“It's a simple enough swap,” Nurse Joy explained as James, Jen and Hunter stood by the counter at the Pokémon Centre. “If a trainer catches a Pokémon that takes them over the limit of six, the ball is transferred to the Storage System. For convenience, every Pokémon Centre has a terminal where trainers can exchange Pokéballs if they need to change their lineup. In addition, any regional laboratory has transfer capability, and some people, Breeders in particular, prefer to obtain their own transfer equipment.”
“So, is there anything I'm going to need besides Gligar's Pokéball?” James asked. Nurse Joy smiled.
“The only thing you'll need for the transfer is your trainer card. The transfer equipment will take care of the rest.”
“Thanks, Nurse Joy.” James turned and headed towards the transfer machine, which looked similar to the lesser-used trade machines. When the screen prompted, he swiped his trainer card; after a few moments, his face popped up in the top corner of the screen, and two rows of images blinked into view, with a picture representing each of his Pokémon appearing. He placed Gligar's Pokéball on a small plate, and moved Gligar's picture to a row of boxes labeled 'Inactive'. In a flash of light, the ball disappeared. James moved Ursaring's picture to the 'Active' row, and another ball appeared just as quickly. James picked up the ball and grinned.
“We've got some training to do.”
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Fifteen minutes later, it became clear to all three youngsters that Ursaring would be a load to handle. Immediately after emerging from his ball, he had tried to pick fights with both Gengar and Elekid, and Pidgeotto looked ready to hammer the bear as well. James quickly called a halt before things got out of hand, and sent everyone except Ursaring and Golem to train with Jen and Hunter.
“Look, Ursaring,” James cautioned, “you're part of a team now, and you can't just go jumping the others. You have a lot to add to the team, but you've got to behave.” Ursaring snarled, but James held his ground. “I mean it. I know you and Elekid had quite the fight when I caught you, but he's your teammate now, so you two need to act like it.” He turned to Golem. “Can I count on you to keep these guys in line?” Golem nodded, and James smiled. “Good. You're the steadiest one on the team, so you've got to use that...calm...of yours to help us stay focused.” He called the rest of the group back, and Jen walked over with Pichu. “So...I think you should tackle the Blackthorn Gym first, Jen. I want to use Ursaring to try and win the badge, but I've got a lot of work to do to get him used to being on the team.”
“That's fine,” Jen answered. “Hunter says he wants to train more, too, so I guess I'm the only one who's sort of ready. Although, from the looks of the area, the Gym Leader uses Dragon-types, and they're supposed to be really difficult to fight.”
“Dragons are supposed to be vulnerable to ice, or to other dragon attacks.” Hunter added as he walked over. “Neither of your Pokémon know any Ice- or Dragon-type moves, right?”
“Not that I know of,” James admitted. “Jen?”
“No,” Jen answered. “Unless Tentacruel learned one on his own, we don't have any real counters for a dragon.” She smiled. “But it's not all about moves. If we can outsmart the Leader, we can take out her dragons and win that badge.” She motioned to her team. “C'mon, guys, let's get back to training. We've got some strategy to plan!”
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Jen's team worked hard all day, focusing on movement and concentrating their power. Golbat worked particularly hard, flitting about and causing headaches for his teammates. Togetic was never going to develop Golbat's straight-line speed, but made up for it by changing direction at a moment's notice, making it harder to aim properly. Magmar and Elekid sparred off to the side, exchanging Fire Punches and Brick Breaks at a tremendous rate. Even Pichu was getting in on the act; her ThunderShocks weren't going to knock out most opponents, but Tentacruel was a willing punching bag for the Tiny Mouse, and Jen was encouraged by what she saw. By the end of the session, Golbat and Tentacruel had learned new moves, and Pichu had managed to zap Togetic from a much longer range than she'd been capable of before.
James checked Ursaring's moves before starting his training, and was pleased to see some strong ones listed. The bear nearly knocked Golem over with his Slash attack, and Faint Attack could be useful under the correct circumstances. These were the only attacks James saw listed, but the bear also appeared to have tremendous endurance, something James' team didn't really have. If Ursaring could stay in a fight, he could allow his teammates to clear up after he'd done his work. Elekid was eager to test this out, and hammered away at Ursaring with one hit after another. The Electric Pokémon eventually received a Slash to the face for his trouble, and landed twenty feet away in a furious, shouting heap. Pidgeotto made to strike Ursaring, but the bear swung at her as well, and she desisted. Typhlosion and Gengar fired moves at one another, and Golem rolled between the physical and ranged team members, offering himself as a target when needed.
