Chapter 117; Heated battle in Lavaridge town
The day slowly moved into midday as Sonic and Raichu continued strolling around Lavaridge town, a little more time needing to pass before they shared lunch with Flannery and Mr Moore.
Lavaridge town turned out to be a very quiet place. A mountain city, existing halfway up a volcano, one would imagine it would be bustling with tourists who would want to visit the volcano. After all, it was very close to the cable car.
But no. It was rather quiet.
That wasn't a bad thing for Sonic and his pokemon in the moment. He desired some peace after the chaotic last few weeks. And he was intending to savor it. For afterwards he would have to head back to Petalburg city.
And that meant the possibility of an encounter with both Wally and/or Ash.
Having not seen Wally since their battle and Ash since the volcano brawl, Sonic couldn't imagine how such an encounter would go.
Returning to the present, determined to worry about the future when it arrived, he brainstormed what to do for the remaining half hour until lunch.
He considered going back to the hot springs in which he and his pokemon had spent 2 hours relaxing but decided against it. He didn't want to relax too much.
"Not to mention those creepy old ladies could still be there" Sonic thought in shivers.
Passing outside a building, he got a glance of the sign describing the exhibition.
"Poetry exhibition; the masterpieces of Mr Moore".
"Oh that… masterpieces? He hasn't been a poet for this long…" Sonic thought before shrugging.
"No time like the present I guess" he said as he walked in.
The exhibition didn't have many people. And unlike other exhibitions Sonic had been to before, it wasn't a very big space. It was just one room, with several sheets of paper in glass casings so that the poems could be read.
Sonic did read a few of them and commented on the rhyme but wasn't entirely sure what to make of the meter. Not because it wasn't good, Mr Moore clearly had some talent but more so because this was Sonic's first time ever reading any sort of serious poetry.
There was one exhibit however that did have a lot of viewers.
"Must be a new one" Sonic thought.
Reading the other poems, he patiently waited until the visitors cleared out so he could also read it at his own pace.
Once they were gone. Sonic approached.
The title read "the hero with fiery wings".
The poem went as such.
Fear and terror across the land. Spreading far and wide. Born from the demons of the criminal band. With no hope to turn the tide.
The unbeatable demon king rules all. His power without end. No rival he can't squall. No one strong enough to contend.
But when all seems lost. A hero rises to the occasion. Fearlessly fighting in spite of the cost. He drives back the demons with determination.
A hero soars, a harbringer of hope. Riding the pokemon with fiery wings. He vanquishes the demon king, saving all folk. Now a time of peace truly begins.
Sonic finished reading, an eerie feeling of familiarity washing over him.
After all he only knew of one pokemon with fiery wings.
"Moltres" he mumbled, missing his legendary bird.
But it wasn't just the nostalgia that was bothering Sonic. The story the poem told also felt familiar.
"Mr Moore wrote the poem… maybe I should ask him what his inspiration was".
Checking the time, he was surprised to see half an hour had actually gone by. That made him wonder how long he had spent in front of that poem.
Leaving the exhibition, Sonic headed to the address Flannery gave him.
Flannery was waiting outside.
"Right on time. Grandfather almost sent for you".
"Before the agreed time?"
Flannery nodded.
"Huh. Ok. Well I'm here now".
The two headed for the house.
"Did you visit grandpa's exhibition?"
"I did actually".
"You did? And you're so calm?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"Oh I don't know. Maybe because the latest poem is literally about you?"
"Wait really? The hero with fiery wings?"
"Yes. Grandfather was inspired by your heroism in the Kanto region for that one".
Sonic didn't know what to say. He knew very well his journey through Kanto had been a vital time for the world because of the terror of team rocket but to actually inspire art?
"But… I'm no hero. I'm just a hedgehog trying to do the right thing".
"Don't let grandfather hear you say that" Flannery warned him.
"Why? What's the worse that could happen?"
"Beats me. You can try and then find out".
Sonic was fully perplexed. The way Flannery acted when it came to Mr Moore was really weird.
Entering the house, Sonic was surprised to a very short table. Around it were sitting pillows.
"That's fascinating" he thought.
"Take off your shoes".
"Pardon?"
"Take off your shoes. Grandfather doesn't permit shoes during lunchtime".
"No, no please, keep them on if you prefer" mr Moore came out of nowhere, joining them.
"It's no trouble mr Moore" Sonic said as he took off his red shoes.
"Come, come. The food is ready".
The trio sat at the table, mr Moore at the table edge where the head of a family would often sit.
The food was delicious and mr Moore had even added the kind of chilli often put on chilli dogs.
"That's delicious" Sonic complimented the older man as he ate "who prepared the food if I may ask?"
Flannery elbowed him.
"Grandpa doesn't like talking during lunch" she whispered.
"All done personally by me. It is only proper that I personally see that you are treated properly, as you deserve".
"Yeah, right" Sonic said, a feeling of awkwardness growing by the second, especially due to Flannery's obvious annoyance.
This wasn't his first time being treated as a hero. But mr Moore seemed to just take it a bit over the edge with being proper.
"This guy is supposed to be a legend in Hoenn. So why acting like a fanboy?" Sonic thought before deciding "time to dig for some answers".
"If I may, Mr Moore… I visited your poem exhibition before coming here".
"You did?! I am so honored! Please tell me. Was there a specific one that touched a chord in you?"
Sonic sized up his reply before giving it.
"There was one… but it didn't get my attention for any art-sy reason".
"That is ok. I believe I already know your answer. The hero with fiery wings".
"That's correct" Sonic confirmed before chewing and swallowing his bite "so um… what was your inspiration for it?"
"You may have guessed already. Or perhaps my granddaughter has already answered that for you".
"So it's true? My war with team rocket was your inspiration?"
"Yes… and no. One specific instant was" Mr Moore said revealing a photograph.
