--- Rick’s Burnt Town Gym Win (by Michael Keens/ Exodus) --- Its been a while since my last Gym Battle, I took a boat from a port near Celadon City and came to Red Island, its a dark and dusty island with little plant life. I managed to get my next two Pokémon here, Rocky and Vortex. Rocky was a gruff Geodude all by itself, and all my Pokémon were useless against it, Rock/ Ground-types had the edge over my Poison, Electric and Fire- types, and even though Serena was an Ice-type, weak against Rock attacks, she won over Rocky by keeping her distance and using her Psychic attacks to weaken it. Rocky’s still as gruff as ever but he follows my commands, he’s actually the most powerful Pokémon I have, next to Serena of course. And then there was Vortex, a Poliwag that I saved from a couple of top scientists from Team Rocket, they heartlessly tested a weapon of explosive properties in a dried up lake where Vortex’s family lived, he struck out at them for revenge but was beaten back by their Pokémon, I managed to save it but it seemed a part of it would rather have died than to be saved, so that it could go with its family, I had a heart to heart chat with it and promised to bring Team Rocket to justice whenever I could, in return, he joined me, but has been known to lash out at anything to do with Team Rocket. Days later, I arrived in Burnt Town, but I didn’t expect the town’s name to be so literal, after all, many towns in the world were named after colours, but this town was literally in ruins, destroyed by a fire. “Um, hi, this is Burnt Town, right? Did you name it that before or after the fire?” I asked a blacksmith in a open shop because of missing walls, he wore a uniform and had black hair and a beard. “Are ya tryin’ ta make fun of our misfortune?!” screamed the blacksmith, and upon picking up his hammer, I turned tail and ran, but I soon heard him beating down on his anvil, I simply jumped to the wrong conclusions, but in this case, that was a good thing. I decided not to talk to any more people, just in case they got angry, obviously Burnt Town was named before the fire, it was just an unfortunate yet ironic coincidence. I soon found my way to the Gym, a small Colosseum in ruins, the ground was blackened and it looked like there was once some plantlife here. I could see a young woman up ahead, her hair was spiky and flame red and she wore an old tattered dress, she noticed me as I observed her. “Oh, you’re a challenger, aren’t you?” she asked calmly. “Yes I am, are you okay?” I inquired kindly. “I am usually this way, why do you ask?” she asked without showing emotions. “Nothing.” I replied, deciding not to be pushy. “Fine, I don’t really feel like battling but its the only way to receive money from the Pokémon League in order to slowly rebuild the town. This will be a two-on-two Pokémon Battle, draw your Pokémon.” explained the girl, a little sadly I noticed. We were at about the right distance from each other for the battle, there were no markings to make this an official arena but that meant if need be, the Pokémon would have the whole arena to fight on. “Go... Flareon...” “Go Vortex!” “Flare...” it said weakly. “Poli!” said Vortex firmly. “Flareon, use your Sand Attack.” “Water Gun!” I shouted. The water hit the sand and hardened it, while pushing it back at the Flareon. “Flare!!!” it moaned as it was blinded, and virtually by its own attack. “Now use Bubble!” I said. The Flareon shuddered and waved its head in discomfort as the bubbles popped on it. “Don’t just let it hurt you, use Rage.” said the Gym Leader. “Uh oh.” I muttered. “Flare!!!” it squealed, Vortex was still at it and was pumping up its strength. “Vortex! Stop!” I shouted. “Poli?” questioned Vortex. “Flare!” screamed the Flareon, bursting through the wall of spheres and biting Vortex’s tail. “POLI!!!” “Quickly! Doubleslap!” I yelled. “Poli!” he yelled, attacking back. The Flareon grounded itself and charged forward. “Use another Water Gun!” I said. The Flareon darted to the sides, but as the water missed, particles coming off the splashing attacks landed on the Flareon and distracted it. “Hypnosis and Double Slap!” I yelled. “Poli...” “Flare!” The Flareon tackled Vortex and the two fell back, but the Flareon opened its eyes to Vortex and needn’t had bothered as they fell shut again. Vortex followed with the Doubleslap I’d asked for, but it quickly woke the Flareon up. “Finish it off with Fire Spin.” said the Gym Leader firmly. “At Vortex’s level, that could end it, try your Bubble!” I said after thinking the situation through. “Poliii!!!” he squealed, but the following tornado boiled the water and evaporated it. The tornado was just too big to stop. “Vortex!” I shouted, but he was sucked in and pushed upwards, immersed in heat. My head sunk low, but then a shot of water came flying out the top, and precisely landed on the Flareon, the height and speed added to its power. “Flare...” it groaned, and fell to the side. “Alright Vortex!... Um, Vortex?” I questioned. “Poli!...” he squealed as he fell back down with a thud, his eyes were practically crosses, so I recalled him. “You’re lucky, that Flareon requires some more training, but this one is a lot more powerful.” said the girl. “Same here.” I added. “Char-Meleon!” yelled the fire lizard. “Geodude!” said Rocky loudly. “Rocky! Use your Tackle attack!” Rocky flew forward and came down on the Charmeleon, damaging it, Rocky was my highest level Pokémon, next to Serena, but even she wouldn’t stand a chance against all these Fire Pokémon. “Leer.” said the Gym Leader. The Charmeleon’s eyes started to glow, and Rocky backed away, I saw the Charmeleon slyly smile and its fingers moving. “Defense Curl!” I shouted. “Slash.” said the Gym Leader. Rocky covered his face with his large hands as the Charmeleon leapt forward and slashed savagely, Rocky eventually fell back, the motions of the attack having pushed him away. “Another Tackle!” I said. “Rage.” said the Gym Leader quietly. “Not this again...” I groaned, too late to stop Rocky, he knocked the Charmeleon back, but it came running at him and swung its tail fast and forceful. Rocky fell back and got wedged in the ground. “Use your Dragon Rage.” said the girl. Blue