Hard Enough - Pokemon SI
- Thread starter Viva01
- Start date
- Users' Choice!
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- pokemon self insert
Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
Chapter 67 - The return of Silly Mouse!
Viva01
Uncomfortable with all the hugs he is given
- Location
- Australia
"—and then Veronica caught herself a pikachu!" Dennis read stolidly from his report, his eyes sliding from side to side.
I made a noise of amusement as Missy and Daniel tried to look interested but they were too wiped out. They'd been the first trainers facing the gauntlet challengers, of which we'd had seven today. That, alongside the rest of the duties expected of them when in the Gym saw them leaning on their desks with droopy eyes.
Next to them, Janine was alert and upright. The very picture of a professional pokemon trainer.
Behind her, Rocko was doodling in his notepad with a bemused expression while Forrest shot glances at whatever Rocko was drawing. Jackson was leaning in and making suggestions on whatever was being drawn. I could feel Janine radiating disapproval even though she wasn't able to turn around without compromising her pose. Crystal and Yolanda were also here, both looking interested as Dennis reported on the recent foray into the surrounding areas with the Pewter-sponsored trainers.
"Alright," I said clapping my hands to end the torture I'd unleashed by letting Dennis debrief on his trip into the wilds with the kids. There was no one better to check and teach bushcraft… Beyond possibly Daniel but he was a new hire. It was just dangerous letting him report on what he'd done.
"So, they've had their time to train, get used to their pokemon and battle among themselves, and a few others. That's good. Are they ready for the sessions tomorrow?" I asked.
Dennis nodded. "Yes, although Veronica stated she wants to look into contests…" he trailed off as though guilty or ashamed.
I shrugged. "It would be a nice claim to have a professional coordinator. It also is something that has less competition for sponsorships. Smart."
Yolanda frowned, "How do you mean Brock?"
I waved my hand about. "Everyone else has been treading a path that is established with set markers that we can use to easily judge. Veronica will be doing something new that is different but it will work in her favour. Doubly so with most of the people coming to Kanto this year being Trainers. There will probably be a few that dabble in Contests which will make it slightly harder but she stands out for being different. Everyone else will be comparing themselves against the others in the group except for Veronica."
I turned back to Dennis. "How'd Mia and Silly Mouse go?"
Dennis flipped a few pages on his report, grumbling as he did so about still having more to talk about. He drew the pencil he had behind his ear and tapped it on one page. "Mia did well with practising Thunder. She has it up to the strength of a Thundershock at the moment but that's to be expected with Silly Mouse's estimated age. Her other move shows more immediate application so Mia spent a lot of time training on both moves more than she did anything else. As such, she still only has Silly Mouse on her team."
Dennis furtively glanced around and flipped a page. "Humphery on the other hand was able to catch three—"
"Dennis," I said, cutting him off.
I shook my head. "Save it for a surprise, as the others are going to face the gym's sponsored trainers." I turned towards the others. "Missy, Janine, Forrest… Yolanda, I'll have you all rotating through on those that are undergoing the gauntlet challenge."
Yolanda perked up. "Me?! You want me to fight them?!"
I nodded. "Yeah, you're more than qualified to handle some of the pokemon. Just remember to go easy on them." Crystal nudged Yolanda and said something that had Yolanda blushing. Oddly Crystal looked annoyed by this instead of pleased.
Janine raised her hand. "Why me? The others make sense but they will not be expecting me."
I nodded. "Precisely. Sometimes it's important to throw them a curveball. They'll be expecting rock or rock-themed pokemon. I want you to use the gym pokemon for this alright? You can deploy your own strategies but keep it within their skill level."
Janine's hand shot into the air. "Question! How many of the lower-strength pokemon know how to perform Sandstorm!? Or Rock polish? Or Mudslap?"
I raised a finger as Forrest chuckled maliciously. Yolanda was biting her lips while the older trainers stared at Janine. I coughed. "... quite a few actually," I said neutrally. "Keep it possible for them to beat you, yeah?" I sent a mental apology to any kid that faced Janine tomorrow. I flicked a glance to Dennis who had a determined glint in his eyes.
So, who'd win? Dennis' week of preparation or Janine's out-of-the-box thinking? I shrugged. Oh well, it'd be good for the kids… I hoped.
Veronica barely scraped a win against me with her pokemon limping across the line, but good use of her terrain to tire out the Onix I'd sent against her got her there. She'd proceeded to whittle down my pokemon and when the match had been called she almost collapsed from how much energy she'd used shouting commands.
I marched across to her and offered her a hand. "That was a tough-fought match. I saw a lot of potential there."
She smiled up at me. "Thanks, Gym Leader Brock," she said.
I gestured to the side where Jackson was waiting with a tray of gym badges. "So, do you want your prize?"
She bit her lips before raising her head to the stands where the other kids were all waiting. One and all, each of them so far had won their matches and earned their badges. And one and all of them had said they would wait for the others in their group to celebrate together.
Veronica shook her head.
They were putting a lot more pressure on themselves than they needed to. It was their decision though, so I left them to it. I led Veronica to the medical wing for her pokemon to get checked over. There I traded out my Onix and Geodude before grabbing up Izumi's pokeball.
I was actually glad that after Humprey and Mia's challenge I'd be done for the day. Before the sponsored trainers, I'd had a few two and three-badge matches. As things stood I was really turning over the pokemon that were used for my first badge challenge with the flood. I sighed. I'd have to be careful, soon some of these pokemon would be too strong to use on the new trainers.
My options would get smaller and smaller until the rostered break in a few weeks time. Until then, I'd have to stay vigilant.
"And now! Representing the first of this year's fully sponsored trainers for Pewter City Gym! Humphrey Stoneman from Pewter city!" shouted Rachel as Humphery walked into the arena proper.
Rachel grinned as she turned to the trainer arena. I pat Yolanda on the back. "This is just like a tussle in the schoolyard. Go have some fun."
"That's easy for you to say! You don't have to worry about people laughing at you!"
"You'll do fine. If anyone laughs I'll send Titan to sit behind them," I said jokingly. Yolanda shot me a furious look.
"That is not helping!" Then her gaze softened. "Really though?"
I smirked at her.
Yolanda huffed at me, only to glower as a stray lock of hair floated in front of her face. I reached out and plucked her scrunchy out before retying her hair in a braid that was more firm. She blinked only to snort and give me a much more grateful look.
It was short-lived as Rachel raised her microphone. "And now! Representing Pewter City Gym for the first time! Yolanda!"
Yolanda marched down the stairs like she was a square block of stone rather than flesh and bone. When she reached the podium. She glanced around and I made a gesture to try and get her to calm down. She nodded and clapped her hands together and shut her eyes.
Dennis whistled. "Huh. She really does take after you, doesn't she? She's going to be a terror when she goes on her journey if she can get that egg to hatch."
I nodded, feeling rather proud as she released the pose and adopted a pose with a hand on her hip. "Trainer Yolanda! Ready!" she announced. When the crowd cheered she got a little spooked but settled back in.
Humphrey merely held his game face.
"Trainers release your pokemon!" announced Jackson.
"Go Geodude!" said Yolanda.
"Go Seedot!" said Humphrey.
"Huh," I said. "Impressive! Those are tough to find in Viridian forest." I glanced at Dennis.
He smiled widely. "Humphrey was quick to work out that certain pokemon had a different cycle of being active. He started varying when he was waking up and exploring at twilight and night. He's gotten himself a good team with that Aron we gave him as the starter."
I nodded and watched as Yolanda tried to use tackles to nail the Seedot. When that didn't work she switched to Sand Attack only for Humphrey to order his pokemon to use absorb. Geodude toppled quickly at that. Yolanda grit her teeth as she withdrew her pokemon. Then she pulled out another pokeball.
"Go Zubat!" she said.
I frowned. "Where'd she get that from?" I asked.
"Crystal caught it," said Dennis loyally. "Georgina's been letting her catch and train two pokemon in preparation for the day she goes out on a journey. They're shopping around for an official starter but otherwise, those two are good training pokemon for her to practise with."
Janine appeared behind me. "I was not aware I could use a Zubat for this challenge?"
I shrugged. "It's rock-themed. I hadn't expected her to use it but it works." I considered it before nodding. "We should consider getting some in the next acquisition run. After all, they're mostly found in caves."
Dennis rubbed his chin at that and I watched as Yolanda unleashed Zubat on the Seedot. The type advantage didn't even become a factor.
"Supersonic!" shouted Yolanda happily as she punched the air. Across from her Seedot wobbled and wavered only for her to keep up the assault. Humphrey eventually remembered that he could withdraw his pokemon and did so to reveal a young Pidgeotto. I shot Dennis another look.
Dennis shrugged. "Kid's impressive."
I nodded and watched the larger bird pokemon outspeed and outpower Yolanda's Zubat. I nodded, deciding that I might feature a few Zubat in the next rotation of pokemon. It would work well with most people going through or past the tunnels of Mt Moon. An early warning of what these pokemon could be like.
I tapped Janine on the shoulder. "You're up next."
She bounced in place only for me to cough. "Wait for Yolanda to get off the arena and Rachel to announce you first."
"Ah, of course," Janine said. It took a few minutes for Yolanda to depart. Humphrey apparently recognised her from school and stopped her to congratulate her for the good match. Then he turned his attention away and in doing so missed her saddened expression.
I clicked my tongue. Dennis shot me a look. "You're gonna shake him up a bit boss?"
I worked my jaw only for Janine to speak up first. "I shall avenge Yolanda's loss and remind him to be more gentle with a young girl's heart!"
"Also representing Pewter today we have—" Rachel was saying only for Janine to sprint down the stairs and leap over the edge. The crowd gaped as she flipped end over end in a gymnastics flip before landing in a perfect three-point pose.
"It is I! Janine of Fuchsia!" she said. She held up a pokeball. "Are you ready!?" she said, daring him to reject it.
Humphrey was confused. "Do you even go here or are you a fan that jumped the fence?" he said looking to Jackson who wasn't helping as he burst out laughing.
Janine bristled. "I am studying underneath Brock to learn how he runs his Gym! Now is not the time for talk! Are you prepared to fight!?"
He nodded slowly, still looking to Jackson in case this was some sort of joke.
"Go Geodude!" said Janine as she whipped a pokeball out only to expertly catch it when the bounce-back feature activated.
That had Humphrey straightening up. "Pidgeotto, use Gust!"
"Geodude! Defense Curl!" Janine answered, causing her pokemon to curl up into a ball as the wind swept aside dirt and small rocks. What it didn't do was move the small boulder pokemon. Humphrey clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Pidgeotto stay up high! They're going to try and use Rollout!" he said, sweeping his hand.
Janine sniffed loudly, "Rock Polish!" she said.
Humphrey gritted his teeth before raising his pokeball and returning his pokemon. "Return Pidgeotto! Let's go Seedot!" he said instead. His Seedot bounced out and Janine grinned.
"Use Sandstorm!" she said, causing Geodude to spread out her arms and spin widely creating a dust cloud that expanded quickly.
I hummed. "She's going a bit harder than she needs to against a first badge trainer."
Dennis nodded from next to me, not saying anything. I shot him a sly look, had he bonded with the kids during their trip away? He seemed highly invested in their success.
"Seedot, get into the sandstorm and surprise them!" Humphrey said.
I was surprised by the call and leaned in to see what he would do. I watched vague shapes move into each other and it looked like Janine had ordered her pokemon to use Tackle instead of Roll Out. I watched the Geodude-shaped form lunge only to strike something and rear back.
Then Humphrey was shouting something and I saw hints of green energy. Dennis pumped his fist. "Yes! That's the way! Astonish into Absorb to keep your pokemon in the fight!" he said.
I chuckled, realising that Dennis had it right. The Sandstorm slowly fell apart and a dirty and bruised-looking Seedot emerged with a downed Geodude laying across from it. Seedot puffed itself up victoriously.
Janine observed this clinically before inching her hand towards another pokeball only to stop and shake her head. "You have demonstrated enough skill that you may advance. Geodude return!" she said before backflipping out of sight.
The crowd gasped in shock before Jackson diverted their attention with a flag raised in Humphrey's direction. "Seedot wins and Trainer Humphrey advances!"
This got people clapping, but I noted that more than a few were still trying to spot where Janine was. I turned and spotted her inching over the fence that divided the Gym trainers from the crowd.
"Have fun?" I asked.
She paused, caught with one foot awkwardly over the fence. She coughed and hopped over before Dennis could turn. "Indeed. He was most skilled, but I wanted to make him sweat first."
I hummed. "Well, I don't have to question his skills. He demonstrated enough for a two or three-badge challenge just there." I eyed Humphrey, while pointedly not looking at Yolanda who was looking glum off to the side. "No reason to make it too easy though."
I toggled the radio and Rachel beamed as she raised the microphone. "And now! The Challenger has advanced enough to face off against the Gym Leader! Give it up, for Brock!" she shouted.
I marched down and frowned when I realised that merely leaping across the divide wouldn't be as impressive now that Janine had demonstrated she could do a flip over the same distance. Damn, she's upstaged me and probably hadn't even been trying. I still made the leap, lacking anything better to do and chuckled to myself as I stood.
"Humphrey, good to see you again." I glanced at his pokemon. "You've grown in an interesting way."
He nodded tightly and returned his Seedot. "We have, and we're ready for you! Let's go Aron!" he said, releasing the small metal dog I'd gifted him when I'd taken him on as a fully sponsored trainer. Aron barked harshly and I smirked.
"Very well. Let's see how you've grown. Go Onix!"
Jackson raised and dropped his flags. "Harden," I said to start things off. Onix gained a sheen around his body as his defence increased.
Humphrey punched forwards. "Metal Claw!" he said, causing his pokemon to charge across the distance. I smiled to myself, realising he'd set up his pokemon too deep to make the distance without me getting off another move. A small mistake, but one that was telling.
"Use Dig," I said to evade the charging Aron.
Onix leapt into the dirt and vanished into a large hole. Aron skidded to a halt and growled.
"Go after it!" Humphrey shouted. I raised an eyebrow. Aron typically needed to be tutored that move so how had he had the time to… I watched as his pokemon sprinted down the tunnel my pokemon had left with harsh barks echoing after it.
I sighed as Humphrey stared in shock. "I meant for him to Dig his own tunnel and intercept Onix…"
I chuckled as the sounds of barking continued. Onix emerged a minute later and slid out with an annoyed look on his face. The cause was quickly revealed with a tiny Aron gnawing on his tail. I noted it wasn't with any actual energy to make it effective.
Lots of enthusiasm though.
"Onix use Bide," I said. Onix glowed and Humphrey clicked his teeth.,
"Let's commit! Aron, use Metal Claw!" His pokemon stopped biting mine and his front paw glowed silvery as he leapt in to strike my pokemon. Onix reared back but held strong.
"Again!" shouted Humphrey as he gained a bead of sweat on his brow.
Once more Aron struck, only for Onix to rise up with a glint in his eyes.
"Finish it quickly!" Humphrey said, knowing he had to stay committed now.
"Onix attack," I said, causing Onix to build up energy as he prepared to lunge. He was just coiling up when Aron struck once again and a small blast of dust radiated out of the impact site. I wasn't surprised to see Onix down for the count with Aron heaving air into its tiny, trembling frame.
Humphrey was also shaking. "Oh, wow! That was close!" he said as he wiped his brow. I nodded.
"And that's all I need to see. I can tell that you've more than earned your first badge." I cocked my head to the side and flicked my attention towards the stands. "Are you going to hold off as well?" I asked.
He nodded, a grim look on his face. "Y-yeah… But Uhm… Brock, are you going to go easy on Mia? She only has—"
I raised a hand and cut him off. "I will treat it like I always do. Mia has to show me her best." I shooed him away and nodded to Rachel as I made my way back up. I tapped Yolanda on the shoulder.
"You're up again. Don't go easy on her, but keep it controlled, alright?" Yolanda nodded seriously and when Mia was called, she came out with Silly Mouse in her arms. She was notably stroking him in a gesture that screamed 'I am not at all calm'! Silly Mouse himself looked a bit agitated, but I looked past that.
He had a good lustre to his coat, and his body had bulked up a lot since the last time I'd seen them. She'd obviously doubled down on her pokemon and it showed.
I was curious how she'd handle the upcoming challenges. I nodded and Yolanda marched forth, this time much more settled in. Mia perked up and waved happily when she spotted Yolanda causing Yolanda to wave back. Then she got a stern face on and Mia remembered what she was there for.
Yolanda sent out a Geodude as her first pokemon.
Silly Mouse took to the field and Yolanda was quick to have Geodude go on that attack with Sand-attack.
"Quick Iron Attack!" shouted Mia, making Silly Mouse blur away from the sand before sprinting in close to the side where he stopped on a pokedime. His body I noted was spinning in a tightly controlled arc like he was performing a dance rather than just turning. With one foot dug into the ground, his body whipped around, and a silvery glowing tail revealed itself.
It slammed home into geodude and sent the other pokemon flying. Geodude slammed into the wall where it collapsed in a slumped pose. The crowd went silent in shock at the ferocious combination attack.
I glanced at Dennis and he had a huge grin on his face. I laughed and that triggered a storm of cheers and applause as the crowd roared to life.
"She made very good use of that Iron Tail training then," I said.
Dennis nodded. "Worked on nothing but her pokemon since she got it. That's going to be one strong Rattata when it finishes growing."
