Chapter 6

The battle started the next day. It was that easy for the daughter of a powerful and famous gym leader to round up a camera crew. The seats of the gym were filled while the local news crew was to the right side. Roxanne was not present but had apparently let the two of them borrow her gym field.

Emerald and Ruby stared at each other across the rock laden battlefield as they held their Pokeballs. The former was giving an intense, stoic expression with determination to win boiling inside him while Ruby pretended to remain calm. The referee wearing black and white signaled they could start with a wave of a hand.

“The battle between the trainers will determine who will be rewarded four hundred dollars and the female Makuhita!” he shouted. “No trainers are allowed to switch Pokemon until one has fainted! Begin!”

“Go!” Emerald shouted before opening the Pokeball. “Dangler!”

“Lotad!” Ruby shouted as she opened her’s. “Get out here!”

Emerald watched as the two Pokemon appeared on the battlefield. His Pineco emerged from the Pokeball in a flash of light at the same time Ruby’s did. The young man immediately recognized the species he was battling.

Lotad was a quadrupedal Water and Grass-type with very small, stub-like legs. Barely any of its blue body could be seen besides its wide, large yellow lips and beady black eyes due to the huge lilypad on its back. The thick, brimmed green leaf covered the entire top of its body. Emerald recognized them as a common sight in freshwater bodies of water in Hoenn, especially in the area where he lived.

I didn’t learn much in school but I remember Grass-types being weak to Bugs. He thought. Something about their attacks are very effective at hurting Grass Pokemon due to most Bug-types specifically feeding on plants. This could be an easy win in that case but I’m going to have to rely on my Pokemon’s strength before I caught them since Ruby’s far more experienced than me.

Soon after sending out his Pineco, Dangler spun around to face Emerald and talk with his hidden mouth.

“I take this is a battle against the Lotad?” he asked. “Is this why you have disturbed my rest?”

“Yeah,” Emerald replied. “I thought you said you liked the safety of your Pokeball?”

“I do,” he said. “I like not having to move but now that I am in danger I expect food as compensation.”

“You’ll get food,” Emerald said. “So long as you battle for me. Now turn around and beat this Pokemon.”

The Pineco spun on its stub to face its opponent across from it.

“Lotad!” Ruby shouted. “Water Gun!”

“Use Rapid Spin!” Emerald shouted.

The Water Weed Pokemon spat a stream of water from its mouth at the Pineco that was no doubt powerful enough to rip holes in the wall around them. Emerald could only hope his Pineco was powerful enough to deflect the blast. The Bug-type quickly spun on the stub that acted as its feet, rotating upon the blast impacting it.

To Emerald’s relief and surprise, the Water Gun did little to affect the Pineco. It was not slowed down in the least by the Water attack, the gush of liquid harmlessly splashing off its spiralling body. When the Lotad stopped spitting water at Dangler, presumably because it ran out of liquid, he then charged toward the Water and Grass-type while spinning.

The Pokedex entry mentioned that with bark glued to its body, Pineco’s defense is almost as high as that of Geodude. Emerald remembered. I definitely did well deciding to catch Dangler.

Emerald was shocked to find the very Pineco that claimed it hated moving, speeding towards the Lotad with incredible momentum. Before Ruby could get off another order, Dangler rammed into the Pokemon while spinning. The Rapid Spin knocked Lotad back as a nasty bruise became visible near the middle of its wide mouth. Emerald looked on with satisfaction to see that Ruby was getting nervous at the sight.

“Lotad!” she yelled. “Astonish!”

The Water and Grass-type was having trouble standing back up on its stubby legs before attempting to lunge toward the Pineco. But by the time it had picked itself up, Dangler was already looming over it. Emerald’s order was met first.

“Use Bug Bite!” he shouted.

The Pineco immediately slammed down its body and began pressing the Lotad’s lilypad between its rows of cone-like scales. The small, nearly invisible mouth began gnawing away at the Pokemon’s large foliage, the Water-type screaming in pain as it did. Emerald could see the edge of the lilypad being chipped away at more and more as the Pineco devoured it.

After scanning both his Pokemon’s movesets just the other day he found Bug Bite a strong Bug move that perfectly displayed the type advantage that type had over botanical Pokemon. Even carnivores like Pineco were still adept at devouring plants when they felt the need to as the Bug-type was specialized in inhaling flora. No matter how much Ruby’s Pokemon squirmed, it couldn’t seem to wrench itself free of the Pineco.

