After finishing with Mauville we headed out north straight away. The fourth Gym was Lavaridge which was run by Flannery in the games but currently under the control of Moore, her grandfather. He was a former Elite Four member and undoubtedly was a strong trainer with lots of experience. Wattson had said he wanted to battle me, so I had that to look forward to.
There were other ways to reach Lavaridge, but once again I had chosen to take the route prescribed by the games I remembered. Which meant I needed to head up the cable car to the top of Mt Chimney and then I would hike down the mountain and reach Lavaridge that way. I didn’t think we’d manage it all today. We would probably stop and spend the night somewhere up near the mountain.
The tall industrialised buildings of Mauville became more sparse, shrinking down as we left northwards. Flora claimed more and more of the environment the further we walked and the paved road became a dirt path with more trees and the pleasing sounds of nature returning. Instead of the sound of cars and city streets I started to hear bird Pokemon twittering and the rustle of leaves in the trees. A Tailow flew overhead, inspecting us before continuing on its way and as we continued, a couple of grass Pokemon lazily sunned themselves near a lake and I saw a small house just off in the distance. Someone who probably wanted their privacy but wasn’t willing to completely forego the benefits of being within easy travelling distance of civilization.
But nature wasn’t entirely free of human progress.
The sounds of machinery and workmen were loud and we followed the noise to see what was going on. It was a building currently under construction, a tower of some sort and it was tall and sleek with lots of metal and glass. It was being partly built into the mountainside which surprised me as that seemed more difficult than simply building it somewhere else but it wasn’t like I knew whether that was actually the case. Curious, I approached to get a better look.
As we came near Leah gestured to the side and I saw that I wasn’t the only person interested in whatever building this was.
There was a woman and a man. The woman dressed in stylish short white pants that hugged her legs and a loose blue top while the man was dressed casually in jeans and a t-shirt. The significant difference in their outfits made sense as he didn’t need to be in front of the camera he was pointing at the woman, who with her microphone was clearly a reporter of some kind. Something felt vaguely familiar about them, but I couldn’t place it. I decided to keep my distance, not wanting to disturb whatever report they were doing.
There were a lot of people working with machinery or by hand. I spotted a few Fighting types who were assisting the workmen, carrying heavy loads and mixing cement alongside their human partners. Despite the help of Pokemon to make some of the work easier it wasn’t doing much to reduce the amount of noise being produced.
There was a woman wearing a hard hat and an orange high-vis jacket who was also holding a clipboard and seemed to be issuing instructions. She spotted me in the distance, stopped what she was doing and approached us.
“Woah there!” she shouted over the sound of machinery. She approached, holding up two hands and waving them as if to ward me off. I stopped, figuring that was what she wanted, but it wasn’t like I was anywhere close to the building work.
I didn’t know terribly much about construction. I’d never really done much manual labour in this life, or the one before for that matter. But still, I hadn’t exactly approached too close and I was behind the boundary line they had set up with tape which I figured was to stop people, or at least to mark dangerous zones.
The woman arrived in front of me, close enough to speak more clearly. She was a tall, mature woman somewhere in her forties or fifties.
“You can’t be here fella,” she said, looking between myself and Leah. She had an accent that sounded vaguely Welsh for some reason. “This isn’t a place for a battle, move along.”
“I didn’t come here to battle,” I replied quickly, surprised that that was what the woman thought I was doing. “Don’t tell me you get trainers trying to battle you guys out here?”
With a look of relief on her face that I wasn’t going to cause any problems, the woman nodded.
“All the bloody time,” she said. “Kids and even a few adults who won’t take no for an answer I tell you. We put up signs, but I’m not convinced half of them can even read. That’s before I get into the wild Rock Pokemon coming in when we’re not looking and trying to drink the concrete while it’s still setting.”
Indeed, as she pointed behind herself I finally noticed there was a sign saying “NO POKEMON BATTLES,” which I hadn’t managed to see either, apparently, which was to my slight embarrassment. But even in my past life if I had come upon this situation as a tween I’d like to think I would have still had more sense than to enter an ongoing construction site to try and force a Pokemon battle like this site manager was describing.
“I know what you mean,” I replied, thinking back to my encounter at the Mauville Gym. “What is this place going to be anyway?” I gestured to the half finished building.