I nodded and watched Silly Mouse wave happily.
Yolanda returned her pokemon and pulled out a Diglett which proved a much tougher match-up as Silly Mouse's speed couldn't let it close with the mole pokemon. In the end, Mia had to allow a hit to land and rely on her timing to be good enough to get Silly Mouse an iIron Tail in retaliation.
I clicked my tongue. "She should have used the boulders to escape Diglett. Diglett is one of the only pokemon that won't leap out of the ground when using Dig after all."
Dennis shrugged but Janine to the side looked intrigued by that information.
"Silly Mouse come here!" said Mia gesturing for her pokemon to approach. I nodded, pleased that despite not catching any other pokemon she had the foresight to get herself a potion or three.
Janine waited until Mia was done, then threw something that went off with a bang. Instantly everyone's heads snapped in that direction while I shot her a glare. Janine, either unrepentant or not noticing, sprinted down the stairs and was on the podium without anyone else noticing her deception.
"Well met!" she shouted, causing everyone to flinch and realise she was suddenly just 'there'!
Mia tilted her head. "Hello? I don't know you?"
"I am Janine, I am interning under Brock. You might face me again in Fuchsia if you make it that far!"
Mia made a surprised expression at that. "Oh! Alrighty then! That's pretty neat! Silly Mouse and I are ready for you today, and we'll be ready for you in Fuchsia!"
"Rat!" said Silly Mouse defiantly.
"Go Geodude!" said Janine once more, tossing out another of the Gym's pokemon.
"Begin!" Announced Jackson.
"Geodude use Sandstorm!" said Janine, this time not waiting around.
"Silly! Use Tail Whip while we can!" said Mia. I nodded. She'd done a good job judging her pokemon's speed and knowing that she would have probably had to have been a lot faster with her pokemon.
The arena became shifting shapes and whistling winds as the sandstorm whipped at the pokemon. I could see Mia bracing and leaning into it. "Hang in there Silly!" she shouted as loud as she could.
I knew from experience that she would have gotten a mouthful of sand from that but respected her dedication.
"Get up on a rock out of the storm! Use your claws!" I heard from Mia.
I noted that I couldn't see the Geodude which let me know Janine had likely ordered it to dig. A few moments later I was proven right when a shape shot out of the ground to try and slam into Silly Mouse. Only for the Rattata to parry the attack.
"Now! Iron Tail!" shouted Mia, seeing her moment of opportunity. Her pokemon lunged and once more another win was chalked up.
This time instead of finishing the match however, Janine sent out a Rhyhorn that she sent bulldozing around the arena after Silly Mouse making the pokemon have to run away. A number of rocks were destroyed in the rampage, but eventually, Silly Mouse won out with greater endurance and agility.
When Rhyhorn faltered Silly Mouse once more turned and nailed the other pokemon into the ground with an Iron Tail between the eyes.
"Rhyhorn is unable to battle! Silly Mouse and Mia advance!" announced Jackson earning some applause from the crowd.
I settled onto the top of the stairs as Rachel got ready, my eyes on Silly Mouse as he heaved in huge lungful after lungful. This was where the issue of only having one pokemon made itself abundantly obvious. Until that one pokemon became amazingly powerful and well-trained it would not be able to handle a gauntlet challenge.
Mia was wiping at Silly Mouse with a cloth to get rid of some sand from his eyes while spraying other parts of him with potion. His grimaces and cries made it obvious that he hadn't escaped the last battles unscathed. He must have been clipped a few times there, either by tackles or flying rocks.
"—Brock!" shouted Rachel alerting me that it was time to move. I made my way down and had to resist the urge to slow down. On the podium, Mia was furiously rubbing potion into Silly Mouse as Silly Mouse tried to turn away from her and face me, the oncoming threat in his mind.
I considered the pokemon on my belt and I slowly came up with a plan. I leapt across the fence once more and landed in my kneeling position before rising up.
Silly Mouse was baring his fangs and ready for me, despite Mia holding him back to get one more squirt of potion onto him before letting him hop forward. Mia eyed me and then her pokemon.
"Go to the front!" she said to Silly Mouse ordering him right in close to the centre of the battlefield. I smirked.
"I've been looking forward to this. Time to show what you've got Mia and Silly Mouse." I enlarged a pokeball and nodded to Jackson.
"Go Lileep!" I said as I threw my pokeball to the middle of my area thereby giving my pokemon a bit of breathing room without making it too far back and therefore letting Silly Mouse have a run-up.
"Eh? Who's that pokemon?" Mia said, unknowingly mimicking most of the crowd as murmurs broke out. On the field my pokemon swayed innocently from side to side, her fronds retracted where her face was.
Jackson took a moment to shoot me a surprised look. He obviously hadn't been expecting me to reveal the Gym's newest acquisition on a first badge match. I smirked at him and he nodded.
"Trainers! Ready!? Begin!" he said, dropping his flag.
"Silly Mouse! Go for the kill with Iron Tail straight away!" she said, punching forward. Silly Mouse charged forward and I hummed as he leapt into the air.
"Lileep, use Acid." My pokemon snapped her head up straight at the oncoming Rattata and spat a wad of poison. It must have been a critical hit as Silly Mouse cried out and missed with his Iron Tail as he crashed into the ground to the side of Lileep.
"Good, now use Wrap!" I said.
Mia gasped. "No! Silly Mouse get out of there!" She said only for Silly Mouse to be locked in Lileep's fronds and body as she curled around him. His tail was most notably restrained. "Damn it…" She gritted her teeth. "Fine! Silly Mouse use Crunch! Bite them back if they're not going to let you go!"
I chuckled as the match became a drag-down fight with my pokemon trying to smother him while SIlly Mouse bit for all he was worth. I was impressed that her pokemon knew Crunch and that likely was what earnt her the match.
"Lileep is unable to battle!" said Jackson as my pokemon went limp.
I nodded and withdrew it. While I had a lot of these to potentially draw on, I wasn't going to use them to float the weakest badge teams. That would be bandaging something that needed much more delicate care. They'd feature, but not in large numbers.
Silly Mouse heaved and trembled as he staggered back towards Mia who quivered and looked at me. She shut her eyes as I selected another pokeball. She held up her hand and raised Silly Mouse's pokeball to signal she wasn't going to test her luck.
I felt my respect for her grow. She'd pushed as far as she should and she—
Silly Mouse refused to go into his pokeball. The red beam of energy connected, and he started to be drawn back only to be aborted. Silly Mouse glared at me as though I had done it only to pause and shoot Mia a startled look.
"Rat? Tata? Rattata?" Then he got an angry look on his face as he gestured at himself. "Rat Rat Rat! Tat Ta!" He waved at me and chomped his fangs and turned back digging his claws in.
I whistled. "Little guys got some fighting spirit that's for sure…" I said, "Are you willing to test that?"
Mia shook her head. "No! Silly Mouse I don't need to win a badge today! I don't want to see you get hurt anymore! You've fought too much as it is! I should have gotten another pokemon to help back you up, instead of training you so hard!"
"Rat!" Silly Mouse said in a way that made me think he disagreed. He pointed at me and then made a gesture at his eyes and then back at me. Mia chuckled and nodded.
"W-w-we're going to c-con-continue," she said.
I enlarged my pokeball. "Very well."
I threw out Izumi. She emerged with a cry of her name before taking in the scene. She tilted her head and considered Silly Mouse.
"Be—" Silly Mouse charged before Mia could give her order.
I hummed. That wasn't what I wanted to be taught here and now. "Rollout backwards," I said.
Izumi tucked and rolled backwards out of danger as an Iron Tail came down where she'd been.
"Rock Throw," I followed up with.
Silly Mouse started to charge ahead only for Mia to scream. "SILLY MOUSE STOP BEING STUPID AND DODGE THOSE ROCKS LIKE WE TRAINED!"
He tripped as he lunged to the side, taking a rock as his instincts warred with his determination to prove himself. The Rock Throw saw him sliding back.
I made a sign to Izumi to hold, which honestly was entirely unnecessary. She could read the room.
Silly Mouse struggled to his feet and shook Mia shouted, "Silly! Stop, and listen!"
Silly Mouse paused tilting to show that he was listening while watching me and my pokemon.
"I'm sorry I doubted you, I was scared for you. But charging in like that won't win us this fight. You're tired and that Geodude is fresh! We need to trust each other… I realise that's a lot to ask but I believe in you, can you do the same for me?"
Silly Mouse considered that for a moment before nodding. "Good now… Use Thunder."
Silly Mouse paused only to nod, charging up electrical energy and causing his whiskers to spark more like a pikachu than a rattata. I frowned, the crowd were screaming for her to stop as it wouldn't work. I knew Mia to be a smart girl. This wasn't her not knowing that.
I saw the glint in her eyes and smiled.
It looked like she had a plan.
"Ready yourself Izumi!" I said, causing my pokemon to make a show of punching the air.
Silly Mouse charged up, and then Mia shot her hand out pointing ahead of her. "Blast the spot right in front of the geodude!" I blinked in surprise as Silly Mouse arced a bolt of electrical energy up into the air and down right in front of Izumi.
I blinked furiously to get rid of the flash of lightning and boom of Thunder causing me to miss what she said to Silly Mouse next. The attack worked to blind me and Izumi to Silly Mouse and when the dust cleared we found ourselves suddenly face to tail to a leaping rattata with Iron Tail dive bombing us.
I grinned. "Clever girl," I said aloud as Silly Mouse slammed into Izumi.
Izumi was thrown backward and rolled over herself a few times. When she came to rest at the base of my podium I leaned over to see if she was alright. She opened both eyes and then winked at me before faking being knocked out.
I glanced up to find Silly Mouse flat on his stomach as he stared defiantly at Izumi, willing her to stay down. When I raised my pokeball and returned her, he slumped.
Mia leapt over the edge of her podium even as Jackson raised his flags. "Brock has withdrawn his pokemon! Silly Mouse and Mia are the victors!"
The crowd in the stands erupted in cheers as Silly Mouse was raised up into Mia's hands. He grinned at her and waved weakly at the crowd. I watched her, letting her have her moment.
When I got to the ground level, I made my way to her and coughed to announce myself. Mia and Silly Mouse both grinned at me. "Well, that wasn't how I thought things would go."
I shot Silly Mouse a look. "You and Mia had already earned the right to the Pewter badge when Mia tried to withdraw you. That seemed good sense to me." I made a thoughtful face. "But then again, I don't know what you two are capable of apparently." I nodded.
"Mia, and Silly Mouse. It's matches like this that show just how much our bonds with each other matter. Moments like this make me love being a Pokemon trainer. I'm honoured to have witnessed you fight. You truly surprised me."
Mia and Silly Mouse were speechless as I gave them a shallow bow of respect. I felt that they had deserved it. I shot them a wry smile. "I might have to use that Thunder trick with Sanchez you realise?"
"O-oh? Really?!"
I nodded. "It was a great move." I glanced at Jackson. "So, I think there was an agreement with the Pewter Gym trainer group to get your badges as one today, no?"
Mia beamed as I waved the others down onto the field. Instead of just the trainers I sponsored, the entire crowd poured onto the field like their home team had just won a match. In a way, it was, as there were only local parents and family and friends present for this series of matches. They'd cheered and cried and supported the kids just as much. I shouldn't have been surprised by them 'storming the pitch'.
I raised a hand, considering stopping them only for the adults to host up the other kids and make them all part of the moment. I lowered my hand and chuckled. "Well, this works as well."
When the kids got their badges, everyone cheered for them. I got a number of claps on the shoulder from the locals as well for the 'great matches' I'd had with the kids. I shook hands, and made small talk for a while. Internally, I was glad that I'd scheduled the matches as the last part of the day. This had allowed parents and families that worked to come and witness their children's success.
When everyone was done celebrating the matches and the awards for gauntlet runs had been given out, I bid everyone good night and they all departed.
As I was cleaning up, Janine edged up to me. "That… that was very different from how matches work at my father's gym."
"You don't have crowds? Or something else?" I asked.
"Yes… but how the crowd included you. In Fuchsia… In Fuchsia, my father and I are respected but we are kept at a distance… We're the Guardians of the town, and people revere us. They wouldn't have included us in celebrating their or other children's success as they did today. They'd certainly never storm the arena after the match… Despite it being disrespectful in so many ways I…" She clenched and opened her hands.
"I liked that," she said, as though it hurt her to admit it.
I frowned, that didn't seem right to me. "Why does it sound like you think that's a bad thing?"
"I… I don't want to erode all the traditions of my family!" she said, stomping her foot. "But! But, I find myself longing for some of the grandeur you have. The battle courts, the immersion into the community, the showmanship!"
I shrugged. "So just work the traditions into what you want."
She shot me a look. I gestured at the Gym at large.
"I kept a lot of the rocky aesthetic for my Gym. Why not do the same for your own Gym? Keep everything that makes it feel like your Gym while embracing the new. It won't be as easy perhaps but if you pull it off you'd have something unique. I spent an entire year and a lot of money just workshopping what I want. It's still developing and that, honestly? Makes it a lot of fun!"
I scratched the back of my head. "Does that… help at all?" I said carefully.
Janine nodded. "It has certainly given me a lot to think about. Some of your traditions are silly, but I can see your intent."
I shot her a look and she tilted her head towards a poster that proclaimed the gym would be dressed up and styled in a 'Sevii island theme' in a few days' time. Which was just my version of Hawaiian shirt friday.
I coughed. "That's to keep things fun."
She huffed at me and put her chin on the broom. "Well, thank you for the chat Brock. If you don't mind, I will clean up the stands on my own from here. I think I would like some time to think."
I patted her on the shoulder. "Alright, great job today."
She smiled. I didn't miss how she reached up to where I'd pat her on the shoulder after complimenting her. Somehow, I doubted she got much of that at home.
I returned home and found my siblings just starting dinner. I winked at Yolanda. "Great work today little sis," I said. She beamed at me.
While the rest of my family watched some television or played with their toys I finished up some paperwork for the Gym. Then I turned my attention to a few sheets from the school. "Hmmm, bakesale and the school festival. Alright, I think we can get something whipped up."
"Ohh Rocky Road! Everyone loves your Rocky Road big Bro!" chimed Salvadore. I winked at him. I was pretty sure they loved the theme I stuck with but that was just for marketing.
When it was time for bedtime Suzie and Timmy grumbled at me. "No! We don't want a storybook. Tonight we want a Brock story that you make up!"
I hummed. "I haven't done that in ages?"
They nodded with the seriousness that only four-year-olds can muster. "Yeah! We noticed!"
I rubbed my chin. "Alright, alright, let's get your teeth cleaned, and I'll see what I can manage."
They did so with speed. Munchlax decided to join them tonight, and he even got tucked in next to Suzie. With him in the room and a vague idea of an easy story to cheat from, I began to weave a story about a mighty Snorlax that was actually a Dragonslayer. Munchalx loved that story, and Suzie and Timmy got more joy watching Munchlax's expressions.
When the Snorlax got sad, Munchlax got sad. When Snorlax got angry, Munchlax growled. When Snorlax was startled, Munchlax hid under the sheets, only to be coaxed out by Suzie.
"— and though Snorlax had defeated the terrible Dragonite, he was wounded!"
"No!" gasped Suzie as she cuddled up to Munchlax. Munchlax looked very worried for his new hero.
I nodded, trying to keep a serious expression. "But he was safe! For you see he had food in his pouch! And so, the Might Dragonslayer proceeded to eat a whole wheel of cheese and recovered from his ordeal! By the end, he ate the wheel, rind and all, and was as healthy as could be!"
Munchlax's eyes practically had stars in them as he beamed at the way his hero had saved himself from injury. I think he liked that more than the fighting.
I nodded. "And all the men, and women, kids, and pokemon cheered him on, and they lived happily ever after. The end."
"Hoo-ray!" yawned Timmy sleepily.
I nodded and gave him, Suzie, and Munchlax a kiss on the head. "Indeed, alright, good night now."
"Thanks for the story Brock," said Suzie as she cuddled up to Munchlax.
"Munch~," said Munchlax.
I left the room feeling warm and cozy. I found Yolanda sitting in the hallway with her egg in her lap, and a huge smile on her face. "That was amazing," she said happily. In her lap, the egg squirmed a few times before settling back down.
I pat her on the head. "Good work again today. Now get some sleep, Gym trainers need to be rested up. Got a lot of battles coming your way soon."
"Thanks, night Brock," she said after a quick hug.
That night I lay down with a huge smile. Today was a win on all fronts, it felt like.
I went to sleep with a smile only half as wide as Munchlax, but still more than content. When I felt the bed dip as another body joined me later, I merely shifted to wrap her in a hug.
A.N. Special thanks goes to my patreons for their support!
Special thanks goes to Raikor, Ab9999, Kurlinni, and Elnoorz for betaing and editing this chapter
I made a noise of amusement as Missy and Daniel tried to look interested but they were too wiped out. They'd been the first trainers facing the gauntlet challengers, of which we'd had seven today. That, alongside the rest of the duties expected of them when in the Gym saw them leaning on their desks with droopy eyes.
Next to them, Janine was alert and upright. The very picture of a professional pokemon trainer.
