That evening, James sat in the pair's room at the Pokémon Centre, trying to figure out how he was going to battle the next day. He knew he really had to go with the same lineup as he did against Falkner, since Gastly wasn't battle-ready yet, but he was at a loss when it came to how he would stop Bugsy's Scyther. It was much faster than any of his own Pokémon, and likely even faster than Falkner's Pidgeotto, which would make it hard to even get a hit in.
He looked at Cyndaquil, who was napping on the floor near the foot of the bed, and smiled. The echidna had been training hard since they got back, and Pidgey had provided the high-speed target they needed to practice with. But even Pidgey, who was definitely the fastest Pokémon he had, wasn't at the level that Scyther was, and that was going to be a problem.
Jen walked in and shut the door, putting her Pokéballs on the nightstand as she reached the bed.
"So, got a battle strategy yet?" she asked, sitting next to James on the lower bunk.
"No, and that's the problem. I don't know how we're going to overcome Scyther's speed. I'd use Gastly to add some unpredictability, but I don't think it's ready for this kind of battle just yet."
"Well, just stick with what you know, then. You've got three Pokémon with a big advantage against Bug-types, so use that. Play to your strengths, not his."
"Yeah, but still, that speed's going to be trouble."
"Then hit him hard right off the bat. Don't worry about any intricate tactics, just get up in his face and knock him down. That'll show him you mean business."
"I guess you're right."
"Have I been wrong before?"
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Morning came more quickly than either youngster thought possible. James stood in the challenger's box with Cyndaquil at his side, ready to take his shot at Bugsy. The Gym Leader was ready for his young opponent, and Jen watched them intently, wondering how James would hold up.
"Attention please! This Azalea Gym Battle between James the challenger and Bugsy the Gym Leader is about to begin!
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James Enfield
A: ★★
D: ★
S: ★★
Bugsy
A: ★★
D: ★
S: ★★
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Each trainer may use three Pokémon, and the match is over when all three of one trainer's Pokémon are unable to battle! Only the challenger is permitted to substitute! Trainers ready?"
"Yeah!" James called, and he turned to Bugsy. "You ready to kick this off?"
"Of course. If you're as talented a trainer as your friend, this should be a terrific match."
"Alright, battle begin!" the judge called, and Bugsy threw out his first Pokéball.
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"Let's start, then! I choose Scyther!" The powerful Mantis Pokémon burst from the ball, crossing its bladed arms in challenge. James looked on in surprise; he hadn't expected Bugsy to start with his strongest Pokémon. He shook his head and laughed, then took out his own Pokéball.
"Alright, Pidgey, let's roll!" The brown-feathered Tiny Bird flew a few yards above the battlefield, looking at Scyther with her usual disdainful stare. Scyther simply pointed a blade at her, and she trilled back with her own challenge. "Okay, Pidgey, Quick Attack!"
"Scyther, Fury Cutter!" Pidgey was racing straight for the Bug-type, but Scyther ducked the attack and caught her in passing with a red-glowing blade. The Flying-type crashed into the ground; the strike had caught both trainer and Pokémon off-guard.
"Pidgey, you've gotta get up, quick!" James was shocked at how fast Scyther was; he'd never seen any Pokémon with that kind of speed. But he wasn't about to let that stop him. "Wing Attack, Pidgey!"
"Swords Dance!" Scyther began to spin like a top, and Pidgey's attack was blocked easily. "Now, Slash attack!" Pidgey crash-landed again after the fierce hit, but got up despite the damage.
"That's it, Pidgey! Try a Gust attack!" The resulting tornado caught Scyther in its vortex, but didn't seem to do much.
"Swords Dance again!" Scyther's spin blew away the Gust attack, leaving Pidgey vulnerable. "Now, Slash again!" Once again, Pidgey hit the ground, but this time she didn't get up again.
"Pidgey is unable to battle! Scyther wins!"
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"What? How...?" James couldn't believe it. Pidgey's type advantage had counted for nothing! "How'd you knock us out so quickly?"
"Simple. Swords Dance greatly increases Scyther's attack power, and since Slash is so powerful to begin with, it only takes a small increase in strength to make it almost unstoppable."
