Himura

“I’m here to challenge the gym.” I said to the receptionist of the gym. Pretty much every gym everywhere was now as big as a small football stadium so there was a great need of staff everywhere for a lot of stuff.

“Would you like an immediate challenge or can I book you for a more public match?” The receptionist asked me.

“Any difference between them?”

“If enough people come to watch you might get a bonus if you win. Also, if enough people come to watch the match, even if you lose, it will not count towards your free tries.”

“What does she mean?” Ann asked me.

“It takes money to run a gym, especially ones this big, so as a challenger I have a limited number of free tries I can use to beat a gym before I have to put some money in the line myself. The current number they reached this year was 2, right?”

“Those only count towards the actual fight against the gym leader, anything before that still is just an official match that works normally.”

“I understand.” Ann said.

“Well, I guess you can book me for a more public match, as long as I don’t have to wait a week for it.”

“We have a good crowd for tomorrow. Quite a lot of challenges, not a problem to add to you.”

“Time?”

“Just after noon.”

“Alright.”

“Fill this please.” The receptionist said as she handed me a tablet. It was just basic information so the gym could be prepared. Things like my trainer ID, number of badges, how much money I would bet on the fights, etc… I quickly filled it and left. Not much to do there after that.

“What are your plans for now?”

“Doing nothing, maybe watch you train? You yourself have to prepare and I am completely lost on what I should do if I ever enter a contest.”

“I…Yes. Sparkly needs her training.” Ann said to me. It looks like she was going to say something else but chose not to.

Following that we went back to the pokecenter where she began to teach the basics of dancing to her Pichu. Most things about following the rhythm and flow of the music. I made my pokemon at least hear what she was saying but only Valkyrie really paid some attention to it, mostly singing along to any music Ann used. I somehow know that being an entertainer needs you to practice a lot so when it turns out she trained all day, I wasn’t surprised. I also did make food for us and our pokemon but I didn’t receive much feedback for that. I can make what is necessary for my own but I had to guess what her pokemon would actually need.

Night came and went, and after breakfast we went to the Gym. Fights started at 9 in the morning and there was a good amount of people there from the start. As a challenger I got a free seat for me and one companion so Ann didn’t have to pay anything. There we watched the other challengers.

To fight the gym leader you had to pass two preliminary stages, at least here. The first one was simply a race against the gym trainers to see who could get a few specific rocks scattered around the area. The terrain was quite literally in a platform that could be exchanged with the default rocky arena of the gym. Unlike what I could remember from any form of media, instead of just the arena part of the ground changing, it was the entire floor. What I could only classify as a light sandstorm also raged on the area once it changed.

The terrain itself was really rocky terrain. Almost no flat ground and all the same color, a strange gray/brown of rocks, dirt and sand. At least the rocks you had to find were very colorful. You also couldn’t use your pokemon for this part.

The amount of rocks scattered around was based on the number of badges you had. The first guy didn’t have any like me so there was a single rock somewhere that would be quite visible once he was allowed to leave the starting area along with just a single gym trainer to compete against him. Seeing how the gym trainer looked to be at maximum a year older than me and the challenger someone who was at least 15 years old, the gym trainers might be selected randomly to some extent.

The challenge soon began and the older teenager ran towards the rock and in a matter of minutes he managed to get it. It was on the ground, luckily, so he didn’t need to climb anything.

After that part was over the area was back to its normal state and Brock appeared. He explained that since he got all the rocks available he could skip battling the gym trainer if he so wished. The guy didn’t skip the fight.

The gym trainer sent a Geodude out while the challenger sent a Psyduck out. I could see that the Psyduck was at least 50% stronger than the geodude in terms of stats. The Psyduck used a water gun on the Geodude, I could just see the battle ending right there but the geodude exploded, taking out the Psyduck with it. The gym trainer then sent a Sandshew but the challenger didn’t send anything out, he didn’t have any other pokemon. so he lost by default.

