The first few days following Bugsy¡¯s late-evening text messages pass swiftly. Ran starts out by spending half a day visiting the Charcoal Kiln, where Josie casually displays her father¡¯s deep pockets by buying six fire-type boosting Charcoal pieces at once. Ran¡¯s old part-time employer is so pleased by the major sale that he throws in the commissioned work to fit each piece in a suitable accessory for free.
For Ginger, they settle on an elaborately braided neck rope, the piece of charcoal sitting snugly against her neck. The effect is obvious, as the moment the Charcoal touches Ginger¡¯s hide, her mane glows brighter and her hoofbeats throw off visible sparks when she trots in place.
Josie¡¯s other two fire-types, Chief the Growlithe and Soot the Houndour, get matching handkerchiefs around their necks, with special knots to ensure that they can be refitted upon evolution. Like with Ginger, both pok¨¦mon are visibly empowered by the curious item¡¯s inherent power, as the temperature around both pok¨¦mon is noticeably elevated for a few hours, until they figure out how to control their newfound power boosts.
Next, Ran takes Josie along to Kurt¡¯s house, as he happily explains the benefits of Kurt¡¯s specialty balls, like the Level Ball and the Friend Ball he used to capture Spinarak and Zubat. Kurt, like the Charcoal couple, is happy to see Ran and even happier for the business, as Ran finally dips into his own winnings to buy a Moon Ball, the prize object one he¡¯d long desired but could never afford in the past. Josie is initially intrigued by Kurt¡¯s work, but ultimately doesn¡¯t buy anything when she learns that there are no particular specialty balls to help with catching fire-types.
With their business in town done until evening, when Josie will join Ran and his father for dinner, they move towards Ilex Forest and start training hard, assuming that the Bug-types there are the best preparation they¡¯re likely to find for Bugsy¡¯s Gym. They aren¡¯t the only ones with the same idea either, as the woods are nearly swarming with eager trainers, most roughly on the same level as Ran and Josie, though there are also more than a few complete beginners who are hoping to win their first badge off of Bugsy, as well as some more experienced trainers who are either hunting for elusive bug-types like Heracross and Scyther, preparing for a higher-tier challenge against Bugsy or doing both at the same time.
It leads to more than a few battles both on that first half day and on the days after it, as there¡¯s only so much prime training space to be had, but between the pair of them, Ran and Josie generally manage to secure a sufficiently large area free of wild pok¨¦mon and interfering trainers to work with every day. Though they do end up having to cut their training short on the third day, when a slightly older trainer chases them both off by flashing Kanto¡¯s eight badges and sending out an angry Golduck the moment it seems like Josie¡¯s about to object.
Between its water-typing, ability to learn some strong psychic moves and the clear disparity in experience between them, Ran decides that discretion is the better part of valor and he even manages to drag Josie away from that particular confrontation before any foolish challenges can be thrown around. That he then has to suffer the brunt of her displeasure until he manages to distract her by bringing up the next day¡¯s planned scouting excursion to Bugsy¡¯s Gym is a burden he bears gladly.
The scouting trip in question, which occurs a few days after an uneventful dinner with Ran¡¯s father, is really little more than them arriving at the Gym early, buying tickets for the day and making their way into the spectators¡¯ stands with their pok¨¦gear set to the notepad feature. Bugsy clearly has an extremely busy day, possibly due to the Gym not being open for challenges the next weekend. There¡¯s a match scheduled every ten minutes, starting at nine in the morning and only pausing for an hour long break at noon, with matches continuing until six in the evening.
Only the matches just before lunch and at the end of the day really stand out, with both billed as high level challenges that might go over their time limit. Though they won¡¯t be useful fights for Ran¡¯s own preparation, he still looks forward to them eagerly whilst the first few hours pass slowly, with Ran and Josie taking notes all the while.
From a practical standpoint, the main takeaway is that Bugsy exclusively accepts two-against-two battles for first-, second- and third-badge challengers. The second point they both take notes on, is Bugsy¡¯s surprising tendencies when it comes to which pok¨¦mon he uses. Starting out with Caterpie or Weedle, as Bugsy does without fail,is reasonable enough for a first badge challenge , but for second and third badge challengers the weak bug-types which tend to evolve very early are clearly woefully outmatched time and time again.
Still, Bugsy¡¯s logic becomes apparent soon enough, as without fail his first pok¨¦mon is sent out to battle with a single clear goal. To slow down its opponent as much as possible. Without fail, the small bug-type that Bugsy starts out with lands at least one or two, and often more, String Shots aimed at both coating large swathes of the field in sticky threads whilst also hindering and slowing its opponent down. Caterpie or Weedle without fail then gets beaten without landing any actual meaningful damage on its opponent, but that isn¡¯t Bugsy¡¯s goal.
Because then his second pok¨¦mon gets sent out and the step up from facing a Caterpie or Weedle to facing a Pinsir, Heracross or rarely Scyther is enough of a shock for some challengers to lose the match then and there. Because for some, the shock is so great that they take too long to shift gears, allowing Bugsy to further buff up his new pok¨¦mon with moves like Harden and Swords Dance before steamrolling their slowed initial opponent and the challenger¡¯s next pok¨¦mon shortly afterwards.
It takes some frantic research and urgent whispered discussion, but the pair of Ran and Josie eventually agrees that Bugsy went through the trouble of selecting for Pinsirs and Heracrosses with the Moxie-ability, which further justifies Bugsy¡¯s set-up heavy approach to the lower-level challenges. Fortunately, although challengers aren¡¯t allowed to switch, there are ways to counteract Bugsy¡¯s approach, as more than a few challengers showcase.
Generally, those trainers that beat Bugsy tend to fall into two categories. Firstly, there¡¯s those trainers that clearly came by earlier or looked up Bugsy¡¯s matches online and scouted his battle style, as they do whatever they must to prevent even a single String Shot from connecting. Some use flying-types to evade the attacks, others rely on fire-types to burn right through the bothersome webs. Still others rely on raw speed, or opt for pok¨¦mon that are naturally slow anyways, that won¡¯t be hindered by further speed decreases due to their raw power or great defenses. One particularly noteworthy sponsored trainer goes so far as to have his clearly recently-caught Slowpoke use Trick Room to turn Bugsy¡¯s strategy completely against him.
Second, there¡¯s also a handful of winning trainers who aren¡¯t clearly aware of Bugsy¡¯s strategy in advance, or possibly they simply don¡¯t care enough to change their own approach to counter him specifically. Either way, they manage to overcome Bugsy either through type advantages, very strong pok¨¦mon of their own or simply through not letting the shift between Bugsy¡¯s first and second pok¨¦mon throw them out of their own battle rhythm. Already well-aware that he¡¯s susceptible to such tricks himself, Ran is quite happy to have all of the information in advance, though Bugsy¡¯s consistent approach does ultimately make for some pretty boring viewing.
Fortunately, just before they can really start to get bored, the final match before noon rolls around, a trainer who ended the previous circuit with five badges having her first go of the new season at earning her sixth badge. The fight is a four-against-four, with three free switches allowed to both trainers. The girl, a year or two older than Ran, uses Politoed, Misdreavus, Snubbull and Stantler over the course of the match.
It¡¯s a team that doesn¡¯t have a particularly clear logic behind it, but she puts up a good fight in spite of that. Not that it proves to be enough, as Politoed and Snubbull are dispatched by a Forretress that dominates the field with Toxic Spikes and Zap Cannon before Misdreavus finally manages to overcome Bugsy¡¯s first pok¨¦mon. The Yanmega that gets sent out next starts out fast and only gets faster, blowing through the girl¡¯s remaining team with little trouble.
Bugsy moves to the middle of the field, looking to exchange some polite pointers, but the pretty one-sided dismantling clearly did a number on his opponent, as the brunette storms out with tears flowing down her cheeks, the crowd¡¯s applause for their Gym leader awkwardly dying down at the less than glorious sight. Ran begrudgingly has to give Bugsy some credit for his crowd management however, as the young Gym Leader politely thanks the crowd before defending the girl¡¯s behavior as he expresses his understanding for her emotional reaction to her loss.
After another round of applause, the crowd starts to dissipate as Bugsy departs for his break, Ran and Josie joining their fellow spectators as the crowd drifts apart into small groups either heading home, to some form of restaurant for lunch, or as is the case for more than an unfortunate few, back to work. For their part, Ran and Josie exchange looks, before heading back out to Ilex Forest once more. It¡¯s a shame to miss the other high-level fight at the end of the day, but with seventeen low-level fights that all stuck to the same pattern, neither wants to spend the afternoon spectating even more fights to see if there¡¯s any further minor details to be gleaned.
Instead they return to training once more, the Golduck trainer from the previous day fortunately not crossing their paths again. They split up again, Josie¡¯s want and need to quite literally play with fire necessitating plenty of room to work with. Ran doesn¡¯t mind however, as soon enough his team is once more diving headfirst into their training.
For Golbat, training is twofold, as Ran sets the flying-type to flying improvised obstacle courses, relying on Ilex Forest¡¯s naturally present bug-types, as well as some webs produced by Spinarak, to provide a sufficiently challenging course for the large flier. Primarily, they¡¯re continuing to work on Golbat¡¯s speed and agility in the air, his larger wings enabling greater feats of speed than he ever managed as a Zubat.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
They¡¯ve seen solid results already, as by this point Golbat has clearly completely adjusted to his significant change in size, flight speed and general agility far better now than when he¡¯d been newly evolved. However, his evolution doesn¡¯t just require a general change to his deliberate movements, but also necessitates some significant changes to his ingrained reflexes, as what used to be enough of a dodge to turn an attack into a comfortable miss is now only enough to turn a full hit into a glancing one. It¡¯s those subconscious estimations of incoming threats which Golbat is still working on, a lifetime¡¯s worth of ingrained habits not proving that easy to change.
As a secondary goal geared specifically at overcoming his bad habits, throughout Golbat¡¯s practice, Ran has Spinarak occasionally launch a Shadow Sneak towards her flying teammate, with Golbat having a standing order to try and use the new move Quick Guard. By working to truly incorporate Quick Guard¡¯s larger juking reactions compared to the smaller dodges he got away with as a Zubat, Ran hopes to sooner beat Golbat¡¯s currently insufficient reflexive movements out of him.
That part of training is far less smooth sailing however, as neither Ekans nor Spinarak are particularly renowned for their speed, which often gives Golbat too much time to act, preventing his reflexes from being triggered in the first place, but incremental bit by incremental bit, Golbat makes progress in learning the defensive fighting-type move nevertheless.
For Ekans, things are slightly more complicated. Ran¡¯s pok¨¦gear is very clear that Ekans doesn¡¯t generally learn Scary Face in the wild and that generally a TM is the way to go, but that¡¯s an expense he desperately wants to avoid. Instead, he¡¯s experimenting, hoping that between Ekans already knowing Glare, showing him footage of the move being used by another Ekans and some pointers from Spinarak, his starter will be able to figure the move out naturally. It¡¯s not smooth sailing at all, but they are slowly making some progress, leaving Ran confident that they¡¯ll get there.
That¡¯s not all however, as Ekans¡¯ increasing proficiency with normal-type energy has Ran add another three moves to the to-do list for the dutiful poison-type. Unlike Scary Face, the trio of Stockpile, Swallow and Spit Up do come naturally to the Ekans line, but the page Ran found on his pok¨¦gear also makes it clear that the moves generally aren¡¯t learned until after evolving into Arbok. When Ran double checked with Ekans whether his starter was willing to try and master the moves early however, his immediate failed attempt to pull Stockpile off on the spot had been answer enough.
Finally, for Spinarak, things are a fair bit simpler even as she¡¯s arguably the most industrious of them all. With her two new ghost-type moves well and truly mastered, in between ambushing Golbat and giving Ekans pointers, she¡¯s freely wandering off into the forest to hunt and to battle any wild pok¨¦mon she finds lurking in Ilex Forest. Over the course of the afternoon she returns with some minor visible injuries twice, whilst needing Golbat¡¯s interference when she¡¯s chased back towards the team by a hungry Noctowl once, but other than those few moments, she¡¯s clearly largely successful, as her happy chitters and excited wiggling whenever Ran addresses her show.
The next few days pass like that, with them heading out into Ilex Forest early and working hard all day, with any breaks from training either being to eat, patch up any injuries or battle other trainers. Then, by the time evening falls each day, they stumble back into Azalea Town, with them both heading to the pok¨¦center to have their teams healed up before Ran splits off to have dinner at home whilst Josie, after that first meal, prefers providing for herself for the evening.
It¡¯s more exhausting than traveling in a lot of ways, as Ran makes and lugs around impromptu targets every day, hustles from one training pok¨¦mon to another and throughout the day accrues a litany of small scuffs and scratches from just being active in nature. He wouldn¡¯t trade it for anything however, as his team improves with every passing day. Though he enjoys battling far more than training, the benefits of a mixed approach are hard to argue against.
A week and a day after Ran first returned to Azalea Town, they don¡¯t head out to Ilex Forest. Instead, after a lay-in and a rare, leisurely breakfast, they slowly head to the Gym once more. Ran¡¯s reservation is deliberately half an hour ahead of Josie¡¯s this time, so that they can both watch and support the other. Because of this, when they eventually arrive at the Gym, Josie heads right for the bleachers, whilst Ran follows the receptionist¡¯s directions and ends up in the challengers¡¯ waiting room.
It¡¯s one of a limited number of rooms in the Gym he¡¯s never been in before, its interior not yet updated to Bugsy¡¯s preferred styles and instead still in the old-fashioned steamboat style from the previous ownership. Unlike in Violet City, it¡¯s also clearly a singular communal room for all the waiting challengers, meaning that Ran joins another rookie who is scheduled directly ahead of him. She¡¯s a younger girl, her age clearly marking her out as a sponsored trainer with an SGC-license, a Sponsored Gym Challenge license, but she¡¯s got headphones in and is clearly focusing on her own stuff, so Ran leaves her alone and simply sinks down in a seat of his own before patiently twiddling his thumbs.
After a few minutes the girl gets called on, shooting Ran a cheeky thumbs up before confidently striding through the double doors at the other end of the room. Doing his very best to catch some sounds from the arena, Ran soon has to conclude that the soundproofing is definitely up to standard, not one sound from the ongoing battle leaking through the doors. Before he can get back to the tremendously entertaining time waste that is twiddling his thumbs however, there¡¯s a purple flash in the center of the room.
Ran nearly topples off of his seat in surprise, as a female trainer roughly his own age is teleported into the waiting room by the Jynx that¡¯s holding her hand. As the girl looks around, she scoffs derisively at her surroundings, before her eyes land on Ran, examining him like he is her.
She¡¯s got dark brown hair, part of it falling down to just under her shoulder blades in dark waves, but most of it caught up in a complex crown braid. Her eyes are a striking blue, almost sharp enough to make a shiver run through Ran when he meets them with his own brown pair. Her pale skin is accented further by a very tight bordeaux turtleneck sweater over which she wears an open, thin dark blue jacket.
He realizes he¡¯s staring just a moment too late, as her expression turns sour when his gaze stays stuck on her distractingly well-contoured figure. Apologetically, Ran raises a hand in an embarrassed greeting, but the slight sneer he receives in return is less than encouraging.
Still, not wanting to leave her stuck with a bad first impression, he presses on, ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Ran Carr. What tier are you challenging at?¡±
The girl frowns, but does at least answer even as she recalls her pok¨¦mon, ¡°Karolina Brandt. I¡¯m challenging at an eight-badge-level.¡±
¡°Oh,¡± Ran winces in sympathy, assuming that her challenging for her eight badge this early in the season means she just barely missed out on participating in the previous Conference, ¡°Do you mind if I ask, did you run out of time last circuit or what happened exactly?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t mind you asking, though you¡¯re making a wrong assumption,¡± Karolina replies with cold confidence, ¡°I¡¯m debuting, I¡¯ve just sent ahead word of my team¡¯s composition and attached some video footage of my training and been granted an exemption to challenge at a tier of my choosing. This Gym was the only one that made such an acceptable offer, which is why I¡¯m starting here.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a thing you can do?¡± Ran asks in surprise, drawing an aggrieved sigh from the other trainer.
¡°It¡¯s standard procedure for trainers who¡¯ve competed in at least one Conference to start at a higher tier even if they¡¯re moving to a new League or if their original badges¡¯ validations expire. For debuting trainers it¡¯s certainly rarer, though as I said, an exemption was made. I assume you¡¯re challenging for your first badge, then?¡± The dismissive attitude with which she ends her explanation bothers Ran something fierce, her eyes visibly falling to the three pok¨¦balls at his side before she seemingly classifies him as a rank amateur.
¡°My second one, actually.¡± Ran responds shortly, now far less interested in keeping the conversation going than he was before.
Karolina¡¯s answering with an unimpressed ¡®good for you¡¯ does her no favors in his mind either. Because of this, the final two minutes before the double doors swing open are spent in a frosty silence hanging over the room.
As he strides out into the arena, Ran dismisses the brief interaction from his mind, his gaze moving to the bleachers as he seeks out the familiar figures of Josie and his father amongst the significant crowd. For a moment, he¡¯s surprised by the sheer numbers of spectators, before he remembers that the scheduled Gym matches are openly available to anyone with an internet connection and an interest.
Though his own match undoubtedly didn¡¯t drum up anywhere near this much attention, a debuting trainer immediately challenging at the highest badge-tier likely did. So now, due to an unfortunate scheduling coincidence, Ran gets to be the boring appetizer in front of a massive hometown crowd. It would be enough to sour his mood in most circumstances, but his father¡¯s proud smile as Ran enters his trainer¡¯s box is enough to keep him eager and motivated, as he finally turns his attention to Bugsy.
Standing on the other side of the arena with that stupid bug catching net of his in one hand, Azalea Town¡¯s Gym Leader offers Ran a smile, which Ran ignores by looking down at his pok¨¦balls, running his hands over them once more in a feigned maneuver meant to be seen as him reassuring himself. It provides a convenient cover for his unwillingness to return Bugsy¡¯s smile and if it leads to him being underestimated, then so much the better.
He tunes out the referee as the older man goes over the typical rules, already knowing that he¡¯s once more facing a two-against-two singles battle with no allowed switches. He does his best to tune out the rising crowd noise, as the announcer starts hyping up the battle between two hometown trainers. Ran is under no delusions that the crowd¡¯s on his side, Bugsy having brought great honor to Azalea mere months ago and now doing a great job breathing new life into a once stagnant Gym.
Still, even if most of the crowd is against him, Josie cheers audibly when the announcer calls out Ran¡¯s name whilst Ran¡¯s father visibly receives a few congratulatory pats on the back from some of the nearby spectators that are friendly with him. Pride, at making it this far after nearly having given up right at the start of his journey, wars in his gut with embarrassment, that he¡¯s fighting a former classmate who is now a Gym Leader whilst Ran is only challenging for his second badge.
Finally, all the necessary formalities are out of the way, as the referee counts them down. Though Golbat has the most favorable match-up, Ran¡¯s plan does not include him. Instead, Spinarak will handle Bugsy¡¯s first choice and then turn the tables against whatever intended sweeper he sends out next, slowing it down with String Shot and Scary Face before either finishing the job herself, or giving Ekans a slow and vulnerable opponent to contend with.
Or at least that¡¯s the plan, but when Spinarak appears on the field, she doesn¡¯t face the expected Caterpie or Weedle. Instead, to Ran¡¯s surprise and significant displeasure, Bugsy sends out a Venonat as his first choice. His eyes shoot to the Gym Leader in disbelief, but Bugsy¡¯s expression is inscrutable, not showing anything to hint at his motivations for suddenly deviating from the approach he¡¯d used for the seventeen fights Ran and Josie spectated mere days ago.
Chapter 9, pt.2
"Confusion." Bugsy orders dryly, catching Ran off guard. As Venonat''s eyes start to glow with pink energy however, he bursts into action.
"Shadow Sneak! Don''t give it an easy target!" He orders hurriedly. Spinarak obliges instantly, sinking into her own stretching shadow even as waves of pink psychic energy start to radiate off of Venonat''s fuzzy form. The barrier surrounding the arena, upheld by one of the Gym''s dutiful Mr. Mimes, ripples gently as the attack strikes it, but the attack crucially doesn''t initially hit Spinarak before impacting the barrier.
Only as his dutiful bug-type resurfaces a mere foot from Venonat does she briefly get hit by the purple fuzzball''s super-effective attack and then only briefly, as her forward momentum carries her into Venonat. Both pok¨¦mon squeal in pain, but Venonat''s squeal is the louder one, as it is sent flying by the impact, a ghostly afterimage of Spinarak sticking to its form and biting away at it for a second before fading away.
"Again!" Ran commands instantly, looking to push the temporary advantage and keep Venonat too pressured to call upon its super-effective psychic abilities once more.
"Disable." Bugsy counters succinctly, Spinarak already partially sunken into the ground when Venonat''s antennae flash brightly for a moment. Ran can only watch in dismay as Spinarak''s attack fails, as she gets forcefully thrown out of her own shadow and is caught out in the open.
"Psybeam." Bugsy continues, calling for an even stronger psychic-type attack now that both pok¨¦mon are fighting at a closer range.
Ran growls out his next order, feeling his temper rise as the momentum shifts against them, "Night Shade!"
Venonat''s eyes start to glow pink once more, but before it can muster the more complex attack that builds off of Confusion, Spinarak shows just how well-drilled she is. Her own body glows with purple energy for a mere moment, tripling in size, with her mandibles exceeding even that factor of growth, easily quintupling in size as they stretch ever outwards, dripping incorporeal poison as they close in on Venonat from two sides.
With a haunting shriek, the mandibles connect with Venonat''s form before disappearing a few inches deep into its body on either side, the glow in its eyes instantly cutting out as psychic-energy gets disrupted by ghost-energy. Ran smiles in triumph, punching his fist forward as he follows up with another order.
"Poison Sting! Don''t give it time to recover!"
Spinarak obeys immediately, her whole body tensing briefly before she rocks forwards on her many legs, poison darts flying out from her small mouth in a rapidly-expanding cone, closing the short distance to the pained Venonat easily and hammering into its body.
"Supersonic." Bugsy instructs, his own volume rising to make sure that between the pain it''s suffering and its own cries, Venonat still hears him well enough to carry out his orders.
"Don''t let up!" Ran urges his own pok¨¦mon, unsure of any better order to give in the moment.
Venonat''s antennae start vibrating on top of its head, clearly sending out supersonic waves for multiple seconds on end. To Ran''s intense relief however, they don''t seem to hit or affect Spinarak, as his own bug-type merely keeps up her barrage of Poison Stings. Venonat resists the attack and it''s hardly all that impactful in the first place, but every small bit counts, as Venonat looks substantially worse for wear than Spinarak.
The purple bug-type realizes that its Supersonic isn''t having any effect, dropping the attack. Before it can act and before Bugsy can give another order however, Ran is already shouting out an order of his own.
"Night Shade again! Don''t give it time to pull any funny business!"
"Ps- Tackle it. Get in there." Bugsy starts to say, only to cut himself off and go with another order instead.
Once more Spinarak calls upon ghost-type energy to form an enlarged specter of herself, but this time Venonat doesn''t offer an easy, stationary target. Instead the fuzzy purple sphere with feet darts forwards the few feet separating both pok¨¦mon before leaping directly at the center of Spinarak''s large ghost form, trusting that it''ll find its target at the center.
Its trust is justified, but as it passes through Spinarak''s Night Shade it cries out in clear pain, the ghost-type energy eagerly collapsing onto a target foolish enough to throw itself right into the center of it. Venonat''s cry isn''t the only one however, as a loud thwack makes it very clear that its full-body Tackle connected with a pained Spinarak.
As the ghost-type energy evaporates, a slightly trembling Spinarak is getting back onto her feet, whilst the unconscious Venonat lies defeated next to her. Ran pumps his fist in elation, shouting praise to Spinarak, who perks up slightly. In the audience, which is stirred up by the first decisive result, he can distinctly pick out Josie''s enthusiastic cheers and his father''s trademark loud, echoing claps.
Their support buoys Ran''s mood even further, but one glance at Bugsy is enough to remind him that the fight isn''t over just yet. With his first pok¨¦mon already upgraded from Weedle or Caterpie to the significantly more threatening Venonat, to poison-types at least, Ran watches with no small amount of trepidation as Bugsy selects his second pok¨¦ball once he''s recalled Venonat.
It''s not exactly surprising, after Venonat, to see Bugsy once more opt for a pok¨¦mon he doesn''t use a lot on the lower badge levels as Scyther materializes. Still, at least Ran had anticipated Bugsy''s selection this time, as the large light green Mantis Pok¨¦mon''s secondary flying-typing does give it a very favorable matchup against Spinarak. Not that his prediction proving accurate does anything to ease Ran''s mood. In fact, it''s closer to the opposite.
Irritatingly, Ran knows that the sight of a Scyther appearing on Bugsy''s side presses buttons he shouldn''t be letting get pressed. Even with that quiet rational thought in the back of his mind however, he still feels his temper rise once more, the sight of a pok¨¦mon like the one that nearly cost him his dream three years ago working on him like a red cloth on a Tauros.
With Spinarak not at her best and any exchange of attacks likely to be brief and heavily against her, Ran gives the only orders he sees any use in, under the circumstances.
"Scary Face and String Shot! Slow it down as much as you can!" He barks out, Spinarak trilling obediently as she restarts the fight.
"Quick Attack." Bugsy commands with quiet confidence, Scyther dashing forwards in a single green streak and bowling over Spinarak in two seconds flat. The attack is so fast, that Spinarak can''t even get Scary Face off, merely being sent ragdolling by the impact of the larger pok¨¦mon as she does her best to recover.
"Hang in there!" Ran encourages her, even as Bugsy simply instructs his Scyther to keep his attack up.
In short succession, Spinarak gets battered three more times, her attempts at Scary Face and String Shot not even getting an opportunity to be executed fully before Scyther is racing past her, sending her tumbling to the ground once more. Ran winces in sympathy as his brave bug-type struggles to get back on her feet once more. Blessedly, Scyther pauses for a moment after its fourth Quick Attack in short order, clearly needing to catch its breath for a few seconds.
Taking a look at Spinarak, now visibly struggling to remain standing, he accepts that the next hit she takes will knock her out. The thought to gamble it all on a single Shadow Sneak, now likely recovered from Venonat''s earlier Disable, pops into his head, but he dismisses it instantly. Though it''d likely do some damage, Scyther''s speed is a greater threat than its full health, as the Mantis Pok¨¦mon is hardly known for its sturdiness.
Ultimately, there''s only one real order to give.
"Get ready, Spinarak! String Mine!" Ran orders, Spinarak squeaking obediently as she tenses in place before staring right at Scyther.
"Finish it, Scyther. Wing Attack." Bugsy orders slowly, clearly intrigued by the unfamiliar command Ran just gave. Still, his order draws a wince from Ran as the super-effective move is announced.
Scyther rushes forwards once more, only slightly slower than during its previous Quick Attacks, whilst the wings on its back glow ominously with white flying-energy. Choosing for a slightly slower though more damaging attack is a mistake in this case however, one Ran is happy to punish his opponent for.
"NOW!" He barks, when Scyther''s already closed half the distance.
Obediently, Spinarak rolls over onto her back immediately, before shooting dual malformed String Shots directly above her from both her mouth and abdomen. Rather than the normal long, tightly wound strings fired to make the attack cover a greater distance at speed however, Spinarak instead fires off wide blasts of webbing, hundreds of tiny strings flying in every direction in a poor man''s facsimile of a Sticky Web. The fine strings of webbing lose nearly all of their momentum after just a few feet and leave her entirely defenseless, leaving the variation on String Shot useless in most cases.
In these exact circumstances however, it works to a tee. Scyther''s straight dash towards Spinarak''s prone form carries too much speed to be aborted, its Wing Attack hitting the defenseless Spinarak with crunching force and knocking her out on the spot, her soft underbelly denting worryingly and a trail of her blood trailing away from her unconscious body and leading to some twenty feet away, where Scyther finally comes to a stop.
Ran lets out a horrified shout and recalls Spinarak instantly, the severely-wounded Bug-type kept safe in stasis until they can make it to the pok¨¦center. He pays Bugsy''s apologetic grimace no attention, cold gaze instead locking on Scyther, who is covered in countless tiny white threads which stick together at every opportunity and visibly hinder Scyther''s movements, as it tries to break some of the strings with its blades or by beating its wings.
Logically, Golbat is the obvious choice, because Scyther is slowed down and weak to Air Cutter. But today is an opportunity to get even, not just for Ran, but for his first partner as well.
"Ekans, it''s up to you! Show everyone what you''ve got!" He announces, his starter appearing on the field and, upon spotting his opponent, hissing threateningly, tail rattling ominously.
Bugsy''s expression grows sharper as Ekans appears, the Gym Leader examining the poison-type curiously before his attention returns to Ran once more, "The last time your Ekans faced a Scyther of mine in this building, it didn''t end well for you."
Ran nearly has to bite his tongue off to contain what would undoubtedly be a less than friendly answer, but his starter has no such compunctions, uninterested in formalities or niceties and instead immediately Glaring at Scyther.
The move, not audibly called out by Ran, catches both Scyther and Bugsy by surprise, leaving them unable to react before Scyther''s attention is locked on Ekans'' menacing, glowing yellow eyes. With Scyther well and truly spellbound and Bugsy seemingly scrambling to adjust to the surprising start of the battle, Ekans takes the opportunity to transition from Glare into Leer, a visible full-body shiver running through Scyther as the tip of Ekans'' forked tongue darts out for a moment, seemingly tasting the air in anticipation of a tasty meal.
Ran watches mutely, happy to let Ekans keep setting up according to one of the basic strategies they''d initially planned out for the start of battles before Ekans even knew the moves he''s now executing. His seeming inaction is supposed to have the added benefit of making his opponents doubt themselves. At this moment, with Bugsy seemingly floundering, that appears to be working perfectly, vindicating the countless months Ran spent stuck in Azalea Town with only Ekans for company.
Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.
Ran is perfectly content to keep letting Ekans act on his own initiative, knowing that his starter has more than enough plans drilled into him for a hesitating opponent. Finally, however, the Gym Leader realizes that Ekans will keep acting on his own initiative so long as the situation doesn''t change, at which point he finally gives out an order of his own.
"Double Team." Bugsy orders confidently, clearly willing to accept that Scyther will continue to be hindered by the many status-affecting moves Ran''s team has used and instead focusing on keeping him unhurt.
As Scyther seems to blur in place before a ring of threatening illusory doubles starts forming around Ekans, Ran finally speaks once more as well, "Set yourself up for success."
Ekans hisses obediently, closing his eyes and letting his tongue dart out once more, testing the air as Bugsy and the crowd watch curiously, unsure about the meaning of Ran''s order. Ekans knows however, and that''s all Ran needs for now. With Scyther''s Speed and Defense already hampered and Glare''s effect causing random bouts of paralysis, there''s no point in trying to attack it or hamper it further whilst using the energy-intensive Double Team. Instead, Ekans can afford to take his time and slowly use Stockpile, hiding the hard-to-see move under a confusing command and a distracting visual cue.
For an Arbok, a well-prepared opponent would likely catch on in short order. They''d have to, because Arbok can usually execute the move in mere seconds. But for an Ekans, who doesn''t tend to learn the move at such an early point in its lifespan¡ Ran has high hopes that Bugsy won''t catch on fast enough. If he does, the plan will fail, because Ekans still needs significantly more time to use Stockpile, their training enough to learn the move, but not yet master it to the point of being able to execute it swiftly.
Fortunately, Bugsy clearly thinks Ekans'' scenting of the air is leading up to something else, because he keeps Scyther using Double Team as he tensely watches Ekans for any surprises. Long seconds pass, Ran''s gaze also locked on Ekans for the small visual indicators that Stockpile is working. Knowing what he has to watch for, Ran smiles in satisfaction as Ekans'' scales seem to puff up slightly, a sign that the skin underneath is growing taut due to the energy Ekans is storing inside himself.
At the next stage, those same scales will become a slightly darker purple, stored energy intensifying Ekans'' general characteristics, but unfortunately they don''t get that far, as Bugsy finally catches on.
"It''s using Stockpile. Disrupt it with Slash." The Gym Leader orders sharply, catching Ran off-guard by calling for the famously dangerous move. From a technical perspective, Slash is no more and no less than its name implies, a pok¨¦mon slashing at another with whatever sharp body part it possesses, generally some form of claws. In Scyther''s case, its blades are of course the weapon of choice.
But the technical description isn''t the reason for Ran''s surprise. No, that''s Slash''s well-earned reputation for being a potentially crippling attack at the lower levels. Compared to a lot of other attacks, Slash has a high damage output compared to a relatively low learning curve, meaning that it often shows up in surprisingly low-level fights, long before either participating pok¨¦mon is actually strong enough to weather the effects of the nasty attack.
It''s this awareness which flashes through Ran''s mind in an instant when hearing the name of the dreaded attack, but he doesn''t let it faze him, trusting in Ekans'' strength to see them through.
"Poison Sting! Find the real one and follow up with Acid!" He orders hurriedly, as the many Scythers all raise their right arm and race towards Ekans.
Ekans'' head rises up immediately, a fusillade of small poisonous darts shooting out of his mouth as he starts sweeping it around in a wide arc, passing futilely through illusion after illusion. Before he can even get through half of the incoming army however, they arrive, Scyther''s many doubles disappearing as the real one appears just a foot to the side of Ekans'' swinging head, razor sharp blade hacking at Ekans'' neck mere inches behind the skull.
Ekans'' entire body gets wrenched downwards, the blade mercifully not piercing skin but still carrying so much momentum as to carry Ekans out of his coiled position as he gets carried along by the neck for a few feet before slamming into the ground as Scyther loses speed and finally comes to a stop.
"Wrap!" Ran orders instantly, not wanting to give Bugsy and Scyther time to reopen the distance or build up speed once more.
Bugsy''s order to use Double Team comes a moment too late, as Ekans manages to react with surprising speed considering the hard hit he just took, hurriedly slipping around Scyther''s lower right leg and managing a single loop before Bugsy has even finished speaking. Immediately, Ekans starts to build on his initial success, wrapping himself fully around Scyther''s legs once, then once around its abdomen and once around its thorax, tying the bug-type''s arms down against its own sides.
"Acid!" Ran orders, as Ekans finishes winding around Scyther, the two pok¨¦mon coming eye to eye as Ekans slowly tightens his grip further and further.
Ekans neck bulges obscenely as he starts gathering enough Acid to spit at Scyther, but Bugsy isn''t done just yet, ordering his pok¨¦mon to use Wing Attack to try and break free.
Scyther''s wings glow with flying-type energy, twitching frantically in place as it tries to free them from Ekans'' grip. It visibly impacts Ekans, as Ran''s starter winces in agony, but he doesn''t let up as he finishes preparing his own attack.
"Get out of there!" Bugsy finally shouts, his calm facade breaking now that the fight is drifting firmly out of his grasp. It''s a futile effort however, as Ekans'' grip is unrelenting whilst his head rears back.
Finally, like a cannon going off, his head moves forwards before blowing back, as a thick purple ball of acid shoots out of Ekans'' maw, jaw temporarily unhinging to create enough room, and flies right at Scyther''s defenseless face. The bug-type cries out in pain as his head, neck and upper thorax get covered in the biting substance, the impact worsened by the recipient''s inability to roll with the blow, as Ekans keeps his target well and truly immobilized.
At that moment, Scyther''s attempts at freeing itself with Wing Attack sharply cut off, a Glare-induced attack of paralysis hammering its system. Instantly, Ran orders Ekans to capitalize on the opportunity with Bite.
Ekans'' large fangs, usually hidden by laying flat against the roof of his mouth, click down into place as they glow with discomforting dark-type energy. Bugsy encourages Scyther to try and break out once more, but his words carry the taste of futility, as Ran leans forwards eagerly, grinning in delight as his starter lets out a threatening hiss.
Then Ekans'' head shoots forward, biting down harshly on Scyther''s upper thorax, the bug-type letting out a final pained shout as the combined damage from Wrap, Acid and Bite finally becomes too much for it to bear. Ran watches eagerly as Scyther''s eyes drift closed, its legs giving out as it falls to the ground, Ekans riding his prey down before, when the referee lifts his flag and announces the conclusion of the fight, finally unwinding and proudly slithering towards Ran.
"Scyther is unable to battle! Gym Leader Bugsy is out of pok¨¦mon! Ran Carr is the winner!" The referee''s call comes, ringing through the quiet arena. Then the announcer takes over, recapping the fights with more than a little embellishment and singing Ran''s praises as the spectators break polite applause, Josie''s wolf whistle easily audible over the large crowd''s polite noise.
Ran''s attention is on Ekans first and foremost, his starter winding up his body, head coming to rest on Ran''s shoulder from behind, allowing Ran to easily whisper some praise to his battered pok¨¦mon as he takes a closer look at where Scyther''s Slash had impacted. To his surprise however, there''s no sign of damage whatsoever. Taking a closer look at Ekans'' scales, he turns accusing eyes on his starter.
"You already used Swallow, didn''t you?" He asks, amused by Ekans'' initiative. The poison-type hisses unapologetically, head wiggling in what Ran has learned through the years to be Ekans'' approximation of a shrug.
Not begrudging his starter''s decision to heal himself now that the battle is won, Ran turns his attention to Bugsy, who is already waiting for him in the middle of the field. His footsteps feeling lighter than they have in years, even with Ekans'' added weight, Ran strides towards the center of the field as well, eager to receive whatever Bugsy decided to name his badge.
"As the Azalea Town Gym Leader, I hereby proudly present you with the Hive Badge." Bugsy declares, unveiling a circular badge colored and embossed to resemble a three-spotted Ledyba''s back.
Ran gladly accepts the badge, immediately moving to pin it to the inside of his jacket, next to his no longer lone Zephyr Badge.
"You performed very well against challenging odds, your team shows the signs of a dedicated trainer who is willing to dedicate himself fully to allow each of his pok¨¦mon to reach their full potential. I''m sure that you''re worried about that Spinarak of yours but, having trained a few of my own, please let me assure you that it will recover just fine, as long as you don''t bring it out of its ball again before seeking medical attention." Bugsy continues to speak whilst wringing his hands, showing a willingness to reassure Ran to the crowd whilst handily absolving himself of any blame for his excessive use of force in their fight.
Ran doesn''t respond audibly, merely offering the smallest nod he feels like he can get away with under the circumstances. It''s clearly not enough however, as Bugsy''s own expression finally falls into a disappointed frown, likely from Ran seeing through his ploys. For the second time following a triumphant Gym challenge, Ran is met with a Gym leader''s lowered voice as they tell him something they don''t want the crowd to listen in on.
"I assume this grudge of yours towards me is about me winning the sponsorship three years ago," Bugsy notes warily, seeming quite unimpressed by the idea, "Which is a shame, because really, it''s pretty childish of you. We went for the same opportunity and I outperformed you. Suck it up."
"You cost me three years," Ran finally audibly replies, forgetting to keep his voice down but the sheer disbelief he feels is so strong that it still only comes out as little more than a whisper, "You almost forced me to give up on training forever."
"Ah," Bugsy softly lets out, leaning back slightly as he looks at Ran taxingly, seemingly reevaluating him, "I see. Okay, that''ll tie nicely into the advice bit of this conversation."
Before Ran can even start to puzzle over just what that''s supposed to really mean, Bugsy starts in on him, "Firstly, purely from a battling perspective. You have a Golbat. Maybe you really can''t control it and you didn''t dare to use it, or maybe you figured you didn''t need the type advantage. If it''s the former, either sort that out or trade or sell it to someone that can and get yourself pok¨¦mon you can control. If it''s the latter, get over yourself. You''re at a point in your career where not using any advantages you can get doesn''t make you look strong, it makes you look foolish."
"Secondly, though you''re probably not ready to actually listen to this yet, particularly not from me," Bugsy continues, pausing for just a moment before barrelling on nevertheless, "Specializing in a type doesn''t just affect your pok¨¦mon. It''s a two-way street. No matter in which direction you look, the effects aren''t always beneficial. Bad trainers create bad pok¨¦mon and¡ well I wouldn''t call them bad, but some types definitely tend to influence less-than-desirable traits in their trainers. In your case, revenge and anger can be powerful motivators, but don''t let them consume you. Use them to drive you, because clearly that''s working for you. That you''ve come this far without help does you credit. But please remember, the world isn''t out to get you. I beat you in the sponsorship final because I needed the sponsorship, not because I had anything against you. There''s a thin line between motivation and obsession, I think it''ll serve you well to just keep that in mind."
Ran doesn''t muster a response, merely squinting his eyes suspiciously at Bugsy''s words, unwilling to accept them at face value. The Gym Leader doesn''t seem to mind however, as he simply takes a half step back, before raising his speaking volume for the benefit of the crowd once more, "I also award you this TM for U-Turn and of course the cash prize associated with winning your second Badge. But that''s not all! In my position as a new Gym Leader, I''ve only recently gotten my hand on some fascinating exotic bug-type pok¨¦mon!"
The crowd, previously only mildly interested, breaks into excited whispers at Bugsy''s declaration, as Ran waits uncomfortably for whatever other shoe Bugsy is about to drop, "Though I look forward to unveiling these new additions to my roster at a later time, one of them is unfortunately not a long-term match for my Gym, as it will lose its bug-typing upon evolution. Having contacted its original owner, I could easily return it for another pok¨¦mon. However, in my capacity as Azalea Town''s Gym Leader, I need to think not only about my own reputation, but also the reputation of this great town! It is for these reasons that I, with great pride, present you, Ran Carr, an Azalea Town trainer, with this pok¨¦mon, native to the exotic continent of Sinnoh!"
Ran has to blink, twice, as Bugsy suddenly unveils a black pok¨¦ball with a golden circle running along its middle, a smaller gold-rimmed red circle forming a smaller circle two-thirds of the way between the middle and the top. When he offers the ball to Ran, Ran can only stare at the Gym Leader in confusion.
"Don''t worry, though it doesn''t remain a bug-type, I assure you that it is and will remain a poison-type both now and after evolution. Which should make it a perfect fit for your team." Bugsy assures him placidly, voice still carrying far enough for the audience to follow along easily. Everyone is now watching with bated breath, even as Bugsy is still holding the ball outstretched, waiting for Ran to accept it from him.
With the anticipatory crowd watching his every move, Ran forces himself to reach out a hand and accept the ball from Bugsy''s hand. If this is some kind of plot on Bugsy''s behalf to hinder his team by forcing a subpar pok¨¦mon on his team, he''ll just sell it or return it later on.
"Thank you," He grinds out, as Bugsy then also hands him the promised TM for U-turn.
"You''re welcome," Bugsy smiles benignly, "I look forward to watching you at the Conference, where you''ll surely do a fine job representing Azalea Town."
Bugsy frowns for just a moment after those words, which Ran is more than happy to take as his dismissal. Before he can turn on his heels and depart the arena however, Bugsy finally speaks up one more time, "Oh, and once she''s healed, you should keep your Spinarak out in Ilex Forest overnight, while you''re traveling towards Goldenrod. Just a tip."
Ran frowns in turn, but offers Bugsy a final polite nod, before finally striding swiftly towards the exit. His dad''s already waiting at the door, beaming with pride, while Bugsy turns to move back to his side of the field, their battle and its aftermath already having run long. Ran badly wants to see Karolina''s high-level battle, but for now, he has a wounded pok¨¦mon to get to the pok¨¦center.
Interlude 2: Bugsy
Officially becoming Gym Leader was a momentous occasion, which put the previous day''s events on a pedestal comparable to the day of his semi-final match at the recent Conference and the day he captured his starter. Today, however, his very first full day as a Gym Leader, is turning out to be a significantly more sour experience.
Of course Bugsy hasn''t kept any particularly close track of the other applicants for Walter''s sponsorship, ever since he earned the spot for his year, but it has genuinely been a pleasant surprise to find no less than three unsponsored trainers waiting in front of his Gym on the first morning of his tenure. Azalea Town normally only produces a very small number of aspiring trainers every year. So to think that in his very first year, they''ll be sending out a total of four candidates¡ It feels at first like the perfect feather in his cap.
It can make for the perfect announcement of the start of his tenure. Hailing from Bugsy''s Azalea Town, a strong batch of rookie trainers! An ideal clean break with the stagnant past of Walter''s reign and a perfect opportunity to show everyone that, for all that Azalea Town is fortunate to have one of the eight official Johto Gyms, they are worthy of that honor.
But after that initial moment of hopefulness, which carries him easily past the annoyance of having to search for the three rookies'' Common Gym Challenge licenses in the organizational mess that is the Gym he''s won, things start going wrong rapidly. Because immediately upon handing out the licenses, it becomes apparent that of the three boys in front of him, one isn''t planning to set out at all.
Immediately, the idea of sending out a total of three, rather than four, trainers from Azalea Town this year sours his mood slightly. But he''s enough of a professional to hide the displeasure, not to mention the very decent consolation prize that is getting a Gym Trainer out of the deal. That''s one problem solved at least, following the impromptu walkout by the old staff which was initiated by a vengeful sore loser - Clarence.
But it is no more than a consolation prize, one that rapidly loses what little shine it had when, for the second time in two days, he has to suffer through the indignity of a walkout. Because Ran Carr and Spencer Curtis - names he''d forgotten in the past few years due to their irrelevance to him - declare their intent to challenge for their first badges elsewhere, rather than in their hometown. Which is a decision that catches him so totally off-guard that he doesn''t even manage to muster a true response until the door has slammed shut behind the latter of the pair.
He''s left standing alone in an empty Gym, with only the ugly water motif running throughout the building''s interior for company. Which is good, because that at least ensures that nobody hears him swear when he fully processes what just happened.
Why would those idiots stomp on tradition in such a terrible way? Over what? Loyalty to Walter and Clarence? Hardly, neither of the water-type specialists was the type to offer a helping hand without getting something in return and neither had ever seen the need to expand the efforts undertaken by the Gym to support Azalea Town''s local trainers. So the odds of them engendering any loyalty from two unsponsored rookies were slim to say the least.
Do they not realize just how much this weakens Azalea Town? How much it weakens the Gym''s reputation? How much it weakens him personally?
He''s got an uphill battle to fight already, as a losing Silver Conference semi-finalist, to establish himself as a worthy Gym Leader. Already, their Gym was seen as one of the ''soft'' targets, due to their lack of impressive sponsored trainers, as well as thanks to Walter''s diminishing skills and roster. Changing the type-specialization to have a clean break with the past will help, but now the shadow hanging over him will be fed further by the thought that the local trainers don''t consider his Gym worth their time.
As if he doesn''t have anything to say or offer to starting trainers. The audacity is staggering!
But he can''t spare their foolishness too much time or attention. He''s got a gym to prepare for a new era. Starting tomorrow morning, challengers might be showing up, even if Spencer and Ran won''t be amongst them. Next week, he needs to send out a sponsored trainer and Walter just left this year''s applications in a large, unsorted mess on his desk, so he doesn''t even know how many applicants he''ll need to provide a ball or capturing partner for. Not to mention that due to the time crunch, he won''t be able to make any of the larger changes to Azalea Town''s sponsorship model which he''d been hoping to institute immediately.
Right, first things first. He''ll have an applicant for the position of Gym Trainer in the evening. He should do some digging into just what Tommy Park''s been up to for the past three years. If he''s got some time to spare, he might even look into the pair of badgeless rogues that just departed his Gym as well.
Three days pass in a blur, as Bugsy desperately does everything he can to run his Gym. He hires a receptionist whom he manages to lure away from Goldenrod City with the promise of a bump in pay, gives Tommy a chance as his first Gym Trainer despite some worrying stuff showing up in the background check, and delves frantically into Ilex Forest in the day''s earliest and latest hours as he does his best to build the extensive roster expected of a Gym. He''s already regretting challenging for the position, but not enough to quit. He won''t give Walter and Clarence the satisfaction. No, he just has to keep his head above water - ironic, that - for long enough, until the Gym is properly functional and the mad rush of the takeover dies down a little.
All of that is in the assumption that he doesn''t end the day curled up into a little ball as he cries himself to sleep, of course. Because a big fat red circle on the Gym''s old-fashioned paper calendar - could Walter have been any more of a fossil? - makes it very clear that even if he has the keys to the Gym, today is the day where he''ll actually be officially acknowledged, or left as a powerless placeholder.
Because the first Gym Leaders'' video conference call of the season is on the schedule.
He''s battled all of them in their capacities as Gym Leaders, of course. Beaten all of them, too. But that was with his best team, whilst they may have used one or two of their elites in turn, but never a full squad. Not to mention the not so minor detail that he isn''t Clarence. Knowing how busy they all are, it''s quite likely that none of them have realized that he, Bugsy, is the Gym Leader. So their reactions upon seeing him will be quite revealing at least.
He''s staring at the waiting screen, having clicked the button to join the call half an hour before its scheduled start time and with a few minutes to spare, when somebody actually begins the call. Immediately, the waiting screen disappears and he comes face to face with Pryce, who is apparently the first of the other seven leaders to show up for the call.
He stares in surprise at the unexpected grim face of Mahogany Town''s Gym Leader, unsure what to say, giving Pryce the opportunity to break the silence instead.
"Bugsy. You''re punctual. Good." Pryce hums, before falling silent once more, looking down at his desk for a moment as he shuffles some papers around, seemingly distracted for a moment.
Bugsy breathes out softly in relief at the venerable former Elite''s approval, but before he can actually respond, Pryce seems to find what he was looking for, as he fishes out a paper from amongst his files, before his cold gaze locks onto the camera once more.
"You''re the first worthwhile talent produced by Azalea Town in years! Walter never managed a properly satisfactory explanation, so you tell me. Why is your town not doing its part in strengthening Johto?" Pryce demands coldly, his continuing glare at the camera freezing Bugsy in place, leaving him feeling like a Caterpie caught in a snowstorm.
"Uhh- I- That is-" Bugsy sputters uncertainly, caught flatfooted by the directness of the other Leader''s question.
Pryce frowns, but before he can continue to push, two people appear in the call near-simultaneously.
