Waiting. Waiting. Waiting.
I'd like to say I was reviewing the strategies that Brock can employ on my pokegear.
Instead my mind wandered and now I'm watching the pom-pom style Oricorio dancing the salsa. However I did have a short conversation with Ralts and Kakuna.
Apparently my battle with Forrest came out on the net already and a few people were surprised that we both only used rock types, then they were even more surprised my pure rocks beat the dual rock ground types that Forrest was using.
I may try to play it off but that Onix was a beast. Maybe Char or Ralts might be able to beat it but I know that it would give almost all of my team a tough fight.
A message pings my pokegear. Its encouragement from mom and the others, even Cherry and Professor Oak.
Inhale. Exhale.
The original staff member who brought me here in the waiting room is now motioning for me to start heading to the stage.
Inhale. Exhale.
Heading out the crowd seems to be cheering for me, the only one who isn't is Brock himself.
He jumps from the railing off the stadium onto the field seemingly uninjured before sauntering off towards his side of the arena. I also head to my trainer box, prepping for what he might start with.
Brock motions to silence the audience before he'll start talking. With a press on his microphone he starts things off with "Are you ready challenger?"
I grin something I just know is feral before replying with "HECK YEAH I AM!" purposefully keeping my microphone off just to yell that without worrying about someone bursting an eardrum.
Brock then did something I wasn't expecting. He fiddled with his microphone again and asked "Are you certain with your choices?"
I nodded. There wasn't really anything different I could've done and if there was then I'd probably only find out during the battle anyway.
He took a poke ball and proceeded to toss it onto the field. Out came a floating rock with two arms yelling out "Geodude!".
I wasn't idle in that time and from my side white light faded to show an orange colored lizard with a flame on the tip of his tail, where Brock's choice was loud mine was more subdued. Like a candle flame just waiting to be tossed onto an oil spill.
The referee lowered the flags to start the battle.
"Rock Throw" while I gave no order. He already knows.
Chardon jumped right while exuding a black smoke that covered a portion of the arena preventing Geodude from seeing my fire type.
Brock waited a couple seconds, probably to see what I would do, before he came to an epiphany. "Rock Blast"
Giant blocks of rock proceeded to move towards where Chardon is but by now he would be finished.
"Move away and finish set up"
Chardon exited the smoke and did what must've been his third iteration of Dragon Dance.
"G and keep moving while firing Ember" "Rock Throw"
Just like with Lupa, Chardon keeps his distance while using his Growl and then his fire type attack. Ember was mainly being used to block the rocks being fired but a few did hit Geodude before the rock type fired back using its own move.
Brock then changed his plan.
"Dig to get in close" "DD"
Another time to power the speed and physical strength of my Pokemon.
"Now run to the hole Geodude dug."
With Char being near the original hole he'll have an easier time spotting Geodude by the shifting rocks near the dug ground.
Just as thought, the rock type proceeded to jump out near Char only for the fist aiming at my fire type to just barely miss.
"Point-blank Smokescreen" "Geodude close your eyes and Dig" "G then fire Ember into the hole"
Chardon spew black smoke right into the Geodude's eyes before the rock type could properly close its eyes. Geodude then sunk into the ground once more, the sound of cuteness being weaponized to lower attack once more, only for Geodude to be hit by a staccato of little bits of flame that flew into the hole.
"DD" This got Brock to crease his head in worry, my already four times boosted Pokemon has gotten another buff in speed and attack.
"Geodude 'right hook'" "Retaliate with Beat Up"
All of a sudden the ground near Chardon flew into the obscuring the arena only to be blown away by a very angry Geodude using Hammer Arm onto Char. My lizard took it like a champ and countered with four well placed strikes onto the rock type. With a five times strength boost I already knew the outcome.
The referee signaled to stop the match so Brock could return his Pokemon.
I raise my hand "I'd like to switch."
Other than a questioning tilt from Brock and confirmation from the referee I quickly send Char back in. He already knows he'll have to be used again, I wouldn't uber stack buffs to keep him somewhat fresh just to only use him once.
This time I was the one who tossed out the poke ball first. On the field came out a circular, spiky green bug type waiting to fight.
