Vermilion City looks nice. Although I don't plan to stay for long, two days or three should do.
I still have to sign up for the Indigo League, and there's also a Pokémon Gym nearby. So attempting it might not hurt; that's if it isn't completely booked...
Looking around, eventually I found the Pokémon Center. It wasn't as busy for what I was expecting in a city during the Indigo Circuit's active season.
Going to the front desk, I was greeted by a rather relaxed Nurse Joy sitting behind the desk. "Hello there, young man! How may we help you today?"
"I'd like to sign up to the Indigo League, a room to stay, and a check-up for my Turtwig, thank you." From my pocket, I pull out both my Pokédex and my only inhabited Poké Ball.
She hums. "Turtwig? Are you a rare visitor from Sinnoh?" Attaching the Pokédex to the computer, Nurse Joy pulls up my Trainer I.D. and smiles. "Oh you are! How lovely! And this is your first League no less. Well, you picked a rather timely visit to the Vermilion Center; with the Gym's week-off, our Trainer influx has dropped significantly."
That makes my head tilt. "I'm guessing it isn't a beginner-friendly Gym?"
"Oh no, it's perfectly fine for beginners! Surge just can be... harsh on new Trainers." She pauses for a moment, before inspiration actually looked to have struck her in the face. "He's actually hosting a small tournament he calls the 'Battle Raffle' for any Trainers without any Gym Badges or previous League experience, tomorrow. If you would like, there's a free 16th space needing to be filled. It's going to last at least four days, so there's suitable time for the Pokémon to recover."
I wasn't planning to stay for five days... but it might do Turtwig some good. "How... exactly does the 'Battle Raffle' work?"
"Well, you and your opponent are decided by having a Poké Ball with a matching number pulled randomly from a hat." Okay, I'm following. "And you'll use a random Electric-type Pokémon from inside that raffle Poké Ball, alongside one of your own Partner Pokémon in the proceeding battle." That's very interesting.
"Alright. How do I sign up?" Honestly, using different kinds of Electric-types could be a beneficial experience. Especially, if it's a Pokémon I haven't used before. Bettering my flexibility is important.
Nurse Joy quickly presses a key. "All done!" Had she already got the form ready or something? "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be inspecting your Turtwig. If you want to go out and explore Vermilion, then rest assured we'll keep your Pokémon safe."
"I think I'll just rest here." I needed to relax, and inform the Professor and Reggie that I arrived fine.
"The check-up will be just half an hour or so. Oh, and you're free to wait in your room." Saying so, she handed my Pokédex back. Inside I found a digital key, alongside the corresponding room number.
"I see. Thank you, again." Nodding to Nurse Joy, she giggles and walking away.
Why? I don't really know. Is there something on my face?
Whatever.
Looking down at my room number, I walk out the reception into the hall. Let's see... Room 13...
Looks like all I can do now is keep researching until the morrow.
I messaged the Professor using a terminal after picking up Turtwig from the desk. I felt it best not to bother the Professor in case he was busy. I was able to speak to Reggie since he had a Pokégear.
Planning out my route from Vermilion. I've decided to go through Celadon City, as apparently, other than the Gym, its near to the Battle Pyramid's next location. From there is a route to Viridian City where there's another Pokémon Gym and a route to Pallet Town.
It's really out of the way.
But Professor Rowan asked me to visit his colleague. Something about assisting in a collaborative project on with Pokémon Evolution and different Energy Types?
I'm also kind of curious about Professor Oak.
He's obviously famous for Pokémon research. But outside of that, my past-life tells me he's important like Rowan, Maylene, and other people I've heard about.
I don't know what way they are, only ever this sense of recognition they are. Sometimes broken memories just blip into my brain; sometimes bringing a bad headache for the ride, sometimes not.
There's also that person. Whoever he is. My Rival.
"Twig, twig, twig..." I look down to Turtwig sleeping on the bed with me. Soundly out, a small bubble expands and retracts with each of his snores. "Turtwig, twig twig..." Cute.
Deciding to take a cue, I relax back into my pillow looking through my Pokédex for Kanto Electric-type Pokémon.
We'll take on whatever the future holds.
Whatever the future holds...
Whatever... it holds...
... ... ...
Standing in the battlefield alongside other waiting Trainers, I stretch as a crowd of viewers gathers.
I'd rather not talk to anyone. Better to keep that sort of thing down to a minimum. Get the mind in the game, you know?
Avoiding eye contact, I see the other contestants mingle in my peripheral. And just as someone was about to talk to me.
"WELCOME BABIES!" A really big guy with blond-hair and an army unform drew everyone's attention.
"I am Lt. Surge! The Vermilion Gym Leader! And the host and only needed judge for this here Battle Raffle!" Fair enough.
"Let's go over the rules!" Straight to the point. I like that.
"You are judged on your demonstration of skill as an official badgeless baby Trainer with no previous League competing experience! In each battle, you will use two Pokémon: one Partner Pokémon and one random raffle Pokémon whose number will range from 1 to 8 on their Poké Ball. And if that number matches another Trainer's? Well, well, guess we know who your play pal is!
"You can switch between your chosen and raffle Pokémon once per battle! You can only open the raffle Poké Ball for battle; outside of that, and you're disqualified! And lastly, you hand the raffle Pokémon back to us at the end of the battle, and back again tomorrow you pick another one." A female Gym Trainer standing next to Surge quickly whispers something into his ear. "Thanks, Visquez. Oh, and no using items!" Funnily that did get a groan out the other players.
"Now..." The Gym Leader took a large black showman's hat sitting by a table side. "GET IN LINE! AND PICK A NUMBER FROM THE MAGICAL HAT!" I take my place at the back of the line. Why rush? Since it's, well, a raffle. Each Pokémon is random, right?