“It’s going to be a big battle center, multiple floors and all sorts,” the builder replied easily. “A guy out of Johto wants to build somewhere to host battle tournaments and other sorts of contests. This was where he wanted it, not sure why.” She shrugged.
“Sounds like a big project,” I replied. The building itself was already several stories high as it stuck out of the mountain and I couldn’t guess how tall it was going to be once it was finished. “Do you get a lot of projects like this? Places for Pokemon battles, that is.”
“Nothing this big before,” the builder admitted. “But I’ve done one or two stadiums and the Contest Halls are pretty much the same thing. Listen, anyway, thanks for not causing any problems but I’ve gotta get back to work.” I nodded in understanding.
“Do you have a card maybe?” I asked, making the builder turn back to me. “I might have some work for your company soon.”
“Yeah I do,” she replied, sounding intrigued and a bit more friendly at the prospect of getting more work. “Wait there, I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
She went back and shouted some orders to her crew that I couldn’t hear over the sound of the machinery at work and then came back a few minutes later with a plaster covered card in hand.
The woman offered me her hand to shake. “Call me Phil.”
Phil had a firm grip and large hands that seemed to dwarf mine as I greeted her properly. They felt coarse against my softer hands, showing a bit of the difference in our respective professions. Pokemon battling did require a bit of labour here and there, but truthfully the majority of the work was done on the Pokemon’s parts.
“Pleasure,” I replied. I stepped back, ready to leave Philippa to get back to what she was doing. “Any idea when you’ll be finished here to start on something new?”
Phil shook her head side to side, working over the answer.
“Give it a couple of months before we can start construction on something else,” she said. “We’re supposed to be finished here by then, but if you speak to our offices then they can start on the architectural side of things before then.”
That didn’t sound too bad. I’d probably prefer to be set up before the next season started but that might be wishful thinking. Construction projects tended to be bogged down in delays and unforeseen expenses exponentially proportional to their size. I doubted my own Gym would be ready in time even if I got things going right away today.
I’d struck lucky. might’ve found someone to build my own Pokemon Gym when the time came. I mentally chastised myself in the next moment. I should’ve asked Wattson before for any advice about this, Of all the Gym Leaders he would know more about construction, having been involved in building New Mauville.
I thanked Phil for her time and then said farewell.
“Keep an eye out for Graveller!” Phil shouted after me. I turned and waved, nodding in thanks before continuing on my way.
Heading back onto the path north towards Lavaridge I couldn’t help but feel quite satisfied that I’d lucked out on finding a builder who seemed competent.
Also this battle tower, whatever it was, seemed interesting. Maybe once I was established as a Gym Leader we could come back and check this place out.
Wild Pokemon were often pretty territorial. There were plenty of examples of how interfering with the local environment could cause problems and people had mostly learnt their lesson about human encroachment. But with that big building being built I wasn’t surprised that they had gotten worked up a bit regardless of whatever efforts Phil’s people had done to minimise their impact.
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So after the warning from Phil I took it to heart and decided to bring out some more members of my team. Robin was now out hovering higher up in the air and looking for trouble. Happy was out too, his Water typing might prove fortuitous if we encountered particularly strong Graveller or Golem which is what I anticipated but I remembered the small army of Diglett from the old anime that had protested the dam that was being built so I wanted to be ready just incase. Happy took a lookout spot standing on my shoulder, one of the benefits of being as small as he was.
It seemed my preparations were worthwhile because Robin floated down, gesturing to the side and telling us that there were some dangerous Pokemon approaching. A moment later a pair of Graveler suddenly burst out from behind a hill, only fifty yards or so away, apparently annoyed at our proximity.
Up for a fight, the two Rock/Ground types were already rolling towards us at speed with a Rollout attack.
“Robin, slow them down with Silver Wind,” I ordered. I didn’t want to hurt them too much. Silver Wind was Bug typed so the Graveller would hopefully not be hurt too badly if they happened to be too weak, regardless of how unfair it was for them to be attacking random strangers like this.
“Ribuu,” my Ribombee said, hovering in front of us and frowning at the two Graveler as they came closer. He crossed his arms, not intimidated by their approach. He was far too fast for them to hit him, but that wasn’t going to be an issue.
