Chapter 14: Rock Gym Battle (1)
~Azure S. POV~
[Kanto Region, Next Day, Pewter City – Gym Entrance]
After taking care of business yesterday, I decided it was safe. I spent the night in a hotel, considering Team Rocket would hit the Pokémon Center.
But before that, though, I made sure to train my Pokémon before the event occurred. I needed to be sure to let Pikachu show Dratini how to use Iron Tail before the Gym battle ahead.
With only two Pokémon on me, I was already at a disadvantage when I began the Gym Challenges. Despite him having a type advantage, I would prefer my Pokémon to be experienced in battles and handle them.
Thus, this left Dratini and Pikachu as the only ones to participate. The only ones granted but I grinned, holding up my Arc Phone, giving me info about my Pokémon's stats.
Checking up on Pikachu and Dratini's stats, I want to see how they compared now since yesterday to see what they learned or leveled up with my Arc Phone outside of Pewter City away from Red or Blue.
|Name: Partner Pikachu (Mouse Pokemon)
|Type: Electric
|Level: 18
|Gender: Male
|Held Item: [Light Ball]
|Ability: Lightning Rod (Hidden Ability)
|Nature: Hasty
|Moves: Thunder Shock [A], Quick Attack [A], Double Team, Tail Whip, Thunder Wave, Electro Ball, Iron Tail [A], Feint, Surf (HM), Volt Tackle (EM), Wish (EM) (1 Moves to learn)
|Name: Dratini (Dragon Pokémon)
|Type: Dragon
|Level: 16
|Gender: Female
|Held Item: None
|Ability: Marvel Scale (Hidden Ability)
|Nature: Adamant
|Moves: Wrap, Leer, Twister, Dragon Tail, Thunder Wave, Dragon Rage, Iron Tail, Surf (HM), Extreme Speed (IM), Dragon Dance (EM) (2 Moves to Learn)
Nodding at this, it seems like Dratini managed to learn Iron Tail just in time. It is good to have an Steel-type move to help her teach against the Rock Types ahead.
Not only that, but Pikachu also learned to use the move Surf while training yesterday, along with Dratini catching it quickly. That, and having Dragon Rage, would come in handy. Most of the Rock Types have bad HP stats, which could prove useful.
Dratini has a good arsenal against the Rock Gym Leader, which is secured now. It feels great having such a talented Pokémon.
But bloody hell…. Are the Pokémon genetically modified, this powerful and fast learner in Viridian Forest, where Giovanni used them as breeding grounds, activating their savage ancestry?
Guess I should've caught those modified Pokémon when I had the chance, but then again, I'm content with having this Dratini after she mellowed out, not to attempt to attack us. I had to remember that they regained their savagery, making them difficult to tame.
The Dratini I caught must've been a baby into a child when I caught it. She seemed genuinely curious about the world when it was not after her. Like genuine child curiosity, to say, but still rough around the edges?
Still, with Pikachu being Lv.18 and Dratini Lv.16 I feel confident to fight against Brock now with my team as it is, along with already healing them in the Pokémon Center when I had the chance as I did.
When my Pokémon were done training yesterday, I took a hotel room for the night. It was only today that I heard the news of the Pokémon Center getting trashed by people attempting to attack the place, with some rumors being that Brock was there.
But I know the true story, though. It was Team Rocket sending their goons to steal the Boulder Badge from Brock since they needed it for their goal of fusing the birds.
This was the reason why I didn't plan on staying in the Pokémon Center for the night; I knew it was going to get attacked. Hence, I went ahead and waited in the line early morning for the gym to be open for the chance to be ready for the gym Battle ahead of me.
*Crrk*
Hearing the doors open, the receptionist for the Gym opened the door and soon saw me and asked in a confused tone, "Oh? Boy, are you here to perhaps be registered for the Gym Battle against Brock today?"
Nodding my head, the receptionist allowed me to enter and have me sign up for the first match starting at noon on the dot. Thanking the lady with plenty of time left to spare, I should probably restock on some food and clothing soon enough and probably some more knowledge about this world.
Maybe some training equipment when I have it, then it hit me. I need a Clefairy.
That Pokémon has all the needs I would want to fill in the role of Sp. Def Tank and Healer in my team. I remember in future generations that Clefairy can technically know the move Gravity at level 28, along with the move Life Dew at level 16.
Gravity Training… Not only would that kind of training benefit my Pokémon, but it would also help heal and train my body, preparing it for the worst to come.
Seems like I'm going to take a small trip to Mt. Moon. Maybe I should join up with Red to get the chance to find the Clefairy, since I know for sure Team Rocket is going to be there to have more numbers on our side.
That and the introduction of Fairy Types haven't been introduced yet, so there might be a chance to help Clefairy learn some Fairy Type moves by giving them some ideas of how to use their moves.
Hopefully, it will work, trying to teach them from scratch… For now, though, I'll have to prepare for the shopping trip to resupply.
/////
[Kanto Region, Later, Pewter City – Gym]
"Ladies and Gentlemen, the first match to receive the Boulder Badge is Azure Sky!"
