Chapter 31:The Mystic Powerhouse from Ecruteak City
"I had no idea you were related to Morty. I didn't even know you were from Ecruteak City." Phillip said.
"I wanted it that way."
Nathan crossed his arms.
"I knew I didn't trust you. What else have you lied to us about?"
Kathy grew angry.
"No one lied!" She realized that she was being rude and changed her demeanor.
"I just didn't tell you."
"Why not?" Phillip asked.
"You wouldn't understand… there's a level of pressure that comes with being related to a renowned gym trainer."
Phillip smirked at Kathy. Morty interjected.
"For what it's worth, she didn't really train in the gym much."
Kathy turned to Morty and snapped at him.
"Because you wouldn't let me!"
"Because you don't have any Ghost type Pokemon. We can't be a Ghost gym who trains Grass types."
Kathy glared at Morty. Nathan was visibly frustrated.
"Well who cares about that. I want a Fog Badge!"
Nathan turned to Morty.
"I challenge you to a gym battle for a Fog Badge."
Morty crossed his arms and closed his eyes. He appeared to be meditating or deep in thought. After a few seconds he spoke up.
"As you wish. Follow me."
There was a tense silence as the group followed Morty to his gym. Ashley walked next to Kathy asking her question after question. Nathan was in front of them biting his lip and staring at Morty. Phillip was in the rear deep in thought. He was putting pieces together as he reflected on his time with Kathy.
As they arrived at the gym one of Morty's trainers ran to meet them outside the door. The group stopped as the trainer whispered something in Morty's ear. He looked back at the group.
"Please wait here. I'll be right back."
Morty disappeared into the gym. A few minutes passed as everyone looked around at one another in silence. Everyone was in a different place of thought. They were trying to figure each other out. Morty emerged from the gym.
"I apologize. I must decline your challenge, Nathan."
He stuck his hand out with the Fog Badge in it.
"Due to the reasons surrounding this cancellation I offer this to you for your many battles with Team Rocket."
Nathan hesitated. He then reached for the badge. Kathy ran in between Nathan and Morty. Nathan yelled at her.
"What are you doing!?"
Kathy whipped around to look at Morty.
"Absolutely not! Most of his battles were won because of Phillip! He doesn't get a free badge!"
Morty closed his hand.
"Do you have a better idea?"
"Let me battle him for the badge. If he beats me he can have it, but if I win, he'll have to wait for you to come back."
Morty groaned. He closed his eyes and began massaging his head.
"Fine Kathy! You can represent the gym in this challenge. But you're only allowed to use your psychic Pokemon. None of those grass types of yours."
Kathy stuck her hand out and shook Morty's hand.
"Deal."
"Okay. Wonderful. Now I must meet Eusine at the Lake of Rage."
Morty turned to Phillip and stuck his hand out.
"It's been an honor to fight alongside you."
Phillip grabbed his hand and shook.
"And you as well."
Nathan looked at Kathy with irritation as Morty left. Phillip's eyes followed Morty as he exited the gym, curious about what was going on at Lake of Rage that would be so dire that he'd be willing to give a badge away to handle it. Nathan interrupted Phillip's thoughts as he yelled at Kathy.
"Well liar. I guess I get to beat you again."
"You didn't beat me the first time!"
Kathy looked at Morty's second in command, then back at Nathan. She announced the rules.
"This will be a two-on-two matchup. You may recall your Pokemon to preserve them for another round, but you must use the same two Pokemon in every battle. Once both Pokemon have fainted the match will be over, and the trainer with the last Pokemon standing will be declared the winner. If Nathan wins, he will earn the Fog Badge. If Nathan loses, then he will have to return to the gym at another time to challenge Morty."
Phillip led Ashley to the sideline to watch the match. He whispered to her.
"Now pay attention to the strategy, not just the moves or the strength of the Pokemon."
"I choose you Cyndaquil." Nathan shouted.
"Predictable." Kathy snapped.
"Go Hypno!"
The two Pokemon stared at each other, knowing one another pretty well, and not really wanting to attack the other.
"Poison Gas attack Hypno!"
Hypno looked at Cyndaquil, then back at Kathy. He nodded. Hypno jumped in the air towards Cyndaquil. He spouted out the gas. Cyndaquil jumped just out of the area the gas was flying.
"Cyndaquil! Burn the gas with your Ember attack!"
Once the fire connected with the gas an explosion sent both Cyndaquil and Hypno flying backwards. Phillip turned to Ashley.
"That was actually a pretty smart move on Nathan's behalf."
"Right… he ignited the gas so that it wouldn't weaken his Cyndaquil." Ashley responded.
"Good job, very smart."
Both Cyndaquil and Hypno rose slowly, particles of the gas still floating in tiny pieces of the air.
"Psybeam!"
A purple light spiraled towards Cyndaquil."
"Defense Curl!"
Cyndaquil tried to roll out of the way, but was a little too slow. The beam smashed into Cyndaquil and knocked him back to the ground.