When it got to my turn, I pulled a Poké Ball with a sticker of a 5 on it. Huh, wonder what Pokémon this is. Sliding out my Pokédex to scan it- "Ah, ah." A large hand pinches it out from my grasp.
"Hey!" I glear up at Lt. Surge, to which he smiles down on me in return.
He wags a finger. "I said no using items. That includes Trainer items, not just Pokémon items."
I was going to argue. But I realised he's right. A Trainer item like a Pokédex would be kinda hacks, especially in a tournament like this.
Taking a breath, I calm down, crossing my arms. "Fair enough."
Surge's smile turns from mocking to approving. "Good. Knowing how to bite your lower lip can take you places." He glances at the raffle Poké Ball then my Pokédex. "I'll give this back after today's matches. I'm 50/50 sure it's gonna be some kind of bomb." He jokes.
Leaving, I sit by the other participants on a bench. The Gym Leader grabs another showman's hat, this one white, and pulls a normal white ball from it. "Numbers: 4! You two are up!"
Interlacing my fingers, I lean forward. The two Trainers took to positions at either side the field. They were asked to state their names and where they were both from; Ale and Cliff, each from the lovely port town right here, Vermilion City.
"Are you babies ready? Then bring out your Pokémon!"
"Go, Poliwag." Ale throws.
"Out, Pidgey!" Followed soon by Cliff.
Neither chose the raffle Pokemon. Can't say I blame them. It's a pretty sound decision to stick with what you know. I question their Type choice, though. Then again, probably their first and only current Pokémon.
From the disappointment on Lt. Surge's face, I can't say he agrees. Then again, the whole point of this is... as a demonstration of our skills as a Trainer... I notice Surge is marking out a paper on a clipboard.
Is this score based in some way?
Does victory actually matter?
He didn't actually say.
Really, no real way to find out. I'll just watch and see how Surge's reactions change per each match.
Surge nods. "Begin!"
"Poliwag, use Hypnosis!" The Water-type's eyes light up.
"Pidgy, quick. Gust." Cliff's orders come too slow, as Pidgey sways into a fall.
Ale has the advantage now. "Now, Water Gun."
"Poliiiii!"
The spout of water hits the Flying-type and it gurgles in its deep sleep.
Must be having one of those dreams about being stuck in the middle of the ocean. Yeah... That's rough, buddy.
Not much to my surprise, the constant onslaught of water caused Cliff to trade out. Surge looks to approve.
Let's see what Electric-type he pulled.
"Out! Whoever you are!?" The Pokémon revealed? I blink in suprise. An Elekid? Go figure...
Cliff doesn't quite look like he knows what to do.
Ale takes advantage. "Use Hypnosis, again!"
Elekid, on the other hand, isn't affected. "Brr..." In fact, Elekid just looks annoyed. "Brrrrii!" Really, annoyed.
And Cliff takes charge. "Do something electric!"
"BrrRRRIII!" The Elekid obliged with Thunder Shock. It's Super Effective.
"POLYYYYYY!" Poliwag is shockingly Knocked Out.
Gym Leader Surge raises his hand. "Poliwag is unable to battle! The victor is Elekid!"
"Wow, nice going Elekid!" Much to Cliff's obvious disappointment, Elekid does not visibly care for the praise. The Electric-type just seems to hate his current situation.
Returning Poliwag, Ale throws out his own raffle Poké Ball. "Go! Poké Ball!" This time the light reveals a much smaller shape.
Oh, that's just ruthless Surge!
"Pi pi!" It's a Pichu! With a cute little tuft on its head. And as it sees Elekid, it grows downright terrified. "P-pi p-p-p-pii...!"
Similarly, the moment Pichu reveals itself, the Elekid aquires a cruel glint in its eyes giving a Leer.
Understandably, but surprisingly, the Pichu retreats back to Ale and hops at its Poké Ball, returning itself.
There's a brief silence.
Lt. Surge sighs. "Disqualified."
"Hey, but-" Ale tries to protest, but unlike with my Pokédex stunt before, the Gym Leader has none of it.
"Can't get your remaining Pokémon to fight? Put it back in the hat and join the audience to watch. Good Trainers don't sit back dumbly to watch their Pokémon retreat. Next time, why not lock the Poké Ball? That's a function even when the Pokémon's out, ya know?"
Harsh. Nurse Joy wasn't kidding. He isn't exactly wrong, but still... "Harsh..."
"Yeah... I heard Lt. Surge can be harsh." I slide my eyes over to the person sitting next to me. Seeing a boy around my age (ten), wearing predominantly green with a blue hat. "He was apparently a soldier in the Johto vs Kanto part of the Great War."
"A soldier. Huh?" Is that why he's harsh on new Trainers? It kinda makes some sense. Doesn't want someone stupid handling a Pokémon to move up.
"Oh, I'm Ritchie by the way." Pulled out of thought, I look back to the Trainer offering me his hand. "Nice to meet you!"
I stare a short while, before I reach out, shaking his hand. "Back at you. I'm Paul."
"Numbers: 1!" The Gym Leader calls out. Ritchie stands.
"That's me." My fellow Trainer waves moving to the field. "Let's talk some more after, Paul!"
Something about him is familiar...
...Wait, isn't he the same Trainer who was about to talk to me just before Surge spoke up at the start?
Well. I'll evaluate his skills just as with any Trainer.
"You babies ready? Then pick your Pokémon!" Lt. Surge speaks as Ritchie, and a girl named Giselle representing some Trainer School called Pokémon Tech, stand in position.
