight in your place?" Chris asked the Bat Pokémon.
The creature silently nodded to confirm the assumption. Chris felt moved by his Pokémon's sacrifice, but the trainer did his best to control his emotions. "That's very kind of you Golbat. Having that selfless attitude is something we should all work towards." Chris was pleased to see Cyndaquil nod in agreement. The team needed to be on the same page for their full potential to be reached; Chris knew that to be true.
"Nido!" the Poison type pointed towards the sun, which had almost completely set.
"We do need to get a good night's sleep!" The trainer couldn't help but laugh at the Pokémon's unusually responsible notion. "Let's head to the Pokémon Center first."
With the exception of Magikarp, whom he carried, Chris decided to let his Pokémon walk with him along the path he had become familiar with. The traffic wasn't as bad late in the evening, providing Chris and his team with a fair amount of walking space. The trainer returned his Pokémon to their devices once they reached their destination.
While his Pokémon were being healed, Chris decided to take a short stroll north. The trainer felt compelled to pass by the Goldenrod Gym before his battle the next day. He needed to see the building once more, just to remind himself of the challenge that awaited him. Chris looked into the building's dark windows and felt a tinge of fear run through his body. The trainer quickly shook his head and took a deep breath. Worrying would only hurt his chances of victory at this point. His synergy with his Pokémon would come. If the trainer didn't trust that bond, the battle would end in failure once more.
"Relax," Chris mumbled, before heading back to pick up his team.
As the night went on, Chris could feel a growing sense of fear in the back of his mind. By the time he reached his hotel, the trainer felt physically sick. Chris reached his room and fell onto his bed. The trainer did not want his Pokémon to see him in this state, but Chris knew that bringing out his team for support was the right move. Once the Pokémon were released from their Pokéballs, the team gathered around Chris.
"Nido?!" the always-passionate Nidorino uttered a concerned cry.
"I'm just nervous about tomorrow," Chris clarified, as he wiped sweat off his face.
"Cynda!" the Fire Mouse Pokémon's tone carried a hint of annoyance. Chris could tell that the creature wanted him to be more confident in his team's abilities.
"Sometimes I wish that you four could do battle without me," Chris finally spoke. His Pokémon seemed confused by his words, so the trainer clarified. "Now that we've tasted defeat, I feel like I'm the one who is dragging our potential down.
Golbat landed on the bed beside Chris and placed a wing over the trainer's chest. Chris closed his eyes and felt slowed his breathing. The trainer could feel the rhythmic pulse of the bat's heart through his wing. The action seemed to calm Chris' nerves significantly. The trainer sat up and gently scooped up Magikarp into his arms. "A good shot to the head would help me sleep easier tonight."
The Fish Pokémon actually seemed hesitant at first, but soon realized that Chris wasn't joking.
"Karp!" the Fish Pokémon sprang out of Chris' hands and delivered a powerful blow to Chris' head.
When Chris opened his eyes again it was morning. Sunlight was pouring through the curtains he had forgotten to close the night before. Chris went to get up, but felt a heavy weight holding him back. He looked down and found all of his Pokémon sleeping against him. The trainer dropped his head back onto the pillow and smiled.
The group could not sleep through the sunlight for long. After twenty minutes, Cyndaquil had awoken, prompting the rest of the group to rise.
"You did a good job Magikarp," Chris was amazed by his lack of a headache. The trainer could tell that the Fish Pokémon was beginning to handle his power more effectively. Chris could not wait to surprise an opponent with the creature's shocking strength.
"That sleep worked wonders for my energy!" Chris took a quick shower and fixed a light portioned breakfast for the team. "This should provide you guys with enough energy for battle." The trainer noticed Cyndaquil give him a skeptical look. "If you eat anymore, you'll be weighed down and sleepy!"
"Nido!" the Poison Pin Pokémon nodded in agreement.
"Now let's go win this rematch!"
Chris traveled alone to the gym. Despite this, he could still feel the presence of his team around him. This helped give the trainer the strength to walk into the gym without faltering. If there were any doubts in his mind about himself or his Pokémon, Whitney would exploit them.
"Long time no see," Whitney met the trainer at the entrance with a smile.
"I love your consistently upbeat attitude," the trainer complimented.
