“Nin-Nin.” I whispered with a grunt as I was once more climbing through the rafters of Koga’s stupid ninja mansion.

Stupid pitfall traps.

Stupid tripwires.

Stupid fake hallways made with mirrors. My nose still hurt.

But I continued crawling. Today Koga was forcing me through his ‘Ninja Training’ because as he saw it a Trainer must be capable of surviving any experience. A normal ten year old probably would have argued with him, what does running through a gauntlet of traps chased by ninjas have to do with Pokemon Training?

I was not a normal ten year old, and I knew just how easy it would be to bypass a Pokemon in a battle to kill a trainer if I ever faced someone truly out to kill me.

So I was climbing through rafters in the mansion, avoiding traps, and dodging the ninjas that were searching for me.

They were going easy on me I knew, but at the same time.

Vicky Stronk! My unusual strength meant I had some tricks that they weren’t expecting.

Besides, Ninja-Tag was fun! If tiring.

Except when it wasn’t. I had nearly made it, when the lack of any sound tipped me off.

I dropped, just in time to avoid fuckin shuriken!?

“H-hey! That’s dangerous!”

“It would be an important lesson.” The ninja offered. Some older man with graying hair that hadn’t given me a name.

“Sure Bob whatever you say.” I grumbled as we faced each other in the hallway. His lack of any emotion might be considered a good sign, but I knew he really hated it when I called him Bob, but that was his fault. He refused to give me a name to call him, and if it was good enough for Tom Cruise, it was good enough for me!

He shifted, all the warning I got before I leapt, hitting the wall of the hallway, that had a spinning wall for quick escapes. I dropped a smoke bomb as well. The loud thunks of shuriken hitting wood behind me made my mad dash all the more important.

I flung out a Pokeball.

“Venonat!” My little guy said, looking around.

“Sleep powder.” I whisper pointing at the fake wall, watching as he blasted the area. I started running. Almost there!

“Ven!” I heard Venonats warning just in time.

I juked, grabbing Venonat, as I rolled to the side, the attack behind me dodged by just the smallest increment as I came out of my roll and set my Venonat in front of me.

“Golbat!” Bob had sent out his Pokemon.

“Alright then.” I grunted, already coming up with plans to win this. “Venonat, use-”

“Hold.” A voice called out, and a new ninja appeared, coming down the hall behind Bob. “The girl has a challenger.” Then in a flash the ninja disappeared in a smoke bomb. Although it had taken me two weeks to know that they were just jumping into the trap door in the ceiling.

I sighed mostly in relief as the Ninja nodded, disappearing as well. “Alright C’mon little buddy. We have a gym challenger to take on.” I tell the Venonat who gave a cute little nod.

Venonat was one of Koga’s Pokemon. I had been put in charge of him as part of my challenge to fight every gym challenger that wandered through. Venonat was a pokemon that would be used for Koga’s second or maybe third badge challenge.

He wasn’t there yet. Freshly caught, barely trained, and I wasn’t allowed to do any training outside of battles with him.

He was my handicap, and also Koga’s main training of me. While the rest of my team were battling Koga’s powerful Pokemon.

I was learning how to battle with a disadvantage.

—---

“Venonat Double Team!” I called out, watching as the Trainers Sandslash used Rapid Spin once more, missing the little bug type as it blasted through a fake.

“Poison Powder!” I called out, watching as another cloud of poison was released, this time the poor Sandslash couldn’t stop in time after its miss. The Ground type ran right through the powder coming out the other side landing back on his feet only to cough a little.

“No! Sandslash! Use Fury Swipes quick!”

I nodded, a good plan. The Sandslash turned and started cutting down Clones in a barrage of swipes. The third hit, striking Venonat causing my little bug to cry out as she rolled away.

That was her third hit during the fight. She was done.

“Well fought Venonat. Return! And you trainer! You have proven yourself. You may proceed… but be careful of the traps! Hihihihi!” I gave off a cackle as I pushed backwards hitting the spinning wall letting me disappear leaving the Trainer alone in the hallway.

I sighed, pulling off my ninja mask and heading over to the little table that had some water for me. I placed Venonats Pokeball in the transporter.

Koga had been brutal in his training of me over the last month.

When I had accepted his offer to be trained under him. I wasn’t sure what I had expected, but Koga treated my training as even more important than any training for my team.

Which meant that I was constantly battling… Without my team.

“My weakness is that I rely on my pokemon's strength. So let’s see how I do without them to fall back on huh?” I couldn’t help but remember what Koga had said as I took a sip of water. Although Koga had said I wouldn’t be a Gym Trainer. It turned out that it was a perfect opportunity for me to train against a variety of trainers with pokemon not my own. So my job was to act as one of Kogas testers in the gym.

I was using borrowed Pokemon, fighting in a way I wasn’t used to, against novice to expert trainers.

It was fun! Especially considering I wasn’t really supposed to win against the kids. I was really just testing them, but my job from Koga was simple. Extend the battle as long as possible. Find out if the trainers Pokemon had the endurance needed for battles.

So most of my time was spent dodging, and preparing traps for them to blunder into.

Hilarious.

But I had learned a ridiculous amount. It was kind of eye opening how Pokemon battles went when you didn’t have a Psuedo-Legendary to battle with.

There was a lot more involved that I had never really considered. But I was improving!

“Hey, another trainer is coming. Five badge.” A voice spoke from directly behind her, but jokes on the stupid ninjas! I had been jumpscared by them for over a month! I was immune!