"Let's go!" Ritchie throws his raffle Poké Ball. And the light reveals, a Mareep? Isn't that mainly considered a Johto Pokémon?
"Cubone, go!" From Giselle's side a Cubone appears. The girl laughs. "A Ground-type vs an Electric-type! It's quite obvious which wins out over the other!"
I don't know him that well. I actually didn't really care if he won at first. But for some reason now, some part of me hopes Ritchie wins.
Surge's large hand cuts downwards. "Begin!"
"Mareep, show me any non-electric moves!" Ritchie issues his order first, a fairly good one too.
Followed by Giselle. "Cubone, Boneclub!" The Lonely Pokémon raising its bleached club rushes the Mareep; only to stagger. "Cu, cu!?" As a white ball of cotton shot from the Wool Pokemon's coat latches to the Cubone's leg, followed by another.
Is that... Cotton Spore?
The student seems taken aback, but recovers. "Bonemerang! Quick!" Cubone, again lifting the bone club, hurls with all its strength, still staggering as another cotton ball hits it.
"Mareep, dodge!" The sheep Pokémon does as Ritchie asks. I'm not entirely unfamiliar with the Mareep line. Sure, my research last night had been mostly on starting-grade Kanto Electric-types. But I skimmed briefly over the few extra Johto ones too, since that region's literally next door.
Despite the regional difference, if there's one normal thing common to most Pokémon in their early development, it's- "Tackle!"
Following Ritchie's order a step further, the Mareep rushes and hits the slowed Cubone into its own returning Bonemerang.
With its skull spinning to an eventual stop. Cubone falls with a daze showing in its eyes.
"Cubone is unable to battle. Victor is Mareep. Now please bring out your next Pokémon, sweety." So Lt. Surge speaks nicer to girls. Does he have a daughter or something?
Giselle returns her Ground-type Pokémon, then looks unassuredly at the raffle Poké Ball before throwing it.
It reveals... "MAGNEMITE."
Surge nods. "Round 2: Fight!"
"Supersonic!" Giselle starts off this time. Honestly, the chances of it knowing that move are pretty high. And Magnemite even proves it.
"Tackle it. Quickly Mareep!" The Wool Pokémon shacks it's head off before rushing the Magnet Pokémon.
"Dodge!" Calmly Magnemite hovers aside Mareep's attack, letting the fluffy sheep trip over its own foot.
A confused look in its eyes says all that needs to be known. But I don't think Ritchie realises. "Use your Wool Balls again!" I don't think he knows what Cotton Spore is, either.
At the snickering coming from the other contestants, I roll my eyes. What's funny about it? Honestly, I only learned about that move recently by scanning through the Pokédex's Move Index on the ferry. Useful feature.
Considering we're all just beginners here, guessing the basic moves is best stuck to when battling with impersonal Pokémon; Gym Pokémon in this case... that in all likelihood are battle reared and ready.
Either way, despite being Confused, Mareep understood what Ritchie meant. "Meeeerrr!" And launchs an onslaught of Cotton Spore... at every conceivable direction.
Thankfully, there is a psychic barrier around the field. Thankfully.
Magnemite, however, isn't quite so lucky. It ends up looking more like its opponent, blinded by Mareep's Cotton Spore.
Considering Mareep's wool also has a static charge as well...
"MAGNEMITE! MAGNEMITE!" That's interesting. Paralysis? No, at least not entirely. Since Magnemite can also sense with electromagnetic fields, Mareep's charged wool is temporarily disrupting those extra senses. It's blind in more ways than one right now, at least until the Magnemite can eat through the electricity. Shouldn't be long.
"Return! Thanks for the help." Ritchie seems to realise Mareep's Confused and switches out. "Now it's your turn!"
"Let's go, Zippo!" The Poké Ball's light reveals... "Charmander! Char!" Not wasting the moment Ritchie makes an order. "Ember!"
"Shake it off, quickly, Magnemite!" The student orders, but Magnemite's efforts have little effect as the fur still clings to it.
How statically charged is that wool? Did the static electricity build up from Mareep's physical movements... or was it charged up beforehand?
"Char!" Tiny burning flames, like light machine-gun fire, hit Magnamite, causing the remaining Cotton Spore to catch fire.
Flailing about, the Steel/Electric-type spins its magnets in panic, looking more and more like a floating ball of fire. "MAGNEMITE! MAGNEEE_!"
Everyone on the bench and a large group of the audience wince. Only Surge with his Gym Trainers, and some pro-looking Trainers onlooking don't look bothered. It knows Metal Sound. The sound is largely mitigated thanks in part to the barrier generated by a number of Psychic-types.
And Screech is supposed to sound worse...
Heck, the Carmander breaks off its Ember, which isn't even what Metal Sound would normally be used for.
I think Giselle realises what the attack was, because her next move makes sense. "Thunder Shock!"
Magnemite, albeit singed, lights up, sending a weak electrical charge to zap the recovering Charmander.
"Zippo, focus, use Ember again." Ritchie's Pokémon looks to force out whatever pain it's currently under. I note the slight extra flaring from the Fire-type's tail.
Is that?
"Char!" The Ember was faster, and the size of each flame has significantly increased. That's definitely the ability: Blaze. Every heavy hit drives Magnemite back further and further, before-
"MAgNemite..." It just fell like the strings holding it were cut.
"Magnemite is unable to battle. Victor is Charmander Zippo and Trainer Ritchie!" Surge looks satisfied with the results this time around.
"Nice work, Zippo!" Ritchie runs to his Charmander and the two hug. "Charmander, char!"
"Ohh... What did I do wrong?" Giselle rubs her brow, sighing.