Sonic took it and examined it.
It was taken from a forest, depicting the blue sky. Two things could be seen facing each other on the sky.
Sonic quickly identified Moltres' fiery wings and realized what that moment was.
"This was Giovanni's defeat. When he declared he was going into exile. This is your inspiration?"
"Yes. Your taming of the legendary Moltres is an inspiration to all fire type trainers. You soared like a fiery Phoenix and destroyed the demon king who plagued the Kanto region for years. A true hero".
Sonic chose not to heed Flannery's warning.
"I am no hero sir. Only a hedgehog trying to do the right thing".
One would think Sonic had just insulted Mr Moore.
"Nonsense! Modesty has its limits young Sonic! You don't give yourself the credit you rightfully deserve! You went up against people who wouldn't hesitate to hurt or kill you and your friends! A lot of experienced trainers would think twice about going to war with such monsters. Even ones like elite Four members".
"Well.. I'm not sure that…"
"And not only did you destroy team rocket but you pursued them to make sure you finished the job, bringing the legendady beasts of Johto back from oblivion! I was a young man you see, when I came across the legendary Entei once. Our battle shook the earth but in the end it defeated me and my partner. And to hear that not only it has returned but has pledged its allegiance to you?"
Sonic felt a sting of guilt. Entei was anything but its ally right now.
"In fact, my next poem is inspired by your battling side by side with Entei in the battle of Goldenrod city. I call it 'the savior with the blazing mane'. Allow me to recite what I have written thus far".
"There's really no need…" Sonic tried to stop him but he had already entered artist mode.
"Doubt and fear resurface. Hidden out of sight. Demons lurking again, utterly heartless. Preparing to spread the fright.
They attack at the crack of dawn. Their intentions vile and dark. They reach out to the demon king, to whom allegiance they have sworn. Trying their hardest to bring the darkness back.
But their efforts are in vain. Because the great savior returns. Joined by the pokemon with the blazing mane. All the evil down he burns.
Mr Moore returned to his normal state and turned to Sonic.
"It's still a work in progress as I am still looking for the right words to include your valiant friends and their comrades Raikou and Suicune. But I am confident the right words will come to me soon".
"I see… well it was um… interesting".
Mr Moore was beaming with pride, which Sonic found somewhat uncanny. Not that it was wrong for one to be proud of their work, but usually when imagined a poet, they thought of someone calm and swimming in inner peace, not easily excitable.
"If I may offer a suggestion though… do try to make the 3rd part about me and my friends also while mentioning the blazing mane. Without them I wouldn't have been victorious".
"I shall take these words into consideration" Mr Moore eagerly agreed.
All during that chat, Flannery was wearing a mask of… Sonic couldn't place it.
Annoyance? Jealousy? Frustration?
He wasn't sure. But he also wasn't comfortable with asking such a question.
"Well…" Sonic tried to keep the conversation going "if I recall you had some questions for me Mr Moore. I can answer them for you since I'm here, provided I can answer them".
Mr Moore immediately started vomiting out the questions, starting with how he had managed to tame Entei and Moltres.
Sonic explained with small summaries about how he built trust with these two legends during his two journeys and how even though he did defeat them in their third encounter, they allied with him due to trust.
More questions revolved around details of his battles, his adventures with his friends and, most importantly, their encounters with Ho-oh.
By the end of the meal, Mr Moore was drowning in inspiration, declaring he would write a poem about Sonic and Raichu's salvation from certain death thanks to the great Ho-oh. Flannery on the other hand was annoyed to not be able to participate in the conversation, a big reason for it was that Mr Moore seemed to be unknowingly repeatedly interrupting her.
"Thank you for the meal Mr Moore" Sonic shook the old poet's hand as he was about to leave "it was great".
"The honor was all mine young Sonic. Make sure you are at the town's central plaza at exactly 8PM for the gym battle".
"I'll be there. I hope our battle is one to be remembered" Sonic said, speaking to Flannery.
"Oh I'll make sure of it. Mark my words".
Sonic left after that exchange but quickly realized he forgot to ask where the central plaza was.
Not willing to make the same mistake of not knowing his destination like he did with the Aqua hideout recently, Sonic turned back.
Just as he was about to knock on the doordoor, he heard voices coming from inside.
Voices arguing.
"All I'm asking is that you step aside grandfather!"
"I'm not in your way Flannery".
"Don't patronize me! I can see it in your eyes ever since you heard from Ash that Sonic was going to show up! You intend to be the one to accept his challenge for my badge!"
Sonic was taken aback but managed to make his gasp silent.
"I only thought of it as a possibility granddaughter. I wasn't intending to take this challenge away from you".
Sonic thought it to be logical. It wasn't unnatural for an old person to want to relive their glory days sometimes.
But apparently the word challenge meant the opposite thing of what one would think.
"Take this challenge away from me?! So you admit it! You think I'm not worthy of battling him because I'm still a novice gym leader!"
"I never said anything like that granddaughter. I only said that you need to train more so he would not just be handed the badge".
"That's how little you think of me?! A pushover who stands no chance against him?!"
A punch was heard through the wall near Sonic, who stepped back in surprise. Had the wall not been in the way, Flannery's fist would have met his face.
"I don't think little of you at all granddaughter. But you need to see you are a bit in over your head. Sonic the hedgehog has fought greater battles than you can even imagine right now. My inspiration from his labors is not baseless".
"You always told me the greatest teacher is failure! And you were hard on me so I could fail and learn! And yet you won't even let me have that!"
Mr Moore's sight was spreading an aura of sadness.
"You have a long time ahead of you to win or lose, triumph or learn Flannery. Your path is only just beginning. But me? You think that because I have my newfound love for poetry I am happy that I can never feel the blaze of battle the same way I did when I was young?"