Brook gave a speech about how a trainer shouldn’t become complacent and be ready for anything in a battle, especially a gym battle. Everybody could have access to a pokedex now so being taken by surprise by a pokemon that they had no reason to lose against was not something he would allow someone who could challenge him do more than once.

After that a lot of challengers came and went. A total of 10 people took the challenge before it was time for lunch and only one won, a guy who already had 3 badges that clearly had experience. He was in mid twenties at least and had pokemon from a lot of other regions. He was using the gym to train his pokemon so he fought everyone he could and just defeated the gym with what I think was his ace pokemon, a Flygon that was clearly way stronger than 3 badges would suggest.

“Are you going to fight the gym trainer?” Ann asked me as we ate our lunch inside the waiting room of the gym. My pokemon were in stasis mode so they didn't eat yet, not that they needed it or I would allow it, they would battle after all.

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“No. They are not worth the waste of energy. Their pokemon are basically weak wild pokemon and not something that would be a serious challenge to me.”

“Well, you can still not find the rock.”

“Unless that guy that looks to be Brock’s younger sibling is the one I had to race against, I don’t think anyone would be faster than me as far as I saw.”

“Well, good luck anyway.” After that she left me there and went back to the stands to watch my battle that would be happening in some minutes.

“It’s your turn, just follow the corridor.” A member of the staff said to me when the time came.

My fight was luckily, or unluckily, one of the fights with more people watching as it was the first one just after lunch. A lot of people had leftovers they took to the stands to watch battles.

The first challenge was quite easy, once I got out of the corridor it began and I could see the rock shining by just walking a few meters forward. In less than a minute I managed to get it.

“Challenge over! So, would you like to battle the gym trainer?” Brock asked.

“No.” I answered.

“Ok. Just a moment so the arena is put back together.”

We moved back to the corridor and as soon as the arena was ready we took our positions.

“This is a challenger with 0 badges. The Gym leader will be using two pokemon of appropriate strength. No items can be used on the pokemon by their trainers during this battle unless it is an emergency and/or the pokemon already fainted. The challenger can use as many pokemon as he wishes. Switches are free.” The referee explained.

“Geodude, go!” Brock said as he threw his pokeball.

“Bolt, your turn!” I said as I sent out my pokemon.

“Bold of you to use an electric pokemon in my gym.” Brock said, not as arrogantly as it might have sounded.

“Bold of you to assume that Bolt is any electric pokemon.” I said with a smile on my face. Bolt was also ready to throw down.

Ann

Again, he is like that again. He has a Mankey for Arceus sake. Just use it and be done with it. I bet nobody noticed how he changed. He has that manic grin on his face.

“Begin!” The referee said.

“Geodude, use mud-slap!” Brock said, commanding his pokemon.

“Fake out! Where I told you!” Himura shouted. Bolt suddenly dashed forward and slapped his hands in front of the Geodude, flinching it.

“Mud-Slap!” Brock commanded again.

“Nasty Plot!” Himura said. The Geodude suddenly didn’t move, he was paralyzed. I don’t think there is a single person that knows what just happened for sure. Static might have triggered but Himura is acting like this was expected.

“Show some guts Geodude! Mud-Slap!” This time it looked like the Geodude would be able to attack, but only looked like it.

“Disarming Voice!” Himura commanded, Bolt used the move and shouted and the Geodude got knocked out by the attack.

“Geodude has fainted!” The referee said.

“Ok, I wasn’t expecting this to happen. I am impressed.” Brock said as he returned Geodude to his pokeball.

“Thank you, but I still have one more to knock out, right?” Himura said, signaling for Bolt to return to him but stay in battle..

“Let’s see if you can deal with this one. Go Onyx!” Once the giant rock snake was out, Himura stood still for a second and then his aura changed. A few people noticed it, I know the Gym leader did, his happy go lucky face went away and this was way more serious than a fight for the first badge should have been. Am I going crazy if I can tell what is going on just because I spent a few days with Himura?

