Chapter 6:  Rock Hard Opponents (Part B) by Michael Keens/ Exodus  

“Drrrowsee!”  

“Drowzee, the Hypnosis Pokémon.  It puts its enemies to sleep and eats their 
dreams, this Pokémon occasionally gets sick from eating bad dreams.”  

“Use your Hypnosis!”  
“Drrrowww-Zeee... Drrrowww-Zeee...”  
“Chad! Do something! Fighting Pokémon are weak against Psychic attacks!”  
“Huh?”  
It looked like this Psychic Pokémon was a first for Chad.  
“RAGECAGE! STAY AWAKE!”  
“Man... key...”  
“Confusion!”  
“Drrrowww-Zee!”  
“Man-Keeeyyy!” screamed Ragecage as he fainted.  
“Sorry Chad, but I deserve some credit for the last battle, Dusty, I choose 
you.”  
“Veno!”  
“Quickly, use Leech Life on that Drowzee.”  
“Vennnooo!”  
A huge dose was drawn out due to type advantage.  
“Drrrow?!”  
“Now Stun Spore!”  
“Venonenoneno...”  
“Drrrow! Zee... Zee...” it moaned dizzily.  
“Finish it Dusty, Tackle!”  
“Venonat!”  
The Drowzee fell over, but picked itself up, it too was a strong Pokémon, but 
my Venonat still had a lot of juice.  
Leaping into the air happy, it suddenly emitted a bright light, it was 
happening so fast, did I really train Dusty that much? Thoughts of curiosity 
and happiness filled my head as Dusty sprouted wings and... “Dusty... 
evolved.”  
“Venomoth! Venomoth!”  

“Venomoth, the Poisonmoth Pokémon.  The powdery scales on Venomoth’s wings 
contain poison, it scatters this powder with every flap.”  

“Drrrowzee!”  
Dusty was blasted back by an angry Drowzee.  
“Dusty, use your Disable attack.”  
It hit dead on, the Drowzee froze.  
“Now, Tackle it as hard as you can!”  
It flew forward but was stopped by Hypnosis.  
“Good job Drowzee, now Meditate!”  
It closed its eyes and glowed.  
“Now Head Butt it!”  
“Venomoth!!!”  
It was down, I couldn’t expect my low level Pokémon to win against a high level 
Pokémon, even in Dusty’s evolved form.  

“Kid, you think you can handle everything just because you’ve got an advantage 
in the type difference.  My turn, GO!” said Chad confidently.  
“Rattata!”  
“CHEWTOY! HYPER FANG!”  
“Rattata!”  

“Rattata, the Rat Pokémon.  These common Pokémon like to chew on anything with 
their sharp fangs, most beginner trainers like to catch and train this 
Normal-type Pokémon.“  

“Chewtoy?” I asked bewildered.  
“Yeah Chewtoy, cos that's what its enemies will become when my Rattata evolves 
someday.”  
The Drowzee fell back and ejected a blast of purple gas.  
“Chad, watch out, its Poison Gas!”  
“CHEWTOY, USE A QUICK ATTACK!”  
The Rattata ran to the side, avoiding the gas.  
“Rattata!” it screamed blasting past the Drowzee.  
“TACKLE IT!”  
“Drow, drow, zee...”  
The Drowzee finally collapsed.  
“Uh oh, we’d better blast off before we get carted off again!” said Cassidy.  
“But what about the fossils?” asked Butch.  
“Never mind them!”  
“But-”  
“I said Never Mind!” shouted Cassidy, jumping into the mechanism and rising 
back into the blimp.  

The people cheered, and the owner of the museum came towards us, a smart 
looking man in a blue suit.  
“Thank you for saving my fossils, what can I do to repay you?”  
“You could buy me dinner.” Chad replied, “My friend left with all my money.”  
“Is that all, I’d be glad to.”  
“What about me?” I asked after some hesitation.  
“What About you?”  
I got angry at this.  
“I helped against those rockets too!”  
“You did? I didn't see it.”  
Of all the nerve, just cos Chad stepped in after I did most the work.  
I gave up, but I thought, one good thing came out of it, I had a Venomoth now.  
Chad left with the curator leaving me practically alone.  
“So, you’re training to win the Kanto League, I’m sure you’ll do it, after the 
way you beat those Rockets so easily...”  
“Yeah, it was a piece of c-  Aaargh!”  
He tripped over the doorstep and landed on his face, I held back the laughter 
and brought it down to a giggle.  
Sorry, but after the way he took all the credit, that was the best I could hope 
for in terms of petty revenge.  
As I was about to leave, I heard the cowering man cry, “My Amber, did anyone 
get it back?”  
“I don’t think so sir, what’s so important about it?”  
“It doesn’t matter now...”  