Hunter, without explaining his reasons, didn't train as fervently as the other two. Steelix provided a sparring partner for some of the faster Pokémon, and his Quagsire was training with Venusaur. The Water Fish Pokémon took one Grass-type move after another, strengthening his ability to resist the otherwise super-effective moves. Hunter deliberately kept Forretress well back; despite his trainer's orders, the bagworm was liable to explode at a moment's notice, and nothing was worth the chaos that would result for anyone caught in the blast radius. His trainer spent time researching trap moves for Forretress to learn, and by the end of the day, he had learned how to lay down Spikes in quick succession. Pleased with their day's work, the three youngsters went back into the Pokémon Centre to rest and prepare for the next few days.
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Jen led the way across town towards the Blackthorn Gym the next morning, confident in her battle plan. Even though she didn't even know which Pokémon the Gym Leader would use, she and her team had worked hard and gotten ready to tackle any threat. The massive doors to the Gym opened at a mild touch, revealing a high-ceilinged room with images of dragons covering most of the walls. Large pillars stood around the edge of the room, and a set of double doors nearly as large as the ones at the entrance stood closed, concealing the battlefield beyond. A small desk sat near the doors, and a middle-aged woman, wearing glasses with sharply angled frame, sat reading the morning newspaper. As the trio approached, Typhlosion slinking along at James' heels, she put down the paper and surveyed them.
“I take it you are here to challenge the Gym Leader?” she asked them. Jen nodded.
“I am. My name's Jennifer, and I'm from...”
“One moment,” the woman cut her off, and tapped a spot on the desk a few times. A tinkling chime echoed through the hall, and the woman indicated the doors. “The Gym Leader will be with you shortly. The challenger may take her position on the field. You two...” she pointed to James and Hunter, “may position yourselves in the spectator's area, along with the Fire-type.” Typhlosion made an indignant noise, but James scratched his ears and he calmed down.
The battlefield room was more vast than any they'd visited so far. Huge columns ringed the room, and an impressive vaulted ceiling sat above them. James, Hunter and Typhlosion sat in the stands, and Jen watched as a small door beyond opened, revealing a tall, slender woman with light blue hair. Her sleeveless dress matched her hair, blue heeled boots with two black rings atop them crept just below her knees, and a black cape was fastened by a what looked like a blue-grey pearl. Her blue eyes bore into Jen, and her face wasn't quite smug, but confident all the same.
“Greetings, challenger,” she said. “I am Clair, the Blackthorn City Gym Leader and an initiate of the city's Dragon Tamer clan. Many like-minded people consider me the world's best dragon master, although others reserve that title for my more famous cousin. To capture and tame a dragon is one of the most difficult and dangerous tasks for any trainer, but I am confident in my ability, and I rarely lose to outsiders. Are you ready?”
“Of course! I'm not afraid of dragons!”
“Then let our challenge commence.”
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Jen Richards
A: ★ ★
D: ★ ★
S: ★ ★
Clair
A: ★ ★ ★
D: ★ ★
S: ★ ★
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“Dragonair, you're up first!” A slender, serpentine creature with bluish scales emerged on Clair's side of the field. A small white horn sat between its violet eyes, and a shiny blue orb adorned its neck. White, wing-like appendages sat on each side of its head, and it floated above the field, seemingly held aloft by sheer force of will. Jen nodded and took out her Pokédex.
“Dragonair, the Dragon Pokémon. It is said to be capable of changing weather conditions at will, and its body exudes a calming, gentle aura.”
“It may look gentle, but looks can be deceiving. Gotta play this one smart.” Jen tossed her first Pokéball onto the field. “Golbat, let's go!” The blue bat wagged his tongue at Dragonair, but Dragonair's expression did not change. “Okay, let's start with one of our new moves. Confuse Ray!” Golbat's eyes glowed red, and they appeared distorted; a similar light appeared near Dragonair, but didn't seem to have any effect.
“Thunder Wave.” Dragonair emitted yellowish rings of light from its body, and they surrounded Golbat before bursting into small sparks. Those same sparks played across Golbat's body, and his movements were significantly slower.
“Oh, no. Golbat, Air Cutter!” Golbat tried to fire the bladed air current at Dragonair, but his body seized up and he dropped a few feet in the air. “Golbat!” Clair smirked.