To Bugsy''s immense delight, they are the two faces he''s closest to both geographically and in age, as Falkner and Whitney appear on his screen. As a nice side-benefit, this shrinks Pryce''s share of the screen, making the old man''s frosty presence a lot less imposing.
Falkner is quiet, taking in the other present faces, before sinking back in his high back chair and steepling his fingers in front of his face. Combined with his hairstyle, this has the effect of obscuring most of his face, leaving only a lone piercing eye visible. As for Whitney, she has no such compunctions, instead barging right on into the ''conversation'' and putting herself front and center.
"Pryce! Falkner! Bugsy? I was expecting Clarence. You''re an improvement, don''t get me wrong, but what gives?" Whitney asks, turning his attention to him curiously. Unlike with Pryce, though, she at least seems both genuinely curious and friendly.
But he is yet again prevented from answering, as Falkner actually speaks up first.
"I''m sure we''re all curious about that, but I suggest we wait for the others before Bugsy explains his elevation. After all, I''m sure none of us want to hear the same story twice." Falkner declares, drawing a brisk nod from Pryce and a slightly disappointed sigh from Whitney, though she doesn''t contradict him on the issue.
The next few minutes are filled with Whitney badgering Pryce about some favored pupil of his, though Pryce cuts the topic off at every turn, keeping Bugsy from gaining any proper insight into just what that''s about as Clair, Jasmine, Chuck and finally Morty join the call in short order. For a moment, Whitney seems entirely content to just keep bothering Pryce, until, to Bugsy''s surprise, Chuck of all people cuts her off.
"We''re all here, let''s get to it already!" The energetic fighter declares, which is enough to silence Whitney and draw everyone''s attention.
"Very well," Pryce accepts, seemingly grateful for the opportunity to actually start the conference, as he shuffles through his papers before looking at the first one, "First order of business: Azalea Town''s new Gym Leader. Walter''s desire to retire-"
Morty lets out an amused snort at the likely unintended rhyme, but Pryce carries on without acknowledging the byplay.
"-was well known, as was his wish to look for an Azalea Town native as a successor. Bugsy, most of us expected Clarence to be sitting in your seat. Because of this, the issue was raised that-" Pryce speaks, only to get briskly interrupted by another voice.
"Oh don''t beat around the bush, Pryce," Whitney cuts the conference call''s apparent chairman off with clear annoyance, before addressing the entire group, "This is an issue I''ve discussed with some of you before. It''s something I''ve been considering ever since Walter first mentioned that he was thinking about retirement, really."
Bugsy can only listen quietly and with a growing feeling of apprehension, as Whitney turns the conversation in a direction that doesn''t feel promising for him in the least.
"Essentially, if we''re really invested in making sure that the next generation is stronger than the ones that came before, we can''t keep letting ourselves be limited by traditions. I get that I''m the only one that''s really deviated from the whole ''hometown badge first'' idea, and I''m not telling any of you to change your approach in that regard. But surely you can all see that, if we want Gym Leaders to be pillars of strength in their community, if we want them to be leading figures for others to aspire to¡ we can''t just keep limiting ourselves only to the people that grew up in the right town?" Whitney declares dramatically, eyes searching as she looks at the screen.
There is no immediate response, though more than one of the other Leaders has a pensive expression. Clair in particular stands out, as she started nodding along approvingly almost from the second Whitney opened her mouth, only to keep going even as Whitney stops speaking.
"Indeed," Pryce finally speaks up once more, cold gaze fixated on his camera, giving the impression that he''s staring directly at them all, "As I was saying, the issue was raised that you might not be the best possible candidate for the position of Gym Leader. Which is why there will be a vote later, to decide whether your position is accepted, or whether any of us wish to present any challengers for the position. For now, explain how you became Walter''s successor, rather than Clarence." Pryce instructs, drawing a nervous gulp from Bugsy as he becomes the sole focus of Johto''s Gym Leaders.
He squirms uncomfortably in his seat as he truly becomes the sole focus of the seven ''established'' Johto Gym Leaders. Still, he has nothing to hide or be ashamed of.
So, he can only forge onwards. Thus, he starts to speak, "Walter got in touch during the Conference Finals, informing me that he wanted to retire and that he wanted me to battle Clarence for the position, if I was interested. I was, so I hurried back to Azalea Town after the Conference. I beat Clarence pretty easily, at which point he left town in a huff. Initially, Walter had said that he''d be staying around for a while to help his successor ease into things, but once I''d officially been announced to the people in town, he apparently changed his mind. The Gym has shifted to a bug-type specialty and we''re working with a reduced staff for now, but all in all our start has been alright."
"A bug-type Gym, really, is this what we''re reduced to?" Clair scoffs when none of the other Gym Leaders speak up, instead looking at him assessingly.
Immediately, before Bugsy can even get properly flustered by the insult, Pryce speaks up sharply, "The only reason you have your seat is your own cousin''s ascension to a higher position, girl. You will show respect to those that rise to the same station of their own merit, or I will be happy to teach it to you."
Clair is clearly unhappy as she glares at her screen following the reprimand, leaving Bugsy to wonder anxiously whether Pryce has just earned him an enemy, or whether the clear animosity in Clair''s gaze is reserved only for the ice-type master. Still, it''s enough to keep everyone quiet, as Pryce takes the meeting in hand once more.
"Very well. Prior to this meeting, enough of you got in contact with me to make it very clear that you wished to present challengers, if Clarence had become the Gym Leader. However, those votes are explicitly targeted against Clarence, not Bugsy. So, we shall have a vote. Do those present accept Bugsy as the Gym Leader of Azalea Town for this Silver Conference circuit, or do any of you wish to present a challenger?" Pryce announces, causing Bugsy to shuffle around nervously in his seat, as they immediately get to the part of the conversation he''s been dreading.
Pryce continues to speak after a brief pause, having given the various Gym Leaders just enough time to indicate their understanding, "We shall vote by order of seniority. I vote to accept Bugsy''s position. Chuck?"
Bugsy''s attention turns directly towards the fighting-type specialist, who seems deep in thought. Chuck doesn''t respond immediately, his eyes remaining closed for nearly a minute, before he finally seems to nod to himself. When his eyes open, he speaks.
"I accept his position." He declares smoothly, before closing his eyes once more as he seems to return to his earlier thought or meditation.
"Morty?" Pryce speaks next, shifting everyone''s attention to the enigmatic leader of Ecruteak Town.
Unlike Pryce, Morty doesn''t need any time to think whatsoever, immediately answering, "Bugsy will do. I accept his position."
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"Clair?" Pryce asks next, his tone neutral despite his earlier reprimand of the younger woman.
"He''s unproven and unimpressive. I wish to present a challenger." She snaps, fiery expression seemingly daring Pryce to disagree with her.
The video call''s apparent leader doesn''t rise to her bait however, merely turning his attention to the next person in line, "Jasmine?"
"Bugsy did well against me and his performance at the Conference was satisfactory, but I haven''t seen enough of him yet to be convinced either way. I wish to abstain." She announces, drawing a few disapproving murmurs from her fellow Gym Leaders. Jasmine seems unbothered however, merely looking at her screen with a steely gaze as she waits for Pryce, who is clearly amongst those that disagree with her decision, to move on.
Eventually, he does, leading Bugsy to the conclusion that either Jasmine''s decision is allowed, or none feel confident in their ability to force her to change her mind.
"Whitney?"
For just a moment, Whitney''s expression seems apologetic, but then she starts speaking confidently, "It''s nothing personal against Bugsy, but I''ve got more than a few former sponsored trainers whom I think could do a great job, including this year''s actual Conference winner, so I''d like to open the position to some challengers."
Doing a quick headcount, Bugsy feels himself grow pale as he realizes that Falkner has the ability to bring the count to a draw. He isn''t sure what happens at that point but it probably won''t be-
"I accept his position." Falkner speaks calmly, easily tearing Bugsy free of his increasingly worried thoughts.
"Are we really-" Clair starts to speak angrily, clearly unhappy with the outcome of the vote, but before Pryce can even get around to reprimanding her, another rises to the occasion instead.
"Shut up, Clair." Whitney interjects sharply, willingly drawing the dragon mistress'' ire even though she herself is also on the losing side of the vote.
Yet, to Bugsy''s pleasant surprise, said ire proves to be a quiet one as Clair, though she glares fiercely, does not speak again.
"Very well, Bugsy''s position is hereby confirmed for this season. There will of course be an evaluation once the Silver Conference Finals have begun. Until that time, we shall speak of the matter no more. On to the next point on the agenda." Pryce announces, seeming to relish in the opportunity to get on to the more ''tedious'' parts of the meeting, unlike most of the others, as Bugsy watches at least three pairs of eyes go glassy within the first fifteen seconds of what rapidly turns into a near-monologue from Pryce.
And that''s without counting Chuck''s closed eyes.
The next hour drags on seemingly indefinitely, as Pryce goes over budgets, sponsored trainer allocations, badge requirements, the minutiae of appropriate Gym rewards for each level of challenge and a dozen other minor administrative things. Ultimately, however, the once significant pile of paper in front of him is gone, which clearly signifies the end of the meeting.
"That''s all for today. As always, make sure to send me any agenda points for our next meeting in advance. Unless anyone else wishes to chair the next call?" Pryce finally finishes up, gaze expectantly fixing on his screen as he waits silently for at least ten seconds, before sighing wearily.
"I assumed as much. Very well, good luck with the start of the season, all of you. Pryce, out." He announces, before disappearing from the call.
In short order, the other Gym Leaders start to disappear as well, but Bugsy hurriedly sends a direct message to Falkner, asking him to stay on the call for just a minute longer. Fortunately, the other Gym Leader seems to get his message just in time, as his gaze seems to sharpen for a moment.
It only takes a few more seconds for all of the others to have signed out, at which point Bugsy is left in a private call with the second-youngest Gym Leader in Johto.
"I''m listening." Falkner announces, his focused gaze reminding Bugsy of a bird of prey for a moment.
"Two unsponsored trainers from Azalea Town are on their way to Violet City, to challenge you for the Zephyr Badge." Bugsy announces without hesitation, finally pulling Falkner out of his earlier ''observing'' pose, as the other trainer cocks his head in surprise.
"It''s good to hear that your town has produced two unsponsored trainers, but why did you feel like telling me this, precisely? They''re no childhood friends of yours whom you want special treatment for, are they?" Falkner asks, tone and expression growing significantly sharper towards the end of his reply.
"What, no of course not!" Bugsy hurriedly replies, crossing his hands in front of him as if to ward off the other Gym Leader''s suspicions, "I just wanted to ask you to keep me updated on their performances, when they challenge you."
Falkner examines him for a moment, before offering a slow nod, "I can do that. But if they''re no childhood friends of yours, is there any reason in particular you''re keeping track of unsponsored trainers? Aren''t they the same age as you? Were they your competition for the sponsored position three years ago?"
With his questions, Falkner inadvertently hits the nail on the head, something he clearly manages to read from Bugsy''s expression, as his own expression darkens once more.
"I do hope you aren''t holding on to any old grudges. They''re unsponsored. You''re already a Gym Leader. If there''s any bad blood there, you should let go of it." Falkner cautions, jaw slightly tense as he continues to stare at the screen as if he could lurch forwards to snap Bugsy up at a moment''s notice.
"No no you''ve got it all wrong!" Bugsy insists once again, before hurriedly offering a proper explanation, before Falkner can think even worse of him, "They both left Azalea Town without challenging me for their hometown badge! I offered them the very first legal time slots of the season but they both snapped at me and set off for Violet City instead! I just want to make sure that they aren''t going to hurt Azalea Town''s reputation whilst they''re out on the road!"
"Oh." Falkner replies, the monosyllabic response a major departure from his earlier sharp questioning.
"So I was just hoping that you could let me know how they do against you, you know? Maybe let them know that they should return to Azalea as soon as possible for their hometown badge? They''re not just hurting their own reputation, but mine as well." Bugsy continues hopefully, increasingly confident that Falkner will be sympathetic to his plight.
Falkner remains mute for a few long seconds, expression growing sharper once more as he yet again seems to examine Bugsy. Finally, he speaks.
"You don''t realize that they''re probably doing this precisely because they want to hurt your reputation, do you?" The more experienced Gym Leader asks, smiling smugly when all he gets from Bugsy is a stunned expression.
"Think about it, Bugsy. You''re the guy that ultimately stopped them from earning sponsorships. Now that they were finally getting their CGCs, you returned to personally hand them their licenses and remind them of the heights they''ll probably never reach, because, again, you beat them. They''re probably hoping to prove themselves worthy by winning a bunch of other badges first. That''d put you, and your Gym by extension, in a pretty bad light." Falkner continues to explain, leaving Bugsy with little recourse but to bury his face in his hands out of frustration as all the pieces finally click together.
Presented like this, the issue is glaringly obvious. Which makes it all the more damning that he genuinely didn''t catch on to it himself. In his own defense, he has genuinely been terribly busy and, unlike Ran and Spencer, his past three years haven''t been filled with constant reminders of the sponsorship trials. But that doesn''t really excuse his inattentiveness, does it? After all, a Gym Leader doesn''t just need to understand pok¨¦mon, but trainers, as well.
Falkner lets him sulk for a few seconds, before speaking up once more, "Give it some thought. If they show up here, I''ll make sure to lean on them and try to convince them to turn back to Azalea Town. I''ll even let you know so you can follow up on that as you please. But consider this, how would you feel if three years ago, somebody had beaten you for the sponsorship and now, three years later when you finally get to set out, that guy returns to take over your hometown Gym?"
Leaving Bugsy with that problem to puzzle through, as if he has the time to spare, considering the enormous amount of work he''s already got on his plate, Falkner leaves the call. A few seconds later, with a loud, frustrated breath through his nose, so does Bugsy.
Days pass in a blur of frantic work, his Gym becoming properly active as trainers from all over Johto and Kanto start arriving in Azalea Town to challenge him for the newly minted - and awesomely designed, thank you very much - Hive Badge. Initially, he struggles slightly with settling on a proper grading curve, the lack of both experience and a mentor leaving him somewhat struggling when he has to determine what kind of challenge is suitable for a fourth-badge challenger compared to a fifth-badge challenger. On top of that, seventh- and eighth-badge challengers will be an entirely different issue once they start showing up, as, while it''s easy enough to rapidly build out the pok¨¦mon roster the Gym needs for the lower badge challenges, he''s got no such easy solutions for those that aren''t strong enough for his personal team, yet too strong for what he can easily acquire with limited free time. At least he can trade for some exotic bug-types from Hoenn and Sinnoh to add some diversity to his Gym''s roster, with more than one of Ilex Forest''s stronger bug-types moving to the distant regions in turn.
Ultimately, for those stronger challengers that easily outmatch any ''normal'' wild pok¨¦mon he can only spend his spare time on training up, he figures he''ll try to use one or two members of his personal team and fill out the remaining team with ''lesser'' Gym-pok¨¦mon. It''s by no means a perfect system, as those that figure it out can easily set up against the weaker Gym-pok¨¦mon to gain highly advantageous positions for the remainder of the match, but that kind of adaptability and team members capable of exploiting such an advantage to the fullest are good indicators of a trainer that''s ready for the Silver Conference. Additionally, it''s not as if he has any applicants at that tier just yet, considering where they are in the season and with Azalea Town''s badge not having been particularly prestigious in the past. Not to mention the town''s somewhat inconvenient position compared to the rest of the circuit, which leads to most passing through relatively early in their journey.
Though there is an interesting diversion from that established norm when he gets a message from a challenger with no badges whatsoever. For she wants to immediately challenge at the eighth-badge level, which Bugsy initially almost declines on instinct. It''s only when he realizes just how thoroughly bland and indistinct the message is, that he reconsiders. A quick personal message to Falkner soon yields confirmation that he has received, and rejected, the same message. Logically concluding that all of Johto''s Gym Leaders must have gotten the same message, Bugsy ultimately decides to accept the challenge, booking it for a few weeks down the line. That''ll prove to be interesting at the least.
He also spends a fair bit of time working on Tommy, as he rapidly gets his one-time classmate up to speed. Tommy''s personal team is hardly anything to write home about, and Bugsy won''t give him any advantages that might lead to Tommy abandoning the Gym and setting out on a journey of his own. That''d be a waste of the time and effort he''s investing in the other trainer''s development. But Tommy does gradually start to show some actual skill, enough to serve as a respectable Gym Trainer Challenge for low-tier challengers at least.
The final, and arguably most major, development in those first frantic weeks, is the selection of his sponsored trainer for the year.
With no time to completely overhaul how Azalea Town handles sponsorships, because he''d at least like to figure out a way to expand his sponsorship to a second trainer per year, he can only change the trial, which is itself a major departure from how Walter handled things. Because fundamentally, though he''d personally been successful thanks to his capture of Scyther back in the day, Walter''s way of handling the trial relied too much on getting lucky enough to run into a good potential starter.
Instead, for his own first iteration of the selection process, each of his applicants receives a Weedle, with all of them the same age and strength, and a week to care for them. At the end of that week, each of the Weedles is weighed and measured, to test for its overall growth. Or that''s how he planned to evaluate each of his applicants'' respective efforts.
But then, on judgment day, Geoffrey Brooks, Jeff for short, releases a Kakuna, rather than a Weedle. None of the other applicants even dare to complain when Bugsy names his sponsored trainer on the spot. When he announces that Jeff won''t just be setting out with financial support, but also with a freshly-hatched Scyther fathered by Bugsy''s own Scizor, there are a fair few looks of envy though.
Those applicants that sport looks of envy are ones he''ll need to keep an eye on, to avoid fostering any more grudges, but perhaps their disappointment can yet be turned into a healthy ambition. Overall however, in the short term he has other priorities.
All of his responsibilities, combined with the general hectic nature of life as a (beginning) Gym Leader, make it easy to forget about Ran and Spencer. Which is why, when Falkner suddenly sends him a message somewhat out of the blue, it takes Bugsy a moment to catch up to just what he''s reading.
Falkner: AT run-aways came today. Spencer has an Onix, completely OPed anything I could put up against it at 1-badge. Cocky shit. Didn''t listen to feedback. Don''t think he''ll come back to AT soon.
Falkner: Ran used Zubat. Evolved mid-fight after almost losing to Murkrow. As Golbat, he let it savage defeated opponent badly. Vengeful ass. Seemed more receptive to guilt trip over AT''s reputation. Better chance of convincing him. GL.
He reads Falkner''s messages a few times, somewhat annoyed by the other Gym Leader''s insistence on not writing out proper sentences, before sending back a polite thank you message for the updates. Then, he ponders how to handle his two troublemakers.
Both seem troubling, though for vastly different reasons. A Pineco, as he recalls Spencer''s starter being, is hardly an ideal option against a flying-type Gym, so using a rock-type is justifiable in that sense. That he''d go after an Onix however, that hints at a truly dangerous amount of overconfidence. That he''s actually succeeded in capturing one and keeping it obedient enough to obey in a Gym battle¡ That hints at a mouth-watering amount of potential.
Ultimately, the message he crafts and sends Spencer is one of challenge.
Bugsy: Spencer, congrats on your win against Falkner. I hear you put on an impressive display. Though with an Onix, it''s really not so much a matter of being a good trainer, as it is of releasing it and sitting back as it crushes its opponent. At your level, at least.
Bugsy: I am curious to see what you can do, though. Capturing it must have been an impressive feat. Return to Azalea Town and challenge me for your next badge. If you impress me, you''ll be traveling with my support. I''ll even throw in an extra future prize for that Onix of yours, which I''m sure you''ll be needing eventually.
Bugsy: Let me know if you''ve got the guts to face me and if you''re trainer enough to face me without capturing any more naturally strong pok¨¦mon to carry you to victory.
He does his best to agitate Spencer, relying on Falkner''s read of ''cocky'' to try and manipulate the boy into returning to Azalea Town. At the same time, if Spencer''s ego alone isn''t strong enough to lure him back, then perhaps the thinly-veiled allusions to a Metal Coat might still be enough to persuade him.
Unfortunately, Bugsy doesn''t receive an immediate reply. In fact, even when he''ll look back at the message the next day, there''ll still be no reply.
As for Ran, there, he finds striking the right balance trickier. That there''s some loyalty to Azalea Town there is encouraging, but whilst using an Onix at the first-badge level is perhaps in somewhat poor taste, badly hurting an already defeated pok¨¦mon is a lot worse. Plus, with Ekans as a starter and now a Golbat¡ poison-types and their trainers don''t have a great reputation, with good reason.
Then again, between his hometown pride and perhaps an interest in poison-types¡ There might be a way to draw him back to Azalea Town after all¡
When Tommy absentmindedly mentions having battled Ran earlier in the day, Bugsy just about freezes in place for a moment. He hurriedly recovers and carries on the explanation of ghost-type energy Tommy had requested, but even as he does so his mind is already miles ahead, as he speculates on what he''s just been told.
Subtly, once his explanation''s finished, he swiftly turns the conversation to Ran''s presence in Azalea Town, as the other trainer''s Spinarak - worryingly, yet another poison-type - proves an easy pivot point to turn the conversation to Ran''s behavior and battling style. By the time Tommy goes home, Bugsy''s hands are itching to send Ran a furious message, as the other trainer could at the very least have sent a confirmation, rather than leave Bugsy stewing in frustration at the thought that he''d been completely ignored by both of the unsponsored rookies hailing from Azalea Town.
Ultimately, common sense wins out, as the boy''s decision to show up in Azalea Town without actually confirming as much to Bugsy directly probably means that his loyalty to the town played a larger part in his decision than the promised reward did. Angry as Bugsy is at the corresponding slight, he can''t exactly be angry with the other trainer for being loyal to their shared hometown.
Thus, he looks up Ran''s trainer profile, which is a lot more extensive thanks to his Gym Leader clearance compared to what a regular trainer would have access to. A team of Ekans, Spinarak and Golbat can really only mean one thing, as Bugsy makes a weary mental note that Ran is more than likely indeed going to specialize fully in poison-types.
Spinarak offers a small opportunity for a pivot Bugsy would enthusiastically endorse and which could do wonders for establishing Azalea Town as the premier authority on Bug-types, which is why he makes sure to put in a ''throwaway'' offer to that effect in his message to Ran. He then makes sure to clarify that he expects a reply, at which point he hesitates.
Should he clarify just what reward he''s got in mind for Ran, if he performs well? Or should he be a bit more open in his reasoning for pushing for a bug-type specialization? Perhaps he should go so far as to call the other trainer? Everything points to him being less than fond of Bugsy, but perhaps they could clear the air and move forwards in a way that doesn''t just benefit Bugsy''s own position as Gym Leader, but the Gym and the town by extension as well?
Before he can make any decisions, his pok¨¦gear buzzes, as Ran answers with a curt message of his own.
It confirms Ran''s commitment to poison-types in the curtest way possible, the tone of the message immediately shelving any hopes Bugsy has of reaching out right now. Any attempt at clearing the air will have to wait until after their battle, then. Not that he''ll likely have all that much time then, considering scheduling¡
But if Ran does well enough to beat him and earn his reward, maybe he can at least plant the seeds to make him more amenable to a future reconciliation? Offering him a strong olive branch in the form of his intended reward can be a good start. Then, he can flag Ran in the system, to make sure that he gets an alert whenever the other trainer wins another badge. Congratulating him with a personal message in the wake of those achievements, along with his intended reward, can hopefully ensure that they can establish a proper, less hostile, working relationship down the line.
Chapter 10
Five minutes after handing Spinarak''s ball off to the Pok¨¦center Nurse, Ran finally relaxes when she returns to the front desk with a comforting smile. She assures him that Spinarak will be fine to travel by the next morning, while Ekans is already back to tiptop shape after just a few minutes spent in Chansey''s care.
Ran gratefully thanks the nurse, his worry over his pok¨¦mon, which he''d suppressed during his battle with Bugsy only to resurface with a vengeance the moment he''d left the Gym, now finally abating once more. Next to him, his father offers him a final pat on the shoulder, congratulating him once more before heading off to work now that Ran''s match is over and his pok¨¦mon are all fine. Ran himself returns to Bugsy''s gym at a brisk walk, eager to catch the last part of Karolina''s match and at least briefly catch up with Josie before she has to go to the waiting area ahead of her own match, but as he enters the spectator area it''s only just in time to see Karolina and her Jynx teleport away, leaving a thoroughly unrecognizable battlefield behind.
The Mr. Mime that was previously on duty gets recalled by the referee, a well-rested one taking its place for the next challenger, as the first one gets a clearly well-deserved break. Whatever the details of the match, somebody had some powerful Ice- and Ground-type attacks in their arsenal, because the previously flat grassy field has been turned into a craggy, icy wasteland that looks like Ran imagines the foothills of Mt. Silver might.
Just then, Josie reaches him, clearly on her way towards the waiting area. Her eyes, gleaming with awed shock, are larger than he''s ever seen them as she grabs him by the shoulders with both hands before shaking him vigorously.
"You missed it! That was incredible! She had a Piloswine! It knew Earthquake and Blizzard! She pushed Bugsy around like a chump! Then he finally beat it with a Scizor, though I don''t think it was his starter, after which she used a Weavile that ran circles around them!" She rambles enthusiastically, leaving Ran little choice but to let her wear herself out for a few seconds, before finally gently peeling Josie''s hand off of his shoulders.
"I''m sorry to have missed it Josie," He admits honestly, "I''ll look the footage up later tonight and you can do a play-by-play, alright? Focus on your own match for now."
"Please," Josie immediately dismisses his words, though they do appear to have jarred her out of her previous fangirling at least, "I''ll burn right through him. Five minutes, tops, and we can go have lunch."
"Sure thing," Ran agrees easily, sidestepping his friend and gently pushing her on towards the waiting area as he does so, "Good luck!"
With Josie refocused and on her way, Ran finally gets to pick out a seat for himself as the final trainer before Josie makes his entrance and starts his battle with Bugsy once the field''s been restored to its proper state by the beleaguered cleaning staff. Clearly an unsponsored rookie like himself, Ran initially wants to root for the challenger, but when he''s announced as having no badges yet and starts off by sending out a Rattata, Ran''s interest soon wanes. That his second pok¨¦mon is a Bellsprout, something Ran finds out after just two minutes when the challenger needs to send it out once Rattata has gone down to Bugsy''s Weedle of all things, does him no favors either.
The fight ends shortly afterwards, the short and one-sided match doing wonders for the Gym''s schedule, after Ran''s match ran over its allotted time earlier. As the defeated trainer stalks off in disappointment and Bugsy returns to his part of the field once more, Ran''s hand idly drifts to the new pok¨¦ball at his side. He waits politely for Josie to walk through the doors and lock eyes with him, at which point he shoots her a thumbs up, but once her attention locks on Bugsy, he''s typing away on his pok¨¦gear.
It''s the work of less than a minute to discover that his new acquisition is housed in a Luxury Ball, which supposedly makes wild pok¨¦mon friendlier and more open to receiving training. It leaves Ran curious about what kind of poison-bug-type might justify or mandate such an expenditure, but before he can research the matter further, the match begins and his attention shifts firmly to the field.
Over the next handful of minutes, Josie confidently dominates the match from start to finish, letting Chief the Growlithe enjoy himself with his new chew toy in the form of the poor Caterpie that Bugsy starts off with. A few String Shots connect and it looks like his plan has some merit, until Josie has Chief use Flame Wheel to defeat Caterpie and burn away all the sticky threads that were bothering him in one fell swoop. Bugsy then brings out a Pinsir, which puts on a strong showing and gives Chief a run for his money.
The fight reaches a cinematic finish when Chief once more uses Flame Wheel, only to be caught in a Vise Grip before he can make firm contact. Both pok¨¦mon struggle to overcome the other for a few seconds, roaring flames licking away at Pinsir''s body as it does its best to squeeze the pok¨¦mon between its enormous horns into unconsciousness before fainting. Chief comes away victorious however, Pinsir''s grip growing slack mere moments before the flames cut out, as an exhausted, but still standing, Chief triumphs over the exhausted Stag Beetle Pok¨¦mon.
Ran cheers enthusiastically as Josie receives her own Hive Badge from Bugsy, his friend showing far more crowd awareness than Ran by actually turning to the spectators and offering them a gracious bow, which only intensifies the applause she receives for her strong showing. Ran isn''t jealous of the warm reception she gets, even if it makes the crowd reaction he received earlier, somewhat lackluster. To the layman''s eye, fire-types are simply far more attractive than poison-types, as they always offer visual spectacle and, thanks to pok¨¦mon''s thick hides and fascinating biologies, rarely cause any visually unappealing injuries.
His own team is less-suited to flashy displays of raw power. Slowly grinding your opponent down or waiting to pounce in singular decisive strikes, as poison-types generally become dependent on as they grow stronger, is a far less well-received way of battling. But the crowd''s adoration matters little to him, compared to the importance of succeeding as a trainer.If the choice ever does present itself, he knows very well which of the two he values more. Although admittedly, in that regard, Josie is seemingly well on the way to having her cake and eating it too. Rather than let such thoughts sour his mood however, Ran merely claps for his friend as he gets up from his seat.
Now that they both have their badges, it''s time to look forward once more. As he slowly meanders out of the bleachers and towards the front lobby, where Josie should join him once she''s finished with her own brief conversation with Bugsy, he runs down a mental checklist.
Josie will have to check Chief into the pok¨¦center. They should both go and get lunch afterwards. Then there''s time to make sure they''re both fully stocked up on the necessary supplies for the journey through Ilex Forest and to Goldenrod City. Next, he has a new team member to meet. Once that introduction has hopefully gone smoothly, they can put the team members that didn''t get any work in at the Gym through a light work-out before finally joining his father for a final dinner to end the day and their stay in Azalea Town comfortably.
It''s a sensible plan and one that, once Josie and he are properly reunited in the lobby, is swiftly carried out. Once she''s finished boasting about her fantastic performance, that is.
Throughout their visits to the Pok¨¦center, the sandwich place and the local Pok¨¦mart, Ran steadily starts to become more energetic, nervous energy slowly starting to leak out of him in tapping feet and fiddling fingers. Fortunately, Josie doesn''t pay it much mind and the slight annoyance from the Pok¨¦mart''s clerk doesn''t really matter to him anyways. Especially not when his anxiety is quite justified.
After all, Sinnoh pok¨¦mon are quite rare, with direct contact with the other region still limited to the higher echelons of the Indigo League. Consequently, very little information about their pok¨¦mon is general knowledge in Johto and there''s little more to be found on the net even if you go looking for it. So curiosity-driven anxiety is a very normal reaction to have, under the circumstances.
Finally, they make their way to Ilex Forest, claiming a large enough area for both of them to get some work in without hindering each other, before Ran finally starts to unclip his pok¨¦balls. He releases Ekans and Golbat first, Luxury Ball heavy in his hands as the two pok¨¦mon appear in flashes of red light and look around curiously, soon focusing on the black sphere in Ran''s hand.
"We beat Bugsy, Golbat," Ran explains first and foremost before further clarifying their current situation, drawing a congratulatory screech from the blue Bat Pok¨¦mon before he flies up to the nearest tree branch, clearly more comfortable once he''s looking at the world from an upside down point of view, "Spinarak isn''t with us right now, she got hurt pretty bad, so she''s at the Pok¨¦center, though she''ll be fine by tomorrow morning."
Ekans winds comfortingly between his legs as Ran mentions Spinarak''s injuries, before finally slithering away a handful feet to curl up on a nearby large stone. His displeased hiss makes it quite clear that the stone isn''t warm enough for his tastes, but it clearly isn''t uncomfortable enough for Ekans to give up on his seat either.
"As a reward, we didn''t just get the Hive Badge and a TM though. Bugsy also gave me a pok¨¦mon from Sinnoh. It''s supposed to be a poison-bug-type for now, though if or when it evolves, it''ll lose the bug-typing, according to Bugsy. That''s all I know, so be ready for anything, alright guys?" Ran asks his two present team members, receiving clear unspoken answers from both as Golbat''s eyes narrow to suspicious slits whilst Ekans turns from lounging lazily to coiling up in such a way that he can shoot forwards rapidly to attack, if necessary.
"Alright, here goes." Ran announces, before finally pushing the Luxury Ball''s large button, not throwing it to release the Sinnoh pok¨¦mon at a distance but instead releasing it relatively close by. It''s riskier, because if the pok¨¦mon''s aggressive he''s closer to danger, but the value of not having to waste time or attention on catching the rebounding Luxury Ball should at least enable him to return it quicker, if necessary.
The typical red light arcs down towards the ground in front of Ran''s feet, before rapidly solidifying into a pale purple pok¨¦mon. Four short legs attach to an ovoid torso that runs parallel to the ground. At its rear, a menacing tail, covered in segmented exoskeletal armor before terminating in two white claws, rises into the air. At its front, teal oval eyes sit on a small almost egg-shaped head from which two small arms equipped with sharp white stingers point threateningly forward. Finally, its mouth is framed by two intimidating white fangs that seem ready to tear into flesh at a moment''s notice.
"Sko-rupi!" The new arrival announces brightly, teal eyes darting around for a moment, the pok¨¦mon''s small field of view keeping it from catching sight of Ekans or Golbat, before settling on Ran.
"Hi," Ran greets it drolly, "My name''s Ran. A few hours ago, I beat the guy that traded for you and he gave you to me as part of my winnings."
Skorupi''s eyes narrow in thought as it processes what Ran tells it, before it sags slightly, seeming disappointed at Ran''s words.
"I don''t really know anything about you yet, Skorupi, except that you''re a poison-type and that you''re from Sinnoh," Ran admits next, trying to get the unpleasant parts of the meeting out of the way as soon as possible, "We''re in Johto, in case you didn''t know that yet, and we don''t have that much information on the different kinds of pok¨¦mon that live back where you came from."
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
The displeased hiss that Skorupi lets out as he continues to explain the situation is discouraging, though when it bends its tail to let the claws of its tail scrape threateningly along its own back, Ekans and Golbat interject as one. Golbat''s screech and the rattling of Ekans'' tail are enough to make Skorupi freeze in place for a moment, before it spins sharply in place to catch sight of the source of the threatening sounds, its tail shooting out instinctively to try and counter any sneak attacks.
With Ekans and Golbat both still in their previous resting places, it doesn''t hit anything, of course, but the sharp looks both of Ran''s more trained pok¨¦mon give the newcomer are clearly enough to cow it into listening once more, as it slowly turns to face Ran once more, tail lowering and visibly relaxing.
"Those are Ekans and Golbat, two of the other three members of the team. Spinarak isn''t with us right now. You''ll get to meet her later, if this conversation goes well," Ran easily continues, finally able to turn the conversation to what he hopes will be the enjoyable part, for both Skorupi and himself, "All of my pok¨¦mon are poison-types and I''m hoping to become a real specialist with a very strong team. Our goal for this year is to collect eight Gym badges, which we win by battling against a town''s strongest trainer, so we get to fight in the Silver Conference, where all of the strongest trainers in Johto compete against each other to prove who the strongest is out of all of them."
His words clearly strike a chord with Skorupi, as his second bug-type visibly perks up, looking at Ran eagerly rather than threateningly.
"I''d like it if you joined our team," Ran continues, finally getting to the crucial point of this first meeting, "You''ll have to listen to me and get used to training a lot, because I''m not the type of trainer who only ever tries to get stronger by battling. But my methods work, because we only just started on our journey a bit over a month ago and we''ve already won two badges. Plus, my other pok¨¦mon have all grown a lot stronger under my training already. Golbat was a Zubat when I first caught him, to give you just one example."
Golbat lets out a proud, affirmative screech at those words, though Skorupi doesn''t turn to look at the flying-type again. Its quivering tail makes it clear that Ran''s words aren''t missing their effect however.
"If you''re up to it, I''ll be putting you through your paces to try and find out just what you can do today. Tomorrow, we start traveling towards the next city. Assuming you can keep up with the others, you''ll get to have your first battles over the next couple of days. So, are you interested?" Ran finally finishes his spiel, falling silent as he awaits Skorupi''s reaction.
"Skorupi! Sko sko skorupi!" Bugsy''s gift shouts enthusiastically, compensating for the limited mobility of its head by bobbing its tail up and down instead.
"Great," Ran smiles happily, "Let''s start off by seeing what moves you know! Turn to face that tree over there and have at it!"
Skorupi moves to obey immediately, leaving Ran barely enough time to open his tab with notes on his pok¨¦gear before attacks start following one after the other. It takes some research, some assistance from Ekans and Golbat as well as a fair bit of patience, but ultimately he''s looking at an impressive list of seven moves, including one that''s been sorely lacking from his team up to this point.
Poison Sting, Leer and Bite are standard fare, whilst Hone Claws and Poison Fang add much needed power and menace to Skorupi''s arsenal, but it''s the final two moves it shows off that have Ran beaming. First, Skorupi''s fangs and claws gain a menacing mossy green glow as bug-type energy is concentrated before his pok¨¦mon bursts forwards with surprising speed, four sharp body parts digging deep into the tree it''s been targeting all along.
It takes a fair bit of research, but Ran eventually determines that Skorupi just showed them Fell Stinger, a punishing bug-type attack that boosts the user''s strength if it''s used to decide a fight. Excited as he is about the potential ability to completely change the momentum of any battle, it pales in comparison to the excited whoop he lets out when Skorupi shows its final move.
It starts with Skorupi''s armor glowing purple, briefly growing bristly with hundreds of tiny barbs, before it starts shaking, the barbs flying off in all directions and landing in a wide scattered area all around their makeshift battlefield. Once Skorupi finishes, Ekans immediately moves into action, serving as an improvised sweeper as he slowly clears Skorupi''s spikes away in an ever-expanding circle with Ran at its center.
Ekans remains entirely unaffected by the many barbs even as they contact him before dissolving, solidifying Ran''s good cheer as it fully confirms the move''s exact name.
"You know Toxic Spikes!" He cheers ecstatically, racing to Skorupi and hoisting the surprised pok¨¦mon up into the air with a broad smile, almost dancing on the spot in joy.
Skorupi cries out plaintively, tensing uncomfortably in Ran''s hands as it''s clearly unhappy about its new position some six feet in the air, but Ran is deaf to its complaints for the moment, too caught up basking in the unexpected stroke of good fortune. Fortunately, Ekans knows his trainer well, as the purple Snake Pok¨¦mon lets out a series of variations on its name, likely communicating at least some degree of context to Skorupi.
Whatever Ekans ''says'', it''s enough to ease Skorupi''s mood at least, as it once more relaxes in Ran''s hands. Finally, as his arms start to strain from holding the not inconsiderable weight above his head, Ran calms down and sets Skorupi down onto solid ground once more.
"Sorry about that, Skorupi," He apologizes, finally calming down properly, "Toxic Spikes is a huge part of any poison-specialist''s plans and none of the others learn it naturally. This is going to make a lot of stuff significantly easier, both for your own fights and for us as a team, if you can help Ekans and Spinarak learn it."
Ekans offers an affirming hiss, as Skorupi ponders Ran''s words for long seconds before, finally, clicking its tail claws together cheerfully. The bug-type''s good cheer draws another smile from Ran, before he finally turns the team''s attention to training once more.
"Alright, we''ll table Toxic Spikes for now. Golbat, do a quick patrol to make sure we''ll have plenty of room to work with, I''ll set up an obstacle course for you in a bit. Ekans, start with Stockpile, it''s great that you pulled it off in a Gym battle, but you need to manage it even quicker. Skorupi, you and I will be starting out together. Now that we know your moves, it''s time to get a baseline for your physical stats. We''ll start out with sprints, let me measure out a track for you." Ran rattles off, his two more experienced pok¨¦mon dutifully getting to work, unlike Skorupi, which narrows its eyes at Ran in displeasure at the mention of sprints.
Ran shrugs apologetically, even as he draws a line on the ground with his foot before striding away measuredly, counting his steps mentally as he goes, "I know it''s not fun, but I need to know what you''re good at and what you''re not as good at. The others all went through this shortly after joining the team as well!"
Ran isn''t an expert on Skorupi''s body language just yet, but he cautiously classifies the combination of Skorupi''s downcast eyes with its lowered tail and stingers as ''sulking''. Accurate or not, Skorupi does move obediently towards the line Ran prepared for him. With an encouraging smile, Ran prepares his pok¨¦gear''s stopwatch, before counting Skorupi off.
It''s only the first of a series of physical tests he puts Skorupi through over the next hour, only pausing briefly to set up Golbat''s obstacle course. Once that''s all done, Golbat gets some one-on-one training whilst Ekans and Skorupi pair off. Though Ekans is still struggling with Scary Face, which Skorupi appears to show an intriguing amount of interest in, Toxic Spikes is too much of a priority for it to be postponed. Thus, Skorupi can immediately prove his value to the team, by instructing Ekans in its use.
Soon enough, the sun is setting and they get ready to leave Ilex Forest once more as they meet up with Josie and her team again. Skorupi is initially hesitant around the unknown fire-types, but relaxes somewhat when Ekans and Golbat greet Josie''s team with friendly sounds. Josie herself examines Ran''s new acquisition curiously for a few seconds, but atypically doesn''t otherwise address the matter.
Shortly afterwards, their pok¨¦mon all recalled once more, they''re having dinner with Ran''s father, the conversation dominated by him as he keeps the focus firmly on the day''s earlier Gym battles. Ran nearly glows with pride as his father repeatedly praises his earlier performance, clearly impressed by his son''s prowess as a trainer. Josie for her part seems somewhat contemplative, though she does enthusiastically contribute a retelling of her own battle when Ran''s father eventually asks her about it.
Once she''s finished, she deflates slightly again when Ran''s father briefly congratulates her, before turning the topic back to Ran''s own battle, clearly more than happy to discuss Ran''s second badge match for a fifth time that evening. Eventually however, the evening comes to an end, Josie saying her goodbyes as she returns to the pok¨¦center whilst Ran joins his father to do the dishes.
Dish towel in hand, Ran is caught slightly off-guard when his father finally seems ready to move on from discussing his fight against Bugsy.
"I didn''t actually expect you''d succeed like this, you know," His father offers casually, his attention seemingly more focused on scrubbing away at a stubborn spot of dried out sauce than on their conversation, "I thought you''d come back with your tail between your legs, maybe a few badges in hand, savings used up and team permanently scarred. You could make a comfortable enough living here, working for the Gym or maybe working for Kurt or the Kiln more formally."
Ran does his best to keep his focus on the cutlery he''s drying, his voice carefully neutral as he asks a question, "Why did you encourage me to try then, back when I didn''t get the sponsorship?"
"Because if I hadn''t, you''d have regretted not trying for the rest of your life." His father answers dryly, attention shifting to the pots and pans now that all of the smaller dishes have already been handled.
There''s a deliberate detachedness to his father''s voice that''s enough to finally give Ran pause, his gaze drawn irresistibly towards his father''s figure, half-dried plate in his hands temporarily forgotten.
"Why''s that?" He urges cautiously, unsure of just how to handle his father''s odd mood.
"Because," His father starts to say, pausing to let out a heavy breath before finally continuing, "Living life without at least one or two battle-ready pok¨¦mon relegates you to being a second-class citizen. It makes you weak, pliable, defenseless. Long ago, having a pok¨¦mon was for the privileged few. But nowadays, owning a pok¨¦mon is increasingly becoming a requirement to avoid being relegated to the underprivileged."
"The wealth gap is still prohibitive, don''t get me wrong," Ran''s father continues to say, "But since the War, people''s priorities have shifted. Those that didn''t have pok¨¦mon were burdens on their communities. Burdens that couldn''t always be carried by those that did. The vast majority of the people that died were those that didn''t have pok¨¦mon to defend them or, if necessary, sacrifice themselves for them. If we''d had a pok¨¦mon to protect us, it might have won your mother enough time to get away as well."
Ran freezes entirely, as his father''s explanation falters with an audible hitch in his voice. After another deep breath, he continues once more, "The war is over, it should never come to that again. Kanto might treat us like an afterthought, but we lost far too much and far too many to even think of ever facing them on the battlefield again. But there''s still plenty of other dangers out in the world. For me, it''s far too late. I don''t have the time, the savings or the license to even buy a pok¨¦ball, let alone train a battling pok¨¦mon. But you, I figured you''d get some experience in only to end up here, maybe down a dream but at least in a position to make a respectable living here with the status of having won a badge or two. That would''ve been enough to set you up for a good life."
"And now?" Ran asks tentatively, when his father falls silent once more, "Why are you telling me this?"
His father finally turns to meet his eyes, eyes showing faint signs of tears as he looks at his son, "Now, I''m convinced that you''ll be going all the way. That I''ll be watching you on television at the end of the circuit. That you won''t ever be living full-time under my roof again."
"Oh." Ran replies eloquently, not quite sure what demeanor to adapt at the sight of his father being openly emotional. Before he can do much more, his father acts instead, sudsy hands coming up to grab him by the shoulders and draw him into a strong embrace for a few surprising seconds.
Ran doesn''t even get a real chance to respond to that either, dish towel and plate in his hands trapped between their bodies and leaving him unable to really return the embrace.
Then it''s over, as his father releases him, loudly clears his throat, looks at the remaining dishes and speaks, "Right, you finish up here, I''m going to go play cards with the guys. I''ll lock the front door behind me. I''ve got the early shift tomorrow, so I won''t be around when you wake up. Make sure to lock up and keep me posted on your progress, for real this time. I''m proud of you, son."
"Thanks dad, love you!" Ran manages, the final words needing to be shouted to even be heard, as his father swiftly leaves the kitchen, the front door audibly opening and closing only seconds later.
He''s left standing alone in the kitchen, vaguely shell shocked by the past ten minutes. Ultimately though, he finally continues drying the dish he''s been holding for multiple long minutes at this point. After all, there''s still more dishes to be done.
Chapter 11, pt.1
Spending time in town, where the comforts of civilization are at hand, is always nice, but there''s something undeniably relieving to once more make camp for the night. Ilex Forest might not be quite as comfortable a location as an open plain, but sleeping under the open air at least means they can make a campfire without having to worry about smoke inhalation too much.
It''s only the first night after their departure from Azalea Town, but already home feels far away again, as Ran and Josie busy themselves with setting up for the night. Some rustiness has set in to their routine, as it takes a bit longer than usual, though that might also be caused in part by the new addition to camp. Not that Ran''s small new pop-up tent really takes that long to set up, as he needs to do little more than throw it down and hammer in a few pegs to make sure it remains firmly anchored to the ground.
Still, as Ekans excitedly crawls into Ran''s latest purchase, Skorupi and Spinarak trailing closely behind whilst Golbat naps beneath a nearby tree branch, Ran can''t help but shoot Josie a taunting grin. He might''ve had to sleep out under the open sky for a few weeks and his tent might still be a far shout from the far larger one she lugs around every day, but his is set up in two minutes. Josie''s tent on the other hand¡
She had the time it took to set it up down to fifteen minutes before they entered Azalea. After over a week without practice however, it''s looking like she''s back up to twenty, at least. All that really means in the end, is that Ran''s on his own when he gets started on their campfire, with only Soot the Houndour enthusiastically trotting over to serve as the firestarter, once Ran''s preparations are complete.
Eventually, Soot barks out a small flame onto a meticulously stacked pyramid of wood, just as Josie is finally coming to join him with her tent now properly set up. She lays out the food for all of their pok¨¦mon whilst Ran focuses on cooking their own dinner. It''s a peaceful scene, Ilex Forest and the crackling of the campfire providing some excellent background noise as they settle into the familiar atmosphere again.
An hour later, food finished and both of them leaning back comfortably on separate logs, with Ekans spread out over Ran''s legs and Skorupi receiving a cautious mixture of physical exam and massage in his lap, Josie moves the topic of conversation from their previous idle chatter to Ran''s fourth pok¨¦mon.
"So Skorupi, huh? You''re actually keeping it?" She finally cracks, the question that''s clearly been on her mind finally bursting out of her.
"Of course," Ran replies in surprise, intensifying the pressure of his hand on Skorupi''s back as a way to calm his pok¨¦mon down, the purple poison-bug-type clearly irked by Josie''s words, "Why wouldn''t I? Oh and the nurse confirmed that he''s male, did I not mention that?"
"You didn''t, but I''ll keep it in mind," Josie waves off Ran''s clarification simply, before returning to the topic of her interest, "I assumed you wouldn''t want the challenge of training a pok¨¦mon you won''t actually be able to find all that much information on. Not at this point in our careers, at least."
It''s a valid point and Ran''s happy enough to acknowledge as much, but before he can, Josie steamrolls on, as she starts to list examples to emphasize her point.
"When or how does he evolve? What moves does he learn? What''s his typing going to be if he loses the bug-type? Does he evolve once or twice? Does he have any special dietary requirements? What about physical care? How''s his-"
"I know, Josie!" Ran finally cuts her off, his friend chuckling sheepishly when she realizes just how much she was starting to drone on.
"Honestly, I don''t know yet. I''m hoping to find out more in Goldenrod City. I figure if there''s any place in Johto where there might be more information on, or someone who knows something about, a Sinnoh pok¨¦mon, it''s there. If that doesn''t work out, then Skorupi and I will just have to figure things out together." He continues calmly, attention shifting to Skorupi when he reveals an ability to purr in pleasure under Ran''s gentle ministrations.
Josie looks at him as if he''s talking crazy, disbelief evident in her voice, "But what if he''s like a Shuckle or a Dunsparce or a Magikarp or something? What if he''s a dud?"
"He won''t be," Ran declares confidently, hurriedly continuing with a justification when Josie visibly gears up to press the matter further, "He already knows Toxic Spikes and his starting physical parameters are, overall, the best out of any of my pok¨¦mon at that point. Obviously Ekans and Golbat both comfortably outscore him now, but I''ve been training my team for the better part of a year, Ekans way more than that, and even with that Skorupi can still pretty much give Spinarak a run for her money already."
Ran shoots a guilty look towards Spinarak, only part of her head visible from where she peeks out of the partially hollowed out end of the log he''s sitting on. His only female team member doesn''t seem to mind the unintended slight however, merely wiggling her mandibles at Ran happily when she realizes he''s paying her attention, before once more retreating fully into her temporary burrow.
"Really?" Josie asks with a raised voice, gaze now far more intrigued as she looks at Skorupi in a new light, "He doesn''t look like all that much. Are you really telling me the little guy is secretly a powerhouse in waiting?"
