AN: Please enjoy the chapter.
Ch 9 The Stone Badge and After
Helena saw a bipedal rhino-like Pokemon now appearing on the Battlefield. By the looks of the Duel-type, Rhydon is a strong Pokemon. However, she was curious about what kind of Pokemon he was. "He looks strong," She commented.
Roxanne nodded, "Yep, Rhydon, a Ground and Rock and one of Headmaster Keith's powerful Pokemon." She turns to Helena and explains to the newest trainer. "Oh, Septile is the Headmaster's Partner."
"A Gym must follow the Type that the League assigns. It's a complicated process, but the good news is that there are many selections of Pokemon to choose from." Wallace explains to the former Witch how the Gym system works.
Jackie crosses his arm and smirks, hearing the conversation. "It also teaches the Challengers about Type Advantages with Pokemon."
"I see," Helena nodded, turning back to the battle before them. "So the Pokemon League is also teaching trainers too, how considerate of them." She smiles at what seems to be the Government of Hoenn is doing for the young trainers on their journey.
The others agreed with Helena's statement before hearing a roar down below them. Their attention back to the Gym Battle.
Steven/ Lileep vs Keith/ Rhydon
Rhydon roars in the air, ready to face Lileep in battle.
Steven remained calm, knowing too well that this is one of the Headmaster's strongest Pokemon in his arsenal. "Lileep, we're facing the Headmaster's strongest Pokemon. Be careful, we don't what he can be capable of."
Lileep nodded her head at her trainer's request. "Lileep," She agreed.
"Playing it safe now, eh Steven? Smart, very smart." Keith smiles, placing both his hands on his cane. "But playing it safe won't get you anywhere!"
"You're right Headmaster," Steven smirks, holding out his hand to his Pokemon. "Lileep, use Double Team then Energy Ball!" He ordered the Fossil Pokemon to start off.
Lileep splits into many copies of herself, using the same tactics as before. "Lileep!" The many copies of Lileep were now covering the entire field.
Rhydon looks around, panicking a bit at the many possible targets. "Rhydon, use Surf around you!" Keith ordered his Partner.
Rhydon nodded and plunged his fist into the ground before the water started to pour from the hole. Soon a huge wave of water erupts from the ground, approaching the Lileep copies.
"Lileep, dodge the water by leaping in the air!" Steven orders the Fossil Pokemon to dodge the Surf.
Lileep nodded, jumping in the air along with her copies. However, most of her copies were swept away from "Lileep!?" The Sea Lily Pokemon saw that Rhydon was smirking at her.
Keith smirks, slamming his cane on the ground. "Jump then Hammer Arm if you will," He asked.
Rhydon jumps up in the air, his arm glowed a reddish-orange hue. He roars at the four remaining Lileep, he propels his fist to one and then the other.
"Lileep, use Astonish to deflect Rhydon's Hammer Arm!" The Steel-blue haired Challenger ordered his Pokemon.
"Lileep!" Lileep's head began to glow a dark hue, she dashed forward at Rhydon, swinging her head back. "Li…"
Rhydon pulls back his arm, still glowing with a reddish-orange hue, and thrust it at the Fossil Pokemon.
The two moves collided causing smoke to form in the air.
Steven held his arm to his face, preventing the dust to go into his eyes. "L-Lileep!" He called out to his friend.
Keith remained calm, standing firmly on his side of the Battlefield. "And checkmate,"
Lileep fell from the smoke, slamming on the Battlefield. "Lil…eep…" Lileep's eyes were now spirals,
"Lileep!" Steven cried out, seeing his Pokemon down for the count.
Rhydon landed with a loud thud on the Battlefield. He roars at his victory over the Sea Lily Pokemon.
The Referee raised the green flag towards Keith, "Lileep is unable to battle, the winner is Rhydon!" He announces as the Rotom Drones turn to the Gym Leader, recording the win.
Steven took out Lileep's Pokeball, calling her back inside. He smiles down at the Pokeball in his palms, "You did a great job, Lileep. You deserve some rest." He places back the Pokeball in his belt before taking out another.