“Right!” I chirped out pressing the transporter hidden in the desk and a batch of Pokeballs were released to me.

Putting my mask back on I snuck up against the wall waiting for my prey. When I heard the tripwire go off I couldn’t hide my giggles as I slid into the hallway through the rotating door. I loved walking out and seeing some dumb kid hanging from their ankles.

Usually with their Pokeballs falling to the floor out of reach.

“Ah it’s Kiba.”

“What Vicky?” I heard in response to the gray haired kid. Shit no one was supposed to know it was me.

“Incorrect! I am the Protector of the Moon! Glorious Beautiful Kunoichi Nike!” I ended off with a Sailor Moon pose pointing at the idiot caught in a trap.

“Vicky, stop being a spazz and help me down, the blood is rushing to my head.” Kiba replied back instantly as he couldn’t reach his ankles.

He earned a Pokeball to the face for his troubles.

“Ow! Vicky tha- oof!”

“I am Glorious and Beautiful Kunoichi Nike! Protector of the Moon!” I yelled at him throwing another Pokeball. And then just because his face was stupid I started pelting him with a few more delighting in his crys of pain.

Suffer Kiba! How dare you call me a spazz!

“I give! I surrender!”

“Say it!”

“Ugh… Fine. I surrender Glorious and Beautiful Kunoichi Nike.”

“And the title.” I demand arms crossed.

“Ugh why are we even friends? Protector of the Moon.”

I nod walking over to the switch that would lower the snare trap slowly to the ground. Koga didn’t want to brain the kids after all.

After he stands back up, he is glaring at me. “Vicky, why are you dressed as a Ninja.”

“I don’t know any Vicky. I am Nike.” I informed him promptly.

“Vicky. How many short blondes do you think live in Kanto?”

I puffed up how dare he! “I’m not short! I’m perfectly average for my age!”

“Below average.” he muttered, earning another thrown Pokeball which he avoided with a yelp. “Stop throwing Pokeballs at me!”

“Stop being an idiot!” I yell back which only earned me a glare.

“What are you even doing here?”

“I’m training under Koga in how to better handle Pokemon battles with weaker Pokemon.”

“Wait. Weaker Pokemon?” He asked eyes sharp.

“Yep. My normal team are all undergoing harsh training, and I am too! Training using weaker Pokemon and forced to face all challengers!” I put my hands on my hips showing off how cool I was.

“I challenge you.” Kiba uttered darkly with a fierce grin. The sort of look that would look closer to a wolf. “Oh I challenge you so hard.”

I blinked. Suddenly feeling… “Ah. Well, I accept?”

“Hehe-AHAHAHAH!” Kiba broke into harsh cackles as he threw out his first Pokeball.

“Whooo!” Mightyena roared out as he appeared ready for battle. Only to instantly tuck his tail and roll over on his back and show his belly to me.

“Wha-Mightyena!”

“Hey buddy you evolved! That’s amazing!” I told the puppy as I walked over and rubbed his belly like I knew he liked.

“Stop petting Mightyena! We are about to fight!” Kiba yelled angrily which I promptly ignored turning back to the puppy that was starting to relax since Arcanine wasn’t here.

“Berry?” I offered pulling out a few from my hip pouch.

I never go anywhere without some Berries on me after all. Never know when you are going to sedu-feed a hungry Pokemon.

After a few berries disappeared into the puppy stomach, and I got a tongue swiping across my mask covered face. Kiba had enough.

“Hey! It’s time to battle Mightyena! Vicky doesn’t have her real team!” Kiba calls out and even Mightyena perks up a little at that finally.

“Alright, fine.” I mutter standing up to move away from Mightyena and readying my Pokeball. Then I blinked “It’s Nike!”

“Yeah whatever!” Kiba answered with a grin.

—--

“Ouch!”

“Don’t be a baby.” I tell him as I pull out another Poison Sting from Kiba’s skin.

“This is against the rules! You aren’t supposed to aim at the trainer!”

“I aimed at Mightyena, it’s your fault for telling him to dodge.”

“Ouch! I don’t want to hear that right now!” He grumbled, as I sprayed more antidote on his pin pricks where Poison Sting had penetrated. Causing him to yelp. “Be gentle!”

“I am!” I grumble pulling another one free. “Done.” I tell him, once more spraying the hole but finally finishing up. “Never seen someone tank an attack to their face before. Usually they dodge.” I told him poking his cheek earning a flinch.

“Ouch! That hurts you spazz!”

I narrow my eyes, but I am a mature fully adult person, at least on the inside… So I only poke him one more time earning a yelp before standing up and moving away. “Good fight.” I add as I move. “You have defeated me, earning the right to continue on to challenge the Gym Leader. Good luck.” I tell him smirking under my mask as I suddenly disappear into the revolving wall.

“Vicky! Hey where did you go!?” I could hear him call out from the hall as I giggled and put my Pokeballs once more into the transporter.

“Well fought.” I almost yelped as I turned to glare a little.

“Janine.” I grumbled as she once more tried to jumpscare me. The girl smiled at my tone.

“I am surprised. I expected you would go easy on a friend, but you battled him harder than most of the others.”

“I trusted Kiba to be at a higher level than where he should be. He did good.” I say as I finished teleporting the Pokeballs away. “What’s up?” I asked her as she hadn’t vanished or tried to tease me again.

Janine was Koga’s Daughter, and was already being trained up as the future Gym Leader. Considering how important Fuchsia Gym and its ninjas were to Kanto, she had to be incredibly strong to even be in the running.

