Chapter 14

Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

Frillish inhaled and released a stream of bubbles.

“Now, Togepi!” I yelled

“Toge!”

Togepi held out her little hands and wind started to form— gentle at first, and then as powerful as a small storm. I held on to my shirt and observed as the Fairy Wind changed Bubblebeam’s direction, making it hit the edge of a tree.

“That was great, everybody! Frillish, your Bubblebeam is getting faster than before, but we need to work on that power with the time we have. Togepi, you’re going great. Just a little more progress before we can use Fairy Wind in battle,” I said, congratulating my team.

Our battle with the gym trainer was fast approaching, and I was desperately trying to get Togepi to perfect her Fairy Wind. She was getting a good grasp of controlling the wind— something that was probably owed to her future evolution being flying type— but the fairy part of it? The part that would deal real damage against rock types? That part of the move was still rudimentary. I picked her up and caressed her head.

“Oof, you’re getting heavier. My poor arms...”

“To...”

“Don’t worry, I’ll still carry you around! Or maybe Frillish could,” I said sarcastically.

“Prrrri!” She chirped with a smile.

“Fri...” Frillish said, obviously disagreeing.

Suddenly, my Poketch started to ring. I put Togepi down and answered.Geett the latest novels at novelhall.com

“Hey, it’s Denzel. Where are you right now?” He asked.

“Route 207. Why?”

“Might want to start getting to the gym. I’m there and the place is already starting to get packed,” He said.

“What,” I asked in a surprised tone. “But Chase Karlson’s battle is in more than two hours. What the hell is wrong with people?”

“Hey, don’t shoot the messenger—”

“I’m on my way,” I said, hanging up.

I recalled my Pokemon and headed directly to the gym. I cursed internally at Oreburgh for not having any public transportation like in Jubilife, forcing me to get there by foot. I alternated between running when I had the energy to, and walking when I got too tired and the pain from my abdomen got too serious. The cream the Center had given me was doing wonders, and had sped up my recovery to the point where I was sure I’d be ready for my gym battle with Roark. It would probably still be there for my battle against the gym trainer, however, but at least it was more of a dull pain at the back of my mind now instead of something I just couldn’t ignore— unless I moved too much that is.

I met Denzel inside of the gym, using him to skip a large part of the queue, which got me a few death stares. People here were mostly non-trainers who wanted to watch battles, but they had to pay for a ticket to get in. The League had to make money somehow. Trainers participating in the Circuit, however, got to spectate any match they wanted for free. We made our way deeper inside and reached the stands, which surrounded the entire battlefield in an oblong-like shape. Denzel managed to spot two seats in the second row to the arena’s side.

“Hell yes! I’m so glad we got good seats,” He said, sitting down.

“Yeah,” I said. I was kind of out of it. To me, this almost felt like a dream. The buzzing in my ears from everyone talking around us, the sheer size of this place, Roark getting ready for his next battle by healing a Geodude on the ground. The atmosphere here was so thick I could almost drown in it.

“Now that we got our seats, do you want anything? Hot dog, burger, fries?” Denzel asked me. I shook my head. “Alright, I’ll get myself some, then. I’ll get nervous if I stay too still.” He released Eevee and instructed the Pokemon to stay in this seat. “Don’t give it up under any circumstance, got it? Fight for it with your life! Grace, take care of him for me.”

And he was gone.

“I should have asked him for water,” I murmured.

Roark’s battlefield was larger than any I’d seen so far, and was specifically built to give rock types an advantage. Rocks and large boulders littered the field, and tall, jagged hills had been raised in each corner. There was also a small pond in the center-left that was there for water types that couldn’t fight outside of water, such as Goldeen— something each gym was obligated to have.

Soon enough, the next battle started. And then the next. Since Roark was battling almost all day, people were always filtering in and out of the gym. Most people only came for a single battle, or a few, and when those were over, they were out. Some more passionate about Pokemon battling would sometimes stay the entire day— but that category mostly included trainers trying to find any weakness in Roark’s battling style. I had already taken note of this before, but it was even more obvious when I saw the real deal. Roark was a brutal trainer to take on. Normally, someone would think rock types to be defensive Pokemon, but the gym leader was relentless and simply did not stop attacking.

