Summer and Aster ascended Sky Pillar and found Rayquaza, the savior of the first ancient conflict that almost destroyed Hoenn. But the Legendary Pokémon refused to aid them due to a misunderstanding caused by the Lorekeeper's ancestors. He attacked the pair, but was interrupted by Ho-oh, who was summoned by the Hoennese. The three revealed the painful truth of the misunderstanding, and Rayquaza finally agreed to help stop Groudon and Kyogre. The Sky High Pokémon carried the Legend Guardian and Lorekeeper to Sootopolis City, where the fight resumed in the present era. Rayquaza exerted its authority over the feuding Pokémon, who retreated to their lairs. With their mission complete, Summer reunited with the rest of her friends and is preparing for her final Gym match. But a new unorthodox option forces her to reconsider her team selection. What is this option, and will Summer be able to obtain the last Gym Badge?
Chapter 54- The Elegance of Battle
As the night was still in full swing, I left the Sootopolis City Pokémon Center to get a break from the festivities. It'd been so long since I felt a cool night air mixed with a few clouds, and it was refreshing. I went to a viewing area of the lake, the stars glittering above. To my surprise, Weldon was sitting on a nearby bench.
"Getting some air, Summer?" he asked with a big smile.
I sat next to him and responded, "Yeah. And to not hear Wallace's story about why he created the Wallace Cup, for the umpteenth time."
We both laughed. Then I looked at the rippling water.
"It's hard to believe that a battle to determine the fate of the region was here only hours ago."
The Kantonian added, "Me neither. Or that the ancient Legendary Pokémon returned after so many years ago. Still…that wasn't the thing that awed me the most."
"Oh? What was it?"
He looked at me, making my heart skip a little. "It was you, riding on Rayquaza. It was an impossible task, but you and Aster did it. You gave me hope when we thought we were going to lose."
"Well…I don't know about that. It was pretty scary flying on a Pokémon without wings, but…I'm glad we came in time. And you were able to find the Legendary Titans! How do you feel about that?"
Weldon looked at his complete set of cufflinks, which now had a sandy brown sphere on the left and an icy blue orb on the right. "It…still hasn't really sunk in yet. But I'm happy how things turned out…"
He glanced away for a bit, and I felt a twinge of sadness from him. I didn't want to ruin the happy moment, so I asked, "Do you want to help me prepare for my last Gym battle?"
"Of course! I'm always available to help, even though you were able to beat those twin Gym Leaders without me."
"That's not entirely true! I still remembered your advice during that training session, as if you were there with me…"
I pursed my lip, hoping he didn't notice the change in my voice.
"I..appreciate it, Summer. What do you need help with?"
I was about to tell him when Samir and Yuki arrived. "There you two are!" the Coordinator shouted. "We were wondering where you went off to."
We sat a little farther apart, and I replied, "Oh, we just needed a break from the party."
The research assistant chuckled. "Us too. Good thing Aster's keeping Champion Wallace occupied with his retelling of his last Contest win."
Yuki pouted, "I was waiting to hear the best part, even though I've already seen it in person… Anyhow, are you thinking about your last Gym challenge, Summer?"
"Yeah. The PLA made some special rules for Trainers who need up to two remaining Gym Badges left so they can participate in the Hoenn League starting in two months. I know I just need one badge left, but Juan's modified challenge is going to be tricky."
This caught Weldon's attention. "Oh. I must've left when that announcement was made. What are the changes?"
He was surprised when Yuki answered. "It's a two-part challenge. The first part is a Contest appeal with one Pokémon that will determine which field will be used in the second part: the actual battle with two Pokémon each. If the Trainer doesn't want to do that, then the field will be chosen at random, and the battle will be three Pokémon each instead."
Nodding, I read Juan's biography to everyone.
Juan is a Gym Leader who displays the beauty of pure water from his Water type Pokémon. With his first Pokémon, Shri the Milotic, by his side, Juan has conquered the four Grand Festivals, becoming a Master Coordinator. His fan club, the Juan and Only, attracts young and old fans alike, especially the mid-age women demographic. During his illustrious career, he took on a protégé, who will later become the youngest person to become a Master Coordinator and the current Hoenn Champion. Wallace may have reached heights higher than his master, but the Gym Leader remains humble and respectable towards his protégé.