"Do you know how excited I was when I realized a battle with the hero of Kanto was in the works for me? Ash was a challenge sure, he is a league finalist but Sonic? A two time league champion?! This was going to be my moment! And now my own grandfather wants to steal my thunder!"
"This is not my intention Flannery".
"You know what I think grandfather?! I think you are not over your defeat back then! You think defeating Sonic will somehow change your past! That's why you're treating him so differently! You want him to battle you instead!"
"This is getting out of hand Flannery" he tried to assert his dominance.
"Is it?! If I ever tried to speak during lunch you would berate me! If I walked inside wearing shoes you would have me training an extra hour under supervision! Hell you literally told him he needn't have brought a fire daisy to challenge for the badge! You've never done this with any challenger! You literally sent them away, telling them off and to never come back until they brought a fire daisy!"
Sonic couldn't believe his ears. Now Mr Moore's weird behavior made sense.
It was a belated midlife crisis. Or one that never even ended.
Unwilling to eavesdrop more, Sonic left. He would find the plaza another way.
"That defeat must have seriously scarred him, to make him so rough on Flannery" he thought as he walked through town, seeking a quiet place for one final training session.
Just a bit out of town, he and his pokemon got to work. As Sonic's greatest weapon against a fire gym was his sealeo, their training focused a lot around preparing it.
During training they discovered sealeo's ability was thick fat, which meant it was resistant to fire, though not typewise. It was still an incredible discovery as it meant not only Flannery would have trouble keeping her pokemon up against it but also wouldn't be easily able to beat it.
While the training session was going smoothly however, Sonic couldn't shake the situation with Flannery and Mr Moore out of his head.
What was going to happen during that gym battle? Would he try to hijack the challenge? Would they fight each other?
Seeking guidance once again via answers, Sonic called Blaze.
"Talk about talking soon again. Everything ok?" Blaze joked as soon as she picked up.
"Not sure. That's why I'm calling".
"Is it the enforcer?"
"No. I just have a question".
"Speak up then".
"What were the circumstances of Mr Moore's defeat to the old champion?"
"Surprisingly ok. The old champion was a jerk during the end of his reign. Mr Moore challenged him in order to teach him some respect but lost. He honorably admitted his defeat and left the elite Four, declaring this was a seat for someone young and hungry for battles. You know the rest".
"I know more than the rest".
"Elaborate please?"
"I don't think Mr Moore was ok with his defeat. He has been hard on his granddaughter a bit unnecessarily".
"He was always a no nonsense somewhat rough person. And with his legacy as a trainer it's natural he is hard on his successor".
"It's more than that. He has been giving me special treatment ever since this morning. Heck the guy has written two poems about my wars with team rocket. And… I happened to eavesdrop an argument with his granddaughter".
"That's not nice".
"As I said I happened to eavesdrop, I wasn't intending. In any case, Mr Moore desires to battle me himself. Flannery claimed he was trying to rewrite his past by fighting another champion level trainer like me".
Silence was all that reigned on the other end of the line. Blaze had a hard time believing this.
"I guess you never know who one truly is beneath what they look like".
"That's why I called you. What am I supposed to do? If I agree to battle either of them, the other will be wronged in some way".
"Yes. It is quite the predicament".
"Flannery did say they had a bit of trouble passing the torch to her as a gym leader before I arrived. But I never imagined… that he would be tempted to get in the way of her beginning. He said something like that too. That many battles await her but him…"
"Hmmm… maybe there is a way. But that could make it harder for you".
"I am open to it".
"Alright. How good are your pokemon at battling together?"
Hours passed by, as the fated time finally arrived.
Thr residents of Lavaridge town gathered in the central plaza, everyone excited for the greatest gym battle to ever happen in their little town, Mr Moore's words.
Speaking of the man, he Flannery arrived together, under the applause of their fellow citizens.
The tension between the two was not visible but was still palpable. The residents believed it was due to challenging someone like Sonic but that couldn't be further from the truth.
The last minute before 8PM rolled by extremely slowly. Mr Moore and Flannery waited side by side as opposed to usually the former standing in the middle of the arena, taking over referee duties.
The pressure on Flannery was extreme. This was going to be the most important battle of her life up to this point.
"I'm no pushover. I won't go down easily. I will show grandfather he is wrong" she thought over and over.
The nearby clock struck at the o'clock mark.
And footsteps followed.
Mr Moore and Flannery watched as their fellow citizens standing opposite them, looked behind them and then quickly started stepping aside, forming a path for the arriving Sonic and Raichu to take their place as the challengers.
The blue hedgehog was smiling confidently, which had differing effects on the new and the old gym leader.
Flannery was unnvered. Mr Moore was excited.
Finally Sonic and Raichu stood against them.
"The time has arrived" Sonic said, still smiling.
"Yes. Yes it has" Flannery declared.
Sonic then turned to Mr Moore.
"Your successor is feisty. You ought to be very proud".
Mr Moore was surprised at the statement. He was proud of Flannery but it just seemed to come out of nowhere.
For him it did. But for Sonic who had rehearsed how they would go about it with Blaze, it wasn't.
"I expect quite the challenge. After all battling runs in the family right?"
"So you know" Mr Moore said.
"About the legacy Flannery has to live up to? Yes".
Flannery didn't think she could be in more pressure and yet here she was.
Mr Moore had defended the town once from the enforcer when a Socexp project was to take shape there.
The enforcer only left because he was ordered to. Her grandfather's Typhlosion took quite the beating from the enforcer's Salamence.
How could she possibly be a challenge for Sonic, who had been rivaling the enforcer ever since that famed museum brawl in Slateport city?
Mr Moore then tried to slither in gently.
"She has only been a gym leader for 3 weeks as you remember. But her potential is vast. I'm sure she will do just fine".
