Chapter 29:

A Battle with more Questions that Moves

Location: Ballonlea

"You sure you don't want to go first?" I asked Marnie as I walked towards the Gym.

"Be my guest," she said. "I want to do some more training with my Pokémon before I go in. I already lost to Kabu. If I lose twice more, then I'm out of the challenge. I don't want to risk anything."

I could see Marnie's concern. With her focus on Dark Types, Opal's Fairy Types would be a real challenge. I respected her decision. "Well at the very least you could wish me luck!" I said.

"Of course," Marnie said.

"Hey!" We saw Hop running up to us. "Gosh those woods are easy to get lost in. If it weren't for those mushrooms, there would be far less people coming out that going in."

Marnie chuckled. "Okay. I better get down to training. Oh, and Gloria. When battling Opal, more than any other Gym Leader, think outside the box."

As she walked off, I once again pondered what that could mean. "I always think outside the box when it comes to battles," I told Hop. "What could she mean by that?"

"Well it is Opal's last season before she retires," Hop told me. "Maybe she wants to give it 110% in her final year. Surprised she could do that at her age."

Location: Ballonlea Gym

"Howdy yall!" went the Ball Guy.

"Just give me the ball!" I said, as I got a Love Ball. It's a Pokéball that works a lot when the opposing Pokémon is of the opposite gender.

"I'll be cheering you on!" Hop said as he walked off. I then went to register.

"Gloria Smith, nice to see you again. Now, as part of your challenge, you will be part of auditions. Fairy Type Trainers from around Galar are trying out for the chance to be the new Ballonlea Gym Leader. You will battle them whilst Mrs. Opal judges."

"Sounds exciting!" I said.

I walked onto a stage where Opal, as well as two Gym referees were seated.

"Okay," Opal said. "Gloria of Postwick. I will go over the rules. You will face three Trainers. Beat all three, and you will have the honour of battling me. I will be writing down notes on your challengers, so if I'm not watching, I'm not being rude. I LOVE PINK! Sorry, that came out. Please bring in the first Trainer."

A woman wearing uniform similar to me, but pink, came out. "I WILL be the new Ballonlea Gym Leader!"

Gloria Vs. Gym Trainer Annette

"Go Raboot!" I shouted.

"And I choose Spritzee!" Annette replied.

"Raboot, Flame Charge!" Covered in fire, Raboot charged into Spritzee.

"Use Calm Mind!" Spritzee closed its eyes, and raised its Sp. Attack and Sp. Defense.

"Flame Charge again!" Raboot hit Spritzee once more. One more would finish it.

"Spritzee, use Psychic!" Spritzee blasted Raboot with strong Psychic energy. It did a lot; that Calm Mind boost certainly helped.

"Finish with Headbutt!" Raboot hit Spritzee, and defeated it.

Annette nervously looked at Opal, who was writing down notes. "Okay, keep calm. Go Slurpuff!" The other Pokémon was pink and fluffy with its tongue sticking out.

Slurpuff (ペロリーム)

#211 (Mainland)

Fairy Type

Meringue Pokémon

2'07" (0.8 m)

11 lbs (5 kg)

Slurpuff's fur contains a lot of air, making it soft to the touch and lighter than it looks.

Swirlix -Trade holding Whipped Dream- Slurpuff

Deciding to play it safe, I swapped out Raboot for Toxtricity.

"Oh no," she said. "Not a Poison Type! I should have saved Spritzee for something like this!"

"Use Toxic!" Toxtricity fired gunk at Slurpuff, badly poisoning it.

"So it's faster? Okay then! Use Cotton Spore!" Slurpuff fired cotton at Toxtricity, slowing it down. "And now Energy Ball!" Slurpuff fired a green ball at Toxtricity, but it wasn't very effective.

"Come back with Acid!" Toxtricity fired acid at Slurpuff for a Super Effective hit.

"Play Rough!" Slurpuff jumped at Toxtricity and started playing rough and tumble with it. It also didn't do much.

"Acid again!" Toxtricity fired a Critical Hit Acid at Slurpuff.

"Wait! I remember! Slurpuff! Facade!" Slurpuff covered itself in yellow energy, then charged into Toxtricity. It was down. "We did it Slurpuff! We beat a Pokémon with a Type advantage!" At that point though, Slurpuff went down from the poison. "Well, we gave it a go."