Behind her, Rocko was doodling in his notepad with a bemused expression while Forrest shot glances at whatever Rocko was drawing. Jackson was leaning in and making suggestions on whatever was being drawn. I could feel Janine radiating disapproval even though she wasn't able to turn around without compromising her pose. Crystal and Yolanda were also here, both looking interested as Dennis reported on the recent foray into the surrounding areas with the Pewter-sponsored trainers.
"Alright," I said clapping my hands to end the torture I'd unleashed by letting Dennis debrief on his trip into the wilds with the kids. There was no one better to check and teach bushcraft… Beyond possibly Daniel but he was a new hire. It was just dangerous letting him report on what he'd done.
"So, they've had their time to train, get used to their pokemon and battle among themselves, and a few others. That's good. Are they ready for the sessions tomorrow?" I asked.
Dennis nodded. "Yes, although Veronica stated she wants to look into contests…" he trailed off as though guilty or ashamed.
I shrugged. "It would be a nice claim to have a professional coordinator. It also is something that has less competition for sponsorships. Smart."
Yolanda frowned, "How do you mean Brock?"
I waved my hand about. "Everyone else has been treading a path that is established with set markers that we can use to easily judge. Veronica will be doing something new that is different but it will work in her favour. Doubly so with most of the people coming to Kanto this year being Trainers. There will probably be a few that dabble in Contests which will make it slightly harder but she stands out for being different. Everyone else will be comparing themselves against the others in the group except for Veronica."
I turned back to Dennis. "How'd Mia and Silly Mouse go?"
Dennis flipped a few pages on his report, grumbling as he did so about still having more to talk about. He drew the pencil he had behind his ear and tapped it on one page. "Mia did well with practising Thunder. She has it up to the strength of a Thundershock at the moment but that's to be expected with Silly Mouse's estimated age. Her other move shows more immediate application so Mia spent a lot of time training on both moves more than she did anything else. As such, she still only has Silly Mouse on her team."
Dennis furtively glanced around and flipped a page. "Humphery on the other hand was able to catch three—"
"Dennis," I said, cutting him off.
I shook my head. "Save it for a surprise, as the others are going to face the gym's sponsored trainers." I turned towards the others. "Missy, Janine, Forrest… Yolanda, I'll have you all rotating through on those that are undergoing the gauntlet challenge."
Yolanda perked up. "Me?! You want me to fight them?!"
I nodded. "Yeah, you're more than qualified to handle some of the pokemon. Just remember to go easy on them." Crystal nudged Yolanda and said something that had Yolanda blushing. Oddly Crystal looked annoyed by this instead of pleased.
Janine raised her hand. "Why me? The others make sense but they will not be expecting me."
I nodded. "Precisely. Sometimes it's important to throw them a curveball. They'll be expecting rock or rock-themed pokemon. I want you to use the gym pokemon for this alright? You can deploy your own strategies but keep it within their skill level."
Janine's hand shot into the air. "Question! How many of the lower-strength pokemon know how to perform Sandstorm!? Or Rock polish? Or Mudslap?"
I raised a finger as Forrest chuckled maliciously. Yolanda was biting her lips while the older trainers stared at Janine. I coughed. "... quite a few actually," I said neutrally. "Keep it possible for them to beat you, yeah?" I sent a mental apology to any kid that faced Janine tomorrow. I flicked a glance to Dennis who had a determined glint in his eyes.
So, who'd win? Dennis' week of preparation or Janine's out-of-the-box thinking? I shrugged. Oh well, it'd be good for the kids… I hoped.
Veronica barely scraped a win against me with her pokemon limping across the line, but good use of her terrain to tire out the Onix I'd sent against her got her there. She'd proceeded to whittle down my pokemon and when the match had been called she almost collapsed from how much energy she'd used shouting commands.
I marched across to her and offered her a hand. "That was a tough-fought match. I saw a lot of potential there."
She smiled up at me. "Thanks, Gym Leader Brock," she said.
I gestured to the side where Jackson was waiting with a tray of gym badges. "So, do you want your prize?"
She bit her lips before raising her head to the stands where the other kids were all waiting. One and all, each of them so far had won their matches and earned their badges. And one and all of them had said they would wait for the others in their group to celebrate together.
Veronica shook her head.
They were putting a lot more pressure on themselves than they needed to. It was their decision though, so I left them to it. I led Veronica to the medical wing for her pokemon to get checked over. There I traded out my Onix and Geodude before grabbing up Izumi's pokeball.
I was actually glad that after Humprey and Mia's challenge I'd be done for the day. Before the sponsored trainers, I'd had a few two and three-badge matches. As things stood I was really turning over the pokemon that were used for my first badge challenge with the flood. I sighed. I'd have to be careful, soon some of these pokemon would be too strong to use on the new trainers.
My options would get smaller and smaller until the rostered break in a few weeks time. Until then, I'd have to stay vigilant.
"And now! Representing the first of this year's fully sponsored trainers for Pewter City Gym! Humphrey Stoneman from Pewter city!" shouted Rachel as Humphery walked into the arena proper.
Rachel grinned as she turned to the trainer arena. I pat Yolanda on the back. "This is just like a tussle in the schoolyard. Go have some fun."
"That's easy for you to say! You don't have to worry about people laughing at you!"
"You'll do fine. If anyone laughs I'll send Titan to sit behind them," I said jokingly. Yolanda shot me a furious look.
"That is not helping!" Then her gaze softened. "Really though?"
I smirked at her.
Yolanda huffed at me, only to glower as a stray lock of hair floated in front of her face. I reached out and plucked her scrunchy out before retying her hair in a braid that was more firm. She blinked only to snort and give me a much more grateful look.
It was short-lived as Rachel raised her microphone. "And now! Representing Pewter City Gym for the first time! Yolanda!"
Yolanda marched down the stairs like she was a square block of stone rather than flesh and bone. When she reached the podium. She glanced around and I made a gesture to try and get her to calm down. She nodded and clapped her hands together and shut her eyes.
Dennis whistled. "Huh. She really does take after you, doesn't she? She's going to be a terror when she goes on her journey if she can get that egg to hatch."
I nodded, feeling rather proud as she released the pose and adopted a pose with a hand on her hip. "Trainer Yolanda! Ready!" she announced. When the crowd cheered she got a little spooked but settled back in.
Humphrey merely held his game face.
"Trainers release your pokemon!" announced Jackson.
"Go Geodude!" said Yolanda.
"Go Seedot!" said Humphrey.
"Huh," I said. "Impressive! Those are tough to find in Viridian forest." I glanced at Dennis.
He smiled widely. "Humphrey was quick to work out that certain pokemon had a different cycle of being active. He started varying when he was waking up and exploring at twilight and night. He's gotten himself a good team with that Aron we gave him as the starter."
I nodded and watched as Yolanda tried to use tackles to nail the Seedot. When that didn't work she switched to Sand Attack only for Humphrey to order his pokemon to use absorb. Geodude toppled quickly at that. Yolanda grit her teeth as she withdrew her pokemon. Then she pulled out another pokeball.
"Go Zubat!" she said.
I frowned. "Where'd she get that from?" I asked.
"Crystal caught it," said Dennis loyally. "Georgina's been letting her catch and train two pokemon in preparation for the day she goes out on a journey. They're shopping around for an official starter but otherwise, those two are good training pokemon for her to practise with."
Janine appeared behind me. "I was not aware I could use a Zubat for this challenge?"
I shrugged. "It's rock-themed. I hadn't expected her to use it but it works." I considered it before nodding. "We should consider getting some in the next acquisition run. After all, they're mostly found in caves."
Dennis rubbed his chin at that and I watched as Yolanda unleashed Zubat on the Seedot. The type advantage didn't even become a factor.
"Supersonic!" shouted Yolanda happily as she punched the air. Across from her Seedot wobbled and wavered only for her to keep up the assault. Humphrey eventually remembered that he could withdraw his pokemon and did so to reveal a young Pidgeotto. I shot Dennis another look.
Dennis shrugged. "Kid's impressive."
I nodded and watched the larger bird pokemon outspeed and outpower Yolanda's Zubat. I nodded, deciding that I might feature a few Zubat in the next rotation of pokemon. It would work well with most people going through or past the tunnels of Mt Moon. An early warning of what these pokemon could be like.
I tapped Janine on the shoulder. "You're up next."
She bounced in place only for me to cough. "Wait for Yolanda to get off the arena and Rachel to announce you first."
"Ah, of course," Janine said. It took a few minutes for Yolanda to depart. Humphrey apparently recognised her from school and stopped her to congratulate her for the good match. Then he turned his attention away and in doing so missed her saddened expression.
I clicked my tongue. Dennis shot me a look. "You're gonna shake him up a bit boss?"
I worked my jaw only for Janine to speak up first. "I shall avenge Yolanda's loss and remind him to be more gentle with a young girl's heart!"
"Also representing Pewter today we have—" Rachel was saying only for Janine to sprint down the stairs and leap over the edge. The crowd gaped as she flipped end over end in a gymnastics flip before landing in a perfect three-point pose.
"It is I! Janine of Fuchsia!" she said. She held up a pokeball. "Are you ready!?" she said, daring him to reject it.
Humphrey was confused. "Do you even go here or are you a fan that jumped the fence?" he said looking to Jackson who wasn't helping as he burst out laughing.
Janine bristled. "I am studying underneath Brock to learn how he runs his Gym! Now is not the time for talk! Are you prepared to fight!?"
He nodded slowly, still looking to Jackson in case this was some sort of joke.
"Go Geodude!" said Janine as she whipped a pokeball out only to expertly catch it when the bounce-back feature activated.
That had Humphrey straightening up. "Pidgeotto, use Gust!"
"Geodude! Defense Curl!" Janine answered, causing her pokemon to curl up into a ball as the wind swept aside dirt and small rocks. What it didn't do was move the small boulder pokemon. Humphrey clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Pidgeotto stay up high! They're going to try and use Rollout!" he said, sweeping his hand.
Janine sniffed loudly, "Rock Polish!" she said.
Humphrey gritted his teeth before raising his pokeball and returning his pokemon. "Return Pidgeotto! Let's go Seedot!" he said instead. His Seedot bounced out and Janine grinned.
"Use Sandstorm!" she said, causing Geodude to spread out her arms and spin widely creating a dust cloud that expanded quickly.
I hummed. "She's going a bit harder than she needs to against a first badge trainer."
Dennis nodded from next to me, not saying anything. I shot him a sly look, had he bonded with the kids during their trip away? He seemed highly invested in their success.
"Seedot, get into the sandstorm and surprise them!" Humphrey said.
I was surprised by the call and leaned in to see what he would do. I watched vague shapes move into each other and it looked like Janine had ordered her pokemon to use Tackle instead of Roll Out. I watched the Geodude-shaped form lunge only to strike something and rear back.
Then Humphrey was shouting something and I saw hints of green energy. Dennis pumped his fist. "Yes! That's the way! Astonish into Absorb to keep your pokemon in the fight!" he said.
I chuckled, realising that Dennis had it right. The Sandstorm slowly fell apart and a dirty and bruised-looking Seedot emerged with a downed Geodude laying across from it. Seedot puffed itself up victoriously.
Janine observed this clinically before inching her hand towards another pokeball only to stop and shake her head. "You have demonstrated enough skill that you may advance. Geodude return!" she said before backflipping out of sight.
The crowd gasped in shock before Jackson diverted their attention with a flag raised in Humphrey's direction. "Seedot wins and Trainer Humphrey advances!"
This got people clapping, but I noted that more than a few were still trying to spot where Janine was. I turned and spotted her inching over the fence that divided the Gym trainers from the crowd.
"Have fun?" I asked.
She paused, caught with one foot awkwardly over the fence. She coughed and hopped over before Dennis could turn. "Indeed. He was most skilled, but I wanted to make him sweat first."
I hummed. "Well, I don't have to question his skills. He demonstrated enough for a two or three-badge challenge just there." I eyed Humphrey, while pointedly not looking at Yolanda who was looking glum off to the side. "No reason to make it too easy though."
I toggled the radio and Rachel beamed as she raised the microphone. "And now! The Challenger has advanced enough to face off against the Gym Leader! Give it up, for Brock!" she shouted.
I marched down and frowned when I realised that merely leaping across the divide wouldn't be as impressive now that Janine had demonstrated she could do a flip over the same distance. Damn, she's upstaged me and probably hadn't even been trying. I still made the leap, lacking anything better to do and chuckled to myself as I stood.
"Humphrey, good to see you again." I glanced at his pokemon. "You've grown in an interesting way."
He nodded tightly and returned his Seedot. "We have, and we're ready for you! Let's go Aron!" he said, releasing the small metal dog I'd gifted him when I'd taken him on as a fully sponsored trainer. Aron barked harshly and I smirked.
"Very well. Let's see how you've grown. Go Onix!"
Jackson raised and dropped his flags. "Harden," I said to start things off. Onix gained a sheen around his body as his defence increased.
Humphrey punched forwards. "Metal Claw!" he said, causing his pokemon to charge across the distance. I smiled to myself, realising he'd set up his pokemon too deep to make the distance without me getting off another move. A small mistake, but one that was telling.
"Use Dig," I said to evade the charging Aron.
Onix leapt into the dirt and vanished into a large hole. Aron skidded to a halt and growled.
"Go after it!" Humphrey shouted. I raised an eyebrow. Aron typically needed to be tutored that move so how had he had the time to… I watched as his pokemon sprinted down the tunnel my pokemon had left with harsh barks echoing after it.
I sighed as Humphrey stared in shock. "I meant for him to Dig his own tunnel and intercept Onix…"
I chuckled as the sounds of barking continued. Onix emerged a minute later and slid out with an annoyed look on his face. The cause was quickly revealed with a tiny Aron gnawing on his tail. I noted it wasn't with any actual energy to make it effective.
Lots of enthusiasm though.
"Onix use Bide," I said. Onix glowed and Humphrey clicked his teeth.,
"Let's commit! Aron, use Metal Claw!" His pokemon stopped biting mine and his front paw glowed silvery as he leapt in to strike my pokemon. Onix reared back but held strong.
"Again!" shouted Humphrey as he gained a bead of sweat on his brow.
Once more Aron struck, only for Onix to rise up with a glint in his eyes.
"Finish it quickly!" Humphrey said, knowing he had to stay committed now.
"Onix attack," I said, causing Onix to build up energy as he prepared to lunge. He was just coiling up when Aron struck once again and a small blast of dust radiated out of the impact site. I wasn't surprised to see Onix down for the count with Aron heaving air into its tiny, trembling frame.
Humphrey was also shaking. "Oh, wow! That was close!" he said as he wiped his brow. I nodded.
"And that's all I need to see. I can tell that you've more than earned your first badge." I cocked my head to the side and flicked my attention towards the stands. "Are you going to hold off as well?" I asked.
He nodded, a grim look on his face. "Y-yeah… But Uhm… Brock, are you going to go easy on Mia? She only has—"
I raised a hand and cut him off. "I will treat it like I always do. Mia has to show me her best." I shooed him away and nodded to Rachel as I made my way back up. I tapped Yolanda on the shoulder.
"You're up again. Don't go easy on her, but keep it controlled, alright?" Yolanda nodded seriously and when Mia was called, she came out with Silly Mouse in her arms. She was notably stroking him in a gesture that screamed 'I am not at all calm'! Silly Mouse himself looked a bit agitated, but I looked past that.
He had a good lustre to his coat, and his body had bulked up a lot since the last time I'd seen them. She'd obviously doubled down on her pokemon and it showed.
I was curious how she'd handle the upcoming challenges. I nodded and Yolanda marched forth, this time much more settled in. Mia perked up and waved happily when she spotted Yolanda causing Yolanda to wave back. Then she got a stern face on and Mia remembered what she was there for.
Yolanda sent out a Geodude as her first pokemon.
Silly Mouse took to the field and Yolanda was quick to have Geodude go on that attack with Sand-attack.
"Quick Iron Attack!" shouted Mia, making Silly Mouse blur away from the sand before sprinting in close to the side where he stopped on a pokedime. His body I noted was spinning in a tightly controlled arc like he was performing a dance rather than just turning. With one foot dug into the ground, his body whipped around, and a silvery glowing tail revealed itself.
It slammed home into geodude and sent the other pokemon flying. Geodude slammed into the wall where it collapsed in a slumped pose. The crowd went silent in shock at the ferocious combination attack.
I glanced at Dennis and he had a huge grin on his face. I laughed and that triggered a storm of cheers and applause as the crowd roared to life.
"She made very good use of that Iron Tail training then," I said.
Dennis nodded. "Worked on nothing but her pokemon since she got it. That's going to be one strong Rattata when it finishes growing."
I nodded and watched Silly Mouse wave happily.
Yolanda returned her pokemon and pulled out a Diglett which proved a much tougher match-up as Silly Mouse's speed couldn't let it close with the mole pokemon. In the end, Mia had to allow a hit to land and rely on her timing to be good enough to get Silly Mouse an iIron Tail in retaliation.
I clicked my tongue. "She should have used the boulders to escape Diglett. Diglett is one of the only pokemon that won't leap out of the ground when using Dig after all."
Dennis shrugged but Janine to the side looked intrigued by that information.
"Silly Mouse come here!" said Mia gesturing for her pokemon to approach. I nodded, pleased that despite not catching any other pokemon she had the foresight to get herself a potion or three.
Janine waited until Mia was done, then threw something that went off with a bang. Instantly everyone's heads snapped in that direction while I shot her a glare. Janine, either unrepentant or not noticing, sprinted down the stairs and was on the podium without anyone else noticing her deception.