"That would make sense with his Coordinator background," my coach surmised. "I don't know too much about Contests, but I would recommend using Olive and Lightning for the battle."
"I agree. Plus, I want Olive to get more experience since the Hoenn League will be her first major tournament." I turned to Yuki. "Yuki, who do you think I should use for the appeals portion?"
She twirled her hair. "Hm… There is no type restriction for the appeal, but I'm pretty sure Juan would be more keen to see challengers use Water type Pokémon."
"So that would be Aurora… In that case, are you available to help me, Yuki?"
"Yes! Champion Wallace said the Wallace Cup has been delayed for three weeks, so I'm happy to take this opportunity to help you out. I can even use this time to help me practice."
"I can help too!" Samir added. "I'm sure Stego would want to learn more about this too."
I have such great friends. "Great! Let's get some rest and start on the training tomorrow!"
A few days later…
Weldon and I arrived in front of the Sootopolis City Gym. I was surprised to see the building with white posts, large paned windows, a long blue roof, and an indoor observation deck. Not only that, the structure was surrounded by small gardens and ponds with elegant fountains. Out of all the Gyms I've seen in the region, this one looked more like a home than a designated Gym structure.
We entered the lobby to find the interior matching the outside aesthetics. A large white fountain was prominently placed in the center, with crystal-lined cabinets and vases of blue roses and white lilies lining the ice blue walls. I saw an elderly butler in a dark green suit jacket and slacks arranging items on the marble reception desk.
"Hi. I'm here for my Gym battle with Juan."
The man looked up and smiled. "Ah, yes. You must be Summer Scorcher. I heard all about your exploits to save the city from Master Juan. On behalf of the Sootopolis City Gym, I thank you for saving us."
Blushing, I responded, "Oh, no! I had plenty of help."
"You are as strong as you are modest. An excellent trait for a young Trainer." After checking me in, he adjusted his gray mustache and said, "Before I forget, my name is Sebastian, personal butler to Master Juan. I need to attend to my remaining duties before I referee your match. Whenever you are ready, please enter through the double doors. Your friend may head towards the bleachers through the door on the right."
After thanking Sebastian, I returned to Weldon. "Well, this is it. Hopefully the appeal and match go well."
He clasped my right shoulder. "You'll be fine, Summer. You've worked hard the last few days. Besides, you won't be alone in there."
"You're right. Thanks, Weldon."
Hiding a smile, he headed into the next room. I took a deep breath and followed suit.
The area was not as decorated compared to the other parts of the Gym, but it suited its purpose. The aqua green walls, with its concave ceiling and stained glass, and white floor and bleachers made it feel like I was in a lake. The Trainer and referee boxes were on short platforms accessible by stairs, and there was no television screen. It was a little unusual, but it made sense due to the age of the building.
"Hey, Summer! Over here!"
That's not Weldon's voice! Startled, I looked at the bleachers and saw Weldon sitting with Samir, Yuki, Trin, Aster, Harry, Steven, and Wallace.
"You're all here!" I excitedly exclaimed. "I didn't expect you to come watch my match."
"This is your last one, so we all want to watch you win!" the young Coordinator shouted.
"This is so exciting!" Aster exclaimed. "This will be my first time watching a Contest appeal and a Gym battle, and on the same day!"
"I know the feeling, Aster," the surfer acknowledged. "It feels like it's been forever since I've watched a Gym battle."
Steven crossed his arms and grinned. "Good luck, Summer."
"Master Juan won't go easy on you," the Champion added.
"Indeed I won't." The Gym Leader entered the room, poised as ever. "Thank you for being the first person to try my revised challenge, Summer. All of my previous challengers would rather battle than perform, such a disappointment."
Chuckling, I replied, "No problem, Juan. My Pokémon and I are prepared to show you a great appeal."
"Excellent. I'm looking forward to it."
Juan pressed his remote, and a water battlefield emerged from the floor. There were several green and pink circular platforms scattered amongst the surface, but none of them were in the center of the field.
"When you are ready, Summer, stand across from us and begin your appeal."
Juan sat with the group as I made my way opposite of them. I grasped the Lure Ball in my hand and threw it into the air. "Go, Aurora!"