"That was very entertaining," Opal said. "Gloria, you're Pokémon will be healed. Annette, don't call us. We'll call you. If you don't hear back in 48 hours, then you won't have it."

Annette smiled and walked off as my Pokémon were healed again. "I'm ready for the next one!" I said.

Another Trainer, wearing similar uniform, walked on. She nervously looked at Opal. "I have everything I need to defeat you!"

Gloria Vs. Gym Trainer Teresa

"Go Swirlix!" The next Pokémon was Slurpuff's first form. It was smaller and rounder.

Swirlix (ペロッパフ)

#210

Fairy Type

Candyfloss Pokémon

1'04" (0.4 m)

7.7 lbs (3.5 kg)

It eats its own weight in sugar everyday. If it doesn't get enough sugar, it becomes incredibly grumpy.

"That's just Type 2 diabetes waiting to happen," I said. "Corvisquire! I choose you!" Corvisquire came out and started with Pluck.

"Swirlix, Thunderbolt!" Swirlix shot a bolt of lightning at Corvisquire for Super Effective damage.

"Come back with Fury Attack!" Corvisquire stabbed Swirlix multiple times.

"Flamethrower!" Swirlix then shot fire at Corvisquire. It was defeated.

"Go Raboot!" I shouted. "Flame Charge!" Raboot charged into Swirlix covered in fire.

"Now use Surf!" Swirlix created a large wave that crashed down onto Raboot. It did a lot of damage.

"Finish with Headbutt!" Raboot hit Swirlix with its head, knocking it out.

"And I didn't even get to use Energy Ball!" Teresa said. "Aromatisse, go!" Spritzee's evolved form was plump and have one pink leg sticking out (as well as a very amusing cry).

Aromatisse (フレフワン)

#213 (Mainland)

Fairy Type

Fragrance Pokémon

2'07"(0.8 m)

34.2 lbs (15.5 kg)

The scent that constantly emits from its fur is so powerful that this Pokémon's companions will eventually lose their sense of smell.

Spritzee -Trade holding Sachet- Aromatisse

"Come on out Kubfu!" I shouted.

"Interesting," Opal said. "A Pokémon with a Type disadvantage. What is she up to?"

"Aerial Ace!" I shouted at Kubfu dove into Aromatisse.

"Psychic!" Aromatisse blasted Kubfu with Psychic energy, almost knocking it out. "And now Flash Cannon!" Aromatisse fired a beam of light at Kubfu.

"Detect!" Kubfu managed to evade the hit. "And Aerial Ace!" Kubfu dove into Aromatisse again.

"Energy Ball!" Aromatisse fired a green ball at Kubfu. Defeating it.

"Okay Ludicolo! You're up!" I shouted.

"Drain Punch!" Teresa shouted.

"Stop!" Opal said. "That's quite enough."

"Huh?" I asked. "What's wrong?"

"Teresa," Opal said. "I'm writing down the move sets of all your Pokémon. Tell me, which of those moves are Fairy Type?"

"That's the thing!" Teresa said. "I want the element of surprise! I want all different strategies! It makes people think they'll be against Fairy Type moves and it will catch them off guard!"

Opal shook her head. "For a Trainer, yes. Even without STAB, that is a good strategy. But you are auditioning to become a Gym Leader. Why should my successor be a Gym Leader who doesn't use a move of its Type? I'm afraid you've failed. Leave please."

Teresa sadly walked away.

"I'm ready for the last one," I said.

One more Gym Trainer walked in. "Stay calm. I've got this!"

Gloria Vs. Gym Trainer Theodora

"I chose Morgrem!" shouted Theodora.

"And I'll use Toxtricity!" I replied. "Acid attack!" Toxtricity fired acid at Morgrem; its Defense was lowered.

"Dark Pulse!" Morgrem fired a pulse of darkness at Toxtricity. "And Sucker Punch!" Before Toxtricity could attack, Morgrem punched it in the back.

"Acid once more!" Toxtricity fired more acid at Morgrem, almost knocking it out.

"Play Rough!" Morgrem started playing harshly with Toxtricity; this knocked it out.