"Well met!" she shouted, causing everyone to flinch and realise she was suddenly just 'there'!
Mia tilted her head. "Hello? I don't know you?"
"I am Janine, I am interning under Brock. You might face me again in Fuchsia if you make it that far!"
Mia made a surprised expression at that. "Oh! Alrighty then! That's pretty neat! Silly Mouse and I are ready for you today, and we'll be ready for you in Fuchsia!"
"Rat!" said Silly Mouse defiantly.
"Go Geodude!" said Janine once more, tossing out another of the Gym's pokemon.
"Begin!" Announced Jackson.
"Geodude use Sandstorm!" said Janine, this time not waiting around.
"Silly! Use Tail Whip while we can!" said Mia. I nodded. She'd done a good job judging her pokemon's speed and knowing that she would have probably had to have been a lot faster with her pokemon.
The arena became shifting shapes and whistling winds as the sandstorm whipped at the pokemon. I could see Mia bracing and leaning into it. "Hang in there Silly!" she shouted as loud as she could.
I knew from experience that she would have gotten a mouthful of sand from that but respected her dedication.
"Get up on a rock out of the storm! Use your claws!" I heard from Mia.
I noted that I couldn't see the Geodude which let me know Janine had likely ordered it to dig. A few moments later I was proven right when a shape shot out of the ground to try and slam into Silly Mouse. Only for the Rattata to parry the attack.
"Now! Iron Tail!" shouted Mia, seeing her moment of opportunity. Her pokemon lunged and once more another win was chalked up.
This time instead of finishing the match however, Janine sent out a Rhyhorn that she sent bulldozing around the arena after Silly Mouse making the pokemon have to run away. A number of rocks were destroyed in the rampage, but eventually, Silly Mouse won out with greater endurance and agility.
When Rhyhorn faltered Silly Mouse once more turned and nailed the other pokemon into the ground with an Iron Tail between the eyes.
"Rhyhorn is unable to battle! Silly Mouse and Mia advance!" announced Jackson earning some applause from the crowd.
I settled onto the top of the stairs as Rachel got ready, my eyes on Silly Mouse as he heaved in huge lungful after lungful. This was where the issue of only having one pokemon made itself abundantly obvious. Until that one pokemon became amazingly powerful and well-trained it would not be able to handle a gauntlet challenge.
Mia was wiping at Silly Mouse with a cloth to get rid of some sand from his eyes while spraying other parts of him with potion. His grimaces and cries made it obvious that he hadn't escaped the last battles unscathed. He must have been clipped a few times there, either by tackles or flying rocks.
"—Brock!" shouted Rachel alerting me that it was time to move. I made my way down and had to resist the urge to slow down. On the podium, Mia was furiously rubbing potion into Silly Mouse as Silly Mouse tried to turn away from her and face me, the oncoming threat in his mind.
I considered the pokemon on my belt and I slowly came up with a plan. I leapt across the fence once more and landed in my kneeling position before rising up.
Silly Mouse was baring his fangs and ready for me, despite Mia holding him back to get one more squirt of potion onto him before letting him hop forward. Mia eyed me and then her pokemon.
"Go to the front!" she said to Silly Mouse ordering him right in close to the centre of the battlefield. I smirked.
"I've been looking forward to this. Time to show what you've got Mia and Silly Mouse." I enlarged a pokeball and nodded to Jackson.
"Go Lileep!" I said as I threw my pokeball to the middle of my area thereby giving my pokemon a bit of breathing room without making it too far back and therefore letting Silly Mouse have a run-up.
"Eh? Who's that pokemon?" Mia said, unknowingly mimicking most of the crowd as murmurs broke out. On the field my pokemon swayed innocently from side to side, her fronds retracted where her face was.
Jackson took a moment to shoot me a surprised look. He obviously hadn't been expecting me to reveal the Gym's newest acquisition on a first badge match. I smirked at him and he nodded.
"Trainers! Ready!? Begin!" he said, dropping his flag.
"Silly Mouse! Go for the kill with Iron Tail straight away!" she said, punching forward. Silly Mouse charged forward and I hummed as he leapt into the air.
"Lileep, use Acid." My pokemon snapped her head up straight at the oncoming Rattata and spat a wad of poison. It must have been a critical hit as Silly Mouse cried out and missed with his Iron Tail as he crashed into the ground to the side of Lileep.
"Good, now use Wrap!" I said.
Mia gasped. "No! Silly Mouse get out of there!" She said only for Silly Mouse to be locked in Lileep's fronds and body as she curled around him. His tail was most notably restrained. "Damn it…" She gritted her teeth. "Fine! Silly Mouse use Crunch! Bite them back if they're not going to let you go!"
I chuckled as the match became a drag-down fight with my pokemon trying to smother him while SIlly Mouse bit for all he was worth. I was impressed that her pokemon knew Crunch and that likely was what earnt her the match.
"Lileep is unable to battle!" said Jackson as my pokemon went limp.
I nodded and withdrew it. While I had a lot of these to potentially draw on, I wasn't going to use them to float the weakest badge teams. That would be bandaging something that needed much more delicate care. They'd feature, but not in large numbers.
Silly Mouse heaved and trembled as he staggered back towards Mia who quivered and looked at me. She shut her eyes as I selected another pokeball. She held up her hand and raised Silly Mouse's pokeball to signal she wasn't going to test her luck.
I felt my respect for her grow. She'd pushed as far as she should and she—
Silly Mouse refused to go into his pokeball. The red beam of energy connected, and he started to be drawn back only to be aborted. Silly Mouse glared at me as though I had done it only to pause and shoot Mia a startled look.
"Rat? Tata? Rattata?" Then he got an angry look on his face as he gestured at himself. "Rat Rat Rat! Tat Ta!" He waved at me and chomped his fangs and turned back digging his claws in.
I whistled. "Little guys got some fighting spirit that's for sure…" I said, "Are you willing to test that?"
Mia shook her head. "No! Silly Mouse I don't need to win a badge today! I don't want to see you get hurt anymore! You've fought too much as it is! I should have gotten another pokemon to help back you up, instead of training you so hard!"
"Rat!" Silly Mouse said in a way that made me think he disagreed. He pointed at me and then made a gesture at his eyes and then back at me. Mia chuckled and nodded.
"W-w-we're going to c-con-continue," she said.
I enlarged my pokeball. "Very well."
I threw out Izumi. She emerged with a cry of her name before taking in the scene. She tilted her head and considered Silly Mouse.
"Be—" Silly Mouse charged before Mia could give her order.
I hummed. That wasn't what I wanted to be taught here and now. "Rollout backwards," I said.
Izumi tucked and rolled backwards out of danger as an Iron Tail came down where she'd been.
"Rock Throw," I followed up with.
Silly Mouse started to charge ahead only for Mia to scream. "SILLY MOUSE STOP BEING STUPID AND DODGE THOSE ROCKS LIKE WE TRAINED!"
He tripped as he lunged to the side, taking a rock as his instincts warred with his determination to prove himself. The Rock Throw saw him sliding back.
I made a sign to Izumi to hold, which honestly was entirely unnecessary. She could read the room.
Silly Mouse struggled to his feet and shook Mia shouted, "Silly! Stop, and listen!"
Silly Mouse paused tilting to show that he was listening while watching me and my pokemon.
"I'm sorry I doubted you, I was scared for you. But charging in like that won't win us this fight. You're tired and that Geodude is fresh! We need to trust each other… I realise that's a lot to ask but I believe in you, can you do the same for me?"
Silly Mouse considered that for a moment before nodding. "Good now… Use Thunder."
Silly Mouse paused only to nod, charging up electrical energy and causing his whiskers to spark more like a pikachu than a rattata. I frowned, the crowd were screaming for her to stop as it wouldn't work. I knew Mia to be a smart girl. This wasn't her not knowing that.
I saw the glint in her eyes and smiled.
It looked like she had a plan.
"Ready yourself Izumi!" I said, causing my pokemon to make a show of punching the air.
Silly Mouse charged up, and then Mia shot her hand out pointing ahead of her. "Blast the spot right in front of the geodude!" I blinked in surprise as Silly Mouse arced a bolt of electrical energy up into the air and down right in front of Izumi.
I blinked furiously to get rid of the flash of lightning and boom of Thunder causing me to miss what she said to Silly Mouse next. The attack worked to blind me and Izumi to Silly Mouse and when the dust cleared we found ourselves suddenly face to tail to a leaping rattata with Iron Tail dive bombing us.
I grinned. "Clever girl," I said aloud as Silly Mouse slammed into Izumi.
Izumi was thrown backward and rolled over herself a few times. When she came to rest at the base of my podium I leaned over to see if she was alright. She opened both eyes and then winked at me before faking being knocked out.
I glanced up to find Silly Mouse flat on his stomach as he stared defiantly at Izumi, willing her to stay down. When I raised my pokeball and returned her, he slumped.
Mia leapt over the edge of her podium even as Jackson raised his flags. "Brock has withdrawn his pokemon! Silly Mouse and Mia are the victors!"
The crowd in the stands erupted in cheers as Silly Mouse was raised up into Mia's hands. He grinned at her and waved weakly at the crowd. I watched her, letting her have her moment.
When I got to the ground level, I made my way to her and coughed to announce myself. Mia and Silly Mouse both grinned at me. "Well, that wasn't how I thought things would go."
I shot Silly Mouse a look. "You and Mia had already earned the right to the Pewter badge when Mia tried to withdraw you. That seemed good sense to me." I made a thoughtful face. "But then again, I don't know what you two are capable of apparently." I nodded.
"Mia, and Silly Mouse. It's matches like this that show just how much our bonds with each other matter. Moments like this make me love being a Pokemon trainer. I'm honoured to have witnessed you fight. You truly surprised me."
Mia and Silly Mouse were speechless as I gave them a shallow bow of respect. I felt that they had deserved it. I shot them a wry smile. "I might have to use that Thunder trick with Sanchez you realise?"
"O-oh? Really?!"
I nodded. "It was a great move." I glanced at Jackson. "So, I think there was an agreement with the Pewter Gym trainer group to get your badges as one today, no?"
Mia beamed as I waved the others down onto the field. Instead of just the trainers I sponsored, the entire crowd poured onto the field like their home team had just won a match. In a way, it was, as there were only local parents and family and friends present for this series of matches. They'd cheered and cried and supported the kids just as much. I shouldn't have been surprised by them 'storming the pitch'.
I raised a hand, considering stopping them only for the adults to host up the other kids and make them all part of the moment. I lowered my hand and chuckled. "Well, this works as well."
When the kids got their badges, everyone cheered for them. I got a number of claps on the shoulder from the locals as well for the 'great matches' I'd had with the kids. I shook hands, and made small talk for a while. Internally, I was glad that I'd scheduled the matches as the last part of the day. This had allowed parents and families that worked to come and witness their children's success.
When everyone was done celebrating the matches and the awards for gauntlet runs had been given out, I bid everyone good night and they all departed.
As I was cleaning up, Janine edged up to me. "That… that was very different from how matches work at my father's gym."
"You don't have crowds? Or something else?" I asked.
"Yes… but how the crowd included you. In Fuchsia… In Fuchsia, my father and I are respected but we are kept at a distance… We're the Guardians of the town, and people revere us. They wouldn't have included us in celebrating their or other children's success as they did today. They'd certainly never storm the arena after the match… Despite it being disrespectful in so many ways I…" She clenched and opened her hands.
"I liked that," she said, as though it hurt her to admit it.
I frowned, that didn't seem right to me. "Why does it sound like you think that's a bad thing?"
"I… I don't want to erode all the traditions of my family!" she said, stomping her foot. "But! But, I find myself longing for some of the grandeur you have. The battle courts, the immersion into the community, the showmanship!"
I shrugged. "So just work the traditions into what you want."
She shot me a look. I gestured at the Gym at large.
"I kept a lot of the rocky aesthetic for my Gym. Why not do the same for your own Gym? Keep everything that makes it feel like your Gym while embracing the new. It won't be as easy perhaps but if you pull it off you'd have something unique. I spent an entire year and a lot of money just workshopping what I want. It's still developing and that, honestly? Makes it a lot of fun!"
I scratched the back of my head. "Does that… help at all?" I said carefully.
Janine nodded. "It has certainly given me a lot to think about. Some of your traditions are silly, but I can see your intent."
I shot her a look and she tilted her head towards a poster that proclaimed the gym would be dressed up and styled in a 'Sevii island theme' in a few days' time. Which was just my version of Hawaiian shirt friday.
I coughed. "That's to keep things fun."
She huffed at me and put her chin on the broom. "Well, thank you for the chat Brock. If you don't mind, I will clean up the stands on my own from here. I think I would like some time to think."
I patted her on the shoulder. "Alright, great job today."
She smiled. I didn't miss how she reached up to where I'd pat her on the shoulder after complimenting her. Somehow, I doubted she got much of that at home.
I returned home and found my siblings just starting dinner. I winked at Yolanda. "Great work today little sis," I said. She beamed at me.
While the rest of my family watched some television or played with their toys I finished up some paperwork for the Gym. Then I turned my attention to a few sheets from the school. "Hmmm, bakesale and the school festival. Alright, I think we can get something whipped up."
"Ohh Rocky Road! Everyone loves your Rocky Road big Bro!" chimed Salvadore. I winked at him. I was pretty sure they loved the theme I stuck with but that was just for marketing.
When it was time for bedtime Suzie and Timmy grumbled at me. "No! We don't want a storybook. Tonight we want a Brock story that you make up!"
I hummed. "I haven't done that in ages?"
They nodded with the seriousness that only four-year-olds can muster. "Yeah! We noticed!"
I rubbed my chin. "Alright, alright, let's get your teeth cleaned, and I'll see what I can manage."
They did so with speed. Munchlax decided to join them tonight, and he even got tucked in next to Suzie. With him in the room and a vague idea of an easy story to cheat from, I began to weave a story about a mighty Snorlax that was actually a Dragonslayer. Munchalx loved that story, and Suzie and Timmy got more joy watching Munchlax's expressions.
When the Snorlax got sad, Munchlax got sad. When Snorlax got angry, Munchlax growled. When Snorlax was startled, Munchlax hid under the sheets, only to be coaxed out by Suzie.
"— and though Snorlax had defeated the terrible Dragonite, he was wounded!"
"No!" gasped Suzie as she cuddled up to Munchlax. Munchlax looked very worried for his new hero.
I nodded, trying to keep a serious expression. "But he was safe! For you see he had food in his pouch! And so, the Might Dragonslayer proceeded to eat a whole wheel of cheese and recovered from his ordeal! By the end, he ate the wheel, rind and all, and was as healthy as could be!"
Munchlax's eyes practically had stars in them as he beamed at the way his hero had saved himself from injury. I think he liked that more than the fighting.
I nodded. "And all the men, and women, kids, and pokemon cheered him on, and they lived happily ever after. The end."
"Hoo-ray!" yawned Timmy sleepily.
I nodded and gave him, Suzie, and Munchlax a kiss on the head. "Indeed, alright, good night now."
"Thanks for the story Brock," said Suzie as she cuddled up to Munchlax.
"Munch~," said Munchlax.
I left the room feeling warm and cozy. I found Yolanda sitting in the hallway with her egg in her lap, and a huge smile on her face. "That was amazing," she said happily. In her lap, the egg squirmed a few times before settling back down.
I pat her on the head. "Good work again today. Now get some sleep, Gym trainers need to be rested up. Got a lot of battles coming your way soon."
"Thanks, night Brock," she said after a quick hug.
That night I lay down with a huge smile. Today was a win on all fronts, it felt like.
I went to sleep with a smile only half as wide as Munchlax, but still more than content. When I felt the bed dip as another body joined me later, I merely shifted to wrap her in a hug.
A.N. Special thanks goes to my patreons for their support!
Special thanks goes to Raikor, Ab9999, Kurlinni, and Elnoorz for betaing and editing this chapter
- Location
- Argentina
Ah so Sabrina and Brock are back to sleeping together?
Snorlax pressed Pause and ate food to heal
darkjordanGT
Retired Dark Lord
- Location
- canada
can i request a Omake of a Meating of this Brock and Canon Brock
and A Sequel Omake of a Meating of HE Brock vs Brock From Ashes of the Past By: Saphroneth
Edit: HE(Hard Enough)
and A Sequel Omake of a Meating of HE Brock vs Brock From Ashes of the Past By: Saphroneth
Edit: HE(Hard Enough)
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- Location
- Scotland
Why not an Omake where several versions of Brock meet up, stare at one another for a little bit then hold a cooking contest to see which Brock is the best chef. Then they shoot the breeze with each other to get ideas on cooking and everything else. HE Brock can also sort of guilt trip the others into looking out more for their siblings since all the others don't look so good in comparison 
.
.
Viva01
Uncomfortable with all the hugs he is given
- Location
- Australia
There really aren't any to be honest. feel free to write something and we will see how it goes. I prefer to let people write so they can try their hands at it.
Why not an Omake where several versions of Brock meet up, stare at one another for a little bit then hold a cooking contest to see which Brock is the best chef. Then they shoot the breeze with each other to get ideas on cooking and everything else. HE Brock can also sort of guilt trip the others into looking out more for their siblings since all the others don't look so good in comparison
the Brockception! omake or is it going to be more like that movie, the one?