He chuckles in response, finally lifting Skorupi out of his lap despite the latter''s plaintive hiss, instead gesturing for Ekans to crawl up into his lap. His starter''s been growing again, the first signs of an upcoming shedding already presenting themselves. An extra bit of scratching will do him well, even if Skorupi''s jealous that his own pampering ends because of it.
"I mean obviously it all still depends on a lot of stuff. Ekans was one of three potential starters I really did a lot of reading on, so I knew what I was getting into there. For Zubat and Spinarak, I spent months, almost a year even, just researching and planning. All before I sought them out for capture deliberately. For all of them, I have solid plans for their development, movesets and strategies. So training Skorupi is definitely going to be a completely different kind of challenge than anything I''m used to. But I think he''s got potential and he''s fitting in well with the team, so we''re going to try. If he ends up as a surprise powerhouse, great! If he just becomes a ''regular'' team member, then that''ll be just fine as well." Ran elaborates, not particularly bothered either way. After all, it''s not as if Arbok and Ariados are particularly prevalent on the tournament circuit either and he''s been planning for that pair to be on his team for years.
"Fair enough," Josie allows, before stretching, arms rising above her head as she lets out a loud yawn, Ran''s eyes involuntarily drawn downwards for a brief, hopefully unnoticed moment, "Anyways I''m turning in for the night. Ginger, you want to stay out or be in your ball?"
Ponyta nickers as she approaches, nudging at her pok¨¦ball on Josie''s waist, which is enough for Ran''s travel companion to recall her starter. Then, her other two fire-types trailing after her, she retires for the night. Ran for his part doesn''t move to follow her example just yet, but instead looks around for his own team.
Golbat is still napping, although he''ll likely be waking up shortly, as the naturally nocturnal pok¨¦mon''s normal waking hours are just starting. Spinarak''s still hidden in her makeshift burrow, whilst Ekans and Skorupi are starting to shoot hopeful looks at Ran''s new tent, both clearly eager to profit from his body heat for their own night''s sleep.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
"Right, I assume everyone is staying out?" Ran asks casually, voicing the thought on the off chance that one of his pok¨¦mon wants to be recalled after all. When none of them respond, he looks towards the waning campfire hesitantly, before turning his attention to Golbat for a moment.
"Keep an eye out in case it doesn''t go out on its own, alright?" He asks, knowing full well that his largest pok¨¦mon is already quite aware of his surroundings.
Golbat lifts one wing slightly in response, just enough to reveal a single large eye which blinks open lazily in a quiet acknowledgement. With that matter handled, Ran gently nudges Ekans off of his lap, before getting up and moving to his tent. Both his oldest and his newest pok¨¦mon are hot on his heels as he enters his new tent, swiftly turning in for the night.
It doesn''t take long before he drifts off to sleep, Ilex Forest providing a pleasant white noise that helps him drift off easily. When the forest''s pleasant ambient noise is disturbed by a few loud crashes in the middle of the night however, he wakes up far more abruptly and unpleasantly than he fell asleep.
Desperately scrambling for his torch in the darkness of his tent, Skorupi and Ekans moving around agitatedly next to him, Ran curses as he doesn''t find his torch immediately. Whether by moving in his sleep or by startling awake, he must have jostled it from the spot he''d deliberately chosen, securely sticking it out of his right shoe right near the tent entrance.
As he searches hurriedly, the earlier sounds abruptly cut off once more, everything going deathly quiet, apart from the clear sounds of Josie moving around in her own tent, likely moving to get ready for whatever''s happening as well. Ran''s fingers finally touch the cold grip of his torch, but before he can light it, a miniature sun appears in the middle of Ilex Forest, blinding white light penetrating the protection his tent walls afford easily and forcing him to avert his eyes.
Ran immediately dives flat to the ground, his first thought of a potentially destructive Hyper Beam. He immediately links that thought to the complete lack of sound from Golbat, who was keeping an eye on camp and should by all accounts have been awake. His heart clenches at the horrible conclusion he comes to, but Ran dismisses it instantly. Right now, the focus should be on survival.
Or so he thinks, but the Hyper Beam he''d instinctively sought cover against doesn''t materialize. The bright white light doesn''t beam off in one direction, instead seeming to pulse for a few seconds before slowly dying down again. There is no terrifying roar of sound as one of the strongest attacks in the world rips through Ilex Forest.
Instead, everything becomes deathly quiet once more.
Ran hurriedly clicks on his torch before he finally darts out of his tent, barefoot and in his boxers. Ekans and Skorupi follow him swiftly, sticking close to their trainer, likely more out of protectiveness than fright. From the other tent, an irate Josie appears, usual outfit replaced by a ratty old t-shirt that hangs down to her mid-thighs. Like him, she too holds a torch, both of them aiming the large beams of light in the direction of the earlier sphere of light.
"What the f-" Is all Josie manages angrily, before she stumbles to a halt, as their flashlights land on a large red body, four yellow-purple legs keeping it aloft over an indeterminate figure wrapped in spider thread. They watch in awe as the prey inside the thread cocoon visibly withers, the predator''s purple-eyed red head sucking it dry of nutrients, before finally rising fully and turning to face them with a victorious look.
"Ariados!" Ran''s newly evolved pok¨¦mon announces herself to the world, vestigial legs on her back twitching in place as she looks curiously at the congregation of Ran, Josie, Ekans, Skorupi, Chief the Growlithe and Soot the Houndour. After a moment, her eyes narrow in annoyance, newly enlarged mandibles clicking agitatedly under the glare from the two torches pointing directly at her.
Ran instinctively lowers his torch to point at the ground, Josie following his lead after a few moments. With their night vision ruined for the moment, it''s hard to make out much of anything, but the indirect light from their torches is enough for Ran to see Ariados visibly relax, as she starts to amble towards him slowly.
When she comes to within a few feet of the group, Josie audibly gulps. The now significantly larger bug-type is clearly not particularly appealing to her. Ran isn''t bothered however, sinking down onto one knee as he stretches out an enthusiastic hand towards Ariados. Her last few steps are a bit faster, as Ariados closes the distance to gently headbut Ran''s outstretched hand, though she does fortunately remain mindful of her horn.
"Look how big you''ve gotten," He praises her gently, soft hands wandering over her head and upper abdomen in a gentle examination, as he notes that her horn has retained its unique slight purple sheen, "Congratulations girl, I''m so very proud of you."
Ariados trills delightedly, as Ekans and Skorupi finally overcome their shock enough to let out congratulatory sounds of their own. Behind them, Golbat finally announces his presence, alighting on the tree branch he''d been hanging from earlier in the night. Clearly, he''d actually been keeping a quiet eye out, just in case he''d need to interfere.
"So," Ran speaks next, as Josie and her own team quietly head back to their own tent, more than happy to let them enjoy Ariados'' big moment as a team, "Now that you''re the first one on the team to reach her final form, it''s about time we finally settled on a name, don''t you think?"
Skorupi is the only one of his pok¨¦mon who doesn''t suddenly grow completely still, not having been with the team long enough to learn about Ran''s views on naming his team. On the other hand, Golbat, Ekans and Ariados especially freeze in place for a few long seconds, before finally Ariados lets out a tentative trill. The other two long-term team members remain quiet, as Ran acknowledges her hesitance with a gentle smile.
"If you want to wait a bit longer, that''s fine, but I''ve always told all of you that we''d decide on names once you reached your final forms. A name that might have suited you as a Spinarak wouldn''t suit you now, just as any name I''d give Ekans, Golbat or Skorupi now might not suit them after evolving." Ran patiently encourages her, who finally closes her eyes approvingly as she nudges into his hand again.
"I''ve got a list of names prepared," He offers next, "we can go through it in a second, but I know one of them off the top of my head. How do you like Aria?"
She opens her eyes, lifting her head out from under Ran''s hand and looking at him inquisitively, mandibles clicking slowly, as if testing out the idea. Ran watches patiently for a few seconds, before repeating the name once more to let her hear it again, "Aria."
She hesitates for a few moments more, before trilling in confirmation, vestigial legs on her back vibrating from excitement as she starts to chitter excitedly. Ekans slides forwards to congratulate his friend once more, whilst Skorupi looks at the scene curiously, before turning in Golbat''s direction and scuttling over towards him whilst loudly chirping away about something or the other.
Ran takes the moment where all of his pok¨¦mon are occupied to subject Aria to a closer inspection. Knowing the Ariados-line''s general size and proportions by heart, it''s clear to him that Aria is just a bit on the smaller side, though it''s definitely a possibility that she''ll grow further in the future. Her coloration is largely typical, though aside from the purple sheen to her horn, her colors overall seem a bit darker and more vibrant than the average, slightly more pastel-tinted Ariados.
Before he can get too sidetracked by pondering about any possible relation between her reliance on poison- and ghost-type energy over bug-type energy and the impact that might have had on her coloration, Ran finally speaks up once more, "Alright alright, keep it down all of you, it''s the middle of the night. Aria, congratulations on your evolution, you really earned it. If you''re feeling alright, I''ll hold off on a proper physical until tomorrow."
"Unlike the pair of you," Ran continues, gesturing from Aria to Golbat, "I''m not nocturnal. Also, I''m in my boxers and it isn''t particularly warm out. Ekans, Skorupi, if you want to sleep in the tent, come on, I''m zipping it closed in a minute."
Ran''s words are enough to spur everyone into motion, with Ekans offering Aria a final hiss before he joins Skorupi in retreating to the tent. As for Aria, she excitedly rushes towards the treeline, now significantly larger body allowing her to race up the tree trunk and join Golbat on his branch within seconds. Ran''s first evolved team member warily welcomes his newly evolved friend with a soft cry, clearly not too enthused that he''ll have a harder time isolating himself from the group in the future. Still, he at least doesn''t relocate or rebuke Aria when she starts to chitter at him softly, clearly initiating some kind of soft conversation.
As the forest around them gradually returns to normal again, the surrounding quiet that fell following Aria''s evolution slowly fades away. Casting one more look at Aria''s impressive form, Ran finally turns on his heel and retires to his tent once more. Minutes later, when he drifts off once more, he dreams of treetops and webs.
Chapter 11, pt.2
Over the next few days, as they continue to travel through Ilex Forest, Aria rapidly adapts to her new body, whilst Ran''s other team members work their tails off in battling and training, clearly inspired by her recent evolution. As their trainer, Ran happily encourages all of them, making sure to give Skorupi in particular plenty of battles against weaker wild pok¨¦mon and lower level trainers that are also traveling through the woods, whilst reserving the tougher fights for his more experienced pok¨¦mon.
For Aria , he spends their second evening in Ilex Forest on a proper full physical exam, concluding that she''s improved markedly in every area, compared to her time as a Spinarak, though the limited increase to her speed is a minor blemish on an otherwise sparkling record. Not that Ariados are known for their great speed in the first place, but her relatively fragile form combined with her still limited mobility do have him re-evaluate some of the moves he''d planned to have her learn.
They also test out her known moves, as Ran dusts off a file he prepared over half a year ago for precisely this occasion. By the time they''re finished, he happily confirms that Aria''s evolution has left her with the added moves Swords Dance, Focus Energy, Fell Stinger and Bug Bite. The added moves and increased power suddenly make her a highly effective close range battling pok¨¦mon, with Shadow Sneak hopefully remaining sufficient to ensure that she can close with her opponents at will.
As for what he has the others working on, that differs from team member to team member.
Golbat finally gets to work on new moves again, as the heavy focus on his aerial speed and maneuverability starts to show diminishing returns. Bite is an obvious addition to his movepool, the only slight difficulty in actually harnessing the empowering dark-type energy rather than merely chomping down on whatever he''s attacking. Haze - the complete mishandling of which back in Falkner''s Gym he''d only realized upon further research - and Venoshock are significantly more challenging and progress on that front is far, far slower, but they''re moves that have their place in truly high-level battles, which is an empowering realization.
For Skorupi, things are more complicated, as Ran doesn''t have the information available on his species like he does on his other pok¨¦mon. Because of this, Ran forgoes having him work on any new moves for now, though the occasional interactions he catches between Skorupi and the pair of Golbat and Aria have him squinting suspiciously, and instead he focuses on his now comfortably smallest pok¨¦mon''s overall power.
It''s not particularly enjoyable or exciting training, as Skorupi''s body is forced to its limits day after day, but Aria''s recent evolution has clearly convinced the Sinnoh-native pok¨¦mon of the merits of Ran''s training regimen. There''s not even the faintest sign of sulking or reluctance on Skorupi''s behalf throughout their trek through Ilex Forest, as he merely doubles down on training and giving the best of himself day after day. That this genuine effort and his apparent exhaustion every night win him the approval of the other team members and thus greatly help along his integration into their group, is a wonderful added bonus.
Finally, it''s Ekans who stands out most of all, with Ran''s starter diving into training with an unparalleled, almost fanatical intensity. He improves upon every previous record Ran''s pok¨¦gear holds for him, whether it''s on speed, bite strength, Acid range or a host of other matters. Over the course of three days, he finally fully masters the Stockpile triple-header whilst also swiftly picking up Toxic Spikes in just a few sessions with Skorupi, a feat made even more impressive by Aria''s far slower progress in mastering the move.
So great is Ekans'' dedication to training over the days following Aria''s evolution, that Ran ends up worried about his starter''s mental state. Where he''d once been Ran''s undisputed ace, the two evolved pok¨¦mon in the team now both sit comfortably above him in a straight power ranking. Plus, though Ekans never seemed to mind Ran''s view on only naming his pok¨¦mon once they''d fully evolved, it''s as if every mention of Aria''s name is a tiny dagger in the Snake Pok¨¦mon''s back, his attempts to hide the flinches and hesitance her name inspires in him not successful in hiding his apparent hurt from Ran''s keen eyes.
It''s a matter that needs confronting and so, on their final night in Ilex Forest, he recalls Skorupi to his pok¨¦ball whilst Golbat and Aria relax out in the open, some distance away from Ran''s tent, leaving him the perfect opportunity to speak to Ekans privately. His starter seems to be aware that something''s up when Ran only recalls Skorupi for the night, seemingly hesitant to enter the tent and slithering around uncomfortably for a few long seconds once he''s entered in a feigned search for the most comfortable spot.
Finally, however, Ekans comes to a halt, head just so happening to be turned away from Ran''s own. He doesn''t mind however, having learned his starter''s weak spots a long time ago. When his fingernails first make contact with Ekans'' scales, there''s no real reaction, but after just a few minutes of scratching, his hand ever so slowly moving from scratching directly behind Ekans'' head to just a few inches beneath it, the poison-type starts to move.
Ever so patiently, over the course of multiple long minutes, Ran gently manages to lure Ekans'' head into his lap, before his free hand comes up to be held just in front of Ekans'' eyes. He can tell the exact moment when Ekans breathes in and smells his trainer''s scent, as his nostrils narrow just so for a moment.
Ekans'' eyes warily slide open, immediately locked on Ran''s own even as his pok¨¦mon doesn''t hide the defeat in his eyes. Ran merely offers a comforting smile however, knowing full well that Ekans is just as good at drawing him out of a sulk as what he just managed himself.
"So, is it a strength thing, a name thing, or both?" Ran asks gently, not beating around the bush with the one companion he''s trusted above all others for years.
Ekans'' answering hiss is low in both volume and tone, which Ran has long learned is Ekans'' form of an affirmative.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
"Both?" He inquires in surprise, before clarifying once Ekans offers a single short nod, "You beat a Scyther just a few days ago, buddy. Aria and Golbat might have overtaken you for now, but the only one you should compare yourself to, is you. You''re getting stronger every day. I don''t care when you evolve. You''ll do so when you''re good and ready. There''s plenty of stuff on the pok¨¦net that speculates about the advantages to a later evolution."
His starter lets out another hiss in response, this one sharper in tone, as Ekans shoots him a glare, clearly irked. Ran sighs, as he realizes just what exactly is eating at the pok¨¦mon in his lap.
"Ekans, you''ve known for a long time that you wouldn''t always remain the strongest member of the team." Ran replies gently. As he speaks, his friend visibly wilts, eyes closing in defeat and head lowering, as they finally get to the crux of the matter.
"I''ve needed you to be, in the past, and I''ll always continue to rely on you as the cornerstone of our team, but you know about some of the pok¨¦mon on my list. You never reacted like this when I mentioned adding a Venusaur or a Gengar or a Nidoking! So why is this a problem now?" He prods next, curious to discover just what''s changed in Ekans'' mindset between their planning sessions from before their journey and the present.
Ekans glares balefully at Ran. For long seconds, both trainer and pok¨¦mon remain quiet and motionless, as Ekans tries to will Ran into dropping the topic and Ran waits for his starter to crack. It''s a contest of wills he actually wins for once, as Ekans finally drops his head once more, before raising his rattler and pointing out of the tent, in the direction of the tree that was housing Aria and Golbat, when they last saw them.
It takes him a few seconds, but when he finally connects the dots, he frowns at his starter sternly, "You''re jealous because it''s them? Ekans, come on, they''re our teammates! They''re our friends!"
When he only receives a mulish head shake as a response, Ran continues to speak, tone becoming reprimanding as he does so, "You were comfortably stronger than Zubat and Spinarak and I understand that it''s unpleasant to see both of them make these huge leaps when you haven''t yet. But begrudging your friends their successes is absolutely unacceptable. It''s not the kind of reaction I''d have expected from you and it''s not a reaction I''ll accept."
Ekans shrinks in on himself under Ran''s increasingly angry words, before flinching in surprise when Ran''s hands move to grab his head and pull him closer, their eyes mere inches from each other and staring directly into each other, as Ran''s volume lowers dramatically.
"I know that this isn''t who you are. You''re their friend. You''re my friend. You''re my starter. You will always be special to me, that''s something that will never change. I don''t care what happens, who joins or where we go. I will always rely on you. Always. Without you, none of this would''ve been possible. I wouldn''t trade you, or replace you, for anything or anyone in the world. Not even if your strength regressed all the way back to what it was when I caught you. You may not be my ''Ace'' right now, but you will always be my starter." He vows passionately, trying to convey both with his words and with his eyes the strength of his conviction.
The seconds of quiet that follow are unbearable to him, icy poison seeming to crawl through his veins as he waits tensely for Ekans'' reaction. His starter is hard to read in his complete lack of an initial reaction, merely continuing to stare directly at Ran even as anxiety at the idea of a negative response slowly corrodes him from the inside out. Finally, Ekans'' tongue darts out, just barely tapping against the tip of Ran''s own nose, before his starter pulls his head free and eagerly starts to curl around Ran''s upper body, crooning warmly as he does so.
Ran''s relieved sigh isn''t as deep or strong as he intends it to be, Ekans'' form accidentally winding around him a bit tighter than the poison-type likely intends. Still, his feelings are no less sincere for their somewhat muted form of expression, as he is only kept from slumping in relief by Ekans'' body. Even as he''s subjected to a hug that''s doing wonders for his posture, the poisonous doubt that was briefly eating at him drains away once more.
"Alright, glad that''s sorted," Ran grins, left hand starting to pull at the nearest band of Ekans'' body that''s running over his torso whilst his right comes up to scratch the underside of Ekans'' head, "As for a name, if you really want one, because Aria''s got hers already, that''s alright with me. But you know how I feel about the importance of being fully-evolved, so I''d personally really prefer it if you waited. Just to make sure we don''t settle on a name that won''t fit you as an Arbok, or that won''t feel right, after your evolution."
Ekans remains quiet for a few seconds, before nodding sedately. Clearly, Ran''s earlier speech had already done most of the heavy lifting, leaving the matter of Ran''s naming convention as little more than an afterthought that Ekans is once more happy to accept.
The Snake Pok¨¦mon pushes his head into Ran''s neck impatiently, clearly on the hunt for more petting. Ran allows as much, though he does manage to barter for his freedom from Ekans'' overly tight hug in the process. Shortly afterwards, they''re both lying down in actual comfort, as Ran finally comes to the matter that initially convinced him that he needed to have a private word with Ekans.
Carefully, he breaks the quiet once more, "Starting tomorrow, ease up on the training just a bit, alright buddy? I trust you to know your limits and I''m super proud of how much progress you''ve been making, but I don''t want you to push past your limits out of some misguided desire to ''catch up'' as soon as possible."
Ekans doesn''t reply at first, the silence stretching on for five, ten, then fifteen seconds. Finally, it''s Ran who speaks once more.
"If you overtrain, I''ll have to give you extra rest during battles¡" He trails off leadingly, doing his best not to let the grin creeping up from the edges of his sound through in his voice. He''s at least moderately successful in his endeavor, as Ekans finally lets out an acknowledging hiss, no matter how begrudgingly the poison-type does so. Fortunately, any hard feelings are easily remedied by Ran''s right hand once more moving to scratch some of Ekans'' itchier spots.
He doesn''t know how long he continues to offer Ekans scratches, though he knows that he must have trailed off at some point, as Ran wakes up the next morning with no true recollection of having drifted off to sleep. He''s annoyed for a moment when he realizes that his right hand isn''t touching Ekans any longer, having fallen by his right side at some point in the night. But any worries that there might still be some unresolved issues he failed to address the previous night are instantly dashed when he realizes just what the warm weight on his legs, responsible for bravely staving off the early morning chill, is.
Looking down his own body, Ran smiles warmly at the coiled up and sleeping form of his starter. He''ll have to keep an eye on Ekans'' mental state for a while longer, not willing to assume that a single conversation has truly fixed the underlying issues that seem to have caused Ekans'' worsened mood. But for now at least, as a warm fondness that completely obliterates the morning chill in a way that simple body heat can''t hope to match settles in his gut, he dares to hope, for a few minutes at least, that last night''s conversation might have resolved the issue completely after all.
Chapter 12
Days later, when the canopy above their heads finally starts to thin out properly and the ambient temperature starts to rise a few degrees, Ran notes Josie''s relieved sigh with some amusement. Though the parts of Ilex Forest they''ve traveled through are hardly the most testing, he can understand that to a girl who''s never really roughed it before, that may not have mattered. Even with his significantly greater experience in the forest, there''s still something tangibly comforting about the sight of a bright open sky overhead. The distant sounds of other trainers engaged in a battle help as well, after the relative isolation they''d eventually stumbled into in Ilex Forest.
From somewhere up ahead, Aria comes hustling back towards Ran, clearly intent on being recalled once they depart the forest properly. He accedes to her desire to rest easily, having had her out more for her own benefit than in any truly formal capacity anyways. That duty falls to the pair of Chief the Growlithe and Skorupi today, the eager fire-type leading their small party with his nose close to the ground whilst Ran''s most recent addition is right by his side, natural inquisitiveness curtailed by a certain degree of caution.
It''s something Ran has noticed repeatedly over the past few days, ultimately coming to the conclusion that, whatever exact natural habitat Skorupi inhabitates, it likely isn''t a forest. He''s somewhat disappointed that it''s really the only bit of new information he''s managed to glean from his exotic pok¨¦mon over the past few days, but it''s better than nothing. Any doubts about his ability to successfully integrate Skorupi into the team that might have arisen from his lack of tangible information are squashed thoroughly after having seen him in action a few times.
Of course beating the low-level bug-types they''ve largely encountered throughout their trek through Ilex Forest isn''t all that impressive, but he''s also fended off Hoothoot, Beedrill and even a surprising Gloom. That last one had even seen Ran''s hand drop to an empty pok¨¦ball for a moment, before thinking better of it. Though a grass-poison type makes a lot of sense as an addition to his team, his already relatively large team, compared to his number of badges, had seen him think better of it for now.
Well, that and the relative weakness of the particular Gloom they''d encountered, as Skorupi had beaten it just a bit too easily, all things considered. Not that the poison-bug was weak by any means, but considering the numbers Ran had available to him as far as Skorupi''s abilities went, he''d been a bit unimpressed that the evolved pok¨¦mon didn''t manage to put up any more of a fight. Still, it spoke well of Skorupi that he''d only had to back down in favor of Aria, Golbat or Ekans a handful of times over their days-long journey through Ilex Forest.
Ran still considers Skorupi his weakest team member for the moment, by some margin, but his early growth and promising moveset have fully convinced him that Bugsy''s gift was a genuine one. A realization that doesn''t sit particularly well with him, as it forces him to re-evaluate the entirety of their interactions in a new light, something he''s less than eager to do. The appearance of sunlight overhead and the horizon opening up as they exit the periphery of Ilex Forest and enter Route 34 is the perfect distraction from such heavy thoughts however, as the sight of two younger trainers battling just a few hundred feet away draws his attention.
The battle between a Psyduck and a Mankey isn''t particularly impressive, not managing to keep either Ran or Josie''s attention for more than a minute, but it''s enough to lift their spirits decisively. As they look out over the large dirt path winding through a winding grassland, with the ocean to the west, the promise of the lights of Goldenrod City as a distant gleaming beacon to the north and Ilex Forest to both the south and the east, more and more the presence of other trainers becomes obvious.
Some are walking the same path Ran and Josie have just started down, others have wandered off the beaten path, training their teams or battling wild pok¨¦mon or other trainers in the wide-open landscape around them. They exchange looks, Josie''s hand slowly drifting towards Ginger''s pok¨¦ball as they do so. Considering how pent-up the Ponyta has started to behave over the past few days, Ran isn''t surprised by Josie''s next words.
"You cool with meeting up again in Goldenrod?" She asks, fingertips already on the pok¨¦ball by her side but not yet gripping it.
"Yeah," Ran agrees easily enough, "Go have fun, we''ll catch up later tonight, or tomorrow, if I don''t make it to the city before dark."
Josie immediately brings out Ginger and is already mounting the filly as she answers, "Awesome! We''ll text! Later!"
Ran offers an amused wave, watching silently as Ginger eagerly breaks into a gallop, the pair of trainer and starter rapidly racing ahead and off towards Goldenrod City. Looking at the path ahead, for a moment, he considers keeping Skorupi out of his ball for company, before ultimately deciding against it. Between the wide open and flat road, the bright sun overhead and the many other trainers in the area, his still somewhat skittish new team member is unlikely to enjoy the walk at the moment, so Ran recalls him before setting off on his own.
As he slowly walks along the dirt path, he considers Route 34. There''s supposed to be a significant population of Drowzee, the psychic-types attracted by the large population of Goldenrod City and the promise of many dreams to feed from that comes with that. It''s not a pok¨¦mon he has any interest in capturing, but Drowzee do make for a good training opportunity for his team. As a budding poison-type specialist, the risk psychic-types pose to his team is one he''s well aware of, after all.
It makes sense to take his time here, now that Goldenrod City''s not too far away and his team is still in solid shape. Assuming of course that he encounters any of these wild Drowzee, because after an hour of walking, Ran hasn''t spotted any wild pok¨¦mon yet, other than a lone Rattata which popped up out of the long grass, threw a single look at the four pok¨¦balls at Ran''s side before immediately tucking tail and fleeing.
He also crosses paths with a few trainers and two more trainer battles, though it soon becomes very clear to Ran that the circuit has firmly left the ''start of season''-atmosphere behind and is now properly underway. Because whilst there are still plenty of low-level trainers like himself around, he doesn''t spot a single so-called ''Tackle battle''.
A staple of battles between aspiring unsponsored trainers, ''Tackle battles'' are the derisive term for any low-level pok¨¦mon battle where the battlers only know one or two offensive moves. They''re often boring to watch as a consequence, as there''s only so much one can do with a move like, for example, Poison Sting. Ran can easily admit that his own battles could be considered Tackle battles until quite recently, but as he stops to watch a fight between two trainers, one with four pok¨¦balls and the other with a full six, he confidently concludes that he''s left that stage behind.
Though as he watches the battle, a one-on-one between an Ursaring and a Miltank, he can also admit that he still has a way to go. Then again, as he watches the fight progress, Ursaring gradually taking control and building towards a win, he proudly realizes that Aria and Golbat can at the very least give the large normal-types a very good fight, if not straight up try for the win.
The battle over, winner and loser exchange handshakes and an agreed upon wager, before the winner looks at Ran curiously, hand already drifting to another of the five remaining pok¨¦balls at his side. Curious, Ran pulls his jacket to the side, showing off the two badges pinned to the inside of his left breast pocket. It''s an efficient non-verbal communication, as the other, older trainer offers an amused grunt, hand drifting away from his pok¨¦balls and instead turning his attention to his Ursaring, Ran clearly dismissed from his mind.
The loser pays neither of them any mind, attention occupied by his beaten Miltank, which he''s patching up with a bottle of Moomoo Milk and a spray bottle of Super Potion. Ran merely offers the now dismissive winner a final respectful nod, before wandering on, continuing his trek towards Goldenrod City. The desire to get into some battles of his own itches under his skin, but it won''t be against these particular trainers.
Ultimately, it takes another half an hour before he finds a reason to bring out a pok¨¦mon of his own. It isn''t another trainer, but instead a distracted Drowzee wandering through the tall grass a short distance away that draws his attention. The psychic-type isn''t even aware of Ran''s presence at first, but that changes once he strides into the grass and directly towards his intended opponent.
As Drowzee turns to face him, Ran eagerly sends out Ekans, trusting in his own familiarity with his starter''s exact abilities to get the most accurate gauge of the local Drowzee population''s general strength.
"Glare, Wrap, Bite!" Ran orders in quick succession, trusting in Ekans'' extensive training to enable the execution of the three orders in quick succession. As pok¨¦mon mature, evolve and gain experience, their ability to process commands tends to improve as well and Ran has been training his pok¨¦mon from the start to be capable of executing a chained command, but three moves in under two seconds is still pushing it even with that knowledge.
Fortunately, Ekans doesn''t disappoint, rearing up and staring directly at Drowzee, who stares back. Before Ekans'' Glare can affect his opponent however, Drowzee snaps its glowing fingers together, which leaves Ekans shaking his head uncomfortably as Disable locks away his ability to use Glare effectively for now. Fortunately, whilst Drowzee wastes time smugly staring at Ekans, Ran''s pok¨¦mon shows just how well-trained he is by immediately bursting forwards to continue his attacking pattern.
Drowzee is caught off-guard, its last-ditch attempt to fire off a Confusion coming too late, as Ekans closes the distance, wraps around his opponent and, just as Drowzee''s body gains an ominous pink glow, Bites down with dark-type energy coursing through his fangs and into the immobilized Drowzee. To its credit, it doesn''t faint on the spot, instead wailing in pain and struggling futilely in Ekans'' grip.
Less to its credit, its inexperience shows, as Drowzee doesn''t manage to purge the invading energy from its body in time to muster up another psychic attack. It gets part way there, a small burst of dark energy visibly expelled from its head, but that''s all it manages before Ekans Bites down once more, not needing a new order from Ran to stick to what''s clearly working.
This time, it''s enough to decide the battle, as Drowzee slumps in Ekans'' grip, only kept upright by the tight bind Ekans is keeping it in. Years ago, Ekans'' instincts might have presented some difficulty at this point, as letting go of a defeated opponent goes directly against the purple carnivore''s nature, but a regular diet of specialized pok¨¦chow and intensive training prove their worth today. Ran doesn''t even need to order Ekans to release Drowzee, his starter doing so of his own volition the second he''s confident that Drowzee isn''t simply playing dead.
"Good job buddy!" Ran praises his starter proudly, "You alright to stay out for a while and take a few more? I''m sure we''ll run into some more opponents if we stick to the grass rather than going back out onto the road."
Ekans offers an affirming hiss, moving to glide along at Ran''s side, as Ran for his part fishes out his compass and turns to face north-northwest, ensuring that they''ll keep moving towards Goldenrod City whilst also wandering a bit further from the main road. Further out in the wilds, he might not risk wandering off from the patrolled parts of the Route so far, but with the ocean as a nearby natural boundary to the west, there''s practically no risk of any dangerous wild pok¨¦mon choosing to live between the coast and the main road of Route 34.
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
They wander easily into the wilds, grasses and shrubs dominating the area, only rarely making place for large puddles or even minor lakes, small depressions in the ground drawing the local rain water towards them whilst a slight rise in the landscape towards the ocean and a lack of heavy rains combine to prevent the formation of any proper streams. There''s still enough water to have drawn some water-types out from the ocean and inland however, as aside from a steady stream of Rattata and Drowzee, they also encounter a fair few Krabby and even a handful of Staryu.
Ran doesn''t make Ekans battle all of the wild pok¨¦mon they run into over the next few hours, instead switching Ekans for Skorupi after an hour. Then once Skorupi''s had a few battles, after another hour, it''s Aria''s turn. By late afternoon he decides to take a break, a convenient rock serving as a natural resting spot.
Aria is happy for the break as well, as Ran withdraws her for Golbat. Before he can properly settle down however, an unfamiliar voice cuts through the quiet.
"You can''t sit on that rock. It''s Arthur''s."
Surprised, Ran looks in the direction of the voice, even as a deep croak calls out, as if to confirm the statement. The speaker is a trainer in his mid-twenties, with a remarkable dark pink pompadour. By his side, a glaring Politoed stands with its arms crossed.
"Who''s Arthur?" Ran asks slowly, looking around for anyone who might take offense at his choice of seat. With his feet sore from walking and loudly announcing their need for the respite by throbbing insistently at the mere thought of getting up, he''s hesitant to simply listen to the other trainer''s words.
"Arthur is my Politoed," The other trainer answers easily enough, even as the pok¨¦mon in question offers a low, elongated croak, "He''s very fond of that spot and I''m not inclined to upset him. So go on, shoo."
Before Ran can answer, Golbat flares his wings threateningly, stepping out partially in front of Ran, body tense as he postures aggressively in a clear threat display. If he was hoping to make the other trainer back off however, he can only be disappointed.
"I''m not impressed and frankly I''m in no mood. Move, or be moved kid." The trainer demands, one hand falling to one of the six pok¨¦balls at his side whilst the other reaches out slightly towards Arthur the Politoed, whose glare only intensifies further.
At the sight of a full belt and the other trainer''s confidence, Ran is inclined to accept, but Golbat clearly isn''t. He screeches angrily, taking a few more threatening steps forward as he does so.
"Alright, I don''t feel like wasting any time on this. One-on-one. Loser, which will be you, pisses off. No wager, just leaving." The other trainer complains, pacing away even as his fingers glide over the balls at his belt. Mulishly, Arthur the Politoed hops after him, unleashing a waterfall of croaks towards his trainer in a clear diatribe of some kind.
"Are you sure about this, Golbat? He''s probably been training a lot longer than us." Ran asks his pok¨¦mon cautiously. All he gets for a response is a challenging shriek, as Golbat hops forwards to enter the ''arena'', which is more than enough for Ran to get fully on board.
"Alright, get ready to get in the air." He instructs his pok¨¦mon, receiving an approving screech in return, as both trainer and pok¨¦mon turn their attention towards their opponent.
"Eeny, meeny, miny, moe." The other trainer lazily announces, hand wandering between the three pok¨¦balls on his right, before finally settling on one of them. Arthur the Politoed finally falling silent in the background, though he''s clearly unhappy to be doing so.
"Come on out, Flashlight." He announces, as an Ampharos appears on the field. Ran can''t stop an involuntary intimidated gulp, as the strong electric-type appears and immediately focuses its attention on Golbat, who for his part doesn''t seem intimidated just yet.
"Charge up and pick your moment." The other trainer instructs lazily, signaling the start of the fight with a brisk wave.
"Screech!" Ran counters, hoping to not only weaken the opposing Ampharos, but maybe also surprise it into failing its own move.
His hopes are in vain, as all Golbat achieves with his Screech, aside from its normal effect, is to further annoy the opposing trainer.
"Okay no if you''re going to use annoying shit like that, we''re ending this quickly." He complains, even as Ran orders Golbat to use Astonish before closing in for a Poison Fang.
"Zap- Thundershock." The other trainer commands, seemingly aborting whatever he was about to say first as Golbat suddenly bursts forwards, a ghostly apparition covering his form and drawing Ampharos'' attention towards its impossibly dark, gaping maw. Golbat''s fangs are already glowing with purple poison-energy, whilst Ran leans forwards in anticipation, hoping that Astonish might make Ampharos flinch for the crucial second it will take Golbat to close in and land his own attack.
But although the ghost-type energy connects with Ampharos and thus must logically inflict at least some amount of damage, the electric-type doesn''t acknowledge the attack. Instead, it remains laser focused on Golbat as the red orb on its forehead crackles with electric sparks for a moment, before a large burst of yellow electricity bursts outwards directly towards Golbat.
The poison-flying-type doesn''t even have enough time to realize what''s happening, his poisonous maw about to crunch down on his target one moment and terrible debilitating pain running through every inch of his body the next. Golbat doesn''t even manage to cry out in pain, his whole body locking up as the electric attack wreaks havoc on his system. Ran lets out a horrified shout of his own, crying for Golbat to get out of there, but the attack''s power is too great, as Golbat''s diving attack turns into an uncontrolled nosedive, crashing into the ground a few feet in front of Ampharos.
Golbat''s shivering pain-wracked body slides on for a few feet, with Ampharos confidently taking just a single step back to prevent its opponent from so much as getting any dirt on its feet. Any hope Ran might have that Golbat is still able to fight is destroyed the next moment, when the electric-type nudges the now fully stationary poison-type from his belly onto his back.
Golbat''s large eyes are both closed, his tongue lolling out whilst a dark purple pattern is visible on his dark blue lower body. The branching pattern of scarred tissue forms a branching mess on Golbat''s body that might almost be considered beautiful, if Golbat hadn''t received it in such a painful way. Ran hurriedly recalls his pok¨¦mon for now, even as he frantically runs through the small inventory of medical supplies he''s got on him at the moment.
"Right, I say again, buzz off." The other trainer speaks curtly, already striding past Ran and towards the rock that''s the cause of their battle in the first place. Behind him, Arthur the Politoed comes dancing after him merrily, whilst the Ampharos, which hasn''t been recalled yet, looks at Golbat''s unconscious form with at least a modicum of hesitance.
Ran doesn''t pay either of the other two pok¨¦mon any mind however. He''s too focused on shooting a venomous glare at the older guy''s back. Unfortunately, with Golbat utterly incapacitated from a single attack, he knows full well that anything other than obediently marching off will just end with him nursing more defeated pok¨¦mon back to health. Burning the other trainer''s appearance into his mind, he finally turns before marching off, earlier pained feet forgotten in favor of the anger eating away at him from the inside.
It''s not the loss itself that drives his ferocious steps as he stomps off briskly, but rather the other trainer''s behavior and his needlessly violent attack. Ignoring his general jerkiness for the moment, the skill gap between them was apparent enough from the start. To not have the common decency to at least choose a pok¨¦mon without a type advantage, is enough for Ran to vow silent retribution.
Retribution he''ll come for some day in the future, at least, when his team actually stands a shot against what might well be an eight badge trainer with a fully evolved team. For now, the thought of the other trainer''s eventual comeuppance is all the fuel Ran needs to eat up a few more miles in short order, before his feet finally won''t be ignored any longer. There''s no convenient rock or log to be found this time, but Ekans is happy enough to flatten out a respectable area of grass so Ran can at least sit down without running the risk of having a wild pok¨¦mon literally crawl on top of him before he notices it.
Just as he plonks his butt down on the grass, with Ekans immediately coiling protectively around his trainer, his pok¨¦gear vibrates with an incoming message. Glancing down, he isn''t particularly surprised to see Josie''s name staring back up at him. Opening their conversation, which has been dormant for the duration of their Ilex Forest trek, he catches up on what his friend''s been up to.
Josie: You don''t know what you''re missing by going poison-types. Riding''s a good time.
Ran: I''m fine with my feet on the ground.
Josie: Lame
Josie: Almost made it to the city
Josie: Found something cool
Josie: Day Care / Eevee breeder
Josie: Got a pup with some real fire to her
Ran: I thought you weren''t interested in a Flareon?
Josie: Yeah but now that you''ve got four
Josie: Don''t wanna lag behind you know
Ran: Do whatever you like, but that seems like a bad reason to change your plans?
Josie: Right
Josie: Because Skorupi was in your plans right?
Ran: I didn''t even know Skorupi existed. It''s hardly the same thing. You already had the choice to add a Flareon and deliberately chose not to.
Josie: ¡
Ran knows that Josie wants him to react to the ellipses she sends him, but he doesn''t bother. Instead, he takes the time to dig around in his backpack for a light snack for both himself and for Ekans, who gladly accepts his treat. By the time Ran bothers to look at his pok¨¦gear again, it''s vibrated more than once with more incoming messages.
Josie: ¡
Josie: ¡
Josie: Don''t ignore me
Josie: You suck
Josie: Guess you have a point though
Josie: Fine, won''t buy the fuzzball
Josie: She''s cute though
Attached is a picture of the Eevee in question. Exceptionally fluffy and with a slight reddish tint to her brown eyes, Ran can easily admit that it is indeed a remarkably cute example of its kind. Not to mention that there''s something about those eyes that just seems to suit a future evolution into a Flareon.
Ran: I was getting a snack, actually.
Ran: That''s probably the right decision, though, yes. Congratulations.
Josie: Whatever
Josie: You making it to GC by night?
Ran: No, I''ll camp out one more night. Golbat got hurt pretty bad in a battle against an arrogant toerag, but I''ve got the supplies to take care of him. We''ve wandered off the path and into the wilds a bit, I don''t feel like rushing in the dark and risking an injury or something.
Josie: Wuss
Josie: See you tomorrow then
Ran: See you tomorrow.
By the time Ran closes his conversation with Josie, early evening is already setting in. Looking from Ekans to the surrounding landscape, he hums in thought, before getting up once more.
"Come on buddy, just another hour or so, just to see if we can''t at least find a spot with some fresh water. Maybe some better visibility too, while we''re at it." He encourages his starter, the purple Snake Pok¨¦mon hissing obligingly before following at his trainer''s side once more.
With Golbat out of action, they''ll have to be a bit more careful until they make it to Goldenrod City, but he''s confident enough in his team''s ability to navigate whatever they might encounter. Even with Golbat temporarily out of commission, they can still get some good training in for the evening. Because if the encounter with Arthur''s trainer has made one thing perfectly clear, it''s that they''ve still got a very long way to go before the Conference at the end of the season.
So, even if one of his four pok¨¦mon is in no shape to train for the day, that''s still no reason for the others to get a night off. If anything, this only further reinforces the need for him and his team to outwork and outperform everyone who has a head start on them.
Teeth gritted as his mind immediately wanders to Bugsy and his three-year head start, Ran speeds up further, power walking ahead in search of a good spot to make camp. Ekans lets out a plaintive hiss as he struggles to keep up for a moment before adjusting, but Ran is undeterred. It''ll be a good warm-up for them both.
Chapter 13
It''s around noon the next day when Ran finally wanders into Goldenrod City. His team is fully recalled once more, a nighttime battle against a belligerent and rather powerful Drowzee and a late morning two-on-two against another two-badge trainer having put some serious strain on them. Of course they chased off the Drowzee and won the trainer battle with a score of two to zero, but with Golbat''s injuries keeping him benched and Aria having faced the wild Drowzee, it was the pair of Skorupi and Ekans who had to pull out all the stops in the trainer battle.
Skorupi''s Toxic Spikes immediately proved their value, playing a significant role in his close triumph over the opponent''s Marill. Their ability to really limit the Marill''s freedom of movement alone was worth a lot, as shown by their opponent getting halfway through ordering a Rollout before hurriedly changing his mind. With it also lacking any real ways to defend against Skorupi''s attacks, it was forced to choose between weathering their attacks and dodging right into the Toxic Spikes.
Ultimately, Skorupi had the other pok¨¦mon''s number in general, but even the brief glimpse of Toxic Spikes'' raw potential had left Ran''s mind racing. They''d both been eager to keep going when their opponent''s next choice was a Skiploom, but Ran ultimately overrode his own instincts and the poison-bug-type''s wishes, recalling him in favor of Ekans. Skorupi''s enthusiasm made him a joy to train, but under the circumstances Ran wasn''t willing to risk overtaxing him.
His opponent had visibly perked up when Ran recalled one poison-type, only to slump in disappointment when Ekans had come out instead. That fight had been significantly less close, even though Skorupi''s lingering Toxic Spikes didn''t trouble Skiploom. Instead, Ekans was happy to Stockpile to buff his defenses before firing off Acid after Acid until their opponents finally made the mistake of letting Skiploom get too close. At that point, a lightning-quick Poison Fang, courtesy of some recent tutoring from Golbat - offered before his strongest team member had been incapacitated by that asshole with the Politoed and its stupid rock -, was enough to dispose of what little fight Skiploom had left.
After the previous afternoon''s battle, the clean sweep is a nice ego boost, but with three of his four pok¨¦mon significantly below peak condition, Ran''s mood remains sour. Before becoming a trainer he would''ve been able to push the state of his team from his mind, comfortable in the knowledge that they''re all safe in the stasis imposed by their pok¨¦balls. Now, however, there''s a feeling of vulnerability to walking around with a weakened team. It''s a scary realization to come to, that he''s come to rely on his team as a form of actual protection and one that sees him speed up once more as he almost jogs the final few hundred feet to the Pok¨¦center.
As he approaches the building, the sheer size of Goldenrod City and everything about it finally sinks in. In Violet City, the Pok¨¦center was a fair bit bigger than it was in Azalea Town, offering easily twice as many beds and having a larger capacity for injured pok¨¦mon as well. But even that, at the time impressive, sight pales in comparison to the imposing building he enters now.
If Azalea Town''s Pok¨¦center is the size of a large house and Violet City easily beats it out by being comparable to a large duplex, then Goldenrod City''s Pok¨¦center can only be compared to a large three-floor office building. At a guess, it easily doubles the floor space Violet City''s Pok¨¦center has available to it, whilst adding a full extra floor on top of that. The distinct red roof is still the same color at least, but that''s really where the comparisons stop.
Not that the gargantuan Pok¨¦center stands out like a sore thumb in Goldenrod City, it''s large paved roads surrounded on all sides by a variety of buildings, some even larger and more imposing than Ran''s current destination. Whenever there''s a smaller building that actually allows him a look at the rest of Goldenrod''s skyline, his eye is caught by one of the city''s skyscrapers, whether it''s the Radio Tower, the famed Goldenrod Trainer Department Store or one of the tall office buildings he doesn''t know the name of.
Violet City was large in a conventional sense, a large number of houses sprawling out over a greater area. But it had still been largely comparable to Azalea Town if sheer volume was taken out of the equation. Because at least they''d shared overall architectural features and a general sense of rustic tranquility.
That comparison, which Ran had figured might hold true for all of Johto, doesn''t fly at all when Goldenrod City is added to the equation. Because Goldenrod sticks out like a sore thumb compared to the other places he''s visited so far. Not only in scale, though that in its own right is a major departure from the norm established by Violet City, but in overall appearance.
There''s something overwhelming about it all. It''s not merely the height of the buildings, but also the unique background noises, reinforced by bouncing off of those steel titans that line the streets. With lunchtime just about arrived, there''s also the sheer rush of people moving every which way, contributing further to the bustle of the city. Where the quiet and monotony of Azalea Town could get boring, here there''s no such risk. If anything, it''s overstimulation, rather than boredom, that seems more likely here.
He''s not sure whether he likes these things about Goldenrod City or not, but he''s got plenty of time to figure that out. At the moment, as he enters the pok¨¦center and makes a beeline for the service desk, he''s got other priorities. A kind forty-something nurse greets him with a soft smile, accepting the pok¨¦balls of all four of Ran''s team members before sending them down a pressurized tube one after the other.
At Ran''s evident surprise, she merely smiles once more as she explains the situation to him, "First time in the big city? We get a lot more business than most other pok¨¦centers. We''ve got at least three nurses on duty at any time, as well as a full staff of capable support pok¨¦mon. Don''t worry, your team is in good hands. It just wouldn''t be efficient for me to personally walk them over to their treatment location. Don''t worry, you''ll get an automated message on your pok¨¦gear once their treatment is finished."
Ran just manages to thank the nurse, when he''s cut off by an enthusiastic shout, "Oh hey you made it!"
"Hi Josie," He answers easily enough, turning to greet his friend with an amused grin, "What kept you?"
"Pssht, don''t flatter yourself, running into you without texting is a coincidence. I took the morning off. This place has actual baths for some of the better rooms!" Josie waves him off, before her enthusiasm takes over once more, volume steadily rising even as she approaches.
"That''s nice, I still got a normal one with use of the common facilities though." Ran replies casually, easily deflating Josie''s rising cheer with his dry answer.
"Whatever, come on already, I was just about to go and book my challenge at the Gym." She shrugs off Ran''s attempt to calm her down, taking a few bounding steps before holding in place, shaking in place until he relents and starts following her.
With a cheer, she leads them out of the pok¨¦center and towards the Gym. According to Josie, it''s ''only'' a fifteen-minute walk, which is apparently nothing by Goldenrod''s standards even if it''s easily triple the distance between the Gym and the Pok¨¦center back in Azalea Town. As they walk, Josie waxes poetic on Goldenrod''s charms, her mind on the city clearly already a lot more made up than Ran''s own.
Ran is content to let her, though he does weigh in when Josie starts on her planned itinerary for their stay in Goldenrod. They''re both interested in visiting the Trainer Department Store and the Goldenrod Tunnel and easily agree to visit both locations together, but Ran has no interest in the Game Corner or the Flower Shop Josie saw and insists she must visit properly. Instead, he announces his intent to take a short two- or three-day trip to Route 35, which Josie in turn wholeheartedly disagrees with, unwilling to give up the opportunity to take a daily bath for the duration of their stay in Goldenrod.
Neither of them mind splitting up and there''s no hard feelings involved either way, as far as Ran is concerned, so it''s a conversation that''s easily handled and fully resolved by the time they make it to the local Gym. Once they arrive however, they''re met with a sight that Ran almost fails to process.
Outside of the Gym, which is a large, flat rectangular building with garish pink accents in its woodwork, there''s an actual ticket booth. Said ticket booth currently has a line of eight people queuing up, only the large sign that clearly says ''spectators'' preventing them from having to join the queue themselves. Instead, they get to walk right past and enter the building properly.
