Disclaimer: I do not own anything, I make no money or profit from this.
Chapter 43: Celadon City Gym Battle Erika vs Lynn
Lynn gave Clyde a pat on the back as she passed him, while Clyde stood between Mina and Ronnie Anne. "Combee did well," Mina said to him.
"Yeah, but I wish the battle was better," Clyde replied with a sigh. "Still, at least this gives her a little battle experience."
"At least some good comes out of this mess," Ronnie Anne grumbled.
"At least now we get to see Lynn's match!" Mina said cheerfully with stars in her eyes. The two trainers looked at her confused, wondering why she was suddenly so excited. However, they didn't have time to ponder that as Lynn's match was about to begin.
"This is an official match between Erika of the Celadon City Gym and Lynn Loud Jr. from Royal Woods." The referee's voice was loud, clear, and echoed throughout the building. "Both trainers will be able to use four Pokemon, with only the challenger being able to switch out Pokemon. The battle is over when all of someone's Pokemon is unable to battle or one forfeits. The match begins now."
"Come out Ghastly," said calmly, sending out the Gas Pokemon. This surprised Clyde, Ronnie Anne, and Mina, with the last one looking disappointed.
"Really?" He said looking at his trainer. "You got those from the Professor and you're going to use me?"
"Think of this as preparation for future battles," Lynn said in a bored tone. "Also do what you want, I want to see how you will act in a fair battle." Ghastly looked confused, but said nothing more.
"Go Exeggutor," Erika emotionlessly said, sending out a walking palm tree with multiple faces. "Use Psyshock," she orders, her voice still the same.
Exeggutor fired a pink energy from one of its faces eyes. Ghastly however easily avoided the attack. "Ha! Child's play," he said confidently, before making and shooting a Shadow Ball. The attack hit and knocked the Coconut Pokemon out.
"Exeggutor is unable to battle," the referee announced. "The winner is Ghastly." Lynn just sighed, while Ghastly looked completely confused. Clyde copied his teacher and sighed, Ronnie Anne was quietly growling, while Mina was giving a death glare to Erika.
"Wait!" Ghastly suddenly shouted, before glaring at his trainer. "This is why you sent me out! All her Pokemon are weak right?!" He accused the sporty girl.
"Yeah, basically," Lynn replied with a shrug. "Sending any of my regular Pokemon would be overkill. Besides, you need the experience of being in official battles."
Ghastly growled at her, before sighing in defeat. "Fine, I continue this sham of a battle," he said, before turning back towards Erika. "Just so you know, I'm far from weak. Before you captured me, I did battled some strong trainers before you captured me."
"Sure you did," Lynn replied with an eye roll.
Erika recalled her Pokemon and sent out her next Pokemon. "Go Roserade," she called out, sending a bipedal white rose creature with red and blue bouquets as hands. "Use Petal Dance," she ordered unenthusiastically. The Bouquet Pokemon started to spin around, making a storm of pink petals.
"Let's get this over with," Ghastly said in a disappointed tone. His eyes started to glow blue by using Psychic, then the petals stopped glowing the same blue. They all then changed direction and flew towards Roserade. Every petal hit it and it was knocked out.
"Roserade is unable to battle," the referee announced. "The winner is Ghastly." Lynn was busy looking at her poketch, while Ghastly just yawned. Ronnie Anne and Clyde shook their heads, while Mina's death glare only increased.
The Grass Gym Leader sighed as she called back her Pokemon and sent out her next one. "Go Vileplume," she said, sending out a Pokemon with a red flower head and short navy blue body. "Use Moonblast," she commanded. The Flower Pokemon aimed its flower at Ghastly and shot a beam of pink energy from its core.
"That's it?" The Gas Pokemon asked in a bored voice. His eyes glowed black from Night Shade, before both shot out the black energy. The Night Shade and Moonblast met one another, but Moonblast was being pushed back. Night Shade overpowered the other attack and hit Vileplume, knocking it out.
"Vileplume is unable to battle," the referee announced. "The winner is Ghastly."
"How many more do I have to do?" Ghastly asked his trainer.