Halfway to us, the two Graveler bounced up on a rocky outcropping, doubtlessly intending to sail through the air and collide with us directly.
Robin spun around in a circle several times, building up the power of the attack before flinging a small tornado of Silver Wind towards the oncoming Pokemon.
The Graveler were heavy and they had momentum on their side which was why the Silver Wind didn’t stop them entirely. They hit the ground far short of their destination and with their Rollout attacks interrupted the way it had been that was enough. Their weight and remaining momentum from rolling dug them partially into the ground, forcing both Pokemon to have to stop theri attack and dig themselves out of the earth.
“Grav!” Shouted the one on the right threateningly, looking to its companion which likewise looked very angry. Robin hovered in the air in front of me, arms crossed and a stern look upon his face as he told the belligerent Pokemon off, or at least that’s what I assumed was happening.
It seemed like Robin’s attack and subsequent warning wasn’t enough to entirely put them off their aggression. More words were exchanged, the Graveler gesturing towards us, no me as they spoke and I felt Leah suddenly stiffen from her position holding my arm.
“Gard?” She asked, letting go of me and gliding forwards serenely, tilting her head as she beheld the two Rock types. “Garde voir voooir?”
A hazy sheen formed around her as she prepared an attack, Fairy energy building between her hands.
“Shit,” I muttered. “Don’t kill them,” I ordered quickly. Leah could sometimes get overzealous if she thought i was being threatened and I could still sense the energy building.
Suddenly, Happy leapt from my shoulder.
The small blue mouse Pokemon sailed through the air over the Gardevoir who hesitated at seeing the Marill overhead. Happy appeared between the two Graveler, his tail already shining with the telltale sheen of an Iron Tail. In midair he spun around, dealing a harsh blow to each Graveller’s side, the sound of metal on rock and that rock breaking as the bulb on Happy’s tail struck true.
Both Graveler were sent flying several yards away, their weight not letting them travel far before they dug a pair of furrows in the terrain. Both were rendered unconscious.
The danger averted I approached and upon inspection they were injured, but alive. Rock types like these would be fine after eating some actual rocks, which made up part of their biology.
Hopefully these two had learnt their lesson about attacking random passersby. Meanwhile Happy had landed on his feet and then began to bounce up and down with a familiar delighted expression.
“Marill!” Happy called cheerfully. “Ma mari rill marill!”
I let out a sigh of relief as Leah’s stiff posture relaxed, the tension in the moment dissipating along with the attack she had been preparing.
“Garde devoir,” Leah said, sounding slightly put out as she spoke to Happy.
“Marill!” Was Happy’s response. He bounced over and Leah was forced to catch him in her arms. The Gardevoir turned back towards me, she was pouting while holding the smaller Pokemon up against her belly, just under her chest horn. It was hard to be upset with Happy, he was just too cheerful.
“Good Job Happy,” I said, making ready to quickly vacate the area and keep moving before something else happened. “C’mon, let’s keep moving.”
But I had spoken too soon.
“That, was, amazing! Did you get all of that?!”
We turned as one to behold the reporter and her cameraman from before.
“Sure did,” the cameraman replied to the reporter’s obvious excitement.
“Hi! I’m Gabby and this is Ty from PokeNews,” the reporter said, coming a bit closer. “Your Marill isn't just strong, he’s adorable too!” Gabby said as she came to a stop a polite distance away.
“Marill!” Happy said cheerfully, wiggling in place, still held close by Leah.
“Thank…you?” I replied, a bit nonplussed at the sudden attention. I hadn’t noticed the reporters at all and it seemed neither had my Pokemon. Apparently my words were all the permission Gabby needed to step forward and shove her microphone at me.
“Can I get a few words about that battle we just saw? How did it make you feel?” Gabby asked.
Ah, suddenly I remembered. These were the duo that you found on Route 111 in the games. They jumped around the map a bit and you could battle them several times in the games. After battling them you could see a little report on your battle with them on any in-game Tv later on.
It looked like I wasn’t going to be keeping as low a profile as I’d hoped… I thought to myself, mentally apologising to the Gym Leaders. Hopefully they would understand this wasn’t deliberate on my part, but it looked like I was going to be on Tv.