"That's refreshing to hear," Whitney chuckled as she led him towards the battlefield. "Most of the praise I receive doesn't revolve around my personality."
"Hmm," Chris simply nodded. This was not a conversation he should dwell in.
"Have these last couple of days helped you prepare?" a tinge of intrigue seeped from the Gym Leader's voice.
"I guess you'll find out soon," Chris replied confidently.
As both trainers took their positions on the battlefield, Chris felt a familiar surge of energy rush through him. Unlike the previous battle, where he had felt nervous beforehand, Chris felt genuine excitement and confidence. It was the same feeling he had experienced against Faulkner and Bugsy. It was the thrill of battle.
"Will the same rules as last time work for you?" Whitney inquired.
Chris nodded and released his team onto the battlefield. "Take Magikarp over to the sidelines with you," Chris told Golbat. The trainer had decided to let the Pokémon that weren't battling watch. This way, the whole team could gain experience from a battle. Once Golbat and Magikarp were gone, Chris turned back to the Gym Leader.
"Are you ready?" the woman seemed unable to contain her girlish excitement.
"We are," Chris placed his hands on the heads of both of his battling Pokémon. He knelt beside them and breathed, "We're ready."
Whitney tossed a Pokéball high into the air. "Then begin!"
"Let's go Nidorino!" the Poison type jumped onto the battlefield after hearing his name.
Whitney's Pokéball burst open, revealing an unwanted surprise.
"Girafarig certainly gives me the type advantage," the Gym Leader did not hide her pleased smile. "Your move."
Chris refused to let this bad luck diminish his excitement. This only made the challenge more interesting.
"Let's charge straight ahead!" Chris directed.
The Poison Pin Pokémon shot towards Girafarig like he was fired out of a cannon. The trainer was momentarily taken back by the Pokémon's new found agility.
"You should know by now that you can't beat me with strength," Whitney shook her head. "Stop him with Confusion!"
Chris kept his focus on the Normal type as it carried out the attack. The trainer noticed a subtle pulse of energy resonate from the creature. The attack raced towards Nidorino, who did not realize the energy was approaching.
"Jump to the left!" the trainer called out.
The Poison type pounced to the left with an even quicker move than the previous. Nidorino was finally adjusting to his body.
"Keep charging forward," Chris commanded after seeing Girafarig's attack pass by.
"Stomp them into the floor!" the dual type Pokémon reared onto its back legs as Nidorino approached.
As the two Pokémon prepared to collide with one another, Chris realized that both attacks would cancel out. As Whitney's Pokémon brought its front hooves down, Chris made his move. "Slide beneath it!"
The Poison Pin Pokémon lowered his body and let his momentum carry him past Girafarig's strike. Nidorino now found himself beneath his opponent's stomach. Whitney knew her Pokémon had no chance of avoiding damage.
"Horn Attack!" Chris roared.
A painful cry echoed across the battlefield as Girafarig was tossed into the air. Nidorino's attack deposited the dual type Pokémon onto its back several meters away.
"Look's like you have learned from our last battle," Whitney's sassy tone remained, but Chris could detect a touch of surprise in the Gym Leader's voice. As Girafarig jumped to its feet, Whitney called for another attack, "Future Sight!"
"Be on your guard!" Chris warned his Pokémon. "That move strikes later on in the battle."
"It's always refreshing to battle a trainer who knows his stuff!" the Gym Leader smiled innocently. "But you'd better stay on your toes. Girafarig, use Agility!"
"Don't give it a chance!" Nidorino's trainer commanded. "Double Kick!"
The Poison Pin Pokémon raced towards the Normal type, who was encased in a bright light. As Nidorino struck out with his front legs, Whitney's Pokémon finished its move. The Long Neck Pokémon took the first strike on its side. As Nidorino spun to deliver the second blow, Girafarig suddenly jumped into the air.
"I don't think so!" Whitney cheered as Nidorino's attack passed beneath her Pokémon. "Crush him with Stomp!"
Two pairs of hooves landed on Nidorino's spine with bone shattering force. The blow smashed the Poison type into the ground, but Chris could still see determination in his Pokémon's eyes. The trainer believed the Gym Leader had overestimated her surprise attack's damage.
"Bounce back with Fury Attack!" Chris directed as Girafarig jumped off his Pokémon's back.