She was. We had battled a few times and Janine was strong.

“Father is summoning you.”

“Cool. Do you know what he wants?” I ask as I grab my water bottle off the table and take a drink before following after the Kunoichi already moving.

“Nothing that he shared with me.” She answered simply and I nodded.

Cool.

I followed the Kunoichi through the compound. Avoiding the pitfalls I had learned through repetition where they were as we walked.

Koga was as usual waiting in his usual spot. Legs crossed and waiting for his challengers for the day to make it through the mansion.

I giggled as I could faintly hear the cursing of many trainers that had just had the floor dropped out from under them, or legs hooked into snares.

This place spoke to my trollish soul.

“Victoria.”

“Koga.” I greeted back with a wave as he nodded .

“You have grown much in the last month. I wonder. How close are you now to achieving your goal. How far have you come?” He wonders and I notice that beside him on a pillow are my Pokeballs. The Premium Pokeballs obviously not his own.

Ah. While we had battled over and over again in the last few months… He hadn’t given me a rematch.

“It’s only been a month.”

“And yet, we will battle regardless.” He answered instantly. This man was getting far to used to my argumentative mouth.

“There is only one way to find out then. Koga, they say that when two trainers' eyes meet, they must battle.” I joke to him our eyes locked on each other.

“Indeed. Janine, ensure the trainers waiting for their turn do not disturb us.”

“Yes, father. What should I do if they come to see what is happening?”

“Nothing. It would be good for any trainer to see a high level battle in person. Come Victoria.”

“Ah, wait a sec.” I mutter as I gather up my balls. Stopping Koga’s dignified exit which he obviously intended to lead to a great battle.

The man was a bit of a drama queen. Especially for a ninja.

“What is it?”

“Let me change? It’s sunny today and I want my hat. Plus these face masks are itchy, and these sock shoes you gave me feel weird I want to get my boots.” I mutter ticking off issues on my fingers. Janine breaking into quiet giggles behind me as I could just feel Koga’s irritation at my… Me-ness?

“Change quickly.” He ordered and I gave him a jaunty salute as I raced off to do just that. Finally I could get out of my ninja cosplay! I mean sure learning how to do ninja stuff was fun and I learned a lot. But this outfit was all tight and weird. I liked my clothes more!

Quickly grabbing my clothes from the small room that Koga had given me while I worked as a Gym Trainer, I switched over feeling nothing but relief that I could actually breathe in my comfortable clothes.

Then I stomped out to the field. Purposefully stomping my feet to make noise.

It made the other ninjas flip out.

Stepping out into the sunlight with my hat back on my head a grin tugging at my lips. Yeah this was where I was meant to be. I stepped out, my six Pokeballs back on my hip where they belonged as I faced Koga.

“Are you ready?”

“I am!” I agreed eagerly, hand already full of a Pokeball as he nodded.

Another ninja appeared. Koga’s referee. “The battle will be a six on six battle. No switch outs. The Gym Leader will release his Pokemon first.” The referee nodded stepping back as Koga nodded.

Venomoth. I nodded. That Pokemon in particular was a bit of a monster. But I was ready this time.

“Go!” I released my first choice.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“Miii!” Milotic appeared in a flash, his fins shifting as he psyched himself up for the battle ahead.

Last time Milotic had failed.

“Begin!”

“Preparation!” I yelled out, even as Koga’s Venomoth instantly exploded into a cloud of Poison Powder.

And Milotic moved.

It had been Koga forcing me to rewatch my older battles with the other Gym Leaders. Pointing out my good points and bad that had created this.

In his own words. “Your battle against Brock showed that your Milotic is excellent at changing the terrain but you almost completely gave up on this afterwards. Foolish.”

The truth was I had gotten arrogant with how powerful my team was. I had started thinking that I didn’t need to do anything but hit so hard the enemy would fall.

I had learned from Koga one thing at least. Always treat every battle as if it was life or death.

Milotic sparkled as water gathered and in a rush of water he shot off a Hydro Pump straight downwards into the earth, in an instant a rush of muddy water splattered back up and flowed across the field.

Koga hadn’t seen this plan yet. Although I bet some of his ninjas had been watching when Milotic and I trained for it. But we had been sneaky too!

They had thought creating a pool of some sort was all I was planning with this move.

They were wrong!

A moment later without a word as the blast of water cut off sight, Ice started growing. And in a moment Milotic was gone a bubble of ice covering his position. At the same time as Koga’s Venomoth hid itself away in its Poison Fog Move.

“Bug Buzz.” Koga actually called out, as Venomoth suddenly Vibrated from within the cloud and a hypersonic sound smashed into the ice. It continued slowly causing the ice to crack and splinter.

Why not after all? Venomoth was still hidden with the cloud, and Milotic was trapped under the Ice.

Except not! I almost laughed as the Ice shattered revealing… Nothing! Just a pool of frothing muddy water with chunks of ice floating in it.

I grinned brightly at Koga’s annoyed look. He hadn’t seen what Milotic had done!

“What’s wrong Koga? Lose track of your target?” I taunted as he ignored me, continuing to look across the field for anything different.

It was the wince he gave when the first chunk of ice hit him that told him what was up.

Hail.

I adjusted my hat, glad that it was so big as it kept the chunks of hail from really smashing me up.

But for Venomoth?

I smiled as I noticed the cloud of Poison was getting hammered.