- Location
- Scotland
Brockception definitely, he's way too chill for "The One" and even if one of his alts was of a mind to do that he'd better be damn powerful to take on your Brock.
Bakkasama
There is always a greater fool
- Location
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Pronouns
- He/his
You know, it just occurred to me yesterday but if Bruno is going to be setting up in Saffron and accepting challenges, won't the fighting type gym there be flooded by people who wants to practice against their fighting types in preparation to fight him?
Edit: I mean, since Sabrina doesn't take low level challengers, any new teainer there could think that they might as well challenge the fighting type gym there to earn another badge to fill the required number for Sabrina's.
Edit: I mean, since Sabrina doesn't take low level challengers, any new teainer there could think that they might as well challenge the fighting type gym there to earn another badge to fill the required number for Sabrina's.
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Soooo... Omake for a week after Ash's gym battle for Brock to go pick up a Rockruff from "Pokemon Hawaii"???
Gym team is lacking more doge, and I'd leave it to this Brock to discover how to evolve into a "Dawn Form" Lycanroc 😆
- Location
- Canada
That's the point. Bruno's presence will draw in a large number of trainers, both low and high level, just for a chance to watch his battles or even challenge him themselves. This'll pull them away from Pewter and into Saffron, and with a larger city structure and two Gyms, it can more easily handle the trainer flood sticking around for a long period than Pewter.
- Location
- Oregon, USA
This is just the bit where there's a wild Pokémon you're trying to catch in a nuzlocke, but you crit and it faints. Except you're the Government and the move is an ad campaign.
Svn0One
Lazy Reader
- Location
- Made a Box Fort
- Pronouns
- He/Him
that plus (relatively) nearby is Celadon, where another gym and the department store to draw some more trainers
- Location
- Oregon, USA
Oh, there's a bunch of stores next to each other, only the bit between them has a roof. What a tourist attraction.
TimEd
Meteor maker
You say that as if the traditional Erika and the perfumes she sells won't be a hit to any trainer that cares (or pretends to) about fashion or style.
- Location
- Oregon, USA
They live in the wild for extended periods. Fashion isn't going to be a priority for most of them.
That said, I was deliberately exaggerating things. The Dept. store carries a lot of rarer battle items iirc, which itself would be a big draw.
Liquid Ink
Contains Sleep Deprived Rambling
For the ones that can afford it, that kind of luxury it just the sort of thing that becomes attractive after a stint in the wilderness, but there can be practical uses of perfumes and strong scents outside of fashion statements.
Custom repellants, attractors, and distractors, as sprays and throwable capsules could end up being worth their carry weight to trainers, rangers, etc, that know how to use them.
Custom repellants, attractors, and distractors, as sprays and throwable capsules could end up being worth their carry weight to trainers, rangers, etc, that know how to use them.
- Location
- Oregon, USA
That's fair.
Also, Stunky.
Chapter 68 - Fighting against the surge
Viva01
Uncomfortable with all the hugs he is given
- Location
- Australia
It's crazy how something as insane as training pokemon and running a gym can almost become boring if you let it.
I very much sought to enjoy the process, so I usually liked to try different things with varying match ups of pokemon. This could be battle tactics, to pokemon themselves, coming up with unusual moves. I knew that some pokemon had a lot of different moves depending on methods of rearing, training, use of technical machines, and even who their parents were.
There had to be a thousand different variations to use against just as many opponents, and as Gym Leader, I got to take part in lots of battles. As the first gym, this meant that I had the most trainers to challenge me. So I actually had the highest participation rate of challengers in the entire circuit.
However, I didn't just limit my methods of making things fun for myself. On some days, I would have the gym stylized differently, with snacks that we sold taking on different flavours. During the day of the departed, I typically opted to use jack-o-lanterns and provided extra winnings for anyone that used a ghost pokemon during a gym match.
During the warm, sunny days, I notified the crowds that we'd be having a 'tropical' day which I used to highlight places such as the Orange and Sevii islands.
In my past life, these would have been known as 'Hawaiian shirt' fridays. People that tried for the Elite challenge on these days unknowingly had a higher chance of me bringing out Bertha due to her ability to surf. Which made for a very interesting situation when Alexa approached me at the start of the day.
"Brock I think I better flag a trainer for your attention," Alexa said with her clipboard in hand. Around her neck, a lei rested to go with her otherwise semi-professional attire.
"Alright? What's so special about them?" Could this be Ash she was talking about?
"His name is Brawly."
Something about that tickled my mind. I knew that name… how did I know it though?
Alexa noticed my confused expression. "He's a young trainer that, when I checked his credentials, came up as a trainer that has learnt under Chuck from the Cianwood gym in Johto. He's challenging you for a fourth level badge but he doesn't have any to his name so far. What did you want to do?"
"Brawly, trained under Chuck… do we have a picture of him?" I was getting a suspicion that I did know this guy, only I knew him because of my previous life's knowledge.
"No, but I was there with the new receptionists and worked through his application. He was a rather fit young man with aqua blue hair that stuck out to the sides."
"Was he tanned?" I said, forming an image in my head.
"Umm," Alexa scrunched up her eyes before nodding. "Yes, he was. Do you know him?"
"I think I know of him," I said to evade the question. "He's fine. In the future, trainers who wish to challenge for a higher level don't need to be flagged."
"I'll make a note to the front desk. I thought it pertinent to alert you as he is a past gym trainer for another Gym. You're not worried about him?"
I shook my head. "As a Gym, we're a challenge, not something insurmountable." Alexa nodded and made a note before passing over the day's schedule. She'd highlighted Brawly on the list and I hummed.
Huh, it looks like I was going to have the future Gym Leader of Dewford challenge me. I'd almost forgotten he'd learnt from Chuck. I whistled in surprise and found myself very eager for the day's matches.
I was also deeply amused that Brawly was going to be challenging me on Tropical Friday. It struck me as highly appropriate for the Gym Leader most recognised as a "surfer bro" sign-up today. Had that been by chance, or by design?
As the third listing, I still had to get through two other matches before him.
The first trainer easily brushed through the gauntlet with a well-trained Growlithe that used its speed and surprised me with a dig maneuver to claim its trainer a badge.
I'd then faced off against a young girl with a Poliwag that was easily able to earn her own badge. She'd earned herself a compliment at her out of the box thinking to have Poliwag pound the ground to allow it to effectively jump and dodge or attack in mid-air.
With those matches out of the way, I was actually both disappointed and relieved that Brawly hadn't opted for the gauntlet. Part of me wanted him to run the gauntlet for a serious challenge to some of my trainers. Another relished the chance to go against him without too much foreknowledge of what his team was.
I knew he was supposed to be a fighting-type specialist, but that didn't mean he couldn't have something else. I was an example of that, with my Lapras and Noctowl.
"Trainer Brawly, welcome to the Pewter City gym." I settled into my pose. I had a feeling Celia was giggling to herself somewhere, knowing she'd forever made me aware of what I did. I guess I'd just have to own it.
Across from me, Brawly sauntered up to the podium with a sheepish expression. "Hey there! Gym Leader Brock! I have to say you know how to tempt a guy into sticking around! When I showed up at the start of the circuit I saw your upcoming events and just knew I had to challenge you on your tropical day."
"You could have taken the morning slot if you wanted to challenge me earlier." I pointed out.
"Yeah, I could have, but Pewter to the coast isn't that far as a Pidgeot flies." he ran a hand through his hair, "I couldn't miss out on a morning surf!"
That stumped me. I blinked before realising that in the anime, Brawly had actually delayed facing Ash multiple times due to his love of surfing. I chuckled at that.
"Is that so? Can't say I've done that much. Maybe I should try it when things settle down."
"Yeah! You totally should! When I complete the circuit, I'm so setting up camp down near Pallet town! That little town is just the choicest place to relax! Nice quiet town that's only two minutes from the beach! There's gonna be a lot of fun this circuit I can tell! Looking forward to the festival as well!"
I brushed off the comment about the festival and instead focussed on something else. "When you complete the circuit, eh?" I selected a pokeball and looked to the side to find Daniel on the referee stand today. I nodded. "Sounds like you're confident. Show me what makes you think you deserve my badge."
Between us, Daniel stepped up and said, "Trainers! This is a fourth level gym challenge issued by trainer Brawly! The Gym Leader is not allowed to withdraw his team, but the challenger may! Only six pokemon can be used by the challenger. The Gym Leader has opted to use four pokemon!" Both flags went up. "Trainers are you ready!?"
"Yes!" "Yeah, I'm good."
"Begin!" He dropped his flags and Brawly and I each threw a pokeball forward.
Mine landed and disgorged a tall thin pokemon that bent and flowed like a willow branch.
"Sudowoodo!" cried my pokemon, pumping its arms back and forth.
On Brawly's side, a heavier pokemon took to the field. It landed with a heavy thump but then instantly bobbed back and forth on its toes. Its arms rocked forward. "Champ! Ma-champ!"
That got a whistle out of me. I could tell that this was not a pokemon that had just gotten big from time in the gym. Each line of muscle was like tight whipcords, and the air whooshed with each punch.
"An impressive pokemon. Are you sure you didn't want to wait and try for the elite challenge?"
"Ho, I have to admit to being tempted when I saw that set in stone. But I think I'll pass, I have a good team right now, but I don't have one I feel confident in. Especially if you brought out your Tyranitar."
I shrugged and offered up a hand, signalling he should start things off.
"Machamp, let's start off strong with Focus Energy!" Instantly his pokemon tensed up and a white energy built up just around the pokemon's chest.
I nodded. "Not bad, Copycat Sudowoodo." My pokemon smirked as it adopted a pose precisely like that of Machamp with the arms cocked back. It was like watching a twiggy nerd flexing on a martial artist.
Machamp growled at the display while my pokemon built up white energy in front of it. "Machamp if he's not coming to you, then make him! Use Rock Throw!" The four-armed pokemon reached down and grasped the earth. Around it, brown energy ran down its form and into the ground. Then four small boulders tore themself free of the ground to hurtle straight at my pokemon.
I watched them come before announcing my move with a lazy drawl, "Dodge them."
Sudowoodo became a willow in the wind and bent around the attacks. Instead of his form being stiff as one would expect, he was fluid and flowed around each attack. Brawly chuckled. "Huh, it seems you've taught your pokemon some good balance there Brock! Sure you don't surf much?"
"Positive, I rock climb instead. Sudowoodo Thunder Punch."
Electricity arced around my pokemon's fist and the tree like pokemon grinned before leaping forward at Machamp. The much larger pokemon growled but held his position as we closed.
"Mach Punch when they're close!" shouted Brawly
"Take a knee and punch into the ground!" I counter-ordered, unwilling to let Sudowoodo walk into that sort of punch. Machamp flinched as my pokemon took a swing only to find its fists soaring right over my pokemon and hitting nothing but air.
"Now use Low Kick!" I said. With my pokemon's fist already planted, Sudowoodo spun like a breakdancer and knocked Machamp's legs out from underneath it before the other pokemon had a chance to respond.
Fun fact, Low Kick is a move that scales off how heavy an opponent's pokemon is. Machamps typically average in at one hundred and thirty kilograms meaning the move hit for close to full force.
Also? Losing your footing in a match against a Gym Leader and having to take time to get up? Not something I'd allow at a fourth-level badge challenge.
"Thunderpunch!" I ordered again. Sudowoodo smirked as he punched down on the much larger pokemon.
"Machamp! Get out of there! Punch the ground and bounce up!" the Machamp flexed before doing just that. Two arms rifled into the ground and launched it up. My pokemon was still in close range so Brawly decided to push his luck. "Close Combat!"
Before the upper arms could snap closed fully and damage my pokemon I stopped him in his tracks. "Counter," I replied. Sudowoodo caught both of the reaching hands and bent over itself in a move that made my spine ache just watching. It tilted over itself and once more planted Machamp's face into the dirt.
Machamp stopped there like a potted plant. When it fell to the side instead of rising or even twitching, I signalled Sudowoodo away. Daniel raised a flag.
"Machamp is unable to battle, Brock wins this round!"
The crowd whistled and cheered at this. They were obviously pleased to see a higher-level match and some of the tactics that could be used in a close combat fight. It was always heart-pumping to witness two strong pokemon engage in a physical contest.
Brawly chuckled as he withdrew his pokemon. "Damn you're strong! I was kind of annoyed that your guy said you were only going to use four pokemon, but now I think I might just appreciate not having four more like this guy to face off against."
I smirked at that. "I've got some other tricks up my sleeve. Hope you've got some to match them."
Brawly nodded and selected another pokeball. He tossed it out and this time a large blue frog like pokemon emerged. "Poliwrath!" it announced before punching out.
"I'm seeing two for two fighting pokemon so far?" I said idly.
Brawly nodded. "I got a favoured typing, that's for sure." He winked. "And some other tricks, don't you worry."
I decided to not remind him that he'd already announced that he owned a Pidgeot but I supposed he hoped to not use that pokemon.
"Poliwrath, use Body Slam!" The Poliwrath launched itself across the field with speed.
"Dig! Don't give it a chance to grapple Sudowoodo!" My pokemon dove into the ground. Brawly's smirk was all the clue I needed that he'd prepared for this.
"Earthquake Poliwrath!' I clicked my tongue as the pokemon stomped the earth and broke up parts of the arena. Sudowoodo was ejected from the ground and Brawly followed up before it could land. "Hydro Pump!"
A large blast of water shot from Poliwrath's mouth and nailed my still-falling Sudowoodo. It cried out and landed harshly before tumbling. It fell still after a few rolls and struggled to stand only to collapse as it ran out of energy. I nodded and withdrew it. "Nice work Sudowoodo."
"Sudowoodo is unable to battle; the challenger wins this round!"
"Nice one!" Brawly gave his pokemon a thumbs up. I hummed in thought playing with my choices before going for the tried and true Rock pokemon.
"Go Onix!" The giant Rock pokemon emerged with a dull roar. Poliwrath braced in the face of the much larger pokemon and I settled in for a tough match. The flags dropped, and I didn't wait around.
"Use Dragonbreath!" That got a look of surprise out of Brawly but he punched the air in front of him.
"Hydro Pump! Take it out Poliwrath!"
Once more Poliwrath unleashed a powerful blast of water. My pokemon inhaled and unleashed blue flames that raced across the field. Instead of being flatly negated by the water attack, they instead blew the water away before pushing on. "Again Poliwrath!" Brawly ordered to offset the oncoming attack.
When the field was covered in a light mist I nodded to myself and eased off. "Stealth Rock Onix."
I couldn't make out Brawly from my position on the other side of the field, but I could imagine he'd be forced to do something now. My fight with Lance had sparked a lot of debate over the usage and reemergence of field effects with multiple talk shows and radio channels wondering why they had fallen out of fashion.
"Poliwrath fire your Hydro Pump like a hose and sweep the field low!"
"Tackle leap!" I shouted to Onix. I wasn't willing to see it go into a dig with Brawly showing that his pokemon would punish me for it.
My Onix, which to me was a dark shape in the mist, leapt up and over a large beam of water that arced around like a hose. My luck held out as I ran a calculation on my pokemon's trajectory in my head.
A second later a loud impact resounded through the gym and Brawly once more shouted out. "Poliwrath! Ah! I withdraw it!"
I nodded. The mechanical suction fans that I had here weren't great at clearing field effects, and it would take a while but the red light from the pokeball locked onto where Poliwrath was and it highlighted the much larger form of my Onix laying on top of it.
I held in a chuckle as some of the crowd applauded the dodge-turned-attack. No one suspects a pokemon that weighs roughly two hundred kilograms to actually be able to jump very high but like a snake, it had surprising strength to do just that. It just couldn't be repeated back to back.
"The challenger's pokemon is withdrawn! The challenger may return this pokemon later in the match! It may not be returned instantly, as that would confer a technical foul and be seen as a forfeit for that pokemon!" announced Daniel.
I nodded again. This time happy that my trainers had learnt the rules. It also spoke well of Brawly using his right to withdraw a pokemon effectively. He couldn't see his pokemon and knew it had just been taken down, I hadn't given another order so there was a lull he could use. He could also return it to the field later. Far too many trainers didn't grasp this tactic. It was also tough to judge. If my pokemon had been close enough and in mid-attack, his pokemon could have been ruled out of the match entirely.
In a no holds barred challenge both of us would get to use withdrawals and change outs, but as Gym Leader I had to give some chances to trainers challenging for my badge.
Still, part of me wanted to try my best against Brawly of all people. I knew he was supposed to be a Gym Leader in the future, and part of me wanted to know how we'd match up, despite his technical advantage.
After all, I might get to face him in the coming World tournament in a few years.
Then again, lots of things could change by then. I had no doubt he'd be stronger and more confident at the very least.
"Go Medicham!" Brawly's next pokemon stopped me from getting too far down that rabbit hole.
"Begin!" shouted Daniel somewhere in the mist. I hummed to myself. My pokemon had withdrawn slightly, and the mist was fading away. I had half an idea about what could be coming my way with a Medicham on the field due to its typing.
I heard the thumps of the Stealth Rocks coming into play, and the crowd to the side gave a loud. "Ohhhhhh!" as they apparently had forgotten about my earlier play.
Brawly didn't worry though and instead calmly ordered his next move. "Mind Reader!"