The front lobby is a whole new assault on the senses, the chosen aesthetic most closely resembling what Ran expects to happen if an eleven-year-old girl is given an unlimited budget and a professional renovation crew who can''t use the word ''no''. Though testing isn''t an option, he seriously wouldn''t be surprised if the wallpaper tastes like cotton candy.
Unlike the ticket counter outside, the reception desk doesn''t have a queue of people waiting in front of it. Instead the front lobby is surprisingly quiet, the older gentleman on duty perking up visibly when they turn towards him and start to approach.
"Hello there! Here to register for a Gym Challenge? Please hand me your Trainer IDs if you''d be so kind." He greets them both heartily, extended hand trembling just slightly as he accepts their documentation and scans them one after the other on a device attached to his computer.
"Josephine Shelby and Ran Carr? First circuit, Zephyr and Hive Badges?" He reads off warmly, pausing for affirmation before continuing once they both nod.
"Excellent! You can challenge Gym Leader Whitney three days from today. At what time would you like to challenge?" The man asks dutifully, attention shifting from them to the computer screen he squints at and back again.
"Just three days?" Josie voices the surprised thought running through both their minds before Ran can, "Are you sure that''s right? We''ve had at least a week''s wait at the other Gyms we challenged."
Rather than take offense at their shared doubt, the older gentleman merely laughs, breaking down into a coughing fit before he manages to regather himself, "Yes, well, you challenged Falkner and Azalea''s new Gym Leader Bugsy, did you not? We''re still pretty early in the season and those boys don''t have Whitney''s well-deserved reputation now do they?"
They both nod obligingly, indulging the man by giving him the reaction he''s clearly looking for, in order to keep his explanation going.
"Well that''s all there is to it, really! Flynn''s boy''s reputation for being a bit inconsistent isn''t great and Bugsy of course did quite well in the Conference this year, but neither one of them is a true Conference winner like our Whitney, nor do they have her indomitable reputation. So those trainers that start out in this part of the region tend to do so at Violet City and those that start elsewhere in Johto tend to circle around to Violet and Azalea before coming to Goldenrod, when they get to this part of their journey. Thus, our waiting times will be quite a bit shorter than I believe you''ve gotten used to for a good while yet." The man finishes his story, shaky hand reaching for a cup of what can, by this point, be lukewarm coffee at best, that was previously hidden from Ran''s sight.
"That makes sense, what''ve you got available in the early afternoon?" Josie accepts easily, showcasing her usual easygoing attitude by simply accepting the explanation at face value and moving on. Ran envies her the ability, as his own thoughts are still caught on the ''indomitable reputation'' part.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
"Does two work for you?" The smiling receptionist asks, hands returning to the keyboard confidently despite the continued light shaking. Josie nods confidently, which is enough for him to smile once more and book her challenge on the spot, then, his attention turns to Ran.
"Well it''s Josie''s turn to go first, so do you have anything around two thirty?" Ran inquires politely, soon locking in his own challenge for exactly that hour. Assuming everything goes roughly according to plan, that should give Josie enough time to head to the pok¨¦center and make it back to watch his match whilst likewise giving him enough time to comfortably watch her match before turning his focus to his own.
With that handled, they leave the Gym behind once more, with an hour or two left in the day before dinnertime. With their respective challenges against Whitney planned in just three days, rather than the expected week or more, Ran''s intended trip to Route 35 will have to wait until after challenging Goldenrod Gym. The relatively late hour also immediately dismisses the Goldenrod Trainer Department Store as an option, so when he speaks up, it''s to advocate the only location that makes sense at the moment.
"Want to go and visit the Tunnel? We can explore it, you could get a few matches in and then we''ll have a proper lay of the land to make a day of it tomorrow or the day after?" He offers with a grin, although Josie waves him off immediately.
"Pass. If we''re only in town for a few days, I''m hitting the Game Corner early. Meet up tomorrow morning to go to the Department Store? Then we can hit the Tunnel after lunch for more shopping, battling, dinner and more battling!" She offers cheerfully, which Ran accepts easily enough after a moment''s consideration.
"Sure thing," he agrees, pausing for a moment before immediately continuing to cut off the question Josie is about to ask, her mouth already opening, "And yes I''m sure that I don''t want to join you at the Game Corner. My budget is tight enough as it is."
"But that''s why you should come to the Game Corner," Josie insists energetically, offering him an admittedly charming smile that''s clearly meant to cajole him, "To increase your budget!"
"Nope. I''ll just head back to the Pok¨¦center early and take an evening off, read up on some stuff and enjoy the opportunity to be off my feet for a few extra hours." He rejoins easily, just as unbothered by Josie''s cajoling as he is by her following complaints about just how terrible he is.
"You''re the most boring man alive! Read? Read?! I swear you''re the kind of guy who gets a book for his birthday and is genuinely excited about it!" She cries out dramatically, presenting Ran with the perfect opportunity to subtly needle her a final time.
"Oh you''re getting me a book? That''s great. Actually there''s this book on the history of Fuchsia City I''m interested in, but it''s a bit hard to find in Johto, maybe your family in Kanto could mail over a copy?" He replies placidly, an encouraging smile plastered lazily across his face.
"Away, you monster! Away!" Josie cries dramatically, theatrically shying away from him as she takes a few steps backwards in the Game Corner''s general direction. Ran merely offers a simple wave in return, before turning and heading towards the Pok¨¦center himself. Running into Josie earlier than expected threw off his plans for the rest of the day slightly, but with both his room and his challenge at the Gym booked, he can finally enjoy a shower of his own before hopefully claiming one of the Pok¨¦center''s computers for a few hours.
After all, even with his team in the Pok¨¦center''s expert care, there''s no reason for him not to spend his time productively. Which is why, after a brisk walk, a long hot shower and a quick self-made early dinner (thanks to the Pok¨¦center''s communal facilities), he plants himself behind a computer and starts typing. His very first search isn''t actually a productive one necessarily, but is instead meant to finally sate an uncomfortable uncertainty that''s been quietly gnawing away at him for a few weeks now.
There''s a slight hesitance to his motions as he types Spencer''s name into the search bar, but when he finally confirms his query, any worry he had immediately evaporates. Low-level trainers like Josie, Spencer and himself have rather barebones profile pages in the Indigo database, with none of them having any televised appearances, tournament or Conference participations or anything of the like under their belts just yet. Still, what they do all have, is a basic summary of the badges they''ve earned.
On Spencer''s page, next to the gleaming silver Zephyr Badge from Violet City, its color showing off its status as an acquired badge, sits a shimmering onyx-bordeaux dragon head, the Rising Badge, from the dragon-type Gym in Blackthorn City. Ran stares in a mixture of relief and awe at the confirmation that Spencer made it through the Dark Caves in one piece and successfully challenged what is considered by many to be one of the toughest Gyms in Johto.
When he scrolls down to the ''known Pok¨¦mon'' part of the page, he gets another shocking surprise, as Spencer''s previous team of Pineco, Scyther and Onix has seen a significant shake up. Not only has Pineco evolved into a Forretress, but he''s also added a Skarmory to his already impressive line-up. The addition of such an impressive fourth member to Spencer''s team stings a bit, but nowhere near as much as the confirmation that his starter has evolved, whilst Ran''s, which is supposed to evolve sooner than the Pineco-line, hasn''t yet.
Plus, with Forretress'' type advantage and the sheer bulk of his remaining team members, Spencer will likely blow right through Mahogany Town''s famously tough Gym as well. Ran''s own third badge is also within reach, but Spencer''s apparent success still lights a fire in him, as his typing becomes a fair bit more animated from that point on.
His next stop is Karolina Brandt, the snobbish girl that debuted against Bugsy at an eight-badge level. Only the Hive Badge is colored in, confirming that she''s only got the one badge thus far, but her profile holds other surprises. Her confirmed team for one doesn''t merely show the Jynx, Piloswine and Weavile that Ran was already aware off through Josie''s retelling of Karolina''s battle with Bugsy, but also confirms a Cloyster and a Lapras, with both of those apparently having seen action in a tournament in Olivine City she participated in mere days ago.
With the sheer power her confirmed fully-evolved team holds, it''s no surprise to Ran that she won the whole thing, though it does leave him with another question. How does a girl his age make her debut with five fully-evolved and quite rare pok¨¦mon? Her team''s composition would make sense for a year two or three trainer, sponsored by Mahogany Town''s Gym, but her profile confirms that she''s on her first circuit and that she''s Ran''s age, so that theory doesn''t hold up.
It''s a mystery he lacks the means to solve, though he does decide for himself to keep an eye on Karolina''s progress every now and then. Finally, as far as other trainers go, he looks up Grady Kendrick, the cheerful thirteen-year old having made a lasting impression on him over the span of the night they camped in Union Cave.
Unlike the mixed feelings Spencer''s profile page evoked, Ran is happy to see Grady has in fact triumphed at Violet City, the Zephyr Badge shining right next to the Hive Badge. Again however, there''s a surprise to be found, as unlike Spencer, Karolina and even Ran himself, Grady actually has a small personal message written on his profile, which Ran reads with a fair amount of disbelief.
Next destination: Goldenrod City! Whitney, I''m coming for my badge! #FirstofFive #2of8
It''s an awkwardly childish update, as far as Ran is concerned, but there''s a certain charm to it in spite of, or maybe precisely because of, its genuine naivete. Not that anyone other than Ran himself is likely to ever read it, as trainer profile pages really aren''t used as a way to communicate by anyone, anywhere. Most people either leave the short message blank entirely, like Ran himself, or if they don''t, they just put in a short description or quote they then don''t touch again for years at a time.
Bugsy for example, being the only trainer Ran looked up every now and then in the past few years, had the same line for years, only recently changing it when he became Azalea Town''s new Gym Leader.
It used to be Azalea Town Gym Sponsored Trainer - Bug-specialist. Now, when Ran briefly visits his page, the text has been updated to the slightly more informative Azalea Town Gym Leader - Bug-specialist / Exciting employment opportunities, visit our site or inquire locally.
Ran almost sinks into the rabbit hole by visiting the website for Bugsy''s Gym, but he just manages to stop himself. Though interesting, he does actually still have stuff he wants to handle, rather than getting sidetracked by looking for more information on his hometown gym''s progress under its new leadership. So, exiting the Indigo Trainer Database interface, he instead opens a proper search engine.
His efforts to find out more about Skorupi are just as fruitless now as they were when he first discovered just what species his newest team member belonged to, but he only wastes fifteen frustrating minutes on that particular search, before shifting focus. First, he uses his pok¨¦gear to send a few quick updates to his dad. Then he spends a frustrating half hour yet again researching the Ekans-line and any potential causes that might be keeping his Ekans, who is showing all the physical markers, from evolving.
When that research proves fruitless, he spends over an hour looking into ways to help teach Ekans, Aria and Golbat their next moves. Acid Spray and Sludge Bomb for his starter, Sucker Punch and Agility for Aria and finally Haze and Venoshock for Golbat. This at least proves more fruitful, his pok¨¦gear filling up with notes over the course of the evening. Just as he''s considering a shift towards a more entertaining way to spend his last hour or two before going to bed, however, a surprising voice interrupts Ran''s work.
"Oh cool, you made it here too!" Grady Kendrick calls out, eagerly approaching Ran at his computer and happily plonking himself down in the unoccupied seat to Ran''s left. As he does so, Ran gets a good look at the younger trainer. His tan has darkened slightly further, a logical consequence of the traveling lifestyle, whilst the darkest parts of his black-and-yellow outfit have faded slightly, becoming more of a washed out dark gray rather than the previous dark black. His dark green eyes shine brightly, shaggy black hair kept out of his eyes by the baseball cap he wears backwards. He faces Ran with a beaming smile as he starts rambling merrily.
"This is great! How''d you do against Bugsy? I beat Falkner like it was nothing, so I''m back in town to challenge Whitney next, I guess you also got your second badge or you wouldn''t be here yet so that was a dumb question never mind. Hey, where''s Josie? Is she taking a shower or something? I only just made it into the city and I''ll be sleeping at my parents'' house so no shower for me just yet. Sorry if I stink, I guess, I just came by here to check my team in for the night before heading home for the night but then when I''d done that I figured I''d do a quick tour of the building to see if I''d run into any familiar faces and then I found you!" Grady rattles off at a mile-a-minute, not really giving Ran a proper chance to respond to any of his questions until he has to pause to take a breath, at which point Ran speaks up.
"As far as I know, Josie is at the Game Corner. It''s good to see you Grady, though it might be better if we catch up properly tomorrow or something, if your parents are expecting you?" He offers easily, only to be surprised when the excitable thirteen-year old seemingly deflates.
"Yeah, alright¡ Sure thing¡" He accepts sullenly, shoving his chair backwards and standing up in one brisk move, no longer making eye contact with Ran.
Unsure how to handle the other boy''s reaction, Ran speaks up before the Goldenrod native takes his first step, "Josie and I are visiting the Trainer Department Store tomorrow morning, we could meet up in front of the building at around nine?"
Grady visibly pauses, green eyes regaining their previous luster after a few seconds as he gasps in delight, "You really mean it? Yeah, totally! I''ll be there! I''ve been there loads of times, I can totally show you around!"
"Sounds great," Ran agrees easily, "Let''s call it nine for now, if something changes, we''ve got each other''s contact information, we''ll text, alright?"
"Yeah, okay, totally, cool! I''ll go home and take that shower now, then. See you tomorrow!" Grady agrees enthusiastically, almost stumbling over his own words in his enthusiasm as he takes off at speed once more, almost running over an unwitting older trainer who is just entering the computer room himself.
Ran sighs in weary amusement, the brief two-minute conversation with the absurdly energetic Grady enough to drain what energy he had left. After a few moments of thought, he logs off from the computer and heads towards his room. Initially, he was planning to watch one of Whitney''s most recent televised matches, but at this point, he''s happy to plop down in bed and just watch whatever form of competitive Pok¨¦mon battling is being broadcast at this hour.
The broadcast in question ends up being a battle between an up-and-coming Dark-type specialist, a young woman with silvery-blue hair and an attractive figure, and a man Ran is surprised to recognize. It''s Clarence, the previously long-term sponsored trainer of Azalea Town Gym and water-type specialist who quite recently failed to win the position of Gym Leader in a direct match against Bugsy.
Clarence is by no means a slouch, his strong team and respectable track record at Conference finals making him a realistic candidate for the position of Gym Leader, even if a bit of favoritism might also have factored in there. But on the night, he''s badly outclassed. Ran stumbles upon the battle when Clarence is already down two to zero and, although his Poliwrath manages back-to-back wins to bring the score back to three to two after his Azumarill goes down, the outcome is never truly in doubt, the battle eventually ending at six to three in the woman''s favor.
At that point the commentary team turns to the impact the match has on both trainers'' respective careers, but by then Ran is having trouble keeping his eyes open, barely managing to turn the tv off before sweet sleep claims him.
Interlude 3: Grady
Grady Kendrick, Goldenrod City Gym sponsored trainer and all around cool guy, pictured his journey very differently to how it¡¯s actually turning out.
Oh sure, it¡¯s still amazing! Of course it is! He gets to spend all day with his team, he gets to be out from under Whitney¡¯s sharp eyes and he gets to do pok¨¦mon battles! Really, as far as all the ¡®normal¡¯ aspects of being a trainer go, his journey is everything it was supposed to be.
Already, he¡¯s won the new Hive Badge from Azalea Town, which he won from a Gym Leader that¡¯s only two years older than him! Super cool. And that¡¯s before mentioning Falkner, whom he¡¯ll be battling soon, for the Zephyr Badge. That guy is the epitome of cool, between his effortless good looks, strong teams and unpredictable approach to Gym battles.
He¡¯s been meeting lots of cool trainers, he gets to spend a lot of time with his pok¨¦mon and he even gets to choose when and what he eats! Really, in a lot of ways, it¡¯s more than he could have ever expected his journey to be.
Especially spending time with his team, which he obviously got to do back in Goldenrod, has been even better now that he doesn¡¯t have to keep them in their balls so often. Though admittedly there have been one or two mishaps between Chinchou¡¯s penchant for zapping first and thinking second on the one hand and Bob - his Voltorb - having a tendency to use Screech just for fun on the other.
Still, they¡¯ve made it through those minor issues without too much trouble, with Eevee always there as a comforting presence. The one thing his team unfortunately can¡¯t do is really talk back and so, even though their company is great and Eevee in particular is great at cuddling up with him and listening to him ramble about anything he feels like¡
Journeying is still a lot lonelier than he was expecting.
He always pictured himself traveling with either Selene and Eva, or with Donnie and Grace. Sure, he wasn¡¯t as close with them as they were with each other, but they¡¯d all been friends! After all, they spent loads of time together as Whitney¡¯s sponsored trainers and they¡¯d all been super interested when he was the first of the group to catch his second pok¨¦mon.
Okay, admittedly he¡¯d always be the one to reach out to the others to hang out, or train together, or to take their pok¨¦mon along to the groomers, or anything else, really. But when he¡¯d started inquiring about the others¡¯ travel plans only to find out that the two duos would be going their separate ways, he figured neither wanted to invite him along on the spot to avoid any hard feelings with the other pair he wouldn¡¯t be accompanying.
He wasn¡¯t actually expecting that neither duo would invite him along!
In the final days before they got to set out, he¡¯d tried to angle their conversations to the subject, but either none of them had picked up on it or they¡¯d deliberately ignored his attempts. The result was the same either way, as it left him to journey alone.
Obviously, he couldn¡¯t just travel the same route as either of the duos. The risk of constantly running into them only to be reminded that they didn¡¯t want to travel with him was way too great. So he¡¯d set out for Azalea Town.
And sure, he was on his own. But at least he¡¯d been meeting a lot of cool other trainers!
Not all of them were nice, of course, but that was to be expected. He¡¯s still met a lot of people whom he might still travel alongside for a while at least. It¡¯s just a matter of running into someone with the same destination.
Because that¡¯s the other part of his loneliness. He¡¯s shared a meal here or there, or a camping spot for the night. But everyone he¡¯s gotten along with so far is going the wrong way!
Steve, Michael, Ran and Josie, Eugina, even the group of Thomas, Jean and Emma! All of them great trainers roughly his own age whom he¡¯d have been happy to travel with for a while. But none of them have been traveling the same way!
Sure he¡¯s gathered some contact information and he¡¯s just gathering up the courage to get back in touch with them, but if he does message them, only to find out that they don¡¯t actually want to keep in touch with him¡ That¡¯d hurt even worse than his friends from Goldenrod not inviting him along.
So maybe he shouldn¡¯t message them, even if he¡¯s got their contact information? After all, out of these parts, all roads lead to Goldenrod, so maybe he can just wait to see if he runs into any of them there?
That seems reasonable.
Mind made up, he puts thoughts of potential traveling companions out of mind and gently wakes up his dozing team. If they¡¯re going to battle Falkner in a few days, then they¡¯ve still got a lot of training to do, after all.
¡°Just keep doing what you¡¯re doing. I think you¡¯ll be alright, kid.¡± Falkner finishes his kind words, leaving Grady almost sad to have defeated him on his first try. With how smart and strong and effortlessly cool he is, he¡¯s sure that Falkner¡¯s got a lot more to teach him yet. Even if his chosen flying-types are at a major disadvantage to Grady¡¯s own electric-types.
¡°Thanks, I¡¯ll do my best!¡± Grady replies enthusiastically, before leaving the Gym whilst waving to the enthusiastic crowd, his showing apparently having been good enough to receive quite the strong applause.
He actually skips out of the Gym and towards the pok¨¦center, already enthusiastically typing away on his pok¨¦gear to update the homefront on his victory over Falkner. He is distracted by shouting behind him, however.
¡°Excuse me! Grady Kendrick!¡± Somebody shouts behind him, forcing him to awkwardly abort his stride mid-skip.
Turning around to face whoever¡¯s calling him, he¡¯s left facing another young, clearly sponsored, trainer with three pok¨¦balls on his belt, who jogs towards him enthusiastically.
It¡¯s a short and slight guy, one he¡¯s actually got an inch or two on, for a change. He¡¯s got a light honey-toned complexion, with black hair that¡¯s been combed to the side. Sharp brown eyes are fixated on the pok¨¦balls at Grady¡¯s belt, whilst his heavy walking shoes throw up tiny clouds of dust with every impact.
Instinctively self-conscious due to the other boy¡¯s neat outfit, consisting of a button-up shirt and khaki chinos, Grady hurriedly tries to straighten his own t-shirt, even as he responds to the other boy¡¯s words.
¡°Yes?¡± He asks, curious about just what the other trainer could possibly want with him.
¡°I¡¯m Vichai,¡± the other trainer introduces himself, ¡°Vichai Narin, one of Professor Elm¡¯s sponsored trainers. I¡¯d like to talk to you about that Eevee of yours and ask you some questions for my research for the professor, if you don¡¯t mind.¡±
¡°Sure thing!¡± Grady agrees enthusiastically, always happy to help and even happier to show off Eevee¡¯s awesomeness.
¡°Excellent, though I¡¯m sure you¡¯d like to turn that Voltorb of yours in at the pok¨¦center first, shall we?¡± Vichai asks, gesturing with one hand for them to continue walking towards Grady¡¯s destination.
As Vichai actually seems mildly concerned for Bob, Grady hurriedly reassures him, even as the pair of trainers starts walking, ¡°Oh I¡¯m not worried about Bob. Self-Destruct was scary the first few times, but he knows how far he can push himself without seriously harming himself. He¡¯ll still need some care of course, but really, that was a pretty minor blast, all things considered.¡±
¡°If you say so,¡± Vichai responds, somewhat hesitantly, before perking up, as he turns the conversation to the topic he¡¯s clearly interested in discussing, ¡°So that Eevee of yours, I only got a brief look at it of course, but have you given any thought as to its eventual evolution?¡±
¡°I have,¡± Grady confirms happily, starting to ramble in his excitement, ¡°Eevee will eventually be evolving into a Jolteon, if everything goes according to plan. You¡¯ve already seen Bob, if you watched my battle against Falkner, and I¡¯ve also got a Chinchou, and because electric-types are really cool and they fit me really well it just makes sense and I¡¯ve already discussed it with Eevee herself and she¡¯s also enthusiastic about it so really it¡¯s just a matter of time and getting a Thunder Stone!¡±
¡°Oh, I see. You¡¯ve discussed this with her? Can I ask, did you suggest that you¡¯d like her to turn into a Jolteon, or how did that conversation go, exactly?¡± Vichai asks, examining Grady critically, a note of tension in his voice.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
¡°Uh¡¡± Grady hesitates, unsure about the other boy¡¯s response and, in truth, about how exactly his conversation with Eevee went, all that time ago.
¡°I see.¡± Vichai replies somewhat coldly, before perking up slightly, ¡°How about this, I am doing a comparative study on split evolutions for the professor. Stuff like the difference between a Slowpoke evolving into a Slowbro and a Slowking. Though that particular example is extremely situational, one of the overarching things we¡¯re considering is the impact the pok¨¦mon¡¯s personality has on its eventual evolution.¡±
Vichai pauses his explanation then, as they enter the pok¨¦center and Grady takes a few moments to hand in Bob¡¯s pok¨¦ball to the nurse. Only when they¡¯ve left the line, does Vichai speak up once more, ¡°To put it simply, I¡¯m curious about your Eevee¡¯s future evolution and the role you play in that choice. Which is why I¡¯d like to set up a small experiment with your Eevee, in a controlled and neutral environment without you being able to influence her, to see if she still shows a preference for an evolution into Jolteon at that point. Is that something you¡¯d be willing to contribute to?¡±
Grady doesn¡¯t respond immediately, instead actually properly considering the other trainer¡¯s words. Not out of any reticence or wariness, but Vichai talked pretty fast there and there were some very big words in there.
¡°So you want to check to see if Eevee would be happier to evolve into another form than Jolteon?¡± He asks, just to make sure he¡¯s properly understood the gist of Vichai¡¯s explanation.
¡°That is correct, yes.¡± Vichai nods in agreement, finally drawing a smile from Grady.
¡°Sure thing! Can we do it now, or do you need to set anything up, or what did you have in mind?¡± He asks unsuspectingly, only to be caught off guard by the eager glint that enters Vichai¡¯s eyes.
¡°I¡¯ll need an hour or so. Give me your contact details and I¡¯ll let you know where we can meet up.¡± Vichai tells him enthusiastically, only staying around long enough to take down Grady¡¯s number before he¡¯s sprinting out the door.
¡°Well¡ Alright then.¡± Grady shrugs, before turning his attention back to his pok¨¦gear.
He¡¯s still got most of his family to message about his winning of the Hive Badge, after all.
¡°So all you¡¯ve discussed with your Eevee is that you¡¯ll be letting her out in a new place and that she should just do what feels natural to her, correct?¡± Vichai asks, glancing at Grady from the corner of his eye as he carefully shifts the plastic box holding a Fire Stone by an inch or so.
They¡¯re outside of the City, in an open field, where Vichai has set up five plastic boxes, each holding a different item at equal distances from each other and a central point. On his signal, Grady is supposed to release Eevee right in the middle of the boxes, which seems simple enough, but Vichai is still double-checking all the distances involved with a tape measure he apparently just carries with him.
¡°Yes,¡± Grady confirms easily, even as he looks curiously at the two boxes not holding evolution stones, ¡°I just told her that we¡¯d be testing something and that she should ignore me and do what feels good to her.¡±
¡°Excellent, excellent,¡± Vichai mutters enthusiastically, before finally rising up out of his crouch and jogging over towards Grady once more, ¡°Now, keep in mind, the Black Glasses and the Twisted Spoon are obviously less powerful than the Stones, so any interest whatsoever in them is especially significant.¡±
¡°Sure thing,¡± Grady agrees, ignoring the increasing strength of the cold feeling that¡¯s been settling into his gut ever since he first laid eyes on Vichai¡¯s ¡®experiment¡¯, ¡°I¡¯ll let her out on your signal.¡±
¡°Splendid. Now, keep in mind, you can observe, but if you speak or in any way communicate with your Eevee, that will completely invalidate the experiment.¡± Vichai tells him sharply, drawing another nod from Grady, before finally, he receives the signal to release Eevee.
He does so almost reluctantly, anxiety fully setting in the moment his starter appears in the middle of the five boxes.
She shakes her fur out for a moment, before taking a look around. Immediately, Vichai takes a step forwards and to the side, moving to stand in front of Grady and largely blocking him from his starter¡¯s view.
It isn¡¯t particularly pleasant, but Grady is willing to let Vichai do his experiment, as long as his starter doesn¡¯t seem uncomfortable.
¡°Hello Eevee!¡± Vichai calls out, drawing her attention before swiftly continuing, ¡°You¡¯re surrounded by some powerful items! I¡¯d like for you to pick the one you like the best. Just do whatever feels right to you! Is that something you can do?¡±
Eevee nods sedately, before finally turning her attention fully to the boxes surrounding her.
Grady watches anxiously, even as Vichai pulls out a notepad and a pen and starts taking notes at a furious pace.
As for Eevee, she looks around at the different boxes, before finally trotting lightly towards the box holding the Water Stone.
Grady¡¯s teeth clench together tightly, the thought that he¡¯s manipulated Eevee into accepting a future evolution that she doesn¡¯t actually want making him nauseous. At the same time, Vichai is clearly delighted, his frantic note-taking now accompanied by a hushed, unintelligible mumbling.
Eevee only approaches the Water Stone box for a moment, however, before seemingly growing bored with it. Instead, she wanders over to the next box, which holds the Black Glasses. Grady isn¡¯t sure how he feels about that, as Umbreon are notorious for having the largest change in their personalities out of all the Eeveelutions.
But again Eevee only briefly examines the Black Glasses, before continuing on to the next box. The one holding the Thunder Stone.
Both trainers hold their breaths, though probably for different reasons, as Eevee approaches the plastic box holding the Thunder Stone.
Unlike with the previous boxes, this time, she actually nudges up against it, knocking the box over. Rather than continuing on, she continues to play with the box, batting it about with increasing energy and seemingly energized by the proximity of the Thunder Stone.
After half a minute of this, when he realizes that Eevee¡¯s increasing energy might actually lead to a damaged box and a premature evolution from a Thunder Stone he doesn¡¯t actually own, Grady speaks up softly, ¡°So, is the experiment done?¡±
Despite the near-whisper he¡¯s spoken in, Grady¡¯s words still seem to startle Vichai, the other boy jumping a foot in the air, before whirling about to face him.
¡°Right! Of course! My apologies, but this is some very interesting stuff. I wonder whether her initial interest in the other items hints at an original preference which has been subsumed by the trainer-bond. I wonder how she might respond if we were to adapt the experiment. Perhaps we could repeat it without the Thunder Stone, to see how she responds to that¡¡± Vichai ponders, before trailing off.
After a moment, Vichai¡¯s attention snaps back to Grady, his sharp eyes carrying an unpleasant intensity as they meet Grady¡¯s own,¡°Say, would you by any chance be interested in traveling together? Your Eevee could do wonders for my work for Professor Elm.¡±
Ordinarily, he¡¯d have been ecstatic to finally receive an offer to travel together. But Vichai¡¯s offer doesn¡¯t sit well with him for a simple reason. Because Vichai isn¡¯t actually interested in him, something easily noticed by the way they haven¡¯t actually discussed anything personal whatsoever yet.
Plus, though Eevee was willing to go along with this experiment and Grady himself feels comforted now to have proper confirmation that she really does want to evolve into a Jolteon, he isn¡¯t comfortable with Vichai treating her like a walking experiment. Which is why, despite his desire to have a traveling companion, he refuses the offer.
¡°Sorry, I¡¯ll have to pass,¡± Grady replies, ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯d be a good fit.¡±
Vichai¡¯s expression pinches together for a moment, before he lets out a begrudging huff, ¡°I suppose not. Very well, thanks for your time, at least. Good luck on the circuit.¡±
¡°Well, we don¡¯t have to say goodbye just yet,¡± Grady offers, ¡°There¡¯s a few hours of daylight left, why don¡¯t we have a battle before going our separate ways?¡±
¡°That¡¡± Vichai starts to say severely, pausing for a long moment, before his stern expression finally melts into a smile, ¡°Sounds like fun. I accept your challenge.¡±
That evening, with Eevee and Chinchou now also in the nurse¡¯s care, following a spirited battle with Vichai¡¯s Chikorita and Poliwag, Grady settles in front of the pok¨¦center¡¯s computer. His interactions with Vichai, despite not being anything near a basis for traveling together, have at least reminded him of his desire to check up on what the other trainers he¡¯s encountered thus far have been up to.
Thus, he starts digging through their trainer profile pages. Steve and Michael, both of whom he¡¯d met in Azalea Town, have already won the Plain Badge. So by the time he makes it to Goldenrod, they¡¯ll probably be long gone, which is disappointing.
Ran and Josie, however, a pair he met in Union Cave, are more promising. Neither one has won the Hive Badge just yet, according to their trainer profile pages, which means he might well make it to Goldenrod City in time to run into them. Assuming they¡¯re due to challenge and beat Bugsy some time soon, of course. Then again, it¡¯s not as if he¡¯s going to be making it out of Goldenrod anytime soon, once he heads home. Not when doing so means having to beat Whitney first.
Putting that ominous thought out of mind, he looks into Eugina, who like Ran and Josie still hasn¡¯t won her Hive Badge yet. So that¡¯s another familiar face he might end up running into in Goldenrod. She was nice too! Not particularly talkative, but she¡¯d actually taken off her headphones fully to listen to him, rather than just lifting them up briefly.
He¡¯s actually considering sending her, as well as Ran and Josie, a message to see if they¡¯re interested in meeting up in Goldenrod after all, even as he looks up the group of Thomas, Jean and Emma. However, when he opens Thomas¡¯ profile page, his cautious optimism, inflating like a balloon, gets popped instantaneously.
Because they¡¯d told him that they couldn¡¯t travel together because they were headed to Azalea Town, rather than Violet City, back when he met them at the Union-32 Rest Stop. Something he now realizes to have been a lie, as Thomas shows off the Hive Badge, as well as a more recent, failed challenge for the Zephyr Badge. Which means he - and following a quick search, the other two as well - are currently in Violet City, like Grady himself.
Which means they just didn¡¯t want to travel with him, rather than being headed the other way.
Shit.
He angrily wipes at his stinging eyes, even as he completely dismisses any thoughts of messaging any of the other cool trainers he¡¯s met so far.
If people don¡¯t like him, or only like him for his pok¨¦mon, then that¡¯s just the way it is. He¡¯ll save the others the trouble of lying to him. Instead, he¡¯ll just continue to travel on his own for now.
Who knows, there¡¯s always next time, right?
Maybe if he runs into one of the others in Goldenrod, he can make a better second impression?
Yeah, that¡¯ll work!
Mind made up, he logs off from the computer, before getting distracted by his growling stomach.
Right! Dinner! He forgot about that, in the day¡¯s excitement.
Oh well, he¡¯s sure Violet City must have some kind of late night fast food option¡
Chapter 14, pt.1
The next morning, a few minutes after nine, Ran and Josie walk up to the large glass front doors of the massive Goldenrod Trainer Department Store. Already waiting for them out front is Grady, who waves enthusiastically at the approaching pair.
"Hey guys, you''re finally here!" He greets them cheerfully, not even waiting for them to reach him but instead jogging towards them.
"What''s up Grady?" Josie returns with a smile, as Ran offers a silent nod of his own.
"Nothing much! I''m excited to go shopping though, the stores in Azalea Town and Violet City really couldn''t compare to our Department Store!" Grady answers immediately, nearly vibrating in place as he turns in place to walk alongside them back towards the entrance to the Department Store.
Josie scoffs derisively, causing Ran to roll his eyes as he can already tell what''s coming, "Yeah well, don''t hype it up too much, I''ve been to Vermillion, Celadon and Saffron City before. If this place can measure up to what''s on offer there, then I''ll actually be impressed."
Ran drops his head wearily, as Grady immediately comes to his hometown''s defense and Josie is more than willing to keep firing back. With his companions for the day squabbling back and forth, he''s the only one to actually pay attention as they enter the large building''s ground floor, which is dominated by a large service desk where a small line of people is waiting their turn.
Watching for a moment, it''s clear to Ran that the waiting customers can largely be divided into two categories, with a vast majority standing in line to pick up a variety of orders. The smaller group that remains is using the service desk for its more traditional purpose, by asking questions either about the lay-out of the store or about problems they''re having with previously purchased products. Deciding that none of that is relevant to him, as Grady knows the lay-out of the store well enough to serve as their guide, should it be necessary, Ran mutely leads the other two trainers to the escalator to the first floor. With Josie still fixated on winding up Grady and Grady fully focused on defending Goldenrod''s honor, neither even really seems to notice as they ascend to the first floor.
When they do reach the first floor, to Ran at least, it looks enormous. Just this one floor is larger than any store Ran has ever visited, leaving him awestruck for a moment. As he stops in place and just takes in the impressive sight of row after row of trainer-oriented goods, Josie and Grady''s spirited debate peters out when they realize that they''ve come to a halt.
Josie looks around neutrally, clearly not as impressed as Ran and seemingly withholding judgment for the moment. Her lack of a response gives Grady a chance to start acting as the guide he''s clearly intent on being, as he immediately starts to explain just what''s on offer, drawing more than one amused glance from other shopping trainers in the process.
"The first floor offers all the basic gear you''ll ever need as a trainer on the go!" The smaller boy begins, sounding remarkably like a salesperson, "Over to the left, near all the mannequins, you''ll find all kinds of clothing, for all kinds of weather. Cold and warm weather outfits, swimming clothes, hiking gear, protective headwear or whatever else you can think of, if it''s something to wear, you''ll find it over there."
Setting out onto the floor proper, with Ran and Josie trailing after him whilst exchanging amused looks, Grady rambles on, seemingly intent on making a small tour around the escalator area, to give a general overview of the floor before letting either Ran or Josie give an indication as to what they actually need. A look towards the first area he gestures towards immediately makes it clear where Grady got his own trademark outfit from, as the very first kids-sized mannequin Ran notices is wearing exactly the same outfit as Grady is. He''s gracious enough not to audibly point it out, though he does have to elbow Josie in the side to stop her from pestering their excitable guide about it.
"Next up is traveling and camping equipment! Tents, portable stoves, water purifiers, space heaters, even a portable shower installation! It''s got everything you could ever need to live a life of comfort, out in the wild. Of course there''s also backpacks, umbrellas, maps, binoculars, all kinds of portable stuff to make your life easier, while you''re out there." Grady rambles, with Josie continuing to listen on neutrally, seemingly unimpressed by the, to Ran at least, mind blowing idea of taking a portable shower installation along whilst journeying. The section of the store is impressive, with a number of tents and other goods displayed in full, giving the whole area the look of a large camping area. It''s also significantly busier than the clothing-section, with more than one rookie clearly re-evaluating just what comforts they need, now that they''ve been on the road for just about a month and a half.
"And finally," Grady continues more calmly, energy finally coming down as he gestures towards the smallest section of the first floor, "Non-perishable food and fluids for the hungry trainer! It''s hardly the tastiest, but it''s portable, sturdy and reliable."
It''s a slight letdown after the other two, more impressive sections, but Ran can definitely acknowledge the importance of dependable rations to build a meal around. Still, the neat rows of prepackaged rations give off a grocery store feel, further reinforced by the trainers that are wandering through whilst pushing actual shopping carts. Though there''s plenty of trainers stocking up on necessary essentials, a fate Ran knows he won''t be able to escape, it''s still easily the least interesting part of the store so far.
"Do either of you want to browse or get something already? We can also do the full tour first, whichever you prefer is fine with me!" Grady offers, turning to face Ran and Josie at the foot of the escalator to the second floor, seemingly unaware that he''s completely blocking the escalator for any of the other customers wandering the store floor.
"Your call, either is fine with me." Josie says to Ran lazily, seemingly content to let Grady have his moment rather than amusing herself through heckling or provoking him.
"Let'' s do the full tour first." Ran decides easily, not elaborating further. It''s an obvious decision to him, as there''s definitely going to be more available in the store than he''ll actually be able to afford. So rather than risk picking out stuff that''ll hamstring him later or that he might end up having to put back, he prefers to get a full picture of all the things that are on offer first.
"Sure thing!" Grady accepts enthusiastically, almost skipping onto the escalator to the second floor. Josie and Ran follow him with a bit less pep in their step, but Ran at least finds the younger trainer''s good cheer quite amusing, actually leaving him eager to hear Grady''s sales pitch continue.
Within moments, he gets the opportunity to do just that, as they arrive on a floor that sadly looks like a giant replication of the first floor''s most boring section.
"The best trainers need the best food, supplements and medicine for their pok¨¦mon!" Grady still pitches energetically, even if there''s little of interest to say about row after row of pok¨¦chow, pok¨¦vitamins and all kinds of potions and other treatment-in-a-bottles.
That doesn''t mean that the floor is irrelevant however, as even a brief glance at the nearest row of pok¨¦chow shows prices that are a bit lower than what Ran''s used to paying. At a glance, Ran notices at least a dozen trainers of all ages wandering the rows, which further strengthens his suspicion that there are great deals to be found. Quietly affirming to himself that he''ll have to spend at least fifteen minutes going through the aisles to figure out just what savings he can score on the usual essentials, Ran doesn''t interject as Grady almost jogs to the escalator. Clearly, their guide is eager to get to the next floor, which Ran assumes to be a good sign.
Said assumption is validated the moment the escalator lifts him high enough, as just a glimpse at the third floor validates his decision to plan as extensive a visit to the Department Store as he has. Unlike the previous floors with their openly available items a customer can simply grab and bring to the register themselves, the third floor offers no such freedom. Instead, rather than a singular large check-out register like on the previous two floors, here there are three distinct areas with separate counters, their display items covered by protective glass and difficult to identify from a distance and with groups of other trainers milling in front of the displays.Though he desperately wants to go and explore just what''s on offer, Ran is patient enough to let Grady actually explain things, knowing that the other boy will provide a decent overview of just what''s on offer, even if it''ll be presented slightly theatrically.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
"Of course once you''ve got your gear and both your and your team''s immediate needs sorted, it''s time to focus on what it''s actually all about! Training and battling with your beloved pok¨¦mon!" Grady introduces enthusiastically, eyes almost sparkling as he gets to a part of the tour he''s clearly been waiting for.
"Picture it: you''re battling a strong wild pok¨¦mon, your own pok¨¦mon is on its last legs, but you''re ready to seal the deal and add a new team member! That''s where the Goldenrod Trainer Department Store has you covered, with the biggest, most diverse offering of capturing technology on the market! More than just your standard Pok¨¦, Great or Ultra Ball, this is also the place for more specialized pok¨¦balls such as Fast Balls or Lure Balls, to name just a few examples! But that''s not all, because what if your throwing arm isn''t all that, or you''re looking for a different capturing style altogether? From bugcatcher''s nets with capture technology, to fishing rods with pok¨¦ball attachments, this is the place for all your capturing paraphernelia!" Grady waxes rhapsodically as he gestures to the first and notably the least popular of the three distinct display areas.
Having worked for Kurt and already having used two specialist pok¨¦balls to capture Golbat and Aria, Ran isn''t actually all that interested, but a mere glance at Josie shows that his perspective might be slightly skewed, as she eagerly stands up on her tippy toes to try and get a better look at the many kinds of capturing tools on display even from the distance they''re standing at. Still, she''s not enthusiastic enough to interrupt Grady''s spiel, as their personal guide for the day eagerly moves on to the next display area.
"Of course, capturing a pok¨¦mon is all fine and good. Thanks to the excellent supplies on the lower floors, you''re able to keep it well-fed and in good health. But that''s what every run-of-the-mill runt with two Rattata and a Pidgey does!" Grady chatters amiably, entirely unaware of the embarrassed trainer some twenty feet away who awkwardly shuffles off at what''s clearly an accidental but quite painful stray bullet from the living sparkplug that''s guiding Ran and Josie.
"So, what can help you gain that crucial advantage over another trainer? The Goldenrod Trainer Department Store has a broad range of held items! But that''s not all, because some pok¨¦mon need an extra little something, to reach their full potential. Fortunately, you''ve come to the right place, because you''re standing in Johto''s most reliable supplier of evolutionary stones and items!" Grady continues, gesturing expansively towards the busiest part of the store thus far.
Unlike the previous floors however, this part of the store isn''t dominated by shopping trainers. Instead, a small mob of younger children and teenagers swarms the displays, as they loudly and assertively proclaim just what they''ll use the many powerful items on display for once they get their own pok¨¦mon. It''s an amusing sight, any worry over them being a nuisance assuaged by the way they scatter whenever a trainer that''s actually genuinely interested in a purchase approaches one of the displays.
It is also, without a doubt, a must-visit for Ran, as the held items he''s got planned for his three more experienced team members have been planned for a long time already. He''s not sure about his ability to afford them just yet, but it''s the best opportunity to purchase them he''s likely to get for quite some time, leaving him very eager to examine what''s on offer. This time, Josie seems less interested, which isn''t too surprising with her earlier investment in Charcoal for all three of her fire-types as well as for her future team members, but the mention of evolutionary stones not sparking any interest in her is interesting, considering her use of Chief the Growlithe.
"Finally," Grady states, atmosphere shifting as he pauses ominously, before continuing in a dramatic whisper, "When you''ve acquired everything there is to acquire, there is one final tool that separates the good from the great. The contestants from the finalists. It''s the ultimate tool to tailor your pok¨¦mons'' abilities to suit your every need. It''s the Goldenrod Trainer Department Store''s uniquely diverse range of Technical Machines!"
Grady points dramatically at the final display area, leaving Ran to oblige him by looking in that direction obediently. At first glance, it doesn''t stand out all that much, with a few salespeople standing behind a large glass counter, which houses an admittedly enormous collection of visually unremarkable Technical Machines. However, where the previous section held a small mob of window-shoppers, this section has been swarmed by eager future young trainers. The reason is immediately apparent, as to either side of the employees, as well as behind them, enormous television screens are showing a tantalizing loop of TM-demonstrations. As Ran watches, the screen is just fading to black, before ominous bold white text appears.
"TM: Thunder" it reads, a chill running down Ran''s spine as the title screen fades away to show a surprising pok¨¦mon standing in an arena. Rather than an electric-type, a Nidoking stands on the field. At a command from his unseen trainer, the large poison-ground-type tilts his head to the sky, horn sparking for a few moments. Then, with what is likely a loud roar, though the tv is muted to make that impossible to verify, a massive thunderstrike slams down from the sky into the arena floor, whiting out the screen for just a moment.
Nidoking is shown huffing smugly, before the screen blacks out again, the next TM-demonstration about to begin. Ran doesn''t pay it any further mind however, as just a single demonstration is enough to have him itching to buy the Thunder-TM. Which would be just stupid, as it''s something he lacks both the money and the pok¨¦mon for. Instead, he lets himself get distracted by Grady''s nattering once more, rather than yield to his childish impulses.
"Awesome, right?" Grady asks rhetorically, already moving again before either Josie or Ran even get an opportunity to try and form an answer.
"Next up, we''ve got your pok¨¦mon''s favorite floor and the only one in the whole building where you''re allowed to let them out of their balls, under the right circumstances at least." Grady promises, drawing curious looks from both members of his audience, but he surprisingly doesn''t immediately elaborate further, instead simply leading them towards the next escalator.
"I think I''ll let it speak for itself, because really, it doesn''t need me to sell it." Grady says as they rise up towards the next floor, his unusual lack of verbosity only increasing the intrigue the next floor holds.
When Ran catches sight of the fourth floor, he instantly accepts that Grady really doesn''t need a sales pitch, because they''re entering what is essentially an enormous pok¨¦mon playground and training field hybrid area. Everywhere he looks, there''s either training equipment or all kinds of toys strewn about the place. Ranging from small things like tennis balls, all the way to an enormous container wave pool, where a Machop on a surfboard wearing a store employee uniform is instructing a Sneasel. At the same time, its trainer, an apparently extremely wealthy twenty-something with long blonde hair, is listening to the sales spiel of an excited employee, who''s likely envisioning a big fat commission.
"Just keep in mind that to actually let a pok¨¦mon out, you need to flag down a store employee first. Please only do so if you''re serious about a possible purchase." Grady briefly speaks up, not fully falling back into his tour guide persona but rather wincing as if in remembrance of some earlier escapade.
"Sure thing," Josie replies faintly, attention focused on a rope of all things, "That''s the fire-type section, right? You reckon that rope''s actually properly fire-retardant, or is whatever they put on it going to wear off when Chief and Soot slobber all over it for a few minutes?"
Briefly looking around for anything that stands out himself, Ran tunes out Grady''s response for a moment. He''d once considered ordering some training gear from this place, so it''s quite interesting to see the items on display. Of course, as a traveling trainer, heavy weights and large equipment aren''t realistic options to lug along, but there are still a few options that might be both useful and portable. Still, at a glance, nothing stands out, which is why he turns back towards Grady, who doesn''t appear to be chomping at the bit to get to the next floor for once, even though there''s clearly yet another escalator to be taken.
"Are we ready to go to the next floor?" Ran asks his companions, trying to spur Grady back into action.
"Oh, the next floor''s the last one, aside from the rooftop," Grady answers nonchalantly, whilst the majority of his focus remains on the many toys littered around the room, "It''s pretty boring, it''s just the bookstore. Stuff on raising specific types, habitat studies, boring stuff like that. The rooftop has some vending machines and offers a nice view though, I figured we could have lunch up there!"
Josie easily accepts Grady''s nonchalant answer, clearly no more interested in a bookstore than the excitable thirteen-year-old. Ran however actually freezes in place for a moment. Because what is probably the biggest bookstore in Johto is nearby and he''s got a rare pok¨¦mon on his team that he urgently needs information on.
There''s other stuff he still wants to buy as well, of course, but he doesn''t really need company for any of that, so, when he speaks, it''s with a valiant effort at casualness, "Alright, so we''re done with the tour then? Meet up on the roof around noon for lunch?"
He receives distracted confirmations from both Josie and Grady before, the moment they turn their backs, he rushes to the escalator to the fifth floor.
Chapter 14, pt.2
After taking the moving stairs two at a time, Ran arrives on what is clearly not a particularly popular floor, judging by the small number of other shoppers, but that''s not his focus. Instead, he looks in awe at the rows of bookcases that aren''t just lined up from side to side, but rather form an enjoyable maze to get lost in. Right in the middle of the floor, positioned around the escalator, are large plaques and arrows, giving some means to navigate the maze and find the subjects he''s interested in.
Plenty of topics fascinate him, but Ran sadly can''t indulge in every interest at once. Instead, turning his heart to stone, he ignores the arrows pointing to such things as evolution mechanics and type specialties and instead opts for the clearly relatively recent addition of ''Sinnoh''. It''s a hopeful guess, as his next stop will be the part of the floor that holds all the books on the poison-typing, but if there''s any place where he might find some information on Skorupi, the books focusing on its native area are as good a place to start as any.
As he hurriedly paces through the store towards the correct shelves, he notices a significant detail about the other customers wandering the fourth floor. Not only are they less-numerous than those on the previous floors, but there''s a certain atmosphere that surrounds them. It''s not that they''re all openly enthusiastic to be there, because a few trainers'' long faces make it very clear that such a thing couldn''t be further from the truth. But there''s a focus, a deliberateness to their being there and their searching of the stacks that hasn''t been common amongst the other rookie trainers Ran has largely been surrounded by since the start of his journey.
It''s not to say that Josie and Grady, browsing the toys and training equipment on the floor below, aren''t dedicated trainers in their own right. But Ran believes it says something about a trainer if he''s willing to, out of all the options in the entire Goldenrod Trainer Department Store, spend his time and money on books of all things. Of course, a large number of trainers believe that everything they could ever need to know about pok¨¦mon can be found on the pok¨¦net, but that couldn''t be further from the truth. The pok¨¦net, expansive as it is, is meant for the general public and only offers information that''s considered to be general knowledge.
Any recent research, any niche findings, any clan or personal secrets, all of those are nowhere to be found on the free pok¨¦net. Instead, if they''re even on there in the first place, they''re no cheaper than a physical copy. And that''s if you know where to look in the first place. Missing the connections and know-how to figure out just where such things can be found online, Ran is very interested in the far simpler approach of grabbing a book out of the stacks and reading the back cover to see if it promises any information he can use.