"Get up Cyndaquil!"
Cyndaquil rose even slower.
"Quick attack."
Cyndaquil sped around the battlefield. Once Hypno was a bit out of sorts. Cyndaquil slammed into him sending him bouncing off the ground. Cyndaquil was out of the breath. Phillip leaned over to Ashley.
"Do you see what's going on?"
"They're both weakened, but Cydnaquil is significantly out of breath, making him more open for an attack."
"Good job."
As Ashley finished her statement Hypno flipped up and ran towards Cyndaquil.
"Headbutt attack!"
Hypno leaned forward and sped at Cyndaquil like a bullet. His head collided with Cyndaquil. Cyndaquil bounced off the ground. He was unable to continue.
"Cyndaquil is unable to continue. This round goes to Kathy."
Nathan bit his lip, and threw out another Pokeball.
"Let's go HootHoot!"
HootHoot emerged from her Pokeball. Nathan noticed that Hypno looked a bit tired. He felt that if he could capitalize on it, he could win. Kathy was feeling confident from her last victory. She rushed into her next attack hoping to take HootHoot out with one attack.
"Psybeam with everything you've got!"
Nathan reacted quickly, which surprised Phillip.
"Reflect!"
HootHoot closed her eyes and a forcefield surrounded her. Instantly the attack smashed into the forcefield and rebounded back at Hypno. Neither Hypno nor Kathy could react fast enough. The beam slammed into an already weakened Hypno. He passed out.
"Hypno is unable to continue! Nathan wins this round."
Kathy looked at the ground. She was so sure she was significantly better than Nathan and assumed that this would be a quick and easy battle.
"I'm not taking you lightly anymore! Go Kadabra! It's time to focus."
Kadabra sat down and crossed his legs. He began floating in the air.
"Tackle attack HootHoot!"
HootHoot charged at Kadabra. He teleported behind her.
"Peck Attack!"
HootHoot twisted around and began pecking vigorously at Kadabra. He teleported behind her again.
"Wing Attack HootHoot!"
HootHoot flew around for a couple seconds and then darted towards Kadabra. Kadabra once again teleported behind HootHoot. Nathan and Kathy shouted in unison.
"Confusion attack!"
Both HootHoot and Kadabra made eye contact and fired purple waves at one another. They both flew back. HootHoot bounced off the ground. She was slow to get up.
"Don't give up HootHoot you can do this!"
"Light Screen!" Kathy yelled.
A blinding light saturated the battlefield. HootHoot was unable to see.
"Psycho Cut!"
Kadabra disappeared and reappeared attacking HootHoot. The match seemed over. Nathan's eyes began to water.
"No HootHoot! Please be okay!"
At first glance Phiilip assumed that was the end of the match and Nathan was crying out of frustration. He was impressed to see that Nathan felt emotionally connected to his HootHoot.
Before the referee could call the match. HootHoot began glowing in the middle of the blinding light. It was hard to tell, but it seemed as though HootHoot was growing. Nathan's eyes widened as a new Pokemon emerged in the middle of the Light Screen. Ashley pulled out her Pokedex to scan the area.
"Noctowl, its eyes are specially developed to enable it to see clearly even in murky darkness and minimal light. When it needs to think, it rotates its head 180 degrees to sharpen its intellectual power. If it flips its head upside down, it's a sign that it is engaged in very complex thinking."
Nathan jumped up and screamed out.
"Yes! Now Noctowl! Defog!"
Noctowl flew up in the air. She flew around the area a couple of times as her eyes began to glow. The blinding light on the battlefield dissipated. Kathy's mouth dropped. She called out to Kadabra.
"Do another Confusion attack!"
Kadabra disappeared and reappeared a handful of times trying to get a lock on Noctowl who was still circling the battlefield. When Kadabra finally felt like it got a lock on Noctowl a purple wave flew towards it. As soon as the purple light emanated Nathan cried out.
"Air Slice attack!"
Noctowl spun around the Confusion blast and sped towards Kadabra. Noctowl disappeared as she was about to collide into Kadabra. She then reappeared behind Kadabra and smashed her wings into him. Kadabra tried to get back up but was unable to. The referee called out.
"Kadabra is unable to battle. Nathan and Noctowl are your winners!"
Kathy recalled Kadabra. She walked towards Nathan slowly. She stuck her hands in her pocket. She looked up at Nathan.
"Well done, Nathan. You really have grown. Take this Fog Badge as a reminder of your conquest here in this gym."
Phillip and Ashley approached Nathan and Kathy.
"Good job Nathan. I'm proud of you. Way to love your Pokemon."
Phillip then turned to Kathy.
"I'm proud of you too. You didn't fight or argue with him when he won."
They both smiled at Phillip. Ashley shouted out.
"That was so cool! Noctowl is so great! I learned so much from watching you two!"
They all laughed together as they made their way towards the gym exit. Both Phillip and Nathan hold three badges. What is next on our heroes' adventure?
To be continued…