--- Rick’s Jade Town Gym Win (by Michael Keens/ Exodus) --- Not too long since my last Gym Battle, its been a nice peaceful stroll through the south east isle, and I’ve been battling the trainers that dared take me on... and beat them all. I must say how impressed I am with all of my Pokémon, and I almost can’t believe that a year ago, I had no Pokémon of my own, except for Serena, but it wasn’t the same. I was glad that I no longer had to depend on her, she was a little taken back that I wouldn’t need her to travel around with me, but that was one of the reasons I was going to head back to Fuchsia City, to surprise her and have her by my side again. With me at the moment were Blazer, my faithful Growlithe, fully grown, but not fully evolved (not that he had to be). Rocky, my rough and tough but arrogant Graveler, he remained moody and gruff, but he was only hiding his feelings, cos he did everything I asked of him in Pokémon Battles. Ostrio, finally a Dodrio, but not a balanced Pokémon at this point, after they had evolved, the third head acted like the two heads originally had, fighting amongst others, but worse. Fortress, a tough and skilful Machoke, he was into battling big time, and when he wasn’t fighting, he was training to fight, practising interesting combos and merciless chains of attacks. Wyvern, my female Dragonair, she had gained a lot of confidence since when I first found her, and we’d battled so much lately that she was sure to evolve after one more battle. And finally, Pantomime, the newest member of the team, a Mr Mime that liked to perform whenever it could, it was skilful in battle, and a master of defensive attacks. We’d finally reached Jade Town, a very rich area because there were a lot of mines full of jewels, and they’d been used to create the buildings in the town, and many rich folks wore so much jewellery, it was a surprise that could get anywhere without falling over. I didn’t like this place at all, as rich snobs kept giving me nasty and disgusted looks, when I was perfectly clean, just not wearing majestic or rich clothing. The Gym was nearby, and I hoped I could beat the competition first time, as I’d probably have to hang around the town for another night in order to have a rematch. “Oh look guys, another foolish trainer wants punishment on their Pokémon.” smiled a woman darkly, moving away from a very punk-like band. She had messy spiky hair, pale skin, and black make-up around her eyes and lips, with jewels and rings in her nose, ears and above her eyes, she wore dark green trousers, and a black leather jacket. “Hey!” I complained, “You can’t talk about my Pokémon like that!” “Prove me wrong.” “Go! Pantomime.” “Go Weezing.” “Mime Mime!” “Weez-Zing...” “I think a three-on-three battle will solve our differences.” “Differences?! You started it!” “Weezing, use your Smog attack.” “Weeeezzz!!!” “Confusion.” The Mr Mime, even through the smoke, aimed a precise Psychic attack at the Weezing, slamming it to the ground, but adding a rare status ailment, the Weezing was confused, and floating strangely. “Use your Haze...” muttered the Gym Leader. “Weez...” “Thanks a lot babe.” I grinned. “You what?...” It was then that she saw my Mr Mime coughing from poison, and that her Haze would cleanse the field. “No!” she growled, “Weezing! Tackle attack!” “Barrier.” “WEEZ!!!” roared the Weezing, descending with all its might, but a blue barrier shot up and deflected it. “Grrrr, Sludge attack!!!” “Light Screen.” A shimmering shield shot it front of Pantomime, and the black gunk was blocked. “Stop defending!” growled the Gym Leader. “Okay, Pantomime, Meditate.” “Poison Gas!” It couldn’t be helped, Pantomime’s attack power was up, but he was poisoned now. “That’s it!” I growled, “Go in for the attack!” “Mime Mister Mime!” He leaped up, slapped the Weezing in both faces several times, before Mega Punching it down. It bounced hard off the solid floor, but rose up and dealt a critical hit Tackle attack. “Use your Psybeam!” “Mime MIME!!!” The shimmering beam dragged along the ground, before rising up to meet the Weezing, it collided with it and forced it to fly uncontrollably upwards, before it plummeted towards Pantomime. “Explosion!!!” shouted the Gym Leader at the last moment. “No!” “WEEZ!!!” “Mime!” The Weezing hit the floor and immediately detonated, a swirling ball of flames rushing out all around from the Poison Pokémon. What hope was there for Pantomime to avoid that, especially when I saw him within the range of the blast. “Ah hah hah! No one battles Weezing without having to deal with its explosive properties.” laughed the Gym Leader. “Its... not over!” I shouted. “What?!” “Mime!” shouted Pantomime, diving from above and finishing off the Weezing with a light slap. The