The Dewgong leapt from her ball and dove into the blue water. Noticing the Gym Leader's small smile as she resurfaced, I felt a little more confident.
"Aurora, use Ice Beam to create a platform in the center of the pool!"
She jumped out of the water and positioned herself in the air. Then, she spun downward and shot the icy blue beam, forming a perfectly round piece of ice. Aurora stopped the attack just as she landed on the created space, reducing any impact. After the crowd gave their applause, we moved to the next step.
"Now, fire multiple Water Pulses into the air!"
Nodding, she released seven orbs of water at three different locations. Once they reached the right position, I shouted, "Signal Beam!"
Her horn shot the rainbow colored light beam, piercing through the two center Water Pulses. The light reflected from the orbs and spread to the ones nearby; the refraction formed the outline of a giant heart.
I smiled at the crowd's amazement, leading us to our finishing move. "Aurora, finish with Aqua Tail!"
She slid in circles on the ice to build her momentum. Then, she leaped over the heart and slammed it with the water swirling around her tail. The heart collided with the icy platform, and the combination of water, ice, and light formed an artificial aurora above the battlefield. The spectators clapped loudly as Aurora re-entered the pool and we gave our bows.
"An excellent appeal, Summer!" the Champion praised. "It's hard to believe that you are not a Coordinator."
"Thanks, Wallace. That means a lot coming from you. I do want to acknowledge Yuki, who helped me with the routine."
Juan nodded as my friend bowed in acknowledgement. "Working with a Coordinator was the right call. You highlighted Aurora's beauty and power, even creating a sight reflective of her namesake. I'd say you've passed the first challenge with, pardon the expression, flying colors. You are free to select either this battlefield, or a battlefield containing land and water for our match."
Remembering the layout of the other field from the PLA website, I answered, "I'll take the other battlefield."
"I had a feeling you would."
The Gym Leader switched the pool with a short, winding river surrounded by grass and dirt. A large island dotted each side of the field, but the environment still favored Water type Pokémon. As Juan made his way towards his box, Sebastian arrived He offered the spectators some refreshments before heading to the referee box.
"This match is a two-on-two singles battle between Summer Scorcher from Littleroot Town and Master Juan, the Sootopolis City Gym Leader. The challenger is allowed to switch her Pokémon and will have the first move. The winner will be decided when the opponent's Pokémon are unable to battle. Master Juan, please select your first Pokémon!"
The former Coordinator adjusted his ascot, then took out a Great Ball. "Display your elegance, Kallias!"
A red crustacean-like Pokémon emerged, his large pincers raised. He had a tan underside except for the blue striped along his throat, and a yellow star was prominently displayed on his forehead.
[Crawdaunt, the Rogue Pokémon and the evolved form of Corphish. A brutish Pokémon that loves to battle. A veteran Crawdaunt that has prevailed in hundreds of battles has giant pincers marked with countless scars.]
I didn't expect Juan to have a Pokémon like that. But it makes sense if he wants to show off a Water type's elegance via strength. "Go, Olive!"
The Grovyle stood on the island in front of me. She hesitated when she saw the bulky Pokémon, but with my reassuring gaze, she relaxed and braced herself.
Sebastian raised his arms. "Battle begin!"
"Olive, Quick Attack!"
She ran forward in a flash of white, jumping along the edges of land.
But Juan just smiled. "Kallias, deflect Olive with Swords Dance!"
The Crawdaunt raised his claws and spun around, knocking the Wood Gecko Pokémon back. The blue translucent swords spun around him, greatly raising his Attack.
I clenched my right fist. Wallace's right. Juan really isn't holding back against me.
"Kallias, Crunch!"
The Rogue Pokémon swam towards the isolated Grass type.
"Olive, Double Team!"
The Wood Gecko Pokémon created illusionary copies of herself, stopping Kallias in his tracks. He struggled to find his opponent and became angry.
Juan, however, made sure his Pokémon stayed calm. "Kallias, focus! Use Crabhammer to destroy the copies!"
Nodding, he raised his glowing claws and swiped at the fakes.
Taking advantage of the Crawdaunt's distracted attempts, I shouted, "Olive, Leaf Blade!"
The real Olive appeared from behind and struck him with her glowing right blade. The super effective move did a decent amount of damage, but he was still able to brush her away.