It wasn't a bad fight. After seeing two matches now, I'm coming up with some fair guesses on what this whole Battle Raffle may be about.
Ritchie sits down next to me. "How do you think that battle went?" Ritchie looks embarrassedly to the side, scratching his cheek. "I lucked out with using Mareep..."
"You did." He looks put out as I said that, so I continue. "Giselle is educated, had the Type-advantage, sure, yet was overconfident in her Cubone's capabilities." When the situation flipped in the second half, she became more dangerous losing that confidence. "But ultimately, your luck, your adaptability, and your pressing to take advantage of the changing situation were the deciding factors in both fights."
"I guess..." Ritchie seems a bit pepped up now.
I shrug, crossing my arms while staring as Lt. Surge calls another number that's not mine. "Honestly, each match could go 50/50 depending on the potential unknown factors of the raffle Pokémon." Shifting my eyes to Ritchie, I go on. "But those factors should lessen as the matches continue."
"Really." The blue-hat Trainer tilts his head. "How'd you figure that?"
Looking back at the newly beginning match, I point to a raffle Pikachu that appears on a guy called A.J.'s side. "You remember that Pichu at the start?"
He smiles. "Oh yeah! That little guy was cute..." Only to then frown. "Kinda a shame he ran away."
"The fact that the Elekid suddenly acted up as it did to the Pichu, and that the Pichu just ran out of fear straight to its Poké Ball as well, makes me think that it's probably happened before." I shrug. "And notice, how Surge advised the Trainer on what he could do to prevent that again?"
"Huh? So it was probably set up for those Pokémon to have the same number..." His eyes widen. "It's not all random, then."
I nod. "This whole tournament isn't to prove how powerful our Pokémon are. It's to see how good we are as Trainers handling Pokémon we've probably never used.
"Which goes into my next point: these are Gym-trained Electric Pokémon, right? So while we can guess they know basic moves like Tackle, Electric-type moves like Thunder Shock, and moves of their own lines." Maybe they know something a little more advanced. But I left that out. "The raffle Pokémon know how to battle. We just need to give orders to them. Even vague ones like, 'do something electric' or 'show me any non-electric moves' work."
"I think I get what you're saying." Ritchie looks at me smiling again. "Say you sure are observative, Paul!"
"..." Choosing to remain silent, I see the current fight end with A.J.'s Sandshrew as the victor. Guess that's his chosen Partner Pokemon. Noted.
"Yeah, you sure are." Said someone who isn't Ritchie- wait. Who said that? The owner of the voice in question sits in an empty space next to me. The older brown-haired girl smiles sweetly as a Poké Ball sways on her necklace. "Sorry for interrupting! I'm Neesha."
Agh. What does this girl want? Why do people keep coming out of the blue like that? Really, I just want to watch the fights.
"Hey, I know you! You were in the finals of the last Indigo Conference." Wait... hold on, Ritchie's right! But hey, I still don't know what to say. Congrats? Got any good advice? "Why are you here?" Clearly Ritchie knows. Thank you, Ritchie, for being Ritchie.
"Ah, well, I just saw the advertisement for a part-time security job. And since I'm craving something to do until I decide what my next Circuit will be, here I am!" Neesha shrugs, before focusing on me. "Are you really starting off? That's some high observational ability you got there for someone starting out as a Trainer. "
"Used to help out part-time at my city's Pokémon Gym." Not the entire truth, Reggie likes to give me advice too, I also read; and then there's the information from my past-life that likes to just drop piece by piece randomly into my head. Yeah... I'll keep myself to myself, thanks.
"Oh, so you're only now an official Trainer. Hmm, and what Gym would that be?" Neesha presses a finger to her chin. "I'm going to guess Fuchsia and that you're secretly a ninja." She jokes with a chuckle, winking.
"Na-uh." For some reason, a smirk tries to crawl onto my face. "Veilstone only makes fighters." Where did that come from?!
She blinks. "Veilstone...?" The older Trainer looks to have an epiphany. "Wait, that means you're the Trainer from the-"
"Numbers: 5! You're up!" Surge's voice cutting in, gives me the excuse I need to leave.
"That's me." I stand and walk to the arena without another word. Closing my eyes, I take position with a deep breath, calming myself.
Focus on the match. Observe.
Have clear thoughts. Analyse.
There is only the Pokémon . Plan.
Take the moment. Act.
Fighting-type Gyms have good tips. I guess they are pretty serious about fighting in general; be it a Pokémon battle or a Human battle. A fight is a fight.
"State your names and where you're from!"
At Lt. Surge's words, I opened my eyes to my opponent and the field. "Paul, from Veilstone."
"I am Janine, of Fuchsia."
Janine: She's a girl with tied-back, purple-hair. Dressed casually in matching clothes, though a little baggy... but that's not relevant to this match. She's from Fuchsia City, and it's Gym specialises in Poison-type Pokémon. Since I don't know her Partner Pokémon, it was food for thought considering Turtwig is a Grass-type.
"Now, choose your Pokémon!" The Gym Leader's words vibrate the ears.
Seeing my opponent's hand drift without hesitation to pick out the raffle Poké Ball number: 5, my own hand rests on Turtwig's shrunken Poké Ball. Fully intent on leaning into the Grass-typing's defence advantage to Electric-type moves, I was about to take it off, but paused...
-Koga's daughter? Pain pangs in my head.-
The assurance with which Janine moved her hand to pick the raffle Poké Ball just felt off-key to everyone else's hesitation, so far. Her expression gave nothing away. This is probably just paranoia on my part. Over circumspection. But...