Gym Leader glared at what had been toasted, and realised it was only a fake toy that had been blasted, it’d taken some of Pantomime’s health to activate the copy, but it was worth it. “Return! We’ll get the real thing yet!” “MUK!!!” I smiled, since I had a Muk of my own, I’d be able to anticipate its attacks, probably. “Disable!!!” “Dodge it!” Too late, and Pantomime was frozen, he had barely enough health after the first battle. “Now Body Slam it.” With that, the Muk slammed down on Pantomime, but refused to pick itself off. With its manipulative form, the Muk had the power to remain stuck on Pantomime, its stretchy body prevented a physical assault. “Sludge attack, he won’t be able to avoid it from that position.” “Use your Reflect!” It couldn’t quite see the result, but the Muk glowed gold in certain areas, but poison or not, if Pantomime couldn’t get free, he’d suffocate. “Psybeam!!!” “Mmmime!” The beam shot right through the Muk, and left a gigantic hole, Pantomime leapt out before it could reform itself. “Poison Gas!!!” The Muk slapped its hands together, and a purple cloud homed in on Pantomime and increased his poisoned state, I just had to do some damage before he was ready to call it quits. “Sludge attack!” “Psybeam!” “Miimme! Miimme!” Pantomime fired the beam, but then made a mad dash left and right to avoid the gunk. “Muk!” But before the beam hit it, the Muk cancelled out the sludge, and melted into the floor, using Acid Armour. “Mime, Mime?” “Behind you!” “MUK!” With a quick pound and swing, Pantomime was thrown to the floor. “Mime...” he groaned, reaching out to pick himself up, but poison got to him, and he got dizzy and collapsed. “Return. Don’t worry about it. You did good.” I comforted. “Not good enough!” laughed the Gym Leader. “Grrrr, she really knows how to get me steamed. Let’s press against her threats with power. Rocky! Go!” “Graveler!!!” “Rock Throw! Go!” “Acid Armour.” The Muk disappeared again, as the rocks crashed down, before reappearing behind Rocky and pounding him, to no avail though. He swung his fist back, but the Muk had become liquid, and sunk down, if it could outsmart him enough, it could win through Normal attacks alone. “Use your Earthquake!” “GRAV!!!” The Muk couldn’t deal with the shifting ground, since it was how it snuck around in liquid form. It came out damaged and dizzy, before unleashing a Sludge attack, that caught Rocky off guard and blinded him. “Use your Mega Punch!” The Graveler swung its fist, but missed, the Muk had easily shifted into a low blob. “Seismic Toss!” Now that he could hear the shifting Muk, it was easy to locate it, except it was oozing out of his hands. “Throw it! And use your Mega Punch!” He did so, before the Muk could drip onto him, and as the Muk hardened to pull off an air attack, it was surprised as my Graveler leapt up to its level and punched it hard. Although it landed in blob form to reduce landing damage, it had taken the main force of the punch, and so it had counted. “Disable!” “Grav-” shivered Rocky. “Body Slam!!!” “Muk!!!” The Muk rammed Rocky with all its weight, and then tried to suffocate him, it looked like I had no choice but to wipe this deadly opponent out. “Self Destruct!” “Ah hah hah, What?! No!” “GRAV... VELER!!!” The explosion was pretty much contained by the Muk, but smoke and fire was leaking out of it, before long, the Muk could take no more, and was thrown off and splattered on the floor in a blackened mess. “Grav...” moaned Rocky, before I swiftly recalled him. “If you think you’ve earned yourself a victory, then forget it, that Graveler was your only hope of winning.” “Ch’arbok!!!” screamed the final poisonous foe. “Go! Wyvern!” “Naaaiiirrr!!!” “Sweet Pokémon you got there, my Arbok will enjoy tasting it.” grinned the Gym Leader darkly. “Don’t even think it, Wyvern, use your Agility.” “Ch’ar!!!” wailed the Arbok, slamming its teeth down, but getting a mouthful of dirt. “Leer!” “CH’AR!!!” “Nair...” growled Wyvern, not giving into fear, this little dragon had come a long way since the battle in Saffron City. “Use your Ice Beam!” “Ch’aaaaaarrr!!!” squealed the Arbok as it was trapped in a layer of ice. “Look like its over, frozen Pokémon aren’t a threat.” I smiled. “Haze!!!” “No, it couldn’t, not when its frozen!” I shouted in disbelief. “My Arbok is Very determined.” boasted the Gym Leader. And with that, the swirling dust of the Haze somehow escaped from the frozen Arbok, and caused the ice the shatter. “Ch’Ar!!!” grinned the Arbok, looking more determined than ever. “Glare!” “Draaa...” shuddered Wyvern, being scared into paralysis. “Now use Dig!” The Arbok hastily burrowed underground, and tunnelled towards Wyvern. “Snap out of it!” “Dragonnn...” “Come on Wyvern! I believe in