I clicked my tongue. Not the exact move I'd predicted but nevertheless something to watch out for. I mentally made a note to spend some more time with Sudowoodo. If I had some more versatility to him I might have been able to have him take all three of these pokemon. Then again it was on me that he'd gone into a failed Dig.
"Stealth Rock again Onix!" If he wanted to do a set up I could do likewise. This time, when the rocks formed up they came to a part of the field close to me. That would help to judge an initial position if the mist stayed up much longer. I felt like it served its purpose so I needed to get rid of it soon.
"High Jump Kick!" Brawly commanded, drawing another tick of approval. The one-two follow up would work wonderfully with most pokemon.
"Protect!" I countered.
From within the mist, a frankly huge dome of orange hexagons formed up around my pokemon. Medicham's form was already mid-leap and wouldn't be able to back out of the attack. Which suited me perfectly as it slammed into the protective field and hurtled off with a pained cry.
"Dragonbreath Onix!" Once more my pokemon unleashed blue flames. The fire burnt through the mist. Medicham growled before leaping back. I could see smoke rising off the pokemon before it began getting blurry with what was left of the fog.
"Again Onix!" time to either knock out his pokemon or give myself some clear vision.
"Take the hit and use Reversal!"
Medicham started to sprint into the oncoming flames, its eyes blazing. The fire swept over it and I leaned forward as instead of going down the pokemon began to speed up. I watched it push through the flames leaving it with a sizeable space still to cover.
"Dig Onix!"
Brawly loudly clicking his tongue let me know he didn't have an answer this time. His pokemon struck high as my pokemon dove into the ground before instantly rising like Jaws from the depths to knock his battered and bruised pokemon away once more. It didn't get up this time, and once again, Brawly had to return his pokemon.
Onix gave a loud roar as the crowd cheered at his success. "Nice one, Onix!" I gave a thumbs up and readied myself for the next pokemon we'd face. Brawly selected another pokeball and held it out in front of himself. Would it be the return of Poliwrath or something else?
"Go Heracross!" A large blue bug pokemon with a singular horn appeared on the field, and the crowd gasped in surprise. I had no doubt that a number of them were also bug enthusiasts despite their support of my Gym. Viridian Forest being so close made lots of people that liked that style of pokemon prefer to live around Pewter or Viridian city.
"Heracross, use Aerial Ace to close and take it out with—" Before Brawly could enact his plan the Stealth rocks once more activated.
Knowing what he was going to do, I instantly pounced as the rocks slammed into the Heracross. "Dragonbreath now! While it's off balance!"
Onix unleashed its flame straight at the rare bug type. I could just make out a few Bug Catchers in the crowd wailing at seeing one of the favourites of their type getting lit up. Sadly, while Dragonbreath had been a great choice against the Hydropump to push it back, it didn't convey the benefits of a true fire-type move against this bug.
Heracross's wings blew the flames that engulfed it away, and it shouted like a samurai as its eyes locked onto Onix. "Hera!"
"Aerial Ace into—" Go into Dig!" I wasn't going to wait. With a pokemon like Heracross, which ostensibly had the ability to fly, I didn't want it closing in to use fighting type moves. That was just asking for Onix to get flattened.
Onix dove once more just as Heracross vanished from its side of the field. It reappeared and swept both fists forward at where my pokemon should have been. It growled in annoyance before spinning about on its rapidly flapping wings. The rapid flapping making me wonder for a moment if— Onix once more rose up and slammed straight into Brawly's pokemon.
I hummed. I hadn't thought that would work, but apparently, Heracross didn't have the same 'flight' pattern as other pokemon capable of flying. Perhaps the speed of its wingbeats allowed my Onix to gain a better understanding of where it actually was? I'd have to experiment with that in the future.
"Heracross! Can you fight, buddy?" Brawly said as Heracross rose into the air. It was clearly battered and bruised now but also highly annoyed.
"Hera!" It swept its arms in front of itself and growled across at my pokemon. The bug fans in the crowd hollered their approval.
"Right on buddy!" Brawly squared up on me, his gaze determined. "Heracross, Aerial ace once more but this time follow up with Megahorn!"
"Use Protect!" I said, deciding to gamble. I knew he'd have to have some sort of answer to my move and I had to admit that a Megahorn into the earth would have been just as effective as an earthquake in truth.
I watched the hexagons struggle to form around my pokemon right as Heracross accelerated before vanishing in a burst of speed. A hexagon formed up right infront of the Heracross.
A loud boom echoed through the gym and a shockwave billowed out causing both pokemon to reel back slightly. I grimaced as my much larger pokemon struggled to get back into fighting position. Brawly's eyes gleamed as he capitalised on the delay.
"Close Combat!" Heracross charged in, punching and kicking my Onix into submission.. It fell with a final sad moan, but I withdrew before it could fully hit the ground. I turned the pokeball over in my hand.
"That was great Onix." I resolved to myself that I would evolve and give this Onix a proper name. He had demonstrated that he had the skills to be added to and expand my Elite Team. I'd just have to give it some serious thought for what other moves I should teach him.
The crowd got on their feet and cheered, and Brawly heaved a huge sigh of relief at seeing my pokemon off the field. "Damn! That pokemon was strong! He almost had two of my pokemon if I hadn't had some advantages!"
"Hmmm yeah… I noticed you're using a lot of fighting types against me."
Brawly rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, I think I want to be a specialist in the field back home in Hoenn, see? But I'm going to do it from home in Dewford, catch some choice waves as much as I can."
I nodded. "Well don't let yourself get weak from losing out on pokemon matches. I think I want to face you one day with my best."
I spun up a ball into my hand and let my smile turn decidedly evil. "I think I'm going to kick it up another notch however." I flicked the pokeball and grinned as a floating pokemon was revealed. "Let's go Quirinna!" My Solrock emerged with a cry of its name.
Brawly cursed. "Damn, one of your named pokemon? For a Fourth badge level?"
"Oh? Noticed that I named my best pokemon did you?"
"I did my research. There are like three whole threads about you on the pokenet man. Mad respect for what you've done!"
"...Thanks?" While it was good to know Brawly had looked into me before the match, part of me cringed at the thought of 'three threads' talking about me being considered 'a lot'.
Still, the prior research was another tick in his list for this match. I gestured to my pokemon. "Also about the naming trick I use? You're partly right. Quirrina here's definitely one of my best, but he's not yet up to the Elite level. You'll work well to let him flex though." Quirina spun in position before crying out, more than happy to be out for a match.
I glanced to Daniel and he raised the flags before dropping them. "Begin!"
"Aerial Ace into Close Combat once again!"
"Counter its charge with Zen Headbutt!" I commanded. Quirina spun as Heracross appeared behind him, arms glowing with fighting-type energy, only for my pokemon to practically slam into it to perform its own move. Heracross was hurled into the ground with a harsh cry where it lay.
It twitched once before fainting properly, causing Daniel to raise my flag once more. "Heracross is unable to battle! Brock wins this round."
"Urgh!" Brawly said as he withdrew his pokemon. He quickly drew out another pokemon and brought it forth. "Come on out Wailord!"
From this pokeball one of the largest pokemon to yet be discovered across the 'open' regions appeared with a gurgle before hitting the ground and smiling. I couldn't even see around it to where Brawly was.
I blinked in surprise. I hadn't been expecting that to be one of his pokemon, but it made sense for him to have some sort of water-type pokemon. I whistled. "Daaaammmn that's a big one."
In comparison, my Solrock looked downright tiny.
"Begin!" shouted Daniel. The stealth rocks that slammed into the Wailord barely seemed to bother it as it merely held its position.
I knew I only had one shot at this but thankfully I had exactly the right type of pokemon to counter this surprise. "Sunny Day!" I ordered. Quirrina formed up a harsh yellow ball of light that he shot up into the air. It hovered high up before unfolding into a dome that caught and refracted the light harshly down onto the arena.
"Wailord! Surf!" called out Brawly.
I chuckled at what had to be the most cliche move from Brawly of all people.
Wailord called forth what had to be the entire reserve of water that we had ringing the arena from the grates just outside the arena boundary behind itself. A titanic wave formed up behind it that actually lifted the giant whale up. It sang a happy song as I heard outright manic laughter coming from Brawly.
I stared at the wave before leaning over to press a button on my podium to make sure the barriers were working properly.
Rachel stepped in front of the crowd and smiled hugely, "All crowd members currently in the stands, please be aware drying facilities are available in the communal parts of the gym and laundry services can be provided. Thank you, please remain seated and have a nice day." She then scurried to get out of the front row making others suddenly realise they too were in the splash zone.
I turned back in time to brace as the wave dropped onto myself and Quirrina.
"Protect," I said as the wave came down on my pokemon. I merely braced for the oncoming wave.
I heard more than a few crowd members cheering at the giant wave before I lost them. The water ground over me and I found myself gripping the railing as I tried to brace against the force. My Rock energy very much roiling within me at being submerged. Thankfully the water withdrew after a second or two.
I shook myself out and grimaced at the way my new attire clung to me.
I shook out my head and looked up to see if anyone needed help. The crowd looked to be in various stages of wetness and shock but they quickly got to their feet and cheered at the experience. I toggled the stadium speakers once more. "Please check to make sure no one accidentally swallowed some water around you."
I continued to watch the crowd as the Wailord settled down.
Daniel staggered to his feet and signalled a pause as we checked to see if anything was amiss. Thankfully, none of the actual weight of the water had hit the crowd. The barriers I'd installed being up to the task of taking the shock out of the wave. Water had still splashed everyone in the front rows, but that only seemed to make them come more alive. Rachel shot me two thumbs up despite being the wettest person I could see. Apparently, she'd tripped on the stairs?
I huffed a breath out before looking over at a very sheepish Brawly.
"Sorry!" he said, clapping his hands together and bowing his head. "I got a bit carried away."
I shook my head. "In another gym apart from maybe Cerulean, I would advise against that. Seems no one got more than drenched so it's all good Brawly." I glanced down to find Quirrina floating above the wet ground disdainfully.
"Ahahaha! I just wanted to show off a little with my big boy out on display! Thought I'd wipe you out on that!"
Quirrina floated up and spun about in agitation. Brawly stared in surprise and I grinned. "I said he was one of my strongest. That does mean something, you know?"
"Ready to restart?" Brawly nodded dumbly and once more the flags were dropped.
I pointed straight at the giant pokemon. "Solar Beam," I said firmly. Instantly a ball of energy formed up and before anyone could do anything else, a beam of energy lanced across to hit Brawly's Wailord right between the eyes.
Wailord cried out and flinched back before tottering over to its side where it cried out. It vanished in a red light leaving Brawly staring across at me. Brawly started laughing, "Ah man! Really? You've really thought of almost everything I swear!" Once more another pokeball was drawn out.
I shrugged before grimacing at the feeling of my wet clothes. I was almost tempted to do as the original Brock had done and go shirtless.
I turned that thought over before shrugging and deciding to say to hell with it. I stripped off the jumper and tossed it behind me. A few ladies from the crowd began whistling and some catcalls came out when they realised I was going to fight the rest of the match shirtless.
Brawly seemed amused as he selected his next pokemon.
"Go Breloom!" Once more a fighting type pokemon appeared. This one looking like a Kangaroo that was formed from fungus. Their thick tail swept back and forth before the pokemon's eyes alighted on Quirrina. I tilted my head. I had been expecting Hariyama for Brawly's last pokemon. I had to admit that Breloom on paper would make the most sense however.
"Bre! Bre! Loom! RE!" it cried out before leaning back onto its tail to kick the air.
My pokemon reacted with an agitated spin and returned with "Sol! Rock!" Apparently they were having a little smack talk before their fight.
"Begin!"
"Much obliged for the Sunny Day Brock! Use Solar Beam!"
I grit my teeth at that. "Match it! Solar Beam!"
From both pokemon energy balls developed and fired beams of sunlight off in rapid succession. They slammed into each other right in the middle of the field and once more the battlefield felt a shockwave go off.
Both attacks eventually ran out of energy, and Solrock staggered from the back to back attacks. For a moment I was confused as to how the Breloom with the Type advantage for firing off a grass-type move hadn't won out only to spot a single floating rock orbit just to the side.
I'd been expecting most of my Stealth Rocks to be swept away with Wailord's gigantic Surf, but it seemed one had stuck around and been a bit slow to hit Breloom upon his arrival.
Breloom shook its head in annoyance and glared across, apparently thinking Quririna had done something. Brawly looked confused himself, and I decided to not inform him that there was still a trap in play. He'd have to work it out himself.
"Breloom close in and use Mach Punch!" Brawly pointed forward. Instantly a glow appeared around the Breloom as it charged across the battlefield quickly.
"Cut off its advance with a Flamethrower!" I said to Quirina. From Quirina a torrent of flame was loosened onto the field and Breloom had to skid to a halt.
"Jump over the flames and take it out with Giga Drain!" Breloom crouched low before jumping. The leap seeing it carry itself well over the laid down wall of flame. As it flew, balls of green energy shot forward towards Quirina.
"Light it up before it hits!" I ordered. Quirina did just that. The mushroom Kangaroo landed while on fire before rolling to get the flames out. It rose just in time for the balls of energy it had released to sweep through Quirina and bounce back, returning energy to the slightly charred pokemon.
Quirina staggered once before falling to the ground with a thump. I raised his pokeball. "Another solid performance buddy," I said, pleased at his showing despite his eventual loss.
"Quirina is unable to battle! The challenger wins this round!" The crowd applauded both of us and I drew up my last selection. I eyed the angry-looking grass type on the field. This wasn't a matchup I was hoping for. I toyed with the idea of declaring that Brawly had demonstrated enough to justify the Boulder badge.
But I didn't want to do that. I found myself enjoying this match. It was tough, it was kind of crazy the back and forth I was having with him but it made me want to bring more to the table.
"Go Shelly!" I announced.
From the pokeball a small pokemon with a helix shell emerged with multiple tentacles. The crowd cheered at her appearance and she turned to them and began blowing little kisses from her beak as tentacles waved about. My Omantye wasn't as popular as Sanchez but she had a certain charm that won people over.
"Oh wow, one of your ancient pokemon?" Brawly said, leaning forward on the podium to get a better look. Shelly turned herself back and forth so that Brawly could observe her closer. "Showy little thing isn't she?" he said. His Breloom turned and growled in annoyance before fluffing at its mushroom cap.
I merely nodded and gestured to Daniel, eager to get the match underway.
"Begin!"
"Breloom! Take it out with Solar Beam while Sunny Day is still in effect!" I glanced up and hummed, he was right in that the Sunny Day was barely there. It had maybe a few more seconds. It was yet another tick in Brawly awareness box for field effects. Something that was only marred by his missing the single floating rock. Still, I wasn't going easy.
"Use Ice Beam!" I countered. Like before both attacks were built up and released. This time it was very obvious that something different was going to play out as Grass-type move impacted with Ice-type move. Shelly's Ice beam began to devour the Solar Beam, slowly pushing Breloom's attack back towards the struggling grass kangaroo.
Then, Breloom's attack cut out and I blinked in surprise as the Ice Beam suddenly had no resistance. It slammed into Breloom and threw the pokemon back into the arena wall. I signalled to Daniel worried about foul play.
"What happened there?"
Daniel held up both flags as he glanced at a screen. He ran through a quick playback that was shown on the big screen. It showed Breloom straining itself against Shelly's attack only for a section of charred skin to flare up with fire. I relaxed. For a second I was worried something else had occurred but apparently Quirina had well and truly left a mark on his foe before succumbing.
Brawly had already withdrawn his pokemon but he was looking up at the big screen in surprise. "Is that a playback feature?"
"It allows for video review. Makes sure nothing nefarious occurred such as ghost-type interference."
Brawly nodded slowly. "Huh, never heard of something like that before, but it makes sense you'd get a lot of people crying foul." Brawly raised his last pokeball up and turned it over. He looked at Shelly before looking once more at the pokeball in his grasp. I was already going through the next few moves. With his Poliwrath he'd need to— "I forfeit."
The words rang out loud and clear, but it still made everyone stop.
I blinked, just as caught out as everyone else. I stared at him. I was finding myself constantly surprised by Brawly. I stared at him for a long time before tilting my head. "Are you sure you want to make that call?"
Brawly grit his but nodded. "I… I was cocky. I wanted the badge, and I wasn't able to come with my best team cause my starter got injured yesterday. I thought I had a good enough team to still win but… You've shown otherwise… Poliwrath doesn't have the moves needed and I'm not going to throw him down just to have him crushed… You fought amazingly well, and I'll come back better prepared next time."
I accepted that, gesturing to Daniel. "The challenger has forfeited the match. The winner of the match is Gym Leader Brock!"
The applause from the crowd was rather muted, and I could understand their reasoning. They'd had a great match and win or lose it was shaping up to be a very dramatic showdown. I signalled for Brawly to wait before waving for the crowd to remain. Something about what he'd said and how he'd backed down struck me as highly odd. It was rare that a trainer would give up as he had.
As I approached, I signalled that I wanted some quiet. The crowd complied as I reached Brawly. "Brawly. You're an amazing judge of your pokemon and I'm sad that you weren't able to bring your best. However, even falling short of that, I have to say you are one hell of a trainer." He made to bow but I stopped him.
"Brawly, you have demonstrated the tactics, knowledge, and skills of a pokemon trainer to a high enough degree that I can more than justify you earning the Boulder Badge. Will you accept?" I gestured to the side and Daniel approached with a small case with the badge in question revealed.