"No way!" James recalled Pidgey, who was looking at him apologetically. "It's not your fault, Pidgey. You were terrific, so take a long rest. We'll handle this guy." Biting back a wave of anger, he turned to Cyndaquil. "Ready to go, buddy?" Cyndaquil squeaked an affirmative, and jumped out onto the battlefield and ignited the flame on its back.
"Fire-type? No problem for Scyther. Ready for round two?"
"You bet! Ember, now!" Cyndaquil's fire bolts crashed into Scyther, but it didn't seem to feel the hits.
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"Slash it, Scyther!" Scyther raced at Cyndaquil, but James had other ideas.
"Use Quick Attack and dodge!" The Fire Mouse Pokémon avoided the strike, and rushed up behind the powerful mantis. "Now, Ember!" This time, the super-effective move hit home, and Scyther shied away from the flames. "Don't let it get away! Ember again!"
"Quick, Fury Cutter! Get out of there!" Scyther's attack distracted Cyndaquil enough to allow the mantis to escape, and it crossed its blades as it turned to face its opponent again.
"Don't let up! Ember!" More fire bolts, another dodge from the opponent. The two continued this for some time, with Cyndaquil trying in vain to catch Scyther off-guard. Despite the Fire-type 's obvious advantage, Scyther was moving too fast to have much of an effect. "Quick Attack, full tilt!" As Cyndaquil charged forward, James noticed an orange tinge to the move's visible trail, which turned into a blaze of flames that surrounded the echidna. "Wait, what's that?"
"Flame Wheel!" Jen shouted from the stands. "It's a really powerful move, so use it to take Scyther down!"
"You've got it! Cyndaquil, hit it!" The move hit hard, and Scyther dropped to one knee as Cyndaquil rebounded and landed a few yards away.
"Unbelievable! A new move in the middle of a match...but we've got a move they haven't seen either! Scyther, use X-Scissor now!" Scyther crossed its blades, which turned a harsh blue-white, and raced for Cyndaquil, the blades forming a shape not dissimilar to a pair of scissors.
"Uh-oh." James watched Scyther's charge, then composed himself. "Cyndaquil, Flame Wheel again!" Cyndaquil was surrounded by flame as it met the attack head-on. Both moves collided and created a cloud of smoke that covered the whole battlefield. As it cleared, both Pokémon were still standing, but Cyndaquil looked very much the worse for wear.
"Impressive. Your Cyndaquil is resilient, if nothing else."
"B-but...that should've finished Scyther! How's it still standing?"
"Months of hard training, my friend. Scyther could take a dozen Flame Wheels and still keep fighting. I should've mentioned this earlier, but Scyther has had more experience battling Fire-types than any other, and has become surprisingly resiliant against their moves. With that in mind, I'd say you've got a ways to go in this match." James held back his retort, and instead signalled for Cyndaquil to come back.
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"Take a break, Cyndaquil. I'll let the third member of our team take care of this. Geodude, you're up!" The Rock Pokémon crossed his arms in his serene way, and Scyther eyed it warily.
"A Geodude? A Rock-type is a good choice here. But it won't help! Scyther, use X-Scissor!"
"Defense Curl, then Rollout!" Geodude curled into a ball and bounced hard off the grass floor, crashing hard into Scyther's attack. The move appeared to work well, as Scyther looked completely exhausted after landing. "Okay, keep going!"
"Swords Dance!" The rapid rotation caused the Rollout attack to slow and eventually stop. Scyther moved its blades into an attacking stance, and James knew exactly what was happening.
"Geodude, get out of there, quick!"
"Not happening. Scyther, use X-Scissor!" Scyther pushed Geodude away, then dived hard and smashed head-on into the Rock-type, who was knocked down and nearly beaten. "Quick, finish it off! X-Scissor again!"
"Rock Throw! Try to get away!" Geodude threw a heavy rock at the Bug-type, which ducked out of the way, giving it a chance to escape.
"Use X-Scissor, Scyther! Take it down!"
"Oh no, you don't! Rollout!" Once more, the Rock-type move hit home, and this time, Scyther was finally taken out.