“Lotad!” Ruby shouted. “Astonish!”

The Pokemon finally managed to turn its face toward Pineco, something it had to do only by uncomfortably swerving its mouth and eyes in an unnatural angle. While still gripped in Dangler’s mouth, the Water Weed Pokemon suddenly made a frightening expression. Its eyes almost popped out from beneath its lilypad covering the majority of its body followed by an odd screech. The noise was so odd that Emerald himself froze in fear.

Dangler, who was closest to the noise, immediately dropped Ruby’s Pokemon from its mouth after being stunned. The Water and Grass-type fell down in front of the Pineco as the Bug-type’s red eyes began to dilate. Ruby’s Lotad had been seriously damaged by the Bug Bite.

The entire left edge of its lilypad had been chewed away so that its blue back was now partially visible. The inner portion of the broad green leaf was leaking green liquid. The Lotad looked tired as it tried to stand up before racing away from Dangler to gain a safe distance from him.

However, Dangler seemed almost worse for wear. While it didn’t already look very animated standing still there was something about how it now just stood on its stub that looked awkward. The only movement it made was shivering in fright.

“Dangler!” Emerald shouted. “Dangler! Snap out of it!”

“It can’t,” Ruby said. “Your Pineco’s flinched and can’t move. If you were more astute in Pokemon battling you’d know how useless it is just yelling at it to attack.”

Emerald continued shouting at his Pokemon to break free of the funk the Lotad had put it in but it was no use. Dangler just kept rocking back and forth like a leaf swaying in the wind, causing Emerald to fear it might fall over. He wondered if Dangler would ever snap out of it by the time the battle was over.

“Now!” Ruby shouted. “Razor Leaf!”

Immediately sprouting from both the undamaged right and eaten away left sides of the Pokemon’s lilypad was another, circular leaf. Once both leaves growing from the side of the Water Weed Pokemon’s were nearly the same size as the plant on Lotad’s back, they separated from the Pokemon’s body. They looked exactly like the original plant without a short brim around it. Lotad made a lunging motion to throw them at Dangler in front of him.

The Pineco was struck by both leaves dead on as they spiralled through the air. Emerald was confident that the Razor Leaf would be ineffective against the Pineco even without using Rapid Spin seeing as how Water Gun was useless. He was really surprised when a good chunk of Dangler’s scales were clipped off the side and front of his body.

One of the leaves slashed into the right side of Dangler’s body to shave off most of the scales it came in contact with. The other leaf penetrated the front of the Pineco’s body, surprising Emerald as it ripped away the scales protecting the Bug-type. It looked very awkward to see the large green disk sticking out of the Pineco as his yellow blood ran down the edge of the leaf. Dangler was no longer rocking back and forth as he appeared to be very aware of the pain he was in, small grunts audible from his mouth.

Emerald began to panic at the sight of the lilypad protruding from Dangler’s body, the hope of victory quickly fading. He was surprised at not only the sharpness of the leaves but how quickly the Lotad was able to grow and throw them. He now regretted demanding it be televised lest Norman think that he did a good job choosing to raise Ruby over him. Ruby didn’t exactly look happy at the turning tide of the battle but relieved, sighing while her Lotad was panting after being bitten so much.

“How-?” Emerald shouted. “How was Razor Leaf able to penetrate Pineco’s defenses?!”

“Because we practice,” Ruby answered. “Lotad has been working on growing her Razor Leaf quickly and making them as sharp as possible ever since I caught her. Razor Leaf is the kind of move that, once a Pokemon practices it enough, it nearly always lands a critical hit. That’s what happens under a good trainer’s tutelage. You seem to have just caught your Pokemon and hoped they were strong in the wild. Poor decision making.”

“Darn it,” Emerald said. “Dangler, Rapid Spin the Razor Leaf off you!”

No longer flinching, the Pineco spun to fling the disc-like foliage stabbing its body away. As the lilypad skidded across the ground more dark yellow blood spilled out of the front of Dangler. Emerald was frazzled seeing it lost so many scales protecting its body. He tried to think of what move would be best used to potentially finish the Lotad before Ruby called out another attack.

“Razor Leaf!” Ruby shouted.

