Four days later,
Bird Keeper Rod
I stepped onto the practice field and a moment later so did the rookie. A rotomdrone circled overhead ready to record. It was a clear and sunny day and perfect to let my babies fly in.
I took the time to look over my mystery of an opponent, Damien Grayson. They were tall and older than most starting trainers. I placed them at nineteen or twenty, they were getting a late start by three or four years. Unovan by the looks of things with a starburst design on their hat. Not bad as a piece of branding went. Some of the stuff people came up with could be real eyesores. But if they were actually looking to start up a brand, then why was their online presence so small?
It was just one of the many small questions I had. No tourney records, no battle videos, no trainer school records, no junior circuit, no little cup, not even a contest. It all looked like he had just fallen into being a trainer.
It wouldn’t have been too uncommon. You got kids all the time that didn’t know what they wanted to do in life. Then a bunch of their friends started talking about the Journey and next thing they knew they were on the road. They’d often do the circuit for a year or two then fall into something else.
Then you had the other kids. The ones that started up at eleven or twelve. They lived and breathed training. A hundred or more battles under their belt by the time they started the league circuit. Real battles, not the school yard stuff. Junior circuit, junior league, school teams, volunteering or part time work all of it just for a chance of getting sponsored.
Sponsors wanted the best and through a complicated system of scouts and tracking they often found them before they even left on their Journey. Then there were those that slipped through the cracks and got picked up later on. They were interesting enough, entertaining enough, or just good enough to be picked up.
The kids on the front desk had caught the fact that Grayson was sponsored when scheduling. They had been quick enough to schedule for his full team instead of the normal two. It had all gotten kicked up to me. I handled the sponsorship trainers and getting one I didn’t already know about walking into the gym put me in a two hour tailspin looking for anything on the kid.
It still wasn’t clear why Grayson had a sponsor. He didn’t seem to fit into any of the boxes. He didn’t have the history of training in his early teens that you would expect. The only thing really interesting about him was the brief mention of battle simulation work in his blog. That would seem to indicate corp or professor connections but he wasn’t sponsored by either. He didn’t seem like a clan kid being Unovan and all. It wasn’t like with the Blackthorns and the others where they kept their younger generation under wraps before unleashing them on the circuit. Then there was the other thing. Grayson was sponsored by Mr. Pokemon. The Mr. Pokemon. I had not seen that before and I didn’t know anyone that had.
At the end of the day there were two options: either this kid was a sleeper, a skilled trainer that had drifted beneath everyone’s radar or they were a charity case.
Matt who was the ref for this match started explaining things. I just nodded along after five years of this I knew my part. Free switching for the challenger, mine were set. First year first badge challenge also known as the pulse check. All gyms checked for some of the most basic of things with these. Could you command your pokemon? Did you understand typing? We also liked to check if your pokemon could do more than just stand there and hit things.
The pulse check was a duty that usually got handed off to the newest gym trainers. It was basically grunt work. But I handled the sponsored trainers so I stepped in for all the ones that came through. Sometimes you had to give a bit of respect to them that a normal rookie wouldn’t get. You weren’t just dealing with the kid, you were dealing with the people behind them as well. Brands were by far the worst to deal with. The big concern was losing for both them and us.
A nasty loss might hurt their so-called investment. We could work around that to an extent. The video of the fight conveniently got lost or their showdown with Falkner would be scheduled for when we had the fewest viewers on the gym livestreams. We could do the whole out of sight out of mind thing. It was very rare that it was needed for the pulse check but it did happen.
The other part of it was us losing.
At the end of the day the main job of any gym leader and their trainers was to lose.
That rubbed some trainers the wrong way but that was the job. We were stepping stones on the path forward for these trainers; we were not an unclimbable mountain for them to bash their heads against. We were their path forward to grow. Still if we were meant to lose we wanted to do it with some style.
“Trainers, are you ready?”
I nodded. My hand ran over the six pokeballs at my waist. It was three vs three, but I had options to adjust the test if needed.
“Yes,” Grayson responded, gripping one of his pokeballs.
“Begin!”
We both released our pokemon at the same time.
“Pidgey.”
“Dunsparce!”
I led off with a Pidgey. It was their first year as a gym mon and they were getting close to evolving. My gut was telling me another few good battles and they would get it. It was a good mon to test some of the basics with.
Grayson led with a Dunsparce. Not the most common of mons. They were hard to find when they weren’t swarming. They had little wings that let them float briefly but they generally were not very mobile. He must have gotten it from around Dark Cave. Point for him in my book for not going with a Geodude, I saw way too many of those damn things from rookies. Time for the first test.