-Fuchsia Gym? Like an egg mind splits.-
Why am I getting the feeling like I'm walking straight into a trap?
-Trickery? And instead of out, something slips in.-
The joke Neesha said crosses my mind; "I'm going to guess Fuchsia and that your secretly a ninja." and...
-Ninja substitution. The rift closes, my mind panging still.-
Wouldn't Neesha as a security guard be informed of a competing Trainers relevant information?
Am I... fighting an actual ninja?
Yes.
Wasn't that a joke?
No.
Does it really matter?
No.
This whole Battle Raffle is about learning to work with chance. So...
Throw reason away.
I'll trust myself.
Instantly, I switch from Turtwig's Poké Ball in favour of grabbing the raffle Poké Ball.
Let's take a chance!
I grip the Poké Ball firmly, before I throw. "Stand by for battle!"
"You shall do this, and do it well!" As does my opponent.
From mine appears an orb with... wait that's a- "Voltorb!" Well, I can give a wild guess aa to what this guy can do.
The light from Janine's Poké Ball fades. "Crrrrro!" A Crobat! She must have switched the number: 5 sticker from her raffle Poké Ball with her Partner Pokémon's.
I made the right call, despite the chance.
Surge is marking his clipboard, despite the fact we haven't started the Pokémon battle.
If this whole competition is scored based on how we demonstrate our skills, what if I just beat her outright before she gets to demonstrate anything further?
What did Surge say? "I'm 50/50 sure it's gonna be some kind of bomb."
But what kind? Self Destruct or...
The chance that this Voltorb knows the specific move I'm hoping for is lower compared to the weaker variant; that is... if it hasn't learned it through use of a TM.
Ah, screw it.
When it comes to 50/50: sometimes you gotta see where it goes! Or maybe, that's just my new headache talking.
The Lighting Lieutenant hums. Eyeing us both up with something of a spark in his eyes. "Ready?" We nod to him, and Surge chops his arm down grinning. "Then BEGIN!"
Let's see if this Voltorb knows how to start things off with a big bang!
Let's rewind a bit with a change in perspective. Shall we.
As Paul leaves the bench, Ritchie hears Neesha mutter, "So he's the Trainer from the Sinnoh Region."
"Paul's from Sinnoh?" He had heard about that region. "Aren't they supposed to be heavy-handed about who goes in and out?"
She looks to Ritchie, nodding. "Since the Great War, yeah. But Sinnoh has really been trying to open up recently. Previously, other than trading resources like the other closed-off regions, it was mainly League Officials, Lab Professors, or Trainers of the likes of the Frontier Brains, the Elite Four, and the Champion who were allowed entry."
They both focus on the Sinnoh Trainer. "It was only a few years back that Sinnoh set up a test for their own Trainers to take, so as they could leave and compete in other League's. Apparently, the pass requirements used to be ridiculously high." Neesha's voice grows light. "But I hear, recently they made it easier for their younger Trainers. I know a guy who took the harder version from Veilstone like Paul; they look alike too." The older Trainer smiles more for herself than to Ritchie.
"Ah, is that so." The blue-hatted boy himself rolls the information around in his head. So if he ever wanted to go and explore any of the closed-off regions, he would have to become something like a member of the Elite Four? That'd be tough. But it stirs something in him.
"State your names and where you're from!" Lt. Surge's voice drew them to the match.
"Paul, from Veilstone."
"I am Janine, of Fuchsia."
"Oooh, so she's the ninja." Neesha crosses he legs, leaning back.
Ritchie looks to her confused. "Weren't you joking about that?"
"Was I, or wasn't I?" She waves her hand. "Apparently, Surge likes to joke about a thing while keeping it enough of a secret to surprise. He gave us the names of the Trainers along with a picture, and what Pokémon Types they'll each use."
Neesha shrugs. "Other than that, we don't know where they're from or have their actual profiles. He just said:" She coughs to deepen her voice. "'Oh, and there's a Sinnoh newbie and a Fuchsia ninja taking part.'"
"They must have a lot of security issues at the Vermilion Gym." While he chuckled at her bad impression, it honestly worried Ritchie a little.
Neesha laughs. "I'm told it's just local events that Surge hosts that get like this. The Gym's a different matter entirely."
That puts Ritchie a little at ease. "That's good to know..." He sighs.
"Now, choose your Pokémon!"
The two stoic-faced Trainers take their Poké Balls. Janine takes her raffle one. Paul's hand briefly hesitates from between his personal to his own raffle Poké Ball.
And they throw.
"Stand by for battle!" Paul's voice held a certain commitment to it.
"You shall do this, and do it well!" So too did Janine's voice.
Each raffle Poké Ball pops open alight. Paul's reveals a Voltorb. Janine's... a Crobat...
"Wait," Ritchie realises. "She swapped the sticker on the Poké Ball's! Isn't Crobat the final evolution of Zubat? That's unfair to Paul!"
The prospecting pro shook her head. "Sometimes there isn't any fairness." Neesha stared hard at the match. "Just because Janine's now officially a Trainer, doesn't mean she hasn't had any prior experience handling Pokémon. Heck, Lance was raised with Dragon-types; he started officially with a Dragonite!"
"Really?" Ritchie looks back at the fight.
"Yep. Really." She nods, before pausing in thought. "Sometimes it's about how you handle unfair situations like this."
"Ready?" He didn't like it, but he couldn't do much about it. And Surge doesn't seem to care. "Then BEGIN!"
Janine started. "Use Toxi-!" Only to be rudely interrupted. Her voice muffled under a firm roar.
"EXPLOSION!"
All turned to Paul's outburst, seeing a sudden flicker from the Voltorb.