There was nothing that could be done about this man’s problem, so I healed my 
Pokémon at the Pokémon Centre, I was sure Emily had finished up and so I went 
to the Pewter Gym.  

It was open for another battle, I walked in and the doors slammed shut behind 
me.  
The arena was gravel-like with large jagged rocks scattered randomly, and on 
the stone altar sat a man, he had spiky hair and Asian skin, he was dressed in 
a shabby yellow shirt and blue trousers, his eyes were practically lines but 
menacing none the less.  
“I am Flint, the leader of this Gym.” he said in a gruff voice.  
“Tetsubo Capture, of Fuchsia City.” I replied.  
“I take it you wish to battle me, this Gym is known for its Rock-type Pokémon, 
but don’t expect to win just because of that, I’m sure you’ve brought a Grass 
or Water-type to ensure your victory.  Well?”  
“Well I did bring a Grass and Water-type but not deliberately.”  
“It’ll be a two on-two-battle.  Ready?”  
“I’m ready.”  
“Pokéball! Go!” we both shouted, I used Twinkill, and he used a Graveler.  
“Graveler!”  

“Graveler, the Rock Pokémon.  This Pokémon likes to roll down mountain trails, 
they always stay on course crushing everything that gets in the way.”  

“Just as I thought, a Water-type, still you shan’t win.  Graveler, use Rock 
Throw.”  
“Twinkill, Harden!”  
The rocks hit Twinkill hard, but it withstood them.  
“Now Water Gun!”  
“Graveler, Dig!”  
The Graveler dived into the ground before the water hit it, I heard rumbling 
from below us all.  
“GRAVELER!”  
Twinkill was struck from beneath.  
“Another rolling Tackle, Graveler!”  
“Twinkill, Watch out!”  
Twinkill suddenly disappeared, the Graveler smashed into the wall and uncurled, 
looking for Twinkill, it appeared behind the Graveler.  
Minimize, Twinkill had learned Minimize.  
“Water Gun!” I shouted.  
Twinkill caught the Graveler off guard, and gave it an extra strong blast in 
its dumbfounded face.  
It flew back and shook around, unable to stop the force.  
Then it picked itself up, slipped and fell unconscious.  
“Ha ha! You did it!” I shouted, a little out of character but Twinkill deserved 
the cheer.  
“I see you’re smarter than the usuals who think they can win only by bringing a 
Water-Type here, still, you’re the first to be able to witness my secret 
weapon...  He isn’t a usual Rock-type Pokémon.  Kabutops! Go!”  
“Kabu-TOPS!”  
I gasped, Kabutops was one of the supposedly extinct Pokémon, and it had a 
dangerous history behind it, I confirmed this in the Pokédex.  

“Kabutops, the Shellfish Pokémon.  This prehistoric Pokémon was known for 
slashing prey with its sharp claws and draining their body fluids, not much 
else is known about these extinct Pokémon.”  