The crowd stirred at this, surprised but pleased that I was acknowledging a trainer like this. Brawly had certainly earned it.
Brawly rubbed at the back of his head and grinned. "Heh! Wow, that's really great to hear, it's nice to be recognised like this." He glanced at the badge before shaking his head. "But… I want to earn it by beating you." He stared at me, and a flicker of battle-lust leaked through. I grinned at him. There was the spark he'd lacked a few moments ago.
"Very well, I want you to know that I am very much looking forward to that next match." I then pointed to the rock that was now losing its energy. "For what it's worth I think withdrawing your Poliwrath and not returning it was a good move. Make sure you look out for those traps."
Brawly laughed. "Ha! I'll remember to keep more of a lookout for things around me like that in future!" He shook his head and inhaled once before exhaling. "Ah well! This just gives me more reason to stick around for the festival you're having!"
I blinked at that. "What festival?"
Brawly tilted his head. Before reaching into a backpack. From within it, he drew out a sheet of paper announcing the 'Celebration of Pewter city! Brought to you by Townhall. Celebrate a month of Pewter city at its finest!'
I pinched the bridge of my nose and exhaled. Damn that Mayor! "Urgh!" I exclaimed as I let go of my grip. "Looks like I should have been paying more attention to what's going on around me as well."
A.N. Special thanks goes to my patreons for their support!
Special thanks goes to Raikor, Ab9999, Kurlinni, and Elnoorz for betaing and editing this chapter
I very much sought to enjoy the process, so I usually liked to try different things with varying match ups of pokemon. This could be battle tactics, to pokemon themselves, coming up with unusual moves. I knew that some pokemon had a lot of different moves depending on methods of rearing, training, use of technical machines, and even who their parents were.
There had to be a thousand different variations to use against just as many opponents, and as Gym Leader, I got to take part in lots of battles. As the first gym, this meant that I had the most trainers to challenge me. So I actually had the highest participation rate of challengers in the entire circuit.
However, I didn't just limit my methods of making things fun for myself. On some days, I would have the gym stylized differently, with snacks that we sold taking on different flavours. During the day of the departed, I typically opted to use jack-o-lanterns and provided extra winnings for anyone that used a ghost pokemon during a gym match.
During the warm, sunny days, I notified the crowds that we'd be having a 'tropical' day which I used to highlight places such as the Orange and Sevii islands.
In my past life, these would have been known as 'Hawaiian shirt' fridays. People that tried for the Elite challenge on these days unknowingly had a higher chance of me bringing out Bertha due to her ability to surf. Which made for a very interesting situation when Alexa approached me at the start of the day.
"Brock I think I better flag a trainer for your attention," Alexa said with her clipboard in hand. Around her neck, a lei rested to go with her otherwise semi-professional attire.
"Alright? What's so special about them?" Could this be Ash she was talking about?
"His name is Brawly."
Something about that tickled my mind. I knew that name… how did I know it though?
Alexa noticed my confused expression. "He's a young trainer that, when I checked his credentials, came up as a trainer that has learnt under Chuck from the Cianwood gym in Johto. He's challenging you for a fourth level badge but he doesn't have any to his name so far. What did you want to do?"
"Brawly, trained under Chuck… do we have a picture of him?" I was getting a suspicion that I did know this guy, only I knew him because of my previous life's knowledge.
"No, but I was there with the new receptionists and worked through his application. He was a rather fit young man with aqua blue hair that stuck out to the sides."
"Was he tanned?" I said, forming an image in my head.
"Umm," Alexa scrunched up her eyes before nodding. "Yes, he was. Do you know him?"
"I think I know of him," I said to evade the question. "He's fine. In the future, trainers who wish to challenge for a higher level don't need to be flagged."
"I'll make a note to the front desk. I thought it pertinent to alert you as he is a past gym trainer for another Gym. You're not worried about him?"
I shook my head. "As a Gym, we're a challenge, not something insurmountable." Alexa nodded and made a note before passing over the day's schedule. She'd highlighted Brawly on the list and I hummed.
Huh, it looks like I was going to have the future Gym Leader of Dewford challenge me. I'd almost forgotten he'd learnt from Chuck. I whistled in surprise and found myself very eager for the day's matches.
I was also deeply amused that Brawly was going to be challenging me on Tropical Friday. It struck me as highly appropriate for the Gym Leader most recognised as a "surfer bro" sign-up today. Had that been by chance, or by design?
As the third listing, I still had to get through two other matches before him.
The first trainer easily brushed through the gauntlet with a well-trained Growlithe that used its speed and surprised me with a dig maneuver to claim its trainer a badge.
I'd then faced off against a young girl with a Poliwag that was easily able to earn her own badge. She'd earned herself a compliment at her out of the box thinking to have Poliwag pound the ground to allow it to effectively jump and dodge or attack in mid-air.
With those matches out of the way, I was actually both disappointed and relieved that Brawly hadn't opted for the gauntlet. Part of me wanted him to run the gauntlet for a serious challenge to some of my trainers. Another relished the chance to go against him without too much foreknowledge of what his team was.
I knew he was supposed to be a fighting-type specialist, but that didn't mean he couldn't have something else. I was an example of that, with my Lapras and Noctowl.
"Trainer Brawly, welcome to the Pewter City gym." I settled into my pose. I had a feeling Celia was giggling to herself somewhere, knowing she'd forever made me aware of what I did. I guess I'd just have to own it.
Across from me, Brawly sauntered up to the podium with a sheepish expression. "Hey there! Gym Leader Brock! I have to say you know how to tempt a guy into sticking around! When I showed up at the start of the circuit I saw your upcoming events and just knew I had to challenge you on your tropical day."
"You could have taken the morning slot if you wanted to challenge me earlier." I pointed out.
"Yeah, I could have, but Pewter to the coast isn't that far as a Pidgeot flies." he ran a hand through his hair, "I couldn't miss out on a morning surf!"
That stumped me. I blinked before realising that in the anime, Brawly had actually delayed facing Ash multiple times due to his love of surfing. I chuckled at that.
"Is that so? Can't say I've done that much. Maybe I should try it when things settle down."
"Yeah! You totally should! When I complete the circuit, I'm so setting up camp down near Pallet town! That little town is just the choicest place to relax! Nice quiet town that's only two minutes from the beach! There's gonna be a lot of fun this circuit I can tell! Looking forward to the festival as well!"
I brushed off the comment about the festival and instead focussed on something else. "When you complete the circuit, eh?" I selected a pokeball and looked to the side to find Daniel on the referee stand today. I nodded. "Sounds like you're confident. Show me what makes you think you deserve my badge."
Between us, Daniel stepped up and said, "Trainers! This is a fourth level gym challenge issued by trainer Brawly! The Gym Leader is not allowed to withdraw his team, but the challenger may! Only six pokemon can be used by the challenger. The Gym Leader has opted to use four pokemon!" Both flags went up. "Trainers are you ready!?"
"Yes!" "Yeah, I'm good."
"Begin!" He dropped his flags and Brawly and I each threw a pokeball forward.
Mine landed and disgorged a tall thin pokemon that bent and flowed like a willow branch.
"Sudowoodo!" cried my pokemon, pumping its arms back and forth.
On Brawly's side, a heavier pokemon took to the field. It landed with a heavy thump but then instantly bobbed back and forth on its toes. Its arms rocked forward. "Champ! Ma-champ!"
That got a whistle out of me. I could tell that this was not a pokemon that had just gotten big from time in the gym. Each line of muscle was like tight whipcords, and the air whooshed with each punch.
"An impressive pokemon. Are you sure you didn't want to wait and try for the elite challenge?"
"Ho, I have to admit to being tempted when I saw that set in stone. But I think I'll pass, I have a good team right now, but I don't have one I feel confident in. Especially if you brought out your Tyranitar."
I shrugged and offered up a hand, signalling he should start things off.
"Machamp, let's start off strong with Focus Energy!" Instantly his pokemon tensed up and a white energy built up just around the pokemon's chest.
I nodded. "Not bad, Copycat Sudowoodo." My pokemon smirked as it adopted a pose precisely like that of Machamp with the arms cocked back. It was like watching a twiggy nerd flexing on a martial artist.
Machamp growled at the display while my pokemon built up white energy in front of it. "Machamp if he's not coming to you, then make him! Use Rock Throw!" The four-armed pokemon reached down and grasped the earth. Around it, brown energy ran down its form and into the ground. Then four small boulders tore themself free of the ground to hurtle straight at my pokemon.
I watched them come before announcing my move with a lazy drawl, "Dodge them."
Sudowoodo became a willow in the wind and bent around the attacks. Instead of his form being stiff as one would expect, he was fluid and flowed around each attack. Brawly chuckled. "Huh, it seems you've taught your pokemon some good balance there Brock! Sure you don't surf much?"
"Positive, I rock climb instead. Sudowoodo Thunder Punch."
Electricity arced around my pokemon's fist and the tree like pokemon grinned before leaping forward at Machamp. The much larger pokemon growled but held his position as we closed.
"Mach Punch when they're close!" shouted Brawly
"Take a knee and punch into the ground!" I counter-ordered, unwilling to let Sudowoodo walk into that sort of punch. Machamp flinched as my pokemon took a swing only to find its fists soaring right over my pokemon and hitting nothing but air.
"Now use Low Kick!" I said. With my pokemon's fist already planted, Sudowoodo spun like a breakdancer and knocked Machamp's legs out from underneath it before the other pokemon had a chance to respond.
Fun fact, Low Kick is a move that scales off how heavy an opponent's pokemon is. Machamps typically average in at one hundred and thirty kilograms meaning the move hit for close to full force.
Also? Losing your footing in a match against a Gym Leader and having to take time to get up? Not something I'd allow at a fourth-level badge challenge.
"Thunderpunch!" I ordered again. Sudowoodo smirked as he punched down on the much larger pokemon.
"Machamp! Get out of there! Punch the ground and bounce up!" the Machamp flexed before doing just that. Two arms rifled into the ground and launched it up. My pokemon was still in close range so Brawly decided to push his luck. "Close Combat!"
Before the upper arms could snap closed fully and damage my pokemon I stopped him in his tracks. "Counter," I replied. Sudowoodo caught both of the reaching hands and bent over itself in a move that made my spine ache just watching. It tilted over itself and once more planted Machamp's face into the dirt.
Machamp stopped there like a potted plant. When it fell to the side instead of rising or even twitching, I signalled Sudowoodo away. Daniel raised a flag.
"Machamp is unable to battle, Brock wins this round!"
The crowd whistled and cheered at this. They were obviously pleased to see a higher-level match and some of the tactics that could be used in a close combat fight. It was always heart-pumping to witness two strong pokemon engage in a physical contest.
Brawly chuckled as he withdrew his pokemon. "Damn you're strong! I was kind of annoyed that your guy said you were only going to use four pokemon, but now I think I might just appreciate not having four more like this guy to face off against."
I smirked at that. "I've got some other tricks up my sleeve. Hope you've got some to match them."
Brawly nodded and selected another pokeball. He tossed it out and this time a large blue frog like pokemon emerged. "Poliwrath!" it announced before punching out.
"I'm seeing two for two fighting pokemon so far?" I said idly.
Brawly nodded. "I got a favoured typing, that's for sure." He winked. "And some other tricks, don't you worry."
I decided to not remind him that he'd already announced that he owned a Pidgeot but I supposed he hoped to not use that pokemon.
"Poliwrath, use Body Slam!" The Poliwrath launched itself across the field with speed.
"Dig! Don't give it a chance to grapple Sudowoodo!" My pokemon dove into the ground. Brawly's smirk was all the clue I needed that he'd prepared for this.
"Earthquake Poliwrath!' I clicked my tongue as the pokemon stomped the earth and broke up parts of the arena. Sudowoodo was ejected from the ground and Brawly followed up before it could land. "Hydro Pump!"
A large blast of water shot from Poliwrath's mouth and nailed my still-falling Sudowoodo. It cried out and landed harshly before tumbling. It fell still after a few rolls and struggled to stand only to collapse as it ran out of energy. I nodded and withdrew it. "Nice work Sudowoodo."
"Sudowoodo is unable to battle; the challenger wins this round!"
"Nice one!" Brawly gave his pokemon a thumbs up. I hummed in thought playing with my choices before going for the tried and true Rock pokemon.
"Go Onix!" The giant Rock pokemon emerged with a dull roar. Poliwrath braced in the face of the much larger pokemon and I settled in for a tough match. The flags dropped, and I didn't wait around.
"Use Dragonbreath!" That got a look of surprise out of Brawly but he punched the air in front of him.
"Hydro Pump! Take it out Poliwrath!"
Once more Poliwrath unleashed a powerful blast of water. My pokemon inhaled and unleashed blue flames that raced across the field. Instead of being flatly negated by the water attack, they instead blew the water away before pushing on. "Again Poliwrath!" Brawly ordered to offset the oncoming attack.
When the field was covered in a light mist I nodded to myself and eased off. "Stealth Rock Onix."
I couldn't make out Brawly from my position on the other side of the field, but I could imagine he'd be forced to do something now. My fight with Lance had sparked a lot of debate over the usage and reemergence of field effects with multiple talk shows and radio channels wondering why they had fallen out of fashion.
"Poliwrath fire your Hydro Pump like a hose and sweep the field low!"
"Tackle leap!" I shouted to Onix. I wasn't willing to see it go into a dig with Brawly showing that his pokemon would punish me for it.
My Onix, which to me was a dark shape in the mist, leapt up and over a large beam of water that arced around like a hose. My luck held out as I ran a calculation on my pokemon's trajectory in my head.
A second later a loud impact resounded through the gym and Brawly once more shouted out. "Poliwrath! Ah! I withdraw it!"
I nodded. The mechanical suction fans that I had here weren't great at clearing field effects, and it would take a while but the red light from the pokeball locked onto where Poliwrath was and it highlighted the much larger form of my Onix laying on top of it.
I held in a chuckle as some of the crowd applauded the dodge-turned-attack. No one suspects a pokemon that weighs roughly two hundred kilograms to actually be able to jump very high but like a snake, it had surprising strength to do just that. It just couldn't be repeated back to back.
"The challenger's pokemon is withdrawn! The challenger may return this pokemon later in the match! It may not be returned instantly, as that would confer a technical foul and be seen as a forfeit for that pokemon!" announced Daniel.
I nodded again. This time happy that my trainers had learnt the rules. It also spoke well of Brawly using his right to withdraw a pokemon effectively. He couldn't see his pokemon and knew it had just been taken down, I hadn't given another order so there was a lull he could use. He could also return it to the field later. Far too many trainers didn't grasp this tactic. It was also tough to judge. If my pokemon had been close enough and in mid-attack, his pokemon could have been ruled out of the match entirely.
In a no holds barred challenge both of us would get to use withdrawals and change outs, but as Gym Leader I had to give some chances to trainers challenging for my badge.
Still, part of me wanted to try my best against Brawly of all people. I knew he was supposed to be a Gym Leader in the future, and part of me wanted to know how we'd match up, despite his technical advantage.
After all, I might get to face him in the coming World tournament in a few years.
Then again, lots of things could change by then. I had no doubt he'd be stronger and more confident at the very least.
"Go Medicham!" Brawly's next pokemon stopped me from getting too far down that rabbit hole.
"Begin!" shouted Daniel somewhere in the mist. I hummed to myself. My pokemon had withdrawn slightly, and the mist was fading away. I had half an idea about what could be coming my way with a Medicham on the field due to its typing.
I heard the thumps of the Stealth Rocks coming into play, and the crowd to the side gave a loud. "Ohhhhhh!" as they apparently had forgotten about my earlier play.
Brawly didn't worry though and instead calmly ordered his next move. "Mind Reader!"
I clicked my tongue. Not the exact move I'd predicted but nevertheless something to watch out for. I mentally made a note to spend some more time with Sudowoodo. If I had some more versatility to him I might have been able to have him take all three of these pokemon. Then again it was on me that he'd gone into a failed Dig.
"Stealth Rock again Onix!" If he wanted to do a set up I could do likewise. This time, when the rocks formed up they came to a part of the field close to me. That would help to judge an initial position if the mist stayed up much longer. I felt like it served its purpose so I needed to get rid of it soon.
"High Jump Kick!" Brawly commanded, drawing another tick of approval. The one-two follow up would work wonderfully with most pokemon.
"Protect!" I countered.
From within the mist, a frankly huge dome of orange hexagons formed up around my pokemon. Medicham's form was already mid-leap and wouldn't be able to back out of the attack. Which suited me perfectly as it slammed into the protective field and hurtled off with a pained cry.
"Dragonbreath Onix!" Once more my pokemon unleashed blue flames. The fire burnt through the mist. Medicham growled before leaping back. I could see smoke rising off the pokemon before it began getting blurry with what was left of the fog.
"Again Onix!" time to either knock out his pokemon or give myself some clear vision.
"Take the hit and use Reversal!"
Medicham started to sprint into the oncoming flames, its eyes blazing. The fire swept over it and I leaned forward as instead of going down the pokemon began to speed up. I watched it push through the flames leaving it with a sizeable space still to cover.
"Dig Onix!"