This was it. Sonic needed Mr Moore to try and say something like this, to make Sonic think he would be a greater challenge than Flannery.
"Oh I don't doubt that. But I feel like playing on hard mode tonight. So I have a greater battle in mind".
Both Flannery and Mr Moore were taken aback.
"And what's your idea of a greater battle?" Mr Moore inquired.
Sonic smirked.
"A double battle".
Silence spread throughout the plaza. No one could have possibly heard that right.
"A double battle?" Flannery repeated his words in question.
"You mean…" Mr Moore muttered.
"Two versus one. You and Flannery battle me together".
Everyone gasped.
Whispers rose from the crowd.
"Is he serious?"
"He can't be. Mr Moore is too strong".
"But he can rival the enforcer".
Mr Moore then spoke.
"What are to be the rules of the battle?"
"I use all 5 of my pokemon, Flannery uses 3 of hers and you 2 of yours. And it will double battle. Two against two. Teamwork style. Do you agree to my terms?"
"This is a gym battle! I make the rules here! You can't just…" Flannery tried to assert her dominance before Mr Moore interjected.
"I do believe your terms are most fair. A double battle it is".
"What?! No! This my battle!" Flannery objected.
"We must honor his desire for a great challenge Flannery. As a gym leader, it is your duty to help trainers attain greater heights. So uphold that duty here and now" Mr Moore berated her for her outburst.
Flannery wanted nothing more than to call Mr Moore out for his slimy way to get his battle with Sonic as well as to Sonic for calling her weak by essentially saying alone she wouldn't be much of a challenge for him but decided against doing it in front of everyone.
There was always later, behind closed doors.
"Alright! Let's do it!"
Everyone broke out into cheers. An actual battle between a local legend and his successor taking on the hero of Kanto, one of the few trainers currently in Hoenn capable of standing up to the enforcer.
Sonic took out two pokeballs. Mr Moore and Flannery took out one each.
"Raichu, you're entering later ok? We should let our teammates have some fun too right?"
"Rai rai!"
"Not all the fun though" Sonic heard in his head.
"Hehe. Have no worry partner".
"We sent out our pokemon at three" Mr Moore declared.
"Agreed".
"One. Two. Three! Come forth! Blaziken!"
"You too Mag!"
"Sealeo! Combusken! Battle time!"
The four pokemon hit the field, with Combusken standing against its final form as sparkles came out of it, making Sonic wondered what shiny Blaziken looked like. Shiny combusken was only a deeper shade of red in the normally orange areas of Combusken.
Sealeo on the other hand faced down a magcargo. One water move would probably end the Johtonian lava slug.
"Blaziken is a fighting type. That could be a problem. But other than that we're in a pretty good position. Should stay on our toes though. This Blaziken probably has the experience of a lifetime" Sonic quickly read the battlefield.
"You may make the first move" Mr Moore allowed Sonic to initiate the battle.
"Don't mind if I do! Combusken! Double kick that Magcargo!"
Combusken jumped high, giving Sonic the 2nd opening.
"Sealeo surf!"
Both Mr Moore and Flannery were flabbergasted at the called attack. The water types that came by the gym didn't usually know such a move.
"Blaziken! Protect Magcargo!"
Blaziken stood in front of Magcargo, taking the brunt of the assault.
Flannery tried to think of a way to fight back but then double kick landed, damaging Magcargo a good deal.
And Sonic didn't relent at all.
"Peck Blaziken!"
Combusken started pecking at Blaziken's legs causing it to cry out in pain.
Mr Moore was shocked at the level of power displayed by Sonic's Pokemon at this stage of their journey. No wonder he had been able to rival the enforcer.
But this wasn't a fight that would be easily won.
"Blaziken! Sky uppercut!"
Blaziken stopped the next peck by grabbing combusken's beak.
The next second the powerful sky uppercut sent the fire and fighting type flying straight into sealeo, damaging them both.
"You guys ok?" Sonic called out to them.
They both cried out in confirmation.
"Flannery! You need to do something! Remember your training!"
Flannery gritted her teeth. She hated that she had been reduced to a sitting torchic by one water type. That sealeo had to go.
"Mag! Use flamethrower on that sealeo!"
Magcargo fired a powerful jet of flames towards sealeo.
Sealeo let out a cry so Combusken would get out of the way.
The water and ice type then stood resolute, taking the flamethrower head-on, the thick fat protecting it from taking too much damage.
"Flannery! A frontal attack can't hurt a sealeo!" Mr Moore tried to tell her before ordering Blaziken to also go for a sky uppercut on sealeo.
"Sealeo! Rollout! Combusken! Double kick! Trip that Blaziken!"
Combusken used double kick, its legs interlocking with Blaziken's, causing the two fire pokemon to sprawl on the ground. In the meantime sealeo had started rolling, heading for Magcargo.
"Mag! Double team!"
Magcargo duplicated into shadow clones of itself, forcing sealeo to keep rolling.
"Quick Mag! Flamethrower!"
All the shadow clones and the original started firing on the still rolling sealeo, doing little damage due to the thick fat and the constant movement dispersing the flames.
One by one, the shadow clones started falling to the rolling sealeo.
"Grandpa do something!"
"Blaziken! Thunder punch!"
"Combusken! Put some dirt in its eye! Sand attack!"
Combustion grabbed a handful of dirt and stuffed it into Blaziken's face, distorting its vision and causing it to miss the thunder punch.
The last shadow clone went down and now Magcargo was facing down a fully powered rollout.
"Mag reflect!"
The reflect barrier was formed. Flannery was flooded by a false sense of security.
Sealeo plowed right through, shattering the barrier and running over Magcargo, knocking it out.
"Way to go sealeo!" Sonic cheered for it.
"Leeo!" the water and ice type cried out as it regrouped with combusken.