you...” “Ch’ar!!!” Too late, Wyvern was battered, and Arbok was building up an attack in its mouth. “Thunder Wave!” I shouted, but Wyvern couldn’t move. “Ch’arrrr!!!” “Um, use Slam attack!” Wyvern finally shook off the paralysis for now, and shot a look at Arbok, she swerved and leapt over multiple Acid attacks, until she reached the Arbok and collided with it, following up with Thunder Wave and shocking the Arbok. “Wyvern...” A shooting sound followed, and Wyvern ascended in height and shape, coming out with a bulkier figure, and two fine wings. “Bo Boooaaarrrggghhh!!!” she wailed, having evolved into a Dragonite. “Bingo baby...” I smiled ecstatically. “We’ll Destroy that dragon! Use your Haze, and then Bite it!” shouted the Gym Leader. “Fly up!” The Arbok charged forward, surrounded by icy dust to wipe out the paralysis absolutely. The Arbok tried to leap upwards to catch the Dragonite, but it couldn’t quite match the altitude of Wyvern in her new state. Worse still for the Arbok was that the dust of the Haze had managed to catch Wyvern, and swarmed all around her, taking away any trace of paralysis for now. As the snake plummeted, the nasty Gym Leader shouted out a command, “Acid!” There was nothing to stop it from using that, some of it hit Wyvern and burned her, but this helped her focus her attack power, in order to carry out her vengeance. She darted down, faster than the Arbok was falling, and slammed into it, and both landed awkwardly on the floor. “Poison Sting!” “Ch’ar!!!” “Wing Attack!” The first wave was deflected, but Wyvern was shocked as some of the needles had hit her and infected her with poison. “Borrr...” she groaned, her vision fading from her, and sometimes going double. “Now go in and Bite it, it may have evolved, but its still a wimpy baby.” briefed the Gym Leader. “Shut up about my Pokémon!” I shouted, and Wyvern reacted too, with a powerful Blizzard that we had been practising. The area around the Arbok had turned to ice, but the Arbok had disappeared, for the time it was underground anyway, it burst through and sent icy shards on my Dragonite, who, thanks to its Flying-type side, was double weak against Ice, even this indirect attack. “Stay strong Wyvern, and use your Hyper Beam!” “Dig...” It was too late to stop it, the huge beam ploughed through the field, and shattered the ice region, but not the Arbok, it appeared at the last moment, and bit into Wyvern’s back. Wyvern couldn’t do much, because she was tired out from discharging so much energy. “Booaaarrrggghhh!!!” she cried, poison continuing to rush into her system, we had to finish the match quickly, Hyper Beam would do it, provided the Arbok stayed still for a moment, a scenario that would not play out without a strategy. “Acid!” “Dragon Rage!” The gunk was torn apart by the rushing spiral of blue flames, which carried on to surround the Arbok briefly. “Thunder Wave!” “Booorrgghh!!!” A sphere of electricity rushed into the spiral, and caused the attack to dissipate, but kept the Arbok firmly frozen on the spot. “Hyper Beam!!!” “BOOOAAARRRGGGHHH!!!” wailed Wyvern, giving this attack a little time to focus properly because of her poisoned state, her head wavered to the sides a little, but she kept charging until she was sure she was targeting the fierce snake, and with a deafening zapping and thundering sound, the beam blasted the Arbok, and sent it spinning into the air, it landed hard, and remained flat, outstretched, and utterly defeated. “Go on, take your badge and get the heck out of my Gym.” growled the woman, handing over a strange badge, like a square but missing two quarters on a diagonal path. I’d usually ask for the Gym Leader’s name after such a tough battle, but this one took all the fun out of the match, and tried to seriously and unnecessarily harm my Pokémon. She was even lower than some of the Rockets I’d run into, and that was saying something. I turned my back to the Gym Leader, pocketed my badge, and rudely walked out of the Gym, while ignoring a unique selection of profanities. Once I was out of the town, I stared out at the vast ocean, taking in what’d I’d actually done today, I’d received my eighth Gym Badge, the final item that would grant me access to the Pokémon League. “I did it mother... I can enter the League now, I wouldn’t have got this far without you. I feel as if you’ve been watching and guiding me all this time... Mother... Thank you for all your help, I’ll honour your wish, and I Will accomplish my dreams.” With that, I finished my prayer, and made my way back to the port, I’d just moved up a level in the trainer ranks, and I would soon see things in a whole new way... --- Chad's Seventh Gym Battle Chad's Eighth Gym Battle Back to the Side Stories Back to the Pokézone