The Lotad began growing one more leaf from each side of its body. Emerald wondered if he should order Dangler to use Pin Missile but the Water Weed Pokemon was growing them so quickly he knew the Pineco wouldn’t have enough time to fire one off before being hit. And with so many scales sawed off there was little protection afforded to him. Emerald decided that the only logical course of action was for the Pineco to use the move the PokeDex mentioned it could use the fastest.

“String Shot!” Emerald shouted.

The Pineco immediately shot three threads of silk-like material from its hidden mouth. The silver saliva-like fluid struck the Lotad to coat the majority of its body. Not only could it not move once the three silver strings covered most of its body but the leaves seemed to have their growth stunted as they couldn’t expand as much inside the silk.

Once trapped inside the ten foot long ropes of white began to harden, going from a liquid to a thick and almost completely solid substance. Now the two Pokemon were connected by the gluey material. This obviously frustrated Ruby as Emerald remembered Pineco’s strongest possible damage dealing move.

“Lotad!” she shouted. “Get out of it with-!”

“Savage Spin-Out!” Emerald shouted.

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Dangler then began spinning its body fast enough that it picked up the Lotad attached to it with String Shot and whirled the Water Weed Pokemon in a complete circle. Ruby’s Pokemon could be heard screaming in pain as it was dragged across the floor of the gym several times, much to her trainer’s chagrin. After dragging the Lotad across the ground enough, Dangler then finally loosened its mouth’s grip on the silk strings to send it flying.

It skidded across the ground toward Ruby’s feet, kicking up dust before landing to struggle uselessly in its bindings. Ruby then returned the Lotad to its PokeBall, glaring at it. The top red half of the PokeBall began blinking blue before turning back to red in a repeated cycle. This meant the Pokemon inside was close to death.

His half-sister’s face became stained with tears as she stared down at the Pokeball. The entire crowd that had been mostly silent with anticipation suddenly gasped in shock. A strange sensation Emerald had literally never experienced surged through him as they were baffled. Even the referee was not sure of what happened.

“The first victory surprisingly goes to Emerald?!” the referee said before catching his verbal mistake. “I-I mean...just goes to Emerald.”

Then he realized it. Pride. The feeling was pride.

I defeated Norman’s prodigy. He thought with a mad glee. To everyone’s surprise. They...they think I’m great now.

“Emerald,” Dangler said weakly while bleeding. “I-I don’t feel so good-”

“Just hang in there!” Emerald shouted with joy. “Only one more and we win this!”

“As if you’re getting past my best Pokemon!” Ruby shouted. “Go! Torchic!”

Emerald’s surge of hope was immediately put to rest upon the reveal of Ruby’s final Pokemon. Replacing Lotad was a red Pokemon that looked like a baby bird. Its bright red plumage was offset by three partially yellow feathers, a sharp looking beak and two orange clawed feet. While it didn’t look very menacing, Emerald was scared upon facing it for two major reasons.

In the news specials where he’d seen Ruby taking credit for Team Magma victories, her male Torchic was always beside her. He was her first Pokemon so it was the most experienced of her Pokemon. In every interview with him, Ruby claimed it did the majority of her battling.

But the other reason was that Emerald was deeply uncomfortable at the sight of the species in general. Torchic was a Pokemon that was heavily domesticated in the Hoenn region as they served as heat sources for cooking and warmth. Torchic were low maintenance and able to produce a lot of fire so they were penned up and kept alive in cramped spaces for that very reason.

Torchic were slaughtered before they grew too strong as their evolutions were powerful and couldn’t be controlled. The Chick’s Pokemon evolved forms would be too strong to be kept in such a restricted space and would easily escape. There were many Pokemon bred like this that don’t have trainers but still relied on humans for their food and shelter before killing them before they became too strong to outlive their usefulness. Emerald was deeply disturbed at the sight of each one.

“Torchic!” Ruby said. “Use Flamethrower!”

The thin red flame that characteristically surrounded Fire-types in battle began to envelop the Torchic.

“Rapid Spin!” Emerald shouted in reaction. “Spin as fast as you can!”

He knew that there was no way Dangler could win a battle against the Chick Pokemon in his current state. The only hope was that the Pineco could possibly survive the intense barrage of heat coming its way. Emerald couldn’t recall his Pineco because he specifically requested the battle be a no substitutions battle as he thought that would possibly give him the advantage.

His plan was that Dangler and Leif would both do enough damage to Ruby’s Torchic together before one of them fainted. He counted on Dangler to survive anything thrown at him considering how tough his defense proved to be in his battle with Leif. Now, not only did his victory seem a vain hope but he wondered if either of his Pokemon could survive.

