--- Gym Battle in Aquamarine Town (by Michael Keens/ Exodus) --- Its been a few lonely days and the only thing new to report is that Nightmare evolved into a Hypno and his advanced Psychic attacks are sure to help me in the League. I arrived in Aquamarine Town, a shipping district with many shops, imported goods and the local Gym. Many young girls were shopping around with their folks. Spoilt brats. They treated their parents like slaves, they didn’t know one bit of my troubles. If I ever found my parents, I’d treasure every moment I had with them and never act spiteful towards them. I entered the Gym and a cheerful female voice spoke, “Oh hello, my name’s Marina and I’m one of the Gym Leaders, where are you from?” Another cheerful girl, I couldn’t stand those, I remained silent. After a while, the girl with the strange blue hair frowned. “Well you don’t have to be rude. Do you want a Gym Battle or not, I’m not allowed to turn down anybody who wants one.” I nodded my head and drew a Pokéball. “Sheesh, you sure are quiet. Three-on-three. Go, Psyduck!” “Go and win, Sparky.” “Pika-Chu!” The duck looked totally vacant. “Sparky, it looks retarded, use Quick Attack before it wakes up.” “Big mistake... Psyduck! Confusion!” “Psy-Duck!” It clenched its fists then shot them forward, a psychic attack blasted Sparky backwards. “Sparky...” I said, obviously caring but not showing it. It managed to lock down Sparky, I needed a decoy. “Sparky, Double Team.” “Pika, Pika, Pika, Chu, Chu, Chu.” he said, though the Psyduck heard it from each fake Pikachu plus the real one. “Psyduck, Confusion.” He started shooting the fakes, starting from in front of him and around the circle, it was funny how the last one he was to fire at, was Sparky. “Sparky, Thunderbolt.” It was too late now to stop Sparky, the Psyduck was shocked and the type advantage gave it a double helping of electricity. “Psy-” It landed upside down, on its head. “Agility, Sparky.” “Disable.” It was a pretty decent Psyduck as it saw the upside-down Pikachu running across the tiled floor, it managed a Disable attack, even in its position. Sparky was frozen by the psychic energy and the Psyduck regained its equilibrium. “Fury Swipes!” It charged forward extending its hands which had three sharp points to them, and scratched Sparky continueously. “Pika, pika, Pika!!!” wailed Sparky. My heart ached from his pain, but I wouldn’t show it, I could hold back my fears and hurt. At least I always tried to. “Sparky... Um, try a Thunder Wave.” “Chu!” he shouted swinging his tail. It hit and electricity followed, shooting into the Psyduck. “Slam.” I said, and Sparky charged forward and forced himself into the Psyduck hard, it finally collapsed, landing on its head again, but then toppling over. Marina recalled it and drew her next ball. “You’re a very able trainer, not that you’ll beat this Pokémon.” “Mieee!” shrilled the high pitched star. “Sparky, Thunderbolt.” “You too, Starmie!” The Starmie charged up through spinning and blocked the Thunderbolt with its own. “You didn’t know it could do that, did ya?” smiled Marina. “I don’t care.” I replied. I could see she wanted me to come out of my cold state but she wouldn’t do it easily. “Sparky, Slam attack.” “Starmie, Confuse Ray.” Sparky dived forward, and missed, it was clear by looking into those eyes that he was confused. “Starmie! Tackle!” “Pik-aaaaa!!!” screamed Sparky falling to the floor. “Sparky, Return...” I said sadly. “You thought you could beat me with an Electric Pokémon didn’t you?” I didn’t answer her and threw my next Pokéball. “Hypno.” “Psychic versus my Water/ Psychic, a good choice, but my Starmie has power.” I wouldn’t give anything away by boasting to her. “Starmie, Swift attack!” “Try your Psychic attack.” The stars somehow made their way through the attack and collided with Nightmare, though the Starmie was battered by the opposing attack also, and Psychic was much stronger than Swift attack. “Give it a taste of real Psychic.” said Marina and Nightmare was hit by the same attack. “Try Hypnosis, Nightmare.” “Swift attack, now!” The stars stopped Nightmare from going through with his attack. “Water Gun!” “Brace it Nightmare, follow up with Hypnosis.” The water hit hard, but my Hypno remained