Moore was upset at this setback. Having seen Sonic's battles in the Kanto and Johto league, he expected a more direct approach by the blue hedgehog.
But the thing was, Sonic's approach was direct. The only difference was, this was a double battle.
One pokemon would have to be the aggressor and the other the supporter who got the opponent's attention. This was part of his training with Tails and Knuckles in Johto.
Suggesting a double battle wasn't only a good idea so that Sonic would give a chance to both Flannery and Mr Moore, but also because he knew for certain there was a good chance they had little experience in double battles.
"Alright Flannery listen. We need to take down sealeo. But for that I need that Combusken out of the way. You distract it and…"
"Who made you team leader exactly?!"
"Flannery we don't have the time to argue about this. Just distract combusken and I…"
"You have the Blaziken here, you deal with it! Alright Meg! Come on out!"
A slugma emerged.
Sonic wasn't sure what to expect from a non evolved form but had his pokemon prepare themselves.
To his opponent's luck, Flannery made the correct move.
"Meg! Yawn!"
Slugma yawned towards sealeo. The water and ice type became sleepy and slumped on its side.
"Oh come on! Yawn?!" Sonic exclaimed, realizing their entire strategy had just been hindered.
"Good work Flannery! Blaziken! Sky uppercut!"
"Combusken! Bulk up! Protect sealeo! "
Combusken braced itself, its heightened defense allowing it to hold Blaziken back.
Flannery seized her opening.
"Now Meg! Flamethrower!"
Slugma fired flamethrower at the unsuspecting Combusken, inadvertently torching Blaziken as well.
"Blaziken no!"
Blaziken cried out as it endured flames while Combusken toppled, evening the odds once again.
"Flannery why did you do that?! I had it under control".
"A combusken was holding you back! How is that under control?"
"Combusken return!" Sonic voice reminded them where they were.
Moore took a deep breath and composed himself again.
"Bring out your next pokemon please".
Sonic was immediately tempted to have Raichu battle blaziken until sealeo woke up. But his two opponents were already at a disadvantage because of the double battle. Sending out Raichu could possibly signal the end of the battle before it had the chance to properly ignite.
"But what else do I send out? Tropius is grass and Lairon…"
Lairon had the worst possible typing to combat Blaziken.
"Unless… the move works".
"Lairon! You're up!"
Lairon came out, crying out in anger at their opponents for knocking out it's combusken friend.
"A Lairon? I expected more from someone my grandfather looks up to do much! Meg! Flamethrower!"
"Lairon! Roar!"
Lairon roared towards Blaziken. The roar carried slugma's flames towards Blaziken, setting it ablaze and damaging it again before it was forcibly recalled.
"Whew. That actually worked" Sonic said in relief as Mr Moore's second and last pokemon for this battle was called out.
A Typhlosion.
Sonic almost felt bad.
Flannery's final pokemon was her Torkoal. And the two pokemon Mr Moore had brought into this battle were pokemon Sonic had battled previously, Typhlosion to an extreme amount.
"Flannery! You need to stop blindly attacking! The attacks are literally backfiring!"
"You focus on your battle! After all that's what you wanted so much right?! Enough that you would try to hijack my chance!"
Mr Moore gritted his teeth. Sonic knew this was it.
She had called him out on his recent behavior. Their team would now either break apart completely or, at least Sonic hoped, would become an actual challenge.
He recalled his talk with Blaze.
"Have them battle you together. His granddaughter is hot headed and rush due to her inexperience. And most of all she is hungry and impatient. The total opposite of him. Their battle styles will clash and they will have to make a choice. They will either find a common ground there and then and battle you together, or the badge will become yours without earning it".
"Let's hope it won't come to this" Sonic had replied, truly hoping the two would work it out.
And to his utter relief, Mr Moore sighed.
"You are right… granddaughter. I did wish to fight this battle myself. But no. Not like this. Not by stripping you of your chance".
Flannery was caught off guard. She didn't expect him to essentially confess in front of everyone, whether they had the context or not.
"I should have remembered my time has come and gone Flannery. You are the future. This is your battle. As I told you after your first gym battle… you will surpass me one day. I know you will. I'm sorry granddaughter".
The apology was weirdly constructed and not very smooth when it came to its flow but it deeply touched Flannery.
Her grandfather had never been this soft, not even when Ash was there.
The first phrase of it especially affected her.
"I should have remembered my time has come and gone".
He was right. His era had gone by. And he was not getting any younger.
"Who knows how long he will still be here" Flannery thought.
Yes. Mr Moore would one day not be here to guide her anymore. And she knew that he had realized that.
Mr Moore was essentially facing his own mortality upon retiring. Using poetry to express himself.
His desire to have a battle with Sonic wasn't him trying to relive the glory days. It was the deep desire of a man growing old to be young again.
Flannery felt bad for not trying to talk it out earlier, instead assuming his reasoning was selfish.
"I'm in the wrong too here grandpa. I should have understood your desire too. You have always been there to guide me, to nurture me, to believe in me, especially when I didn't believe in myself. You were always there for me. I should have been there to understand you too. I'm sorry".
The old, strong and usually unyielding heart of Mr Moore finally yielded as he gave his granddaughter a tight hug, something Flannery wasn't sure she remembered ever getting from him.
Sonic smiled. It had worked.
Now the real battle could begin.
Mr Moore and Flannery finally broke their hug and turned towards Sonic at once, almost causing him to flinch.
The identical look of determination in their faces almost had him doubting he could win.
"Alright grandpa! Take the lead! I will cover you! Meg! Yawn!"
"Lairon get out of the way!"
"Now's your chance Typhlosion! Flamethrower!"
Lairon dodged the yawn attack which landed on the already asleep sealeo, getting nullified. But the flamethrower then found its mark, burning the steel and rock type.
"Damn. They got us. I think we're about to get more than we bargained for" Sonic thought.