The closeness of the Long Neck Pokémon allowed Nidorino to overcome the dual type's increased speed. Nidorino swung his horn forward, connecting with the first attack of the move. Before the Poison type could continue his assault, a flash of light overhead caught Chris' attention. A beam of psychic energy zapped toward the ground like a bolt of lightning. The trainer realized that he had momentarily forgotten about Future Sight. The beam crashed into Nidorino, who was too busy attacking to dodge. The blast swept the Poison type off his feet before he knew what had happened.
"It's alright!" the trainer attempted to calm his Pokémon. The blow had done significantly more damage than Chris had expected. "Just try to regain your bearings!"
"I'm afraid I can't let you do that," Whitney announced. "Finish him with Confusion!"
"Counter with Horn Attack!" Chris desperately called out. He had to believe that his Pokémon could deliver one final strike.
"Cynda!" Chris was shocked to hear his starter Pokémon cheer on Nidorino.
At the sound of the Fire type's voice, the Poison Pin Pokémon seemed to shake off his fatigue. Nidorino launched himself at Girafarig as the Long Neck Pokémon prepared to unleash its attack. The Psychic energy met Nidorino's horn at the epicenter of the conflict, sending a concussive blast outward. Both Pokémon were shot backwards by the force of the stalemate.
"Girafarig!"
"Nidorino!"
Neither Pokémon responded to their trainer's call, forcing Whitney to declare a double knockout. Chris sprinted over to his Pokémon and was pleased to find him stirring.
"You did a great job," Chris brought out a Pokéball, "and you deserve a good rest."
"Nido!" the Poison type mustered up enough strength to knock the device out of Chris' hand. He nodded towards the sideline where his fellow Pokémon were watching.
"I gotcha," Chris grinned as he picked up the Poison type. The creature weighed significantly more than the little Nidorino Chris had caught. The trainer eventually managed to deposit his Pokémon in the desired location. The trainer wiped sweat from his brow and turned to Cyndaquil.
"Quil," the fire starter nodded. Before Chris could speak, the Fire Mouse Pokémon had taken his position on the battlefield.
"Breathe," Chris inhaled slowly as he stepped back into the trainer box. He knew that his Pokémon needed him to be calm.
"That was a great first battle!" Whitney tossed her second Pokéball into the air. It burst open, revealing the beast behind Chris' previous defeat.
"This is it," Chris' words caused Cyndaquil to look back at his trainer. "We need to respect this Pokémon above any we've fought before. That includes the Rhydon that dominated us at the tournament."
The Fire type turned back to face his opponent. He leaned forward, balancing smoothly on his toes, and directed his entire focus onto Whitney's Pokémon. Chris felt that he and his starter had finally connected on the battlefield. Their purpose and focus were now on the same page.
"Are you both ready?" Whitney's innocent voice did a poor job of masking her confidence.
Chris wiped away water that had begun to form under his eyes. "We are."
"Then begin!"
Chris finally had a long range attack at his disposal. "Start with Ember!"
"Smash through it with Rollout!" Whitney quickly countered.
A barrage of fire exploded out of Cyndaquil's mouth and rocketed towards the rolling Miltank. The fire slammed into the Milk Cow Pokémon, who did her best to spin through the attack. After a few tense seconds, both attacks ended in an obvious stalemate.
"Your Pokémon's attack barely managed to hold off Miltank's weakest Rollout," Whitney shook her head. "We can easily overpower him."
Chris felt a surge of anger rush through him. There was a desire in Chris to spit an insult back at the Gym Leader or charge in with no thought. However, the trainer slowly managed to calm himself. Whitney was trying to get him to repeat his previous mistakes. If Chris gave in to his pride, he'd end up losing and blaming everything on his Pokémon once more.
"Let's stay calm," Chris spoke quietly to his starter. "We'll show just how far we've come."
"Now for a second Rollout!"
The Normal type's speed quickened as she spun towards Cyndaquil. Her direct approach emphasized Whitney's belief that Cyndaquil would strike head on.
"Charge forward," Chris directed.
The Fire Mouse Pokémon raced towards his charging opponent. Chris could see now that Cyndaquil's speed had surpassed the rest of the team. In the past week he had criticized his starter's abilities without just reasoning. Now Cyndaquil was showing him just how wrong he had been.