"So it's one on one now," Helena commented on the outcome. "This could go either way."
"Kirlia," Kirlia nodded, seeing the board for herself.
Everyone saw the two red dots on the Holo-board indicating the number of Pokemon both sides have. "Yes, both the Headmaster and Steven have one Pokemon left," Jackie adds, smiling at the exciting battle.
Wallace crosses his legs, seeing they've reached the finale. "Well, I have full confidence that Steven will pull through."
"Don't forget Wallace, we still have Brawly and Flannery's battle to see," Roxanne reminds the teal-haired boy of their other friends.
"Ah that's right, thank you, Roxy." Wallace smiles, forgetting for the moment they have two more battles to watch.
Back on the Battlefield Keith saw Steven looking at his Pokeball. He tilts his head, waiting for his student to bring out his next Pokemon. "Steven, are you ready?"
Steven nods, "You got it, Headmaster! Beldum it's your turn to shine!" He tosses his next Pokeball in the air,
The Pokeball released Steven's Shiny Beldum on the field. "Beldum!" The Duel-type cried out.
"I see, your Shiny Beldum and your Partner. Great choice, Steven." Keith commented on Steven's selected Pokemon.
"You bet, me and Beldum will win this Headmaster!" Steven smirks, not even fazed by the size comparison between his Beldum and Keith's Rhydon.
Keith smiles brightly, liking what he sees. "Excellent! That's what I love to see in trainers such as you and your friends Steven!" The old Gym Leader announces to the Stadium. He lifts his cane and points at the Challenger. "But know this, I won't go easy on you just because you show confidence and determination!"
Steven smirks, not expecting him to go that far. "Now, Rhydon use Hammer Arm!"
Rhydon roars dashing towards the Iron Ball Pokemon. His arms glowed the same reddish-orange hue, he pulls his arm and thrust it at the Duel-type.
"Iron Defense!" Steven shouted.
"Bel." Beldum's body began to take an extra layer of metal as Rhydon's Hammer Arm punched him. He was sent back, just inches away from where Steven stood.
Beldum took half the damage than it was supposed to thanks to his Iron Defense. "Beldum, are okay?" Steven asked his Partner.
The Duel-Type shook his head before nodding to his trainer's question. "Beldum!" He responded.
"What a resilient Steel/Psychic-type," Keith commented on Beldum's stamina to take on a Fighting-type move. "However resilience won't last long, now Drill Run let's go!"
The Drill Pokemon's horn started to spin rapidly and crouched down. He began to charge at Beldum while his horn was spinning.
Steven held his hand out. "Beldum, dodge Rhydon's attack!"
Beldum swiftly dodges Rhydon, drilling through one of the boulders on the field. "Bel,"
Rhydon came out from the dust cloud, coming at the Duel-type from the air.
"Beldum!" swiftly moves to the side, just like before Rhydon drilled through the other boulders.
This kept up for a good while, dodging and attacking by the enemy.
Steven then spots a few rocks flying across the Battlefield, a few of them were big chunks while some were pebbles. "Alright, Beldum continue to dodge Rhydon's attack!" With the bond between him and his partner, they were in sync that they know what each other was thinking.
"Bel," Beldum swiftly floated to the other end, like before Rhydon drilled through boulders.
'Mmmm, what are you planning Steven?' Keith asked himself before realizing that the Battlefield was littered with big rocks and small ones, "Rhydon, stop and use Rock Blast!" He points his cane at his Partner.
Rhydon roars, rushing to one boulder and whacking it with his tail, sending it flying towards Beldum.
"Beldum, quick dodge the Rock Blast!" Steven ordered his Partner to dodge the Rock-type Attack.
Beldum swiftly dodges the falling rocks aiming for him. Dodging and evading the falling rocks, he looked for an opening to attack.
Rhydon gasps, seeing the lack of stones which was the perfect opening for Steven and Beldum.
