Chapter 17:The Plains of Disappointment

Whitney led the group to her gym. As they entered the gym there were a few pretty, teenage girls training their Pokemon. One girl had three Sentret trading blows with each other. Another girl was training her two Meowth. Two other girls were trading combat situations between their Snubbull and Jigglypuff. Kathy loved that it was a gym full of girls. Phillip was analyzing their techniques. It dawned on him that this was a gym for Fairy/Normal type Pokemon.

He wasn't sure how to approach the challenge for the gym badges, but knew once he did Tyrogue was going to have a type advantage over all the Pokemon here. He was curious to see what other Pokemon Whitney had. He had only met Clefairy, but had never met a gym leader who had only had one Pokemon. He didn't know much about Whitney. He knew she was the newest gym leader in Johto and had really only been doing it for six months. In their short time together he observed that she was really sweet, but a little ditsy. She did know a good burger though. He opted to see how this next battle went before making his move.

They finally made it to the main battle floor. The girl with the two Meowth was going to be the referee of the match.

"This battle will be a three-on-three match. The last one standing will be the winner. If challenger Nathan defeats all three of Leader Whitney's Pokemon he will receive a Plain Badge."

Whitney threw out her first Pokemon.

"I choose you Lickitung!"

Nathan had never seen one before.

"I choose you Furret!"

Furret was Nathan's newest Pokemon. Phillip felt it was a risky move, but also knew Furret's Dig attack would be a great way to take out most Normal-type Pokemon.

Whitney made the first move.

"Lickitung! Tackle attack!"

"Furret, Agility!"

Lickitung's move missed.

"Try again Lickitung! Tackle attack!"

Furret slid away.

"Quick Furret! Dive into the ground."

Furret got under the ground before Lickitung could change direction. Lickitung looked around.

"Now! Dig attack!"

Furret came from under Lickitung. Lickitung slammed to the ground.

"Tail Whip!"

Furret flipped in the air slamming it's back legs on top of a fallen Lickitung.

"Quick attack!"

As soon as Furret landed it threw it's body into Lickitung. Once Lickitung hit the ground again Whitney recalled her.

"Furret defeats Lickitung."

"It's your turn Clefairy!"

Clefairy emerged.

"Furret! Agility!"

Clefairy struggled to see Furret.

"Again! Dive into the ground."

Furret descended into the ground.

"Metronome!"

Clefairy did her Metronome attack, and it was a useless Splash attack.

"Oh no!"

"Now Furret!"

Again Furret came from under Clefairy. Nathan repeated the same move order, knocking out Clefairy.

"Return Clefairy."

"Furret defeats Clefairy."

Nathan cheered. "See! Easy!"

Phillip looked at Furret and recognized he was exhausted. He whispered to Kathy.

"If he tries that same moveset Furret is gonna pass out from exhaustion."

Whitney looked at her Pokeball and whispered to it.

"It's up to you now."

"Go Miltank!"

Miltank popped out of the Pokeball looking very strong.

Furret was breathing heavily. Nathan seemed to be so proud of his accomplishments that he didn't notice how tired Furret was. Miltank stood on all fours.

"Bide Miltank"

Phillip recognized that Miltank was bracing itself for a big attack.

"Quick attack Furret!"

Furret jumped towards Miltank who was just standing there. Furret was noticeably slower than the previous rounds.

Miltank moved into a defensive position. Furret bounced off of Miltank and bounced off of the ground. Furret was unable to get up.

"Miltank wins this round!" The referee called out.

Nathan recalled Furret and looked at his Pokeball.

"Good job Furret."

"Go Totodile!"

As soon as Totdile hit the ground.

"Quick! Bite attack Totodile!"

Totodile lunged at Miltank. Miltank absorbed the attack, forcing Totdile to bounce backwards. He landed on his feet.

"Now Miltank! Rollout attack!"

Miltank rolled into a giant ball. She sped towards Totodile. She smashed into Totodile. Totodile slammed on the ground, but quickly recovered. Miltank changed directions as she remained in her ball. As she turned around Nathan shouted to Totodile.

