“Tinkaton, use fake out,” Ferris said, opening the battle. His pokémon lurched toward Dash in a blur, her hammer held high. Jonas gasped in surprise at how quickly she was moving, but collected himself just as quickly.

“Dash, protect!”

The venipede rolled into a ball just as the tinkaton came into range. She swung hard, her hammer coming down heavily toward Dash, stopping short as it came into contact with the shimmering translucent barrier that surrounded him. Dash whirred excitedly, rolling away from the tinkaton and toward Jonas. A sudden hiss filled the air as steam billowed from a vent to the left of Jonas breaking his concentration for a moment. Watch those vents, Jonas.

“Well done, Jonas. I’m impressed already. Let’s see if you can keep that up,” Ferris shouted from his end of the battlefield, nodding approvingly.

“Good job, Dash! That thing looks tough. Let’s be careful for now and use defense curl.”

Dash chittered in response, rolling in a small circle on the polished metal floor.

“Tinkaton, play rough!”

“Dash, protect,” Jonas shouted again, the tinkaton’s hammer glancing harmlessly away from Dash’s body.

“Oh, I see,” Ferris nodded again, a smile spreading on his face. “But I’m not sure that was the best idea. You’ll have a hard time stalling against a steel type. Especially with a poison type like venipede.”

“Dash, use defense curl again.” Jonas knew Ferris was right. Steel types were tough, and he wouldn’t get anywhere just stalling, but he was unsure of just how strong tinkaton was, and hoped that by raising Dash’s defense he could stay in the battle longer. Poison sting is useless here, he thought, biting his lip in frustration. I’ll have to use rollout if I want to do any damage.

“Tinkaton, feint,” came Ferris’s command.

“Protect!” Jonas shouted as the tinkaton raced toward Dash on short legs, hammer held high above its head.

“Not this time!”

Dash braced for impact, but the swing did not come. Instead, the tinkaton pulled back on its hammer, stopping mid-swing, and slammed the pommel into Dash’s side. The barrier cracked, then shattered, as the metal haft made hard contact against Dash, sending him skidding toward the center of the arena.

“What?!” Jonas shouted. The index had said protect prevented all damage from an attack. He was sure of it.

“Pokémon battling comes with surprises, Jonas. Feint is a move that removes the effect of protect. You can’t just depend on one move to win battles for you. It’s about being versatile.”

Feint, huh? Jonas made a mental note to check the index later. Well then, if protect won’t work, I suppose it’s time we go on the offensive.

“Dash, are you okay? Let’s show that tinkaton. Use rollout!”

Dash responded with more excited whirring and began to spin in place for a moment, before rocketing toward Ferris’s tinkaton.

“It’s fast! Tinkaton, be careful!” Ferris gasped.

Dash rammed into the tinkaton at high speed, rolling away as quickly as he had approached.

“I’ve got to say, Jonas. I’ve never seen a venipede that fast! But even speed won’t help if you can’t do enough damage. Tinkaton, play rough.”

The tinkaton started toward Dash who launched himself again at the advancing pokémon, colliding with her and then moving away before she could return the attack, her hammer passing through the empty air just behind Dash.

“Keep that up, buddy!” Jonas shouted, determination strengthening his voice. He chance a glance toward Adelaide, who was leaning over the rail, grinning.

Steam erupted from another vent on the right side near the center of the arena, blocking Dash’s approach. He skidded to a halt and unrolled, breathing heavily as he stared at tinkaton through the steam.

Be careful, Dash. That steam is dangerous,” Jonas warned. Just how dangerous?

“Tinkaton, feint!” Ferris’s tinkaton lunged forward the moment the steam subsided, the haft of her hammer swinging toward Dash again.

Can’t protect…“Dash, move!”

Dash skittered away from the blow, getting faster as the battle continued.

Yes! Jonas thought. But I don’t think Dash has much more in him. I can’t let him get hit. If we can keep moving…

“Keep it up, tinkaton. Don’t let him use protect.” Ferris was leaning forward now, his brow furrowed in concentration. The pokémon advanced, thrusting the haft of her hammer in Dash’s direction, the venipede losing ground with each shot.

“Dash, back off! Put some space between the two of you,” Jonas shouted. This battle was going nowhere. He needed an opening. Dash retreated, skittering back to Jonas’s side of the battlefield.

“You look tired, buddy. Can you keep going?” Dash’s sides heaved with each breath he took, and Jonas knew he had to be exhausted. The heat was taking its toll on them both, Jonas realized, his own face wet with sweat. “You’re doing great Dash. Just keep moving, okay? Now, let’s hit her with another rollout!”