I remembered it right, I had to be extra careful battling this carnivorous 
Pokémon.  
“Kabutops, give it your Slash attack!”  
Twinkill leaped back avoiding each long swipe from the scythe-like claws.  
“Quickly use Water Gun!”  
“Staryu!”  
It blasted into the Kabutops for a long time for good measure, but when 
Twinkill stopped, Kabutops was fine.  
That means it wasn’t really a Rock-type...  
“Kabutops, Absorb!”  
Twinkill was too close to avoid it and got a claw in its back.  
Restrained on the ground, I was horrified as the Kabutops stuck its fangs into 
Twinkill and started sucking.  
“Twinkill! Return!”  
Just in time, I recalled Twinkill, it couldn’t hope to beat such a dangerous 
Pokémon if it had a Grass-type attack.  
“I told you, Kabutops isn’t one of the usual Rock-types.”  
But with skin like that, there had to be rock involved somewhere, Dusty, Needle 
and Whirlwind would only get squashed, I had to risk using... “Scramble!”  
“Exeggcute! Ex?!” they screamed, noticing the opponent.  
“I know it looks tough but hang in there!”  
“Hydro Pump!”  
Scramble ducked down and shivered as the water jets blasted by, but they 
missed, I couldn’t believe it, they missed! Not only that, now there was a 
possible weakness.  
“If it can learn Water-type moves, then perhaps...  Scramble! Use Leech Seed!”  
The Kabutops fell back surprised by its miss and the Leech Seed, which sucked 
out more health than usual.  
“I knew it, your Kabutops is a Rock and Water Dual-Type, but its Water side 
represents its main defense.”  
“Kabutops! Leer!”  
The fossil Pokémon’s eyes glowed a pale white.  
Scramble jumped up scared.  
“Slash them! Beat those eggs!”  
“Kabuuu...”  
“Scramble, don’t be scared, Mega Drain! Now!”  
“CUTE!”  
The eggs jumped forward and summoned a force that pulled a great deal of energy 
away from Kabutops, directly into Scramble.  
“Ka... bu-”  
“Finish it with Barrage!”  
“Ex-Egg-CUTE!”  
Summoning all their power, Scramble shot many egg-shaped projectiles and 
blasted the Kabutops backwards, crashing into the wall.  
Picking itself up, it glared at Scramble.  
“Pull back Kabutops! The match is over!” shouted Flint.  
It turned and slashed, Flint blocked it with the Pokéball which shattered, the 
Kabutops was out of control, it no longer respected Flint and was prepared to 
kill him just to win the battle.  
It ran towards Scramble, mad, and totally of its own accord.  
I had to do something, League Rules didn’t apply to rampaging homicidal 
Pokémon.  
“KA... BU... TOPS!!!”  
“Cute!”  
Scramble thought on its own and used Hypnosis to put the raging Pokémon to 
sleep.  

Later, Flint had had his Pokéball fixed and recalled the unruly Kabutops, and 
presented me with my first badge.  
“You did a good job out there Tetsubo, you’re different than the others, you 
really understand your Pokémon.  You may very well have what it takes to become 
a master, please promise me, go out and win, and carry out the dream I never 
could.”  
“Excuse me?”  
“I was once a trainer like you, but I left my family to pursue my selfish 
dreams, and I failed, in my journey, and as a father, but now I’m living up to 
my responsibilities.”  
“Flint, I have to warn you against using that Kabutops in the near future, you 
did what you set out to do and surprised me, but that thing was acting on its 
own back there, I seriously recommend you train that thing better or someone 
could get really hurt.” I warned him.  
“I understand, take the Boulder Badge, and win the League knowing that I’ll 
support you all the way.”  
“Thank you.” I said taking my first badge, a grey octagon gem.  
I couldn’t hold back my emotions, I had to tell the world:  
“Yes! I won a Boulder Badge!”  
“Staryu!”  
“Exeggcute.”  
My Pokémon cheered, they were happy of their first Gym win.  

Leaving the Gym, the sun was setting, and I should already have been well on my 
way to the next town.  
I checked into the Pokémon Centre like I said I would, but there was no sign of 
Emily.  
“I guess she decided to go the journey alone, I sure am gonna miss her... and 
Needle’s gonna miss Poisoness...” I said, sadly.  
Leaving the city a little disappointed, I heard Emily shout “Wait up Tetsubo!”  
“Emily?”  
She was panting for breath.  
“Sorry I got back a little late...”  
“So you still want to travel with me?”  
“Of course, we just have to give each other some space once in a while.”  
“Look what I got...”  
She presented her badge simultaneously with mine.  
“Been there, done that.”  
“Oh yeah, well you didn’t see the cool Pokémon I saw, it was way stronger than 
any of the ones you could have battled.”  
“Maybe, but are you saying I got an easy win? I worked hard too.”  
“Maybe so, but you’ll never beat my Pokémon...”  
Like the little kids we once were, we walked away from the city, involved in a 
childish debate.  

End of Chapter 6B  

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