He hardly expects to find all that much in-depth research on Sinnoh''s still largely mysterious native pok¨¦mon, but even just the general information about Skorupi, that a Sinnoh-native would consider common knowledge, is invaluable to him. Crucially, any mentions of his exact natural habitat and anything even vaguely relating to his evolution, whether that''s requirements or outcome, is information he desperately desires.
To start, Ran simply scans the titles on display, a large pile of books soon growing in his hands. By the time the pile is getting genuinely uncomfortable to carry, he''s happy for a small nearby table to put his prizes down on. Then, taking into account not only his budget, but also portability, he sets himself a hard upper limit of three books. At which point he starts to winnow out the unworthy.
Which is a lot harder than expected. One of the first books he considers tossing is a travel log, which shouldn''t even have been in the Sinnoh section, if the sailor that wrote it hadn''t ended up at the Lily of the Valley Conference for a few days before running out of funds. It''s a long shot, but what if he saw Skorupi''s evolved form compete? That might be very informative. Hesitantly, Ran puts it on the ''second-chance'' pile, which he creates on the spot.
After twenty minutes, there''s exactly two books he''s fully written off, seven second-chancers and five must-haves. With pain in his heart, the second-chance pile is also binned then and there. Which still leaves him with five books, rather than the three he wants to settle on.
There''s Introduction to the Geography of the Sinnoh region, which''d provide valuable insight on the possible habitats Skorupi might be native to. Usually, any works about geography also include mentions of the native pok¨¦mon-species. That''d be extremely useful.
Next is Observations on Sinnoh''s Trainer Culture. It''s less than a hundred pages long, but it''s impossible to discuss trainers without discussing their teams, leaving Ran hopeful that Skorupi or its evolution will get more than one mention. If the books on sale weren''t covered in protective plastic to keep them from being opened before purchase, Ran would like nothing better than to sit down on the spot and browse through the tiny book, but with that option not available to him, he''s still stuck on square one.
Sinnoh Safari, the Great Marsh is the intriguing title of the third book, promising information on the history of Sinnoh''s Safari Zone, a comparison of its qualities and flaws relative to its equal in Johto and Kanto as well as, crucially, a full listing of the pok¨¦mon that can be found there as well as their capabilities. If Ran had even a single indicator that Skorupi could hail from a marshland, it''d be an immediate acquisition, but the bug-type''s unease in Ilex Forest has him extremely doubtful on that front.
Fourth is the horribly dry Analysis of Cultural, Economical and Technological Benefits to Sinnoh-Indigo Exchange. Ordinarily, he would be more than happy to ignore the book completely, but poison-types are renowned for their roles in both medical and cosmetic innovation. It seems quite likely that the promise of new poison-types, which might unlock new advances, will merit more than a minor mention in such a book.
Finally, to round out his shortlist, there''s Sinnoh''s Stars, a book covering Sinnoh''s Champion and Elite 4, their respective rises to their positions and their teams. If there''s a poison-specialist amongst them, then Ran is sure that Skorupi''s fully evolved form will feature on their team. Unfortunately that does rely not only on Sinnoh''s Elite Four specifically having a poison-specialist as well as Bugsy giving him a pok¨¦mon which he knows has Elite-potential.
It''s that final point which, after a lot of hemming and hawing, sees Ran return Sinnoh''s Stars to the shelves. Conversely, after listing the pros and cons, Introduction to the Geography of the Sinnoh region and Observations on Sinnoh''s Trainer Culture are must-haves, leaving two books to choose between.
Ultimately, Sinnoh Safari, the Great Marsh, wins out. Ideally, that would be because he''s genuinely convinced that it''ll hold more information on Skorupi. Practically, it''s because no matter how much Ran tries to convince himself otherwise, he''s just not willing to plow through a large book on culture and economy on the off-chance that the Skorupi-line will get more than a passing mention.
Mind made up, he finally makes his way to the counter, where a kind middle-aged lady happily bags up his books. Finally, first purchases of the day by his side, Ran lets out a relieved breath. Now he''ll actually get to go and look at some of the fun stuff.
Skipping right past the fourth floor, deciding to leave the fun extras for last, in case his budget (and carrying capacity) stretches that far, he heads to the third floor eagerly. Not for its dazzling display on TMs, which are to Ran''s mind quite premature for his team, considering they''ve still got a lot of their own natural moves to learn first.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
The capturing technology is obviously also right out, as he''s only got two slots left and already owns a Moon Ball for one of those two slots. Which leaves the section for held items. It''s the part of this whole shopping expedition he''s been looking forward to the longest, and which he''s been aggressively budgeting for since day one. Way back when they''d planned their original route, the plan had been to arrive at Goldenrod City directly after winning his first badge. Compared to that plan, he''s had a whole foray to Violet City to further build up his funds, giving him the financial breathing room to come and purchase some of the items he''s been dreaming of for so long, before even battling Whitney.
Though he''s got a clear idea of just what he wants to buy, there''s one small problem to overcome first: The small army of younger kids crowding around the displays. Or at least Ran assumes it''s going to be a problem, but as he walks up, they seem to realize that he, unlike them, is a paying customer. It''s an admittedly ego-inflating moment when they part before him. Unfortunately, the first display he approaches doesn''t hold what he''s looking for, as although the gems on display are definitely powerful, they''re also both one-use and quite pricey. Unbothered, he continues to the next display, which proves far more fruitful.
The first item his eye falls on, is a familiar one. Having witnessed some of its effectiveness when battling Tommy, Ran examines the small container of Silver Powder closely. It''s actually slightly cheaper than the average type-boosting item, likely due to the Bug-type''s poor reputation in the higher echelons of competitive battling. Considering the type''s offensive effectiveness against psychic-types however, major weakness of Ran''s team as they are, it''s a must-have for Aria. She''s already become a significantly bigger threat upon evolving. With Silver Powder to power her up further, as well as make her less reliant on her limited ghost-type arsenal, she''ll become a proper menace.
Next, in the same display, he spots the flying-type-boosting Sharp Beak. With it not coming in Silver Powder''s handy container that, according to the informational charts, is self-adhesive, he''s initially a bit worried about keeping it attached to Golbat. Fortunately, the small informational chart next to it assures any interested customer that a high-quality collar or strap is included in the price. Unfortunately, with just how common flying-types are, this one comes out a fair bit more expensive than average, with only the rare and highly-desired Mystic Water having a higher price tag attached. Still, it''s a must-have, especially with a challenge at the Cianwood Gym hopefully in his not too distant future.
Then his eye falls on the Poison Barb, which is both relatively cheap and usable by all of his pok¨¦mon. But he''s got other plans for Arbok and as for Skorupi¡ It might be a relatively cheap purchase, but with a change in his secondary typing still pending, if Bugsy is to be believed, Ran isn''t in a position where he can just purchase a held item that might not last him all that long. There''s something to be said for Poison Barb''s versatility, but though Ran likes his chosen typing a lot, it does offer relatively little in super-effective damage, nor does handing it to one of his team members provide an offensive type coverage the rest of his team can''t account for.
With two slots left to fill and not wanting to risk putting the cart before the Rapidash, he decides to leave it at that for the type-boosting items. Instead, he wanders to the next display, though it doesn''t end up holding what he seeks. Undeterred, he continues on to the next display and then the one after that. However, by the time he''s passed by all the displays, he still hasn''t found what he''s looking for. Worried, though not willing to just throw in the towel, he finally walks over to the counter.
"Yes, sir?" The balding salesman asks politely, the moment Ran stops in front of his counter.
"I''d like to purchase one jar of Silver Powder and one Sharp Beak, however, I also have a question. I was looking for Black Sludge, but I couldn''t find it on display?" Ran replies, at first drawing an eager smile before his question causes the salesman''s expression to fall.
"Ah yes, Black Sludge¡ well we do have some in stock in the back, but due to its, hmm, caustic nature and dubious reputation, it was decided that it should be removed from the displays. You''ll have to answer some questions first, sir." The salesman replies hesitantly, his gaze having turned weary and assessing.
"I''m sorry?" Ran asks in surprise, caught off guard by the unexpected turn of events and the salesperson''s grave words.
"Standard procedure I''m afraid," The man answers without further explanation, wiping away a drop of sweat from his bald brow, "To start, may I see your trainer ID, please?"
Warily, Ran hands over his ID, his free hand sinking to his belt as he watches for any kind of scam or funny business.
The salesman runs the ID through a scanner, before looking at a computer screen for a minute, expression easing slightly after a few moments of looking.
"All of your pok¨¦mon are poison-types?" The salesman asks finally, directing his attention towards Ran once more.
"They are." Ran confirms easily, still unclear as to just what the point of this entire conversation is.
The man continues immediately, already having known the answer from scanning Ran''s ID.
"Do you plan to add any non-poison-types to your team?" The older man asks next, drawing a frown from Ran at the somewhat intrusive question.
"I''m not sure I want to discuss my future plans for the composition of my team with a stranger like that." Ran answers curtly, glaring at the store''s employee, who quails slightly under the sharp rebuttal.
"V-Very well, let me rephrase," The man stutters for a moment, before continuing, "Do you intend to use Black Sludge on any non-poison-type pok¨¦mon, as a tool for training or punishment?"
Now Ran is the one that''s stunned for a moment, as the implication of the salesman''s words spin wildly through his head. On non-poison-types, Black Sludge isn''t just ineffective, it''s actively detrimental, eating away at a pok¨¦mon''s vitality. With no way to defend against it and most of what he''s read about the substance indicating that it''s suspected to be an exceptionally painful process for non-poison-types as well.
"No!" Ran firmly declares, not elaborating further even as he continues to frantically analyze this new information. Using Black Sludge as a punishment is obvious. It causes constant pain whilst eating away at the victim''s health. Assuming you''ve got a pok¨¦mon that needs to be punished for some reason or other - a Dark-type perhaps? - Ran can see the practical benefits to using Black Sludge. Simply strap it to the pok¨¦mon in question and every time you bring it out of its ball, it''ll be getting punished without requiring any further time or effort from its trainer. But the mention of using it as a training tool is less apparent and significantly more intriguing. Is there a way to build up a pok¨¦mon''s pain tolerance or endurance through protracted suffering or damage over time effects? Would there be any accessible literature on the subject? How would you test the efficiency? Count out how long it takes for the pok¨¦mon to faint? What if-
Nope, stopping right there. Intriguing or not, the idea is simply too cruel to consider. There''s other, better ways to train and even if there aren''t, no pok¨¦mon deserves to be deliberately made to suffer. The mere thought of Aria or Skorupi recoiling in pain, of Golbat stoically trying to bear the hurt without showing any reaction¡ or the betrayed look in his starter''s eyes. No, he''s not considering this any further.
"You intend to use the Black Sludge exclusively on one or more poison-type pok¨¦mon?" The salesman asks dryly, his now blas¨¦ attitude drawing Ran out of his own thoughts once more.
"Yes." Ran confirms more calmly, focusing once more on actually procuring the item he wants.
"Very well sir, that''s all the required questions out of the way. You are cleared for purchase. How many doses would you like to purchase?" The salesman finally finishes up his mandatory check, returning to his earlier friendly attitude now that Ran has apparently answered the questionnaire to a satisfactory degree.
Unbothered by the man''s mood swings, Ran merely nods as he answers, "I''ll take a self-adhesive container for use on one pok¨¦mon. That''ll be all."
The salesman nods in understanding, before disappearing to the back for a few long minutes. Finally, he returns with Ran''s chosen items. In short order, they''re put in neat packages bearing the Goldenrod Trainer Department Store''s branding before disappearing into a convenient carrying bag. When the salesman tells him the tally, the total isn''t surprising, but it''s still high enough to make him second guess himself for a moment.
Spending this much money, before facing Whitney, does leave him with very slim reserves until he receives the winnings that''ll come with his third badge. Then again, with how well things have been going, and these items strengthening his team even further, he''ll only have to deal with the strained finances for a few days at most.
Pockets significantly lighter, a quick glance at his pok¨¦gear shows that he''s only got a few minutes to spare to make it to the rooftop for lunch. Not wanting to keep the others waiting, he hustles towards the escalators, eager both for food and a chance to find out whether Josie or Grady purchased anything interesting.
Chapter 15, pt.1
After lunch, which is spent comparing purchases and taking in the sights from on top of the Department Store, they set off towards the famed Goldenrod City Tunnel, eager to see more of just what the city has to offer. As for what Grady and Josie ended up buying at the Department Store, Ran is a bit surprised by what ends up being a very mixed bag.
Josie¡¯s choices aren¡¯t too surprising, as she went for some chew toys, luxury feed and some special fire-type-proof shampoo, which she claims her team goes nuts for. Grady on the other hand, is either receiving a very significant stipend for his sponsorship, or he¡¯s completely mishandling his finances, as he shows off multiple copies of the Rain Dance and Volt Switch Technical Machines. Ran¡¯s own acquisitions, considering that both of the others already owned type-boosting items and aren¡¯t particularly favorably inclined towards reading, to put it mildly, receive a lukewarm reception.
Still, he¡¯s in an overall good mood as they make their way to the Tunnel. With his Gym challenge scheduled for the day after tomorrow, he¡¯s looking forward to getting some good battles in whilst he still can, as he can¡¯t risk any injuries after today. Josie is very clearly of a similar mind, whilst Grady, whose challenge isn¡¯t until towards the latter half of next week, is his usual excitable self.
As for the Tunnel, it isn¡¯t the dark, grimy, hidden thing that its name implies. Instead, small but colorful signposts start showing them the way to its nearest entrance while they¡¯re still more than a few minutes of walking away. When they do eventually make their way down the steps and into the tunnel proper, the sight draws an impressed low whistle from Ran. Even Josie, usually the first to draw some kind of unfavorable comparison to something she¡¯s seen ¡®back home¡¯, doesn¡¯t have a smart comment for once.
The Tunnel is wide and brightly lit, with shops and small restaurants running along both sides, whilst smaller stalls of all kinds are scattered along the middle of the path, creating two walkways which are haphazardly connected by the varying openings between stalls. Some of the openings are only wide enough for a small child to slip through, whilst others are wide enough to fit another stall in entirely, creating a charmingly chaotic mishmash of paths, which almost gives the Tunnel a maze-like feel, despite it ultimately running in a straight line. At first, the only thing that¡¯s clearly missing is the supposed space for battling.
As they walk slightly further into the Tunnel however, that question is easily answered. Because after a few hundred feet, the middle row of stalls comes to an abrupt end, as the floor shifts from the rectangular shining tiles that run throughout the rest of the tunnel, to a large rectangular patch of astroturf, which runs right down the middle of the tunnel. Wider than the rest of the column of stalls that runs down the middle, the walking paths on either side actually yield way to what is clearly a Pok¨¦mon battlefield. The nearest one isn¡¯t in use, but the distant shouting and cheering of an enthusiastic crowd makes it very clear that this isn¡¯t the only such field they¡¯ll be running into in this Tunnel.
With that mystery answered, they spend five long minutes waiting at a stall that sells handbags, as Josie insists on giving them a long, long examination, before finally deciding that none of them are quite what she¡¯s looking for.
Finally however, their small group makes it to the first battlefield. As they do so, Ran notices a detail he hadn¡¯t spotted from a greater distance. The final stall in the middle row, before giving way to the battlefield, isn¡¯t a small shop or restaurant. Instead, a bored job student wearing a referee outfit is leafing through a magazine that has a scantily-clad model on the cover whilst sitting in a small booth that faces the field. Along the top of the booth, large bold letters inform Ran of just what he¡¯s looking at: TUNNEL BATTLES.
As the three of them come to a stop in front of the booth, somewhat surprised to find that there¡¯s some kind of official organization behind what they¡¯d been expecting to be far more informal trainer battles, the older teen on duty looks up aggrievedly.
¡°Are you guys going to tell me what you want to do, or are you just going to stand there gaping like a bunch of Magikarp?¡± He snarks whilst keeping one finger between the pages of his magazine, clearly assuming that he¡¯ll get to go back to reading in just a second.
Ran for his part isn¡¯t bothered by drawing the ire of some guy that clearly isn¡¯t even a proper trainer, considering his age and his shitty job, which is why he simply turns his attention to the sign hanging against the stall¡¯s left wall. It shows the rates for all kinds of different battles, depending on things like the number of participating trainers, pok¨¦mon and the total amount of badges the participants have. It¡¯s quite an elaborate sign, though it pales in comparison to the one on the right wall, which lists out the many rules battlers have to obey.
Which is, frankly, a staggering amount. They all come down to basic common sense, because who¡¯d be dumb enough to use Dig in these circumstances in the first place? As Ran continues to examine the rules and wonders just how they ended up becoming rules in the first place, Josie is the one that unsurprisingly decides to snap back at the employee.
¡°Oh I¡¯m sorry, are we cutting into your fantasizing-time?¡± She needles him, gesturing towards the magazine he¡¯s still holding, even as he instinctively pulls it behind his body as if to shield it from her, ¡°Or are you just a bitter washout or never-was who gets mad at every more successful trainer he sees? Because boy let me tell you, you should probably go looking for a different job if that¡¯s the case.¡±
The guy¡¯s face reddens immediately, some kind of insult or slur clearly on the tip of his tongue, but he seems to think better of it. Instead, he merely scoffs, ¡°Whatever, tell me if you want to make use of the field.¡±
Then he sulkily sinks back down into his seat, ostentatiously pulling his magazine back in front of him. Josie¡¯s smile is triumphant, only to falter when she also catches sight of the rules.
¡°What!? No Flame Wheel? That¡¯s bullshit!¡± She objects furiously, though clearly fruitlessly, as the magazine-reader is entirely willing to ignore her.
Ran decides to offer an answer instead, as the rules all essentially come down to the same point, ¡°Basically anything that¡¯s going to damage the terrain is illegal at this one. I guess they don¡¯t have maintenance Pok¨¦mon to spare for every field. Maybe one of the other fields will be different?¡±
¡°They better,¡± Josie complains, even as she starts moving away from the stall and towards the edge of the battlefield already, clearly intent on moving on deeper into the tunnel, ¡°Because that¡¯s just unfair!¡±If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
Grady, previously surprisingly quiet, finally speaks up, ¡°I guess maybe that field is for low-level battles? I¡¯m sure one of the other fields will be better!¡±
Intrigued, Ran turns his attention towards the younger boy, as their small group moves past the first field entirely and starts wandering further down the tunnel once more, ¡°I¡¯m surprised you don¡¯t know for sure, Grady, haven¡¯t you visited the Tunnel before?¡±
Grady¡¯s answer is hard to make out in its entirety, as he mumbles most of it into his own collar, but key words like ¡®mom¡¯ and ¡®poor impulse control¡¯ can still be made out, which paint enough of a picture of just why an even younger Grady never visited the Tunnel before. It draws a muted laugh from Ran, even as Josie offers a consoling pat of Grady¡¯s shoulder, the kid¡¯s knees almost buckling under her surprising strength.
¡°That¡¯s alright Grady,¡± She consoles him with an eager grin, even as she points towards the source of the earlier crowd noise, which is gradually becoming more visible in the distance, ¡°Because that sure looks like a proper field to me!¡±
Josie¡¯s claim is just a bit premature, to Ran¡¯s mind, as with the small crowd up ahead obscuring the actual field, it¡¯s hard to draw any firm conclusions about just what material the terrain is made of. Going simply by the enthusiasm of the spectators however, it seems unlikely that whoever is battling, is restricted as heavily as the first battlefield would have made them.
Approaching further, Josie does end up being proven right, as although there is another, larger, stall that proudly proclaims this is a TUNNEL BATTLES location, that is where the similarities with the previous field end. A proper grass field lies in the middle of the tunnel, running from wall to wall, a small walking bridge on either end making it very clear that here, foot traffic has to yield to the needs of the professional trainer community. Not that the aforementioned foot traffic seems to mind, as the edges of the walking bridges sport more than a few eager spectators, who enjoy an elevated perch from which to spectate the ongoing battle.
The field is clearly one of the, if not the absolute, premier attraction(s) of the Goldenrod Tunnel. Considering the relatively early hour of the day, with the majority of the working population still at their day jobs, there¡¯s already a significant crowd spectating the ongoing battle. As Ran and his companions finally get a proper look at just what pok¨¦mon are battling, it quickly becomes clear just why the match has already drawn so much attention.
In what isn¡¯t quite a mirror match, a Slowbro and a Slowking are facing off. Considering the evolutionary forms¡¯ relative specialties, such a fight should always end up favoring Slowking. That Slowking is considered more ¡®Johtonian¡¯, for its greater focus on intelligence and mindfulness, whilst Slowbro is seen as the more ¡®Kantonian¡¯ form for its greater raw bulk, only further ensures that the crowd is firmly in the Slowking¡¯s corner. After just a few seconds of spectating however, it becomes readily apparent to Ran that the Slowking on the field is badly on the back foot.
Glancing towards the battling trainers, little about them truly stands out, other than the clear anger they¡¯re both showing. This obviously isn¡¯t a particularly friendly match. Continuing to look around for a moment, whilst his companions are both already fully captivated by the ongoing battle, Ran opts to head towards the stall. Originally having come down into the Tunnel in the first place out of a sincere hope for a good battle or two, it¡¯s only sensible for him to go and look at the rules and the prices on display.
Where the previous location only had a single bored job student, this place clearly gets a lot more attention, as not only are an older referee and a Mr. Mime currently officiating the ongoing battle whilst ensuring strong protective barriers are in place to safeguard the crowd, but there¡¯s another properly professional referee with a large bristly mustache and sharp eyes sitting in the booth. When he spots Ran¡¯s approach, he offers an encouraging smile, clearly far happier, or at the least far more professional, than the guy from earlier.
¡°Hello young man, welcome, welcome. Are you interested in booking a match?¡± He asks enthusiastically, one hand gesturing towards the large sign showing the prices involved.
¡°I am,¡± Ran acknowledges easily, ¡°Though this is my first time here, so I don¡¯t quite know how this works just yet. Is it just like a normal trainer battle in the wild, with you guys just offering a field and some extra safety precautions, or how does this work, exactly?¡±
The question draws a chuckle from the referee, though his whole bearing makes it clear that it isn¡¯t mean-spirited but rather good-natured, ¡°Goodness, if it was that simple I¡¯m sure that either myself or Joseph would be out of a job by the end of the week!¡±
His good cheer settling slightly, he draws a slightly deeper breath, before diving into a proper explanation he¡¯s clearly given plenty of times before, ¡°TUNNEL BATTLES has three locations, one of which you must have passed on the way here, as the other two are both closer to one of the Tunnel¡¯s entrances than us. One caters to beginning trainers and family pets who occasionally need to get a bit of a work out in. That is our location for what boils down to the so-called ¡®Tackle-battles¡¯ with us offering a simple field and an amateur referee. The second is for mid-range trainers, those who either have only recently entered the circuit or who are plateaued at a sub-six-badge-level. There, we offer a field with only a very small number of banned moves and a professional referee.¡±
Assuming that the field Ran and his friends encountered previously was the beginner¡¯s field, the second field sounds like it¡¯s perfect for their current skill level, but rather than interject, Ran is content to keep listening to the ongoing explanation.
¡°Finally, our current location is our biggest, drawing far more spectators and of course, the most spectacular battles. The currently ongoing battle, for example, is between a hometown trainer who recently made it to the Silver Conference preliminaries and a trainer from Kanto¡¯s Lavender Town, who missed out on the Indigo Plateau Conference by one badge. From what I gathered as they were booking, there were some words exchanged about the relative value of those performances.¡± The referee explains, temporarily sidetracking just slightly, before seeming to catch himself and forcibly course-correcting himself.
¡°Any trainer that wants to book at this location either needs a six-badge-minimum to join the regular queue, or needs to go on the long-term waiting list. To give you an idea, there¡¯s three battles already in the regular queue following this one. Those on the long-term waiting list only get their chance if the regular queue ever reaches zero. Frankly, it hardly ever does.¡± He continues easily, seemingly not noticing Ran¡¯s disappointment at his words, as what he¡¯s saying essentially boils down to ¡®you will not be battling here¡¯.
¡°Then of course there¡¯s our special evening events. Triples Tuesday, where all entrants get randomly matched into teams of three before competing in a single-elimination triple battle knockout format, and Tournament Thursday, which is a one-on-one, single pok¨¦mon knock-out format. Both events offer handsome prize pools, so if you¡¯ve got some trust in your team, be sure to come by and participate!¡± The referee finally winds down, clearly having reached the end of his well-worn spiel.
¡°So, are you interested in booking a challenge with us?¡± The man finally asks, gesturing once more to the sign behind him. Glancing at it more for propriety¡¯s sake than out of any genuine interest, considering that neither he nor his friend fit the criteria for the ¡®regular queue¡¯, Ran does at least find out that the prices are surprisingly low. Though perhaps, with just how many spectators are eating and drinking stuff they bought elsewhere in the Tunnel, perhaps the field itself doesn¡¯t need to run at a big profit to be more than worthwhile.
¡°In time,¡± Ran responds confidently, ¡°I¡¯ll be winning a few more badges first.¡±
The referee nods approvingly at his words, ¡°That¡¯s the spirit! In the meantime, be sure to check our other locations. Just because you aren¡¯t at this level yet, that doesn¡¯t mean you can¡¯t still get a good battle or two in, after all!¡±
Chapter 15, pt.2
Ran makes his way back to his friends, the ongoing battle clearly having ended during the latter part of his talk with the referee, as two other trainers are now squaring off, with a Furret desperately trying to weave through an Octillery¡¯s barrage in a thus-far-unsuccessful attempt to close the distance. Spotting the pair of Grady and Josie without too much difficulty, Ran is unpleasantly surprised to find an angry Grady glaring at Josie, who seems both utterly unrepentant and completely uninterested, ignoring the smaller boy¡¯s anger in favor of the ongoing battle. That is, until she notices that Ran¡¯s rejoined them, as he speaks up tiredly, ¡°Josie, what did you do this time?¡±
¡°Oh sure, because I must be in the wrong,¡± She complains half-heartedly, not even giving Ran her full attention, as her eyes remain locked on the ongoing battle, ¡°Kid¡¯s just upset I¡¯ve got some hometown pride.¡±
Josie¡¯s words are vague enough, but considering just what fight the two were spectating, Ran has the unpleasant thought that he might just know what Grady¡¯s anger is about. Already knowing that he¡¯s not going to enjoy this conversation, he still begrudgingly looks at Grady, not even needing to speak for the kid, because that is ultimately what he is, to start explaining just why he¡¯s upset.
¡°This guy with the Slowbro was saying that Kanto¡¯s league and conference are way tougher than ours! So I said to Josie that I was happy that she¡¯s not a stuck-up ass like that guy! And then she said- she said- she said he was right!¡± Grady blusters, outrage almost visibly pouring out of him.
¡°This other guy, that¡¯s why they were battling, he was defending us! But then when he lost, the other guy made him tell the whole crowd that winning a badge in Kanto is harder than it is here!¡± He continues furiously, before he once more glares at Josie. It doesn¡¯t take a genius to figure out what her response was to that particular statement.
¡°Let it go, Grady,¡± Ran sighs warily, having run into Josie¡¯s biases before and unwilling to confront them again already, ¡°One battle isn¡¯t enough to prove anything of the sort. There¡¯s no need to get all wound up just because Josie¡¯s being Josie.¡±
Josie, clearly at least still listening in even if most of her attention remains on the ongoing battle, finally aims a taunting grin at Ran, ¡°Sounds like loser talk to me, buddy.¡±
¡°Coming from the loser of our only match thus far, that doesn¡¯t really bother me.¡± Ran waves her off easily enough, familiar enough with Josie¡¯s banter and having accepted that Josie¡¯s view of Johto¡¯s league circuit is just something they¡¯ll have to disagree on for the foreseeable future. Grady, however, whether due to age, or unfamiliarity or who knows what else, takes her words far more seriously.
¡°And I¡¯ll show you who¡¯s the real loser! One-on-one, a real fight! When I beat you, you admit that we¡¯re just as good as your precious Kanto!¡± The Goldenrod-native declares heatedly, though with how upset he is and the way his voice hasn¡¯t lowered yet, Ran can¡¯t help but draw a mental comparison to an angrily yipping puppy.
¡°Sure thing,¡± She agrees confidently, her grin shifting from taunting to bloodthirsty, as she¡¯s clearly drawn out the reaction she was looking for in the first place, ¡°But after you¡¯ve lost, you¡¯ll be going shopping for some art supplies. Because I don¡¯t care about you proclaiming Kanto¡¯s superiority. Instead, with a nice, personally made banner to support me, I want you sitting on the very front row when I kick Whitney¡¯s ass.¡±
Grady accepts immediately, racing ahead immediately as he charges for the nearest foot bridge across the large battlefield. Clearly, he¡¯s absolutely focused on getting to the mid-range trainers¡¯ field, not clearly considering just what he just agreed to. Ran, however, is far calmer at the moment. Thus, he¡¯s the one to throw a sharp glare at Josie.
¡°You¡¯re not seriously going to do that to the kid, right? Whitney¡¯s his sponsor, you could ruin his career.¡± He asks swiftly, unable to hide a faint undercurrent of worry for Grady¡¯s future prospects.
Josie waves him off, ¡°Nah, don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t actually hold him to it. I just want him to go all-out, none of that fake crap he pulled back in Union Cave. Maybe have him make the banner, to rub his nose in it a bit. But after that I¡¯ll let him off the hook.¡±
Worries assuaged by Josie¡¯s answer, Ran untenses, as the pair finally start following Grady, who¡¯s already gotten to the top of the bridge in the brief window of time their question and answer delayed them by. As they follow, Ran finally jabs back at Josie, figuring that with her intending to be sensible about their wager, he can afford to wind her up just a bit.
¡°All of that assumes you win, of course. You¡¯re not forgetting that he¡¯s a gym-sponsored trainer with a year¡¯s worth of training under his belt, right?¡± He presses her, even as they start ascending the bridge, carefully maneuvering through the foot traffic and the spectators that use the bridge¡¯s elevated position to get a good look at the next match that¡¯s about to begin.
Josie scoffs disbelievingly, but when Ran¡¯s expression doesn¡¯t change, her bluster fades slightly, ¡°He¡¯s got a Voltorb, a Chinchou and an Eevee. What exactly am I supposed to be afraid of? Ginger¡¯ll trample whichever one he sends out.¡±
Ran, happy to see even the faintest trace of hesitation on Josie¡¯s part, raises the obvious point that even a cursory examination of Grady¡¯s team reveals, ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ve noticed this, but there¡¯s a water-type in that list.¡±
¡°Seriously?¡± She retorts, seemingly offended at the mere idea of a Chinchou on dry land posing any problems for her, ¡°If he¡¯s dumb enough to rely on that, it¡¯ll be a sitting duck!¡±
¡°If you say so.¡± Ran replies neutrally, content to end the conversation there and leave Josie to her own thoughts for the final minutes before her match, as they finally spot the third and final battlefield.
It¡¯s a respectable middle ground between the grandeur of the main field and the disappointment of the ¡®baby¡¯ field, though the lack of a large crowd and eager trainers waiting for their turns ensures that the overall impression Ran¡¯s left with is an underwhelming one. Even if it¡¯s not quite the inspiring sight they¡¯d been looking at mere minutes ago, the field is at least made out of proper terrain, with no astroturf to be seen. Grady is already waiting at the entrance to the field, the female referee standing by his side noticeably perking up when he assertively points out Josie as they draw nearer.
Josie immediately diverts towards her challenger and the referee, leaving Ran to wander over to the field¡¯s accompanying booth for a quick moment. Again, there¡¯s no second staff member around, though there is at least a Mr. Mime available, as the referee sends one out to create barriers around the field even as she briefly runs through the fight¡¯s agreed upon format and stakes. Ran, for his part, throws a brief look at the rules hanging in the stall, to see if anything truly stands out.
Essentially, the only really major difference to the ¡®main¡¯ arena, is a rule outlawing moves that affect the terrain to a depth greater than two feet. For the pok¨¦mon their group has available to them, that shouldn¡¯t become relevant, leaving the match between Josie and Grady to be as close to representative as they¡¯re likely to get. Ran wanders over for a better view, just as the referee winds down and raises her flag to start the battle.
As she does so, a few passersby pause and congregate around the field, seemingly interested to catch at least the start of the match. Ran doesn¡¯t pay them any mind, instead watching eagerly as Josie, as announced, sends out Ginger the Ponyta.
She¡¯s not the one he¡¯s interested in however, as instead he turns his attention to Grady¡¯s side of the field, where Chinchou does in fact materialize. The little blue sea-dweller¡¯s stubby feet are hardly an inspiring sight on a battlefield where there¡¯s not a single body of water, but after a moment¡¯s hesitation, as it clearly struggles to find its balance immediately upon materializing, it seems ready and willing enough to face the far larger fire-type on the other side of the field.
The referee lowers her flag, signaling the start of the fight. Immediately, Josie barks out an enthusiastic order.
¡°Flame Wheel, Ginger! Run it over!¡± She calls, unsurprisingly trying to engage her opponent aggressively with a frontal charge.
Even though Ginger hasn¡¯t evolved yet, which is when she¡¯ll truly come into her speed, according to what Ran knows of the Rapidash-line at least, there¡¯s still a fair bit of velocity behind her charge. She makes for an impressive visual, as the flames always gently coming off of her mane and tail flare up impressively, before getting drawn into a tight wheel looping around her own body from head to tail and then running back in the opposite direction between her legs.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
Impressive speed and visual or not, Ginger¡¯s charge doesn¡¯t by any means catch Chinchou and Grady by surprise.
¡°Bubble Beam, Chinchou, try and stand your ground.¡± He orders with a pained expression, clearly unhappy to be issuing an order that almost guarantees that Chinchou will be taking a painful hit. The Angler Pok¨¦mon doesn¡¯t seem to mind though, merely gathering its strength briefly before firing off an impressive attack of its own.
Bubbles, empowered by water-type energy to be far more threatening than a mere look at them might imply, shoot out of Chinchou¡¯s little mouth with surprising speed, heading directly at Ginger. It¡¯s looking like a direct collision between water and fire, the likely winner of which has Ran looking towards Josie doubtfully, checking to see if she¡¯s going to do anything to divert from her chosen course.
His look is for naught however, as Josie stubbornly doubles down, ¡°Power through, Ginger! Show ¡®em what Ponytapower is all about!¡±
Ginger neighs obediently, clearly in full agreement with her trainer. The flames that roar around her in a violently whirling Flame Wheel seem to flare up briefly, but before she¡¯s impacting the Bubble Beam, that temporary effect is already gone again. Still, she hits Chinchou¡¯s own attack with impressive strength, the explosive popping of the bubbles mixing with the hissing of steam and Ginger¡¯s aggressive neighs to form a discordant melody.
The fire-type¡¯s advance is clearly slowed by having to fight through a Bubble Beam, but not entirely stymied, as after a few long seconds, she bursts through to slam into Chinchou, which gets knocked away. The Flame Wheel peters out as Ginger throws her head back triumphantly, nickering pridefully. It¡¯s a show of strength, but, to Ran at least, it doesn¡¯t hide the clear signs of pain and exhaustion Ginger now shows.
Her flames burn less brightly, with her mane and tail at least two full inches shorter than they were at the start of the fight. Her stance is less confident, her footing seeming less steady than before. As for Chinchou, though it got thrown backwards impressively after being hit by a strong attack, it manages to find its feet with relative ease, looking far less worse for wear.
For a moment, the fight pauses, as both the pok¨¦mon on the field and the trainers commanding them take stock of things. It¡¯s an interesting situation, as although Chinchou does have the obvious type advantage, it¡¯s definitely a relatively weak pok¨¦mon from a purely physical point of view. Ginger for her part, although by no means a true powerhouse when compared to even her own evolved form, is definitely the one with more raw power available.
As things stand, type advantage won out in the first exchange, but a single glance from Ran in Josie¡¯s direction is enough to make him suspect that she¡¯s not inclined to really overhaul her approach. As she enthusiastically calls out her orders, that suspicion is quickly proven correct.
¡°Alright, if that¡¯s how it is, let¡¯s build up some proper speed! Flame Charge!¡± She calls out, her right fist punching forwards dramatically for emphasis.
Ginger rears back imposingly, her front hooves flaring up with visible flames in preparation. She neighs loudly whilst doing so, mirroring her trainer¡¯s own flair for the dramatic. Under the cover of Ginger¡¯s loud cry however, Ran is sure that Josie misses Grady¡¯s counter-order, which he gives only just loud enough for Ran to make it out.
¡°Thunder Wave when you¡¯re sure.¡± The younger trainer orders softly, timing his words in such a way that Josie completely misses them, distracted as she is by Ginger¡¯s actions. Though Ran can¡¯t tell if Grady did so deliberately, or whether he lucked into it.
Whether intentional or not, the result is the same, as Ginger charges forwards. Flames shoot up her form with every hoofbeat, her speed visibly increasing throughout her charge. She reaches her previous top speed easily and blows right past it, drawing a low, impressed whistle from Ran.
Maybe Grady and Chinchou are impressed as well, but they maintain their focus perfectly. As its antennae start to glow and spark menacingly, the exact moment where realization hits Josie is clearly visible, as her eyes widen in surprise, mouth half-opening before she stops herself, an aborted warning or command never materializing as she instead watches intensely as Ginger closes the final distance.
As the gap closes faster than ever, for an instant it looks as if Chinchou holds off on its Thunder Wave too long, or perhaps it didn¡¯t properly hear its trainer after all. Just as Ran instinctively braces for impact out of sheer empathy however, Chinchou finally acts. The bright yellow bulbous ends of its drooping antennae flare up even brighter, the lone sparks previously arcing across their surfaces suddenly intensifying and connecting. Then, the small net shoots forwards, expanding exponentially as it flies through the air.
Its surface area multiplies rapidly in the blink of an eye, whilst Ginger is far too close to try and dodge or retreat. Instead, the fire-type charges right through, whinnying in clear annoyance as paralyzing electric-type energy arcs across her form once the net collapses upon her. She¡¯s clearly hindered, as her movements become a lot more stilted, but the flames don¡¯t sputter out and her momentum doesn¡¯t simply disappear.
The obvious result of which is Chinchou once again being sent flying. This time however, Josie doesn¡¯t hesitate, clearly fully aware that with paralysis now a factor in the fight, she needs to keep up the pressure. Likewise, Grady seems fully aware that there won¡¯t be another breather, as he starts to call out his own order only moments after Josie.
¡°Stomp it down, Ginger! Don¡¯t give it any room!¡± She cries out, whilst Grady counters with another call for Bubble Beam.
Ginger starts out closer to Chinchou than she did at the start, but between the damage she¡¯s taken and now Thunder Wave¡¯s lingering effects, she¡¯s noticeably slower than she was at the start. The boost afforded to her by Flame Charge has clearly been canceled out and then some. Still, with the gap so reduced, she¡¯s no sitting duck just yet, as she tries to rush forwards to once more engage Chinchou before it can muster another Bubble Beam.
She doesn¡¯t make it, still at least a second or two away when another super-effective attack gets fired her way. Ran, for his part, would¡¯ve tried to order a dodge, though at the speeds and distances involved, the odds of success there would¡¯ve been slim at best. Still, Josie doesn¡¯t even make the attempt, instead merely clenching her fists together and leaning forwards as she tries to will Ginger through the Bubble Beam.
Her starter makes an admirable go of it, but by the time she makes it through Chinchou¡¯s attack, her flaming mane is reduced to little more than candle flame. Her attempted Stomp is so weakened, in fact, that Chinchou and Grady seem more than willing to let it hit. Because rather than try to dodge, they go for a decisive counter.
¡°Spark it up, Chinchou!¡± Grady cheers eagerly, even as Ginger¡¯s forelegs go rising into the air before coming down on the water-electric-type. Obediently, Chinchou¡¯s antennae once more produce visible arcs of electricity. Before, there¡¯d been some amount of structure to them gathering into webbing between its antennae, but now there¡¯s no such order to be found. Instead, wild arcs of electricity are sent racing across its body.
Then, Ginger makes contact, her own hooves landing heavily, but not devastatingly on Chinchou¡¯s form, whilst in turn the electricity travels in the other direction. Ginger visibly freezes up, her entire body stiffening, before keeling over to the side, landing heavily on the ground as she gets knocked unconscious.
¡°We did it!¡± Grady cheers enthusiastically, as he only barely manages to wait for the referee¡¯s match-ending call before he¡¯s running out onto the field to enthusiastically scoop Chinchou into his arms. His small blue pok¨¦mon trills proudly as it gets scooped up, surprising Ran somewhat with its high-pitched sound.
As for Josie, she looks as if she¡¯s been forced to suck on a Sitrus berry, though she does at least manage some kind words for Ginger¡¯s ball once she¡¯s recalled her starter. Ran joins the small crowd of spectators that¡¯s formed in politely applauding Grady, with the Goldenrod native clearly over the moon as he takes in that, yes, the applause is for him.
He seems to have completely forgotten about the fight¡¯s wager, not sparing Josie even a moment¡¯s attention as he instead basks in the crowd¡¯s praise. Ran, not quite as scatterbrained as Grady, does keep an eye on the fight¡¯s loser, which is why he¡¯s the one that sees Josie¡¯s moment of hesitation, as she realizes that she can sneak off the field without having to honor her bet. Her hesitation is brief however as, even though her expression remains sour, she visibly steels herself before marching onto the field as well.
¡°Oy, short stuff!¡± She calls out loudly, abrasive overconfidence seemingly falling into place quite easily, as a cover for the far less pleased emotions she was showing mere seconds ago, ¡°A bet¡¯s a bet. So yeah, in your own words: ¡®I admit that Johto is just as good as my precious Kanto.¡¯¡±
Grady¡¯s barely turned to face Josie by the time she¡¯s already finished her declaration, but that doesn¡¯t stop his smile from becoming even bigger than it already was. Especially when a few of the spectators start applauding all over again, and with significantly more enthusiasm, at those particular words out of Josie¡¯s mouth. Ran doesn¡¯t join them, because a single battle between two rookies with a combined total of four badges to their name is hardly something to base such statements off.
But he won¡¯t deny feeling a small sense of vindication as Josie departs the field in defeat, leaving Grady to soak up the cheers for another half minute or so, before the referee shoos him off the field. Apparently, Grady and Josie¡¯s battle had stirred up some interest, as another pair of trainers eagerly claims the field for themselves.
Whilst Josie rejoins him and with Grady not that far behind him, Ran¡¯s attention turns to the slowly growing crowd around the field. Though the vast majority aren¡¯t trainers, but rather spectators drawn to the field by the promise of free spectacle, there¡¯s a small but growing group of trainers as well. Clearly, their own group isn¡¯t the only one who doesn¡¯t quite reach the standards of the main arena.
With an eager grin, Ran scans the crowd, looking for another eager trainer to meet his eyes, as his hand drifts meaningfully to the pok¨¦balls hanging on his belt. Just because Grady and Josie are done for the moment, that doesn¡¯t mean he can¡¯t at least get a battle of his own in, after all.
Chapter 16, pt.1
Two days later, as Ran and Josie stand in front of Goldenrod City¡¯s massive Gym, they do so with very different moods.
Even though the battle he¡¯d ultimately gotten into at the Tunnel, pitting Aria the Ariados against a one-badge trainer¡¯s Aipom, had ultimately been a success, Ran was more than a little jittery about the prospect of facing Whitney. Because beating an Aipom in a debuff-focused fight with an evolutionary advantage was one thing, but Whitney¡¯s reputation made the upcoming fight another matter entirely.
At the same time, Josie didn¡¯t seem to have a care in the world, despite her less-than-stellar performance against Grady in the same Tunnel. Which wasn¡¯t too surprising as, even ignoring her generally more optimistic disposition, she wasn¡¯t from Johto. With the way she treated Johto¡¯s Gym Circuit, Ran hadn¡¯t been surprised that Josie had never really seen or heard much of Whitney, considering Josie¡¯s opinions on Johto¡¯s circuit.
To him however, it was unthinkable not to have heard of the Silver Conference Starlet, the young woman who, as a rookie, had already made it to the final 32. Who¡¯d returned every year, improving by leaps and bounds every time, before, finally, raising the trophy at the end of her third year as a trainer, after a run of dominance that beggared belief. How her famous Miltank, until that time considered a rather limited pok¨¦mon, had rolled over entire teams on its lonesome. When that wasn¡¯t enough, Whitney¡¯s true skill had gotten to shine, as from a roster of, at the time, eight pok¨¦mon, she hand-crafted a perfect counter to every opponent¡¯s approach to battling and their usual ¡®win conditions¡¯.
Only to then immediately become a Gym Leader, rather than even considering a challenge of the Indigo Plateau. From there, she¡¯d rapidly redefined what it meant to be a Gym Leader in Johto, raising the bar especially for low-level badge challenges, as she demanded a higher standard from not only herself, but of all pok¨¦mon trainers. More than one rookie¡¯s journey has come to a brusque end in Goldenrod City, with Whitney¡¯s badge demands too large of a step up for the unworthy.
He¡¯d tried to warn Josie about just who they were challenging, but Josie had laughed his worries away, ultimately causing him to give up on the matter. Josie had strong pok¨¦mon who loved her deeply and who¡¯d go to the ends of the world for her, which was to her credit as a trainer. But if she was going to insist on just rushing headfirst at any obstacle she encountered, even when that strategy had most recently proven lacking just two days ago, Ran wasn¡¯t going to waste any further energy on trying to get through to her.
Still, it left her eagerly bouncing in place, whilst Ran, standing right next to her, is feeling rather peaky at the moment.
¡°Oh come on Ran, there¡¯s no need for the long face!¡± She attempts to cheer him up, with little success, ¡°You¡¯re acting like you¡¯re about to challenge your first Gym! We¡¯ve done this before, remember? Your team¡¯s all powered up from those trinkets you got them, they¡¯re stronger than ever! Hell, that Ekans of yours is good enough to give Ginger a proper workout, you¡¯ll be fine!¡±
Ran lets out a tense scoff, anxiety over facing Whitney, whose name used to have three skulls next to it in his journey planner, warring with annoyance over Josie¡¯s attempt to underplay Ekans¡¯ performance against her Ponyta. Ultimately, perhaps unsurprisingly and, if he¡¯s being charitable, perhaps even intentionally, annoyance wins out.
¡°We did more than give her a workout and you know it.¡± He asserts, finally managing to tear his eyes away from the looming Gym building.
Josie waves him off, merrily skipping ahead of him as she leads the way towards the building¡¯s entrance, ¡°Bul-ba-saur, Bulb-a-saur.¡±
Ran can do little but offer a beleaguered sigh in turn, as he follows in his friends¡¯ footsteps. Their recently-acquired third member isn¡¯t in attendance, with Grady begging off due to ¡®not being ready to face the boss yet¡¯, whilst Ekans and the rest of his teams are in their balls. So he¡¯s got nobody to complain to as he trails after Josie, as they finally enter the Gym.
Considering that Josie¡¯s challenge is still over twenty minutes off, and the half hour between their respective challenges, Ran can¡¯t follow Josie into the waiting room, which is why he instead wanders to the viewing galleries. Not that he minds, of course, as he¡¯s happy to spectate a few matches to see if he can¡¯t glean anything new from Whitney¡¯s approach to battling.
He knows her style at the highest levels, of course, relying on extensive research of her opponents and building her own chosen team out of her comprehensive roster to have counters for anything her opponent has up their sleeve. Then, she tends to work towards the perfect circumstances for a designated ¡®sweeper¡¯ pok¨¦mon. Most iconically, her pok¨¦mon of choice for that particular role was her absolute monster of a Miltank, though her Tauros was a close second.
But those pok¨¦mon are far too strong for even an eighth-badge challenge, Conference winners as they are. Plus, with the demands placed on a Gym Leader, not to mention the far greater frequency of battles she gets to run through as a Gym Leader compared to at the Conference, there¡¯s no realistic way for her to deliberately build teams to counter every single challenger. So, it¡¯ll be interesting what he can learn about Whitney¡¯s style when she¡¯s fighting ¡®blind¡¯, as it were.
The stands aren¡¯t quite filled to the brim, as finding a seat doesn¡¯t prove too challenging, but there¡¯s still a significantly greater number of spectators here than at either of the previous two Gyms he¡¯s challenged. Then again, considering the sheer numbers disparity in population, that¡¯s hardly a surprise. Not to mention the simple fact that Whitney¡¯s just a lot more popular than either Falkner or Bugsy.
Ran settles on his seat just as the Lickitung Whitney currently has on the field disposes of the Raticate it¡¯s facing, an almost contemptuous Rock Smash enough to knock the brown Mouse Pok¨¦mon out. As the referee announces the outcome, declaring the second-badge challenge of ¡®Rudy Glass¡¯ unsuccessful, Ran takes a proper look around the arena.
The field is the standard dirt rectangle, with neat chalk lines delineating the middle of the field and both the trainers¡¯ and the referee¡¯s boxes. The stands are also perfectly standard, if it weren¡¯t for their bubblegum-pink coloring, with the seat cushions a complementary pastel green. The color combination at least works well enough, but it¡¯s still a rather garish sight compared to the usually more subdued colors chosen by the other Gyms Ran has visited before.
Not that the spectators seem to mind, merely cheering Whitney enthusiastically as another challenger enters the arena. Surprisingly, the young woman who faces Whitney challenges at a sixth-badge level, which is soon explained by the announcer mentioning that she¡¯s carrying over an incomplete five badges from the previous league year. The explanation draws some muted jeering from the crowd and a pained expression from the challenger, but not enough for her to lose her focus, as she sends out her first of the four pok¨¦mon she¡¯ll be using.
What follows is an impressive display of fighting-type prowess, as her Hitmontop spins right through both Whitney¡¯s Persian and Wigglytuff, before finally stalling out against an especially angry Ursaring. The Ursaring then goes down to a Hitmonchan, which takes a fair amount of damage, but at least sees Whitney¡¯s final pok¨¦mon arrive on the field.