“Paralysis is quite useful, isn't it? Dragonair, get after it and use Slam!”
“Confuse Ray!” Golbat tried to confuse Dragonair again, but Dragonair floated up to him and smacked him with its tail. Golbat dropped towards the ground, only just managing to stay airborne. “Air Cutter as it comes back!” Golbat swept the air current at Dragonair, who appeared to wince as the sharp wind struck it.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
“Twister!” Dragonair recovered and kicked up a fierce cyclone that buffeted Golbat, who could barely move by this point. “Now, Slam once more!” Dragonair struck Golbat with its tail again, and this time he could barely raise his body from the ground.
“Quick, try our other new move! Taunt!” Golbat struggled to get back up, but waggled his tongue at Dragonair, whose face briefly glowed red before it floated towards Golbat. Jen quickly recalled Golbat before Dragonair could finish him off. “Okay, focus. Taunt will stop Thunder Wave for now, but we've got to be ready for when it wears off. Gotta keep at it.” She took out another Pokéball and tossed it out. “Tentacruel, you're up next!”
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Tentacruel landed on the field with his customary splat, and Clair and Dragonair looked on with interest.
“I'm not sure what you have planned, but it won't work. Dragonair, Slam!”
“Tentacruel, Surf cushion!” As Dragonair closed in, Tentacruel whipped up his watery base and stared his opponent down. “Okay, now use Barrier!” Tentacruel's body shone briefly, and Dragonair's strike didn't seem to affect him. “One more new move, then. Toxic Spikes!” Tentacruel generated a glowing, violet blob, then launched it into the air, where it broke apart. The resultant shards buried themselves in the field, where they glowed briefly before fading.
“Trying to set up for later, are we? Well, we'll have to finish you quickly. Twister!” Dragonair caught Tentacruel in another cyclone, which buffeted him with debris and threatened to break his watery cushion. Tentacruel strained with effort as he fought the wind attack, then settled back in as the attack faded.
“That's it, Tentacruel! Hit it with Acid!” The caustic green fluid drenched Dragonair's body, and it shrank back again.
“Slam, Dragonair! Put it away!” As Dragonair rushed at Tentacruel, Jen grinned.
“Hold it in place with Wrap!” Several tentacles bound Dragonair as it passed, and the serpentine dragon writhed in panic as it fought to get free. “Okay, Poison Jab!” Tentacruel stabbed Dragonair with another tentacle, and Dragonair's thrashing grew more frantic. “Now finish it with Acid!” The greenish spray steamed as it made contact, and Dragonair grew still. Tentacruel unbound its tentacles, and the dragon lay twitching on the ground in front of him.
“No! How did...?” Clair recalled Dragonair with a stunned look. “Very few trainers have managed to take down my Dragonair. You are to be commended.” She took out another Pokéball, and smiled. “But your triumph ends here.” Before Clair tossed the ball, she snapped her fingers, and the floor began to shake. The battlefield split in two, and both halves slid outward to reveal a deep pool of water beneath the field. Tentacruel's Surf cushion broke, sending him plunging into the water. Several small platforms floated to the surface, and so did the jellyfish. Jen looked on in amazement, and Clair released her next Pokémon.
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“Gyarados, go!” A truly gigantic sea serpent emerged from the ball, and landed in the water with a resounding splash; the Toxic Spikes appeared to have remained in the field, as a violet glow covered Gyarados' massive form. Its body was covered in shimmering blue scales, and several white, spiked fins were positioned along its back. A dark blue crest sat between its blazing red eyes, and its fangs were bared menacingly. Jen gulped.
“That's...one mean-looking Pokémon.” She looked at Tentacruel and took a long breath. “We'll be okay. Just because it looks dangerous doesn't mean we can't still beat it. Tentacruel, Acid!” A splash of green fluid flew at Gyarados, who shook it off.
“Gyarados, Aqua Tail!” The lower end of Gyarados' tail glowed dark blue, and it slammed into the water, spraying water everywhere and hammering Tentacruel. The jellyfish fought to hold his position under the strain.
“Poison Jab!” Tentacruel floated toward Gyarados, and jabbed it with a glowing tentacle. “Now, up-close Acid!”