On Brocks side came out another Onix. The large rock type seems to be rounder and more polished then the one Forrest used meaning its probably older or stronger, maybe both.
With another drop of the flag the battle begins.
Brock ordered first "Dragon Breath"
"Rapid Spin to dodge, then use Pounce" gotta hold out on that move for now.
The Onix took a deep breath before firing a gust of wind from its mouth laced with draconic aura. Tabs spun in place before moving backwards and then left to dodge the attack before keeping up the move in order to get closer to Onix.
Seeing no easy answer Brock resorts to "Sandstorm"
Tabitha gets in close and swaps normal aura for bug aura before slamming into Onix, then she proceeded to jump away from the giant rocky snake. The giant rock type doesn't even flinch but it obviously becomes grouchier as its speed decreased.
"Pounce once more"
In retaliation the Onix finished its Sandstorm only to be hit once more by a bug attack. Neither time was it extremely hurt but it'll probably be better to stay further away from it for now.
The giant raging wind filled with sand buffets my bug type as she isn't ground but that's probably for the best.
Cupping my hands to my mouth I yell as loud as I can to order Tabs "Now Rapid Spin and USE THRICE!" hopefully she heard it.
Brock meanwhile calmly shouts out one word "Rock Throw!"
We both gave our orders. Now we wait.
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This wasn't what Amy had in mind when she thought of her first gym badge, even the trainer challenge seems to be a bit too much. If this is the level trainers need to be for their first match then no wonder 70% of the population never got a gym badge.
The sounds of the raging wind brings the blue haired girl back to reality. No one knows what's happening inside, and until the storm abates no one will. Its clear that Evo thought this all out and Brock... Brock isn't even serious. Yet any second he could be and that second would showcase defeat towards any trainer.
Now her thoughts of training for the next few days seems like it might not be enough. Thankfully Evo agreed to let the group keep a couple of his Pokemon before their own battles and with three trainers working together the results might be enough to push their Pokemon over the edge allowing each of them to win.
Amy just hopes she doesn't have to face off against two Onix in one day.
In her lap Squirtle and Rookidee both squirm seeing the possible battle they might face, Rockruff meanwhile has just constantly oozing excitement ever since Evo's Lupa took down that first Onix, and Spinarak is shaking like a leaf.
However they all have sparkles in their eyes watching a friend of their trainer's use four Pokemon with some type of disadvantage or neutrality facing off against strong trainers like this.
Arceus, Amy isn't even fighting and already her legs are shaking in both anticipation and fear.
On her sides Mirielle and James both have their eyes glued to the match just trying to figure out what's going on, no doubt they both understand that next time they'll be the ones on the podium ordering their Pokemon to fight if the clenching of fists from her stepbrother and tightening of arms around Pikachu are anything to go by.
Some cheering brings Amy towards someone she now has even more respect for.
Evandros's mother. A woman with lean arms, black hair, brown eyes, a fair complexion and a button nose cheering with a smile all the while. On her lap she holds both Leaf, the only Pokemon that Evo had any type of type advantage with, and Shadow, the little bugger that's only ever been open with his trainer. Doesn't she have three badges? If so then it would be laughable to even try to challenge her Pokemon in battle.
She even brought four fully evolved Pokemon with her. Drifblim, Bouffalant, Starmie, and an injured Arceus damned Salamence. All four are down in the large Pokemon stands cheering for Evo, no doubt not even fazed by the moves being used.
Another boom sounds from below, this time the sand starts fading to show what's been happening in the match.
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On the field was a chipped and slightly bruised bug type, who took a glancing blow judging by how she was still willing and able to move so fast.
It all makes sense now, why Tabitha was used. Spikes. Strewn on the flat, rocky ground is an entry hazard that deals a set amount of damage bypassing a Pokemon's innate defense and if Brock tries using the move himself it'll just be negated with Rapid Spin.
This is the type of plays that trainers should use, maybe it would be good to invest in Spinarak learning some different status moves like Poison Powder or that Pounce move, offense is good and all but without strategy and quick thinking even Ultra rank trainers will lose to Great rank trainers.