"Run him over!" Whitney roared as both Pokémon reached each other.
"Jump above her!"
Cyndaquil pounced at almost the last possible second. As the Fire type soared above Miltank, Chris made his move. "Push her into the ground with Quick Attack!"
"Get out of the way!" Whitney warned her Pokémon.
The warning came too late, as Cyndaquil proceeded to slam his body into the rapidly spinning Pokémon. The Fire starter's attack landed squarely on the Normal type's torso, forcing the creature's rotation downward. Miltank quickly found herself spinning painfully into the ground. Cyndaquil landed beside the gyrating Pokémon and lit the flames on his back.
"Now, follow up with Ember!" as the words left Chris' mouth, the trainer knew that his Pokémon was already preparing the attack. They were completely in sync.
The flames on Cyndaquil's back exploded outward with an intensity that Chris had never seen. The starter Pokémon snapped his head forward and released a powerful, solid stream of fire. Chris had seen this attack performed by Luke's Charmeleon.
"Roast 'em with Flamethrower!" Chris couldn't hold back his excitement as the powerful flames found their mark.
"Stay strong!" Whitney encouraged, as the fire wrapped around her Pokémon. "Try to snuff it out with Stomp!"
Chris realized that the time to finish Miltank had finally come. "Alright, give her another Fla-" the trainer was stopped by a sudden glow that overcame his starter. It was a pale white glow that Chris had seen twice before: After witnessing Luke's Charmander and his own Nidoran evolve, it was finally Cyndaquil's turn. The echidna's body expanded greatly in length and width as time raced by. The starter's limbs also quickly expanded, ultimately leading to a very differently shaped Pokémon. As the glow faded, Chris found himself face-to-face with Quilava. Before the trainer could congratulate his newly evolved Pokémon, Chris noticed that Miltank had freed herself from the flames.
"Congrats on the newly evolved Pokémon," Whitney put on her trademark smirk, "but don't think for a minute that it gives you an advantage."
"I guess we'll find out!" Chris was pleased to see Quilava turn back towards the battle. For now, their focus needed to be solely on defeating Miltank.
"Immobilize him with Attract!"
The challenger remembered Nidorino's struggle with this move and knew he needed to react fast. "Smokescreen!"
The Volcano Pokémon managed to exhale a large plume of smoke to counter Miltank's vision-based attack. It provided a great counter to Whitney's plan, but Chris now had to decide how to follow it up.
Whitney on the other hand, realized that the Smokescreen could provide her Pokémon with ample healing time. "Restore your strength with Milk Drink!"
As the Milk Cow Pokémon began to heal herself, a shadow appeared in the smoke. Before Whitney could respond, Quilava burst through the cover and delivered a powerful Quick Attack. The blow forced Whitney's Pokémon to stop her healing move.
"Stomp!" Whitney's command was swiftly carried out by her Pokémon.
The smoke had not yet cleared, meaning that Chris could not fully guide his Pokémon. This resulted in the newly evolved Pokémon receiving two shots to the side from Miltank's hooves. The Volcano Pokémon did not seem heavily damaged however.
"Follow up with Rollout!" Whitney sounded desperate to regain the momentum.
Her Pokémon lashed out several times at Chris', but Quilava managed to dodge the strikes despite his trainer's impaired vision. The starter Pokémon actually seemed to dodge each consecutive Rollout with greater ease. The Fire type was quickly adapting to his body. By the time Miltank charged forward with her fifth, most powerful, Rollout, the smoke had finally cleared.
"Flamethrower!" Chris simply commanded.
Flames burst up from Quilava's forehead and rear as he released a powerful stream of fire at the oncoming Miltank. The fire seemed to explode into every direction as it slammed against the spinning Pokémon. Just as Miltank looked to have finished her attack, Quilava's Flamethrower ended. This allowed Whitney's Pokémon to race forward once more.
"Take the strike head on!" Chris knew that this would be the moment of truth.
Miltank crashed into Quilava, who raised onto his hind legs to catch the spinning Pokémon with his front claws. Even after taking a direct Flamethrower, Miltank finished out her attack strong, knocking Quilava back several feet with her powerful gyrations.