“Aqua Tail again!” This time, Gyarados made full contact with Tentacruel, stopping his attack and sending him flying through the air. He landed on one of the platforms, and struggled to recover his bearings. “Now, Bite attack!” The sea serpent swam effortlessly to Tentacruel and picked him up in its jaws, exerting heavy pressure on his body.
“Tentacruel, get out of there! Acid!” Tentacruel tried to generate another fluid spray, but couldn't get free of Gyarados' bite.
“Finish it off, Gyarados. Hyper Beam!” Through Tentacruel's translucent body, Jen saw a yellow-orange glow fill Gyarados' mouth.
“Tentacruel!” she cried, but she was drowned out by a sudden blast of noise. The beam of light that emanated from Gyarados smashed Tentacruel against the wall behind Jen, and he lay quite still. “I've...I've never seen that kind of power before. Gyarados may be poisoned, but it's still gonna be tough.” She took out her third Pokéball. “We've got to counter it just as hard. Elekid, get going!” The Electric Pokémon landed on a platform, and spun his arms in challenge. Gyarados simply stared. “What's it doing?”
“You're wasting your own time,” Clair responded. “Hyper Beam requires a recharge period after use. I don't expect you to do much to us, but it's a good window for an attack.” Jen frowned.
“Well, if you insist! Elekid, Shock Wave!” Blue bolts of electricity zapped Gyarados, who winced, but stayed stationary. “Give it another!” Gyarados flinched again, then its eyes flashed. “Uh-oh...”
“Aqua Tail!” Again, the serpent's tail slammed the water and hit Elekid head-on. Elekid snarled as he brushed water from his arms. “Now, Bite again!”
“Brick Break!” As Gyarados approached, Elekid drove his sparking arm down between its eyes, knocking it back. “Way to go! Give it another Shock Wave!”
“Twister!” Like Dragonair, Gyarados whipped up a narrow tornado, which was intensified with the added water. Elekid was buffeted by debris, and got caught up in the vortex. Shouting furiously, he spun upwards toward the ceiling. “Take careful aim, Gyarados. Hyper Beam!”
“Get out of there, Elekid!” As Elekid fell, and Gyarados began generating another beam of light, Elekid's whole right fist began to glow and spark. Clair's smirk faded as she saw it.
“Quickly! Don't let it attack!” Gyarados fired the beam, which only grazed the rapidly falling Elekid, and as he fell, he aimed his fist between Gyarados' eyes again. The attack hit with tremendous force, and Gyarados began to fall. Elekid landed awkwardly on a platform, and turned to watch the sea serpent crash backward into the water, soaking him and both trainers. Jen coughed and spluttered, while Clair looked dazed.
“This isn't how...how did you...” She shook her head to try and regain composure. “I'm not sure how your Elekid learned a new move in the middle of a battle, but it was fortunate timing.”
“New move?” Jen asked, and Elekid grinned. “Of course! That must have been a ThunderPunch!” Clair recalled Gyarados, and faced Jen with flashing eyes.
“It will be the last piece of luck you will have in this battle. Kingdra, let's finish this!”
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A blue-scaled Pokémon resembling a sea horse emerged in front of Jen and Elekid. Its underbelly was covered in yellow scales, and a single white fin protruded from its back. Its snout looked like the barrel of a cannon.
“What...is...that?” Jen asked, trying to hide the fear in her voice. She took out her Pokédex to learn more.
“Kingdra, the Dragon Pokémon,” the device announced. “Kingdra is the final evolved form of Horsea, a Water-type. It sleeps on deep seafloors, and it is said that its yawns can create violent whirlpools.” Kingdra's body glowed violet just like Gyarados' had, and Jen recalled Elekid.
“Elekid, take a break. I get the feeling I can't lose you just yet.” She took out Golbat's Pokéball, and sighed. “You're gonna have to hold the line, Golbat. I'm counting on you.” Golbat emerged and chittered at Kingdra, his movements still slowed by paralysis. “Okay, Golbat, Taunt!” Golbat waggled his tongue at Kingdra, who didn't seem to react.
“Kingdra, BubbleBeam!” A stream of glowing bubbles shot from Kingdra's snout, striking Golbat hard. “Now use SmokeScreen!” Kingdra aimed upward, and blasted a cloud of thick black smoke into the air, obscuring the whole battlefield. Jen coughed anew as she was blinded by the smoke.
“Golbat, focus! Air Cutter!” Jen couldn't see Golbat, but she vaguely saw a wind current cut through the smoke. Whether it had done anything to Kingdra was anybody's guess. “C'mon, we've got to find it! Another Air Cutter!”
