Chapter 20: Special Training

A few days passes after Hilda's defeat against Sabrina, Barry went out on his own to train and catch the Nuzleaf he saw.

Daisy Oak decides to stay with Paul and Hilda to train, she had her Throh out.

After breakfast, the three started to train in the grass fields

Paul had his Sawk, Scyther, and Hariyama out.

Hilda had her Accelgor, Vulpix, Bulbasaur, and Eevee.

"Sawk Karate Chop on the wood!"

"Sawk!" The Karate Pokemon karate chopped the wood in half.

"Hariyama uses Force Palm on the boulder!"

The Arms Thrust Pokemon began to force its right palm against the boulder which began to crack. "Now use Force Palm!"

"Scyther use Swords Dance!"

The mantis began to do a frenetic dance. "Scy! Scy! Scyther!"

"Now use Air Slash!"

Scyther attacked the sky with a blade of air that sliced through the air.

"Acceglor and Vuplix use Quick Attack on each other!"

The two Pokemon lunged toward each other and they collided then they backed away onto the ground.

"Eevee practice dodged Bulbasaur's Razor Leaf!"

The bulb Pokemon unleashed razor-like leaves at its teammate.

"Eevee! Eevee!" The Evolution Pokemon said dodging each sharp leaf.

"Throh use Bulk Up!" Daisy commanded.

The Judo Pokemon bulked up its muscles and biceps as its body began to glow bright red.

"Great, now use Rock Smash on that big rock!"

Through punched the big rock which shattered into pieces.

"Good job, Throh."

The Judo Pokemon nodded.

"It seems our Pokemon are in top shape," Hilda said.

"That may be, but, we still have some training to do, though, training them like this won't be enough as much," Paul commented.

That gave Daisy an idea. "How about you and I have a battle, only using one Pokemon each, that should give some of our Pokemon to level up or get warmed up no less."

Hilda was excited. "Yeah, I'll be the referee!"

Paul shrugged. "I don't care as long this training is worth it, so, who battles first?"

He got his answer when Daisy approached him with Throh at her side. "I'll battle you and Sawk, how about it?"

Paul nodded as well as Sawk did. "Right."

The two went to an open area in the grass field and prepared for their battle.

"Ready Paul?"

"Do you have to ask?"

Daisy giggled. "Throh use Bulk Up!"

"Sawk, Bulk Up too!" Paul commanded.

Both the Karate and Judo Pokemon bulked up their muscles and biceps while their bodies glowed dark red.

"Sawk, Karate Chop!"

"Throh use Rock Smash!"

Both Fighting type Pokemon collided their attacks against each other struggling to push one of the other down.

"Looks like their power is matched," Hilda said.

Throh and Sawk's attacks caused them to move an inch from each other.

"Sawk, use Karate Chop again!"

The Karate Pokemon delivered another Karate Chop once more

"Grab Sawk's hand!" Daisy commanded.

The Judo Pokemon manages to grab the Karate Pokemon's attack before it reached his head. "Now use Bind!"

Using its long arms Throh tightly wrapped them around Sawk.

"Oh no..." Paul said slightly shocked.

Sawk struggled to get loose but his opponent was overpowering him, he began to lose air as he began to fall.

"Uh oh, Sawk is losing air, if this keeps up he'll pass out," Hilda said a little worried. "I hope Paul is not..."

To her surprise Paul wasn't worried, she saw him smiling, before she could ponder her friend's calmness, he spoke;

"Use Bulk Up to release yourself!"

Sawk's muscles and biceps bulked up giving it the chance to escape. "Now use Fire Punch in the chest!"

The Karate Pokemon delivered a fiery punch right into the Judo Pokemon's chest making it groan in pain.

"Follow it up with Karate Chop!"

Sawk was able to deliver a karate chop right on Throh's head which made it back away while holding its head in pain.

"Use Karate Chop again!"

However, before it do so, Daisy was smiling. "Expected that Throh uses Circle Throw!"

Throh fall backward and grabbed Sawk by its waist and threw it over which caused its opponent to fall on its stomach.

"So, she let Paul's Sawk get close that way she can counter his move using Circle Throw," Hilda said looking surprised.

"Use Focus Blast!"

Throh put its hands together gathering energy and fired a blue ball of energy towards Sawk.

"Sawk, use Low Sweep to dodge it!" Paul commanded.

The Karate Pokemon slid on the ground which gave it the chance to dodge the Focus Blast as it went overhead.

Sawk then delivered its Low Sweep right into Throh's leg which made it cringe in pain.

"Grab it and use Bind again!" Daisy commanded.

"Get away Sawk!" Paul called.

Sawk couldn't and was grabbed in a tight embrace by Throh, though Paul knew what to do, however, Daisy quickly reacted.

"Now, use Storm Throw!"

Throh threw Sawk in the air and delivered a fierce blow which resulting the Karate Pokemon falling to the ground hard.

"Paul is careful, Storm Throw always lands a critical hit!" Hilda warned.

"Gee, you didn't mention that sooner!" Paul remarked.