Kage Bunshin. Koga’s go to move was weak to damaging weather effects. Sandstorm, or Hail.

I couldn’t see it, but I knew that within that cloud a half dozen clones had just been popped.

“An intelligent plan to overcome one of my unique moves. Will you have time to think through the Elite Fours unique moves when you face them? You have to do more than plan for a month if you wish to defeat them. You must be prepared to counter their moves as they come.”

“I know. But Koga? I can say the same thing to you. Do you even know where Milotic is?” I call out as I wince as a chunk of ice hits my thigh.

That was gonna bruise!

He huffed out a silent chuckle. The closest thing Koga had to a laugh. “I will find out. Venomoth. Supersonic. Locate the Milotic.” He called out, and I blinked before remembering that Koga had some pretty strong Pokemon from the Zubat line! He had taught his Venomoth echolocation!

“Too bad, that won’t work. And that is game.” I called out to Kogas surprise, when Venomoth continued looking around without being able to find my Pokemon.

Until a moment later the ground near Venomoth erupted in a blast of water as Milotic appeared from underground an Extreme Aqua Tail already active as it smashed Venomoth in half.

The substitute popping a moment after.

But before Venomoth could even engage Milotic splashed back into the water and disappeared.

I smiled. I would have to thank Zelos next time I saw her, the idea for this move had been taken from her Fraxure back when we first fought.

Hiding with Dig and then attacking out of pre-prepared holes

Milotic couldn’t use Dig. Not the move anyways, but he did have HydroPump, and Water Pulse, and what was earth going to do against high pressure water?

Milotic had just blasted a hole through the earth below us with pure water pressure, and it was thanks to a mix of the Hail distracting Koga from all the water still pouring out of the muddy hole Milotic had been hiding in, and the fact that no one expected a Water type to dig through the earth that it had worked.

I was planning on using this move in the League too. I bet it will be great!

“Venomoth. Toxic.” He ordered having to actually take charge in order to regain control of the battle.

A moment later Venomoth was dumping a huge amount of purple sludge into the hole Milotic had just jumped out of.

And yet, the whole time that was happening the hail continued to fall.

Venomoth continued to lose health as it was battered by the nasty shards of ice.

I could see Koga already realizing I had him pinned. Although in a real League match they would probably start a countdown if my Pokemon didn’t reappear, that didn’t bother me. Milotic was preparing his second attack.

“Venomoth Roost.” Koga called out and Venomoth moved. Shifting back into what remained of his poison cloud before settling down to heal.

The only problem with my move is I lost the ability to give direct orders to Milotic. We had this whole attack planned out, but that was it, it was pre-planned we lost ability to make adjustments.

But I smiled at Koga.

Milotic exploded out of the ground in a new hole a moment later, and Venomoth just started rising back into the sky, “Venomoth. Flash!” Koga tried to call out but it was too late.

Once more with the static noise of Extreme Speed Milotic vanished slamming a truly massive attack into Venomoth once more.

This time it wasn’t a substitute.

Venomoth skidded across the muddy ground a moment later even as Milotic already rushed back into his hole.

“Venomoth. Psychic dig it up.” Koga called out, and I grimaced as the ground around Venomoth began shifting and moving.

I tsked, again, I couldn’t communicate with Milotic right now. He was blowing through the earth creating aquatic paths and wouldn’t even know how to react to Venomoth ripping the earth around him into the sky.

I grimaced as Milotic was found. He was digging forward with Hydro pump until suddenly he dug into a giant hole, falling out of his little path into the hole only to realize the sky was above him, and an angry glowing moth.

“Mii!” He squeaked, which was absolutely adorable as he started to rush back into the hole only for his body to lock up and rise slowly out of the mud.

“Use surf! Break the hold!” I called out, even if Milotic couldn’t aim an attack as he was held in place, he could still use his moves!

“Miii!” He cried out sounding muffled as he couldn’t open his mouth but a moment later a torrent of water escape from around like a wave, and Venomoth seemed to almost hiss as it was forced to back away and break its powerful hold.

“Ice beam!” I called out, urging Milotic on, but Koga wasn’t an elite for nothing.

“Psybeam.” Koga responded as the two attacks met, a burst of energy erupting as the two Pokemon stared each other down for a moment.

“If this was Milotic of a few months ago, you might be able to overpower us Koga. But not anymore. Ice beam! Punch through it!”

“Psybeam.”

“Miii!” Milotic cried out as he didn’t attack right away instead he seemed to swallow deep even as the Psybeam raced towards him, the purplish energy beam nearly touching him before Milotic finally opened his mouth in a silent scream.

And the overpressured Ice beam went to work. Smashing the Psybeam aside in a roiling torrent of energy.

When it was over Venomoth was frozen solid, and Milotic was breathing deeply, exhaustion already hitting.

I waited for a moment before realizing Koga had no intention of returning Venomoth.

Being frozen wasn’t equal to losing.

“Milotic. Preparation Ice!” I called out instead of finishing the Moth Milotic turned still tiredly breathing heavily as he started shooting out Ice beams.

Structures of Ice soon littered the battlefield, as Milotic prepared for what came next.

“Alright buddy. Take out Venomoth!”

“Milo!” He agreed surging forward surfing across the muddy ground as he came up to Venomoth who was nearly thawed, but before his Aqua Tail could strike. Venomoth disappeared in red light.

“Return.” He said simply. Nodding to me. As he threw out a second Pokeball.

“Muk! Muk muk muk!” Koga’s Muk called out seemingly happy to battle again as it waited for the word to begin.