"Just one more," Lynn replied, still looking at her poketch.
"Looks like Lynn is going to sweep this with Ghastly," Clyde said with a sigh.
"We all did," Ronnie Anne grumbled with a frown.
"It's not fair…" they heard Mina say. They looked over and were taken aback by her expression. She was still glaring at Erika with a massive snarl on her face. "…I get to see one of Lynn's battles in person, and it's against HER?! IT'S NOT FAIR!! I DON'T EVEN GET TO SEE ANY OF HER SIGNATURE POKEMON!!!"
Ronnie Anne and Clyde jumped back in fright at her suddenly shouting. Erika was slightly terrified of the young girl and was shaking slightly. Lynn just looked at her from the corner of her eyes, but focused back on her poketch. "Well sorry for being new to the team," Ghastly muttered, annoyed looking at the furious girl.
After calming herself, Erika sent out her last Pokemon. "Go Tangrowth," she said, sending out a giant creature of blue vines with stubby feet, and two bundles of vines acting as arms. "Use Vine Whip," she ordered. The Vine Pokemon extended its arms and swung them towards its opponent.
"This is boring," Ghastly said, seeing the vine coming towards him. He then took a deep breath, before blowing Icy Wind from his mouth. The attack stopped Tangrowth in its tracks, before it fell over unconscious.
"Tangrowth is unable to battle," the referee announced while holding their hand on Lynn's side up in the air. "Ghastly is the winner and Lynn has won the match."
"Finally I'm done," Ghastly said with a sigh. "Return me to my pokeball. This is more humiliating than when you caught me."
"Good work Ghastly," Lynn thanked him before returning him to his pokeball. Clyde and Ronnie Anne clapped for her victory, while Mina was now crying.
"Congratulations," Erika said after recalling her Pokemon and moving to Lynn. Her voice and expression lacked any emotions. "You have earned the Rainbow Badge." She then held a rainbow badge in the shape of a flower to her.
Lynn took the badge and said nothing. She just turned and started walking out of the gym. Clyde, Ronnie Anne, and Mina followed her, not giving Erika a second glance. Once they were out of the gym, Lynn turned to Mina.
"So what will you do now?" She asked her.
"I'll be returning to school to finish my training," Mina replied with a sad smile. "If I could, I would've loved traveling with you guys."
"Well we're going to miss you," Clyde said sadly.
"Yeah, having you around was fun," Ronnie Anne added, looking sad as well.
"Well how about we all go out to eat," Lynn suggested with a small smile. "One last meal before we go our separate ways?"
"Yeah!" Mina, Clyde, and Ronnie Anne shouted together.
"But before that…" Mina started saying. Her face was red, she was nervously looking at Lynn, and her hands were behind her back. "…Could you do one thing for me?" She asked in a meek voice.
"Uh okay, what is it?" Lynn asked, taken aback by her sudden shift of attitude. Ronnie Anne and Clyde looked at her confused, never seeing her like this.
"Can you sign this?!" She shouted holding something out to the older girl.
The 3 trainers looked at the item confused, before Lynn recognized it. "This is the magazine I did an interview for in Galar," she said in surprise. On the cover was a picture of Lynn and Lycanroc.
"I have been a fan of yours since I watched you participate in the Hoenn Seasonal Tournament!" Mina said in an excited tone. "I wanted to ask for your autograph ever since I saw you, but I couldn't because I was supposed to be acting professional! However, now I'm just a normal student!"
"Sure, I can sign this," Lynn said in a shaky voice. She didn't see this coming, or expected her to be a fan. So she signed it, while Mina let out a squeal in happiness. "Now we should talk about where to eat," she said, handing the magazine back.
"I know just the place!" Mina said excitedly, after putting the magazine safely away. "Officer Jenny told me of a great place yesterday. I'll take you guys there!" She then latched onto one of Lynn's arms and started to drag the older girl.
"Hey! Wait for us!" Clyde shouted chasing after them.
"And let go of Lynn!" Ronnie Anne shouted, joining Clyde in chasing them.