I winced as a poor trainer’s Spheal was slammed against the ground repeatedly until it bled by Geodude. That hadn’t even been a move! The teary-eyed trainer left without shaking Roark’s hand. To think that a Pokemon that strong wasn’t even a part of Roark’s real team... it was sobering.

That could happen to Togepi or Frillish, I thought as I felt my palms get clammy. Or Denzel’s Eevee, I continued, looking at the little furry Pokemon. He was somehow asleep on his trainer’s seat, as if the loudness of the gym didn’t affect him whatsoever.

We made our choice. I won’t back down now.

Soon enough, Denzel came back with a bunch of food and two drinks.

Close to that monster? I thought. Why?

Using another Quick Attack, Riolu approached the Onix and slashed its hide multiple times. Onix roared in pain.

“Screech! Get it away from you and Rock Throw!” Roark yelled out.

The humongous Pokemon lowered its head toward Riolu and screamed, forcing even me to cover my ears. The sound was horrendous, like nails on a chalkboard, and it knocked Riolu to the ground. The Riolu squirmed in pain, covering its ears.

“Now Slam it! Knock it out!” Roark said.

Onix let itself fall onto Riolu, covering it completely. When it rose, Chase’s pokemon was down for the count. Chase’s face contorted into what I could only describe as pure rage as he retrieved Riolu.

“Riolu is unable to battle. Challenger, please send out your next Pokemon!”

Chase yelled as he released a Houndour.

“Don’t disappoint me,” He said. “Smog!”

A sinister purple smoke began to leave Houndour’s mouth.

Luckily these psychic barriers will protect us, I thought, But a fire type? This is going to be hard.

“Don’t let him! Rock Throw!”

Onix curled its tail around a boulder and threw it toward the Houndour.

“Jump out of the way!” Chase yelled.

Houndour barely made it out, and the rock slammed against the barrier right next to Chase, who seemingly paid it no mind.

“Now, Ember!”

Onix was starting to struggle because of the toxic Smog, but he was still a rock type. He took the Ember and barely flinched.

“Keep Rock Throwing! One is bound to hit!”

The battle kept going like this for the next minute, with Houndour barely dodging Onix’s attack and retaliating with Embers that barely scratched its opponent. Onix was slowing down more and more, however.

“Now, Smog again!”

“It’s all or nothing, Onix! Get in close and Screech, then Slam!” Roark yelled with his hand outstretched.

Onix slithered into the thickest part of the smog and screamed again, forcing the Houndour to stop its attack. Then, using its face, it slammed into the houndour, sending the small Pokemon flying into the barrier.

“Houndour is unable to battle. Challenger, please send out your last Pokemon,” The referee said.

“Fuck, fuck!” Chase whispered, which was then picked up by his microphone. He sent out his last Pokemon— one I had never seen before. “Grubbin, you’re the last one. Do not lose.”

“Onix, let’s finish this quickly! Screech into Slam one last time!”

“String Shot! Don’t let it get near you!” Chase yelled out, letting panic slip into his voice.

The bug type Pokemon spit out an incredible amount of string, sticking and slowing the Onix down. However, Onix’s huge size meant that he barely had to move to get in Screech range. He used the move one final time, and again, Grubbin was stunned and unable to move. As Onix prepared to slam into the small bug, he stopped moving, and then fell to the side. Smog’s poison had slowly but surely finished it off.

Chase Karlson had won. Barely. But a victory was still a victory. The stadium erupted into a cacophony of applause and cheering as the referee announced Chase’s victory. Roark shook his hand, looking happier than he had ever been, and gave him the TM to Rock Polish, along with digitally adding money and his badge through his trainer card.

Again, Chase Karlson had won.

But he looked like he had lost.

TEAM:

Togepi - Pound, Sweet Kiss, Rollout, Growl, Headbutt

Frillish - Bubblebeam, Night Shade, Absorb, Water Sport