Dash clicked in response, rolling into a ball again and launching himself to the other side of the battlefield, adjusting his approach when another vent exploded with a burst of steam, dodging around the cloud and continuing his assault.

“Yes!” Jonas shouted as Ferris simultaneously shouted, “There!”

“It’s over! Tinkaton, use gigaton hammer!”

The tinkaton held her hammer to the side, the head seeming much heavier now that it had during the rest of their battle. She turned on one foot, resembling a dancer, swinging the hammer in a wide arc over her head, before bringing it back down, slamming it squarely into the approaching red blur.

CRACK!

The impact repelled Dash’s attack, sending him careening across the floor. He came to a stop just feet in front of Jonas, lying still on the polished metal.

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“Dash!”

“Venipede is unable to battle! Leader Ferris has defeated Challenger Jonas’s first pokémon. Challenger Jonas, send in your final pokémon,” announced Jude from his position beside the battlefield. Jonas stared wide-eyed at Dash’s unconscious body. He swallowed hard, returning the bug pokémon to his ball.

“That was an excellent fight, Jonas! You should be proud. Gigaton hammer is a very powerful move. I don’t know many rookie trainers who would have fared differently. That’s one impressive venipede you’ve got there.” Ferris smiled at Jonas, and his tinkaton murmured in agreement. “Now let’s seen what other surprises you have.”

Jonas nodded, exhaling heavily.

“Flint, come on out!”

***

Tinkaton’s hammer swung in an impressive overhead arc, crashing to the floor with a deafening clang that echoed through the entire battlefield. Flint stood his ground, shaking out his disheveled fur. He breathed heavily, eyeing the tinkaton with fierce determination.

Since entering the battle, Flint had struggled to gain momentum, managing to take pot-shots with ember while avoiding powerful blows from the tinkaton’s maul. We can’t just keep running, Jonas thought. I need to attack more. Still, he had seen what the tinkaton was capable of, and was wary of letting Flint get too close.

“You seem tired, Jonas. Both of you do,” Ferris noted. “We can stop the battle now, if you’d like.” there was a note of pity in his voice, which only strengthened Jonas’s resolve.

Sweat beaded on Jonas’s brow, but he shook his head defiantly. “Flint and I are just getting started.” Steam hissed from a vent in the floor near Ferris.,, the vapor dissipating quickly. To the left this time…

Jonas wasn’t sure when he had first noticed the pattern, but he was quite certain of it now. The steam vents cycled in a specific order every few minutes; right then left, starting on his end of the battlefield.

“Flint, use howl and come toward me! Use the girders as cover,” Jonas instructed, Flint’s howl reverberating through the chamber and raising the hairs on Jonas’s arms.

“I was wondering when you’d try that,” Ferris smiled. “Tinkaton, stay on him! Don’t let him out of your sight.”

Flint was already darting toward the middle of the arena, weaving between the steel beams that rose from the floor. The tinkaton gave chase, her short legs struggling to keep up with nimble growlithe. She swung her hammer hard, connecting with the girder Flint had only just dashed behind. Jonas inhaled sharply. That was too close. Steam hissed from the vent to his right . Not much longer Flint. Hang in there, buddy.

“Keep moving, Flint! Hit her with another ember, then move to the other side of the field,” Jonas directed, his voice strained, but steady. Ferris was right. The battle was taking its toll on him.

Peeking from behind the girder, Flint released a burst of small flames that danced across the tinkaton’s body. She recoiled with a yelp, as an angry red welt formed on her skin.

“That burn looks bad, tinkaton. Can you keep fighting?” Ferris asked, his voice laced with concern. The tinkaton winced, but chirped a response, gripping her hammer tighter. “If you think so,” Ferris conceded.

Steam erupted to Jonas’s left as Flint fled to the right side of the arena, avoiding the scalding vapor. Alright, Flint. We can win this. Now!

“Flint, stand your ground this time. Use howl again.” Flint let out another howl, glaring fiercely at the tinkaton, whose approach was slow and purposeful.

“Use feint,” Ferris shouted, nearly drowned out by the noise of the forge and Flint’s howl. The tinkaton surged forward, ramming the haft of her hammer into Flint’s side. The blow sent him scrambling across the floor, slamming into a girder with a yelp of pain.

“Flint! You okay, buddy?” Jonas took an instinctive step toward his battered pokémon before stopping himself, turning his attention back to the tinkaton. Come on, Flint. Just a little more. Flint struggled back to his feet and let out a half-hearted woof, his weariness evident.