“Begin.” Koga offered, and I nodded.

“Milotic recovery mode.”

Milotic disappeared back into a watery hole, even as Muk once more shrunk to a much smaller form.

A moment later Hail began smashing the ground once again, Muk making little sounds of irritation at the attack.

“Ignore the hail.” Koga called and Muk nodded. Continuing to prepare for the battle. I could see Muk using a normal substitute. Since Kage Bunshin would only be instantly popped in the hail.

Milotic burst out of the water, this time not going for a physical attack, instead he landed atop one of his ice pillars climbing all the way to the top as he looked down on Muk.

Muk had gone full evasion, making it damn near impossible to hit, but at the same time Milotic had been recovering, Aqua Ring now floated around him and Safeguard active. He was as recovered as he could be without an actual rest.

But even as Muk began pelting him with Sludge Bomb.

Milotic began preparing.

Normally I would have him use Dragon Dance as a status enhancer. Speed and power tended to handle most issues with Milotic already being overpowered physically, but no matter how fast he was, he would have trouble catching Muk.

But I had known what Koga’s game was for over a month.

Did you really think I wouldn’t do some research to make sure my partner wouldn’t be stumped by evasion moves again?

“Coil.” I said a single word, long after Milotic had already begun,

Even as Muk retaliated. As Ice pillars shattered from Sludge Bombs Milotic kept running, stopping to use Coil whenever he could.

Coil is actually a move Milotic learned naturally, funnily enough it was a poison Move even if all it did was enhance a Pokemon.

But this one was special. Attack, Defense, and Accuracy all got a buff from Coil.

How did that work? Pokemon Space Llama Magic. Ain’t got a clue.

But after a few moments of Muk chasing Milotic around trying to bypass his defenses and healing from Aqua Ring, Milotic turned.

And Muk learned the difference between a glancing hit, and a full fledged strike as Milotic blurred into static, smashing the tiny Muk with a full force, completely accurate Aqua Tail.

Milotic took a Sludge bomb to the face as soon as Muk hit the ground. Koga’s training proving itself once again as Muk retaliated even after being struck full bore.

The two Pokemon were both exhausted. Muk, as tiny as it was now, seemed to be struggling to pull itself together, and Milotic was definitely on his last leg.

“Muk.” Koga said a simple name but Muk obviously understood as it shot forward.

“Muuuuuk!” It roared as it drew near Milotic prepared to smash it.

And then everything was fire and noise.

I grunted as I was pushed entirely off my feet rolling a bit in the mud before I managed to stop myself.

Ears ringing again, I grimaced. Was this just going to be a thing with Koga?

I looked up to devastation. The ice pillars were gone, and both Muk, and Milotic were down. Muk looked the worst of it, but Milotic had obviously been hammered badly.

“Explosion.” Koga offered. I growled at him, as I returned my partner.

“Dick move.” I cursed at him, although as always Koga ignored me as I grabbed my next choice.

“Wheezing!” Koga’s Pokemon called out.

“Dragonite!” I released my girl, watching as she landed with a thump, her eyes narrowed. Although I had distracted her with Milotic a month ago, the loss had given her fits.

“Begin.”

“Now!” I called out, instantly, Dragonite vanished in a blur the mud kicking up in contrails from just how fast she rushed Weezing. Even as the floating ball began using what I recognized as a Smokescreen which Koga was a fan of, it didn’t matter.

Dragonite hit first.

She slammed a Dragon Rush into Weezing, the dragon energy slamming into him as she rushed right with him unwilling to give up a second, as Weezing was hammered over and over, Dragonite roaring in her anger as her Dragon Rush swapped over to something even more dangerous.

Outrage. One of the most damaging Dragon type moves and one that kept her focused on attack as she continued slamming her claws into Weezing without a moments rest.

I knew Koga would have to react.

I had specifically had this in mind for Weezing, and it was a plan that only Dragonite could do.

Weezing kept trying to get an attack off, but they were slow Pokemon, even with Koga’s ninja training.

This wasn’t the first time I battled Koga’s Weezing. I had seen almost all of Koga’s team, or at least what I suspected was Koga’s team by now.

So I knew that the best way to handle Weezing was just overwhelming power, and Dragonite was the only one that could do it.

“Very well. Do it.” Koga offered actually sounding irritated, as Dragonite kept a firm group on Weezing none of his attempts to escape her rage had worked.

“We-weezing!” He cried out as he shifted, his body bulging for a moment, before he exploded.

Explosion.

Once again the entire field was wrecked, once again I went tumbling as the pressure wave hit me.

But this time I was ready for it. No one suspected Muk of exploding, but Weezing? Hell it was as expected as a Voltorb blowing up.

But I had sent Dragonite out for a reason.

I smiled, teeth flashing as I stared down Koga who was looking more than irritated. Even if he kept his face passive. I had known him for over a month now, and I was good at irritating people.

Dragonite roared as the explosion ended showing she was not only still standing, she was looking even more pissed than before.

“Multiscale. It’s Dragonite’s ability. The first hit they take is heavily protected, their scales act like a shield.” I call out, Koga may have noticed Dragonites resistance to attacks over the month, but I doubt he understood exactly what she was doing.

“To force me to use Explosion twice, I will admit Victoria, you have broken my expectations. I will no longer hold back.”

“Like you were before.” I grumbled at him as he threw out his next Pokemon.

But I was more focused on Dragonite.