"Rai rai!" Raichu encouraged him with its cry, reminding him the battle had only just begun.
"Leeo!" sealeo also cried out as if it was coordinated, finally waking up from the yawn.
"Now this is more like it. You guys ready?!"
Both his pokemon cried out as they faced down their opponents.
"Alright! Let's do this! Sealeo! Blast that Typhlosion! Surf!"
The water attack went for Typhlosion but Flannery had a different idea.
"Meg! Flamethrower!"
The flamethrower attack met surf. The intensity of the flames was surprisingly high, actually canceling out each other, allowing Typhlosion another opening.
"Typhlosion! Ram sealeo! Flame wheel!"
Typhlosion turned into a flaming wheel, rolling towards sealeo, attempting to ram it down.
"Lairon! Counter it with take down!"
Lairon threw itself headfirst against Typhlosion. The two pokemon collided with Lairon getting the short end of the stick but also with Typhlosion's trajectory changing, missing Sealeo.
Switch up guys! Sealeo! Rollout! Lairon mud slap on slugma!"
Sealeo let out another cry and started rolling around, clashing with Typhlosion.
The two moves were brutal to each pokemon with the type advantage against Typhlosion and the years of experience of the latter evening things out.
Slugma in the meantime dispersed the mud slap with another flamethrower. Sonic was genuinely impressed at the ability of the lava slug and wondered how much stronger Flannery's Magcargo was.
However, the fact remained. It was still an unevolved pokemon and almost 4 times lighter than Lairon.
And Sonic knew physical attacks benefited from facts like this.
"Lairon! Show them what you got! Iron tail!"
Normally lairon would learn iron tail a bit further into the future based on its biology. But training with Raichu and observing its devastating iron tails had allowed it to pick it up faster than normal.
Slugma and Flannery were both caught off guard by the unexpected use of the move.
"Meg! Use yawn!"
To her surprise and sudden realization, Lairon couldn't be put to sleep. It was already burned.
Iron tail landed brutally on slugma, proving Sonic right as despite the burn, it was still knocked out.
The two rolling Pokemon stopped upon the defeat of slugma, awaiting further instructions.
The residents of Lavaridge town cheered. Whatever was going on between their old and new gym leader was none of their concern out of respect.
But the battle was already living up to Mr Moore's promise as the greatest battle to ever happen in their fair town.
"Meg return! You were awesome. Don't you worry, your hard work will not go to waste" Flannery recalled slugma as she prepared her final team member.
Sonic knew what was coming. And even though he had a plan to counter it, it didn't make the battle any easier.
Torkoal was going to be annoying to deal with. Especially since she was going to be the supporting one in this battle.
"Alright Torkoal! Let's turn up the heat!"
Torkoal emerged, blowing smoke out of its nostrils and even a little bit of fire, making Sonic almost wish that he had a Torkoal of his own.
"Lairon, can you continue?"
Lairon reassured him with a cry. Sonic could tell it wouldn't last much longer due to the burn but at this point they needed to last as long as possible.
On the bright side, Sealeo was still up. And still pretty capable of dealing some major damage.
But for that he would need another distraction for Typhlosion.
A distraction that his Tropius would have to provide if it came down to it.
"We'll cross that bridge when we get there" Sonic thought determinedly as he called out the attacks.
"Alright! Let's do this! Sealeo! Rollout! Strike Typhlosion!"
Sealeo went on a roll once again heading for Typhlosion.
"Flame wheel!"
The two rolling Pokemon clashed once again as Sonic went for the next bit of his plan, aiming to bait Flannery and Mr Moore into a bad situation.
"Lairon! Mud slap!"
Lairon fired its ground move, with Sonic making a mental note to find a tutor ASAP. Lairon needed a better ground move and a rock move.
"Torkoal! Counter with flamethrower!"
The mud slap was cancelled out as the flamethrower engulfed the rock and steel type.
Sonic knew this was going to happen. A couple of mud slaps would never measure up to a flamethrower.
Lairon struggled to keep going as its eyes met Sonic.
Only one choice was left now.
"There goes Lairon! Now Torkoal! Sludge bomb sealeo!"
The two rolling Pokemon had just bad another clash. The sludge bomb was fired, aiming perfectly to intercept Sealeo and cripple it.
Mr Moore figured out his granddaughter's intention and smiled in pride. Her potential truly was greater than his.
But she was far from besting a battle hardened war hero like Sonic who had trained for double battles day and night in Johto.
"Gotcha! Lairon take down! Intercept sludge bomb!"
Lairon jumped in front of the rolling sealeo, the move carrying it through the air as it shielded its comrade from the poison move, itself immune due to its steel typing.
"Now Lairon! Mud slap!"
Still midair, Lairon fired mud slap, blasting Torkoal in the face with mud and blurring its vision.
Unfortunately for the iron armor Pokemon, the burn took its final toll on it in that moment, knocking it out.
Sonic wished it had lasted a little bit longer but was satisfied with his pokemon's performance regardless.
"Amazing work Lairon. Get some rest we'll take care of the rest" the blue hedgehog said as he took out Tropius' pokeball.
He knew the flying and grass type couldn't contend with two fire types. And using whirlwind to draw out Blaziken wouldn't be of any help. It knew no flying moves.
"But it can fly. And that can be annoying to deal with" Sonic said as he winded his hand to call it out remembering Ash's defeat of Blastoise with his Charizard in the Johto league.
"Here goes! Soar Tropius!"
Tropius emerged in the air, staring down at its and sealeo's two opponents.
"Tropius rain fire! Magical leaf! Sealeo surf!"
The two attacks came down on their two opponents like a hammer on a nail, leaving them with little time to make a choice.
But like grandfather like granddaughter, they made the same move.
"Typhlosion! Flamethrower!"
"Torkoal! Flamethrower!"