"Okay then. Go Raboot!" I shouted. "Headbutt!" Raboot hit Morgrem with its head; it was done for.

"Time for my other Pokémon. Gardevoir!" Out came a white and green Pokémon with a red horn through its chest.

Gardevoir (サーナイト)

#122

Psychic/Fairy Type

Embrace Pokémon

5'03" (1.6 m)

106.7 lbs (48.4 kg)

To protect its Trainer, it will expand all its Psychic power to create a small black hole.

Ralts -Lv 20- Kirlia -Lv 30- Gardevoir

"Headbutt!" Raboot hit Gardevoir with its head, causing it to flinch. "And now Flame Charge!" Raboot charged into Gardevoir covered in fire.

"Psychic Gardevoir!" blasted Raboot with its Psychic power.

"Flame Charge!" Raboot defeated Gardevoir.

"I can't stay calm!"

"I HATE YOU!" Theodora ran off.

"I'm guessing she's not getting selected," I said.

"Not even close," Opal said. "And honestly, that first one wasn't that great either. But you… you were brilliant! All the Trainers were defeated! I will happily battle you now!"

"Great!" I said. "Gym Badge number five, here we come!"

I walked out into the cheering stadium. Opal was dead centre in the field.

"Thank you for your help dearie," Opal said. "Now. Before we start, I must warn you that I like to test you… you will find out."

I decided not to ask anything else, and got into position.

Gloria Vs. Gym Leader Opal

"And the battle begins!"

"Gloria has been on a real streak, can she keep it up?"

Opal grinned. "I choose Weezing!" Weezing in Galar have two chimneys on their head. They are also grey in colour. In recent times, Janine of the Fuschia City Gym has acquired one.

Weezing (マタドガス) (Galarian form)

#251 (Mainland)

Poison/Fairy Type

Poison Gas Pokémon

9'10" (3 m)

35.3 lbs (16 kg)

Long ago, during a time when droves of factories fouled the air with pollution, Weezing changed into this form for some reason.

Koffing -Lv 35- Weezing

"And I choose Corvisquire!" I replied.

"Gloria sends in her first Pokémon."

"How will she get around Opal's tactics?"

"Dearie," Opal said. "I will ask you the first question. What are Fairy Types weak to?"

"Poison!" I shouted.

"Correct!" Opal shouted. Corvisquire got an Attack boost!

"Let's use this to our advantage! Pluck!" Corvisquire stabbed Weezing with its beak.

"Sludge Bomb!" Weezing shot a ball of muck at Corvisquire; it became poisoned!

"Use Pluck again!" Corvisquire used the move again.

"And now Strange Steam!" Weezing let out a below of steam. Corvisquire breathed it in and became confused.

"Try another Pluck!" Instead, Corvisquire hurt itself.

"And now, Heat Wave!" Weezing let out a billow of hot air, and it knocked out Corvisquire.

"And Corvisquire goes down!"

"Opal may be close to retiring, but her passion for battling has far from dried up!"

"Alright! Go Raboot!" My partner came out. "Flame Charge!" Raboot charged into Weezing covered in flames. Weezing was down!

"And after that slight fumble, Weezing goes down!"

"Don't underestimated Opal just yet though!"

Opal nodded her head. "Before I send out my next Pokémon, here is the next question. Name one of the Trainers you faced for the audition."

Well, my mind went blank. What was I to say? Wait, one of them used a Gardevior. "Err… Diantha?" I asked.

"Whilst I will admit that that woman is as pretty as me," Opal stated. "You are wrong." Raboot's Speed was lowered.

"How could I be so stupid?!" I shouted.

"Mawile, go!" Next was a yellow Pokémon that had a large-black mouth on its head.

Mawile (クチート)

#295 (Mainland)

Steel/Fairy Type

Deceiver Pokémon

2'00" (0.6 m)

25.4 lbs (11.5 kg)

It uses its docile-looking face to lull foes into complacency, then bites with its huge, relentless jaws.

Mawile has no known evolutions.

"A Steel Type!" I shouted. "We can deal with this! Raboot! Flame Charge!" Raboot charged into Mawile whilst on fire, but it missed!