Keith paused, seeing his Partner freeze in place. "Rhydon? What's the matter-Ngh!" He steps back, now seeing a flattened Battlefield than a rocky terrain before. "How did this-I see, well done Steven." He smiles.
"Now, use Iron Head!" Steven held out his hand out.
"Bel…" Beldum's head began to take a metallic coat, rushing at Rhydon. "Dum!"
The Duel-type slams into the Drill Pokemon's abdomen, sending him flying back to the wall.
Keith moves to the side, seeing that his Partner was sent flying. "Rhydon!"
The Rotom Drones quickly went over to the dust as did the Referee to see what the results of the battle were.
The smoke cleared, revealing Rhydon with his eyes in swirls.
The Referee returns to the Battlefield, raising the red flag towards Steven and his Beldum. "Rhydon is unable to battle, the victor of the Rustboro Gym is the Challenger Steven Stone and Beldum!" The crowds cheered and applauded for the future Champion's victory.
"Way to go Steven!"
"Congratulation, Steven!"
Helena got up, ecstatic about the Steel-blue-haired trainer's victory over this battle. "Steven!" She calls out to the Challenger.
Steven looks up at Helena, waving her hand at him while holding Kirlia in the other. "That was awesome! Congratulations on your victory!" She smiles brightly, happy to experience what watching a real Gym Battle was like.
The Steel-blue haired boy smiles back, acknowledging her applause for him. He chuckles waving back at her,
Keith smiles at his defeat, being the humble Headmaster and Gym Leader he was. "Thank you, Rhydon." He took out Rhydon's Pokeball, aiming for the Duel-type Pokemon. "Rest up, my old friend. We still have two more battles to win." He said as a red beam from the Pokeball hits Rhydon.
Keith walks forward to meet with his student and his Beldum. "I have to say, you are quick on your feet Steven. Something I lack in my old age." The old Gym Leader chuckles, proud to see that Steven was victorious against him.
"Thank you, Headmaster, but it's not me." Steven chuckles, feeling Beldum snuggling against him. "It's Lileep and Beldum's help that I am victorious, without them I'm sure I will lose."
"I like your modesty, just as your group of friends Steven." Keith pulled out the Stone Badge from his pocket. "Here, as Pokemon League regulations and Gym rules, the Challenger earned the Stone Badge fair and square. Congratulations."
Steven smiles, humbly taking the brown-golden Badge off the Headmaster's hand. "Thank you, Headmaster!"
He took out his Gym Badge case where he has the Mind Badge, the Feather Badge, and the Dynamo Badge. With the Stone Badge, this makes four Gym Badges.
"Steven, once everyone that challenges me is finished with their battles with me, I want to speak to the six of you all together." Keith smiles at the Steel-blue haired boy. "I'll explain when everyone is done, alright?"
Steven looks at his three friends in the stands, he then turns to the Headmaster. "Sure, Headmaster."
Littleroot Town
A young woman with powder blue hair was sitting in a café, enjoying a drink while waiting for someone to arrive. "What a lovely day." The woman smiles, drinking some cappuccino.
"Aloha Katie! How you've been? It's been two years since we've seen each other!" A young woman around seventeen walks up the stairs of the café.
Katelyn looks up from her cappuccino and smile at the blonde girl with her hair shaped like the top of a surfboard. "I know Lusamine, I'm glad you can make it. Sorry to call you all the way from Aloha." She stands greeting her old friend.
A young Lusamine walks over to her friend, hugging her after so long. "It's fine, Katelyn. I did say when you need help, you can count on me as a fellow researcher." The blonde researcher commented, remembering the time when they studied together not too long ago.
"Now, what is it that you need, Katie? If I remember our subjects of study are different subjects than me." Lusamine walks to the chair where the powder-blue-haired girl's table.
"That's right, but it's something you might be interested in, Lusamine." Katelyn pulls her tablet from her bag, turning it on to show her colleague.
Lusamine took at the data that Kately collected, she places her hand over her mouth finding it interesting. "Through my investigations, I figured that I might find an ancient ruin that said to be connected with Arceus and the other three Sinnoh's Legendary Pokemon." Katelyn sat back down in her chair.