He was somewhat shielded against the blast of intense red flames as he rotated in place. Emerald counted down the seconds the stream of fire lasted against the weakened Bug-type, knowing the attack was super-effective. He inwardly regretted challenging Ruby, knowing her strongest Pokemon had the elemental advantage over both his only usable Pokemon. Emerald was so consumed by the chance to beat Ruby that he was blinded to his own Pokemon’s safety.

When the Flamethrower finally dissipated he was relieved to find only the surface of Dangler’s body singed. Most of his scales were blackened to some degree as the speed of the Rapid Spin created a sort of barrier against the heat of the Fire attack. However, he immediately collapsed onto the ground, obviously knocked out.

“The challenger’s Pineco is unable to battle!” the referee shouted. “This victory actually goes to Ruby!”

The crowd clapped for her but very slowly as if they were being careful. This signalled to Emerald that they had prepared to do so for her upon the first Pokemon battle. Ruby herself looked more calm and satisfied.

“Any trainer can win with type advantage,” she said. “You’re not strong.”

“I’m not but my final Pokemon is!” Emerald said.

Emerald returned Dangler to his Pokeball to find it was blinking red and blue. He took the other miniaturized Pokeball from around his waist and lifted it to his face. Emerald knew he couldn’t win but with this being a no substitutions challenge there was nothing he could do. With a half-hearted toss he opened the Pokeball up.

I defeated Ruby’s first Pokemon. He thought. Norman should probably be surprised by that alone.

{}

Leif noticed that upon entering the Pokeball there was a sudden peace that overcame him. It was almost like a slumber that washed over him where he was barely conscious upon entering it. He didn’t feel the presence of time passing or any sensation within his body. Leif didn’t want to call it sleep because he did sort of see things through the transparent red half of the capsule but they were more like vague dreams than visible sights.

And that slumber the Pokeball put him into ended every time he left its soothing interior.

The last time he was outside the capsule, Emerald unwillingly admitted to wanting to join Team Magma to get paid. Leif’s heart was broken upon hearing that the one and only human that had ever shown any Pokemon kindness was so cruel. His surroundings were completely different now.

He stood in a battlefield that was strewn with boulders and sandy terrain. Through the concepts introduced to him through the information downloaded to him through being captured inside the Pokeball, Leif could perceive it was a stadium. Through that means he also understood the purpose of the camera to his right. Human beings filled seats to his side, another human stood on the other side of the battlefield with a Pokemon in front of her. And not just any Pokemon. A Fire-type.

Fire-types. Leif thought with fury. The most hated and feared element in the world of Pokemon. They are cast out, ostracized and driven out by other Pokemon for fear of their power. Any Fire Pokemon that reaches any level of competitive strength is a danger not only to its enemies but the entire wilderness. Their attacks can unwittingly wreak untold devastation upon the world. Any one Fire Pokemon that decides to war against others can single handedly destroy an entire habitat for others. My kind drove out and killed the Fire-types that used to live near Petalburg Woods.

Knowing how humans used Pokemon to battle, the Treecko turned to face Emerald who wore a desperate expression. It was obvious that there was no other option that could be taken besides Leif being called out to battle. The Treecko leered at him, anger filling his heated glare that was fueled by disappointment.

How could someone so kind align themselves with such devils? He inwardly seethed.

“Is this a part of joining Team Magma?” he asked bitterly. “Or have they rejected you for your compassion already?”

“Leif!” Emerald shouted as he pointed to the other end of the battlefield. “Please! Just-just battle for me! You-you don’t have to...I know you can’t win against a Fire-type but just please...please survive this the best I can!”

His angered expression eased into a dull one.

“Come on!” Ruby shouted. “Get to the battle!”

“Please!” he said. “Put up some kind of good fight! Just...just make sure you show you’re strong! Just...just impress him!”

“The challenger’s Pokemon seems unwilling to battle!” the referee said. “The battle is temporarily stalled as Emerald’s Treecko doesn’t face its opponent! This could possibly mean an unusual victory for Ruby!”

“I won’t join Team Magma!” Emerald said. “And-and all you have to do is...is fight! Not win! Fight!”

“Quit stalling and lose already!” Ruby shouted.