***
It had been a long day of sorting out the Gym Pokemon. So many Slugma… They just kept breeding lately. Slugma were a staple Pokemon that Lavaridge gave out to the few kids that were good enough to get a beginner sponsorship from the Gym. Slugma and Magcargo were the hottest Pokemon they had in the Gym and they required very high temperatures to remain comfortable, beyond even Flannery’s comfort level after a while. But lately the numbers had increased a bit too much and she’d had to spend a good few hours in their caves making sure they were all fed and comfortable. Flannery was sure at this rate that her grandpa was going to send her up Mt Chimney to release a bunch of them into the wild. It wasn’t something they usually did, but it was necessary to keep the Gym running smoothly.
It wasn’t like Flannery was against a bit of heat, she was well used to it given her specialty typing but it had gotten to be a bit too much by the end. So as soon as the day was over she’d grabbed a cold shower and then thrown on her PJs before flopping down on the couch to relax a bit before going to bed.
“Coal,” Torkoal greeted her. She was sat waiting for her alongside a dozing Arcanine and Houndoom. Arcanine had his head lying on top of Torkoal’s warm shell while Houndoom was curled up next to them both, leaning against Arcanine’s furry side. A small puff of smoke came out of Torkoal’s nostrils before dissipating into the air and then she went to rest her head back against the floor. The smoke could’ve been a problem but Flannery had had air filters installed. They were expensive but they made it so she could have her starter out in the house. Torkoal, Houndoom and Arcanine were her only Pokemon that didn’t constantly pose a risk of setting fire to the house and were small enough to fit inside. No matter how flame retardant everything was or how careful they were, her Rapidash and Magcargo simply couldn’t help themselves. Camerupt was unfortunately just too big, to her embarrassment the first time after evolving when she’d tried to get into the house.
Anyway, her grandpa was over at his poetry club so she had the house to herself. It meant she could watch what she liked for once.
The Tv turned on and it had been left on PokeNews, a news channel that was half journalistic news reporting, half just interesting Pokemon stories. Flannery probably would’ve just changed the channel but then she saw the current feature.
A Marill fell from above and in an impressive display of agility knocked out a pair of Graveller in one hit each. Flannery raised her eyebrows. She’d seen the excited messages from Brawly about Harry Hemming’s Marill and when the camera cut to the interview with the trainer of the Marill on the screen Flannery was sure almost immediately that this was the guy. He fit the description to a tee which was office clothes, glasses and brown hair. The Gardevoir she spotted in the background holding the Marill in her hands was just extra confirmation.
“- a nuisance. Wild Pokemon don’t often differentiate between different groups of humans and I suspect they were aggravated by the building works a mile or so back. I’m glad I encountered them before someone with less experience of wild areas did, otherwise they might’ve been taken by surprise and seriously hurt.”
“You sound like you’ve got experience with wild Pokemon like this,” the excited reporter replied. “Are you a travelling trainer? Perhaps on the Gym circuit?”
Flannery leaned forwards with interest. Hopefully Harry wasn’t about to give the game away.
“Just travelling,” Harry said, before shrugging. “I’m a writer so I’ve done a bit of travelling around the regions looking for inspiration.”
Of course the next question after that was obvious. If Harry was a writer then what had he written? Harry paused for a few moments in indecision before apparently deciding to answer.
“Trainers Colliding,” he said and after a moment of surprise, Flannery’s mouth dropped open.
Trainers Colliding was written by Hermione Hemsworth. At least that’s what the title on the books said. Apparently Harry Hemming hadn’t tried very hard at his pseudonym…
“I don’t believe it,” Flannery said as the reporter immediately pounced on the revelation because apparently she knew that series too. Flannery would never have guessed that the new Gym Leader guy would be the one who wrote her favourite book series, that he’d be the guy who’d decided what happened…
She suddenly jumped up to her feet.
“Come on guys, we're gonna get some training done!” Flannery declared with determination her Pokemon roused at her outburst and looked at her in confusion.
Her grandpa might want to battle him but he could just sit down and wait for his turn darnit! Flannery would never forgive Harry Hemming for killing off her favourite character!
“Don’t worry Claudia, I will avenge you!” Flannery shouted, leading her bemused Pokemon out towards the training yard.