--- My Victory of Saffron City Gym (by Michael Keens/ Exodus) --- After the ordeal of that dark tournament, I spent the cash on a new device and gave the rest to charity, the thought of paying for Sis’s revival with dirty money... She wouldn’t forgive me if I paid with money from that place. I would never tell anyone of what happened there. The device I bought was called Pokégear and it was very new and quite pricey but the costs from the dark tournament covered it, the rest was sent to a Pokémon charity which catered for sick and mistreated Pokémon that were in such bad shape that they wouldn’t be able to battle again. The Pokégear had a lot of uses, it was my mobile phone, to call Yew and the hospital whenever I needed to, an organiser and computer to keep my earnings in check, and I paid a little extra to have recording and radio functions too. I had called Yew beforehand and received his permission to transfer my Pokédex data into the Pokégear. With that finished, I headed towards the Saffron Gym. Some clown was trying to train a silly Psyduck that looked totally vacant and was yelling at it a lot. He seemed like easy pickings and I challenged him, but he told me he’d battle me after he won the Fighting Championship, I looked into it and a blue haired challenger had discovered and told me that the mystery prize was a Fighting Pokémon, and that didn’t interest me. I had no time to stick around so I went to the Gym and would leave town straight after, just in case someone from the dark tournament wanted to get back at me. The Gym was strangely shaped and was kinda like a palace but the support poles were shaped like spirals and had a lot of ancient text all over them. The double doors at the end was a safe bet to find the Gym Leader. The arena was a clear floor with a hard surface for the arena, a woman in a red uniform sat on a throne in the darkness. “I am Sabrina, the Saffron City Gym Leader... Aren’t you a little too old for this?” she asked in a judgemental tone. “Not really, why’d you ask?” “I mean, the only people your age that train Pokémon are either professionals or Gym Leaders, for you to be training such novice Pokémon at your age is quite sad.” she commented. “You’re not getting to me one bit, I’m not in this for the glory, I have my reasons.” I explained confidently. “So I see...” I felt like my thoughts were being spied on. “Stop that!... Psychic...” “I am sorry for your sister, but I’m afraid you’ll have to look elsewhere for your sixth badge.” “You can’t be that good a psychic if that’s your prediction.” “Confident and quick-witted, I like that. If you’re so confident, I dare you to a three-on-three Pokémon Battle. Go, Hypno.” “Go Lancer!” “Hypno...” “Slash!” “Use your Fury Swipes!” I shouted. It felt so good to be in the driving seat again. “Psychic.” Lancer flew into an invisible wall and was then suspended in the air. “Poison Sting!” The needle flew past its defenses and stuck right in. “Hyp!” “Slash attack!” Lancer gave a good hit and leaped back as the Hypno swung its pendulum in defense. “Hypnosis.” “Sand Attack!” After the battle against Gym Leader Reece, I had used his strategy a lot more often when using Lancer. The sand hit it and it was unable to stare Lancer down. “Run forward and use Fury Swipes!” “Confusion, Hypno, let me be your eyes...” “Be unpredictable, it can see you! Sabrina’s using a psychic link!” It leaped and spun to the sides and even back a few steps, and successfully made it through the barrage of psychic spells until it got close and slashed at it constantly. As he brought his claws down for a final hit, the Hypno blindly unleashed a Psybeam on him blasting him backwards, Lancer got up but the Hypno did not. “Return. For your quick Pokémon, I’ll use Kadabra.” said Sabrina calmly. “Ku-dabra!” “Dig it!” “Sandslash!” he replied diving down but skidding along the floor, it was too hard to be penetrated, so Sandslash followed up with a surprise Slash attack to make up for not being allowed to perform its specialty attack. “Teleport.” He vanished, just as Lancer flew towards it. I decided to give up on Dig, Sabrina built her arena to prevent damaging Ground attacks and even if it had worked, she had enough notice to just teleport the Kadabra. “Fury Swipes!” “Psychic attack.” He stopped in mid-air, surrounded by blue light and was moaning in pain, it was crushing it with its mind powers. “Lancer! Get out of there! You need to return!” “Sand...” The Kadabra stopped crushing and dropped it, Sabrina had already proved she could talk to it telepathically and perhaps stopped for my sake, she had a heart though she seemed hesitant to show it. “Go! Kindle!” I shouted. “Mag!!!” “Start off with Fire Punch!” “Confusion.” “Cancel that! Use Ember!” I intervened. He blew the blanket of flames forward, they were dissipated by the psychic blast, Kindle followed through and hit the Kadabra with fists of flame. “Ka!” he shouted, falling back but teleporting to ease the