"I told you that we couldn't be beat with strength alone," Whitney smiled as she looked over Quilava, who had recieved a great deal of damage from Rollout.
"I guess you're right," Chris returned her smile. "We can't completely match Miltank's incredible strength. It's a good thing that was never my goal to begin with. My plan has already come to fruition."
The look in Whitney's eyes showed that she already knew what Chris was talking about. Despite this, she asked for verification, "What do you mean?"
"Take a look at Miltank's condition," Chris nodded towards Whitney's Pokémon.
The Milk Cow Pokémon had fallen onto her rear, her legs unable to hold her weight. The Pokémon's shoulders were drooped in exhaustion and one of her hooves was placed tenderly over a large burn on her stomach.
"Miltank is incredibly powerful," Chris acknowledged, "but her stamina and health are important factors as well." Chris pointed at Quilava. "I made sure to constantly barrage your Pokémon throughout the match. Quilava gave her no breaks and no chance to recover." The trainer smiled as he nodded at the Gym Leader. "And you helped my plan work as well. Over the course of the battle you've worn out Miltank with so many Rollout attacks. It was only a matter of time before fatigue got to her. I think you know that your Miltank is in no shape to fight."
A quick flash of disappointment was soon replaced by joy as Whitney plopped onto the ground. The Gym Leader kept her sassy smirk as she saluted the trainer. "These past two days have been great for you!" Whitney called for her Pokémon to come to her side. "After our first battle I thought for sure I wouldn't see you again. I could tell that it was your first loss to a Gym Leader. Those losses usually cause a division between a trainer and their Pokémon. It's a split that can sometimes take a while to heal."
"I didn't know where to cast the blame," Chris had certainly experienced her words. "It felt like me and my Pokémon were no longer good enough for each other."
"And that is exactly what the Pokémon League is for," Whitney clarified. As she applied some medicine to her Pokémon, the Gym Leader brought out her official badge. "Us Gym Leaders are here to test you and your Pokémon's resolve."
"So, have we proven our resolve?" Chris glanced at Quilava, who also wished to know the answer to this question.
"I gotta go with hell yeah!" Whitney's answer sent Chris to the ground in relief.
The trainer felt his entire team surround him in celebration as Whitney approached the group. Chris looked up and found himself staring into the eyes of Quilava. The evolved Pokémon's eyes still carried the same determined, prideful look as before, but Chris thought he could see something else. Beyond the Volcano Pokémon's calm expression, the trainer could see genuine happiness. It was a content aura that Chris hadn't seen in Cyndaquil. The trainer's starter really had evolved.
"Here you are!" Whitney stepped beside Quilava and extended her hand to Chris. In her palm rested Goldenrod Gym's Plain Badge.
"Thank you," Chris gently retrieved the badge from her grasp, "for everything."
"Yeah, yeah," the Gym Leader playfully rolled her eyes. "Come next May I better hear about you at the Silver Conference. I expect great things out of every trainer that beats me!"
"I'll keep that in mind," the trainer told the Gym Leader as she walked away. Chris showed the badge to each of his Pokémon, eliciting equally excited responses from them. "Now for something even better than the badge. Everybody check out Quilava!"
The three Pokémon gathered around their newly-evolved teammate to admire his changed form. The starter Pokémon seemed a little unnerved by all of the staring, but managed to eventually relax. "Look how much taller you are. I'd say you've grown well over a foot taller!" Chris patted Quilava, who gave his trainer a grateful nod. The young man hoped this evolution put to rest any doubts the Fire type had when comparing himself to Luke's Charmeleon.
"Lava!" the starter nodded towards the exit.
"I guess it is about time we head out," Chris stood back up. "I didn't point this out to Whitney, but I can tell that you and Nidorino are completely spent. You fought some amazing battles today. I'd say you guys deserve a good rest." Chris returned his team to their Pokéballs. He shot one last look at Whitney as he reached the door. "I never even asked for her phone number."
Closing- How about them apples? Chris finally managed to get past his road block. And to top everything off, Cyndaquil evolved! What does the future hold for Chris now that he has accomplished his goal for Goldenrod City? Will there be a dark event that overshadows this joyous occasion? I'm not entirely sure (or maybe I am), but I do know that you'll have to check out the next chapter of Heart and Soul to find out! I hope to see ya there!