Miltank is renowned for its Thick Fat, making the trainer¡¯s choice to keep trying for Fire Punch whilst her Hitmonchan gets whittled down a strange one. But it ends up paying off, when, just before Hitmonchan finally goes down, Miltank picks up a noticeable burn. From that point on, the result is no longer in doubt, as the third variant of the Tyrogue-evolutions gets sent out, a series of devastating kicks delivering victory for Hitmonlee over its weakened opponent.
The crowd is appreciative of the display, any disappointment over Whitney¡¯s loss limited due to her win in the previous match. That the challenger appears to be a fighting-type specialist, which is a type renowned for its straightforward, honorable and technical approach to battling, likely helps the crowd reception as well. Whitney for her part doesn¡¯t seem to mind the loss either, her body language calm as she exchanges the traditional quiet words of advice with her successful challenger in the middle of the ring.
After the budding fighting-type specialist exits to another round of crowd applause, the next match is, to put it very mildly, extremely brief. The challenger is clearly an unsponsored trainer like Ran himself, a fifteen year old girl with only a single pok¨¦ball on her belt and, as the announcer declares, with no badges to her name.
Generally, it¡¯s well-known that Whitney¡¯s difficulty curve is a lot steeper than that of most of the other Gyms, with only Mahogany and Blackthorn having a similar reputation for just how demanding they are. So Ran can¡¯t help but feel some measure of pity for unsponsored trainers hailing from Goldenrod, when they¡¯re expected to challenge Whitney for their first badge. Of course the unsponsored trainer loses some of that pity immediately, as she could always have left her hometown without her first Badge, like Ran himself did, but the attached stigma is admittedly a factor that sees him remaining largely empathetic.
Then she sends out her single pok¨¦mon, which proves to be an underwhelming Snubbull, which shows all the signs of life as a ¡®house¡¯-pok¨¦mon, rather than a ¡®trainer¡¯-pok¨¦mon. Its fur coat is meticulously groomed and its fangs are white and shiny, but there is no swell of muscle under its fur and those fangs are thin and brittle-looking, leaving Ran to sigh in clear disappointment roughly two minutes before most of the audience ends up mimicking him.
Because roughly two minutes is all Whitney - though she sends out a Sentret which should by no means be an insurmountable obstacle for a first-badge challenge - needs to absolutely demolish her opponent. The fight is forgettable in the extreme, to such an extent that Ran hardly learns anything from it, nor can he even hope to really recollect the exact sequence of moves. It just doesn¡¯t merit any space in his brain.
Even as the unsponsored and horribly underprepared ¡®trainer¡¯ exits the Gym in shame, it leaves Whitney with a few minutes to spare, as her next challenger, Josie, isn¡¯t scheduled for another seven minutes. She takes the time to have a drink from some kind of sports drink from a far too brightly colored can, before turning her attention to the crowd, as she slips on a wireless headset.
¡°So Goldenrod City, how are you all feeling?!¡± She shouts enthusiastically, drawing energetic cheers from the crowd as they respond to their beloved Gym leader. Ran for his part remains mute, content to listen and learn.
¡°I¡¯ve got a bit of an announcement to make, actually,¡± Whitney tells the crowd, once they¡¯ve quieted down a bit, immediately setting them buzzing with frantic whispers and curious inquiries, ¡°Because our freshest group of rookie trainers has been up to some great stuff, do you all want to hear about it?!¡±This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.
The crowd loudly affirms that they do, a hundred variations of ¡°Yes!¡± rolling off of the stands and towards Whitney, who plays her crowd like a maestro. She offers a generous smile, arms opening wide to accept the crowd¡¯s enthusiastic response before bringing her hands down and the crowd¡¯s volume with it, as they hang on her lips.
¡°Alright!¡± Whitney acknowledges cheerily, ¡°To start, Selene and Eva won their second badges at Olivine City two days ago!¡±
Ran can tell that the crowd wants to applaud, but this is clearly not the first time Whitney does something like this, as everyone remains mindful of the limited amount of free time Whitney has, remaining quiet so that she¡¯s free to swiftly continue her announcement.
¡°Yesterday, Donnie and Grace added the Hive Badge of Azalea to their tally! With Violet¡¯s Zephyr Badge already secured, I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll be seeing the both of them in this very Gym, to show how much they¡¯ve progressed, soon!¡± Whitney continues, her voice clearly building to a crescendo, everyone in attendance innately recognizing by her words and the pitch of her voice that there¡¯ll be a third and final point coming.
¡°But they¡¯re all lagging behind a bit, because Grady Kendrick, whose second badge everyone already knows about, is already back in Goldenrod City!¡± Whitney finally announces, to stunned and awed gasps from the crowd. Just before they can break into applause, she swiftly continues, ¡°He¡¯s not booked for a challenge yet and he hasn¡¯t visited the Gym just yet either, but I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be getting to see the first of this year¡¯s sponsored trainers in live action very soon indeed!¡±
Finally, Whitney visibly finishes her announcement, hands going to her headset a clear sign for the crowd that they¡¯re allowed to applaud and cheer. Which they of course immediately do. Rather energetically at that.
Considering the reception his name and feats are receiving, Ran wonders whether Grady knew in advance and didn¡¯t feel like being the center of attention, or whether he didn¡¯t feel ready to see ¡®the boss¡¯ yet due to misinterpreting his own standing amongst his fellow sponsored trainers. Whichever of the two is the case, Ran swiftly uses his pok¨¦gear to send Grady a swift summary of the past five minutes.
Two minutes later, just as Josie enters the arena and the referee starts briefly running over the rules - 3 pok¨¦mon per trainer, singles, 1 non-move-switch allowed - he gets a picture back of a smiling face emoji melting into a puddle of goo. Which doesn¡¯t tell him a whole lot, but there¡¯s no time to be spared thinking about it now. Instead, his focus turns to Josie¡¯s match, as she sends out Soot the Houndour whilst Whitney opts for a Meowth.
Then, the battle begins.
Josie immediately sends Soot charging towards Meowth, maw glowing ominously with a Fire Fang. Yet again, she opts to charge straight in and, yet again, it bites her in the ass, as Meowth uses its greater speed and skill at feinting to Fake Out Soot, sharp claws carving across the dark-fire type¡¯s maw. He lets out a pained whine as his Fire Fang fizzles out weakly, clearly stunned by Meowth¡¯s surprising move.
Meowth follows up with Fury Swipes, carving away at Soot like he¡¯s a scratching post, but the undoubtedly younger pok¨¦mon manages to rally admirably, letting out a surprisingly powerful Roar, which forces the Meowth off of him. It doesn¡¯t quite manage to force it back into its ball, like the move should be capable of under the right circumstances, but that clearly wasn¡¯t the intent anyways, as Soot largely ignores Meowth¡¯s Growl - though he can¡¯t hide a full body shiver - and, following Josie¡¯s shouted instructions, finally manages to land a harsh Fire Fang on his foe.
The hit is strong and lands well, Meowth visibly weakened even as Soot temporarily releases his grip. Rather than risk the slight wind-up needed for a second Fire Fang, Josie orders a Bite, clearly intending to press their advantage into a decisive win. There¡¯s enough of an opening for Meowth and Whitney to attempt some kind of counter, dodge or defensive, but rather than any of these, Meowth merely lets out another Growl.
It draws a pitiful whine from Soot, clearly unhappy to be subjected to the weakening move. But it isn¡¯t enough to stop him, as he Bites down harshly, shaking Meowth around for a second or two before throwing him away like a limp ragdoll.
Whitney doesn¡¯t even let Meowth¡¯s form impact the floor, nor does she wait for the referee¡¯s flag to go up. Instead, she recalls the limp form mid-flight, calling out Meowth¡¯s withdrawal from the match as she does so.
Josie pumps her fist, jumping up and down happily as she goes up by one pok¨¦mon, with Soot still looking good to continue, though the clear hesitance in his stance - an obvious effect of Growl - would be enough for Ran to withdraw him at least temporarily, were he in Josie¡¯s shoes. But the blonde seems to have no such inclinations, merely cheering Soot on as a Furret appears on the other side of the field.
¡°Coil!¡± Whitney immediately orders, to Ran¡¯s pleasant surprise, as the familiar move gets his immediate attention. Though it looks somewhat different on Furret compared to what his research showed for Ekans, for obvious reasons, it¡¯s still interesting to see just how Whitney intends to utilize it. Where the Ekans-line is long enough to form a few ascending rings out of its own body, Furret instead forms an inwards spiral, hiding his head in the middle of a circle of fur. Instinctively, Ran¡¯s hand drifts to Ekans¡¯ pok¨¦ball, eager for a learning opportunity.
Unfortunately, common sense reasserts itself, as pok¨¦mon are not allowed out of their balls in the stands. Which makes sense, all things considered, but it is a significant inconvenience at the moment. Still, he¡¯s got no time or energy to waste on whining about it, as the fight properly picks up speed.
Josie wastes precious seconds as she waits for Furret to do something more than coil up, showing her clear unfamiliarity with the move.
It¡¯s a hesitation Whitney clearly plans to make her pay for, as she orders another Coil. Only then, as Furret¡¯s sleek form visibly buffs up slightly, fur growing noticeably bristlier as the skin underneath bulges with muscle, does Josie realize what she¡¯s allowing to happen.
¡°Get in there and use Fire Fang!¡± She orders hurriedly, Soot barking obediently and racing towards his target.
Whitney seems plenty happy to let it happen however, not ordering her Furret to defend itself or attack in turn. Instead, she calls for an Agility. Which seems out of place¡ unless¡
A cold pit forms in Ran¡¯s gut, as he frantically whips open his pok¨¦gear. There¡¯s no way Furret learns- It¡¯s able to learn Baton Pass.
He hesitates, wanting to shout a warning to Josie, but wary of calling Whitney¡¯s wrath upon both of them by doing so. It¡¯s vital information, of course, but the whole point of a Gym Battle is that a trainer gets to prove that they¡¯re ready to have the badge. Crowd interference flies more than a little in the face of that. Still, as Furret¡¯s form visibly grows sleeker once more mere moments before Houndour¡¯s Fire Fang can impact, part of Ran wants desperately to help his friend.
Yet as Soot bites down, only for Furret to essentially shrug the attack off, wriggling out of the Houndour¡¯s flaming maw with only a few char marks to show for Josie¡¯s efforts. When it then hurriedly runs away, easily outspeeding Soot¡¯s instinctive pursuit, Ran¡¯s head drops into his hands in defeat. Unless Josie catches on to what¡¯s happening immediately¡
She¡¯s losing.
Josie at least hasn¡¯t realized as much yet, as she continues to encourage Soot, calling for him to Howl, which should at least largely undo the effects of Meowth¡¯s successive Growls. Still, whilst Josie doesn¡¯t seem bothered by Whitney¡¯s call for Furret to use another Coil, Ran can only pinch the bridge of his nose in powerless frustration.
Again, Soot bravely charges in the moment Josie calls for him to do so. Whitney doesn¡¯t even hide her frown as Josie calls for another Fire Fang, clearly unimpressed by Josie¡¯s overreliance on a single approach. Yet, just as Soot closes in, Josie actually pulls out a surprise.
¡°Switch to Smog!¡± She commands sharply, causing Soot to obediently snap his flaming jaws shut immediately. Perhaps aided along by the snuffed-out fire, the amount of smokey smog that pours out from between his clamped jaws is supremely impressive, a thick bank of purplish black smog wafting out around Soot. Whitney and Furret are both clearly caught by surprise, with neither reacting fast enough to prevent Furret from inhaling a massive breath of Smog.
¡°Now follow up with another Fire Fang!¡± Josie commands enthusiastically, clearly believing that the tables have turned.
Before Soot can react, however, Whitney cuts Josie¡¯s rally off with a curt order, ¡°Quick Attack.¡±
Furret almost becomes a blur, nearly moving too fast for the naked eye to see. Considering how close both pok¨¦mon are to each other, its first attack doesn¡¯t have too much momentum behind it just yet, but it¡¯s already enough to knock Soot back. The second hit, as Furret turns on a dime and races right back for another collision, is enough to knock Soot over. The third one is enough to draw a pained whine that sharply cuts off, as Josie¡¯s first combatant is knocked out.
Furret comes to a standstill on its side of the field, at least showing the encouraging and clear signs of poisoning in its labored breathing and occasional pained twitches. Josie clearly spots it as well, confidently sending out Chief the Growlithe.
Both pok¨¦mon face off, with Furret clearly damaged but under the effect of multiple self-empowering moves, whilst Chief is completely fresh. With the poison, the Gym Leader¡¯s pok¨¦mon is on a timer, but before Josie can even give a command, or begin to actually use the poisoned status of Furret to her advantage, Whitney speaks up dramatically.
¡°Enough playing around!¡± She announces, drawing immediate oohs and aahs from her adoring crowd, ¡°The Smog was a clever little trick, but I¡¯ve seen enough here. Furret, Baton Pass! We¡¯re ending this quickly!¡±
Obediently, Furret brings its front paws together, normal-type energy quickly manifesting and forming into a remarkably baton-like shape. Then, Furret dissolves into the red energy everyone associates with pok¨¦balls, whilst the ¡®baton¡¯ hovers in place for a moment. Ran can only watch from the sidelines as Whitney selects her third pok¨¦ball, whilst Josie¡¯s paling face is a clear indicator that she¡¯s finally realizing just how much trouble she¡¯s in.
The Miltank that appears on the field definitely isn¡¯t the Miltank that made Whitney the youngest Conference winner in Johto¡¯s history. Yet, when the ¡®baton¡¯ flies towards it and impacts its skin, transferring the boosts Furret gave itself to an intrinsically stronger pok¨¦mon, it might as well be.
Josie lets out a sulfurous string of swears, only briefly interrupting herself to order Chief to use Agility. Whitney is significantly less verbose, only speaking a single horrible word.
¡°Rollout.¡±
Over the next five seconds, Chief manages two amazing dodges, Miltank¡¯s speed building rapidly with both passes. On the third try, there isn¡¯t even an attempt to dodge, as the fire-type clearly realizes that he won¡¯t make it out of the way. Instead, like Soot before him, he clearly forms a Fire Fang, attempting to bite down on the incoming threat.
The impact is brief. The impact is decisive.
Miltank rolls through seemingly entirely unbothered by the attempted counter-attack, whilst Chief is revealed, partially embedded into the ground and clearly unconscious. Miltank rolls to a stop, merrily bouncing in place, its thick fat still present but appearing less ¡®loose¡¯ under the influence of Furret¡¯s boosts.
Ran glances to Josie, only to spot the blonde¡¯s pained expression and realize that that¡¯s as close to an admission of defeat as Josie gets. She still sends out Ginger the Ponyta, her starter, immediately calling for an Agility, but as Miltank merely moves into another Rollout, the fight¡¯s conclusion is already set in stone.
There is no surprising tactic, there is no last-gasp evolution, there is no ace up Josie¡¯s sleeve. There¡¯s merely her starter, who valiantly uses Agility before dodging the first Rollout, before Flame Charging directly at Miltank as it turns about for another go.
It isn¡¯t enough.
Ginger definitely tries, but she simply gets blown away by Miltank, a single hit from the super-effective, built up, Rollout enough to knock her out and, through the elimination of Josie¡¯s third combatant, end the match.
To Josie¡¯s credit, she doesn¡¯t cry or storm out. Instead, she meets Whitney in the middle of the arena, head held high, as the Gym Leader offers her some private words of advice. Once Whitney finishes sharing whatever wisdom she wishes to impart upon Josie, Ran¡¯s friend walks off of the field, whilst Whitney returns to her side of the arena, an assistant coming up to trade out her current pok¨¦balls for a new collection.
As for the crowd, once they realize that there¡¯ll be no ¡®loud¡¯ part to the post-match talk, dozens of smaller conversations break out as pairs and small groups of viewers start discussing what they just witnessed. Ran doesn¡¯t have anyone to talk to and with only two matches ahead of his own, he might as well start heading towards the waiting area.
Plus, if he runs into Josie on the way, trying to cheer her up a bit might distract him from the thought that he¡¯s about to challenge Whitney at the same level she just did. Because as far as he¡¯d been concerned just ten minutes ago, Josie and he were roughly at the same level.
Which would mean¡
Yep, time for a distraction.
Chapter 16, pt.2
He doesn¡¯t end up encountering Josie, the blonde likely having made a beeline towards the pok¨¦center. Maybe she¡¯ll return in time to watch his own match, maybe she won¡¯t. Ran can¡¯t concern himself with those thoughts however, as he instead thinks furiously on how he¡¯ll approach his own match. The original plan, which was to start out by letting Skorupi debut before relying on the strength of the rest of his team, is discarded immediately.
After all, Whitney¡¯s third-badge challenge is clearly more than just an ¡®average¡¯ step up from Bugsy¡¯s second-badge challenge, when looking at the pok¨¦mon fielded and the strategies employed. Josie may have been far too simplistic in her approach whilst lacking for solutions that weren¡¯t just focused on directly overpowering the opponent, but she¡¯d also been unfortunate to run into a Miltank that got to come in on a major Baton Pass. Bugsy had shown a vaguely similar approach in some of the matches Ran had studied, by focusing on slowing down his opponents before letting his sweeper come in, but Whitney takes that to a whole other level.
If she wants to pull the same trick on Ran, he¡¯ll need to be ready for it. Not to mention his need to account for the sheer bulk of Miltank, which is seemingly a near-constant as Whitney¡¯s ace. It isn¡¯t as if his team has any true offensive powerhouses capable of easily punching through Miltank¡¯s defenses. He¡¯ll have to be more clinical about things. Which means that, unfortunately, Ekans will have to lead.
Whitney might have some way to clear the battlefield, but as she hasn¡¯t shown anything of the like throughout the matches he¡¯s spectated, he can gamble on Toxic Spikes right from the start. The strategy is obviously a lot more prevalent as one advances up the badge tiers, but for a third badge challenge, it might be a surprise her selected pok¨¦mon won¡¯t have any answers to. Then, Ekans can focus on debilitating and weakening the opponent. At some point, ideally against Whitney¡¯s second pok¨¦mon, assuming Ekans manages to beat the first and weaken the second, Aria will get to enter the field.
Assuming she manages to take out her opponent with Fell Stinger, which is what he¡¯ll try his hardest to set her up for, that¡¯ll give her the kind of boost where even a Miltank or similarly bulky opponent won¡¯t be able to withstand her. Finally, he¡¯ll have Golbat and his mobility in reserve as a final ace up his sleeve.
Entering the waiting room, once more a larger communal area rather than consisting of smaller individual rooms, Ran deliberately relaxes his shoulders. There¡¯s still reasons for caution and tension, but it is a workable plan. It¡¯s a good plan, even. Not perfect, but then this can be a lesson to not get overconfident and properly scout out the Gyms he¡¯ll be challenging further down the road. It¡¯s his own fault for booking a challenge so shortly after his arrival to the city.
As he sinks down on an unoccupied pink bean bag chair in one corner of the waiting area, he offers a terse nod towards the lone other trainer in the room. For a moment Ran considers starting a conversation, but a single proper look at the nauseous expression on the other guy¡¯s face has him reconsider. Well, that and the lone pok¨¦ball at his side.
Yet another unready unsponsored Goldenrod trainer about to get embarrassed publicly, then. Not someone worth wasting too much time or thought on. Instead, he turns to his pok¨¦gear, looking to shoot Josie a quick message in hopes of possibly cheering her up a bit, but that¡¯s when he notices that there¡¯s no reception in the waiting area. Which is probably a deliberate choice, either on Whitney¡¯s or the League¡¯s part. Something to keep in mind for when he¡¯s challenging for his fourth badge.
Glancing around the room for a distraction of some kind, Ran slowly starts to get jittery again. The floor consists of baby pink carpet tiles, whilst the walls are a garish hot pink with a few gold veins running through it. The seating on offer is solely made up out of bean bag chairs, available in a variety of soft pinks, greens and oranges. It is, to his eyes at least, a painful display.
For someone trying to keep his cool and retain his focus, it¡¯s almost the polar opposite of what he¡¯d personally have liked the room to look like. Which doesn¡¯t change his circumstances. If this is what he¡¯ll have to deal with before he can win his third badge, then so be it. Even if it¡¯s a bit low of Whitney to secretly try and wind up her challengers like this in advance of their match.
The solution is obvious, as Ran simply closes his eyes and relies only on his ears to keep informed on what¡¯s happening around him.
Either the soundproofing between the waiting area and the arena is exceptional, or there¡¯s a relatively low-tier challenge ongoing, as no sounds or impacts carry through to the waiting area from the ongoing battle beyond the big double doors. Other than that, there¡¯s little to be heard but the quick, shallow breaths of the other waiting trainer until, two minutes later, the doors audibly swing open.
A heavy gulp, the speed of his breathing picks up even further and then he¡¯s gone, leaving Ran to wait alone. Briefly, he hears the crowd¡¯s many conversations blending into an unintelligible murmur, but then the double doors swing closed once more and Ran is left truly alone once more.
Well, he¡¯s not truly alone, of course, as one hand falls to the pok¨¦balls on his belt. Their presence is a comfort, a grounding, calming weight under his hand. He¡¯s almost close to falling into an impromptu nap, when the smaller door on the other side of the waiting area swings open, the next trainer to challenge after Ran entering the waiting area.
Grateful for the distraction, because actually falling asleep would be foolish to say the least, Ran opens his eyes and looks to see just who entered the room. It¡¯s a younger girl, so she¡¯s definitely a sponsored trainer. There¡¯s something faintly familiar about her as well, though he¡¯s drawing a blank as to just where he¡¯s recognizing her from.
He runs over her defining characteristics: short light brown hair, boyish clothes, shoes that have seen better years, let alone days, and deep purple headphones which are probably blasting some kind of overly peppy beat directly into her brain. None of it stands out as the defining characteristic he¡¯s getting caught on. The girl for her part examines him in turn, but she doesn¡¯t break the silence, merely glancing around before outright diving for the biggest bean bag chair in the room, which she¡¯s soon almost entirely swallowed up by, only her head popping up out of the orange cocoon that envelops the rest of her leery form.
He wracks his brain for a minute, struggling to recall just where he might have seen or met this girl before, but with little success. Eventually, he gives up, at least grateful for the temporary distraction. Instead, his attention turns to the surprising number of pok¨¦balls on her belt. Surprising, because she¡¯s clearly on her first tour going by her apparent age, yet she¡¯s already got a full six pok¨¦balls on display.
Sure, Josie¡¯s got three and he¡¯s got four and neither of them is officially sponsored - Josie¡¯s dad bankrolling her doesn¡¯t count - but they at least had a few years before setting out. This girl can¡¯t have been a trainer for more than a few months. Even if a sponsorship ensures that she¡¯s got the means to already support a team of six, that she¡¯s filled up her team this quickly shows that she either had a very clear plan and the opportunities to fulfill it extremely smoothly or¡ and it¡¯s by far the more likely option to Ran¡¯s mind, she¡¯s an overeager idiot who just caught the first handful of wild pok¨¦mon she liked the sight of.
Speculating about the possible make-up of her team keeps him occupied for the next five minutes, as he considers the known variables. She¡¯s clearly sponsored and she¡¯s in Goldenrod roughly two months into the season. So probably either her second or third badge. Ecruteak, Cianwood, Azalea or Violet as her previous stop. But that essentially opens up everything but Blackthorn as her starting point. So are there any sponsorships he knows of that would emphasize building a full roster early?
That¡¯s the question he¡¯s still breaking his head over, when the double doors open. Which is enough to draw him out of his own head and essentially dismiss the mysterious girl from his mind entirely. It¡¯s time to face Whitney and win his third badge, after all.
It¡¯s only a few steps through the double doors, through the small hallway, before he¡¯s finally stepping out onto the field once more. Briefly, his attention turns to the audience, looking for any familiar faces, but if Josie or Grady are in attendance, then they¡¯re not trying to catch his attention.
The audience is a lot more intimidating from this side, compared to his previous Gym challenges. Goldenrod¡¯s larger population and Whitney¡¯s greater reputation suddenly actually becoming oppressive in a way they hadn¡¯t been when Ran himself had been seated amongst them. Still, he won¡¯t let anything stop him from doing what he¡¯s come here for.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Stepping into his box, he listens with a half ear as the announcer briefly runs through a simple summary of his career thus far - the Zephyr and Hive badges, first season, unsponsored - before the referee takes over and quickly runs through the familiar rules - 3 pok¨¦mon per trainer, one legal substitution - all while Ran focuses on the feel of Ekans¡¯ pok¨¦ball under his fingers and the memorization of his new plan.
Then, finally, it¡¯s time to begin, as the referee raises both flags and counts them both down. He looks towards Whitney, to see her cheerily selecting a pok¨¦ball and readying to throw it onto the field. He looks to the stands one final time, briefly scanning to see if he can¡¯t spot Josie after all. She really doesn¡¯t appear to be in attendance, which is fair enough.
When the referee gives the signal, Ekans pok¨¦ball is sent out onto the field by a vigorous throw. On the opposite side of the field, a form materializes out of red energy as Ran watches tensely. If Whitney¡¯s going with a front-loaded team, rather than building towards a sweeper, his approach will have to change drastically.
But any ideas of changing the plan are dismissed, when Ekans ends up facing a Jigglypuff.
A Jigglypuff?
A Jigglypuff, of all things.
He¡¯s¡ honestly pretty insulted. Something he doesn¡¯t bother to hide, as his expression falls. Whitney notices as much, her mouth opening to-
¡°Ekans, Toxic Spikes!¡± He immediately barks out, pouncing eagerly on Whitney¡¯s momentary lapse.
It only wins them a half second, as Whitney hurriedly counters with an order to use Echoed Voice, but that¡¯s enough of a window for Ekans to start acting. His scales rise up slightly, visibly bristling with poison-type energy as the top layer rises slightly away from Ekans¡¯ thick hide. On the other side of the field, Jigglypuff opens its mouth and lets out a loud shout which reverberates oddly across the battlefield, only to be oddly muted for the trainers and spectators, as it bounces off of the invisible barriers that surround the field.
Ekans weathers the attack with little difficulty, Jigglypuff¡¯s limited power not able to truly hurt him just yet. In turn, the Toxic Spikes are fired off, shooting up into the sky before slowly swirling towards the ground, spreading out to cover the entirety of the field. Jigglypuff lets out an audible huff, empowered by the lingering effects of Echoed Voice, which in turn draws a taunting hiss from Ekans.
¡°Again!¡± Ran commands, wanting to further increase the number of hazards on the field and trusting in Ekans ability to withstand Jigglypuff¡¯s efforts for a while yet.
¡°You as well, Jigglypuff!¡± Whitney counters, as both pok¨¦mon execute the same moves a second time.
The differences are notable however, as Ekans takes a moment longer to muster up a second load of Toxic Spikes, whilst Jigglypuff¡¯s Echoed Voice is noticeably stronger. Its cry echoes painfully, seeming to come not just from Jigglypuff¡¯s mouth, but also originating from other places spread throughout the arena. The discordant clamor that¡¯s created by Echoed Voice¡¯s peculiar effect is far from pleasant, as Ekans throws his head around in agitation, now clearly suffering the attack¡¯s effect more than during the first go.
Still, it isn¡¯t enough to stop him, as he sends out a second salvo of Toxic Spikes, further coating the field with poisonous hazards. Immediately, Ran delivers another order, hoping to cut off Jigglypuff¡¯s Echoed Voice before it can build even further.
¡°Glare!¡± He orders Ekans, who obediently rises up and looks to lock gazes with Jigglypuff. However, Whitney counters with an unexpected command of her own.
¡°Disable!¡± She calls out, Jigglypuff¡¯s eyes for a moment becoming black voids, before it meets Ekans¡¯ gaze. Ran¡¯s starter visibly recoils, the ominous yellow glow in his eyes cutting off abruptly as Disable overcomes his Glare and locks his ability to use the move away for now.
Ran lets out an angry hiss that wouldn¡¯t be out of place on his starter, as the mysterious Disable disposes of a move he¡¯s grown rather reliant on, when battling alongside Ekans. Maybe Ekans will be able to use his Glare again in just a handful of seconds, or maybe he won¡¯t be able to use it again until he¡¯s been recalled. With Disable, that oh so curious move people are still trying to make heads or tails of, it¡¯s impossible to tell.
¡°Not so fun when the shoe¡¯s on the other foot, huh?¡± Whitney taunts him, drawing Ran¡¯s attention temporarily from his dismayed starter towards his smug opponent. She¡¯s clearly amused to have gotten one over on him, in a way that¡¯s worryingly reminiscent of her behavior back in the Conference, when she poked holes in every opponent¡¯s strategy with an impossible ease.
The clear connection leaves Ran anxiously wondering whether Whitney somehow actually did end up researching him. It seems impossible, because where would she find the time? Still, her taunt needs to be answered.
So he does so, with a single sharp call, ¡°Acid!¡±
Ekans obeys instantly, firing off a thick purple wad of biting acid which covers the distance between both pok¨¦mon at speed. Whitney doesn¡¯t even respond with an order of her own, as Jigglypuff tries to jump out of the way without needing an instruction from its trainer. Instead, even as Jigglypuff is too slow to properly get out of the way, getting hit by acid mid-jump and being sent tumbling backwards, Whitney merely huffs theatrically.
¡°Really? Come on kid, give the people a bit of a show at least!¡± She complains, clearly still trying to bait him into a conversation.
Ran doesn¡¯t respond immediately, instead looking closely at the battling pok¨¦mon, as Jigglypuff struggles to get up and Ekans instinctively slithers forwards, closing the distance before Ran has even given the order to close in and finish things off. But instead of affirming Ekans¡¯ actions, he¡¯s actually got something else in mind.
¡°That¡¯ll do, Ekans! You¡¯ve done your part for now, but I might still need you at the end, alright?¡± He calls out, Ekans¡¯ head immediately whipping towards him in surprise, his starter¡¯s displeasure at being recalled not hidden at all.
Still, Ran can¡¯t waste time explaining right now, nor can he change his mind without completely embarrassing himself. So he simply raises Ekans¡¯ pok¨¦ball and recalls him, even as he finally takes a moment to respond directly to Whitney, ¡°What do you expect me to do? See an obvious advantage and not take it? Just to showboat? Sorry, but that¡¯s not happening.¡±
He clips Ekans¡¯ pok¨¦ball onto his belt, instead grasping for Aria¡¯s. Even as he throws her ball out into the field, sending her out to confirm the knockout of Jigglypuff, Whitney gasps dramatically posturing theatrically for the crowd which eats out of her hand, ¡°Behold, he speaks!¡±
¡°What¡¯s with the theatrics?¡± Ran snaps in return, getting increasingly agitated as Whitney apparently feels comfortable messing around against him, where she¡¯d been focused and serious against her previous opponents.
Aria materializes, shrinking away from the large crowd when a ripple of surprise runs through them at the sight of an Ariados, before she visibly shakes off her nerves. Then her large purple eyes catch on Jigglypuff, her black pupils narrowing sharply as she notices her prey. Without even needing any instruction from Ran, she catches on to Jigglypuff¡¯s weakened state, immediately starting to shuffle forwards.
¡°You seem awfully serious,¡± Whitney answers casually, ¡°And with a team like yours, the people are hardly getting their money¡¯s worth, so I¡¯m just trying to make sure everyone gets what they need.¡±
¡°Aria, get in there with Shadow Sneak and follow up with Fell Stinger!¡± Ran orders, opting not to address Whitney¡¯s words and instead looking to retain the initiative. Of course Shadow Sneak¡¯s ghost-type energy can¡¯t actually damage a normal-type like Jigglypuff, but it¡¯ll still put Aria¡¯s heavy form right on top of it with some speed behind her as well.
¡°Get ready to deliver a Sweet Kiss, Jigglypuff!¡± Whitney counters, before looking at Ran assessingly once more.
She¡¯s just trying to get under his skin. As long as he doesn¡¯t rise to her bait again, it¡¯s only to his advantage if she continues to waste time and energy on trying to bait him into a conversation. Gritting his teeth, he merely watches as Aria dips into her own shadow.
Then said shadow, which has simultaneously elongated unnaturally to be mere feet away from Jigglypuff, shrinks in on itself, the end where Aria has just disappeared into getting pulled back together with the outstretched part like a rubber band, expelling Aria within striking distance of Jigglypuff even as the lashing ghost-type energy washes across its pink form harmlessly. Jigglypuff shifts, the contours of its mouth glowing brightly as it attempts to land a Sweet Kiss, but Aria uses her momentum well.
She bowls the pink ball over even as her horn glows an odd mossy green for a moment. Then she stabs home, punching deep into Jigglypuff¡¯s marshmallowy form. The normal-type lets out a pained cry, for just a moment looking as if it might continue to struggle, before falling silent. Its form grows slack, Aria chittering menacingly as her colors grow noticeably more vibrant, her whole body shivering as Fell Stinger¡¯s secondary effect activates, strengthening her greatly.
Whitney recalls Jigglypuff with a slight frown, looking at Aria taxingly, whilst Ran¡¯s only female team member chitters proudly as he cheers for her. She comes scuttling back to her side of the field obediently as he calls for her, giving Whitney enough room to send out her second pok¨¦mon. However, she doesn¡¯t do so immediately, instead continuing to examine Aria¡¯s form for a few long seconds.
Finally, she selects a pok¨¦ball, even as her attention turns to Ran once more.
¡°Well alright, that¡¯s new!¡± She calls out enthusiastically, tossing up her chosen pok¨¦ball once, before throwing it onto the field, ¡°Let¡¯s see how you handle this, then! Come on out Raticate!¡±
Ran watches in surprise as one of, if not the most, common pok¨¦mon in the world appears on the field. Raticate lands heavily, only to cry out in audible annoyance when the Toxic Spikes, previously cautiously avoided by Jigglypuff, make their presence known. Ran grins triumphantly, as Raticate¡¯s cry is cut off by a visible pained flinch.
But his grin is extremely short lived, as Raticate¡¯s pained expression turns angry. Its large fangs gleam threateningly, as a fire ignites in its eyes. When it snaps its fangs against each other, the snap can be heard all the way on the other side of the room. There¡¯s only one explanation Ran can think of.
Guts.
Chapter 16, pt.3
For a few long moments, Aria and Raticate stare each other down, mirroring their trainers as Ran looks hesitantly towards Whitney, who meets his hesitance with smugness. Of course, as long as nobody moves, with Raticate¡¯s poisoning, things are shifting in Ran¡¯s favor. But then, Whitney knows that, so she¡¯ll take the initiative any second now. Which is enough to spur him into action.
¡°String Shot! Slow it down!¡± He orders frantically, beating Whitney¡¯s call for a Quick Attack by a second.
Obediently, Aria fires off her sticky threads directly ahead of her. It¡¯s not enough to avoid Raticate making contact, as the brown ball of fur slams into her and even despite its smaller size, knocks her out of its way. But once more, when it turns, thick gooey threads of string stick to it, noticeably hindering its movements. Ran¡¯s focus is on Aria however, as she takes a long second to get up again, Raticate¡¯s attack clearly having hurt her quite a bit.
She¡¯s not shaky on her legs, once she stands, but there¡¯s a clear wariness to Aria¡¯s stance as she turns to keep Raticate, whom Whitney has test his speed by ordering him to start circling Aria, within her field of view. It¡¯s a wariness Ran feels as well, as Raticate, despite the poison slowly weakening it from within, won¡¯t need many hits to take Aria out. Still, if they can just slow it down enough¡
Getting another Fell Stinger knockout might win them the whole match outright.
¡°Again!¡± He commands, not convinced by Aria¡¯s ability to contend with Raticate¡¯s speed advantage yet.
Aria immediately obeys, once more firing off a beam of sticky threads towards Raticate. Unfortunately, neither Whitney nor her pok¨¦mon are content to simply let the attack hit, as she gives out a series of orders which Raticate immediately starts to carry out.
¡°Dodge, then Take Down and follow with Crunch!¡± Whitney instructs in short order, giving her Raticate just enough time to leap out of the way of Aria¡¯s attack.
Then it sprints towards her, not nearly as fast as when it¡¯d used Quick Attack to become an unstoppable brown blur, but it¡¯s still worryingly fast. On the other hand, Aria, for all her many qualities for which Ran cherishes her and appreciates her greatly, isn¡¯t a fast mover by any means.
But if she¡¯s going to get hit anyways, Ran intends to make the most of it. Maybe knocking Raticate out upon contact will dampen the blow Aria has to weather¡
¡°Bug Bite, Aria! Knock it out before it can hurt you!¡± He orders, opting for raw power over the potential long-term benefits of Fell Stinger.
Aria hunches down slightly in preparation, her large mandibles glowing menacingly whilst her large abdomen rises up behind her, bobbing in place in anticipation. Raticate for its part glows white, looking increasingly like a falling star as it races towards its target.
Ran clenches his fists together anxiously, utterly powerless as he watches with bated breath. As long as Aria doesn¡¯t develop greater mobility or greater speed control over her opponents, they won¡¯t be able to avoid these kinds of situations. The thought is no comfort now, but it is something he silently castigates himself for, as both pok¨¦mon come together with a violent bang.
Raticate¡¯s momentum is so great, that both pok¨¦mon are sent tumbling across the ground in a tangle of limbs. It¡¯s impossible to immediately make out just who¡¯s coming out ahead, but Ran still shouts encouragement towards Aria, knowing that of all his pok¨¦mon, she¡¯s the one that needs the most positive reinforcement, ¡°Come on Aria, hang in there! Beat it!¡±
Unfortunately, as their tumbling forms come to a halt, it¡¯s to see Raticate, fangs already glowing with menacing dark-type energy, looming over a weakly struggling Aria. Before he can even think of withdrawing Aria from the match however, to spare her the pain of the final hit, she fires off a rebellious Poison Sting, unable to actually bite or jab at Raticate for a more powerful attack.
The small purple stingers strike its skin for under a second before it manages to Crunch down, Aria immediately fainting as the normal-type¡¯s fangs hit her. Ran instantly recalls her, beating the referee¡¯s raised flag to the draw. He worriedly pats her pok¨¦ball reassuringly as he clips it to his belt. She didn¡¯t look terribly wounded at least, so he¡¯s not actually worried about her like he was against Bugsy. The clear increase to her sturdiness is, in this moment, the one benefit of her evolution that he¡¯s most grateful for.
Next, his hand shifts to Golbat¡¯s pok¨¦ball. Just as he¡¯s about to grip it, to send out his third pok¨¦mon, his eyes fall upon Raticate. Whitney¡¯s second battler is clearly on its last legs. Aria managed to inflict a lot of damage throughout their fight, as evidenced by the labored breathing and the pained shivering running through Raticate¡¯s form. The absolute anger in its gaze hasn¡¯t dimmed one bit however, a clear reminder of its activated Guts ability.
If it manages to land even a single hit on Golbat, which it might with a Quick Attack before Golbat can get off the ground and high enough in the air, that might bite them in the ass in a major way against Whitney¡¯s third pok¨¦mon.
So maybe he¡¯s better off sending out Ekans? His hand shifts momentarily from Golbat¡¯s ball to Ekans¡¯, before pausing once more. Because Ekans already took some damage, a Guts-empowered attack might just be enough to take him out entirely.
Which means Golbat is absolutely the right call. His hand lands on Golbat¡¯s ball once more and he¡¯s just about to unclip it, when the referee¡¯s voice rings out.
¡°Twenty seconds!¡± The ref calls in warning, looking towards Ran encouragingly, clearly having noticed the way he¡¯s been hesitating in choosing between his two options.
A choice which he¡¯s now made, so he could just send out Golbat immediately. Then again¡
Ran waits, unclipping Golbat¡¯s pok¨¦ball but otherwise not moving, as his gaze locks on Raticate instead. It really does look to be in a fair amount of pain. Even as he watches, pain wracks its form once more, the poison coursing through it thanks to the many Toxic Spikes that pierced its flesh continuing its unpleasant work.
¡°Ten seconds!¡± The referee calls out, voice a lot sterner now that Ran has clearly made up his mind and is deliberately holding off on sending out his choice.
The background noise caused by the crowd, previously cheery and enthusiastic, turns sour as they too catch on to his plan. Angry muttering overtakes good natured conversation as those that are a bit slower on the uptake are briefed by their more attentive neighbors.
¡°Five seconds!¡± The referee warns, even as Whitney, finally mercifully quiet compared to her earlier annoying behavior, crosses her arms and merely waits quietly for Ran to finally act.
¡°Four¡ Three¡ Two¡¡±
He sends out Golbat with a mighty throw, ready to order him to immediately get into the air. At the same time, clearly considering Ran¡¯s optimal usage of the rules as permission for her to do the same, Whitney is already calling for a Quick Attack from her Raticate.
It manages to advance maybe ten feet, before slumping onto the ground and skidding to a halt even as Golbat finishes materializing.
¡°Up!¡± Ran calls immediately, even as the referee raises his flag and declares Raticate out of the match.
Instantly, before Raticate has even been recalled properly, Whitney¡¯s already sending out her third and final pok¨¦mon. The red energy solidifies into the unsurprising, yet still worrying, form of a Miltank. With Raticate¡¯s pok¨¦ball still in her hand and whilst catching the rebounding ball she¡¯d used to send out Miltank, Whitney still manages to give an urgent order.
¡°Rollout!¡± She barks out immediately, clearly looking to land a hit before Golbat can get out of reach.
¡°Greet her with a Supersonic, don¡¯t let her hit you!¡± Ran retorts swiftly, watching anxiously as Miltank, which simply powers through the discomfort of the lingering Toxic Spikes to fall directly into a Rollout, rapidly picks up pace towards Golbat¡¯s ascending form.
Whitney¡¯s third battler is too slow however. Oh she picks up an admirable amount of speed and she even manages to bounce up impressively as she attempts to knock Golbat out of the sky. But even then she still misses out on even clipping the flying type¡¯s feet by a comfortable margin. Additionally, as a beautiful bonus, the air around Golbat ripples, as he lets loose a powerful supersonic cry. It¡¯s always hard to tell whether Supersonic connects and has the desired effect, but when Miltank¡¯s Rollout continues, after a heavy landing, directly onward until she slams hard into the invisible barriers, Ran grins triumphantly.
The impact is great enough for Miltank to get knocked out of her Rollout, handily cutting off her ability to build up the attack¡¯s momentum further. She¡¯s slow to get to her feet, clearly hesitant and confused. At the same time, the poison inflicted by Toxic Spikes continues to weaken her from the inside. For a moment, the fight seems won.
Then Whitney has to rain on that particular parade with a command that Ran had completely forgotten about.
¡°Come on honey, you can do this! Use Heal Bell!¡± She calls out encouragingly, her warm tone seemingly enough to temporarily provide clarity for Miltank, as the Milk Cow Pok¨¦mon visibly perks up at the sound of her trainer¡¯s voice.
Ran¡¯s decision is instantaneous, as he hurriedly calls out a set of orders of his own, ¡°Air Cutter! Don¡¯t let her focus! Keep the pressure up!¡±
There¡¯s some jeering and booing from the crowd, as Golbat obediently starts to pepper his opponent with cutting blast of wind after cutting blast of wind. Which is understandable enough, as it hardly makes for the most interesting viewing to have one pok¨¦mon firing away at one without any ranged answers of its own. That¡¯s before getting into the unpopular nature of status conditions, as due to their largely invisible nature, crowds generally react poorly to the lack of spectacle they often bring.
Ran for his part is happy to let the crowd¡¯s displeasure wash over him. If anything, it¡¯s a sign that they¡¯re winning.
Miltank does her best, the spherical end of her tail glowing for a moment as she clearly starts to perform Heal Bell. But then the first Air Cutter hits, disrupting her for a moment. Next, she visibly winces, as the poison racing through her causes a lance of pain to shoot through her body. The second Air Cutter makes contact just as the most recent burst of pain caused by her poisoning seems to fade away, delaying her further. Of course Golbat can¡¯t shoot the attack off indefinitely, needing a moment to regather more flying-type energy after his first two shots.
So again, Miltank attempts to carry out a Heal Bell, only for Supersonic¡¯s lingering effects to make themselves known as she visibly falters, tail lowering and glow cutting off before she can even get half as far as she did on her first try.
¡°Keep it up, you¡¯re doing great!¡± Ran cheers Golbat, confidently following what is clearly a winning plan. The proud cry his pok¨¦mon lets out in response is a clear sign that they¡¯re on the same wavelength.
Unlike Ran, Whitney doesn¡¯t shout or command, instead, her voice softens, somehow still carrying enough to be audible, despite her clearly lowering her volume, ¡°Miltank, calm down for a second! Listen to the sound of my voice. You can withstand these attacks. You¡¯re tough. Come back to me. Focus on the sound of my voice, clear your thoughts. I trust you.¡±
Obediently, Miltank holds in place, sitting down with a heavy sigh as her heavy form hitting the ground throws up a small dust cloud. Golbat obediently fires off another Air Cutter, which slams into Miltank¡¯s belly, but she doesn¡¯t even acknowledge it, instead closing her eyes as she listens to Whitney¡¯s insistent voice.
¡°Clear your head. Focus on your breathing. You¡¯re in the Gym, battling a Golbat. They¡¯ve poisoned you and confused you and they¡¯re trying to beat you. But you won¡¯t let them.¡± Whitney drones on, her Miltank obediently weathering another Air Cutter whilst Ran watches frustratedly as the damage inflicted to Miltank only seems to increase by small increments.
The temptation to send Golbat in with a Poison Fang is great, but it would forfeit the one enormous advantage they have. He¡¯ll just have to be patient and trust in the plan. Whittling the opponent down is the whole point of poison-types. He can wait.
Even as Ran wrestles with himself and his own latent impulsiveness, Whitney¡¯s voice suddenly sharpens into a whip crack, ¡°Now, get up and use Heal Bell!¡±
Miltank jumps upright in a single smooth move, tail immediately glowing brightly. Before the next Air Cutter can even get half of the way towards her, the glow reaches its peak. Then she shakes her tail, a loud ringing reminiscent of a cowbell ringing out throughout the arena.
The effect is immediately apparent, as although Miltank has clearly taken a beating under Golbat¡¯s sustained assault and the effects of her poisoning, she bounces enthusiastically in place. Then, her attention returns to Golbat, her eyes narrowing menacingly once she locks on to Ran¡¯s poison-flying-type.
¡°Alright Miltank!¡± Whitney cheers, jumping in place with an enthusiastic fist pump as the crowd roars its approval.
Golbat doesn¡¯t hesitate however, merely continuing to execute Ran¡¯s command, as he fires off yet another Air Cutter. Lucid she may be - and with a surprising top speed - but nimble Miltank is not, so even as she tries to jump out of the way, she still gets hit by Golbat¡¯s attack.
Whitney¡¯s expression sours, as she looks towards Golbat for a moment before directing her attention to Ran, ¡°Really? That¡¯s the entirety of your strategy? Just stay out of reach and keep using Air Cutter? And you think that¡¯s enough to deserve your third badge?¡±Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.
Ran frowns, not wanting to get drawn into a discussion in the middle of a battle. Still, Whitney is the Gym Leader and it¡¯s not as if he deliberately wants to antagonize her outside of their battle.
¡°As long as it¡¯s working, why change it?¡± He asks rhetorically, continuing on before Whitney gets a chance to reply, ¡°If my team and I have a good strategy that gives us a major advantage, it¡¯s up to our opponent to fix it, isn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°Alright, if that¡¯s how you feel.¡± Whitney shrugs, before directing her attention towards her Miltank once more, something wicked in her eyes.
¡°Get ready to use Quick Guard, Golbat!¡± Ran calls immediately, admittedly wary at the sight of Whitney with some kind of ace up her sleeve.
Unfortunately, the ace in question isn¡¯t one against which Quick Guard can help them, as Whitney barks out her order.
¡°Shock Wave!¡±
¡°Get in there and use Poison Fang!¡± Ran shouts immediately, even as Miltank visibly sparks with electric-energy as she prepares the unavoidable attack.
Golbat cries out obediently, aborting the early stages of his next Air Cutter to instead start a diving run directly at Miltank, large tongue lolling out threateningly for a moment, poison absolutely dripping off of it. He isn¡¯t fast enough to pre-empt Miltank¡¯s attack though.
Whitney¡¯s final combatant sparks up brightly once more, before a spherical wave of electricity fires off of Miltank. It looks more impressive than it is, the sheer diffusion of Shockwave resulting in a lower energy concentration to something like Thunderbolt. But as Golbat flies directly into the attack, his pained screech is proof aplenty that the super-effective attack still hurts him badly.
Ran¡¯s first evolved pok¨¦mon persists however, breaking through the Shock Wave which fades away behind him to close in on Miltank with a slavering maw. He bites down vehemently, as Poison Fang connects harshly with Miltank¡¯s form, with all four of Golbat¡¯s large fangs disappearing entirely from view in the pink cow¡¯s thick fat.
She bellows out in pain, but it isn¡¯t enough to knock her out on the spot. Then, before Golbat can pull back, Whitney follows up with a sharp command.
¡°Rollout! Take it for a spin!¡± She orders curtly. Before Ran can even muster a response, Miltank is already falling into a forward roll. Golbat, who is still attached by the teeth, gets dragged right along with her as she builds up both rock-type energy and speed.
Ran can only watch in disbelief as Golbat gets treated like a particularly stubborn piece of dough with Miltank as the rolling pin, as on every rotation her full weight compresses Golbat¡¯s trapped form against the ground.
Still, Golbat¡¯s pained cries make it clear that he¡¯s still conscious and that means there has to be at least something they can do.
¡°Supersonic!¡± Ran gambles, hoping against hope that perhaps they¡¯ll be able to knock Miltank out of her Rollout once more.
With the speed the pair has built up by this point, where neither pok¨¦mon is still properly distinguishable and they instead appear to be a single ball of pink and dark blue, Ran can¡¯t tell if Supersonic connects. He can¡¯t even be sure whether it gets executed. All he can really be sure of is that Golbat¡¯s pained cries grow increasingly frantic and then, weak.