"Olive, Double Team then Quick Attack!"
The Grovyle created more copies that dashed towards the stationary opponent.
Then, Juan smirked. "Counter with Mud Slap, Kallias."
The Water type grabbed some mud from the riverbed and hurled it at the illusions. They were instantly destroyed, and to my displeasure, the move also hit Olive in the face. She tried to wipe off the mud, but there was too much of it.
The Gym Leader twirled his goatee. "Kallias, Crunch!"
As his Pokémon charged in with his right claw open, I shouted, "Olive, Leaf Blade!"
She squinted her eyes and prepared the attack. But the Crawdaunt parried the haphazard move and clamped onto Olive's opposing arm. He then threw her onto the ground and retreated to his Trainer's side of the field.
Seeing Olive struggle made me rethink my strategy. "Olive, return! Go, Lightning!"
The Raichu switched places with her teammate, flicking her tail in excitement.
The Gym Leader chuckled. "Your Raichu is showing quite the fighting spirit. I wonder how she'll match the elegance of my Kallias."
"Well, I can't wait to show you." After Sebastian gave the go-ahead, I shouted, "Lightning, Thunderbolt!"
She charged her cheeks and shot the lightning bolt at her opponent.
Juan sighed. "It seems we have to do a repeat performance. Kallias, deflect the Thunderbolt with Swords Dance!"
The Water type blocked the move with his spinning swords, and his Attack increased again.
Now Kallias' stronger than before! I can't let him touch Lightning if we want to win.
"Kallias, Mud Slap!"
"Lightning, dodge and use Iron Tail!"
Using her tail as a spring, she leapt over the mud and slammed it onto Kallias' head. The Water type growled as the Mouse Pokémon returned to the island on our side of the field.
"Follow up with Thunderbolt!"
The lightning bolt headed towards the weakened Pokémon, but Juan's focus was unwavering. "Mud Slap."
A wave of mud shielded him from the Electric type attack, nullifying the move.
Feeling confident, Juan commanded, "Now, Kallias. Crabhammer!"
The Crawdaunt swam towards Lightning with his arms raised. But this time, we were ready.
"Lightning, dodge and tie Kallias down with Grass Knot!"
The Raichu dodged at the last second, surprising both the Gym Leader and his Pokémon. Then, after she landed on the bank, she slammed her glowing green paws into the ground. Long blades of grass grew from both sides of the river and tied themselves around the Crawdaunt.
Juan was stunned. "O-Oh my! Free yourself, Kallias!"
The red Pokémon tried to move his arms, but the grass remained taut.
Seeing that the powerful threat was now stifled, I smiled. "Thunderbolt!"
The lightning bolt finally hit its mark, shocking Kallias. When the attack ended, the burnt grass snapped, and the motionless Crawdaunt floated on the water.
"Kallias is unable to battle! Lightning wins! Master Juan, please select your final Pokémon!"
"Excellent work as always, Kallias," Juan praised as he returned his Pokémon. "Well, this match is certainly meeting my expectations, Summer. But let's see if you can exceed them. Display your elegance, Shri!"
A beautiful, light tan serpentine-like Pokémon with long, pink antennae dove into the water. When she emerged, the moist blue and red scales at the end of her tail glistened under the sunlight streaming through the stained glass.
[Milotic, the Tender Pokémon and the evolved form of Feebas. It is said to live at the bottom of large lakes. Considered to be the most beautiful of all Pokémon, it has been depicted in paintings and statues.]
That really is a beautiful Pokémon. But I know they're also really strong. I have to be careful.
"Battle begin!"
I decided to take a cautious approach. "Lightning, Thunderbolt!"
The Electric type move hit its target, but the Milotic shrugged off the sparks.
"Aqua Ring, Shri!"
The Water type closed her eyes, and two large blue rings surrounded her. A green light then briefly enveloped her, healing some of her injuries.
This isn't good. Now Shri will be able to recover her health over time.
"Shri, Water Pulse!"
"Lightning, block it with Iron Tail!"
The Tender Pokémon shot a large orb of water at her opponent just as the latter charged her attack. Lightning cut through the orb with her silver tail and used the momentum to propel herself forward.
"Thunderpunch!"