“Alright, tinktaon. You’ve got him cornered. Let’s…”

Ferris’s words were cut off by a violent eruption of steam from the vent beneath tinkaton’s feet. The pokémon leapt back out of the steam, avoiding the worst of the scalding burst, but the attack had clearly taken its toll. She breathed heavily, her movement labored.

“Tinkaton! Are you okay?” Again, the pokémon gripped her hammer tightly, warbling affirmation, though she appeared to be exhausted. “That was very clever of you, Jonas, using the environment to your advantage.”

Jonas gritted his teeth, trying to stay focused. His plan had worked, and he was certain it had done significant damage, but the battle was still not over. “Flint, you can do this! I think we’re close! Let’s finish this battle!”

Flint barked, louder this time, flames rising from his fur. The fire coalesced around him, cloaking him in a fiery aura that swirled and danced across his body. He let out another howl, the sound rising above the falling hammers and hissing steam with primal intensity. Lunging forward, he crashed into tinkaton, his full weight connecting with the weakened steel type. He landed on his feet growling menacingly as the tinkaton dropped to one knee, her hammer clattering to the ground.

The two pokémon eyed one another warily, chests heaving with labored breaths until finally, the tinkaton slumped forward, succumbing to her injuries.

“YES!” Adelaide’s voice echoed around the metal battlefield. Jonas looked up to the spectator’s area, where he found Adelaide clapping and cheering. “Great job, Flint!”

Jonas couldn’t keep himself from smiling s well. She’s right buddy. You did a great job, but we’re not done.

“Tinkaton is unable to battle,” Jude shouted from the sidelines, surprise in his voice. “Challenger Jonas has defeated a gym leader’s pokémon, and will receive an award of two thousand pokédollars. Leader Ferris, send in your final pokémon.”

***

Jonas had never seen anything like it.

The pokémon towered over Flint, standing several inches taller than Jonas. It reminded Jonas of the dinosaur pokémon he had grown up reading about; tyrantrum and rampardos. Only, this pokémon’s body was sleek, and metallic. Small lines ran the length of its body, and, along with its eyes, these lines pulsed with light: red, orange, yellow. The light shifted in color and intensity, like there was a fire inside the creature.

Jonas concentrated, trying to remember what he had read about growlithe in the the index. That was a new move, right buddy? But what was it called?

“Flint... uh…. do that new move again!” Jonas instructed, feeling foolish.

“Duraludon, let’s make it quick. Use breaking swipe when he gets close!”

The duraludon groaned, and Jonas was unsure if the sound was a vocalization or simply the grinding of metal plates as it lumbered toward Flint. Flint’s body was wreathed in flames again, a pattern forming in the red-orange glow. They dance and flared looking like….A wheel!

“That’s it,” Jonas shouted. “Flame wheel!”

Flint released a hearty bark and shot toward the duraludon, not as fast as Dash would have, but quick enough that it surprised even Jonas. He collided squarely with the duraludon with a metallic thud, causing the strange pokémon to lose its footing. It stumbled backward a step before regaining its balance.

“Now!” Ferris commanded leaning forward again. His eyes were locked intently on the battle.

The duraludon lashed out, batting at Flint with an oddly-shaped claw. It struck him firmly in the side, the claw grinding against his side hard. Flint yelped and leapt back, his legs quivering.

“Flint, can you keep going?” Jonas cringed, hearing the desperation in his own voice. Flint barked weakly, and took a staggering step toward his opponent.

“Jonas, your pokémon are incredible. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such loyalty from a rookie trainer’s pokémon. I can’t wait to battle again when you come back. Duraludon, steel beam.”

The strange pokémon bent its head low, a metallic scraping sound issuing forth. The lines on its body pulsed brightly with color, and a silver-blue light began to gather in front of what Jonas assumed was its mouth. The incandescent orb pulsed, growing larger every few seconds, until it erupted, a beam of light streaking straight toward Flint.

“Watch out, buddy!” Jonas shouted as he started across the floor, already knowing it was too late. The beam enveloped Flint who howled in pain. For a moment Jonas couldn’t see him for the brightness, but the light faded as quickly as it had appeared, and had completely vanished by the time Jonas reached the side of his unconscious partner.

“Growlithe is unable to battle. The winner of this battle is Nova City Gym Leader, Ferris!”

Jonas recalled Flint to his ball, suddenly feeling incredibly exhausted. The battle was over, and he had lost.