Outrage for all of its power, and it was powerful, had a weakness.

Dragonite was looking around, as if she was drunk. Confusion.

Damn.

“Tentacruel!” Koga’s Pokemon cried out as it landed, the rather large Tentacruel looked it’s namesake. Full of tentacles and cruelty.

Fuck... Wasn’t I a Japanese Schoolgirl? Damn that was bad.

“Dragonite! Snap out of it! Smash him down!”

“Ice Beam.” Koga called out simply and I winced as Dragonite was blasted my poor Dragon had looked back at me in utter confusion before getting hit.

“Draa!” She cried out in pain as she hit the mud rolling and shaking as she started freezing up from the attack.

“C’mon! Fly!” I cry out hoping it would reach her but she was just… Not there.

Dammit. Outrage had backfired. This is why I hate moves that have negative effects!

I watched with a wince as she fell. Iced over into the mud.

“Return.” I pulled her back. Promising I would give her a whole night of attention from Milotic and me when this is over.

“If you are going to use that move in the future, you should train it more. While you have diversified your moveset, you haven’t taught your Pokemon how to get the best out of their new moves. Or how to mitigate the issues.”

“I know!” I snapped at him, before releasing a sigh and nodding my head, “Sorry.” I offer wiping some of the mud off myself, as I grab my next Pokeball. I took a deep breath let myself calm down.

My next Pokemon wouldn’t react well if I was angry. So I calmed, brought out a smile and did something cute to calm myself back down.

“My Cute Blue heart! Gyarados, I choose you!” I call out watching as he appears, the mud shifting heavily as he appears a roar on his lips.

What is it with my team and roaring? Ah well, it’s cute.

That was about when Gyarados turned around.

“H-hey, cutie, we rea-Mmph!”

The sun cut out.

A minute later I was back on my feet wiping the slime out of my eyes and Gyarados was ready to battle his cute little heart out.

Koga by this point was completely used to Gyarados and his silliness.

Gyarados was at a weird point in my team. Normally they were physical attackers, but my guy was sorta opposite. See, I hadn’t had time to do any gravity training with him since before he evolved. Koga and his ninjas around meant I wasn’t about to risk showing off my super secret training method.

Even if sometimes I really wish I could stop trying to keep it secret. Stupid Family Secret laws.

Anyways, it meant for the most part I had worked with Gyarados on special attack moves, rather than Physical.

Well that and listening to orders. My newest blue noodle had a tendency to hyperfocus a bit…

Well he would just attack attack attack, and when he got bored… attack.

It was cute if not a little dangerous.

“Begin.”

“Sludge Bomb.”

“Thunderbolt!” I called out almost cackling. That was a move that had been a mess to teach my poor boy. I had tried to do it my own way at first, but Koga had gotten irritated that I had ‘wasted’ a whole day of training to try and teach this one move.

I swore then never to tell him how long it took to teach most of my moves to my team.

But he had sent me into town to the store to purchase a TM.

I bet he was regretting that now.

Tentacruel moved first. Despite Gyarados being faster than most other Gyarados with all the speed training we had done as a Magikarp, he was still only recently evolved, and without a lot of the physical training the rest of my team had gotten.

So a ball of poison rocketed out of Tentacruels tentacles and smashed into Gyarados.

The force of the explosion was enough to rock my boy back, but there was one thing even Koga had learned about Gyarados by now, it was that when I said to do something.

He did it.

Twice now Gyarados had kept attacking even when he really should have stopped, and it was only when I physically intervened that I managed to calm him.

So the blow hurt, but his retaliation was incoming.

The sound of thunder rocketed the field as Tentacruel lit up.

The cry of the Pokemon was wince inducing. The high pitched screech was not easy on the ears.

A moment later it was over, and Koga proved his skill as a trainer wasn’t a joke.

Tentacruel disappeared, becoming a small army of Tentacruels as it activated Kage Bunshin.

A move that had stymied Gyarados in the past. He got hyper focused on destroying the fake substitutes, and ended up getting hit all the while.

“Cutie! Use Surf! Hit them all!” I called out, and he roared, as a wave of water blasted out of his mouth as he aimed it down, the roiling water spreading out and smashing into the bunshin.

Some of them popped. Not all of them, but enough were hit that a chunk of them disappeared.

“Retaliate!” Koga called out, and a moment later a barrage of attacks fired back.

All but one were fake.

But I had no way of knowing, and Gyarados wasn’t looking ready to dodge.

The second Sludge bomb sent him tumbling to the side, smashing into the mud. Which only held him for a minute before he rose back up practically thrashing the ground in his anger.

Okay there was a play here.

“Surf again!” I ordered and the burst of water once more splashed across the field, a few of the Bunshin standing too close to him got popped, but for the most part a Tentacruel, wasn’t going to worry about water.

Which is why my plan was so insidious.

The explosion of another Sludge Bomb roared out, but I knew Gyarados could take it.

“Dragon Dance! It’s time to show off my Blue Heart!” I call out, and instantly, Gyarados was back upright and wiggling his body preparing.

Gyarados didn’t care whether he was hurt. Or tired, or even unconscious.

He was my heart. And he wouldn’t be stopped.

I could see Koga’s eyebrow quirking up as he knew as well as I did that Gyarados wasn’t a powerhouse like the rest of my team yet. So why had I just ordered Gyarados to buff his power?

I smiled, flashing Koga all my teeth as I pointed towards the sky.

“CLAIM IT!” I roared out, matched by my Gyarados as the next sludge Bomb missed as Tentacruel aimed too low.