She cocked her right arm and punched Shri with her crackling yellow fist. Despite landing the powerful attack, the Milotic was able to stay upright.
As Lightning retreated, Juan shouted, "Now, Shri. Stop Lightning with Twister!"
The Gym Leader's Pokémon created a cyclone of air from her mouth, trapping the Mouse Pokémon inside.
"Lightning, try to break free with Iron Tail!" I cried out.
"I'm afraid we cannot let that happen, Summer. Shri, Blizzard!"
The Milotic sprayed the cyclone with a strong flurry of snow. It hurt to hear Lightning scream in pain, but there wasn't anything else I could do. Then, the twister broke apart, and she began to fall.
I hurriedly shouted, "Lightning, protect yourself with Grass Knot!"
She gritted her teeth and waved her paws. The grass along the banks lengthened and weaved themselves into a thick mat that cushioned and protected her from falling into the water. Lightning bounced back to the island, but I could tell she was getting tired.
"Lightning, use Thunderbolt at full power!"
"Shri, counter with Blizzard!"
The Electric and Ice type moves collided, creating an explosion. Shri avoided most of the damage by diving underwater, but Lightning was thrown off the island and collapsed in front of me.
"Lightning is unable to battle! Shri wins! Summer, please return your final Pokémon to the battlefield!"
I petted my fainted Pokémon and said, "Thanks, Lightning, you did great." After I returned her, I knew obtaining my last Gym Badge came down to this battle. "Go, Olive!"
The Grovyle returned to the battlefield, her wounds from the earlier battle still evident. Despite that, she was determined to defeat the beautiful Pokémon in front of her.
"Battle begin!"
"Olive, Quick Attack!"
She ran forward, ready to strike her opponent.
"Shri, blow Olive back with Blizzard!"
"Counter with Double Team!"
The Grass type was able to evade the powerful ice flurry in time, and the copies struck Shri. But the move barely affected Juan's Pokémon.
The Gym Leader smiled. "It'll take a lot more than that to hurt Shri. Now, my dear, use Twister!"
The cyclone of air trapped Olive on the island, and I could see her struggling to stay put.
Twister's really putting us in a bind. But maybe… "Olive, break through the Twister with multiple Fury Cutters!"
I saw lines of bright green hitting the twister, but they weren't making a dent.
"Shri's twisters are notoriously hard to break," Juan noted with a sly grin. "But I'd like to see you try."
I gritted my teeth as the move dissipated. Olive looked more exhausted, but she readied herself for the next command.
Sensing her determination, I shouted, "Even so, we're not going to give up! Olive, Leaf Blade!"
"Shri, Blizzard!"
Olive jumped between the banks to avoid the super effective attack, and when she got close, she landed the powerful move onto Shri's head. The Milotic reeled back in pain, but recovered from some of the damage with Aqua Ring.
Juan waved his arms. "Your bond is quite evident, Summer. But it won't prevail against ours. Shri, Twister once more!"
The Wood Gecko Pokémon was trapped by another cyclone; this time, Shri made sure her opponent remained in the air.
Olive's reaching her limit, especially for her first regular Gym battle. I have to help her!
Then, I saw a glint of green in her eyes. As her whole body started to glow the same color, I realized what was happening.
It's Overgrow! I need to make this count! "If we can't break the twister, then we'll use it to our advantage. Olive, jump out of the Twister with Quick Attack!"
She righted herself and jumped back and forth within the cyclone. Juan and his Pokémon were shocked to see the Grovyle escape from above.
Smiling, I yelled, "Now Olive, use an Overgrow-powered Leaf Blade!"
She extended the leaves on her arms, which were much larger than normal, and charged at the Water type.
"Quick, Shri, Blizzard!"
She shot the flurry of snow at the green Pokémon, but I grinned.
"Double Team!"
With her enhanced power, Olive was able to make twice as many copies of herself. Shri stopped the blizzard, unable to tell which Grovyle was the real one. Suddenly, the one behind her struck her on the back, and she moaned in pain. Then, the Water type fell face first into the water. Olive returned to the island, panting but still standing.
Sebastian waved his arms. "Shri is unable to battle! The winner of this match is Summer and Olive!"
"You did it, Olive!" I screamed as she jumped into my arms. "You won your first regular Gym battle with the team!"