Sawk stood up. "S-s-Sawk!" The Karate Pokemon didn't want to give in.

Paul smirked. "I guess, this battle is still on."

"I suppose so, Throh, use Focus Blast!"

Throh gathered power using both of its hands again and threw the blue ball of energy toward its opponent.

Paul knew that blocking the attack wouldn't do any good, additional if Sawk took one more damage, it was over. "Man, what I can do..." He then remembered something back then.

Maylene was training with her Lucario, seeing her deflect the Aura Sphere with ease. "Wait...that's it!"

"Sawk, use Karate Chop to deflect Focus Blast!"

The Karate Pokemon nodded and as the Focus Blast came closer, it used Karate Chop to deflect the attack right back at Throh's face which exploded.

"Throh no!" Daisy yelled in shock.

"I ain't done, Sawk finish this with Close Combat!"

The Karate Pokemon unleashed several combat punches and kicks all over Throh's body.

The moment the attack was done, Throh was panting heavily and was still standing for a minute. "Throh," The Judo Pokemon smirked for a second and fell on its back with dizzy eyes.

"Throh is unable to battle, Sawk is the winner, so, the battle goes to Paul!" Hilda announced.

Sawk turned around to face its trainer and Paul looked back. "Sawk..." The purple-haired trainer smirked. "You did well."

Daisy walked over to Throh and began to pat it on the head. "Throh, you did well, now take some rest." She returned the Judo Pokemon to its Pokeball. "I must admit Paul, you did well with Sawk in a short time."

Paul remembered those words, it was the same ones that Cynthia used when she praised how he raised Chimchar to be strong.

"Thanks, anyway, this battle was good," Paul praised despite not smiling.

Maylene was watching though she didn't want to say anything, but, she was impressed, she never knew she would see a Fighting Type Pokemon deflect another attack as she does with her Lucario's Aura Sphere. "Paul must be learning new strategies quickly, I can see how it was hard for Ash to defeat him."

Hilda, Daisy, and Paul took a little break.

Hilda and Daisy set up a picnic table, giving their Pokemon their food.

Paul felt a little weird about the picnic table. "This isn't a picnic, you know?"

Hearing that made Hilda start pulling his cheeks. "Hey, just enjoy this moment you jerk!"

"Ow...ow...ow, a-alright fine!" The purple-haired trainer groaned rubbing his red cheeks.

Daisy giggled.

M

In the Saffron City's entrance

A young red-haired boy was entering the city. "Well, time to find out, how strong the gym leader is."

M

Barry found the Nuzleaf in the same route.

"Found ya!" He took a Pokeball and threw it in the air. "Skarmory, come out!"

"Skar!" The Steel armor bird screeched. "Now use Swift attack!"

The armor bird Pokemon opened its beak and fired out stars directly at Wily Pokemon.

Nuzleaf then made two copies of itself, then 3 more.

"That's Double Team!" Barry exclaimed.

The real Nuzleaf appeared in the air and hurled a bunch of large boulders.

"Nuzleaf can use Rock Slide!" Barry exclaimed again.

Skarmory evaded each of the large boulders swiftly. "Good job, keep up the dodging!"

Nuzleaf then jumped on some of the remaining boulders, leaping on another, and another.

"It's using the remaining falling boulders to get closer to Skarmory," Barry thought. "If Skarmory lets its guard down, it's over."

Nuzleaf was drawing closer to Skarmory, while its opponent was trying to avoid the remaining boulders.

Then an idea occurred to Barry. "Wait, perhaps, I should...that's it!" He then watched as Nuzleaf got closer and just as it was about to land a surprise attack.

"Skarmory use Agility now!"

Skamory flew away in quickly which caught off Nuzleaf.

"Now use Air Slash!"

The Armor Bird launches blades of energy at Wily Pokemon, landing a direct hit.

"Now use Steel Wing!"

Skamory's wing glowed and slashed Nuzleaf dealing damage.

"Nuz...leaf," The Wily Pokemon began to fall to the ground.

"You're mine now, go Pokeball!" Barry tossed the Pokeball and snatched it inside.

The Pokeball began to vibrate slowly for a few seconds and then it stopped. "Alright, I caught Nuzleaf!"

"Skar!" Skarmory cheered.

"I should stop by the Pokemon Center in Lavender Town for a little rest," He looked in the direction of Saffron City. "Paul, Hilda, Daisy, I'll return soon."

At Pokemon Center, it was sunset.

Paul and the others were having their Pokemon checked out.

Nurse Joy approached with their Pokemon a little later. "I'm happy to announce that your Pokemon are doing well, I think all of them are ready to battle."

Paul bowed his head. "Thank you, I think it's time for my battle tomorrow,"

Daisy nodded. "Right, I think we should get some rest by now."

"Yeah, no doubt, Barry will be back soon, and Paul..." Hilda paused for a moment which got the purple-haired trainer to look at her. "I hope you'll win tomorrow."

Paul scoffed. "I intend to and I'll see to it."

Daisy smiled. "Yes, I hope Barry returns to see the battle in time."

End of chapter.