"Slow her down with a Water Gun attack!"

The water missed Miltank. Miltank slammed into Totodile again. This time Totodile remained on the ground.

"Return Totodile."

Nathan gritted his teeth.

"Go Cyndaquil."

Miltank stopped rolling to let Cyndaquil land.

"Again Miltank!"

"Miltank sped towards Cyndaquil."

"Ember attack Cyndaquil!"

The fire hit Miltank, but the speed Miltank was moving caused the fire repel off of her. She slammed into Cyndaquil knocking him down. Miltank changed direction and sped in a circle right back at Cyndaquil.

"Do a Flame Wheel attack!"

The fire repelled off Miltank again. She slammed into Cyndaquil. He tried to get back up. As he got back up Miltank slammed into him one last time. Cyndaquil couldn't get back up as hard as he tried. Miltank stood up, looking like she was out of breath. Cyndaquil tried one more time to stand up. His body gave out on him.

"Miltank wins."

Nathan's head dropped. He weakly recalled Cyndaquil, then dropped to his knees. He was holding back tears of frustration and anger. He looked up and screamed at Whitney.

"You cheated! You're a cheater! That's the only way you could have beat me! You're a cheater!"

Whitney and Kathy got visibly angry. Phillip ran out to Nathan. Phillip pulled him up by his left arm.

"Get up!"

Whitney and Kathy looked at Phillip puzzled. Kathy and Nathan had not seen Phillip get angry like this before. Phillip began to raise his voice to Nathan.

"Don't be a baby! You lost fair and square! You came into this battle arrogantly and it cost you."

Nathan pulled away.

"No I didn't! She cheated!"

"She most certainly didn't. I'll prove it right now."

Phillip began to speak to Whitney over his shoulder.

"Whitney… Do you have any more Pokemon? Can you do another battle for a gym badge?"

Whitney perked up and smiled.

"Absolutely! I have tons of strong Pokemon!"

Phillip turned around and made eye contact with Whitney. She giggled a little bit.

"I challenge you to a battle for the Plain Badge."

Whitney looked at the referee and nodded to her. She looked back at Phillip and pointed at him with a smile on her face.

"You're on!"

The referee repeated the rules.

"New challenger Phillip has challenged Whitney for a Plain Badge. It will be a 3 on 3 battle."

Phillip looked at Whitney and smirked.

"Ladies first."

Whitney giggled.

"Go Queenie!"

Kathy called out confused.

"Queenie!?"

A Nidorina landed in battle pose. Phillip smiled.

"Nice. It's your turn Tyrogue!"

Tyrogue burst out of his ball. Whitney gasped.

"Charge at him Queenie! Scratch attack."

"Slide left Tyrogue!"

Tyrogue slid out of the way of Nidorina's attack.

"Poison Sting attack!"

Nidorina pivoted and flew at Tyrogue.

"Duck Tyrogue!"

Tyrogue ducked under Nidorina's attack. As Nidorina was landing Phillip called out.

"Low Sweep"

Tyrogue tripped Nidorina as she was landing. She flew in the air.

"Double Kick"

Tyrogue kicked at Nidorina while she was in the air sending her careening off the ground. The referee shouted.

"Nidorina is unable to continue."

Whitney called Nidorina back.

"Go Smea-Smea!"

A Smeargle emerged on the battlefield. Phillip had never seen one before.

"That's new!"

There was a pause. Phillip knew nothing about Smeargle so he was unsure of how to proceed.

"Focus energy Tyrogue!"

"Sketch Smea-Smea!"

Smeargle did the exact same move.

"Tackle attack"

Tyrogue rushed at Smeargle.

"Sketch!"

Smeargle charged at Tyrogue with a Tackle of her own. The two of them collided in the air, both being weakened by the attack. Phillip was confused why Whitney did the same move twice. The two trainers paused. Phillip was waiting to see what Whitney would do so he could do a counter. She didn't do anything. Then it hit Phillip. Maybe Sketch is the only move Smeargle knows, and its sketch just copies the last move that was performed. Phillip smiled.

"Charge again like your doing a tackle."

"Sketch attack Smea Smea."