"It's thanks to you and…everyone else…" she responded before closing her eyes.
Knowing she was exhausted, I returned the sleeping Grovyle back to her ball.
Juan walked over, clapping. "A truly elegant display, Summer. If your performance earlier wasn't a sign that you should be a Coordinator, this battle certainly is!"
I laughed. "Thanks for the compliment, Juan, but I'll stick to regular battling."
"Very well. As proof of your victory, allow me to present you with the Rain Badge."
He handed me a pin with three blue raindrops arranged in a triangular pattern. After I placed it with my remaining badges, I felt a sense of relief.
"Now then, I should take my leave. Your fans are waiting for you in the lobby."
I thanked the Gym Leader and returned to the previous room.
Yuki greeted me first. "Congratulations on winning your last Gym Badge, Summer!"
We exchanged hugs, and I said, "It's all thanks to you and Weldon, Yuki."
"That was indeed an excellent battle," Wallace praised. "Why don't we celebrate at my favorite restaurant, The Essence of Sootopolis?"
Steven gave his friend a confused smile. "Are you sure you can get a reservation for all of us this late?"
"Of course! I have a great standing with the owner, both as a former Gym Leader and the current Champion. Summer, why don't you heal your Pokémon as the rest of us head to the location? It's above the Cave of Origin, so it's not too hard to find."
"Sure. I'll see you all later."
Everyone left except for Samir, Yuki, and Weldon. I expected Weldon to stay behind, but not my other friends.
"Summer…there's something we need to tell you," the Coordinator said with a hint of nervousness.
"What is it, Yuki?"
"I…I won't be able to come watch the Hoenn League in person. After the Wallace Cup ends, I need to head back to Kanto."
"And I have a new internship," Samir added with a half-hearted smile. "This will be unlike anything I've done before for my previous ones, so I need more time to prepare."
"Thanks for letting me know, you two. And don't worry, you both being here supporting me for my last Gym battle's enough for me."
The four of us headed to the Pokémon Center and celebrated with the rest of the group at the fanciest restaurant I've been to. But I knew that the next two months would be the longest yet shortest training preparation period before the start of the Hoenn League.
Summer's Pokémon:
Blaze (Blaziken, male): Brave Nature, Blaze Ability, moves: Fire Punch, Flamethrower, Blaze Kick, Sky Uppercut
Errol (Noctowl, male): Rash Nature, Keen Eye Ability, moves: Psychic, Hypnosis, Air Slash, Heat Wave
Aurora (Dewgong, female): Calm Nature, Thick Fat Ability, moves: Water Pulse, Ice Beam, Aqua Tail, Signal Beam
Lightning (Raichu, female): Adamant Nature, Static Ability, moves: Thunderbolt, Iron Tail, Thunder Punch, Grass Knot
Rocky (Steelix, male): Lonely Nature, Rock Head Ability, moves: Stone Edge, Crunch, Dragonbreath, Iron Tail
Olive (Grovyle, female): Timid Nature, Overgrow Ability, moves: Fury Cutter, Double Team, Leaf Blade, Quick Attack
Weldon's Pokémon:
Venusaur (male): Serious Nature, Overgrow Ability, moves: Razor Leaf, Earthquake, Sludge Bomb, Vine Whip; in rotation- Solarbeam, Body Slam
Fearow (male): Adamant Nature, Keen Eye Ability, moves: Heat Wave, Steel Wing, Fury Attack, Aerial Ace; in rotation- Drill Peck
Golem (male): Bold Nature, Rock Head Ability, moves: Rock Slide, Earthquake, Rollout, Double Edge
Gyarados (male): Sassy Nature, Intimidate Ability, moves: Surf, Ice Fang, Payback, Waterfall
Arcanine (male): Naughty Nature, Flash Fire Ability, moves: Hyper Beam, Extremespeed, Flare Blitz, Fire Blast
Electabuzz (male): Rash Nature, Static Ability, moves: Thunder, Ice Punch, Brick Break, Shock Wave; in rotation- Mega Kick, Thunder Punch
Questions for the Chapter:
What did you think of Juan's modified Gym challenge?
What did you think of Summer's appeal and battle?
How will Summer do during her preparations for the Hoenn League?