Of course to allow the usage of Spikes that means that Onix wasn't injured at all during the time spent in the whirlwind of sand. Regular trainers would tell you that that's a wasted opportunity. Brock tries to say something before being cut off by Evandros raising his hand nice and simple.
The scarred boy below speaks into his microphone, his words projected from the speakers above "I'll use my final switch now"
'What is he thinking?' Amy thought
"Oh. So that's what he's going for." All three trainers look at the mother within their group.
Smilling softly Miss Olden was lightly chuckling. So why were her eyes, a soft brown like his are, so bittersweet?
She looked at the three children next to her and her voice was filled with mirth when she began explaining.
"His father lost a lot of battles against his brother who loved to use Spikes and status moves, so much so that Danny taught half his team Defog, Rapid Spin, and Misty Terrain." She pointed a finger to Evo "Watch him closely, he'll now use a Pokemon who either uses status buffs to clean sweep Brock's Pokemon now or a Pokemon that'll force Brock to switch his Pokemon multiple times over."
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From my grip I fling the ball above the field where it pops open to let loose the Pokemon stored inside.
On her head are the two familiar orange horns on her head, the one on the front being bigger then the one on the back, and her head is covered by a blue hair in a manner similar to a bowl cut. Ralts begins the battle with a quick Calm Mind.
Brock doesn't take this threat lying down though. "Stone Edge"
"Teleport to dodge," right where we said "and use CM"
Large swaths of rocks emerge from the ground aiming towards Ralts only for said psychic type to no longer stand where she was, instead she was in the right corner on my side. She then used Calm Mind once more, the move becoming smoother and faster with each iteration she completes.
"Dragon Breath, right in front of it" "Disarming Voice after he does that"
The draconic wind bashes the ground in front of Ralts kicking up a dust cloud that prevented both myself and Ralts from seeing Onix. When the fairy type used her voice move, it didn't hit anything.
DIG
"Teleport up into the air and use Calm Mind to empower yourself."
Too late.
Ralts was smacked aside by the head of the large Onix. The only thing stopping my Pokemon from panicking was an immediate use of Calm Mind to steady herself more than anything else.
"Confusion, then use Disarming Voice" "Sandstorm, then Iron Tail"
Ralts managed to get her move out before Brock could say his order, the psychic orb clashing into the giant rock type, only to be struck again by a sound based move. Sandstorm then took affect but sight wasn't an issue for Ralts since she could scan the arena for brain waves that all living things are meant to possess, no, the issue is that Onix doesn't get hurt by the sand and the steel type move is super effective on my fairy type.
"Use Teleport just as planned, then only use Confusion!" I yelled in case she couldn't hear under the rapid winds.
Onix slams its tail where Ralts was but found nothin' but dirt. Even obscured by the sand I could see its big head look around only to be hit by something purple once, then twice, and after the third hit it shifted it fell to the ground unable to get up.
The referee came to the same conclusion that I made.
"Onix is unable to battle, please select the third Pokemon"
Just like that I have all four, albeit three are ranging between lightly and heavily injured, while Brock's down to two. Plus Spikes makes sure that any Pokemon he sends out will be just as hurt as my own.
Brock has no choice however and sends in a Carbink that immediately gets hurt by Spikes.
However the battle doesn't start yet. Instead the referee motions for me and asks where Ralts is. Oh right.
I whisper to him and make sure to have my hand above my mouth to avoid any lip reading. "Ralts is under the hole that Onix dug." With that he looks at Brock and nods before continuing the match.
Brock basically orders his Carbink to set up Light Screen to protect itself while he tried figuring out where Ralts is. The move doing well to stop the first few hits from Confusion only to let the move pass at half its original power.
"Use Meteor Beam, sweep the entire field."
The move hits nothing though and Brock then looks up to check the roof just in case before focusing on the field, noticing the dug up ground where his Onix used his ground type move.
"Ally Switch into... number 2"
Carbink uses psychic energy to swap places with a Pokemon with four arms and two legs that protrude from its round, rocky body.
"Graveler use Bulldoze." Shoot "Switch Plan!" I shout
The ground and rock type brought one foot up before slamming it into the ground causing some shaking to occur. It would've managed to get Ralts if she hadn't already teleported into the air.
If he was gonna swap Carbink then I could swap Ralts too.