still, it eventually cleared and the Starmie wasn’t able to turn away in time. “Now, use your Dream Eater attack.” It drew out some blue-lighted spheres and absorbed some health. “Wake up, Starmie, use your Swift attack!” It did and prepared to shoot the stars. I thought tactically, Starmie was a Water/ Psychic and specialised in special attacks, I decided we’d need to strike at its physical defense. “Meditate.” “Hypno...” The stars hit, but he refused to break away and didn’t flinch. “Uh oh.” groaned Marina. “Head Butt.” He charged forward and leaped up smashing his head against the Starmie’s gem. It cracked a little and the Starmie fainted. “I was wrong, that’s a pretty good Pokémon you got there, but I bet its tuckered out now. He’ll fall before Tentacruel! Go!” “Tenta-Cruel!” “Part Poison-type, this will be an easy victory.” I said to myself, Marina seemed to like bragging about her Pokémon, I however, bragged only to myself and didn’t show off, as it would probably backfire if I did. “Psychic attack.” I said calmly. “Supersonic!” shouted Marina. The terrible wailing noise distracted Nightmare and myself, it was too much to bear. “Bubblebeam!” said Marina, seizing her chance. Nightmare was bombarded by the onslaught of powerful bubbles. “Now Constrict!” Nightmare was wrapped up in tentacles and thrown to the floor. “Hypnosis.” I called out. He attempted to hypnotise the Tentacruel but couldn’t focus as he was moved around constantly. With one final slam, Nightmare was out for the count. “Return.” I said calmly, though I was going on cautious. The Tentacruel had immense power and great attacks. Foxfire, Pixie and Leviathan (I decided to pre-name my Magikarp for when he became a Gyarados) wouldn’t do too well, their size would most probably be a factor in this battle. She had managed to beat a Pokémon with a type advantage, I had a Pokémon with type advantage and weakness, but it was all I had that could win this for me. “Go, Armour.” “RRRHHYYYY!!!” “A Ground-type? Tentacruel! Bubblebeam!” “Horn Drill.” He charged forward and the horn helped to pop some of the bubbles before they hit him, he took the remaining damage, he got close, but the Tentacruel sidestepped it with its many tentacles. “Leer.” The confident look changed to a fearful one. “Now, Fury Attack.” Armour took his chance and attacked away, swinging its head horn to collide with the Tentacruel as much as it could. “Barrier!” The Tentacruel shook off the fear and put up a shield which Armour crashed into and sunk down. “Wrap!” The tentacles wrapped around Armour and rose him into the air, with great difficulty. “Now use-” “Stomp.” I intervened. Armour pulled forward and broke free, he then threw his front legs down. “Cruel!!!” the Tentacruel cried out before hitting Armour with its front claw. Armour flew back and skidded on the floor. “Water Gun!” Armour fell back even more and slid towards me. “Finish it Tentacruel, Hydro Pump!” I had to finish it. “Try the Earthquake attack.” “Rhy!” he said and slammed down on the floor, the shockwaves led to Tentacruel and exploded, throwing tiles and concrete upwards to hurt it further, it fell into the small water hole and the water jets shot forward. “Rhy!” Armour leaped up and knocked me onto his back and dived out the way. He wasn’t risking my getting hurt and nearly got himself harmed, I felt a moment of happiness, that my Pokémon were not only battling for me, but looking out for my safety. I shut my eyes and gave Armour a gentle hug, though his huge form hid myself away from the Gym Leader’s eyes. “Here you go, Miss Silent.” said Marina a little rudely, “The Wave Badge.” I held the badge representing harsh waves splashing everywhere, and closed my hand around it tightly. “You’re not much of a people person, but you’re a good trainer.” I looked up at her with an expression, not happy, nor sad, just neutral. “Now get on out of here, I can’t stand talking to someone who won’t talk back.” I turned away from her, and smiled a little as I left the Gym. The talkative ones were so easy to figure out, but still, that was a tough challenge. I departed Aquamarine Town by boat, as a stowaway once more. --- Rick's Third Gym Battle Chad's Fifth Gym Battle Back to the Side Stories Back to the Pokézone