Brawly loudly clicking his tongue let me know he didn't have an answer this time. His pokemon struck high as my pokemon dove into the ground before instantly rising like Jaws from the depths to knock his battered and bruised pokemon away once more. It didn't get up this time, and once again, Brawly had to return his pokemon.
Onix gave a loud roar as the crowd cheered at his success. "Nice one, Onix!" I gave a thumbs up and readied myself for the next pokemon we'd face. Brawly selected another pokeball and held it out in front of himself. Would it be the return of Poliwrath or something else?
"Go Heracross!" A large blue bug pokemon with a singular horn appeared on the field, and the crowd gasped in surprise. I had no doubt that a number of them were also bug enthusiasts despite their support of my Gym. Viridian Forest being so close made lots of people that liked that style of pokemon prefer to live around Pewter or Viridian city.
"Heracross, use Aerial Ace to close and take it out with—" Before Brawly could enact his plan the Stealth rocks once more activated.
Knowing what he was going to do, I instantly pounced as the rocks slammed into the Heracross. "Dragonbreath now! While it's off balance!"
Onix unleashed its flame straight at the rare bug type. I could just make out a few Bug Catchers in the crowd wailing at seeing one of the favourites of their type getting lit up. Sadly, while Dragonbreath had been a great choice against the Hydropump to push it back, it didn't convey the benefits of a true fire-type move against this bug.
Heracross's wings blew the flames that engulfed it away, and it shouted like a samurai as its eyes locked onto Onix. "Hera!"
"Aerial Ace into—" Go into Dig!" I wasn't going to wait. With a pokemon like Heracross, which ostensibly had the ability to fly, I didn't want it closing in to use fighting type moves. That was just asking for Onix to get flattened.
Onix dove once more just as Heracross vanished from its side of the field. It reappeared and swept both fists forward at where my pokemon should have been. It growled in annoyance before spinning about on its rapidly flapping wings. The rapid flapping making me wonder for a moment if— Onix once more rose up and slammed straight into Brawly's pokemon.
I hummed. I hadn't thought that would work, but apparently, Heracross didn't have the same 'flight' pattern as other pokemon capable of flying. Perhaps the speed of its wingbeats allowed my Onix to gain a better understanding of where it actually was? I'd have to experiment with that in the future.
"Heracross! Can you fight, buddy?" Brawly said as Heracross rose into the air. It was clearly battered and bruised now but also highly annoyed.
"Hera!" It swept its arms in front of itself and growled across at my pokemon. The bug fans in the crowd hollered their approval.
"Right on buddy!" Brawly squared up on me, his gaze determined. "Heracross, Aerial ace once more but this time follow up with Megahorn!"
"Use Protect!" I said, deciding to gamble. I knew he'd have to have some sort of answer to my move and I had to admit that a Megahorn into the earth would have been just as effective as an earthquake in truth.
I watched the hexagons struggle to form around my pokemon right as Heracross accelerated before vanishing in a burst of speed. A hexagon formed up right infront of the Heracross.
A loud boom echoed through the gym and a shockwave billowed out causing both pokemon to reel back slightly. I grimaced as my much larger pokemon struggled to get back into fighting position. Brawly's eyes gleamed as he capitalised on the delay.
"Close Combat!" Heracross charged in, punching and kicking my Onix into submission.. It fell with a final sad moan, but I withdrew before it could fully hit the ground. I turned the pokeball over in my hand.
"That was great Onix." I resolved to myself that I would evolve and give this Onix a proper name. He had demonstrated that he had the skills to be added to and expand my Elite Team. I'd just have to give it some serious thought for what other moves I should teach him.
The crowd got on their feet and cheered, and Brawly heaved a huge sigh of relief at seeing my pokemon off the field. "Damn! That pokemon was strong! He almost had two of my pokemon if I hadn't had some advantages!"
"Hmmm yeah… I noticed you're using a lot of fighting types against me."
Brawly rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, I think I want to be a specialist in the field back home in Hoenn, see? But I'm going to do it from home in Dewford, catch some choice waves as much as I can."
I nodded. "Well don't let yourself get weak from losing out on pokemon matches. I think I want to face you one day with my best."
I spun up a ball into my hand and let my smile turn decidedly evil. "I think I'm going to kick it up another notch however." I flicked the pokeball and grinned as a floating pokemon was revealed. "Let's go Quirinna!" My Solrock emerged with a cry of its name.
Brawly cursed. "Damn, one of your named pokemon? For a Fourth badge level?"
"Oh? Noticed that I named my best pokemon did you?"
"I did my research. There are like three whole threads about you on the pokenet man. Mad respect for what you've done!"
"...Thanks?" While it was good to know Brawly had looked into me before the match, part of me cringed at the thought of 'three threads' talking about me being considered 'a lot'.
Still, the prior research was another tick in his list for this match. I gestured to my pokemon. "Also about the naming trick I use? You're partly right. Quirrina here's definitely one of my best, but he's not yet up to the Elite level. You'll work well to let him flex though." Quirina spun in position before crying out, more than happy to be out for a match.
I glanced to Daniel and he raised the flags before dropping them. "Begin!"
"Aerial Ace into Close Combat once again!"
"Counter its charge with Zen Headbutt!" I commanded. Quirina spun as Heracross appeared behind him, arms glowing with fighting-type energy, only for my pokemon to practically slam into it to perform its own move. Heracross was hurled into the ground with a harsh cry where it lay.
It twitched once before fainting properly, causing Daniel to raise my flag once more. "Heracross is unable to battle! Brock wins this round."
"Urgh!" Brawly said as he withdrew his pokemon. He quickly drew out another pokemon and brought it forth. "Come on out Wailord!"
From this pokeball one of the largest pokemon to yet be discovered across the 'open' regions appeared with a gurgle before hitting the ground and smiling. I couldn't even see around it to where Brawly was.
I blinked in surprise. I hadn't been expecting that to be one of his pokemon, but it made sense for him to have some sort of water-type pokemon. I whistled. "Daaaammmn that's a big one."
In comparison, my Solrock looked downright tiny.
"Begin!" shouted Daniel. The stealth rocks that slammed into the Wailord barely seemed to bother it as it merely held its position.
I knew I only had one shot at this but thankfully I had exactly the right type of pokemon to counter this surprise. "Sunny Day!" I ordered. Quirrina formed up a harsh yellow ball of light that he shot up into the air. It hovered high up before unfolding into a dome that caught and refracted the light harshly down onto the arena.
"Wailord! Surf!" called out Brawly.
I chuckled at what had to be the most cliche move from Brawly of all people.
Wailord called forth what had to be the entire reserve of water that we had ringing the arena from the grates just outside the arena boundary behind itself. A titanic wave formed up behind it that actually lifted the giant whale up. It sang a happy song as I heard outright manic laughter coming from Brawly.
I stared at the wave before leaning over to press a button on my podium to make sure the barriers were working properly.
Rachel stepped in front of the crowd and smiled hugely, "All crowd members currently in the stands, please be aware drying facilities are available in the communal parts of the gym and laundry services can be provided. Thank you, please remain seated and have a nice day." She then scurried to get out of the front row making others suddenly realise they too were in the splash zone.
I turned back in time to brace as the wave dropped onto myself and Quirrina.
"Protect," I said as the wave came down on my pokemon. I merely braced for the oncoming wave.
I heard more than a few crowd members cheering at the giant wave before I lost them. The water ground over me and I found myself gripping the railing as I tried to brace against the force. My Rock energy very much roiling within me at being submerged. Thankfully the water withdrew after a second or two.
I shook myself out and grimaced at the way my new attire clung to me.
I shook out my head and looked up to see if anyone needed help. The crowd looked to be in various stages of wetness and shock but they quickly got to their feet and cheered at the experience. I toggled the stadium speakers once more. "Please check to make sure no one accidentally swallowed some water around you."
I continued to watch the crowd as the Wailord settled down.
Daniel staggered to his feet and signalled a pause as we checked to see if anything was amiss. Thankfully, none of the actual weight of the water had hit the crowd. The barriers I'd installed being up to the task of taking the shock out of the wave. Water had still splashed everyone in the front rows, but that only seemed to make them come more alive. Rachel shot me two thumbs up despite being the wettest person I could see. Apparently, she'd tripped on the stairs?
I huffed a breath out before looking over at a very sheepish Brawly.
"Sorry!" he said, clapping his hands together and bowing his head. "I got a bit carried away."
I shook my head. "In another gym apart from maybe Cerulean, I would advise against that. Seems no one got more than drenched so it's all good Brawly." I glanced down to find Quirrina floating above the wet ground disdainfully.
"Ahahaha! I just wanted to show off a little with my big boy out on display! Thought I'd wipe you out on that!"
Quirrina floated up and spun about in agitation. Brawly stared in surprise and I grinned. "I said he was one of my strongest. That does mean something, you know?"
"Ready to restart?" Brawly nodded dumbly and once more the flags were dropped.
I pointed straight at the giant pokemon. "Solar Beam," I said firmly. Instantly a ball of energy formed up and before anyone could do anything else, a beam of energy lanced across to hit Brawly's Wailord right between the eyes.
Wailord cried out and flinched back before tottering over to its side where it cried out. It vanished in a red light leaving Brawly staring across at me. Brawly started laughing, "Ah man! Really? You've really thought of almost everything I swear!" Once more another pokeball was drawn out.
I shrugged before grimacing at the feeling of my wet clothes. I was almost tempted to do as the original Brock had done and go shirtless.
I turned that thought over before shrugging and deciding to say to hell with it. I stripped off the jumper and tossed it behind me. A few ladies from the crowd began whistling and some catcalls came out when they realised I was going to fight the rest of the match shirtless.
Brawly seemed amused as he selected his next pokemon.
"Go Breloom!" Once more a fighting type pokemon appeared. This one looking like a Kangaroo that was formed from fungus. Their thick tail swept back and forth before the pokemon's eyes alighted on Quirrina. I tilted my head. I had been expecting Hariyama for Brawly's last pokemon. I had to admit that Breloom on paper would make the most sense however.
"Bre! Bre! Loom! RE!" it cried out before leaning back onto its tail to kick the air.
My pokemon reacted with an agitated spin and returned with "Sol! Rock!" Apparently they were having a little smack talk before their fight.
"Begin!"
"Much obliged for the Sunny Day Brock! Use Solar Beam!"
I grit my teeth at that. "Match it! Solar Beam!"
From both pokemon energy balls developed and fired beams of sunlight off in rapid succession. They slammed into each other right in the middle of the field and once more the battlefield felt a shockwave go off.
Both attacks eventually ran out of energy, and Solrock staggered from the back to back attacks. For a moment I was confused as to how the Breloom with the Type advantage for firing off a grass-type move hadn't won out only to spot a single floating rock orbit just to the side.
I'd been expecting most of my Stealth Rocks to be swept away with Wailord's gigantic Surf, but it seemed one had stuck around and been a bit slow to hit Breloom upon his arrival.
Breloom shook its head in annoyance and glared across, apparently thinking Quririna had done something. Brawly looked confused himself, and I decided to not inform him that there was still a trap in play. He'd have to work it out himself.
"Breloom close in and use Mach Punch!" Brawly pointed forward. Instantly a glow appeared around the Breloom as it charged across the battlefield quickly.
"Cut off its advance with a Flamethrower!" I said to Quirina. From Quirina a torrent of flame was loosened onto the field and Breloom had to skid to a halt.
"Jump over the flames and take it out with Giga Drain!" Breloom crouched low before jumping. The leap seeing it carry itself well over the laid down wall of flame. As it flew, balls of green energy shot forward towards Quirina.
"Light it up before it hits!" I ordered. Quirina did just that. The mushroom Kangaroo landed while on fire before rolling to get the flames out. It rose just in time for the balls of energy it had released to sweep through Quirina and bounce back, returning energy to the slightly charred pokemon.
Quirina staggered once before falling to the ground with a thump. I raised his pokeball. "Another solid performance buddy," I said, pleased at his showing despite his eventual loss.
"Quirina is unable to battle! The challenger wins this round!" The crowd applauded both of us and I drew up my last selection. I eyed the angry-looking grass type on the field. This wasn't a matchup I was hoping for. I toyed with the idea of declaring that Brawly had demonstrated enough to justify the Boulder badge.
But I didn't want to do that. I found myself enjoying this match. It was tough, it was kind of crazy the back and forth I was having with him but it made me want to bring more to the table.
"Go Shelly!" I announced.
From the pokeball a small pokemon with a helix shell emerged with multiple tentacles. The crowd cheered at her appearance and she turned to them and began blowing little kisses from her beak as tentacles waved about. My Omantye wasn't as popular as Sanchez but she had a certain charm that won people over.
"Oh wow, one of your ancient pokemon?" Brawly said, leaning forward on the podium to get a better look. Shelly turned herself back and forth so that Brawly could observe her closer. "Showy little thing isn't she?" he said. His Breloom turned and growled in annoyance before fluffing at its mushroom cap.
I merely nodded and gestured to Daniel, eager to get the match underway.
"Begin!"
"Breloom! Take it out with Solar Beam while Sunny Day is still in effect!" I glanced up and hummed, he was right in that the Sunny Day was barely there. It had maybe a few more seconds. It was yet another tick in Brawly awareness box for field effects. Something that was only marred by his missing the single floating rock. Still, I wasn't going easy.
"Use Ice Beam!" I countered. Like before both attacks were built up and released. This time it was very obvious that something different was going to play out as Grass-type move impacted with Ice-type move. Shelly's Ice beam began to devour the Solar Beam, slowly pushing Breloom's attack back towards the struggling grass kangaroo.
Then, Breloom's attack cut out and I blinked in surprise as the Ice Beam suddenly had no resistance. It slammed into Breloom and threw the pokemon back into the arena wall. I signalled to Daniel worried about foul play.
"What happened there?"
Daniel held up both flags as he glanced at a screen. He ran through a quick playback that was shown on the big screen. It showed Breloom straining itself against Shelly's attack only for a section of charred skin to flare up with fire. I relaxed. For a second I was worried something else had occurred but apparently Quirina had well and truly left a mark on his foe before succumbing.
Brawly had already withdrawn his pokemon but he was looking up at the big screen in surprise. "Is that a playback feature?"
"It allows for video review. Makes sure nothing nefarious occurred such as ghost-type interference."
Brawly nodded slowly. "Huh, never heard of something like that before, but it makes sense you'd get a lot of people crying foul." Brawly raised his last pokeball up and turned it over. He looked at Shelly before looking once more at the pokeball in his grasp. I was already going through the next few moves. With his Poliwrath he'd need to— "I forfeit."
The words rang out loud and clear, but it still made everyone stop.
I blinked, just as caught out as everyone else. I stared at him. I was finding myself constantly surprised by Brawly. I stared at him for a long time before tilting my head. "Are you sure you want to make that call?"
Brawly grit his but nodded. "I… I was cocky. I wanted the badge, and I wasn't able to come with my best team cause my starter got injured yesterday. I thought I had a good enough team to still win but… You've shown otherwise… Poliwrath doesn't have the moves needed and I'm not going to throw him down just to have him crushed… You fought amazingly well, and I'll come back better prepared next time."
I accepted that, gesturing to Daniel. "The challenger has forfeited the match. The winner of the match is Gym Leader Brock!"
The applause from the crowd was rather muted, and I could understand their reasoning. They'd had a great match and win or lose it was shaping up to be a very dramatic showdown. I signalled for Brawly to wait before waving for the crowd to remain. Something about what he'd said and how he'd backed down struck me as highly odd. It was rare that a trainer would give up as he had.
As I approached, I signalled that I wanted some quiet. The crowd complied as I reached Brawly. "Brawly. You're an amazing judge of your pokemon and I'm sad that you weren't able to bring your best. However, even falling short of that, I have to say you are one hell of a trainer." He made to bow but I stopped him.
"Brawly, you have demonstrated the tactics, knowledge, and skills of a pokemon trainer to a high enough degree that I can more than justify you earning the Boulder Badge. Will you accept?" I gestured to the side and Daniel approached with a small case with the badge in question revealed.
The crowd stirred at this, surprised but pleased that I was acknowledging a trainer like this. Brawly had certainly earned it.
Brawly rubbed at the back of his head and grinned. "Heh! Wow, that's really great to hear, it's nice to be recognised like this." He glanced at the badge before shaking his head. "But… I want to earn it by beating you." He stared at me, and a flicker of battle-lust leaked through. I grinned at him. There was the spark he'd lacked a few moments ago.
"Very well, I want you to know that I am very much looking forward to that next match." I then pointed to the rock that was now losing its energy. "For what it's worth I think withdrawing your Poliwrath and not returning it was a good move. Make sure you look out for those traps."
Brawly laughed. "Ha! I'll remember to keep more of a lookout for things around me like that in future!" He shook his head and inhaled once before exhaling. "Ah well! This just gives me more reason to stick around for the festival you're having!"
I blinked at that. "What festival?"
Brawly tilted his head. Before reaching into a backpack. From within it, he drew out a sheet of paper announcing the 'Celebration of Pewter city! Brought to you by Townhall. Celebrate a month of Pewter city at its finest!'
I pinched the bridge of my nose and exhaled. Damn that Mayor! "Urgh!" I exclaimed as I let go of my grip. "Looks like I should have been paying more attention to what's going on around me as well."
A.N. Special thanks goes to my patreons for their support!
Special thanks goes to Raikor, Ab9999, Kurlinni, and Elnoorz for betaing and editing this chapter