fall, he appeared on the opposite side of the room with a cross expression. “Disable.” “Mag-” moaned Kindle freezing up. “Now, use your Psybeam.” “Break away Kindle! Use your Smoke Screen!” “Mag... Mag... Mar!!!” groaned Kindle swinging its tail. The smoke filled the room and went into the Kadabra’s eyes, causing it some irritation. “Go! Mega Kick!” I shouted. Kindle dropped from its hold and leaped at the Kadabra and gave it a good kick. “Confuse Ray!” I shouted. “Mag!!!” His eyes glowed and sent a beam into the Kadabra’s eyes. It was bruised and now confused. “Recover.” smiled Sabrina maliciously. Blue light glowed around the Kadabra and I despaired a little, but then the Kadabra punched itself and fell to the floor, defeated. “Oh yeah! Nice one Kindle!” I cheered. “Mag!” roared Kindle victoriously. “I rarely use this Pokémon, but you deserve this challenge. Go... Alakazam.” “Ala!!!” it said in a low voice. “Another Mega Kick!” I commanded. “Reflect.” replied Sabrina calmly. Kindle flew at the Alakazam but bounced off the golden shield that had just appeared. “Use your Psychic attack.” “Maggggg!!!” wailed Kindle as a huge booming sound occurred, along with a flurry of blue waves that left Kindle weak and unconscious. “Return Kindle.” I said holding out his Pokéball. That Alakazam was immensely powerful to finish it that fast, and its special defense would probably be the same, I needed power, and the most powerful Pokémon I had was always ready for a scrap if it meant getting a step closer to Casey’s revival. “Go Shard!” “OOONNNNNN!!!” he roared, the Alakazam looked a little worried. “Shard, use your Rock Throw!” I shouted, and he dragged his tail along the floor bringing up some of the hard tiled pieces. “Tackle!” No sooner had the Alakazam recovered from the pieces falling over him did Shard crush him with his weight, a booming sound followed and Shard was pulled away by his psychic powers. “Ooonnnnn...” groaned Shard. “Hang in there Shard, it may have psychic skills but its no match for your strength.” “Psychic.” said Sabrina loudly. Shard was lifted into the air, it had destroyed Kindle with ease and had to be avoided. “Screech!” “OooooOOOONNNNNIIIXXX!!!” he shouted in a high pitch, the Alakazam dropped its stance to cover its ears. “Bind it!” He quickly wrapped around the Kadabra and squeezed. “Nearly there...” “Psybeam.” Alakazam managed to free one arm but that was enough, half of his Psybeam flung Shard to the other end of the room. “Shard, let’s call it a day.” I muttered, after the trauma that was last night I felt I had to look out for my Pokémon more. “OOONNN!!!” he retorted. “I don’t want to give up either but I do want to look out for your well being... I’m happy to give up, but if you want to battle, then I won’t stop you.” “OOONNN!!!” he roared as he flew forward. Sabrina looked shocked and surprised. “Kinesis, now!” she said with a surprising amount of amount. A large flash of light hit Shard and his eyes turned white, he was temporarily blinded, but he didn’t stray from his direction. “Reflect!” shouted Sabrina, she had seen how powerful and determined Shard was. Shard ran straight into a golden barrier. “Don’t let it stop you Shard, use your Slam attack!” He brought his weight on the shield many times, the Alakazam had difficulty holding it up and was looking scared of the consequences should he fail. Shard hit it ten times before it shattered and he got through to the centre. He lifted himself up and Alakazam was tired, exhausted and damaged beyond a possible comeback. Soon after the battle, we introduced ourselves properly to each other and I was presented with my sixth badge; a round coin-like object. “... And here is your Marsh Badge, I should have foreseen your determination.” said Sabrina proudly, “I was wrong to judge you, within a year or two, you will be a professional too, keep on training... Who knows you could even get your own Gym.” “Are you seeing the future, or is that just a compliment?” I asked eagerly. She just smiled, turned her back to me and floated away. “See you around Scott.” I heard Sabrina’s voice echo in my mind. I left the Gym somewhat confused by Sabrina, then realised I should have inquired about my future in saving Sis, but she probably wouldn’t want any fate-altering predictions. I saw that Tetsubo kid again and left him as confused as Sabrina had left me, just to make myself feel better, I picked up my Pokégear from the shop and all its modifications had been finished. After a long trip to the eastern continent, the path was blocked by a huge Snorlax. As much as I wanted to catch it, they couldn’t be when they were in deep sleep, I remembered an old hippy I had met on my travels that woke up my Poliwag when he was suffering from a Hypnosis attack and it was a safe bet that he could help me, I would leave for now, but you could bet I’d be back... --- Chad's Sixth Gym Battle Abby’s Sixth Gym Battle Back to the Side Stories Back to the Pokézone