Phillip had her and he knew it. As both Pokemon charged at each other Phillip interrupted the move.

"Fake Out attack Tyrogue."

In air Tyrogue disappeared and reappeared to the left of Smeargle. As Smeargle missed her target. Phillip executed another attack.

"Bullet Punch Tyrogue!"

Tyrogue's fists flew at Smeargle lightning quick. It was a critical hit to Smeargle's back.

"Return Smea Smea."

Tyrogue won his second match. Phillip could tell he was very tired. He only had enough energy for one more good attack.

"Go Tauros!"

Once Tauros was ready Phillip called his next attack.

"Let's make this one count Tyrogue! High Jump Kick!"

Tyrogue flew in the air and his foot slammed into Tauros knocking him back. Tyrogue landed on his left knee.

"I know your tired buddy. Return Tyrogue. Good job."

The referee called out.

"Tauros wins this round."

"Go Dratini!"

Phillip sent out one of his Dratini. He was still new, and they were just getting to know each other, but he had studied Dratini for years. He felt like he could navigate this final match well.

"Build up Tauros!" Whitney called out.

Phillip could see that Whitney was building up for a strong Tackle and charge attack. Dratini wasn't the fastest on land just yet, but felt that he could manage.

"Jump up Dratini!"

"Thunder Wave attack!"

The lightning shock smashed into Tauros who dropped onto his forelegs. Tauros was slow to get up.

"Do it again Dratini!"

Tauros dropped completely. He tried to get up, but was unable.

"Finish it up with a Twister attack!"

Tauros was thrown to the ground. He fainted.

"Dratini wins this round. Phillip wins the match."

Whitney dropped to her knees and started crying. Phillip didn't know what to do. He stood puzzled for a minute. The girl with Snubbull ran up to Phillip.

"It's okay… she does this sometimes. She should be okay in a few minutes."

Phillip's eyes bounced between Whitney and the pretty girl with the Snubbull. She wrapped her arms around Phillip's left arm.

"Let's go for a walk. My name is Rita."

"O… okay Rita. My name is Phillip."

Phillip was confused and felt odd leaving Whitney crying. Rita was half pulling Phillip, her face getting closer to his.

"You did SO good Phillip. Your Dratini is SO cool. They're rare aren't they?"

Phillip still felt uncomfortable as he was being pulled outside by Rita. He briefly looked over his shoulder at Whitney, Kathy and Nathan. Both Kathy and Nathan's faces turned red. Kathy clutched her egg tighter. Nathan crossed his arms.

"I guess were supposed to follow them."

"I guess." Kathy said weakly.

They followed Phillip and Rita as Rita pulled Phillip closer to her clutching his arm. When Kathy and Nathan got outside Phillip and Rita were standing talking. Kathy secretly forced herself in the small space between Rita and Phillip. She looked at Phillip.

"The was a really good match Phillip."

Phillip blushed a little and ran his hand through his hair.

"Thanks Kathy. I appreciate your support."

Nathan stomped towards Phillip and shoved him.

"You're such a show off Phillip!"

As Phillip backed up Nathan swung his right hand at him. Phillip dodged. Nathan fell to the ground. Whitney stepped outside, her face a bit puffy.

"I'm really sorry for my attitude. Here is the Plain Badge. You earned it Phillip."

"Thank you, Whitney."

Nathan got up, his face towards the ground. Rita walked away leaving the four of them alone. Nathan looked at Whitney.

"I'm sorry too Whitney. You are a great trainer and I shouldn't have accused you of cheating."

Nathan turned around to Phillip.

"I'm sorry to you too Phillip. You have done nothing, but try to help me, and I just got jealous because you won and I didn't."

The two of them shook hands. Kathy looked at both of them and then looked at the sky.

"It's getting dark. We should probably try to find an inn or something."

Whitney interrupted.

"You guys could stay with me at my uncle's farm. It's the least I can do after my attitude."

The three trainers looked at each other as their stomachs roared in unison. Nathan spoke up.

"As long as there's more good food."

They all laughed together and headed towards Whitney's farm.

To be continued…