“BubbleBeam!” The shining bubbles found their mark, bursting as they hit Golbat. Jen heard a thud as Golbat appeared to crash onto a platform. The smoke cleared a little, and Jen saw Kingdra loom out of the fog, aiming right at Golbat.
“Get clear!” she cried, but it was too late.
“Dragon Pulse!” A turquoise sphere formed at the end of Kingdra's snout this time, and it exploded as it hammered into Golbat. The bat twitched a little, then lay still.
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“That's more like it,” Clair said with a smile, as Jen recalled Golbat. Jen sent Elekid back out, and Elekid spun his arms again, a determined glint in his eyes.
“Let's win this, Elekid! Use Shock Wave!” Elekid fired a blue bolt of electricity into the fading smoke, and she heard it make contact. “Thank goodness it can't miss. Give it another!”
“Kingdra, BubbleBeam!” The glowing bubbles burst into shining mist as the electric blast hit them; Kingdra's body briefly glowed violet again. “Now use Twister!”
“Another one?” Jen watched as the cyclone kicked up and spun towards Elekid, but then her eyes widened. The wind was blowing bits of debris everywhere, but it also cleared the smoke. “Get after it, Elekid! Use Brick Break!”
“BubbleBeam!” Elekid jumped from platform to platform with his fist sparking, but the bubbles slammed into him and slowed his rush. “Let's turn up the power, shall we? Hydro Pump!” A concentrated stream of water flew from Kingdra's snout like water from a fire hose, striking Elekid square in the chest. Elekid landed in the water, shouting angrily as he struggled to get back onto a platform. “Another! This ends now!” Jen watched as Elekid fought to get back onto solid ground, and something clicked in her mind.
“Quick, back in the water!” she called to Elekid, who looked back at her in confusion. “You heard me! Down!” Elekid ducked back down as the next Hydro Pump narrowly missed his horns. “Now, Shock Wave that water!” The entire pool glowed blue, and Kingdra shuddered from the force of the attack.
“That won't stop us! Dragon Pulse!” Kingdra fired its next attack straight into the water, forcing Elekid up. Elekid managed to climb onto a platform and glared at his opponent. Kingdra's body glowed a darker violet. “We're running out of time! One more Hydro Pump should do it!” Kingdra took aim at Elekid, and Jen pointed at the sea horse.
“Go straight at it, Elekid, and use ThunderPunch!” Elekid leaped between platforms as Kingdra aimed, then jumped forwardjust as it loosed another stream of water. The Electric Pokémon's fist glowed yellow, and he threw a heavy uppercut right below the base of Kingdra's snout. The force of the blow threw Kingdra backward, and it landed on its back in the water. Its body glowed violet once more, and it twitched before it went still.
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Clair looked thunderstruck as she watched Kingdra go down. Her eyes were wide and staring, and she shook as she recalled her final team member.
“I...you...how...?” she spluttered, her haughty demeanour completely blown away. “I am the master of the Blackthorn Clan, a Dragon Tamer beyond measure! How did I lose this match?”
“It happens, right?” Jen said, a little concerned by this display. Clair appeared to snap out of her fugue when she heard Jen.
“It does,” she said, still breathing hard. “But I don't believe it. You may have won this match, but you are not yet worthy of the Gym badge.” Jen's eyes widened as well.
“What?!” she shouted, her face reddening. “What are you talking about? I won the battle, so I should get the badge, right? That's the rule!”
“The rule, my young friend, is that the Gym Leader has final say on whether an opponent receives a badge. I have decided that I will withhold the badge for now.”
“What do you mean, for now?” Jen argued back. “This isn't fair!” James and Hunter arrived, and Typhlosion wandered over to Jen, looking up at her. Jen calmed down a little and scratched the Fire-type's ears, and Clair looked at the two boys.
“Which of you two intends to challenge me next?” she asked. James and Hunter looked at each other, and Hunter stepped back.
“I guess it's me,” James said, looking at Jen. “But if you're going to hold on to the badge, what's the point?” Clair smirked.
“If you are able to defeat me, both of you will receive a badge. Those are my terms.”
“We accept!” Jen shouted before James could open his mouth. “James will take you down much more easily than I did!” All three youngsters turned and left the Gym, leaving Clair to fume and plan for the upcoming challenge.