Because Gyarados had just fled into the sky.

I had planned on keeping this secret, but if I was going to beat Koga here. I would need every trick in my book.

Plus I knew for a fact seeing a flying Gyarados was going to stymy him for at least a moment.

And it did.

Both trainer and Pokemon stared into the sky as Gyarados floated on air currents that should be far too weak to carry him, but did so anyways.

“Rain Dance!” I called up to him. And a few moments later the field shifted as water fell.

I could see Koga coming back to himself as he realized what I had just done.

“Tentacruel! Mo-”

“THUNDER!” I roared.

“-ve off the ground!”

I blinked as lightning flashed, and all of the Bunshins popped. The flooded ground conducting the lightning right to all of them.

Of course me and Koga got hit as well, but that was just what a high level battle was like, we both flinched being struck. Him more stoic than my yelp as I was knocked off my feet.

But that didn’t matter, because Tentacruel was now alone on the field.

No Substitute to hide behind. No Bunshin to scatter around.

Even as Tentacruel attempted to strike Gyarados down, it didn’t work.

I had been training under Koga after all, you think I wouldn’t have my Gyarados hide among the clouds?

It was my new secret move. Rain Dance, to create the clouds, Fly to hide among the clouds acting just as good as Koga’s stupid Poison Fog.

Plus it made Thunder super accurate. So for Gyarados this combo was even more effective!

“Return.” Koga called out, pulling Tentacruel out of the barrage of Thunders that Gyarados was launching down.

“Golbat.” He ordered, and I frowned.

I was pretty sure that Golbat was Koga’s Ace. I had only seen it fight twice now, and both times it had been… Intense.

“In the sky Golbat!” He ordered for once not waiting for his Pokemon to figure out the battlefield on its own. Mostly because Gyarados was still flaring lightning in the clouds above our heads as he prepared.

But Golbat, wasn’t Tentacruel. It shrieked once, and then exploded into a swarm of copies.

I glared. It had taken me both battles before I figured out what was happening. Why that single Golbat could go from a single Pokemon into a swarm of hundreds.

It was a mix of KageBunshin, and Double Team.

Some of them were the ‘real’ clones. Some were after images.

But it was a hell of a sight as it looked like Koga released hundreds of Pokemon at once.

“Thunder!”

I knew it was the only move in my set though. Golbat was a flying type, an electric attack would do some serious damage.

But even as the bolt of lightning slammed through the swarm, the swarm continued moving, surging into the clouds.

Then both Koga and I were useless. We couldn’t see what was happening thanks to the clouds and rain covering the fight, but we could hear it. Thunder echoing through and the sound of wings heard even over the rain.

Finally after a minute or so of silence, I winced as I saw my boy fall from the sky.

“Return!” I called out instantly, as he wasn’t falling by choice.

Then out of the clouds came a swarm of Golbat. All of them shrieking and fluttering down into a mass of wings and anger.

My hand instinctively went to Arcanines ball, but I hesitated. I was fairly confident in Arcanines ability to handle the swarm. She hadn’t liked her loss in the last battle, and had thrown herself into training even more than before.

I knew she could do it. I had a plan all planned out.

But this wasn’t her fight.

“Chansey!” I called out as I released my girl.

“Chanse! Chansey!” She called out dancing from foot to foot cutely as she greeted the day.

“Alright girl. You know the plan!” I called out, and smiled as she nodded. If I had to give an award for Pokemon most improved over the month training with Koga? That would be Chansey.

Not just because she had agreed to actually battle, and had been put up against strong Pokemon that challenged her in every way, but because she had also taken a liking to Koga.

Yeah oddly enough the two of them had become… Friends? It was weird. She just really liked the ninja aesthetic I guess.

So when Chansey immediately brought her hands together I knew what was coming up next.

A sandstorm kicked up instantly, blurring sight and obscuring what she was doing as Koga’s Swarm hesitated, before going on the attack slipping into the storm to attack.

The KageBunshin would start popping soon in the sandstorm, so Golbat had no choice but to go on the attack.

I could hear Golbats Air Slash cutting through the storm aiming for Chansey, but never touching her.

Chansey was a Ninja now.

“Nin-nin.” I whispered. Something I knew no one would hear as I braced myself.

Because a moment after the entire field suddenly shifted.

Gravity.

I winced glad for my normal clothes, because between my hat, and my hastily raised goggles I didn’t have to deal with sand particles as heavy as much larger rock start pelting my eyes.

Golbat didn’t have that luxury, especially since he would be flat on the ground knocked out of the sky in that moment.

I could hear a few moments later the sound of two loud slaps echoing through the field even over the loud noise of sand slamming into the muddy ground.

Then as fast as it appeared. The sandstorm disappeared. A sunny day flooding the field showing Chansey standing over Golbat. Obviously having protected him once he had been knocked unconscious.

As I took off my hat and whipped the sand off it, I noticed with a giggle that Koga was half kneeling on the ground, struggling to deal with the increased Gravity.

Chansey even took a moment to heal up Golbat, who had two massive red spots on its cheeks from Chanseys Gravity enhanced Double Slap.

I waited for a while, until Chanseys Gravity ended, causing Koga to gasp in relief as he managed to regain his feet.

“R-Return.” He spoke after a moment brining Golbat back.

Then he didn’t bring out his next Pokemon, simply looking me over with a almost constipated look on his face.