"However the day before, I picked up something similar to an Ultra Wormhole signal when I was near the coast," Katelyn explains to her friend who was known for researching Ultra Wormholes in Aloha. "The signal that I receive then appeared in Petalburg Forests. Then it disappeared, strange right?" She plays with her drink by stirring it with her spoon.
The blonde woman nodded, "It is, I wonder if there's more than the Ultra Wormhole Phenomenon than we study so far." Lusamine smiles, finding this to be a fascinating thing to look into. "You have piqued my interest, my friend."
"Speaking of we, how's Mohn doing? Did you ask him out already after so long?" Katelyn asked, smirking at her colleague about her personal life.
Lusamine smirks, knowing she was going to ask that type of question. "Well, just letting you so you stop asking me through text." She looks up at her friend, "He ask me out,"
"Well good for you, Lusamine. You two make a great pair and studying the same subject, you guys hit it off." Katelyn smiles, taking a sip of her cappuccino. She places down her cup, looking at the buildings in the small town.
Lusamine smiles, looking at the data once more. "Say, if you're having trouble with tracking this Ultra Wormhole signal then we ask the new Professor of the region, Professor Birch, I think his name was. I'm sure he can add some insights on this." The blonde girl suggested to her colleague.
"You know what? I think we should," Katelyn agrees with Lusamine's suggestion, getting up with her to meet the Pokemon Professor in his lab.
Rustboro City, Trainer School
Steven sighs, resting from an intense battle with the Headmaster and Gym Leader. He smiles at the new Gym Badge he required, "Four down four to go, then my dream will become a reality." He smiles; however, he can't help but feel like he was missing something.
"Steven!" The Steel-blue haired boy turns to the entrance to the Battlefield, coming out was Flannery with an achieving smile.
Steven smiles, seeing that Flannery came in with a winner's expression indicating she won. "I'm guessing you won your Stone Badge?" He asked the red-haired trainer.
Flannery grins, showing her Badge case, the same badges as him and Brawly. "Yep, though I have to admit facing the Headmaster's Rock-types was challenging for a Fire-type user like me, but like you and Brawly I beat him!" She grins.
"Five more Badges then we can face the Elite Four and see who becomes Champion!" Flannery grins with excitement for their goals were almost a reality.
Steven nodded, "Yeah, we're so close." Soon Brawly enters from the exit of the locker room.
"Dudes, we're five more Badges until we get to challenge the Pokemon League!" Brawly enters coming from the stands, already winning his Badge after Steven. "And Flannery, that move with Numel was gnarly! I didn't know that you can use Flame Wheel like a Quick Attack move like that!" He said gleefully.
The red-haired girl was flustered by Brawly's enthusiasm for her Battle against their Headmaster. She scratches the back of her head, smiling that she impressed the Fighting-type trainer. "T-Thanks Brawly, your battle with the Headmaster was great too." Flannery blushes.
Brawly smiles, happy that the three of them were able to go to the next Gym in a few weeks of learning here. "So, should we get going to the Headmaster's office? Wallace said he and the girls are going to meet us there," He informed the two.
"That's right, I totally forgot!" Steven slams his hand on his head, letting that slip from his mind. He got up from the bench and looked at his two friends with him. "We better start heading there before we're late."
Flannery chuckles, "You're right, let's go you guys."
The three exited the locker room, rushing down the halls to get to the Headmaster's office. After a few minutes of traversing through the halls, Steven and the others arrived at Keith's office.
"W-We made it, finally." Steven huffs, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
Brawly and Flannery huffed too after being bombarded by many student trainers and spectators who went to them for today's battle. "W-Who knew there were a lot who seen out battle," Brawly commented.
Flannery nodded, smiling at the many people who admire them. "Y-Yeah, it seems we're going to have a fan club soon you guys." She jokes,
Steven and Brawly chuckle, dreading the day when that comes true in the future. Shaking that thought from his mind, Steven straightens himself up before entering the office. "Well, that's far off in the future to be worried about that, Flannery." He chuckles, grabbing the doorknob and entering the office.