"Mawile dear, Stone Edge!" Mawile fired sharp stones at Raboot. It was finished in one blow.

"Where did it get that power from?!" I asked. I didn't get why people were so scared of Kabu when Opal was right there. "Kubfu, I choose you!"

"And Gloria sends out a Fighting Type in a Fairy Type Gym!"

"What is that woman thinking?!"

"Bulk Up!" I shouted as Kubfu readied itself, raising its Attack and Defense.

"Don't even think about doing that," Opal said. "Now, how old am I?"

"88!" I shouted.

"HOW RUDE!" Opal shouted. This caused Kubfu's Attack and Sp. Attack to lower.

"But-" I said.

"Don't make me lower it again! Now Mawile! Play Rough!" Kubfu started harshly playing with Kubfu. If not for the Defense boost, it would have been knocked out.

"Brick Break!" Kubfu chopped Mawile for a decent amount of damage.

"And finish with Crunch!" Mawile used its large jaw to chomp down on Kubfu, knocking it out.

"And Gloria is down on more Pokémon!"

"Opal is on fire today!"

"Liepard!" I shouted.

"And now Gloria is sending out a Dark Type?!"

"It is a sign of desperation."

"Fake Out!" Liepard clapped in front of Mawile; it flinched. "And now use Assurance!" That didn't do much.

"Next question," Opal said. "What do I eat for breakfast every morning?"

"Cereal?" I asked.

"Wrong again!" Opal shouted, lowering Liepard's Defense.

"How was I supposed to know what you had?!" I shouted. "This quiz is Tauros droppings!"

"Play Rough!" Liepard was hit with a Fairy Type move, knocking it out.

"Gloria is down another Pokémon!"

"How will she get out of this spot?"

"Ludicolo!" I shouted. "You're next!" At least it would take Mawile's Steel Type moves. "Hydro Pump!" Ludicolo blasted water at Mawile; it was defeated!

"Gloria gets another one down!"

"It's up to some critical decisions as to whether or not she can turn this match around!"

"Next question," Opal said.

"ENOUGH WITH THE QUESTIONS!" I said.

"You are a coward!" Opal said, as all of Ludicolo's stats fell. "Go Togekiss!" Next was a white Pokémon that was flying. It had red and blue dots on its stomach.

Togekiss (トゲキッス)

#259 (Mainland)

Fairy/Flying Type

Jubilee Pokémon

4'11" (1.5 m)

83.8 lbs (38 kg)

These Pokémon are never seen anywhere near conflict or turmoil. In recent times, they've hardly been seen at all.

Togepi -Happiness- Togetic -Shiny Stone- Togekiss

"Air Slash!" Togekiss sliced the air and hit Ludicolo. It did a lot of damage and made it flinch.

"Ludicolo can't move!"

"Togekiss has the Ability Serene Grace, which doubles the likelihood of added move effects happening!"

"And now use Dazzling Gleam!" Togekiss shone brightly, knocking out Ludicolo.

"And Gloria is down to her last Pokémon!"

"It might be all over for her!"

"Toxtricity!" I shouted. It was my only hope, but at least it had a Type advantage.

"Use Psychic!" Togekiss blasted Toxtricity with Psychic power, almost downing it.

"Shock Wave!" Toxtricity shot electricity at Togekiss; it did a fair bit.

"Aura Sphere!"

"NOOOOOO!" I shouted as the Aura Sphere hit Toxtricity...

Location: Ballonlea Pokémon Center

"We hope to see you again soon!" Nurse Joy said as I took my healed Pokémon back.

"Thanks again," I said. I went to have a sit down.

"Gloria!" Hop said. "I saw what happened! At least you took it like a champ, and that's what matters!"

"What matters is I lost!" I said. "I'm on my first strike! Two more, and I'm off the challenge! Goodbye! Sayonara! Au Revoir!"

"It's not the end of the world!" Hop replied. "So, what's Opal like?"

"She's…" I said. "I don't know. And I faced her. I'll try again tomorrow."

"No," Hop said. "You will have a rematch the day after. Get some training done for a bit, then go back. I'm facing her tomorrow, and so is Marnie. I understand not watching these matches. Really, I do."

"You sure?" I asked.

"You just focus on yourself!" Hop replied.