"Ally Switch"
I raise my on-field Pokemon's ball and another one to allow a quick and seamless switch-in. In place of Ralts was the second choice of this fight, Tabs.
"Graveler use Rock Polish" "Pounce, then move away using Rapid Spin"
Graveler began using its multiple hands to clean its body of any specks of mud and dirt making itself shinier and in turn faster finishing the move only to have its speed only slightly decreased by Tabitha hitting it with Pounce. The Graveller then tried to slap away Tabitha with its back left hand with a ground move but missed when she spun away.
"You're faster then Graveler when using Rapid Spin so keep chipping it" "Hit it with Rock Blast"
Tabitha keeps on spinning as fast as she can to dodge and attack, similar to those bullet hell games, and slamming into Graveler at different points in an attempt to unbalance the rock type but due to the low center of gravity, or the fact that it might be too sturdy to move, the plan was hitting a roadblock. It's a good plan that relies a little on luck. I'm just not very lucky.
After the second hit on Graveler, Tabitha got hit thrice by the opposing rock type and promptly fainted.
I didn't prep for a Graveler and its showing with the match-up now, if I had know he'd use that I'd probably teach Lupa Roar and use him here to continuously switch out all of Brock's Pokemon for an easy win or even waited a couple more days. Lame Strats are Strats after all.
All I can do now is use everything I've got against the evolved Pokemon. Kakuna is outright useless against the ground type so I only have two choices.
After I send back in Tabs and thank her for the hard work I unclip a previously selected Pokemon. Emerging from the ball, his tail flame blazes alight in anticipation.
"Char keep moving and use Growl." Brock brought his arm forward "Rock Throw in a sweep."
Char barely managed to dodge Graveler's rocks and only after the initial sweep was finished did he use his normal type move. Thinking on their feet Graveler then threw a Mud-Slap in an attempt to stop Char who could only use Ember to intercept the ground type move.
Tail Whip and Smokescreen are both out since we haven't managed to use either while moving, Ember won't hit and getting too close means a Hammer Arm or Rock Blast.
"Growl, then finish with one last DD" "Rock Polish"
Growl hit Graveler first and Dragon Dance followed right after, both moves finishing before Graveler could do his.
"Now run in and use Beat Up" "Punish with Rock Blast"
The move was a quadruple hit on Graveler.
It wasn't enough.
The boulder shot two rocks in front of itself right onto Char's face.
"Its not OVER! Char use Ember straight ON!"
My flaming lizard listened and obliged my order. Moving his tail to the front of his body from under his feet, he fired a staccato of shining Ember's that hit Graveler straight in the face.
Then. He went limp.
The referee motions for me to send back my Pokemon and to switch out my next choice.
With a steely look, I throw out, probably for the last time, Ralts.
This Graveler knows bulldoze and a couple other ground moves so the hole Onix dug isn't viable.
"Graveler use Rock Throw" "Ralts use Reflect, then DV" Graveler is faster than Ralts but my psychic type makes up for that by being stronger in the move department.
Basically this means that when Graveler used Rock Throw, Ralts could barely get the physical barrier up in time but when she did the shrapnel of the rock was thrown right back to the donor who dodged it by rolling away. Still couldn't dodge the subsequent fairy move thrown at its face.
It fell back in pain unable to completely shrug off after getting hit by Spikes, a couple hits from Pounce and Rapid Spin, a boosted four hits from Beat Up, a couple uses of Ember with one probably being a critical hit, and finally a Disarming Voice.
The place got really loud after that Graveler fainted, louder than when either of the Onix fell.
Brock then returned it before sending Carbink back out who immediately got affected by Spikes again.
Carbink who was already below half health due to switching twice and getting hit a couple times fainted easily enough.
Using the hole Strat we mostly finished it off but I had to switch to Kakuna to hit Carbink after Brock told it to use Iron Defense which affected the psychic waves or something, anyway we just had to use Electroweb to lock it down and then a few String Shot and a bunch of Poison Sting's later Carbink was defeated.
With that I got my first badge.
I let go of my breath that I didn't even know I was holding.
I won. But this is just the beginning. I'm probably the first to beat Brock with zero type advantages, heck Blue and Red both battled Brock with water and grass types each.