"Scyther is unable to battle! Geodude wins!"
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"All right, Geodude!" Jen had been watching the battle closely from the stands, and was becoming worried about her best friend. James had been visibly shaken by Pidgey's early defeat, and Cyndaquil and Geodude had had to put far too much effort into knocking Scyther out. She hoped James would turn the match around, but with both of his remaining Pokémon carrying damage, it didn't look promising.
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"Way to go, Scyther." Bugsy said as he recalled his star performer. "You stuck it out like a true champion. Take a well-earned rest." He took out a second Pokéball and looked across at his challenger. "Don't forget you've still got to defeat two more of my Pokémon! You may have beaten Scyther, but he's not the only problem you've got to deal with!"
"Let's do it, then! We'll see who's the last trainer standing! Cyndaquil, ready?" Cyndaquil let him know he was up for it, and James smiled. Cyndaquil wasn't backing off at all.
"Very well, then. Ledyba, let's do this!" The Five Star Pokémon jumped back and forth as it emerged, ready for a scrap.
"Alright, Geodude, Rollout again!" Geodude curled up and raced at Ledyba, who simply kept jumping. As the move was about to hit, Bugsy made his move.
"Mach Punch! Take it down!" James shouted a warning as he realized what was happening, but it was no use. The super-effective move smashed into Geodude and knocked it away. As the Rock-type hit the ground, it simply lay there, beaten.
"Geodude is unable to battle! Ledyba wins!"
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"How did Ledyba beat Geodude in one hit like that?" James was really under pressure now. The battle with Scyther had tested his Pokémon's endurance, and it had taken a huge effort just to beat one Pokémon. Now, with only a tired Cyndaquil left, he had to hope the little Fire-type could overcome Ledyba and whatever Bugsy's third Pokémon was. He turned to Cyndaquil, who was looking intently at the battlefield. "Ready to go again?" Cyndaquil nodded and leaped onto the battlefield for a final time, the flames on his back blazing.
"Alright, it's the final round! Let's finish this battle!"
"It's not over yet! Cyndaquil, Ember!" The fire bolts barely missed as Ledyba jumped out of the way. "Quick, Flame Wheel!"
"Mach Punch!" The two moves crashed together, and both Pokémon hit the floor, with Cyndaquil now looking completely exhausted. "Now, Comet Punch!"
"Get out of there! Then use Quick Attack!" Cyndaquil rolled away, and raced at Ledyba so fast that it knocked the Bug-type over. "That's it, buddy! Now, Flame Wheel again!"
"I don't think so! Dodge that, Ledyba!" The Five Star Pokémon obeyed, and sidestepped the powerful Fire-type move.
"Cyndaquil, turn around, quick!" James' expression was one of panic as he saw that Cyndaquil was in the danger area.
"Mach Punch, now!" The Fighting-type move hit home, and Cyndaquil was knocked away, towards his trainer. The echidna got back up, and glared at the bug.
"Cyndaquil!" James looked relieved as he saw Cyndaquil start to move forward, then his eyes widened as the Fire Mouse collapsed, beaten at last. "No, Cyndaquil!" It was no use.
"Cyndaquil is unable to battle! Ledyba wins, and the victory goes to the Gym Leader!" James was shocked; it was his second loss already, and his first in a Gym challenge. He stared at the battlefield for a minute before running out to his fallen friend.
"Hey, Cyndaquil, are you okay?" Cyndaquil squeaked weakly as James picked him up from the ground. "Don't worry, buddy, it's not your fault." He saw Jen approaching, and shut his eyes to try and stop from crying.
"James, it's okay. You battled really hard, so don't beat yourself up."
"It's not that, Jen. I wasn't ready for his tactics, and I got caught short. We're just going to have to train harder until we're ready for a rematch."
"And it's one I'll be eagerly waiting for." Bugsy had walked over to them. "You battled very well under pressure, James. Your Cyndaquil in particular impressed me; it is a very resilient and determined little Fire-type."
"Thanks, Bugsy. We'll be back soon, count on that." With that, the two youngsters turned to take James' Pokémon to the Pokémon Centre, and eventually get ready to re-challenge the Azalea Gym.