flames surrounded Rocky and hurt him, the Dragon-type flame attacks did much more damage to a Rock/ Ground Pokémon than Fire-type attacks. The attack faded, and though smoking from the heat, Rocky had managed to pull himself free. “Use your Flamethrower.” said the Gym Leader. “Rock Throw!” I shouted. Rocky dived and chucked a large fragment from the arena floor, the long flame was cut in half as the rock tore through it and smacked the Charmeleon in the face. “Its working, do it again!” I shouted happily. “Defend yourself Charmeleon.” said the Gym Leader firmly. Rocky picked up many rocks and started to throw them, for a short time, whenever he wasn’t throwing something, he was picking up something to throw, it was a shower of debris that the Charmeleon had to deal with. But he unexpectedly swung his tail and the rocks came back at Rocky, who though caught a few, was showered in his own projectiles and buried. “Dragon Rage.” Instead of the tornado, the blast was concentrated into the form of a fireball, which blasted the pile of rocks and left Rocky dazed. “Finish it off with Flamethrower.” “Rocky! Snap out of it! We can win this! You’re doing fine!” I shouted, before the flames consumed the area and Rocky could not be seen because of all the fire. He must have been suffering as the area turned white hot and his hands waved around constantly. My head sunk down, we’d tried so hard... But then Rocky shot forward, the flames continuing to surround him, and collided with the Charmeleon, who went spiralling back. He was still surrounded by flames, and I wondered how he managed to fight through that powerful Flamethrower, he could just about withstand the heat, but not the force, and then it was clear as day, as the fires cleared and Rocky let out a triumphant: “Graveler!” A smile came to my face, of course, the white flames were the Flamethrower and evolution combined, and the arms waving around, well, he had four now. “All right Rocky!” I cheered. “Grav!...” he smiled darkly. “Let’s wrap this up, try out your Rock Slide!” I said. “Grav-Veler!” he yelled, flying forward and bringing up shards from the floor. “Char!!!” wailed the Charmeleon, as Rocky rammed into him and brought down a hill of earth, he burst out with a swing of its claws and tail and screamed out in anger. “Use your Fire Spin.” said the Gym Leader. “Char!!!” wailed the Charmeleon shooting a long flame and then continuing to blow flames onto the tornado surrounding Rocky, who was surprisingly bracing the force and heat, and not getting flung upwards. He started to charge forward and then started to run, the Charmeleon quickly developed a fearful look in its eyes and continued to blow. Rocky leapt into the air and over the Charmeleon, who put everything into the Fire Spin, which was giving Rocky more resistance since he was pushing down against an upwards force. “Come on Rocky...” I spurred, but the flames were winning now, Rocky had been pushed very hard today, even when considering type alignments, I needed to be a little sneaky or Rocky wouldn’t pull through despite his extra strength. “Rocky! Show him what its like to fear a Self Destruct, and strike!” “You can’t do that.” argued the Gym Leader showing concern, “You could only make it a draw if you do that.” Rocky looked confused, but then I winked at him, “Make him fear it.” “Grav!” smiled Rocky darkly, and rolled into a ball. “Char!” wailed the Charmeleon, and turned away while shielding its head. “Use an aerial Tackle!” “Grav... VELER!!!” shouted Rocky. “No!” shouted the Gym Leader loudly. He hadn’t been with me for too long, but Rocky quickly understood some of my creative methods in Pokémon Battles, you had to be creative, it made the battles more interesting, Pokémon Battles aren’t just about hitting your opponent and taking everything they have to throw at you, not in this world. Rocky landed on the Charmeleon painfully hard and caused a minor tremor. I heard the Gym Leader gasp, and worried, maybe that was a touch of overkill... The dust cleared, and of course, the Charmeleon was crushed underneath Rocky, who soon moved away. “Charmeleon...” moaned the Gym Leader concerned, before running to her Charmeleon and giving it an uplifting hug. “Char...” it sighed. “You performed very well Charmeleon, I’m just glad you’re safe...” “And here is the Burn Badge, you’re a very strange trainer, not many people would risk such a feat, especially in a Gym Battle.” said the Gym Leader a little later. “I told Rocky to make your Charmeleon fear the Self Destruct, I never said anything about going through with it.” I explained with a grin. “I suppose that creative talent will take you far in this world...” she said, handing over a circular badge coloured like fire. She seemed a little more upset by the loss, so I didn’t leave just yet. “You’re a little strange yourself.” I said politely, so as not to make her misinterpret my words like the blacksmith did, “I thought Gym Leaders were supposed to give battles their all, you put up a good fight, yet you don’t really express your emotions.” “I’ve been through more than you can imagine, I might not have the will to express outgoing emotions as easily as others, but I’m not afraid to show my love.” replied the girl. I thought as much, she had probably lost loved ones in the fire that obviously occurred here, but continued to serve as the town’s Gym Leader. I walked towards her, “Could I get your name before I leave? Or else how will I tell anyone about one of my most challenging opponents?” “You may refer to me... as Blaze Harley...” she said, blushing a little as she shook my hand. “Rick Zane...” I replied, “And thank you... For helping Rocky to evolve.” “You’re... welcome...” she replied, and turned away, perhaps not wanting me to see her face, I had a sneaking suspicion that she might be smiling, but I guess we’ll never know. I left Burnt Town with my Pokémon, with yet another thought, Blaze had grown into a great Gym Leader even after her tragedy, and that gave me hope that I would continue to grow as a trainer, and make my mother proud of me, wherever she was now... --- Scott's Forth Gym Battle Abby's Second Gym Battle Back to the Side Stories Back to the Pokézone