“To the sky!” I ordered and Pidgey began to climb. Now could Grayson’s pokemon do more than stand there and hit things?
Pidgey had gotten maybe twenty feet up before the order came out of Grayson, “Glare!”
Dunsparce’s eyes flashed as they gave off a red glow.
A choked cry of “Pidge..” and Pidgey’s climb stalled their body going stiff. Paralyzed, Pidgey might be able to stay in the air… barely but wouldn’t be doing any attacking then. Too early for a switch, third option then ride it out. “Glide, keep height and Gust!”
A bit of a struggle but through sheer determination Pidgey got a controlled glide going.
Some more points for the rookie. He had a pulse and could order his mon. Knew what a status move was and when to use it. A bit slow on the draw though. Pidgey lost nearly two feet of height as it fired off a gust of wind with its wings at Dunsparce. A grunt of “Dun.” was let out as the move impacted.
Pidgey had only a few more attacks before it landed at this rate.
“Defense Curl then Rollout!” Dunsparce gripped its tail in its mouth as it began to curl.
“Gust and keep it up!” Pidgey was now only fifteen feet above the ground.
The Gust was a glancing hit as Dunsparce’s features began to blur as it started to roll around the battlefield picking up speed.
This first round was mostly over. Pidgey was not going to be able to hit the Dunsparce with how fast it was going. More points for the rookie, a move combo and a display of mobility.
Another Gust went out missing Dunsparce. Pidgey lost some more height, only ten feet left to work with. Still no ranged moves from the rookie. It must be a weak spot in his team. Time to change it up a little then, “Stop attacking, keep your height!”
Pidgey quickly followed my orders, their wings working desperately through the paralysis to try and keep flying. It was shaky but they seemed to be maintaining it. Flying while paralyzed was something that was rarely trained. But it might be something to look at going forward. Dunsparce kept rolling around the battlefield too low to hit Pidgey. This should be a brief little stalemate with neither mon able to hit the other. Pidgey is done but they aren’t out yet. They can still help by scouting out the other team. Grayson either needs to pull out a ranged move or switch because Rollout is not going to hit. I start watching his face for any tells but he’s grinning.
Then a command comes out from him, “Mario!”
Some kind of custom command?
Dunsparce picks up speed and blurs towards Pidgey, the Rollout still going. It’s still too low though and then it jumps. I shake my head there’s no way that’s going to be enough. It might get a bit over half way. Dunsparce needs more than that.
Dunsparce uncurls itself, ending the Rollout at the apex of the jump.
Its wings flap once with an odd amount of grace.
And it closes the gap getting the rest of the height in needs. A cry of “Dun!” rings out as its body twists around and its spinning tail slams into Pidgey driving them to the ground in a heap of feathers.
The battlefield is silent as I recall Pidgey not even waiting for the call from Matt.
A moment passes in the silence.
“Rod next pokemon?” Matt asks.
I nod my hands going to the pokeballs. Grayson is smiling as Dunsparce waits in front of him ready for the next round looking like it’s on some of its last legs. It had taken a few hits and Rollout was a move that took more than a little energy. Though, if I was him I’d be smiling as well. That Mario thing was not something you saw everyday. Definitely a highlight clip. A custom command this early in the season but more than that it had actually been useful. Was it luck or did he plan out the fight?
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
If he planned it then Glare might be one of his only answers to flight. My hand grabs one pokeball in particular.
“Go Natu!”
The pokemon takes shape in front of me. A “Natu natu!” comes out in greeting. A small little green bird with large eyes. A Psychic and Flying dual type caught from the Ruins of Alph. We only had a few of them in the gym. Its wings are non-functional until it evolves but it had options to move around that others didn’t. I might be starting to push it with what’s acceptable for a pulse check but Grayson seems competent enough. He was starting to drift in my mind from probable charity case to a sleeper. But how much did he actually know about pokemon?
From that frown on his face after seeing Natu, maybe a thing or two.
“Begin!”
“Rollout!” Dunsparce curls again and rolls picking up speed as it rushes towards Natu.
“Teleport!” Natu glows white briefly before blinking to the other side of the battlefield as Dunsparce rolls through their previous position.
Interestingly, the commands went out and Grayson didn’t use Glare. I watch his face as our mons have another exchange. Natu can keep up the teleports for a decent while but Dunsparce should be tiring.