Lt. Surge laughs madly. "Ahaha! Nice guess, kid!"
"VOLT-OOOORB."
Light could be a blinding thing, this one for sure.
Vbooooom!
Ritchie knew Metal Sound was bad, yet such an accompanying sound reverberates through his whole being. Under Explosion's stress, he thought the psychic barrier would crack, but thankfully it didn't.
And then, the sound fades, echoing into the background. The light vanishes, and everyone's eyes readjust to stare.
The battlefield had been slightly damaged by the previous fights.
Now?
It was painted a streaking, charred black, fractured with cracks.
In the epicenter originating from Paul's side, sat a small crater with Voltorb unconscious within. Despite a rough appearance, it looked oddly content. "Voltooorb..."
On the furthest edge, at Janine's side, however, lay her wounded Crobat, coloured like charcoal, checkered a little red. "Crr- Crro..."
"Hah!" Paul's lips pull up at the edges as he smirks. "It actually knew it."
"Voltorb is unable to battle! The victor is Crobat!" Despite the shock dealt to both the watching participants and the audience, the Lightning Lieutenant drew their attention. His grin stretching ear to ear. "Select your next Pokémon!"
Returning Voltorb, Paul briefly stares at the Poké Ball. "Not bad." He then switches out the raffle one for his Partner's.
Ritchie saw Janine's expression after a short daze, crack seeing her Pokémon looking brittle.
"But now, it's on you." The smirk slips from Paul's face as he grips firm on his Poké Ball. His eye's encapsulate within focus.
"Turtwig. Stand by for battle!"
I throw my Poké Ball.
Crobat's still only just concious, all that's left is a nudge over.
"Turtwig!" In a flash, the Tiny Leaf Pokémon appears, giving a determind shout.
From the spectators, I hear a myriad of murmers.
Unimportant.
"Round 2: FIGHT!" Surge sounds giddy.
I'm obliged in an instant. "Growth!"
Cloaked by a white glow, Turtwig gives another shout. Small muscles visibly bulge as the turtle's body size slightly increases.
"Turrrtwigg!"
Janine snaps out of whatever stupor she is under. "Quick, get in the air!"
"Cro...!" The Bat Pokémon, even in pain, flaps its wings to try its luck and fly up. Its former stability gone.
You know what I liked learning about working part-time in a Gym? Countermeasures. "Smack Down!"
"Turrr-!" Turtwig bites onto the ground and with might outwighing such small statcher yanks a sizable stone just larger than his head, before chucking it. "TWIG!"
"!-Dodge!" My opponent's order comes in a panic. Unfortunately for Janine and Crobat, and fortunatly for me and Turtwig, her Pokémon is too injured to fully dodge the projectile. Crobat's fast, sure. But right now?
As it tries to move left out of the large stone's path, Crobat ends up with one side smacked hard by the rock, bruising it further. Losing control mid-flight, the bat crashes back to the ground. But that's not enough.
I issue my orders.
"Razor Leaf into Bite! Get in there!" Turtwig quickly swishes his head at where Crobat fell, throwing out a small barrage of sharp leaves, and then charges not long after.
"Hipnoses!" The Razor Leaf hit as Janine issues the order. What concentration Crobat could've gathered for the Hipnoses shredded with each new wound.
"Twig!" Not allowing for a moments rest Turtwig appears and Bites the Poison/Flying-type's wing.
My orders were simple. "Growth again, and Ragdoll'm!" The white glow appears once more and the tirtle's size increases yet again. Jolting his head up, Turtwig pulls Crobat along, lifting it up and with another jolt hitting it downwards!
Bang!
It's not enough.
"Again!"
-Janine looks lost, as if she were unable to comprehend something.-
Bang! The turtle grows, and the impact resounds.
It's not enough.
"Again!"
-Each time Janine opens her mouth, only to close it.-
Bang! Again, the impact sounds. Again, Turtwig has grown.
It's not enough.
"Again!"
-But... What could Crobat be able to do now, weak as it is? Janine's hesitation costs her.-
"Turrr-TWIG!"
BANG! This slam is mightier than the rest by far. My Pokémon's increased size and strength granting him the means.
This time...
As the dust clears, I see the push that had been needed is done.
Crobat lies dazed, at last knocked out.
"Crobat is unable to battle! The victor is Turtwig!" Surge announces. "Select your next Pokémon!"
Despite this banger headache, I could still go. And my bud was ready and waiting to go.
However.
"I concede!" Janine's eyes tear at their edges. Returning her Crobat, her once stoic face torn into regret. Ripping the 5 sticker off from her personal Poké Ball, she throws it crinkled with the raffle Poké Ball aside at the Gym Leader's general direction. Stopping away from the battlefield, and out the Battle Raffle entirely.
Surge's former smile was now largely a frown. "Victor is Paul, of Veilstone!" He gestures to me.
"Return." Returning my now confused Turtwig. I remain largely still for a moment, briefly glancing to the direction Janine went and to the Poké Ball in my hand. "You did good."
Swaping Turtwig's Poké Ball for the raffle one and throwing the number: 5 ball to Surge who catches it in the black hat.
Going back to the bench, I ignore whatever stares I get and sit down. Shutting my eyes with a breath, I pinch the bridge of my nose.
For some reason, this headache is really starting to hit me.
On one hand, Neesha thought the Explosion had been a risky call: not only did that Crobat not faint, but Paul's team had lost a member.
On the other hand, Crobat's capabilities had been brought low along with its weakened state and she could see merrit in that. And it looked as if the Sinnoh Trainer expected that.