“Chansey is pretty strong!” I informed him with a peace sign and a strong pose which Chansey immediately copied, even if she didn’t have fingers.

He didn’t say anything simply nodding slowly before giving out an actually audible sigh.

“Very well. Let us finish this battle.” He drew another Pokeball and chucked it.

“Nido! Nidoking!” It roared much to my surprise.

“I thought your last Pokemon was that Arbok!” I couldn’t help but say. I had fought plenty of Koga’s Pokemon over the month. I mean that was a huge chunk of what we had done. Battle after battle.

But this? I hadn’t seen a Nidoking.

“I suppose you would say he is my secret weapon. I hadn’t expected to need his power against you.” He offered which had me chuckle and Chansey did a cute little dance as she spun around on one foot, waving at Nidoking in greeting.

It didn’t at all look like it was having fun. It huffed, and a damn cloud of purple smoke left its mouth.

“Take her out.” Koga ordered simply, and Nidoking roared before charging across the field.

“Chansey. Show everyone how amazing you are!” I called out earning a happy chant of her name back to me before she let out a short little gasp as Nidoking slammed into her. Both of them disappearing into the sand.

The sounds of the battle were all I could make out.

Loud stomps. Ground rumbling. Explosions. It was probably an amazing battle.

But I unfortunately didn’t get to see any of it.

Sandstorm is OP.

I winced as the Gravity once more rose up, and I could hear a rumble of something hitting the ground harshly.

Oh. I knew what was coming next.

So I sat down.

Then the earth shook.

I might have picked up TM Earthquake at the same time that I bought Thunder for Gyarados. Well I bought a lot of TM’s at the time. Including Sandstorm which Chansey was using.

I had figured it would be a great counter to Golbat at the time. Drop the Golbat swarm to the ground and hit the lot of them with Earthquake.

It hadn’t been necessary though. Between Sandstorm and Gravity Golbat was all alone by the time Chansey was done.

But now? I winced as the earth shook rumbling and roiling.

Nidoking despite being a Ground type, was actually weak against Ground attacks, thanks to his Poison typing.

Finally everything went quiet.

I waited, and once again the Sandstorm disappeared. The sun hammering as Chansey used Sunny Day to end the storm.

There on the ground was Nidoking. Unconscious.

Chansey wasn’t untouched.

I blinked almost startled at how badass Chansey looked at that moment. She reached up almost casually to wipe away a bit of blood from a scratch on her cheek and then she swiped a hand down.

Recoveries glow flowing over her putting her back at full health as if she hadn’t just got into a cage match with a Nidoking.

“Return.” Koga called out simply Nidokings body flowing away in light. It was quiet for a moment as Koga seemed to taking in the fact he actually lost.

I was honestly pretty startled it happened too.

I mean I knew Chansey was an absolute monster, but for her to just outright brawl with a Nidoking? That was… Awesome!

I couldn’t help it. “Chansey!” I cheered loudly jumping into the air waving in happiness.

Her awesome serious mode immediately ended as she did the same. Both of us rushing to each other and slamming into a hug as we giggled and danced together.

Only long after we were satisfied at our victory did I turn to Koga.

He had been waiting casually standing among the ruined ground.

I definitely had the sense that he hadn’t expected us to pull out that win, but I guess he hadn’t taken into consideration that I hadn’t shown him every bit of training we had done. I had disappeared some days on Arcanine back, or in Dragonites arms to work through some special training that needed to happen.

Mostly with the new TM moves that we had learned.

But also to work on the many tricks I learned over weeks of battling trainers every day with underleveled Pokemon.

I lost far more often than I ever won, but I couldn’t deny it was a delight. Switching to new Pokemon facing challengers that had full teams and trained pokemon.

Forced to prove to myself that I actually wasn’t half bad at this whole trainer thing.

“Koga?” I eventually prodded the man had been watching me for a while

“Victoria.” He responded reaching into his pocket as he walked closer stepping up to Chansey and I. He offered my girl a nod, which she returned happily.

Then he pulled his hand free and offered to me a Badge.

With a star on it.

“Congratulations on completing your training under my gym. It seems I have far less to teach you than I expected.”

“Thanks.” I responded almost shyly, I had no idea what else to say! I hadn’t thought I would pull out the win either!

Koga was really strong!

If I hadn’t been facing him for over a month constantly seeing his every trick and learning how to counter them this battle would have been just as harsh as the one before it.

“Thank you. Koga-Sensei.” I offered after a moment realizing how stupid I was being. I offered him an actual bow. “I really appreciate everything you have taught me.”

“Good. Then my time was not wasted.” He offered seemingly back to himself as he nodded once to me as my head rose. “But while you have defeated me, you are not yet finished.”

“I’m… Not?”

“No you still have a duty to complete Victoria. You have proven yourself a trainer. Now you must prove you are a ninja.” He offered, and for the first time I saw him have a real smile. I blinked and suddenly he wasn’t alone. Almost the entire Ninja Clan was suddenly there.

Janine standing just behind her father with a grin on her face that I could see even through her mask.

“W-wait.”

“The Challenge does not end until the sun rises once more. Now, you have one minute head start. No Pokemon are allowed to assist you. Good luck.” He offered with an actual evil smile on his face!

Bullying!? Was this hazing!?

I realized how serious he was a moment later and returned Chansey and threw my Pokebelt at him with a pointed finger that I knew he would understand as I turned and ran into the forest around Fuchsia.

A minute later an entire army of ninjas chasing after me, all planning on tormenting me through the night.

—---