¡°Poison Fang, give me one more Golbat! She has to be at the end of her rope, hang in there!¡±
Whether Golbat manages it, he doesn¡¯t know, as seconds later, his pained cries cut off entirely. Immediately, Miltank¡¯s Rollout slows down slightly, enough for Golbat¡¯s limp form to actually get thrown clear of his opponent¡¯s body. Before Golbat¡¯s flight can turn into a crash, Ran is already recalling him. Rather than focus on his defeated pok¨¦mon however, as a brief glimpse enough to assure him that Golbat didn¡¯t suffer any damage to be truly worried about, he immediately sends out Ekans this time.
Because there¡¯s once more a slight hesitancy to Miltank¡¯s movements as she fully comes out of Rollout and stands up. Maybe Whitney¡¯s also spotted it already, but Ran doubts it as she instead turns to the crowd to bow theatrically, to riotous applause. It¡¯s understandable, considering the looming ¡®comeback¡¯, but this fight isn¡¯t over yet and Ran is not about to give her the time to call for an uncontested Heal Bell once she realizes that her Miltank¡¯s worse off than she thinks.
¡°Glare and get in there, Ekans!¡± He orders immediately, his starter obediently rearing up and locking gazes with the glassy-eyed Miltank, who seems to cower slightly in front of Ekans as Ran¡¯s starter rattles his tail threateningly upon first laying eyes upon his opponent. Simultaneously, Ran can¡¯t help but notice the slowly returning vitality Ekans seems to be benefiting from, as the hidden Black Sludge clearly does what it¡¯s supposed to do.
¡°Shit! Snap out of it Miltank!¡± Whitney barks, turning from the crowd back to the field and clearly immediately catching on to her pok¨¦mon¡¯s confused state.
She¡¯s too late however, as Glare¡¯s mysterious paralyzing effect sets in, causing all of Miltank¡¯s voluntary muscles to lock up at the same time. Immediately, Ekans slithers forth, even as Ran hurriedly catches his starter up on just what he¡¯s missed.
¡°Aria and Golbat are both out and Whitney¡¯s also down to her last pok¨¦mon! We need you to bring it home for us, Ekans! It¡¯s all up to you!¡± He hurriedly rattles off for his starter, who seems invigorated by the information that he¡¯s being relied on to such a degree. If anything, his advance towards Miltank - confused, paralyzed and if Ran doesn¡¯t miss his mark, once again poisoned - speeds up further.
¡°SNAP OUT OF IT!¡± Whitney shouts.
It¡¯s enough to break through to Miltank, even as the crowd is stunned into total silence for the first time since the match began. Ran¡¯s own attention also leaves the battling pok¨¦mon, as he looks towards the Gym leader in surprise. But Ekans has a mission and it¡¯s one he won¡¯t be distracted from.
Miltank shakes her head, clearly trying to clear away the cobwebs, but she isn¡¯t fast enough, as Ekans, the only sentient in attendance that hasn¡¯t been caught completely by surprise by Whitney¡¯s scream, reaches his target. Immediately, he starts to wind up Miltank¡¯s form, Wrap settling in as he starts to squeeze the life out of his foe.
¡°ROLLOUT!¡± Whitney screams once more, sheer volume and desperation seemingly enough to punch through both confusion and paralysis at the same time, as Miltank once more dives into a rolling tumble.
¡°Stockpile! Don¡¯t let go!¡± Ran calls, hoping against hope that Ekans will be able to pull off the defensive move whilst using Wrap. It¡¯s something they haven¡¯t tested yet, but having seen the raw power of Rollout, it¡¯s the only outcome he sees.
Miltank picks up speed once more, but Ekans doesn¡¯t relent, remaining wrapped around his foe and continuing to squeeze away at her. Even as their entangled forms pick up speed, both pok¨¦mon once more becoming harder to distinguish from each other, Ran can see the purple color of Ekans slowly intensify and darken, as he clearly executes one Stockpile after another, even as he continues to squeeze away at Miltank.
But it just. Won¡¯t. Go. Down.
Fortunately, finally, luck turns their way, as just as Rollout reaches top speed and Whitney calls for her pok¨¦mon to jump up to slam down on the ground with full force, Miltank¡¯s Rollout breaks off prematurely, as Glare¡¯s paralysis-effect finally reasserts itself.
Ekans looks a lot worse for wear, clearly battered and hurt by the repeated squishing into the ground inflicted on him by his opponent. But it¡¯s nothing compared to Miltank, as she finally shows the strain of everything that¡¯s been inflicted on her so far. Her whole body is scuffed and bruised, her eyes are glassy from confusion and her current pose is clearly unnaturally maintained as her muscles are locked up. Finally, her body bulges out unnaturally around Ekans¡¯ form, as Ran¡¯s starter cinches in ever-tighter where he¡¯s wrapped around her, leading to obscene bulges of Miltank¡¯s flesh between the tight cords of purple hide as what gets compressed desperately seeks an escape.
Still, the fight isn¡¯t won yet, as Ekans is clearly straining to hold on to his Wrap, the demands placed upon his own core muscles, which have to constantly keep up the pressure without a moment to relax, clearly pushing him to his limits. So, Ran goes for the finishing blow.
¡°Spit up! Finish it!¡± He calls sharply, Ekans¡¯ whole body shivering as he clearly processes the command.
A gasp goes through the arena as everyone finally catches on to just how many Stockpiles Ekans¡¯ managed even as he stayed wrapped around Miltank. Miltank keens desperately, futilely trying to move or break free but, under the weight of everything that¡¯s been inflicted on her, utterly defenseless for what¡¯s coming.
It starts at his tail, as Ekans¡¯ body bulges slightly, before the bulge starts to roll up the inside of his own body, moving along from the tail and towards his head. As it moves, the bulge grows incrementally, the initially minor and near-unnoticeable bulge first becoming larger, then properly large and then almost obscene. Where it passes, Ekans¡¯ scales lighten, as the energy imparted upon them by Stockpile gets carried along with the bulge.
As the bulge reaches Ekans¡¯ head, it seems impossible that it¡¯ll be able to pass through without outright breaking something, so distended is his body. But then his maw unhinges completely, a gaping dark chasm opening up which is immediately lit up by an intense white light that might well rival the Hyper Beams that are surely thrown around in this Gym at the eighth-badge level. Ekans¡¯ head swings around, as he locks eyes with Miltank, his coils shifting slightly downwards with tremendous effort, to ensure that he won¡¯t deal himself any self-inflicted damage.
Then, two things happen at once.
One is Miltank dissolving into red energy as Whitney recalls her third and final battler at the last possible moment. The other is an explosion, as an enormous beam of normal-type energy blasts right through the red energy.
Not encountering any resistance, it blows right past and towards the barrier. The referee frantically releases two more Mr. Mimes, even as the one on duty turns from his previously lazy miming to a frantic dance, the barrier visibly intensifying in the half second it takes Ekans¡¯ Spit Up to traverse the worryingly short distance to the barrier.
The attack connects, the barrier immediately shooting through all the colors of the rainbow in a single second, before shattering like glass. The audience cries out in fright as the attack appears to continue towards them unimpeded, only for two significantly stronger barriers to appear between them as the two freshly-released Mr. Mimes hurriedly perform their craft.
Still, the barriers once more pass through all the colors of the rainbow, though at least it takes them a few long seconds this time, Ekans¡¯ jaw finally closing as his attack terminates whilst he sags onto the ground. The first barrier cracks visibly, a singular loud ¡®snap¡¯ ringing out from it before, finally, Spit Up is overcome by the combined efforts of the Mr. Mimes.
Everyone in the room, from Ran to Whitney to the hundreds of spectators, looks towards Ekans in visible awe. Because unless Ran misses his mark, the two Mr. Mimes that got released there are meant for far stronger pok¨¦mon that a third-badge challenge should have.
Finally, it¡¯s Whitney who, disbelievingly, shatters the fragile silence, ¡°Spit Up? Really?¡±
It¡¯s an utterly innocuous thing to say under the circumstances, but it¡¯s enough to open the floodgates, as the audience breaks into raucous noise, a mixture of awed cheers, frantic weeping and furious shouting intermingling to form an indistinguishable wall of noise. Not that Ran pays them any mind, as he has just enough presence of thought to wait for the referee to raise the flag signifying Whitney¡¯s defeat, before he¡¯s racing onto the field.
He slides painfully - dirt not being a great surface for such things - on his knees before embracing Ekans just under his head, as he presses his starter¡¯s tired form against him.
¡°You did it! You did it, Ekans! That was amazing! I can¡¯t believe what a monster that Miltank was but I knew you could do it!¡± Ran raves enthusiastically, drawing a proud hiss from his starter, before Ekans suddenly bucks oddly in his arms.
Surprised, Ran releases his first pok¨¦mon for a moment, so he can lean back and look properly at his starter, only to have to avert his eyes as Ekans¡¯ whole body glows so brightly as to be painful to his eyes.
¡°No way¡¡± Ran mutters softly, voice trailing off in disbelief as Ekans, in their moment of triumph, finally evolves.
His body shifts, lengthening but especially thickening as his mass expands prodigiously. Starting at the head, his previously round form flares outwards into a wide hood whilst the rattler at the back of his tail smooths out to become a proper part of his full body.
Gradually, the light fades away. First, the hood¡¯s new beautiful patterns become visible, the light there dimming at different speeds and showing off the ¡®face¡¯ there. Then, as the body itself becomes fully visible, the disappearance of the previous yellow markings and the intensifying of the previously light purple color into a more regal tint become clear.
Arbok rises up in place, the front of his imposing body rising up to loom over the field. Ran hurriedly stands up, still needing to crane his neck backwards to look at his starter¡¯s face. Arbok lowers his head slightly for a moment, offering his trainer a brief headbutt, which is clearly intended to be gentle but actually pushes him back a step due to Arbok underestimating his newly gained muscles.
Then, he rises up once more before glancing around the room at the awed audience. The hiss he lets out as he announces his evolution to the world is threatening enough to send a shiver down Ran¡¯s spine. At which point he¡¯s got to wonder just what it does to the other people in the room.
The only person in the room who seems entirely unaffected is Whitney, as Goldenrod¡¯s Gym Leader chooses that moment to leave her own trainer box and step out onto the battlefield. Immediately, Arbok¡¯s head shifts towards her, his tongue darting out as he locks on to the approaching trainer. In the moments immediately following evolution, his instincts are clearly flaring up, but after a moment, as Ran¡¯s hand comes up to rest against his starter¡¯s side, Arbok visibly relaxes, coiling up in place as he lowers his head to rest on his own body.
Absent-mindedly, Ran starts to trail his fingers over the scales under his hand as his own attention also shifts to Whitney, whilst the crowd finally breaks out of yet another stunned silence to start muttering amongst themselves once more.
¡°As the Goldenrod City Gym Leader, I hereby present you with a truly deserved Plain Badge!¡± Whitney announces loudly, the badge already in her outstretched hand following an impressively swift display of sleight-of-hand.
Ran eagerly accepts the badge, even as Whitney continues to run through the public part of her speech, ¡°You showed a clear plan, the ability to think on your feet, heart and well-trained pok¨¦mon. Your performance here is a credit both to them and to yourself. Though your battling style won¡¯t win you many fans, unless you start pulling more flashy stuff like that finisher of yours, because ho-ly what was that?! Seriously, Spit Up of all things? That was just awesome!¡±
Goldenrod¡¯s Gym Leader seems quite ready to get completely sidetracked in her raving over Ekans¡¯ inspiring showing, but she seems to catch herself just in time. Clearing her throat awkwardly, she continues speaking loudly.
¡°Ahem, you ultimately needed an ace in the hole because I had a few tricks of my own you hadn¡¯t accounted for, but your approach was solid from start to finish. You won¡¯t be winning any popularity contests by relying on status conditions, wearing your opponents down and denying them a straight-up fight, but pok¨¦mon battling isn¡¯t supposed to be a popularity contest! If anything, I believe you are a true personification of just what the Plain Badge means! Flashiness is nothing compared to efficiency! For an inspiring showing, I believe you deserve a hearty round of applause!¡±
Ran flushes slightly under Whitney¡¯s praise, unable to keep meeting her gaze, even as the crowd obediently starts clapping. The Gym Leader isn¡¯t done however, as the only slightly older young woman takes a small step forward and leans in to offer the private part of the traditional advice.
¡°That was genuinely a solid showing, Ran Carr. The Toxic Spikes are a new addition, right?¡± She asks, looking at him taxingly.
Ran nods in mute agreement, unsure just where Whitney¡¯s going with her seemingly innocent question.
¡°Yeah I figured, otherwise my assistant would¡¯ve given me a Pidgeotto or something, instead of a Jigglypuf.¡± Whitney huffs to herself, leaving Ran trying to connect the dots at the seemingly nonsensical statement.
Noticing his confusion, Whitney lifts a single eyebrow, before asking a leading question, ¡°You know how I won my Conference?¡±
¡°You heavily researched your opponents and came up with a meticulous counter-strategy for each of them.¡± Ran replies immediately, not even needing to think about the question for a second.
Whitney nods approvingly, ¡°Exactly. But obviously as a Gym Leader I can¡¯t do that, so I have an employee who does that for me. Just a quick study based on known team composition, results in previous Gym battles, that kind of stuff. Obviously with as green as you are he didn¡¯t have a lot to build off of just yet, but I figure he would¡¯ve noticed Toxic Spikes and given me at least one counter to them if you¡¯d shown them off before.¡±
¡°Ohhh¡ that¡¯s why you used a Raticate with Guts.¡± Ran sighs in realization, as the dots finally fully connect.
¡°Got it in one,¡± Whitney agrees with a sly smile, before raising her voice once more as the crowd, by this point finished clapping, is allowed to listen to their conversation once more, ¡°But you had a clear plan and enough flexibility within that plan to overcome the odds. Which is why I also award you this TM for Attract and the third-tier badge cash prize will be transferred to your account. Congratulations on your accomplishment and thank you for one of the more fun battles of my week!¡±
For once, Ran is left feeling rather positive about a Gym Leader, as he accepts Whitney¡¯s praise and his reward with a proud smile, ¡°Thank you, it¡¯s been an honor and a pleasure to fight you.¡±
¡°I imagine it was, yeah,¡± Whitney winks coyly, drawing a slight flush from Ran - after all she isn¡¯t known as the Incredibly Pretty Girl without reason - before she continues, though he can tell that she¡¯s entirely genuine in speaking the normally rote words, ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for word of your accomplishments, Ran. I expect you to impress us all at the Conference at the end of the season!¡±
The crowd claps once more, though there are some mutinous jeers and boos mixed in. Ran doesn¡¯t let any of it distract or bother him however, attention firmly on the Plain Badge in his right hand.
Chapter 17, pt.1
Ran wanders out of the Goldenrod City Gym with a new badge tucked away and an evolved starter in his pok¨¦ball on his belt. The grin that''s plastered on his face probably looks a bit silly, but that doesn''t bother him in the least. All that really concerns him in the moment is tracking down Josie and helping her process her own disappointing result against Whitney.
Whether she needs to scheme or be consoled or simply allowed to vent, that''s something he''ll figure out when he''s found her. Before he can even try and figure out where she might be however, an unexpected hand claps him on the shoulder.
"Congrats Ran, that was a great showing," Josie says, appearing by his side following her own exit from the gym, "Or at least the part I caught was great."
Caught by surprise, Ran stumbles for a moment, "Uh, thanks. I looked for you in the crowd but I didn''t spot you. What parts did you see?"
"I came in just a bit before Golbat got pancaked," She responds, managing a moment of levity before her expression finally turns somber, "I''m sorry about missing the start of your match, though. Between the pok¨¦center and coping with getting my ass kicked, it took me a bit longer to get back to the Gym than planned."
Ran nods in agreement, starting to slowly walk towards the pok¨¦center alongside Josie as he waves off her explanation, "Don''t worry about it. I appreciate you coming to watch at all!"
Josie doesn''t respond, a morose silence falling over her as she trudges along by his side. For a long minute, they walk side by side in silence, as Ran looks for a way to broach the topic. Ultimately, he opts for the straightforward confrontation that Josie would likely choose if their roles were reversed.
"So, you lost." He declares decisively, Josie visibly startling as her head whips around so that she can stare at him. Ran for his part doesn''t meet her stare, instead keeping his eyes down the road as they continue to walk towards the pok¨¦center.
"Wh- Yeah, so?" Josie stutters for a moment, before snapping back at him sharply, instinctively defensive at the imagined provocation.
Ran shrugs lightly avoiding eye contact as he remains calm and responds with feigned nonchalance, "Well I figure neither of us was expecting that, is all. Where''s your head at, right now?"
From the corner of his eye, he sees Josie visibly deflate for a moment, before she squares her shoulders once more, clearly choosing to confront the topic directly, as expected.
"Honestly? I feel terrible. I cried for a bit once I finished handing in my team at the pok¨¦center. I only stopped because I got angry at myself over my performance and because I was missing out on your match." She tells him, her voice vibrating with frustration at the topic.
Ran hums in acknowledgement, finding himself understanding Josie''s feelings with remarkable ease, "I wouldn''t have blamed you for not showing up."
"I know that," Josie scoffs dismissively, before continuing to explain herself, "I would''ve been pissed at myself for letting a setback control me like that, though. That''s not my style."
"Fair enough." Ran accepts before falling silent once more, assuming that now that he''s got her talking, Josie will start venting properly without further prodding.
"I just wasn''t expecting to lose, let alone get my ass kicked the way I did," She fumes, kicking at the ground mid-walk even as she continues to speak, "Whitney had this whole strategy, while my plan was basically just ''be stronger and flame on''. Be honest, when did you realize I was losing?"
"Uh, I caught on to Whitney''s plan when she had Furret use its first Agility instead of fighting back," He answers honestly, before hurrying to try and assure Josie that he''s not trying to be demeaning, "Though I did have to look up whether it learnt Baton Pass to be sure! Without that, it would''ve taken me longer."
Josie huffs, kicking away another imaginary pebble as she processes his answer, "Figures. I honestly thought we''d be fine when the Smog actually poisoned that Furret of hers. I was just going to have Chief turn up the speed with some Agilities of his own and then beat the snot out of it. She completely blindsided me with the Baton Pass."
"I mean, it''s hardly a very common strategy." Ran offers, looking to console his friend, but yet another scoff from Josie makes it very clear just how she feels about that particular argument.
"Doesn''t matter, I should''ve caught it. My team is strong enough to win its third badge. We lost today because I wasn''t good enough. It''s time I faced the facts: I haven''t been a very good trainer. Between you, Grady and now Whitney, I''ve lost the last three matches where I didn''t have either a type-advantage or a stronger pok¨¦mon than my opponent. Dude, Grady used a Chinchou against us on a battlefield without any water and we still lost!" She continues to vent, before finally falling silent just as they reach the pok¨¦center.
Busy as always, the pok¨¦center''s main lounge is hardly the place to continue the conversation just as Josie is clearly getting emotional, so Ran lets the matter rest for a moment. Instead, he focuses on talking to the nurse on duty for a bit, turning in Arbok, Golbat and Aria for treatment. It leaves him light, with only Skorupi still on his belt, but that''s better than nothing. Just a single look at Josie''s empty belt is enough to remind him that he could be a lot worse off.
In fact, a glance around the lounge, at some of the trainers hanging around with completely empty belts is a perfect reminder of his own relative luxury. Turning to face Josie once more, Ran looks at her inquisitively, waiting for her to lead the way to a place to continue their conversation.
His friend doesn''t immediately oblige however, instead looking conflicted for a few long seconds, before huffing. Arms crossing across her chest, she finally looks him in the eye as she speaks with a defeated voice.
"I appreciate the talk, but I kind of want to process this a bit more on my own, right now. We''ll catch up later?" She offers, to which Ran can only nod in surprised acceptance.
Josie mutters a quick thanks, before turning on her heel and heading out the pok¨¦center''s doors once more.
Which leaves Ran standing around purposelessly for a moment. He glances around indecisively for a moment, as he considers his options. With most of his team in recovery and exhausted, a proper training session is completely out of the option. Visiting the Tunnel and spectating a few matches, or returning to the Gym to do the same are both options, but that''d require leaving the pok¨¦center and he kind of wants to stay close by so he can get his team members back as soon as possible. So the obvious answer is using one of the center''s computers to brief his father on his progress.
Mind made up, he wanders over to the computers to do just that, only to find all of them occupied and with two other trainers waiting ahead of him. Quietly joining the line, Ran fiddles with his pok¨¦gear, considering texting instead of mailing, only to discard the thought swiftly. A properly sweeping description of his Gym battle, as the man surely expects, would take far too long to type out on a pok¨¦gear''s tiny keyboard.
In fiddling with his pok¨¦gear however, he''s reminded of someone else whom he definitely can text right now. Putting thought into action, he''s soon typing away even as someone finally leaves their pc, the line of waiting trainers shrinking to just Ran and the guy directly ahead of him.
Ran: Beat Whitney 3-2! Jigglypuff - Raticate - Miltank. Tough one, but we managed it. Ekans evolved afterwards!
Within seconds, his pok¨¦gear vibrates strongly as responses start flooding in.
Grady: WOW!
Grady: COOL! ????
Grady: CNGRTZ!! ????
Grady: U R SUPER AWESOME!! ??????
Grady: ARBOK?!?! SICK!!! ??
Grady: MILTANK?? ??????Stolen novel; please report.
Before Grady can continue to bombard him with tiny reaction messages, Ran hurriedly responds.
Ran: Mind the message spam. I don''t need my arm vibrating off.
Grady: Right. Sorry!
Grady: Congrats! That''s huge! You''ve got to tell me all about it! You guys want to meet up? I''m training near the docks.
Ran: Not right now, but we could get dinner together if you don''t have plans yet?
Grady: Aww, can''t. Mom''s making meatballs. I can come by before though, where you @?
Ran: Pok¨¦center, waiting for my team to recover. Don''t have plans to go out before dinner so if you''re headed this way in the next few hours, I should still be here.
Grady: Sweet, will do!
Ran: Cool, I''ll either be in the lounge or in my room.
Grady: ??????
Putting his pok¨¦gear away, Ran looks up only to realize that not only has the guy that was still ahead of him long since occupied a computer, but by this point two other pc''s are free to use. At least nobody showed up while he was occupied with answering Grady, allowing him to easily claim one of them for himself.
It''s quick work to open up a mail to his dad. Usually, writing updates for the man is something he struggles with a bit, but with the battle still fresh in his mind and his mood still soaring, the words come out with surprising ease. Without getting endlessly effusive, he writes out a clear description of the fight, from Ekans and Aria''s trouncing of Jigglypuff all the way to Ekans'' eventual triumph over Miltank and the resulting evolution.
Just typing about Arbok''s evolution is enough for his earlier grin to return, though it does raise other questions in turn. With his mail to his dad done, Ran taps away at the screen idly as he ponders which issue to tackle first. Coming up with a name for Arbok is extremely tempting, as it''s something he''s been waiting more than three years for, but obviously that''ll have to wait until his starter is actually present to weigh in on the matter. So he can either actually put proper thought into where to go from here, or his plans for Route 35.
With Josie''s unexpected loss against Whitney to take into account, where to go from here is a topic he doesn''t quite want to touch yet, so he first turns his attention to Route 35. A few familiar search queries are enough to leave him with a pair of tabs open. The first has a rough map of the area north of Goldenrod and East of Olivine, whilst the second has information on the uniquely dimorph Nidoran-line.
Originally, way back when he''d first started planning his team outside of this starting three, adding Nidoking, Gengar and eventually Venusaur had made for a perfectly planned six-pok¨¦mon team. But Skorupi, whose curiosity and easy affection have rapidly won Ran over completely, has changed that picture. He''s still unclear on just what typing will replace Bug upon his fourth team member''s evolution, but neither grass nor ghost are looking particularly likely.
Ground¡ feels more plausible. A lot more plausible, even. Which would theoretically make a Nidoking excess to requirements, assuming Skorupi''s evolved form can take on the role of the designated Steel-type counter. That would leave Gengar as the rare poison-type that can contend with psychic-types and Venusaur as the best grass-poison-type and his chosen second counter to ground-types, following closely behind Crobat and overtaking Aria in that area.
Of course, even with the assumption that Skorupi can ''take'' Nidoking''s intended place, giving up on the poison-ground-type also means losing out on the extremely diverse pool of moves the Nidoran-line is capable of learning, albeit with the assistance of Technical Machines in a lot of cases. Which might be a problem, as type-coverage is extremely important in the higher tiers of the Conferences. That''s a huge point in Nidoking''s favor and, with his pockets once more full and likely with some more time to kill in Goldenrod than expected, it''d be the perfect opportunity to invest in a TM or two early and get his new team member up to speed before they''d even set out for their fourth badge.
On the other hand, going north now and capturing a member of the Nidoran-line leaves him with only a single ''slot'' unfilled before he''s even figured out just what Skorupi will evolve into. Also, it''d give him five team members before he''s even got his fourth badge, which feels like a lot. Sure, things are fine and dandy now, but it''s not as if he''s at the point where he can just casually fill his roster out even further. He''s still working on integrating and figuring out Skorupi. Not to mention the upkeep of having to feed five pok¨¦mon every day.
It''d be fine in the short-term, but they''d only need a few unlucky breaks - a few lost matches, a mishap whilst out training, a lost Gym challenge - to start cutting it very close from a budgetary point of view. It currently isn''t an issue, their great win/loss-ratio and successful Gym challenges having provided exactly the kind of major boost to his cash reserves he''d originally planned for back in Azalea Town. But between the shopping expenses, the need for an expensive trip to and from Cianwood in the not-too-distant future and the likely lull in his income during those trips, another rise in expenses on top of what Arbok''s evolution is sure to cause, might not be the best idea.
Then again, Nidorino or Nidoking would have been a very large part of his eventual strategy for the Olivine City Gym. With the terrible match-up Steel-types form for his chosen specialization, the Nidoran-line''s access to both ground- and fighting-type attacks is an obvious answer to rebalance the scales. However, Arbok knows or will shortly know Fire Fang, now that he''s evolved. He can learn a lot of ground-type moves too, if also with the aid of Technical Machines.
If Skorupi then also evolves in a beneficial way¡ over-committing to countering steel-types will leave his team too weak to psychic- and ground-types, which are, as far as their ability to hurt his own pok¨¦mon, arguably a greater threat than steel-types. So¡ He should hold off on getting a Nidoran or Nidorino. At least for now.
He lets out a heavy sigh, relieved to have come to a decision, before considering the matter of traveling once more. His arrangement with Josie has worked out well, but neither of them has really brought up where to go after Goldenrod City. To Ran''s mind, the answer is obvious.
Take a ship to Cianwood, then Olivine, Ecruteak, Mahogany and finally Blackthorn. The most efficient route which ensures no need to double back whatsoever. The main issues are the relatively expensive boat trip from Goldenrod to Cianwood, compared to the busier and cheaper Olivine-Cianwood connection, and the postponement of visiting the most likely place where he might acquire a member of the Gastly-line until after his fifth badge. Because only having Aria to counteract psychic-types is just not an option in the long term.
So the most obvious alternative is going to Ecruteak first and then either turning East or West from there. Turning East and challenging Mahogany and Blackthorn might save them from some of the absolute monsters Pryce and Clair tend to use at the highest badge-levels, but then they''d be running into extra strong steel-types later. Finishing against the fighting-types they''ve got a huge advantage over would be nice, but getting to that point would be challenging to say the least. Heading West would once again leave Mahogany and Blackthorn until last, but at that point it''d just be offensively inefficient to have gone to Ecruteak from Goldenrod, essentially forcing him to complete an extra half lap of the Goldenrod-Ecruteak-Olivine-Cianwood circle, just to get back to the point where starting with Cianwood would''ve put him naturally.
To him, taking the ship to Cianwood as soon as possible is really the only logical and acceptable option. Though Josie might not feel the same way. In fact, he''s pretty sure the area around Ecruteak City is known for its significant Vulpix-population.
What if Josie deliberately wants to come back to Goldenrod later, rather than sticking around now and challenging Whitney again in the short term? From her point of view, going from Ecruteak, where she could add a Vulpix, to Olivine, where she''d have the major type-advantage, to Cianwood, where the nearby Safari Zone would be the perfect opportunity for her to add a fifth team member, before then returning to Goldenrod City with three extra badges, an expanded team and a fresh load of courage might make a lot more sense.
It''s actually almost annoying how much sense that route might make for her, if she decides not to rechallenge Whitney before leaving Goldenrod. Then again, they''ve been making great time so far. Assuming they keep anything even close to their current pace, they''ll have months to spare at the end of the circuit before the Conference begins. So would it really be so bad to ''lose'' some time by returning to Goldenrod and repeating the Goldenrod-Ecruteak stretch?
Perhaps not, though it''s a clear second choice to heading for Cianwood first.
Though it will depend on what Josie wants to do in the first place. If she''s up to challenging Whitney again within a few weeks, they can just go train in the area leading towards Ecruteak. Josie can catch a Vulpix, if she wants one, he can work on solidifying his team''s movesets, strengthening them further and exploring just what Skorupi is going to be capable of. Then they can come back, watch Josie beat Whitney and travel in his preferred direction after all.
Hanging around near Goldenrod for that long isn''t perfect of course, but it doesn''t sound too unappealing either. Then again¡
Frustrated at going in circles, Ran finally huffs and logs off from the pc, getting up and stretching his legs as he realizes just how much time appears to have passed while he was busy theorizing. Just a single look out the nearest window shows how much the light outside has changed, clearly showing that although sunset is still a ways off, dinnertime is fast approaching.
Wandering towards his room in the pok¨¦center even as he idly considers just what to do about dinner, he spots a familiar shorter figure standing in front of his room door, seemingly just having finished knocking and waiting for an answer.
"Grady!" He greets the usually exuberant younger trainer warmly, even as he closes the distance further, "How''d your training go?"
Grady turns around, only for Ran to almost stagger backwards at the near-literal stars in the younger boy''s eyes.
"YOU BEAT WHITNEY! YOU''RE A WIZARD!" Grady actually shouts, loud enough for most of Goldenrod City to hear.
"Grady, inside voice!" Ran snaps back hurriedly, the younger boy instinctively slamming his hands over his mouth in response at the reprimand, only to keep staring at Ran with twinkling eyes.
Sighing, Ran nudges the younger boy to the side, so he can open the door to his room.
"Come on in, though if you don''t watch the volume, I''m not telling you anything." He allows warily, as Grady nods energetically before darting inside before Ran can even fully finish opening the door.
Amused and ego admittedly somewhat boosted by the younger trainer''s admiration, Ran follows him inside. Despite the warning, there''s nothing wrong with a bit of well-deserved idolatry from Grady. The least he can do is give a factual retelling of his achievement.
Chapter 17, pt.2
¡°-five Mr. Mimes get brought out to stop Ekans¡¯ Spit Up, whilst Whitney was watching like she was back in the Finals, eyes all wide and excited and then as the referee announced our victory and the crowd started going wild, Ekans chose that moment to evolve!¡± Ran finishes his completely factual retelling of his earlier Gym battle against Grady¡¯s sponsor to the boy in question.
Grady had been awed before, at this point, he looks to be on the edge of asking Ran for an autograph. Before he can, however, Ran¡¯s stomach lets out an audible rumble, loudly announcing his hunger. It¡¯s enough to startle Grady into motion, as the younger trainer glances at his watch before jumping upright.
¡°Oh no I¡¯m late for dinner! Igottago! LaterRanyouresupercool!¡± He hurriedly shouts over his shoulder, even as he tears out of the room and races down the hallway.
Ran watches him go for a moment, before finally getting moving once more. As eventful as the day has been, he still needs his own dinner, after all. First, however, he¡¯ll swing by the nurses¡¯ station, to go and get an update on his team.
Heading in that direction, for a moment he considers contacting Josie, before dismissing the thought. She¡¯ll get in touch when she wants to, there¡¯s no point in rushing her.
Arriving at the desk, he¡¯s pleasantly surprised to learn that Arbok and Golbat are fully cleared, with Aria receiving her final check-up just then. Stepping aside for a moment to let the nurse continue handling the continuous rotation of needy trainers, Ran only needs to wait around for a few minutes, before the nurse is calling him back towards the desk, finally handing him Aria¡¯s pok¨¦ball as well.
Belt properly balanced again, the familiar weight of pok¨¦balls by his side oddly comforting, Ran sets out for dinner. Goldenrod City, massive as it is, offers plenty of options, but without company sitting down for a proper celebratory meal feels off. There¡¯s always the option to pay out of the nose to visit a restaurant that¡¯ll also provide seating and meals for his team, but considering their sizes and appetites, that¡¯s a bit out of reach for him for now.
So he ultimately just settles on a burger and some fries, happily munching away as he aimlessly wanders through Goldenrod City for a while. All throughout his meal, he hopes for some kind of message from Josie, so he can have some idea of what her mindset is, but she remains silent.
Meal finished, rather than spend more time hanging around waiting for word from Josie, he opts to return to the pok¨¦center. Large as Goldenrod City might be, it still isn¡¯t exactly suited to just letting all of his team members out of their balls when and where he pleases, so a return to his room at the center is the obvious solution.
Fifteen minutes later, he¡¯s back in his room, seated on the bed. One by one, he starts to release his pok¨¦mon.
First is Aria, who lands on the wooden floor lightly. She glances around for a moment, the two odd yellow structures on her back waving cheerily as she notices him, before starting to skitter about the room as she looks for a place to settle in. Which proves a greater challenge than she¡¯d probably like.
It¡¯s a pretty standard pok¨¦center room, holding a simple single bed, a desk, a small wardrobe and some extra storage space overhead through a row of open cubicles that run along the wall which the bed is resting against. In the far corner from the entrance, another door leads to the small ensuite bathroom. Finally, most of the open floor space between the entrance and the bed is dominated by a large pok¨¦mon bed, which in this case is just a huge circular mattress with a raised edge made of slightly softer material.
Which is perfect for lots of pok¨¦mon, like Arbok and Skorupi to name the ones Ran expects will bed down there, but it doesn¡¯t suit Aria¡¯s need to burrow at all. It¡¯s very easy to spot just when his only female team member realizes as much, as her second tour of the room is significantly more jittery than her first. Fortunately, by the time she turns a plaintive gaze on Ran, he¡¯s already figured out how to handle the problem.
¡°Hang on a second girl, I¡¯ve got a plan.¡± He assures her, opening the wardrobe, only to receive a disappointed chitter from Aria when she spots the clothes ran has stored there. When he then rapidly starts to gather them up before haphazardly dumping them on the bed, however, his Ariados perks up noticeably.
Unfortunately, the wardrobe isn¡¯t quite deep enough for Aria to build a web in it even if she hangs vertically, but even that is ultimately solved easily enough. He leaves the doors open slightly, hanging a few clothes over the top to extend the wardrobe ¡®forwards¡¯ somewhat. Finally, the desk chair gets shoved in front of the lower half of the opening, finally leaving a perfect opening for Aria to eagerly disappear into.
Immediately, he can hear her frantically moving about to fashion a web to rest on. She can¡¯t quite sing, of course, but the rhythmic sounds coming from her mandibles make it very clear that she¡¯s doing her very best approximation nevertheless, as she enthusiastically works on her resting place for the night.
Slightly guilty over keeping her in her ball the past few nights, Ran sheepishly lets out Skorupi next, allowing him to appear in the middle of the large bed he¡¯ll likely end up sharing with Arbok.
The small poison-bug-type looks around curiously, pincers on his tail clacking together a few times as he idly examines his surroundings. He visibly perks up when he spots Ran, immediately scampering over towards the bed and enthusiastically climbing up to hang all over him. It¡¯s a bit inconvenient, as in his enthusiasm Skorupi tends to forget about the two poisonous stingers to either side of his head, but Ran can¡¯t begrudge him his friendliness, as the team¡¯s junior member eagerly wraps his tail around one of his trainer¡¯s arms in his best approximation of a hug.
Letting Skorupi do his thing, Ran doesn¡¯t address the two members he¡¯s already let out of their balls just yet, instead opting to release Golbat. Like Skorupi, he appears on the large pok¨¦mon bed, though unlike Skorupi he seems far less curious about his surroundings. Whether through having picked up on the situation whilst still in his ball or something else, Golbat simply offers his trainer an acknowledging half-nod/bow, before flaring his wings and ascending to the light fixture with a few quick beats.
It¡¯s still impressive to see him flip around in mid-air without losing height, the incredibly quick flexing of his body enough to allow him to grab on to the reinforced light fixture before he can lose any height. Then, Golbat finally lets out a soft cry, apparently directed at Aria, as her head peeks out of her burrow in greeting for a moment, before disappearing once more.
Seemingly content to leave it at that, Golbat lets out a final soft cry, turning to face the entrance before closing his eyes. Ran can tell he¡¯s not asleep, nor is he even trying to fall asleep quite yet, but Golbat is the least sociable of his team, so when he can¡¯t physically distance himself a bit further from everyone else, this behavior is pretty expected.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
Still, he notices the way Golbat¡¯s ears twitch, whilst Ariados partially crawls out of her burrow and Skorupi twitches against him as he finally breaks his silence.
¡°Hey guys, I thought I¡¯d catch all of you up real quick. First of all, we beat Whitney! Aria, Golbat, great work from both of you! To recap, Ekans started against Jigglypuff and did some work against it. Then, Aria here,¡± Ran starts to explain, gesturing with his free hand to Aria, who shrinks back into her nest slightly, before chittering proudly and coming out once more to bask in the attention of the rest of her team, ¡°Knocked it out with an awesome Fell Stinger. Whitney used a Raticate next, which took her out, but not before she weakened it super badly.¡±
Ran turns his attention to Aria for a moment, ¡°You actually missed the next part, but Raticate went down before Golbat¡¯s part of the match could even start properly! So you basically took down two of Whitney¡¯s pok¨¦mon today! You really did a great job, Aria!¡±
It¡¯d be hard to miss the admiration in Skorupi¡¯s eyes as he looks at the other bug-type, though Aria still manages it, as her shyness finally properly wins out over her desire to bask in Ran¡¯s praise. She swiftly retreats, though her soft happy trills make it clear that she isn¡¯t upset in the least.
¡°Then,¡± Ran continues, once more drawing the full attention of his team towards himself, ¡°Golbat put in a heroic effort against a monster of a Miltank. Whitney confirmed afterwards that it was specifically meant to counter our strategies, so that you did as well as you did is extra impressive, Golbat!¡±
Golbat, the first of his pok¨¦mon to evolve and the one Ran had unofficially considered to be his ¡®ace¡¯ until today, doesn¡¯t seem appeased by his trainer¡¯s words. His wings rustle slightly as he mulishly changes the way they¡¯re crossed around his body for a moment, not showing any other proper reaction.
¡°Look, I know it¡¯s frustrating that you didn¡¯t get a proper knock-out of your own, but you did a great job! We couldn¡¯t have won without you weakening Miltank as badly as you did. Trust me, I watched Josie¡¯s match and her entire team got steamrolled by the Miltank Whitney used against her! The one you fought was even tougher than that one!¡± Ran reassures his pok¨¦mon, who does seem to perk up slightly at the mention of Josie¡¯s team¡¯s defeat.
Of course claiming that the Miltank Josie faced was weaker is a bit bold, with Ran having no way to actually confirm that statement, but then Golbat doesn¡¯t need to know that part. If it¡¯s enough to cheer him up a bit, then Ran is more than happy to believe and let believe.
¡°So then, Miltank was super weakened, but it just wouldn¡¯t go down. So I had to send out Ekans, who¡¯d already taken some hits against Jigglypuff, again!¡± He announces dramatically, voice lowering as he paints a picture for his team members in attendance.
Skorupi¡¯s tail tightens around his arm, the wardrobe creaks as Aria leans forwards in interest and even Golbat¡¯s ears twitch as he picks up on the change in the atmosphere. Leaving them hanging on his every word, he pauses for a few long moments, before continuing.
¡°So I sent out Ekans and he immediately used Glare to paralyze Miltank, before he started rushing over. It looked like he¡¯d be too slow and Miltank would use Rollout to turn him into a pancake, but he wasn¡¯t! Then he Wrapped her up and he started squeezing and squeezing and squeezing! It was incredible, but Miltank wouldn¡¯t quit!¡± He continues dramatically, free arm gesturing wildly in the air as he pictures the battle once more.
All three pok¨¦mon in the room are deathly quiet now, clearly fully enraptured by the scene.
¡°She managed to get Rollout going after all, but Ekans wouldn¡¯t let go! Instead he got constantly flattened into the ground as Miltank picked up speed. All the while, he kept using Stockpile until eventually, when Miltank froze due to Glare¡¯s paralysis, he used Spit Up! You should¡¯ve seen it! It was like Hyper Beam but better! They had to bring out extra Mr. Mimes to put up extra barriers, or the spectators would¡¯ve gotten hit!¡± Ran finishes his retelling, whilst his free hand drifts towards the final remaining filled pok¨¦ball on his belt.
¡°The match was called, we won and then¡ this happened.¡± He announces with a bit of flair, before finally sending out Arbok, allowing his newly-evolved starter to appear in the middle of the free pok¨¦mon-bed.
Arbok announces his presence with a loud hiss, lower half of his body instinctively curling around once to support his top as his head rises up from the ground. Like a king surveying his domain, Arbok takes in the room, tongue darting out for a moment to taste the air.
His presence isn¡¯t quite oppressive, but there¡¯s a tangible change to the room¡¯s atmosphere nevertheless.
Aria, who¡¯d largely crawled out of her impromptu nest throughout the retelling of Ekans¡¯ battle, hurriedly ducks back inside again, until only her gleaming eyes can be spotted peeking out from the darkness. Skorupi¡¯s tail tenses around Ran¡¯s arm in surprise, before the younger pok¨¦mon hurriedly repositions to hang off of his back like a backpack, rather than clinging onto his front like a baby.
As for Golbat, his wings flare out, eyes open as he shows himself off towards Arbok. Ran¡¯s starter for his part seems unbothered, not allowing Golbat¡¯s reaction to distract him from his surveying. Only when he¡¯s finished inspecting the room, does his attention finally turn towards the ceiling.
Both pok¨¦mon stare at each other, before Arbok offers a low hiss. It isn¡¯t threatening, but something passes between them nevertheless. Whatever it is, it¡¯s enough for Golbat to relax, as he withdraws his wings, once more wrapping them around his body. As for Arbok, he¡¯s big enough to allow the lower half of his body to remain on his bed, even as his head moves towards Ran, nose butting up against his free hand.
Immediately, Ran gently lays his hand on top of his starter¡¯s evolved form, finally truly taking in the opportunity to examine the changes to his best friend¡¯s form on more than a merely visual level. The hood in particular is intriguing, the scales there having a different texture to the ones on the rest of his body which, overall, feels generally tougher than it did as an Ekans.
¡°Congrats buddy, you look amazing.¡± Ran tells his starter, who hisses in appreciation, even as he basks in his trainer¡¯s attention.
¡°Are you ready to discuss your name, or do you want to hold off for a bit, until you¡¯ve properly settled in?¡±
Arbok nods eagerly, to Ran¡¯s complete and utter lack of surprise, clearly enthusiastic to finally be given a name. Fortunately, having prepared rather extensively for precisely this scenario, it¡¯s easy work on Ran¡¯s behalf to open the notes he¡¯d laboriously written out on his pok¨¦gear over the years, adding to the list of possible names whenever an interesting option popped into his head.
¡°Alright, I¡¯ll just start summing up names and then when you like the sound of one, you just give me a hiss and we¡¯ll spend some more time on discussing it, alright?¡± Ran suggests, drawing another assenting nod from his starter.
It¡¯s a very long list, but he doesn¡¯t get very far at all. Because on only the sixth option, Arbok noticeably perks up, immediately hissing to bring his trainer to a halt.
¡°-Hood, Tox, Caesar, El-¡± He lists off, only for Arbok¡¯s excited hiss to cut him off.
¡°Caesar?¡± Ran reads back, just to make sure that he¡¯s correctly understood just which name Arbok responded to so enthusiastically.
Arbok nods once more, tip of his tail wiggling in obvious approval.
¡°Alright, well obviously there¡¯s a bit of a hissing sound at the start, which I thought was fitting,¡± Ran explains easily, before checking his notes to read out the full reasoning he¡¯d written down well over two years ago, ¡°And there¡¯s the link with rulership, dignity and power. Plus, though this is just what my notes say, it¡¯s been two years since I looked this up, there¡¯s even some links to an old word for cutting or piercing. Considering just how big your fangs are now, I think it suits you.¡±
Arbok¡¯s answering hiss is low, long and clearly satisfied, his lower body coiling up in a few long, lazy loops, just so he can be comfortably at eye height with Ran as he meets his trainer¡¯s eyes. A gentle headbutt almost pushes Ran back half a step, another clear reminder of just how much stronger Arbok¡¯s form of almost purely coiled muscle is now, but he manages to stand his ground.
As his starter leans back slightly, he blinks slowly, a sign Ran easily reads as encouragement. Knowing what his starter expects of him, he smiles proudly, before finally speaking up, the rest of the team observing in complete silence.
¡°Hello, Caesar.¡±
Chapter 18, pt.1
The next day, the very first thing Ran does is look up boat tickets to Cianwood City. There¡¯s far more regular passenger ships between Cianwood and Olivine, but there¡¯s still a regular weekly ship from Goldenrod to Cianwood as well. With it specifically geared towards trainers and tourists, tickets aren¡¯t particularly cheap, but do offer the benefits of a proper pok¨¦center on board, as well as rooms capable of hosting a diverse array of pok¨¦mon. There¡¯s a small list of pok¨¦mon that are banned from being out of their balls except for a few areas, but none of Ran¡¯s team members are on that list, leaving him quite enthusiastic about the trip.
Of course he doesn¡¯t book just yet, as Josie has remained worryingly mute, so he¡¯s got no clue as to just when he¡¯ll be leaving Goldenrod. Instead, after a quick breakfast, he gathers his stuff and sets out for Route 35, to the north of Goldenrod. A quick message to Josie, informing her of where he¡¯s going for the day, isn¡¯t immediately answered.
For a moment he also considers texting Grady, but then thinks better of it. Actually spending the time with just his team sounds quite appealing, after all. It¡¯s nice to have a traveling companion in Josie, but his brief trek across Route 34, with just his own team for company after Josie raced off after departing Ilex Forest, was enjoyable and kind of left him wanting more.
Now, with no destination to reach and only a limited amount of traveling to be done, he¡¯s got the perfect opportunity to train with his team, spend a few hours just lounging with them and letting them enjoy themselves, and then having another training session. Just thinking of his plans for the day is enough to put some additional pep in his step, as he speeds up slightly in anticipation.
With Goldenrod City¡¯s size taken into account, it takes well over an hour for him to make it out of the city. Then, he still needs another fifteen minutes to wander down Route 35¡¯s main path a bit, before turning off to the west. From there, he starts seeking out a nice tranquil spot next to the large lake that runs along part of the patrolled Route. There¡¯s some other trainers around, but it¡¯s still pretty early in the day, which leaves him able to pick out a spot relatively soon.
Quickly tapping each of the four used pok¨¦balls on his belt, Ran smiles eagerly as his team materializes around him.
Looking from Caesar the Arbok, to Aria the Ariados, to Golbat and finally to Skorupi, he feels his chest swell up with pride, at the sight of his significantly stronger team, compared to when he started his journey just a few months ago. With one new team member and three evolutions, he can only look at them fondly as they all take in their surroundings.
Overhead, the bright morning sun shines down warmly, reflecting off the lake¡¯s water to add further to the lovely scenery of the grassy plains, broken up by the occasional tree or shrub, that border Route 35. In the distance, the properly ¡®wild¡¯ areas begin, where the League and the Rangers leave the wild pok¨¦mon population in peace as much as possible. In short, standing under the shadow of one of those large, lonely trees, it¡¯s the perfect location for a spot of training followed by a couple of hours of relaxation.
¡°Skorupi, Toxic Spikes did wonders for us against Whitney,¡± Ran finally breaks the silence, turning to the youngest of his team members first, ¡°Without you teaching Caesar how to use them, I don¡¯t know if we could have beaten her. So, while you and I will work on some other stuff later, for now, I¡¯d like you to teach Aria the move as well. Aria, I don¡¯t know enough about Skorupi¡¯s natural abilities to be sure of what he can learn just yet, but I bet the two of you can figure something out, right? If not, both Shadow Sneak and Swords Dance would be super useful, so try and see if he can make any progress with either or both of those if the two of you don¡¯t have any better ideas, alright?¡±
Aria chitters happily in agreement, though Skorupi is a bit sulkier in his response, clearly a bit unhappy to be spending yet more training on teaching a team member Toxic Spikes, rather than getting to focus completely on improving himself. It¡¯s something Ran takes a mental note of, as he continues to build his mental profile of Skorupi, but for now, he¡¯s got two more team members to get started on their training.
Ran turns his attention to Golbat, whose expression makes it quite clear that he knows what¡¯s coming. Just to be sure, Ran still tells him anyways, ¡°You¡¯ll be on your own, Golbat. Keep working on Haze and Venoshock. I¡¯ll try and keep an eye out and we¡¯ll see where you¡¯re at when we take our break later, alright?¡±
Golbat merely cries out confidently, before taking flight. With only a few strong wingbeats, he circles around the tree, before audibly settling on its other side, claiming some relative privacy as he gets to work. Taking that as their signal, Aria and Skorupi also move away a small distance, getting closer to the water and leaving Ran to face Caesar, whose attention is firmly on the lake¡¯s reflective surface.
¡°You want to go and take a good look at yourself first, don¡¯t you?¡± Ran huffs with unconcealed amusement, which is enough to draw a playful swat from the tip of Caesar¡¯s tail. The newly-evolved Arbok clearly doesn¡¯t quite know his strength yet, as the ¡®playful¡¯ swat is enough to knock Ran over flat on his ass.
His starter¡¯s expression is sheepish, hood ¡®hunching¡¯ slightly as he pulls his head back slightly in apology. Ran merely waves him off, before gesturing invitingly towards the lake. It¡¯s all the invitation Caesar needs, as he swiftly slides over in that direction. Gathering himself and dusting off his bum before joining his starter, Ran reaches out a hand to rest on the back of Caesar¡¯s magnificent hood as he looks at the pair of them in the natural mirror that is lake¡¯s water.