With how little a chance he gave Crobat to recover, Neesha could tell Paul was honest about Veilstone Gym making fighters. Only Fighting-type Gyms and Specialists get so brutal handling their own Type-weaknesses.
Ritchie personally felt conflicted: he was glad Paul won, but he was troubled by the fact that the other boy could willingly severely injure the Pokémon he was using to win. He didn't like the idea, but Ritchie didn't think, with his current lack of experience, he could really judge yet.
Honestly, he wanted to ask Paul about it, as did Neesha. Yet at the present moment, Paul seemed to be mostly disconnected from the outside, keeping his eyes largely shut most of the time, now.
Is he feeling bad about Janine? Such thoughts are what occurred in both Ritchie's and Neesha's minds. So, not wanting to bother Paul, they kept the conversation largly to comments on each new fight; once in a while, Paul would also comment.
Then came the end of the qualifying rounds of the Battle Raffle. "Alright, that's a wrap! Look at the TV screen for who's moving on to the preliminaries tomorrow." Surge presses a remote, lighting up a large TV screen on wheels.
The results being as follows:
[Ritchie Farwide]
[Giselle Honors]
[A.J.]
[Paul Hale]
[Moe Birkeep]
[Randy Beltlack]
[Karl Rookitrain]
[Keigo Woratch]
Wait. Neesha blinks at the TV. Paul's last name is Hale... and he's also from Veilstone... That can't be a coincidence.
"Wait!" Exclaiming in outrage, the Trainer named Cliff points at the screen. "How come I'm not up there, but the girl who lost is?! I WON!"
"Sorry." Lt. Surge smirks, giving a mock helpless gesture. "Despite her loss, which does deduct or give points depending, she demonstrated more skill than you in your little baby play-fight."
The boy's cheeks visibly redden. "Oh, yeah!" Cliff moves his finger upon accusing Paul who sat on the bench eyes still closed, cross armed paying no mind. "He only had one Pokémon left, and I had both after winning!"
"It's called: No pain, no gain." The Gym Leader's tone suddenly lost any playfulness. "And he still showed more talent; you lack not only skill, but the insight needed to go pro."
Cliff's foot backsteps at the hard tone. Which Lt. Surge uses as a cue. "Tell you what, how about you go read some strategy guides sometime. There's a thing called a library, ya know."
Surge claps his hands. "Alright, everyone! Get treated at the Pokémon Center and be back tomorrow! Same time: 12 O'clock!"
Ritchie stood up along with the other Trainers. "Right. I'll get going to the Center. Want to come with me, Paul?"
The Trainer in question raises his hand to decline. "...I'll pass. I need to do something."
"Erm..." The blue-hatted Trainer scratches his own cheek, at a loss. "Maybe we could meet up there later, then?"
Paul takes a breath. "...Sure."
"Since my job duties are only during tournament hours, I think I'll get going too." Hopping up, Neesha looks to Paul, ready to ask a question on her mind. But instead refrains, seeing as he hadn't been in a good mood since his fight. "Paul?"
"...Yeah?"
Her usual smile turns warmer. "Don't feel too bad about how the match ended."
Paul breaths in. "...?"
"See you two later!" Neesha waves, leaving the two younger Trainers behind.
Ritchie returned it, before turning to Paul, who still remains seated. "I'll see you later, Paul."
"...Later." Paul breaths out.
Smiling with a silent nod, Ritchie leaves, not entirely sure whether he has made a new friend.
It occurs to neither of the two smiling Trainers who left that Paul is actually suffering from a heavy migraine.
It wasn't until Lt. Surge came over to give Paul his Pokédex that the boy confessed his pain.
"Give me a Persim Berry." I'm sick of this headache. Normally, I'd have one on me, but it completely slipped my mind this morning.
"You okay there sport?"
"...Do I look okay?" Looking to my side with slightly open eyes, I struggle to keep the stream of tears at bay. I feel pathetic. "I have a headache, okay?!" Surge sat down on the bench next to me, holding my Pokédex.
He hums and shrugs. "Why didn't you ask for a Persim Berry Juice? We were giving out a verity in the audience. That'd clear any headache up."
"...I didn't think it was bad at first." I pinch my nose again. "The pain just got worse as I sat down and... I thought it would go away after a while." I'm embarrassed right now, honestly. I hadn't actually paid any mind to the audience.
"Ahh. That's called being overly reserved, kid... Pain can make a person think in the wrong ways. Tell someone next time." The man scratching his cheek.
Pulling out a single Oran Berry from the first-aid bag on his belt, he offered it. "It isn't a Persim. But it'll have to do.
Taking the blue miracle berry and a sizable bite from it, I already began to feel a little better.
I eat another piece of berry. Surge raises his brows. "What did you think of the Explosion?"
What did I think? I finish the Oran Berry, throwing its remains near the battlefield. The pang in my head died back mostly; the Oran Berry repairing whatever damage was done.
It is enough to let me think clearly. "Frightening and powerful."
"Good. You should view every other Pokémon move the same..." Something in the Gym Leader's voice at the end is distant. "But don't let it be how you ever see your friends."
I take an empty Poké Ball, and start rolling it lightly around my hand. "You mean Pokémon?"
"Yeah..." Surge smiles. His eyes say he's seen a lot of things. "Me and Nuzzy have had some real great adventures... with a lot of bad ones."
"Who's Nuzzy?" Asking, I see a Pokémon crawl out from the near bushes.
His voice is deep in nostalgia. "My very best friend." A proud chuckle follows. "He's real shocking!"
The Pokémon nears the Oran core. I expand the Poké Ball.
"My daughter's around your age." Surge gives a tired sigh. "Left on her journey not too long ago, that sparky Chuchu of hers."