Let’s kick it up a notch, “Calm…”
Panic briefly flashes across his face as he issues an order, “Glare!”
“... Mind!”
Twin grunts ring out from both pokemon as the Glare lands. Natu’s Synchronize ability taking effect. Both pokemon were now paralyzed. It was a tough call but the right call. Still for most trainers I would expect a frown or something but Grayson is smiling and seems relieved?
“Dunsparce return!” Dunsparce fades in a flash of light.
There’s a brief lull in the battle with the switch. Grayson is still smiling as he whispers some words to the pokeball. Why the smile? The rookie had been up in mons but Dunsparce was tapped out and now paralyzed. If he was relying on Glare for this match then he was in trouble. I still had a third mon.
In the end I had to ask, “Rookie, why the smile?”
He’s still smiling as he pulls out the next pokeball, “It was Synchronize and not Magic Bounce. Go Callie!”
Before I can even contemplate what Magic Bounce even is, a Teddiursa forms in front of him. It lets out a cry of “Ursa!” as its claws come out. Another unusual pick, we lose a handful of local trainers every year that go after them and end up running into momma Ursaring. It’s also a Normal type, the second one he’s used. Might be a specialist then. Last mon had a good chance of being a bird if that was the case. I might actually get some aerial combat today.
“Begin!”
At the signal orders fly.
“Stored Power!”
“Get close!”
Natu closes its eyes and pink energy begins to form around it.
Teddiursa rushes forward closing the distance.
Only a few feet separate the two when Natu opens their eyes. The energy that had been surrounding them shoots skyward concentrating into a beam of psychic energy that loops down to smash into the Teddiursa.
“Saaaaa!” It cries out as the boosted move impacts. It’s like a firework going off as stray whisps of psychic energy stream out from the impact site and yet the Teddiursa is still closing the distance.
“Now Payback!” Grayson’s voice rings out.
Shit.
“Tele…”
Teddiursa is cloaked in dark energy as its arms come down in a great blow, the super effective move sending Natu flying backwards. They roll a few times before the call.
“Natu is unable to battle!”
I return them as the Teddiursa roars in victory. Another point to the rookie. They knew their types. I take stock of the situation. Teddiursa is looking a bit worse for wear after the boosted move, his Dunsparce was paralyzed and on its last legs. My hands run over the pokeballs at my belt.
What's fitting here? My hand briefly rests over Gligar’s ball. Falkner really hated electric moves and liked us to have an answer on hand. Something is telling me to use Gligar but… Grayson hasn’t shown any electric moves. Why wouldn’t he lead with that type advantage if he had it? Most of those moves were ranged and made a better opener than Rollout. Some easy KOs and then the Dunsparce and Teddiursa for whatever was left? Gligar didn’t seem to fit here. If he was a Normal specialist then a bird was most likely the third mon and his starter. A Pidgey or a Pidgeotto most likely. Now that was a match up I’d take any day.
Our gym might be flying but our specialty was birds. I’d bet on ours anyday.
My hand moves one pokeball over. “Go Pidgeotto!”
“Geotto!” With a cry they form in front of me spreading out their wings in a display answered by a roar from the Teddiursa.
I give a nod to Matt to show my readiness. But Grayson’s voice interrupts before the call to continue.
“Callie Return!” The teddiursa cries out in annoyance as they fade in a beam of light.
“They wanted to keep fighting.” I observe.
Grayson nods, “She’ll probably be a bit annoyed with me later but she did great. Really both of them did. But this isn’t a matchup she can handle right now.”
I nod. He was definitely a rookie. It went unsaid but he hadn’t wanted to see that Teddiursa get picked apart from range. Yet sometimes you had to accept their personalities. He’d have to watch that.
He grabbed the last pokeball.
“Go Mal!”
With a cry of “Gon!” the mon took shape floating in front of him. That was not a bird…
That was a fucking Porygon.
Corp connections just shot up to the top of my list for where this kid actually came from. Porygons were damn expensive. The gym had barely been able to afford the one that looked after our computer systems. Yet somehow this kid was using one for battling for all things. Were there even any recorded battles of Porygons out there? My eyes shot up to the rotomdrone above. Good, there would be footage. There was definitely gonna be some highlights out of this fight.
I looked at Matt who looked as surprised as I felt. With a nod from me and a nod from Grayson he gave the call.
“Begin!”
“To the Sky!” I ordered and Pidgeotto began to climb. More and more height gained with each flap of its wings. I didn’t know how a Porygon fought but height was an advantage I wasn’t going to give up.