With a sigh of relief I step off the podium and begin walking over to Brock who likewise is walking to meet me in the middle.
We shake hands and he gives a couple words of congratulations.
"By the way you might wish to try and teach your Charmander some more ranged moves, Ember is a good back-up but having a second move regardless of what type it is might be helpful. Other then that I think you did things well enough with a disadvantage."
I've got the biggest grin on my face, all I can say is "Thanks."
He just laughs explosively. Wiping a tear out his eye he ends it off with "Being on this side of type advantages, I can always understand why people wish to be generalists. Anyway this was one of the more fun battles compared with the regular rock vs fighting or steel. Take care and here's the badge." And with him handing me a small pin that looked like a rock, he left; waving to the crowd all the while.
I likewise also head back... but not before heading to the large Pokemon stands and hugging mom and dad's Pokemon. The only one able to escape my cuddly wrath was Driblim who just flew further up to mom, the shy little guy.
Meh. I walk over to the hallway I entered and proceed to leave the gym, I can't forget healing my Pokemon after all.
Heading over to the Pokemon center to give the balls with all my injured teammates I let out the only one I used lightly. Kakuna was noticeably sad about not seeing a lot of use during the gym battle.
He noticeably became more enthusiastic when I told him about how I'll be using him against Misty, maybe Sabrina or Surge if I need to, Blue, and hopefully Blaine with one of them just being able to be challenged in like a month or two while the other three would be uber strong to the point that he'll need to be the strongest Beedrill he could ever evolve into for those three.
Only when Kakuna was jumping in anticipation did everyone come into the center. Before I could say anything I was tackled by a green cat/fox-like creature who kept on yipping and purring and hugging to the point that the only thing I could do was hug her to keep her down.
After that, mom and the group were congratulating me for the win... now that I think about it, that Graveller wasn't a first badge Pokemon or it might be and Brock just wanted to keep him for the really strong first badge trainers. Or it could've just been a second badge Pokemon since I was handling Brock pretty well.
Anyway the good news resulted in the group heading for victory nachos and wings, my treat of course, after I got back the MVP's of today's battle.
Suffice to say all seven of my Pokemon had a hearty and filling dinner.
I also finally got to sneak cuddle with the resident ghost type. Later, mom had to scold Drifblim for leaving me on a tree after that.
Out of everyone, Striker was the one who was most happy with me having beaten Brock with type disadvantage. His scales being a little rough but no less appreciated when he'd rub his head on me.
Having time to really look around I kinda got a little pang in my chest, don't really know why.
We mainly just talked about fun stuff like what we'll be doing before facing each other in the conference this year with Amy bringing up some of the dumb and embarrassing things I did in summer camp while saying I'd be a champion someday. Honestly I'd rather prefer being an animator or try being a chef nowadays.
Mom unfortunately wasn't gonna stay and proceeded to ride her Bouffalant home after we finished dinner, she had some homework and essay stuff to work on since it isn't the weekend.
Now was the perfect time to take a stroll around, maybe even challenge a couple people with Kakuna since everyone else was tired or Leaf who left with mom. So I excused myself to have a walk and headed over to the nearby park to use the swings.
There was a dude who was fine with battling me and he ended up losing with his Snorunt.
After that, I had a lot of fun going up and down the swings.
... I should leave Rockruff, Leaf, and Bonsly with the group to prep for Brock. Maybe even Tabs and Kakuna for Spikes or bug moves. Definitely gonna catch a water type or two when I head to Celadon for the gym battle, then maybe I'll post something saying I'm headed to Vermillion to have trainers and poachers on my back when I head back from Fuschia.
Am I being paranoid?
No. Team Rocket exists, gangs exist, dumb trainers exist.
A few minutes of swinging later I pick Kakuna up, the guy loving going down slides, and head back to the group. Maybe to have fun with them for the last time.
Kakuna's trying to tell me something.
Ah, I'm forgetting to smile.
The pang's a little stronger now.
How would you deal with it dad?
'Simple answer kiddo. Just smile silly, then your fake feelings'll become real in no time.'
So I smile, abating Kakuna's worries, and move on with my life like everyone else.