“I don’t know about that,” the Treecko said. “Even if you were to not join Magma I don’t know if I could go on serving you. And that’s not just because there are evil deeds you could commit but...you’ve broken my trust in you. Emerald...I thought you were different.”

“Hurry up!” Ruby shouted.

“Emerald!” the referee said. “If your Pokemon is unwilling to obey you cannot be declared the winner in any case!”

“Please!” Emerald shouted. “Fight Ruby! Fight!”

The referee’s words were mere white noise to Leif. Emerald’s pleadings were little better. He didn’t care about anything. His home was gone, his life’s purpose and now his new friend. What purpose did Leif even serve at this point? He was useless.

“Please!” Emerald shouted. “My dad’s watching and he’ll think I’m a wuss if you don’t fight!”

“Norman?” Leif asked.

“I told you not to!” Ruby shouted.

“I see the Treecko is unwilling to battle,” the referee said. “So I’ll count to ten and if by that time it does not battle, Ruby will automatically be declared in ten, nine, eight…”

“Norman is watching?” the Treecko asked. “Through that camera?”

“Yeah!” he said. “Just fight! Just struggle as best you can without dying and survive!”

His eyes widened at the prospect. New life bloomed into him. A new purpose was calling Leif’s name. New meaning was spoken to his heart. He felt beyond elated. It couldn’t even be called happiness.

A second chance to redeem myself. Leif thought.

“Three, two...one…” the referee said.

“I will fight.”

The referee and Ruby turned towards him in surprise. Leif turned to glare into the camera, knowing from the translation of human language and concepts into his mind many thousands could see him with it. Determination soared through him as he imagined Norman and Maxie on the other side.

“You have broken the peace of the Petalburg Woods,” he said. “And you think you have done nothing more than snap a twig in your way. Now watch as your own offspring is humiliated.”

He then turned to glare directly at Ruby.

“If I fight this Fire-type you are to never join Magma,” Leif said. “Ever. Do not even associate with them.”

“Gladly!” Emerald said. “Now please! Just put up a good fight! I don’t know how long it will take but however long it takes, just give it a good battle so-!”

“Emerald,” Leif said with anger. “This battle cannot last long.”

“What?!” Emerald said. “Look, I know it’s hard but-”

Leif stepped forward, leering down his opponent. The Torchic walked in place anxiously, obviously wishing to end this battle. Ruby gave the first order.

“Flamethrower!” she yelled.

The Fire-type breathed an intense blast of flames toward him. Leif leaped aside from the stream of fire before running to the side and closing the distance between himself and his opponent in a matter of seconds. The Torchic didn’t even see him by the time Leif had lunged into its side at full speed.

His shoulder was slightly singed upon colliding with the Pokemon which was to be expected from hitting a Fire-type Pokemon head on when their battle flame was active. However, the force of the Quick Attack flung the Torchic through the air until it was slammed into an adjacent boulder and fell to the ground. A surprised gasp could be heard from everyone except Leif.

“What the-?!” Emerald said. “But I thought Fire-types were strong against Grass-types!”

“Yes,” he admitted. “If it can hit them. But if a Pokemon is too fast then the power of a ranged attack is useless. I quickly judged the Torchic to be capable of strong Fire attacks but having little defense. Most Fire Pokemon are not very durable, meaning that a single strong blow was more than enough.”

“Get up Torchic!” Ruby shouted.

No response was made from the defeated Pokemon, the Torchic struggling to get up. Ruby recalled her Torchic back to the Pokeball before glaring down at the red and white capsule. Tears began streaming down her face, somewhat to Leif’s joy.

As Norman’s daughter began to sob he felt something akin to catharsis to punishment had been dealt. If Norman saw it he’d probably be disappointed. Leif smiled at the thought.

“The winner is Emerald!” the referee shouted.

“Yes!” Emerald shouted. “We won! We really won!”

The mention of victory coincided with a sudden, opposite emotion. Now he felt hollow. Leif felt that his victory of disappointing Norman was nowhere close to the pain that the Treecko had experienced. He wanted to make him and Team Magma pay more than what they had.

This is not equivalent. Leif decided. This is not a speck of the pain he’s caused me and those of the Petalburg Woods.

And that’s when Leif collapsed. He began shaking uncontrollably once he fell to his knees. He tried screaming in pain before finding he was unable to. The next thing Leif was aware of was Emerald’s arms wrapped around him.

“What’s wrong?” Emerald asked.