To Sonic's surprise, the two flamethrowers were fired towards the ground, overheating the gravel and causing the surf to surge around them instead as if they had an impenetrable wall of fire protecting them.
But the strategy wasn't foolproof.
The magical leaf, although not very effective, came down hard on them. With the two fire Pokemon preoccupied shielding themselves from the surf, were unable to do anything against the leaves.
Mr Moore quickly realized they were boxed in. If this continued, both he and Flannery would lose.
In that moment, he decided to take one for the team.
"Typhlosion! Bring down Tropius! Overheat!"
Letting the surf blast it, Typhlosion fired a powerful overheat at Tropius, so quickly that not even Sonic registered the use.
Tropius was set ablaze by the overheat, plummeting to the ground, its wings crisped just like that very morning.
Typhlosion, on its own end, was blasted by the surf so hard that the protruding flames on its back were put out, causing it to also faint.
The people were shocked at the sacrifice mr Moore had made to allow Flannery to remain in the battle. After all if Torkoal had fainted, Mr Moore would take over completely by calling out Blaziken.
Flannery too realized this and was filled with gratitude.
"Come back Typhlosion. Rest well old friend. Your sacrifice will not be in vain" Mr Moore assured his Typhlosion as he took out Blaziken's pokeball again.
Raichu looked up at Sonic.
"Well… the time has come partner. It's all up to you and sealeo now. You ready?"
"Rai rai!"
"About time!" Sonic heard his partner's thought.
Sealeo welcomed Raichu by its side, eager to finally win this battle. Watching its comrades fall one by one to keep it in the battle was one of the hardest things it ever had to do.
"Alright Blaziken! Flame on!"
Blaziken came back out locking eyes with Raichu.
Immediately it was unnerved. The look of confidence in Raichu's eyes revealed to Blaziken its opponent wasn't unfamiliar with its species.
"Alright guys! Time for the big finale! Sealeo! Surf!"
Sealeo unleashed another powerful surf.
Instinctively Mr Moore and Flannery used flamethrower to shield themselves as before again, thinking this time they had the luxury of stalling until Sonic went for close quarter combat.
Again they couldn't comprehend the amount of double battle training Sonic had had with his friends.
"Raichu! Fry them up! Thunder punch the surf!"
Raichu charged its paw and shoved it into the surf attack. The electricity traveled through the particles of water no matter how thin they were spread, to inevitably electrocute both Torkoal and Blaziken, causing them to also drop their guard and be enveloped by the surf.
The Lavaridge denizens were shocked at the display of unrivalled strategy by Sonic. Not even their very Mr Moore had ever pulled such a combo.
Hell they didn't remember if champion Steven had ever pulled a combo like that.
"Blaziken can you keep going?!" Mr Moore asked his pokemon.
"Blaaaziken!" the blaze pokemon cried out in assurance. It had a lifetime of training to fall back on.
Torkoal on the other hand, although still standing, was pretty roughed up. Mr Moore was even slightly shocked to see it could still fight after all that.
"Flannery…"
"I know grandpa. Enough time wasted. Time to fight back!"
"That's my granddaughter" he said in pride.
"Torkoal! Blast sealeo! Sludge bomb!"
"Sealeo! Rollout! Raichu! Deflect the sludge bombs with iron tail!"
"Not this time! Blaziken! Counter with blaze kick!"
Blaze kick intercepted the iron tail, preventing Raichu from protecting sealeo. The ball roll pokemon was blasted by 4 of the sludge bombs before it rolled away, unfortunately poisoned.
"Time to put a halt to your rolling! Torkoal! Iron defense!"
Torkoal retreated into its shell. The rollout landed and, to Sonic's shock, despite being fully powered, it was stopped.
A literal case of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object.
With Raichu and Blaziken still interlocked, Flannery made her move.
"Got you now! Torkoal! Point blank overheat!"
Torkoal unleashed the most powerful overheat Sonic had seen to date, not unlike the one that blasted him and Tropius out of the sky earlier that day.
This time sealeo's thick fat wasn't any help. The level of power and proximity canceled out every possible chance of survival.
Sealeo, stood still for moment and then unrolled, fainting.
Sonic was mortified. He could never have anticipated this level of power from a defensive species.
And it got worse.
Torkoal suddenly retracted its head into its shell and quickly brought it back out, chewing on what looked like…
"No! Not that! Not a white herb!" Sonic thought in utter horror.
Torkoal swallowed the chewed her and cried out, breathing smoke out of its nostrils again as its reduced stats were returned to normal.
And so it was two against one. Aces vs ace.
The crowd were in disbelief at the sudden turn of the tide. No more than a minute ago, Sonic had brought both opposing pokemon to their knees and now he and Raichu stood alone, the entire battle now on the electric type's shoulders.
"You battle with a blazing heart young Sonic. Now show it to us! Show us the power of your greatest ally!"
The invitation felt like a permission.
A permission for Sonic to stop holding back.
"Raaaaaiiii!" Raichu let out an ear piercing cry as lightning crackled on its body, its battle spirit and subsequently Sonic's, fully ignited.
"You want it?! You got it! Raichu! Quick attack!"
Raichu moved like a blur, ramming Blaziken's leg. Blaziken cried out, trying to find Raichu who had ricochetted.
"Thunder punch Torkoal!"
"Iron defense!"
Thunder punch came down hard on Torkoal's shell. The attack did no damage to the fire type but the impact of it sent gusts of wind around.
"Blaziken quickly! Blaze kick!"
Blaziken jumped towards Raichu.
"Oh no you don't! Raichu! Counter with brick break!"
The paw winded down and pushed back against the blaze kick, the impact of power holding Raichu midair.
"Torkoal! Set it ablaze! Overheat!"
Torkoal charged overheat.
Raichu looked back, seeing it with the side of its eye.