"Okay." The Pokémon reaches near the berry's remains. "Why tell me this?"
He sniffs. "Ah, well... I guess to remind myself more than anything."
In the moment the Pokémon was about to eat the core, I throw my Poké Ball. With a bop, and a red absorbing light, the ball quickly opens and clasps shut again, dropping to the ground.
I look back to Lt. Surge. "Why'd you drop the hint about the Voltorb?" It had been really bothering me after the match, other than... the you know... pain.
The Poké Ball shook once.
"Remember what I said 'Knowing how to bite your lower lip can take you places.'"
It shook twice.
He continues. "Whether you understood the hint, and were gutsy enough to use it? Ah, well..."
It shook thrice!
"But, the real reason?" The Lighting Lieutenant grins. "I just wanted to see at least one of the Voltorbs I juiced up on X Attack put to good use, that's all."
The Poké Ball at last pings!
One of?
"So we both had one." Concluding, I stand up taking my Pokédex from Surge, who also stands, but with a stretch.
"Yep." The Gym Leader taps his nose. "I was hoping to teach a lesson in mutual destruction."
Sounds like something an ex-solder would do.
Walking over, I pick up my first captured Pokémon, pocketing the Oran Berry core. I don't like littering fruit scraps in public places; the wilderness is a different tale, though.
Scanning the Poké Ball over with my Pokédex. I see it's a Bug/Poison-type; Male. Seems pretty weak right now. Got the starting basic moves you'd expect, but here's something cool, the little guy's got: Psybeam.
I look at the Poké Ball in my hand and immediately pop it open. As the flash subsides, my newest Pokémon scans about before staring at me in curiosity.
A Spinarak.
"Odd. We don't get wild Spinarak around here. Normally they're seen a little more often near the border closer to Johto. It's not night-time either. Did it sneak off from a fishing boat, or..." Surge trails off.
"Hm." He's not wrong from what I know. Seems disoriented as well. It looks about with teary eye... Taking a closer look its actually really roughed up and injured.
I take out the Oran Berry remains from my pocket and Spinarak's attention focuses. It begins reaching out its arms shaking.
"Kweee..." Is it... begging.
Maybe it's time I take Spinarak back to the Pokémon Center...
"Later." Returning my new Spinarak, I lift a hand and get on my way.
"...Oh right. Yeah, see you tomorrow same time..." The Gym Leader still deep in thought.
It occurs to me as I walk back to the Center that I've had a pretty fortunate day. Because if Janine decided to keep fighting it may well have been a draw.
"I see..." Janine sees her father's frown through the monitor. Most would mistake such for his normal sturn appearance. But not Janine; the slightly deepened creases of his cheeks told her his feelings.
She deeply bows to the digital screen. "I have failed you." Asking forgiveness is out of the question in Janine's mind.
Her father, Gym Leader Koga, releases breath. "You have not failed me, Janine."
Janine looks up in surprise, only for her father to continue. "You have failed in your duty to self." His eyes grew firm. "Where is your pride as a Trainer? Was it so easy to shatter like the bones of your Crobat? And now, tasting the defeat wrought by that boy's hand, you wish to return? That is not who you are, or the daughter I know!"
Guilt sunk in her gut, but warmth filled Janine's chest at her father's censure.
Seeing his daughter's lower lip trembling, Koga relents. The Gym Leader composes himself. "It is clear to me that it would be best if you send your Crobat back to the Gym a while."
"But he has always trained by my side..." For Janine, from a very young age, since even as a Zubat, Crobat has always been her friend. The thought of being apart causes her heart to ache...
"It is clear, you rely too heavily upon one another. You hoped Crobat's strength to be your blade; as he hoped you would be the guide. You were both overconfident in each other. You not only underestimated the lengths to which your opponent, Paul, would be willing to go. But did also not expect that the situational unknowns might fall in favour with him." The old ninja shakes his head.
"Although you could well have tilted the odds of chance with trickery in any normal tournament, it had been too early to play such a trick. Before we play our hand we must know our enemies hand. Chance is a shinobi's greatest enemy, remember this daughter." Koga's words felt like the weights of law in Janine's young mind.
But her father's hard eyes soften into a calm gaze. "This defeat shall sting Crobat greater than you. When Lance's Dragonite lost for the first it ever had to Price; it lost the spirit of battle until two years had passed. Crobat needs his spirit to be healed, and he must also learn to know what it is to go without you."
She feels herself calm at that. "I see..." If, for her remaining pride's sake, she can't return home. If, for Crobat to heal and become stronger, he has to return, then... "Then, I must seek other Pokémon that I might use in the Circuit?"
"Yes. However, seeking the assistance of another Trainer would be to your benefit." The sides of Koga's lips twitched up briefly, quickly returning to their original stern likeness. "Might I recommend the Trainer named Paul?"
Janine blinks tilting her head. "But why?"
The Gym Leader gives his only daughter an unreadable stare. "Did you not have another Pokémon to use in the battle?"
"I did..." The daughter's face sours at the thought.
"Surely your conceding left your opponent rather parched of excitement." Koga's lips upturn to smirk. "It is only right that a kunoichi gives a personal apology for missing her mark, is it not? Perhaps, you may even learn something."
Janine's brows both twitch. "Yes, father." He isn't entirely wrong she supposed.
"Now, if you would excuse me. There is a matter that I must attend to." His eyes gained a contemplative layer.
"I see..." Nodding her head in understanding, the Trainer and kunoichi smiles. "My thanks for your advice, father. Have a pleasant day."
"And you as well, dear daughter." The father gives a smile of his own. And the video feed cuts off.
So... how best to approach her target?