Grayson’s command followed quickly after. “The enemy is up. Get height!”
The Porygon turned perpendicular to the ground and started to rise. It just kind of floated up after Pidgeotto… Learned something new everyday, Porygon could fly, sort of. How did it handle the wind?
“Gust!”
“Thundershock!”
“Dive!” I quickly commanded and Pidgeotto barely avoided the attack as they lost height gaining some speed. As for the Porygon they seemed to glow briefly and took the Gust well, almost too well. Were Porygon more specially defensive?
“Keep them in sight, Thundershock keep it up!”
“Keep dodging!”
Pidgeotto was gaining speed. They could fly circles around Porygon. Yet Porygon was keeping them in sight, still floating straight up. Any angle of approach and Porygon was there facing them. It would just swivel its body around as it floated higher.
This was not working sooner or later one of those Thundershocks was going to hit.
“Quick Attack!” Pidgeotto glowed with energy as it streaked towards Porygon.
“Foo Fighter!”
Another custom command out of Grayson. The possibility of it being a fighting move of some sort briefly flashed through my mind. Did anyone even know what moves Porygon learned? A fighting move would only be neutral at best.
Pidgeotto was closing in, could Porygon take a physical hit as well as it seemed to take a special? At the last moment Porygon jerked to the side spinning to face its previous position and with a cry of “Reeeee!” let loose another Thundershock. Pidgetto cried out as it took a glancing blow.
That… that wasn’t right.
Things in the air just didn’t move like that. Where were the curves? It didn’t even have any energy behind it, it was just floating up there like a balloon. It might be a mistake but I had to see it again.
“Quick Attack, be ready for it!”
No hesitation from Pidgeotto as it closed in again. A glowing streak aimed at Porygon. Then another weird dodge from Porygon. Pidgotto rolled out of the way of the follow up Thundershock.
A Mangemite was the closest thing I could compare the movement to. But they stuck closer to the ground, it was easier for them to maneuver being closer to magnetic material. They also couldn’t pull off such extreme movements. I held back a frown. Porygon was maneuverable in the air but they didn’t seem fast. It had risen at the same pace this entire time. It didn’t even have wings. Going at it from different angles was not working.
“Get low.”
With a cry Pidgetto dived at just the right angle to preserve as much energy and speed as possible. Then turned to avoid the other training fields coming back around. It was beautiful, not even a little wasted energy or movement. With that much speed the chances of Porygon landing a hit were very low.
“Falling with style!”
My eyes shot up to the Porygon. What had once been an almost balloonlike flight now more closely resembled a rock as it hurtled towards the ground with ever increasing speed .
“Thundershock into a Tackle!”
Porygon seemed to resemble a bolt of lightning descending from the heavens as it closed in with Pidgeotto in its path.
“Quick… ” I was too late with the command as Porygon closed the last bit of distance in a blur and blasted Pidgeotto with the move. The impact that followed sent them spinning uncontrollably. I didn’t even think about it. Reactions from years of training had the beam already out recalling Pidgeotto before they could hit the ground.
As for Porygon it was still floating up there. It shook its head after that Tackle, letting out a happy sounding “Gon!” as it celebrated.
I held back a frown. All its speed and momentum just gone. It had stopped where it had made impact. How did one deal with that dive? How did you deal with something that could stop in mid-air?
My hand reached for another ball but Matt’s call pulled me out of it.
“Winner Trainer Grayson.”
I let out a breath I didn’t remember holding. I closed my eyes calming myself down after the battle. The rookie definitely passed the pulse test. We might as well just give him a badge already. Opening my eyes I walked forward meeting him and Matt at midfield. His Porygon floated next to him as I shook his hand.
“Good match.”
He nodded, “You as well. I was not expecting that Natu.”
“I was not expecting a Porygon. What was that last thing? Falling with style you called it?”
Grayson scratched the back of his head, “Uh… well Mal here treats gravity more as a suggestion than anything else. He usually just ignores it. I just had him accept it for once. Porygon don’t really fly and more just float around. Falling with style is really just the next best thing to flying.”
I held back a chuckle, “I’ll have to remember that one. You can head on out and we'll get in touch for your challenge with Falkner.”
A few moments later Grayson was headed to a pokemon center and it was just Matt and I on the field.
“We’re scheduling him for Saturday and a good time slot. Double the drone coverage and…” I pointed up to the rotomdrone above. “Get that footage to the main office.”