Sonic grinned. This was very similar to their first battle with Moltres.
Only Raichu was much more durable now.
"Iron tail!"
Raichu, hearing Sonic's thoughts, also grinned.
It swiped iron tail, perfectly positioning it against the incoming overheat.
The tail split the fire jet into two smaller jets of fire, causing the overheat to course around it but then converge back on Blaziken which cried out in pain, letting go of blaze kick and allowing brick break to land.
Blaziken dropped on its knees, and Torkoal exhaled exhausted, this time no white herb to restore its power.
Raichu called them out to stand up and fight. Sonic was wearing a smile of triumph.
Even if his two opponents were to continue, the outcome wasn't likely to change.
He was already elite with the flames as a trainer due to having fought, caught and trained two legends of fire.
But he still wanted them to fight back. To affirm their bond as family and see this battle through to the end.
"Torkoal are you ok?"
"Tor… Koal…"
"Blaziken can you continue?!"
"Blazi… blaziken!"
"Grandpa… I'm out. End this".
"Flannery?"
"I know when a battle can't be won thanks to your teachings. I don't want Torkoal to get any more hurt. We're counting on you now. Win this battle for the both of us".
Mr Moore was moved. Flannery's choice of prioritizing the wellbeing of her Torkoal was very touching. And she was right. Without any firepower left, it wouldn't be able to help much and would get hurt unnecessarily.
And to think she would actually let him continue and get his wish of a 1v1…
"Blaziken! Enough holding back! Release all of your power!"
Blaaazikeeeeeen!" the fire and fighting type cried out as the flames burst on its wrists and the ends of its v shaped head also burst out jets of fire.
"Blaze… its ability has been activated" Sonic identified the burst of energy before grinning "now this just got interesting".
"Go Blaziken! Blaze kick!"
Blaziken jumped towards Raichu, highly intense flames engulfing its right leg.
"Meet him head-on Raichu! Iron tail!"
"Raaai!" the electric mouse cried out as the attacks collided, causing the ground to shake.
The denizens felt the impact and gasped. The collision of the experience and training of a lifetime and the indomitable power bursting from a pokemon connected to its trainer deeper than any other was beyond palpable.
The two pokemon were shoved back due to the force applied by each other.
But unlike Mr Moore, Sonic didn't need time to think. He and Raichu acted in the moment.
"Quick attack!"
Raichu launched into Blaziken.
"Sky uppercut quickly!"
The sky uppercut was going to land. Sonic made a split second choice.
"Let it strike you!"
Raichu dropped its guard and the sky uppercut found its mark on the left cheek, sending it flying upwards.
Sonic felt his own left cheek burning but his own excitement had him pushing forward. He felt Raichu's power growing in the moment as everything was set for their victory.
"Finish this Raichu! Propel yourself with iron tail and quick attack, then thunder punch!"
Raichu swung its tail downwards, while also increasing its speed with quick attack.
Blaziken and Mr Moore were like deerling caught in headlights, even though noone knew what deerling meant yet.
"Counter with blaze kick!"
Blaziken swung perfectly, the experience of its many battles allowing it to meet the thunder punch despite the speed at which it came.
But it was unable to contain it.
Effortlessly, the blaze kick was pushed down as if it there wasn't any force of resistance to Raichu's attack. Blaziken found itself melting before the thunder punch, being forced down and out of the match as Raichu stood triumphantly on its defeated fainted opponent.
A second went by as everyone took the scene in and then cheers erupted throughout the plaza, the denizens all expressing their common belief that this was indeed the greatest battle to have ever taken place in Lavaridge town if not all of Hoenn.
Flannery herself was pretty excited to have been a part of this battle, cheering on for both her grandfather and friend Sonic.
Following the celebration of the battle, the gathering quickly ended as everyone went about their business, most still discussing all the crazy details about the battle.
Sonic, Mr Moore and Flannery returned the gym leader's home where the more personal conversation could now take place.
"Grandpa… I'm sorry… for airing out our troubles in front of the entire town. It was stupid of me to get all petty about a single gym battle".
"I can only agree on the first bit Flannery. Airing it out was stupid but your heart was in the right place. I shouldn't have been trying to relive my past at your expense. To be honest, I shouldn't have been trying to relive it at all. I stand by what I said. You are the future. My time has come and gone".
"Not yet grandfather. I may be the gym leader now but I have still much to learn. Battling with you against an opponent like Sonic showed this to me more than words ever could. I promise to heed your wisdom more from now on".
The two embraced each other tenderly, Mr Moore realizing that he didn't remember the last time he was like that with his own granddaughter and also promising to be more lax from now on.
His legacy would always be there. It didn't have to dictate how he treated his own flesh and blood.
After the heart to heart talk, the two joined Sonic again in the living room. Upon earlier agreement during the talk, Mr Moore spoke for the both of them.
"Young Sonic. You have defeated both of us. No other challenger has ever taken such a challenge in our fair town and prevailed. The road to your next challenges is open. The heat badge is yours".
The badge was placed into Sonic's palm. The blue hedgehog looked at it and processed what it signified.
"Halfway there to my chance at redemption".
"Thank you sir" he sincerely thanked Mr Moore.
"Your battling today has strengthened my belief that one day soon, Hoenn will be freed from the tyranny of the enforcer. You are the yin to his yang. Show it to the region when you come face to face with him again. Give the people hope".
"I will" Sonic nodded in assurance.
"So what's next for you?" Flannery finally talked, genuinely wondering what Sonic's next move was.
Before Sonic had the chance to answer, his received a message on gis phone.
The message was a photo from Knuckles.
The view of Green Hills from inside an airplane taking off, with a ticket in Knuckles' massive palm.
Next to the word destination, the words Mauville city were written.
Sonic's face lit up.
"Meet up with a friend".