Entering the literal boxing ring, I was already briefed by the receptionist that there would be 3 Pokémon battles with all the Gym Trainers as preliminary rounds before finally battling against Brock himself. I stood in the ring; I saw one of the Gym Trainers mocking me or trying to intimidate me as he spoke up in an arrogant tone, "Come on, punk! Let's get this thing goin'!!"
I already got the point, but my real concern was the choice of Pokémon I would be up against. Tossing the Poke Ball in the air, I saw what came out, making me frown…
*Pop*
*THUD*
What came out, creating a large thud sound, was a rock next to him is a bipedal, boulder Pokémon. Its round body is covered with small bumps, and it has a rocky crest above its small eyes and mouth. It has four arms, each with a three-fingered hand. Its second pair of arms is typically kept tucked against its chest.
Graveler… Just my luck, huh?
Fortunately, only for this Gym, all Pokémon battles are going to be one-on-one battles. I can be thankful for that.
Since he chose a Graveler, I'll go with my partner for this matchup. Reaching for Pikachu's Poke Ball, I called him out for battle against this guy's Graveler in a serious tone, "Let's do this! Go! Pikachu!"
*Pop*
Coming out prepared for battle, the Gym Trainer began to mock my Pikachu with an arrogant sneer on his face as he said, "That one doesn't look like much to me! Better be prepared to lose because your Electric Mouse can't do much against my Pokémon!"
Keeping myself calm while waiting for the chance for the bell to ring out, I had already given Pikachu a set of commands to follow in the very beginning. He already got into position as the bell rang…
*Klaaang*
With the bell ringing, Pikachu began to use Tail Whip at the Graveler, getting the Gym Trainer off guard before throwing out commands as he roared, "Damn it! Graveler, use Defense Curl as much as you can before that rat comes up again."
"Graa!"
Using Defense Curl, raising Graveler's defense as I see the red aura shine, meaning he increased his defense by one. I immediately gave Pikachu a command, "Pikachu, use Tail Whip followed by Double Team."
Following my command and with Pikachu's superior speed, I managed to land a Tail Whip, lowering the Graveler's defense to normal and, again, lowering Graveler's defense while increasing my partner's evasiveness.
The trainer looked annoyed as he gave his Graveler a command in an annoyed tone, "Grr… damn it! Graveler, get that mouse with a Bulldoze!"
Perfect. I smirked as Graveler was just about to perform Bulldoze by slamming everything around him into the ground. I countered calmly, "Now jump up, partner! Go for an Iron Tail Pikachu!"
*RMBL*
Graveler landed a Bulldoze, but Pikachu had already jumped into the air. Swinging his body, Pikachu used Iron Tail, slamming head-on as he cried out, "Pika!"
*CLANG*
Graveler cried out in pain, being hit by my partner's Iron Tail. Graveler stepped back as his Trainer gave another command, "Grr…!! Graveler hit with a Rollout!"
*Thud*
Following his command, I smiled as Graveler curled into a ball. Time to go in for the killing blow.
Immediately, his Graveler rolled in my direction as I calmly said, "Pikachu! Surf!"
The trainer blinked, stunned, as he said, "Did he say – "
*SPLASH*
Pikachu lunged forward, unleashing a wave of water using his Surf move. The Graveler was hit dead on by a water-type attack, stunning the guy as I had a smug grin on my face.
The Gym Trainer had his mouth open, caught by my trap. Well, it was more like an oversight due to his arrogance, believing that my Pikachu couldn't fight.
Despite Graveler being at a higher level than my Pikachu, his speed was that Pokémon failing factor that helped determine this battle. But a good strategy and some good cheesing could change the tide of battle with ease in scenarios like these.
If it wasn't for Graveler's low speed and Sp. Def base, this match would turn into a one-sided beatdown for me with how strong they are physically, along with their physical defense, making it hard to match them in battle. I kind of regret not getting a Fighting Type at times like these, but live and learn.
Regardless though, with me wining this first match the next two won't or will be easy as the first as my next opponent comes out with the Gym Trainer speaking out, "Alright kid you may have gotten lucky with the previous guy. But don't think that schtick will work on me...!"
Taking out his Poke Ball, he brought out his next Pokémon in the open field. The next one takes on the shape of a bipedal pholidote Pokémon.
Its brick-patterned yellow hide is dry, tough, blends in with desert sand, and protects its soft white underbelly and muzzle. This Pokémon has blue, almond-shaped eyes, a pointed snout, and triangular ears with white insides. Its tail is thick and conical. It has two long claws on each foot and three sharp claws on its forepaws, which are used to burrow.
A Sandshrew, huh? After thinking a bit, I decided to switch out Pikachu, giving him enough time to rest by calling my partner out calmly and saying, "Pikachu, you did a splendid job. Take the time to rest up."
Pikachu nodded as he returned to the Poke ball I got Dratini's Poke Ball at the ready, calling her next to battle in a determined tone, "Ok then… Alright, Dratini, it's time to make your debut, girl. Dratini, Standby for battle."
*Pop*
Popping out in the ring, Dratini was prepared for battle, getting my opponent to be wide-eyed seeing the Dragon type in my team as she glared down at the mouse Pokémon, as I couldn't help the eyes stare at us.
I knew bringing Dratini out would bring unwanted attention, but what else is new about having rare Pokémon, right? Regardless, though, it's time for battle.
*Klaaang*