The three friends enter the office, "Steven, Flannery, Brawly, I'm glad you made it! You three have put on a difficult battle for me," Keith greeted his three students now joining them with a smile.
Wallace turns around with his arms crossed and smirks at the newcomers to this meeting. "Well, if it isn't our victors of today's match. About time you three, we've been waiting for you." He jokingly greets his friends and rival.
"Wallace, be nice they just beat their Fourth Gym today." Roxanne smiles, defending them from Wallace's joke.
"Yes, I know Roxy. I'm just congratulating the three in my own way." Wallace smirks.
Helena looks at his teal-haired friend, "You have a unique way of showing that, Wallace." She commented.
Wallace chuckles, shrugging his arms. "Eh," She smirks.
Steven rolled his eyes at his rival being himself and walks over to where the three were. Flannery and Brawly join their friends. "Everyone's here, Headmaster." Roxanne looks at the old Gym Leader,
"So, Headmaster why did you call all of us?" Steven asked the man he defeated.
"Does it have to do with our next Gym Mission, Headmaster?" Brawly asked, placing his hand on his side.
"Not quite, Brawly." Keith smiles, interlocking his hands together. "A former student of mine years ago just returned to his new lab from his research trip in the Kalos Region of his studies on Evolution." He explains to his six students.
Helena blinks, getting a bit intrigued by this information the Headmaster gave. "Pokemon lab?"
Keith nodded, "Yes, it's a laboratory that studies Pokemon and gives trainers their first Pokemon. One out of the three traditional Hoenn Starters, Torchic, Mudkip, and Treecko." The old Gym Leader explains to his new student. "I figure that if you're all going learn about Pokemon, it's better to learn from experiencing things on hand." He continued.
"I see, that sounds nice." Helena smiles, she looks down at her Partner who looked up at her. "What do you think, Kirlia? Do you mind if we go to the Pokemon lab?" She asked Kirlia if that was fine with her.
"Kirlia," The Emotion Pokemon nodded, not minding that they were going somewhere else. As long as Helena was there, everything will be fine.
Helena gave a bright smile to the Headmaster, "It seems that both of us agree, Headmaster!" She informed the old Gym Leader.
"That's great news, Helena," Steven commented, looking next to him. He felt excited to have her join them at the Pokemon lab in Littleroot town. "You already fit well with our group, I'm sure everyone agrees with me."
They turn around to their friend, nodding in agreement with what the future Champion said.
Wallace leans forward at his new friend, not skipping this moment to tease his rival. "And don't forget, Helena. Stevie did promise to teach you some advanced battling in the future." His eyes shift to Steven who blushed at the memory.
The Steel-blue-haired boy blushed, now remembering that embarrassing promise he made with the former Witch. "Well, I didn't expect that so soon. But I'm happy to learn, either way, thank you, Steven." Helena looks at him with a cute expression.
"Y-Yeah, well I do keep my promises. I'm not going to take it back like some jerk." Steven scratched his flustered cheek. "Ahem, anyway before we head out, we should stock up on Pokeballs and Potions. W-We don't know what we might encounter on our journey there,"
"You're right, Steven." Helena smiles, following his lead on what are journeys are.
Brawly chuckles, leaning to Flannery who saw the same thing as him. "(Dude doesn't even know that he's crushing on our friend here.)" He smiles at the only person who will get his joke.
Flannery covered her mouth, trying not to be disruptive in the meeting. "(Y-You're totally right, Brawly.)"
Steven cleared his throat, turning his head to his group of friends. "Alright everyone, let's get prepared to go to Littleroot Town at the Store!" He charismatically said to his friends.
"Yeah!" Everyone cheered, excited for another adventure.
Keith smiles at the sight of his students willing to learn more on their journey. "Then I wish you all a good trip, come back when once you're all done there." He chuckles, stroking his long mustache. "You still have classes here to attend,"
"Yes, Headmaster!"
AN: How do you like it? Please leave a comment or review.