“Tunnel down!” Brock commanded and the Onyx dug into the ground, vanishing completely. Just as it did, Himura returned Bolt to his pokeball and sent out Valkyrie. “Flying will not save you!” Brock said once he saw the Pidgey flying above the ground.

“Ride the Wind!” Himura shouted as Valkyrie began to use Whirlwind and Gust at the same time. I saw him training this combination a few times but I could never understand what was the point until now. Once the Onyx got out of the ground it headed straight for the flying pokemon but she simply allowed the stupid strong wind she created launch her in another direction.

“Rock Slide!” Brock shouted and a few rocks began to appear around Onyx.

“Phase 2! Give it all you got!” Himura said and suddenly Valkyrie began to speed up. I saw the glow of Quick Attack but unlike the attack, it didn’t disappear after a moment.

As rock began to fly towards Valkyrie, she was speeding more and more. Wind was blowing and in a matter of seconds a small tornado appeared in the arena. Using the wind, the little Pidgey was hitting the Onyx from every direction faster than it should be possible.Little by little damage was being dealt and nothing the Onyx could do was able to hit the flying bird.

Brock suddenly shouted something and after the Onyx took a few more hits it bursted with energy, dispersing the tornado and knocking Valkyrie to the ground. My pokedex app said that it was the move Bide if it wasn’t used directly against another target. I think that is the only reason why the bird didn’t faint.

Himura returned the girl to her pokeball and sent Bolt out again.

“Rock Polish!” Brock shouted.

“Fake out!” Himura shouted.

Bolt ran as fast as he could towards the giant rock snake but he didn’t manage to flinch it before it could use the move.

“Your little strategy will not work again. Rock Slide!” Brock said and a bunch of rocks began to appear around Onyx.

“Bolt! Now you will learn a new move or get knocked out trying. Run where I tell you to and don’t stop for a moment!” Himura shouted and I almost lost it. The idiot is using this fight to train his pokemon, his electric pokemon, why!?

“Pichu!” The adorable little rat said with confidence. As the rocks began to fall Himura was shouting directions and the Pichu was surprisingly able to dodge the rocks following said directions.

The cascade of rocks continued for several seconds, with Brock commanding his Onyx to continue, as if this was a challenge to him. But after nothing came of it he went for the kill. He commanded the Onyx to dig.

“Don’t stop moving, follow him!” Himura shouted and Bolt followed Onyx in the hole he dug. For several seconds everyone held their breath as you could only barely hear the rock snake move underground.

Suddenly, the Onyx emerged from the ground and behind it followed Bolt. Ann could see that it was almost at its limit. It was moving around non stop for a while now.

“Earthquake!” Brock shouted.

“Bolt! You are fast enough! Hit him with all that speed! You can do it!” Himura shouted and the yellow rat sped up. An white aura enveloped it and it rocketed toward Onyx's head, as if he was flying.

Once he hit, everyone could see that he got paralyzed as he stopped midway as he was trying to slam his tail on the ground. Bolt fell on the ground, puffing really hard but not really knocked out.

“That is enough. Just keep this feeling in mind for now. Your turn partner.” Himura said, returning Bolt and sending out Blaze.

“I am feeling a little disrespected here.” Brock said, pointing at the Charmander.

“Not my problem. Blaze, Fire Blast!”

“What!? Onyx, Rock Throw!”

Luckily the paralysis didn’t stop the Onyx but it delayed it enough that it couldn’t use the move at full power. It blocked the flame, even sending some debris around.

“Earthquake!” Brock said, but it was too late.

“Rocket upper!” Himura shouted. Blaze was now just below Onyx. Using Flamethrower he rocketed himself up while his claws shined and scratched the Onyx from the middle of its body all the way to its head. By the time Blaze got back into the ground, Himura was there to grab him.

“The Gym leader is out of pokemon, the winner is Himura!” The referee shouted.

Suddenly almost everyone began to applaud the battle. Did I miss something? They didn’t do it for any fight before this one.