It¡¯s an impressive sight, Ran¡¯s own features slightly sharper even from just the short time he¡¯s been journeying, though that change of course pales in comparison to Caesar¡¯s. He¡¯s beautiful, his purple color truly giving him a regal aura, whilst the pattern on the inside of his hood almost seems alive with vibrant, vivid colors. Yet, though his entire body¡¯s changed, there¡¯s still something in his mannerisms that is undeniably Ekans, leaving Ran confident that he could still pick his partner out of a crowd of a thousand Arbok without needing so much as a second glance.
¡°So, before we continue working on Acid Spray and Sludge Bomb,¡± Ran says finally, after merely standing in silence with his starter for the better part of a minute, ¡°According to my notes, you¡¯ve probably learned Fire, Ice and Thunder Fang. Do you think you can use those?¡±
Caesar doesn¡¯t hesitate to respond, immediately hissing confidently before opening his maw demonstratively, flashing the massive fangs that have grown as impressively as the rest of him. They don¡¯t spark with any particular energy however, nor do they drip with poison, as his starter clearly waits for a proper command.
¡°Alright, alright, Caesar, use Thunder Fang!¡± Ran orders, only to watch in delight as his Arbok¡¯s fangs immediately start to glow with yellow electricity before, after half a second, visibly sparking with the stuff.
¡°Awesome.¡± He breathes out in awe, hands rubbing together enthusiastically even as Caesar, clearly smug about his new prowess, lets the attack¡¯s energy fade away.
What follows is a swift display of Ice Fang, which seems at first unimpressive, with Caesar¡¯s fangs merely glowing light blue. When Ran expresses as much, however, his starter swiftly slithers towards a large fallen branch from the tree they¡¯d been standing under just a few minutes before. When he bites down, a massive patch of ice radiates out from his bite, with Caesar not relenting until the whole dead branch has become trapped in a large block of ice. Only for him to then unleash a Fire Fang upon the same target, which in short order punches through the ice, melting that to water whilst burning the branch itself to ash.
¡°Alright,¡± Ran admits easily, doing his best to undersell Caesar¡¯s performance, ¡°You can pull all of them off well enough, I guess. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll improve with further practice. Now let¡¯s get-¡±
He doesn¡¯t get any further, as his starter shows that he¡¯s rapidly getting more accustomed to his newfound physical might, tail swinging out to catch Ran in the gut and absolutely launch him into the lake. Caesar clearly pulls his blow, only speeding up the swing of his tail after impact, to ensure that Ran¡¯s got enough momentum to actually land in the water, without risking breaking any part of his delicate trainer.
The end result is the same however, as Ran lands with a massive splash, immediately soaking him to the bone. He surfaces immediately, spluttering wildly as he hurriedly finds his feet before wading to the shore, hurling threats at his starter, who is clearly hissing with delight at the sight of his drenched trainer.
¡°I¡¯ll get you for that one!¡± Ran complains loudly, before putting words into action, as he recalls Caesar before his starter¡¯s eyes can even fully finish widening. Then, within seconds, he releases the massive poison-type once more, this time some five feet behind him.
Caesar¡¯s large serpentine body materializes a few feet above the water, giving him just enough time to understand what¡¯s about to happen, before he plummets into the lake.
This time, Ran is the one to laugh cheerfully. When Caesar¡¯s head resurfaces however, his starter¡¯s glare has that laugh die away within seconds.
¡°Now, Caesar,¡± Ran starts, raising his hands in front of him to ward off his starter¡¯s irritation even as he starts to backpedal with an increasing franticness, ¡°Turnabout is fair play, you really shouldn¡¯t have tossed me into the lake if you weren¡¯t ready to- No Caesar wait!¡±
His pleas fall on deaf ears however, as his starter rushes forwards, using his large hood to keep his head afloat whilst using the rest of his massive body to powerfully propel himself along the water¡¯s surface and rapidly close the distance between them.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
By the time Ran finally gets to exit the water fifteen minutes later, an achievement he only manages because Caesar started to get too cold to continue, he¡¯s spent more of that time with his head underwater than above it. The odds of ending up with a cold are significantly greater than zero, but, ultimately, he finds himself not minding one bit.
Eventually, they do get started on training properly, with Caesar soon mastering both Acid Spray and Sludge Bomb. It likely helps that both moves rest on the same basic principles, but the ease with which he suddenly picks both of them up, compared to the difficulty he had when first starting out, can only be the result of his evolution. Which Ran is sure to inform Caesar of, to the Arbok¡¯s obvious delight.
Nobody else progresses quite as explosively as Caesar by the time he calls the morning¡¯s training session quits, but there¡¯s still marked signs of improvement from all of them. Golbat¡¯s increasing success at executing Venoshock is such that Ran ends up regretting not having a single water-type move available, as a thick spill of the poisonous liquid lies at the foot of the tree, right under where Golbat practiced. It¡¯s unfortunate, but nature is well-adapted to pok¨¦mons¡¯ natural byproducts, so as long as Golbat doesn¡¯t do the day¡¯s second training session in the exact same spot, they should probably be fine.
Gathering his team of four back together, Ran takes them all in for a moment, before announcing it¡¯s time for a break.
¡°If any of you want to go back to your ball, let me know. Otherwise, you¡¯re free to go and do whatever you like, just don¡¯t wander off too far, alright?¡± He informs the poison-types, receiving two nods, a hiss and a chirp in response.
Immediately, Aria takes off for the tree, rapidly scuttling up the trunk before disappearing amongst the foliage. Golbat is slower to leave, but sooner to arrive, as by the time Aria is halfway up the trunk, he¡¯s already settled on a new branch, wings closing around him as he settles in to nap. Caesar, clearly still just a bit chilly from their earlier foray into the water, curls up in the sun in a U-shape, in a clear invitation for Ran to come and have a nap as well. It¡¯s a tempting prospect, but not one Ran immediately follows up on, as he instead looks towards Skorupi, who is vibrating with anticipation but also clearly frozen in indecision, as his eyes shift rapidly from the tree, to the plains, to the lake and back again.
¡°Skorupi, there¡¯s no need to rush, alright? Unless something unexpected happens, we¡¯ll be here for most of the day. So just choose something to go and do and then when you don¡¯t want to anymore, you can always change your mind, alright? Just don¡¯t wander off too far.¡± Ran encourages his young poison-bug-type, who eagerly darts forwards to wrap his tail around his trainer¡¯s leg in clear affection for a moment.
His words seem enough to finally have Skorupi¡¯s mind made up, as the most recent of his team members darts towards the lake, where he starts to mess about with the lake¡¯s small muddy shore. Ran watches him for a moment, looking fondly at the team member he¡¯d never planned for, before deciding that, though Caesar offers a comfortable backrest to lounge against, perhaps it¡¯s a bit too early for a nap.
So, though he does settle in against Caesar¡¯s warm body, to the evident delight of his chilly starter, who is as always enthusiastic about leeching warmth off of his trainer, he doesn¡¯t do so with the intent of falling asleep. Unlike Caesar and Golbat, who very clearly have their minds set on exactly that. Instead, he fishes out Introduction to the Geography of the Sinnoh region, one of the books he''s recently acquired, and attempts to dive into the mysteries of the distant and mysterious Sinnoh.
Supposedly, there was greater contact between Indigo and both Sinnoh and Hoenn once upon a time, only for rough seas and more aggressive wild pok¨¦mon to hamper contact until it faded to near-nothing. In recent years, following the unification of Kanto and Johto into their current state, contact¡¯s been properly re-established, with the League¡¯s leading figures exchanging pok¨¦mon and a few strong trainers of good standing per year gaining permission to take part in the other region¡¯s Conferences.
Because of these relatively recent events, Sinnoh is an intriguing subject, as amongst the common people, little is known about just what their native pok¨¦mon are capable of. So, reading about the foreign land and its different geography, and what effect that has on its pok¨¦mon population, sounds like a day well spent. Unfortunately, as Ran actually gets into the book properly, he realizes swiftly that there will be no vivid imagery or fluent narrative to sweep him off his feet and take him on a literary journey along Sinnoh¡¯s most beautiful and unique vistas.
Instead, Introduction to the Geography of the Sinnoh region reads almost like a school textbook, the material offered in a concise and extremely dry manner. Full sections are actually just bullet pointed lists rather than even attempting to form a smooth narrative. It makes for less than entertaining reading, though at least he progresses swiftly, as the book doesn¡¯t waste any time or effort on ¡®chaff¡¯.
Thanks to the book¡¯s approach to its topic, though much of what he reads is swiftly forgotten as it doesn¡¯t aid him in his search and its presentation leaves him rushing through it, Ran does soon stumble upon just what he¡¯s looking for. Because as he¡¯s reading about the unique Great Marsh, which one of his other books focuses on exclusively, he stumbles upon a mention of Skorupi.
Though the book doesn¡¯t go into any great depth on Skorupi¡¯s species, it does mention the poison-bug¡¯s tendency of hiding in mud to hunt, its ability to survive for very long spans of time without eating and its seeming inability to tolerate colder temperatures. All of which is valuable information, but it all pales compared to the brief mention of Skorupi¡¯s single evolution: Drapion, a poison-dark-type.
Discovering Skorupi¡¯s future typing is enough of a surprise for Ran to lower the book for a moment, as he tries to parse through just what he¡¯s just learned. If Skorupi eventually evolves into a poison-dark-type¡ He¡¯ll be the perfect answer to poison¡¯s deeply troubling weakness to psychic-types.
Did Bugsy know? Surely, he can¡¯t have. A poison-dark-type perfectly counters one of, if not the single most, glaring one of his chosen specialty¡¯s weaknesses. There¡¯s no way Bugsy would¡¯ve gifted him such a pok¨¦mon. Yet, Ran has found out this much with just a visit to Goldenrod¡¯s extremely well-known Trainer Department Store. Surely, whoever Bugsy bought or traded Skorupi from must¡¯ve been able to give him the same information?
But then that¡¯d mean that Bugsy deliberately gave him a strong pok¨¦mon that perfectly accounts for one of his team¡¯s main weaknesses¡
Is Drapion known for being weak? Or for being difficult to work with? What¡¯s the catch? What if-
Caesar hisses warily, as he swings his large head, clearly no longer napping, around to look Ran in the eye. It¡¯s enough to startle him out of his own thoughts, the derail caused by thoughts of Bugsy¡¯s ulterior motives corrected by his starter¡¯s insistent gaze.
¡°Thanks Caesar, I think I got a bit too deep into my own head,¡± Ran acknowledges, forcing himself to breathe out deeply and only then realizing just how much of his body has tensed up over the past few minutes.
His starter merely offers a comforting hiss, moving up slightly to rest his head in Ran¡¯s lap, looking at him demandingly until he gets the head pats he clearly wants. Ran obliges for a few minutes, feeling himself relax further as he glances around for the rest of his team.
Golbat and Aria are both still in their tree, with both clearly still napping. Golbat hangs from a large branch, body hidden by his own wings. As for Aria, she¡¯s harder to spot, but she¡¯s made herself a large web between some of the branches, at the center of which she rests easily. Ran can¡¯t see much of her, but with the sun still bright in the sky, her red coloring does her no favors, as glimpses of her form can clearly be caught through the tree¡¯s obscuring foliage.
Skorupi however¡ Skorupi, he doesn¡¯t immediately spot.
A faint worry starts to rise in his gut, even as he nudges Caesar¡¯s head off of his lap gently. Rising easily, not yet agitated but gradually growing more anxious as he fails to locate his team¡¯s junior member, Ran is just about to raise his voice, when he spots an at first sight innocent heap of mud, near the lake¡¯s edge.
¡°Skorupi!¡± He calls out, eyes fixated on the mud pile, ¡°Come on out, it¡¯s time for your one-on-one training!¡±
Immediately, the pile rips open, as Skorupi comes darting out enthusiastically, racing towards his trainer cheerfully. Ran¡¯s heart beat lowers significantly, even as he makes a mental note to keep an eye on a second of his team members who likes to burrow. At least Skorupi hasn¡¯t shown the instinct before, so perhaps he¡¯ll only feel the need around wet or sufficiently loose ground, unlike Aria, who always looks for some form of tight hidey-hole when she wants to rest.
¡°Alright guys, that¡¯s enough of a break for now!¡± Ran calls out loudly, rousing his pok¨¦mon from their rests, as in short order both Golbat and Aria leave their previous spots to join the impromptu circle, ¡°Caesar, you¡¯re with Aria. I want the two of you to play tag, all non-damaging-moves are allowed. Caesar will start as the chaser. On a tag, take a minute long break, give the runner some time to get set up and get away a bit. Caesar, you can¡¯t use Glare. Paralysis counts as damaging for this exercise. Aria, I want you working on Agility whilst you¡¯re playing, alright?¡±
He gets an affirming hiss and chitter respectively, after which the newly-formed pair depart to ensure they¡¯ll have enough room to work with. Ran glances to Golbat, only for his only flying-type to offer an accepting bow and take flight. With neither Haze nor Venoshock mastered quite yet, he doesn¡¯t need any actual verbal instruction to know what Ran expects of him.
Finally, that leaves Skorupi, as Ran examines the eager, though absolutely filthy, poison-bug-type. Without hesitation, he points towards the lake, ¡°Okay, first of all, get in the lake, I¡¯m not letting you sit in my lap when you¡¯re this dirty.¡±
Skorupi stares at his trainer in displeasure, tail pincers clacking together in clear agitation both at the mention of the lake and probably the idea of sitting in Ran¡¯s lap - though the usually cuddly Skorupi tends to quite enjoy that at any other time - rather than getting the ¡®proper¡¯ training he¡¯d been promised.
¡°We¡¯ll be looking at some videos of moves you don¡¯t know yet, to see if there¡¯s anything in there you think you might be able to pull off, alright?¡± Ran clarifies, which immediately gets Skorupi to quiet down.
Enthusiastically, he turns towards the lake, only to pause in hesitation once more. For a moment, Ran considers whether his fourth team member is just being childish, before he recalls the recent part about Skorupi¡¯s species¡¯ general aversion to cold temperatures.
¡°I¡¯ll have a towel ready to dry you off the second you get out, alright? And I¡¯m plenty warm so you¡¯ll be warmed up in no time. Plus, look at that sun, I bet by this point the water¡¯s even warmer than when Caesar and I went in.¡± Ran cajoles the smallest of his team members. Successfully so, as Skorupi, after another moment¡¯s hesitation, darts towards the lake.
Ran hurriedly digs around in his backpack for a towel, only barely managing to get his hand on one when Skorupi comes racing out of the water once more, making a beeline directly towards his trainer. In the nick of time, Ran manages to settle on his haunches, holding the towel out in front of him as a braking system, as the completely wet Skorupi outright launches himself upwards at his trainer, only to be caught in the big fluffy towel instead.
A few minutes later, sitting on the grass with the sun¡¯s heat warming them both, Ran lines up the first video, of a Gligar using Poison Tail. In his lap, Skorupi waves his tail around enthusiastically, until Ran almost has his eye poked out, at which point he volunteers an arm for Skorupi to wind his tail around, ensuring that he¡¯ll make it through their study session unmolested.
In the distance, he can hear the discomforting noise of Golbat unleashing yet another burst of venomous liquid and the sounds of what appears to be a truly feisty game of tag between Caesar and Aria. As he replays the video of Gligar¡¯s Poison Tail once more, at Skorupi¡¯s clear insistence, Ran smiles in satisfaction.
He could get used to having more days like this one.
Chapter 18, pt.2
When evening eventually starts to set in, Ran gathers his team and starts heading back to Goldenrod City. Caesar, he keeps out of his ball for company and as a mild deterrent for any trainers that may want to challenge him on the road back to the city. The others are recalled easily, none of them seeming to mind after getting to spend nearly the entire day out of their balls.
It¡¯s something he¡¯ll need to make more time for in the future, as his pok¨¦mon have been spending a lot more time in their balls ever since he set out on his journey. Though none of them have really seemed upset about this change to their lives, the way they all openly enjoyed themselves today still makes for a stark contrast with the long stretches he¡¯s spent on the road over the past weeks. Of course traveling is a reality of life as a trainer, but there¡¯s a lot of time left until the Conference and he¡¯s already got three of the eight badges he needs. Taking a slightly more easy-going approach should definitely be possible and there¡¯s little doubt that it¡¯ll benefit his team.
Because the day¡¯s two training sessions were without a doubt the most productive training sessions they¡¯ve had in a long while. Between Caesar finally mastering both Acid Spray and Sludge Bomb, Golbat doing the same for Haze and Venoshock, Aria swiftly learning Toxic Spikes before starting to make some progress on Sucker Punch towards the end of the day¡¯s training and Skorupi proudly showing off Bug Bite as the result of his work with Aria, his team has measurably and markedly improved compared to when they set out in the morning. Said improvement far exceeds the wildest hopes he¡¯d held for the day when initially setting out.
That, then, likely explains why he¡¯s in a spectacularly pleasant mood right now. The evening air is pleasant, not too cloyingly warm but not chilly either. There¡¯s a light ache in his muscles from the day¡¯s exertions, but nothing bad enough to be bothersome or truly painful. Slithering along by his side, Caesar is still visibly basking in the novelty of his evolution, a single imperious look from him enough to scare off an overly curious Drowzee despite his inherent type-disadvantage.
In short, though there are countless hurdles yet to clear, he feels on top of the world at this moment. The prospect of a good dinner, a hot shower and a comfortable bed only further reinforce his good mood, to the point where he¡¯s just about ready to start skipping back towards the city. Some faint remnant of self-restraint keeps him from going quite that far though.
It¡¯s just after entering Goldenrod City, with Caesar freshly recalled and just as he¡¯s accepting the convenient cup of pasta he¡¯s picked up from a food stall to eat on the go, that his pok¨¦gear buzzes with an incoming message. It takes a bit of finagling, considering the cup of pasta and the fork he¡¯s holding, but he manages to check the message without spilling anything.
She asks where he¡¯s at, a second message clarifying that she¡¯s currently at the pok¨¦center looking for him. Ran responds with a quick explanation, promising that he¡¯s on his way there now, which Josie apparently considers a good response, as she responds with a simple thumbs up.
The promise of finally getting some further clarification as to just where Josie¡¯s head ended up is enough incentive for him to swiftly scarf down the rest of his pasta, even as he picks up the pace towards the pok¨¦center slightly. Just a handful minutes later, still wiping around the corners of his mouth to make sure there¡¯s no pasta sauce lingering on his face, Ran enters the main lobby, before easily bypassing the nurse¡¯s desk and instead turning directly towards the hallway that holds his room.
There, Josie stands leaning against the wall next to his door, arms crossed under her chest as she idly taps away at her pok¨¦gear.
¡°Josie,¡± Ran greets her, continuing to approach until he¡¯s standing next to her, so he can unlock his room¡¯s door, ¡°Come on in.¡±
¡°Thanks.¡± She acknowledges, following him inside before coming to a sudden stop.
Ran for his part is faintly aware of the sounds of Josie¡¯s footsteps coming to an abrupt halt, but he doesn¡¯t pay them much mind, instead focused on finally taking off his backpack and taking off his shoes. Only when that¡¯s done and when he¡¯s moving to sit on his own bed, does he look towards Josie, before realizing why she¡¯s stopped in place, as she looks at the pok¨¦mon bed that takes up the other half of the room with an inscrutable expression.
¡°I guess they don¡¯t have those in whatever hotels you¡¯re staying in?¡± Ran asks, sliding over towards the head of his bed before gesturing towards the foot invitingly as he draws his own legs up to sit comfortably against the headboard.
¡°No, they do.¡± Josie denies, looking around the room once more, before finally seeming to accept that her options for seating are limited to an uncomfortable desk chair, a pok¨¦mon bed and Ran¡¯s bed. Thankfully for Ran¡¯s self-esteem, at least his bed wins out in that particular race, as Josie finally steps further into the room before sitting down on the other side of the bed.
As she settles down, legs still off the bed as she sits sideways, only looking at Ran from the corner of her eye, she expands upon her answer easily, ¡°The places I¡¯m staying at just don¡¯t make you choose between bedspace and room for your pok¨¦mon. I didn¡¯t really think about the lack of space for your team when I saw the room you were staying in back in Violet. Is this standard for a pok¨¦center room? Because my room in the pok¨¦center back in Azalea was definitely bigger than this one.¡±
¡°I haven¡¯t been to enough different centers to really know if it¡¯s ¡®standard¡¯,¡± Ran clarifies, fingers rising to form the appropriate air quotes even as he realizes that Josie probably didn¡¯t book a ¡®standard¡¯ room at all, back in Azalea, ¡°But as far as I¡¯ve seen, this is what a normal one-person room looks like, yeah. There¡¯s usually also a large communal dormitory, but honestly this isn¡¯t that much more expensive and at least this way my team can spend the night outside of their balls.¡±
¡°No, I get that.¡± Josie accepts, waving off his explanation as she looks about the room, before finally her eyes land upon him properly, her upper body turning slightly to face him more directly, at which point she draws in a deep breath.
¡°Honestly, it¡¯s whatever, I¡¯m just beating around the bush. Let¡¯s just do this.¡± She declares assertively, before falling silent once more.
¡°Well, it¡¯d help if I knew just what we¡¯re doing¡¡± Ran replies drolly, trailing off as he waits somewhat impatiently for Josie to actually get to whatever point she wants to raise.
She lets out a heavy sigh, shoulders drooping for a moment, before she visibly psyches herself up once more.
Finally, she speaks, the words coming out in a swift rush as she clearly forces them out before she can second guess herself, ¡°I want to start riding to Ecruteak City tomorrow.¡±
Ran has to blink a few times, somewhat taken aback by the unexpected announcement. Josie merely sits quietly, staring at him intently, clearly waiting for him to speak. He takes a moment to process her words and just what they mean, before finally doing just that.
¡°Okay so you don¡¯t want to stick around Goldenrod to re-challenge Whitney in the short term, that¡¯s fair,¡± He accepts easily, before frowning slightly, ¡°I¡¯m not completely opposed to Ecruteak next, but personally I was hoping to go to Cianwood next, so if you¡¯ve got any-¡±
He¡¯s cut off by Josie, who interrupts his attempt at convincing her with another rush of words, ¡°I want to start riding to Ecruteak City tomorrow, alone.¡±
¡°Oh,¡± Ran lets out in surprise, before, as Josie¡¯s words really sink in, repeating the same word more slowly, ¡°Oooooooohh.¡±
¡°Yeah, oh.¡± Josie huffs in dismay, finally looking away from him as she instead develops a sudden interest in the texture of the pok¨¦center¡¯s standard bed sheets.
She remains quiet after that, giving Ran enough time to parse through Josie¡¯s words and process just how he feels about them. His first true reaction, the emotion that soon pushes away his initial confusion, is resentful. Just because he won the badge and she didn¡¯t, she¡¯s dumping him as a companion? How dare she!This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
An angry outburst is on the tip of his tongue, but, perhaps thanks to some lingering sense of fulfillment from the day¡¯s successes, he holds off on actually unleashing his verbal vitriol. Josie¡¯s expression, tentative, unwilling to meet his eyes, doesn¡¯t suit that of someone out to hurt him. As open a book as she is, he¡¯s confident that she¡¯s not acting, at which point frustrated resentment makes way for dismay. That¡¯s the emotion he ends up verbalizing.
¡°Why?¡± He ends up asking after a long minute has passed, ¡°I thought we were both enjoying traveling together?¡±
¡°I was!¡± Josie immediately clarifies, finally meeting his eyes once more, her sincerity clearly visible there as whatever dam has been holding back her words finally bursts, ¡°This isn¡¯t because I don¡¯t like traveling with you or because you¡¯ve done anything wrong or whatever. But I¡¯m not making progress as a trainer right now and you definitely are so, until I¡¯ve figured some stuff out, I can¡¯t be around you when you keep making these huge leaps forward whilst I¡¯m stuck in place!¡±
Josie¡¯s eyes widen in fear as she ends up shouting at him, only to frantically continue before Ran can get a word in edgewise, ¡°If we do keep traveling together, I¡¯m just going to become jealous of you! But I know that I shouldn¡¯t be because it¡¯s not your fault that I¡¯m not making progress so then I¡¯ll end up loathing my own behavior and I don¡¯t want that. Not to mention the part where you don¡¯t deserve me bitching at you, just because you¡¯re doing well as a trainer!¡±
Josie draws in a few heaving breaths once she finishes speaking, clearly having pushed her lungs to the limit by rushing out so many words without taking in any proper breaths. It left Ran unable to get a word in, but now the tables are turned as she has to recover her breath, finally giving him an opportunity to reply.
But he doesn¡¯t. Not immediately, at least. Instead, he considers Josie¡¯s words carefully.
She feels that she¡¯s not progressing as fast as him and that¡¯s going to lead to a spiral of blame, jealousy and self-loathing¡ Is that a reasonable explanation? What if their positions were reversed? If he¡¯d lost their first battle, lost against Grady and now lost against Whitney, whilst watching Josie win instead and evolve her starter?
That¡¯s something he has to think about for a few long seconds, before coming to a conclusion about himself that admittedly isn¡¯t all that flattering. At least it makes understanding Josie a lot easier, which is what drives his next words.
¡°Alright,¡± He replies succinctly, offering a nod to go along with his words, ¡°If that¡¯s what you feel like you need to do, then that¡¯s how it is.¡±
His reply is measured and calm, which is why Josie doing a visible double-take feels pretty unfair.
¡°It¡¯s alright? Really?¡± She repeats uncertainly, staring at him as if he¡¯s grown a second head, ¡°I¡¯ve been beating myself up over this for hours and all you¡¯ve got to say is that it¡¯s alright?¡±
Ran shrugs, unsure just what kind of reaction she was expecting then, ¡°I enjoy traveling with you, but we never made any hard deals or promises to each other and I don¡¯t want either of us to end up resenting the other. So yeah, it¡¯s alright. If you feel like you need to ride to Ecruteak, then you should ride to Ecruteak. It¡¯s your journey.¡±
Josie merely gapes at him like a fish in response, drawing a sigh from Ran, before he explains his own thoughts further, ¡°Look, I wasn¡¯t expecting that you wouldn¡¯t want to travel together anymore, but I did expect you to want to go to Ecruteak. Vulpix makes sense for your team and just sticking around Goldenrod for a few weeks doesn¡¯t seem like your style, so it¡¯s not that big of a surprise. If you really had your mind set on it, I was willing to come along. Of course I was hoping to convince you to go to Cianwood first, because I like that route better and it suits my own long-term plans better, but this way, we both get to travel the route we prefer without any hard feelings either way.¡±
¡°And you¡¯re not upset that I¡¯m dumping you?¡± She asks, her typically straightforward choice of words finally drawing a slight wince from Ran.
¡°Well I¡¯m not particularly enthusiastic about the word ¡®dumping¡¯,¡± He admits, finally drawing a guilty grin from Josie, ¡°But no, I can understand it. Even when we were traveling here, you were already missing the opportunity to ride Ginger as much as you wanted. And if you know that traveling together is just going to lead to us fighting, then it¡¯s better to call it quits here. Besides, I honestly think I¡¯ll enjoy traveling with just my team for company. We¡¯ve gotten a lot stronger compared to when we just started out, it¡¯s not as if either of us should really need a companion for safety purposes, at this point.¡±
Earlier, he got a guilty grin, this time, he actually manages to draw an audible laugh from Josie, as she finally seems to ease up once more. At first, she still seems a bit tentative, but when Ran remains placid, she finally openly grins, falling over on her back and letting her upper body lay across the bed lazily, rather than holding her awkward sidewards sitting position any longer.
¡°Safety purposes, please. I¡¯ve got a team of living fire hazards, ain¡¯t nobody laying a finger on me.¡± She declares, looking up at the ceiling for a moment, before rolling over onto her side to meet his gaze once more. For his own part, he¡¯s not nearly as restless as Josie, continuing to rest comfortably against his pillow which in turn rests against the headboard.
¡°There¡¯s always a bigger Gyarados out there,¡± Ran warns seriously, before easing up once more, ¡°But yeah, with my team where it¡¯s at now compared to when we first went through Union Cave, it¡¯s not as if traveling on my own will actually be dangerous either. Maybe it¡¯ll do us both good to spend some time with just our own teams for company.¡±
¡°That¡¯s what I was thinking!¡± Josie confirms enthusiastically, bouncing upright with renewed energy before suddenly pointing a threatening finger in his direction, ¡°Man, this is going a lot better than I thought it would.¡±
Ran offers a teasing grin, confident enough that Josie¡¯s back to being herself to launch a small verbal jab, ¡°Well alright, thanks for thinking the worst of me, friend.¡±
¡°Oh I didn¡¯t mean it like that,¡± Josie waves him off once more, as if swatting away a particularly persistent fly, ¡°You know I didn¡¯t mean it like that. You¡¯re a good dude, Ran.¡±
He¡¯s about to smugly accept the compliment, but before he can, Ran is cut off, as Josie raises a finger threateningly even as she bounces off of the mattress, ¡°Though don¡¯t think for a moment that this means I¡¯ll go easy on you when we run into each other later, you hear? I¡¯ll be kicking your ass at the Conference, no matter what!¡±
¡°Sure you will,¡± He scoffs tauntingly, ¡°In your dreams!¡±
¡°Ha!¡± Josie barks out a laugh, before returning fire with a taunt of her own, ¡°You, feature in my dreams? Wishful thinking, buddy boy!¡±
What follows is ten minutes of increasingly childish mutual taunting, before they eventually run out of gas. The silence that settles over them both is a companionable one, though there¡¯s also a sense of finality to it.
When Josie opens her mouth once more, Ran isn¡¯t surprised by the words that come out.
¡°I¡¯m going to head out. I¡¯d say ¡®keep in touch¡¯, but that kind of goes against the whole resentment thing, so I¡¯ll just text you once I¡¯m feeling better about my own performances, alright?¡± She offers, rising from the bed, which she¡¯d fallen back onto somewhere in the middle of their verbal joust, as she does so.
The thought of not keeping in touch at all in the short term isn¡¯t a pleasant one, but it¡¯s one he somewhat begrudgingly accepts nevertheless.
¡°Sure thing,¡± Ran accepts, rising from the bed himself, to leave them both standing only a few feet from each other, as he wavers between offering a hand for Josie to shake and simply waiting for her to leave, ¡°Kick ass out there.¡±
Josie meets his gaze once more, before finally, with a sort of muted huff, stepping closer, grabbing his coat by the collar and planting him with a kiss.
Ran can only stand there awkwardly, completely frozen in place as he is suddenly acutely reminded of the minor detail that Josie is in fact a very pretty girl. Before he can even properly start to process that fact or even what¡¯s happening to him in the first place, the kiss is already over. Josie meets his eyes once more before, with an infuriatingly smug smile, turning on her heel and leaving his room, the door falling shut behind her.
It leaves him standing around uselessly for a few seconds, before his hand tentatively comes up to touch his lips in disbelief. What just happened?
He wants to go out and chase after Josie, to demand some kind of explanation, but not only would that go directly against her wishes, he also really doesn¡¯t want her to end up regretting what she just did. Because that was really quite enjoyable. So he just stands there for a few more seconds, before finally plonking back down on his bed.
Eventually, still trying to fully work through what just happened and what his feelings about it mean, he starts to release his team. They materialize easily and, upon realizing they¡¯re back in the same room as the previous night, return to their previous sleeping locations. By the time they¡¯re done, Ran has settled more comfortably on his own bed once more, glancing around for a moment, before starting to catch his team up on his conversation with Josie, though he does omit her chosen means of saying goodbye.
They take the news well, none of them having gotten especially close with any of Josie¡¯s own team members, though Skorupi at least expresses some disappointment at the idea of losing his playmates in Chief the Growlithe and Soot the Houndour. Still, it¡¯s only the work of a few minutes to catch his team up on the evening¡¯s events, at which point they all settle in for the night.
As for Ran, he takes that long-awaited shower, changes into his sleeping wear and brushes his teeth. By the time he heads to bed, it¡¯s with thoughts of wandering the roads alone, with only his team to keep him company. They¡¯re happy thoughts, rather than scary ones, easily carrying him off to sleep. Though when he dreams, it isn¡¯t just of the journey ahead, but also of a pair of warm, slightly chapped lips.
The next morning, one of the first things he does is book a ticket on the next ship to Cianwood City.
Chapter 19
With a few days to kill before his freshly-booked ship to Cianwood City departs, Ran spends his remaining time in Goldenrod City productively.
To start, he gets in touch with Grady and spends another day with the younger trainer in the Goldenrod City Tunnel. They both get in a few more battles, with Ran garnering two wins and a single loss. The wins are earned by Caesar the Arbok in a singles effort and by the pair of Aria the Ariados and Golbat in an impressive doubles battle. The loss is Skorupi¡¯s, as the surprise factor his rarity offers him doesn¡¯t end up fully compensating for his lack of experience and raw power against another three-badge-trainer¡¯s Raichu.
The next day, he takes his team towards the Goldenrod City Gym once more. Though the Plain Badge sits snugly in place next to his Zephyr and Hive Badges, the Gym does have more to offer than just its Gym Leader after all. Splurging on a pass to use the Gym¡¯s training facilities for a few days isn¡¯t exactly fun, but with his team¡¯s movesets in a very solid place for now, Ran is eager to have them focus on their raw physical abilities once more. Especially with the comforting thought that his finances are in a comfortable enough place to bear the expense. He¡¯ll make the money back over his next few matches anyways, so it¡¯s about time he actually used a Gym for training, rather than just to challenge the local Leader.
Buying training equipment with his money is also possible of course, but for a journeying trainer like himself, it¡¯s hardly ideal. Plus, with the expenses involved and the expected growth his pok¨¦mon should still experience in the weeks, months and years to come¡ It¡¯s just the same reasoning that led to him capturing Spinarak and Zubat all those years ago, rather than investing in training equipment for Ekans. So he invests in a training pass for Whitney¡¯s Gym.
The facility is probably the finest one in all of Johto, owing to Goldenrod City¡¯s prominence and size. Its reputation and size translate into painfully high prices, but just a brief glimpse at the sheer array of machines and training aids that are available has Ran more than happy to make the investment. From that point on, it¡¯s just about getting as much value for his money as possible.
Which is why, for the remaining three days before they¡¯re due to board for Cianwood CIty, they¡¯re in the Gym¡¯s training hall at eight in the morning every day for a morning workout. Ran joins his team for their warm-ups every morning as he works out alongside them, before becoming their trainer once more as he sets each of them up with individualized programs.
Though he¡¯s always had a fair few ideas of his own, it¡¯s still nice to discover that Goldenrod City¡¯s Gym¡¯s training facilities offer a wide selection of suggested training schedules and approaches for all kinds of pok¨¦mon. For example, he¡¯s been having Golbat working on obstacle courses whilst having to dodge attacks for ages, something the available training schedules also mention. But the facility adds onto that basis by offering multiple weighted and resizable ¡®vests¡¯, as well as ball machines that take over the dodging portion of the workout.
The workout Golbat gets put through is significantly more intense as a consequence, but the results speak for themselves as even over the span of the few days of training, he improves noticeably. He isn¡¯t the only one either, as Caesar finally gets an opportunity to get some properly reliable indications of his grip strength, thanks to the facility offering multiple machines for exactly that purpose. After three days, his final maximum effort show a three percent increase over his ¡®starting¡¯ value, which to Ran is all the justification he needs to confirm that working out in the facility rather than out in the wild was worth it.
Grip strength isn¡¯t the only thing Caesar works on either, as both he and Skorupi continue to lack badly in mobility. Which is why they get to do a lot of laps and sprints over their three day training stint. It¡¯s hard to argue with results of course, but that doesn¡¯t do anything to improve the mood of either of his most physically affectionate pok¨¦mon.
Aria also lacks mobility to a degree, but between Agility, Shadow Sneak and her growing familiarity with Sucker Punch, closing speed and endurance aren¡¯t the major concerns for her that they are for the others. Instead, Ran has her working on her nimbleness and ability to dodge, as rather than sprints or laps, she too gets to contend with obstacle courses and dodging the salvos of ball machines. Unlike the pair of Caesar and Skorupi however, Aria is ecstatic to be working on training that¡¯s entirely geared towards letting her avoid pain in the future. Especially as the ball machines, though absolutely efficient, are also even less painful than the already muted Poison Stings she¡¯d ordinarily be dealing with if Ran had to put her through the same training regimen out on the road.
Finally, the one exercise all four of his pok¨¦mon get put through equally, is the one they all seem to enjoy the most. Because all of them get to go ham on an array of chew toys specifically engineered to withstand and improve the bite force of every possible pok¨¦mon. It rapidly becomes a game between the four of them to see if any of them can actually damage their assigned toys, only for all of them to ultimately fail as, whenever any one chew toy starts letting out particularly distressed sounds, Ran happily switches it out for the next, even tougher, model of the same line.
All in all, with a few brief breaks to drink and rest, their daily morning workout lasts about three hours. At that point, Ran recalls his team, leaves the training facility, shops for lunch, prepares his lunch, eats it and does some light reading. By two in the afternoon, he¡¯s back in the facility, for another two hour training session, to his team¡¯s daily horror.
Every day, by four in the afternoon, they¡¯re all well and truly exhausted, at which point they get to the most popular part of the day by far. Because after working out, Ran is more than happy to let his team relax and recover in the large spa-area of the training facility. There, a wide range of surfaces, temperatures and light sources are on offer, letting each pok¨¦mon rest up in ideal conditions.
Caesar finds a daily home on the large heated rocks, letting him bask in the indirect light of the large sunlamp that beams down on the adjacent pool and sandy coast. Said sand always draws Skorupi, as he burrows into the sand as far away from the water as he can get, before happily letting the sun beat down on his sheltered form for as long as Ran will leave him there.
Whilst those two seek out sunlight and heat, Golbat and Aria are the opposite, as they retreat into the shade. For Aria, that amounts to seeking out a comfortable perch amongst the small wooded area of the large room, whilst Golbat retreats into the dark, humid ¡®cave¡¯ structure all the way at the back of the room.
Of course they¡¯re never the only pok¨¦mon in either the training facility or the spa-area, as Ran is by no means the only trainer in Goldenrod City who wants the best for his pok¨¦mon. But the training facility¡¯s rules on battling are very clear. As in, there is none allowed.
Which is for the best, as ¡®just¡¯ battling whilst in possession of an access pass would be a complete waste of the money he¡¯s invested to gain the access pass in the first place. Fortunately, none of the other trainers seem to be of a different mindset, as everyone just minds their own business and works out privately, with the occasional exception of a pair or threesome of trainers grouping up to chat as their pok¨¦mon work out or relax in different places.
On their final day in the training facility, the brief routine Ran established for his team and himself briefly gets thrown off-kilter, as a familiar figure catches his attention.
It¡¯s only a few minutes before four, just as his team is winding down and mere minutes after Caesar sets his new, final (for now) record on the grip strength tester, that Ran catches a glimpse of a familiar dark pink. Looking properly in that direction, he¡¯s unpleasantly surprised to see the trainer of the Politoed and Ampharos that pushed Golbat and him around back on Route 34.
The other trainer is just entering the facility, not noticing Ran and his own team as he moves over to a large weightlifting station. It seems somewhat ill-suited to both Politoed and Ampharos, but that mystery is easily answered when he ends up releasing a Sudowoodo. There¡¯s some anxiousness to Ran¡¯s movements as he actually decides to recall Golbat for a moment, calling his other pok¨¦mon to him as he cuts their training short by a few minutes.
None of them mind, of course, though Caesar seems to catch on to his unease at least, as he looks around the large hall before rapidly focusing in on the older thug.
¡°Leave off, Caesar, we¡¯re going to the spa.¡± Ran insists, leading the way there swiftly.
Skorupi and Aria follow along enthusiastically, leaving Caesar to glare menacingly at the unaware bully in the distance, but as Ran continues to lead the way, his starter eventually yields, following after his trainer reluctantly. Ran¡¯s shoulders sag in relief as he hears the distinct sound of Caesar¡¯s scales slithering after him.
Then, as he leads his team to the spa, his attention is caught by a sliver of conversation between two local female trainers, who are clearly watching the newly-arrived trainer as well.
¡°-back to the Conference.¡± The first girl, who looks to be around eighteen, finishes saying. Her words are already enough to draw Ran¡¯s interest, but nowhere near as much as the reply of the second trainer.
¡°He¡¯s strong, but he does kind of pale in comparison to Whitney, doesn¡¯t he?¡± The second girl, who looks closer to Ran¡¯s age, seems to admit, before posing a question heavy with implications.
¡°It¡¯s not Morton¡¯s fault that his sister¡¯s a freak of nature!¡± The first girl snaps back, clearly flustered by the apparent critique of the now-named Morton. Then, without paying her junior companion any further mind, she boldly strides towards Morton, clearly intent on making conversation.
Ran doesn¡¯t pay that any mind however, as he instead makes sure to be out of the training hall and into the spa, to make sure that ¡®Morton¡¯ can¡¯t spot him once he gets pulled out of his focus by the chatty girl. Only then, once he¡¯s sure that there¡¯s no risk of an altercation occurring, does he let his pok¨¦mon set out towards their preferred resting spots - with Golbat getting released with only an apologetic smile for an explanation - and turn his own attention fully to what he just heard.
So he¡¯s Whitney¡¯s older brother. That would explain him hanging around Goldenrod City and having such a strong team. But why can¡¯t Ran remember him from any Conference matches then? Did that team of his, with that terrifyingly strong Ampharos, never make it into the later stages of the tournament?
The thought seems insane. Yet¡ What other explanation is there?
It¡¯s deeply worrying to consider that a team consisting of pok¨¦mon that can oneshot Ran¡¯s own team isn¡¯t even strong enough to go on a run at the Conference-level. Because, although his own team¡¯s made remarkable progress even in the brief span of time since his ¡®match¡¯ against Morton, the idea that Morton himself isn¡¯t even the bar he has to clear completely undermines the value he¡¯d mentally ascribed to their progress over the past few days.
Progress is still good of course, but it¡¯s like running a mile only to then discover that you¡¯re not supposed to run ten, but twenty miles. Then again, maybe Ampharos is actually Morton¡¯s strongest pok¨¦mon by a comfortable margin?
If that¡¯s the case¡ payback becomes a lot more achievable, a lot sooner than he was expecting. Which is a deeply intriguing thought. Ran makes a mental note to look up Morton¡¯s known team on the pok¨¦center¡¯s computers that evening. Though the Conference is still a long way off, it¡¯d be especially delicious to humble the ¡®man¡¯ that hurt Golbat on the biggest stage of them all, at the end of the season.
He puts the idea out of mind for the moment, instead wandering over towards Caesar, to offer his starter some insight into just who Morton is. It¡¯s a brief explanation, at the end of which Caesar sulkily knocks Ran¡¯s legs out from under him, making sure that his trainer lands right in the middle of his coils, forcing him to snuggle.
Lying on top of Caesar is a bit warm for Ran¡¯s tastes, but it isn¡¯t the most uncomfortable perch in the world either. Or so he feels initially, at least.
When Caesar wakes him up with some insistent hisses almost two hours later, he¡¯s forced to admit to himself that perhaps the temperature was just right after all. The long, late nap throws his evening routine slightly out of whack, but Ran still finds the time to look into Morton¡¯s trainer profile briefly at least, his unusual first name proving enough to find just the guy he¡¯s looking for.
Morton Hancock is twenty-five and went to two Conferences in back-to-back seasons, the most recent of those being a decade ago. That comfortably explains why Ran didn¡¯t recognize him or ever hear of him, as Morton¡¯s trainer profile makes it very clear that he hasn¡¯t done a proper circuit ever since. Instead, there¡¯s a few mentions on his profile of accredited work as a freelancer with organizations like the Rangers and the police.
As for his known team, Ran can only conclude that Ampharos might very well be the ace indeed, as his other known pok¨¦mon are Bellossom, Sudowoodo, Politoed, Xatu and Umbreon. There¡¯s potential there of course, with Umbreon in particular having the potential to be a real menace, but Bellossom and Xatu are hardly particularly awe inspiring threats.
There¡¯s still no doubt that Morton is a professional trainer, but making it to only two Conferences, only to flame out in the early rounds before settling for freelancing and, probably, mooching off of his more successful sister? No wonder the guy is a thug who pushes around less experienced trainers.
Silently vowing to himself not to end up like Morton Hancock, Ran mentally adds the other trainer to his mental checklist of trainers to overcome. There¡¯d been a gaping chasm between Spencer and Bugsy. Morton slots in there perfectly.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.
The gap between Golbat and Ampharos was far too big when they first battled to easily catch up in just a few weeks, but in the many months they¡¯ve got left before the Conference? That sounds a lot more achievable. It¡¯s a motivating thought that inspires him to keep giving his best for the rest of the day.
The next morning, Ran heads to Goldenrod¡¯s port bright and early, eager to take ship to Cianwood City and start on the path to achieving the next milestone on his path. The dock he needs is easily found, at which point he happily settles on a free bench with one of his books, looking to spend the time until he can board in a productive way. Which means he finally gets to delve into Sinnoh Safari, the Great Marsh.
It¡¯s been at the top of his reading list from the moment his study of Sinnoh¡¯s geography taught him that it serves as the Skorupi-line¡¯s natural habitat, but with his days productively filled in other ways, he hasn¡¯t gotten around to it just yet. Now, however, with over half an hour to wait before he¡¯s even supposed to be able to get on board of his chosen transport, is the perfect moment to start changing that.
He easily delves into the book, this one written far more interestingly than the earlier fare, as it is written as if the reader is being taken along on an actual safari trip. This translates in the book actually starting with an immediate tangent about appropriate clothing, but that only makes the tale more immersive, as only after ensuring that ample warning about proper shoes and sufficiently long sleeves and pant legs have been given, does the narrator enter the Marsh itself.
Once inside, after an overall description of the general wetness of the area and the smooth intermingling of wilderness and human ingenuity, the book finally turns to the pok¨¦mon that can be found in the Great Marsh. Some of them Ran is surprised to find he knows very well, as pok¨¦mon commonly found in Johto, like Wooper, Hoothoot and Paras, are mentioned as native to the region.
There¡¯s also a moment of genuine excitement when the book mentions the presence of a few Ekans and Arbok. Ran¡¯s hand instinctively dips to Caesar¡¯s pok¨¦ball in order to bring out his starter and share the discovery with him, only to think better of it as he notices the dock has already filled up significantly with other trainers. As they are also largely keeping their pok¨¦mon in their balls, barring a few smaller pok¨¦mon like a Starmie and a Tyrogue, it¡¯d probably be a bit awkward to unleash a massive Arbok all of a sudden.
Especially as it¡¯s pretty clear that not everybody on the dock is a professional trainer, with some clear tourists of varying ages mixed throughout the slowly growing crowd as well. Realizing that there¡¯s a fair few older people milling about, Ran looks around for a moment that he isn¡¯t keeping any of them from a seat, only to find that there¡¯s still more than a few empty benches left. With that worry dismissed for the moment, he returns to his book.
There¡¯s an interesting mention of the Arbok in the Great Swamp natively tending to pick up on the basics of Dig, which is a fascinating finding, as all of Ran¡¯s previous research indicated the need for a TM if he wanted Caesar to learn the move. It¡¯s a neat tidbit he files away for later consideration, but not one he lets himself get distracted with for too long, as he returns his attention to the remainder of the book.
Before he can make any real further progress however, the ship¡¯s horn is sounded, as a large gangplank is lowered from the ship onto the dock, two employees swiftly moving to stand at the ready to receive passengers and check everyone¡¯s tickets. Glancing at his pok¨¦gear, Ran is somewhat surprised to find that the ship should be departing in just ten minutes, time apparently having passed swiftly while he was reading.
He hurriedly stows away his book, before joining the milling crowd around the gangplank, as he waits patiently for his turn to board.
A few minutes later, ticket in hand and directions given to him by the younger of the two employees responsible for checking the tickets, he walks up the gangplank and onto the ship.
The ship he¡¯s booked transport on is no grand luxurious cruise ship, but rather a simple ferry. There were cabins available for reservation of course, but as the trip is only supposed to take about four hours, Ran hasn¡¯t booked one of those. Instead, he traipses about the deck for a while as everyone finishes boarding, before descending into the boat¡¯s innards to have a proper look at his chosen means of transport.
The ship isn¡¯t particularly impressive despite its significant size, but it¡¯s comfortable enough, with a nice restaurant, a reading lounge and a large number of deck chairs out in the open to while away the hours in. There is very clear signage posted in every area to demonstrate what is and isn¡¯t allowed, with most things, like smoking, being highly expected.
The severe restrictions on pok¨¦mon are a major disappointment though, as Caesar, Aria and Golbat are all too large to be let out of their balls anywhere except for the absolute belly of the ship, where a specific deck has been prepared for ¡®larger¡¯ pok¨¦mon. Though the idea is nice and he does go and have a look there, there is no natural light whatsoever and simply looks like a large hangar, with no real effort having been put in to make it seem more appealing.
Even then, the promise of an available referee could still have convinced him to lurk around on the pok¨¦mon-deck in hopes of having a fun match, but the other trainers on board have also clearly opted to spend their time elsewhere, rather than under the sterile artificial lighting of the pok¨¦mon-deck. So, mind made up, he heads to the ferry¡¯s restaurant, where he has to wrestle down the instinctive urge to leave upon spotting the outrageous prices, to have a proper breakfast.
With that sorted, it¡¯s just a matter of seeking out one of the few still unoccupied seats on the busy sun deck, flagging down a waiter to order a drink, and cracking open his book.
It¡¯s not a particularly warm morning, with plenty of wispy gray clouds and the cold air stopping the sun¡¯s full effects from being felt. Still, with his thick purple jacket on, it¡¯s comfortable enough, as Ran is happy to at least let Skorupi out of his ball, for some company.
The excitable poison-bug-type energetically skitters over to the deck¡¯s railing, peeking down to see the ship cleaving through the water, before swiftly rushing back to Ran¡¯s chair, where he anxiously tries to crawl under his trainer¡¯s chair. In a deck chair, that has the unpleasant effect of Skorupi¡¯s many hard and sharp parts digging uncomfortably into his seat, at which point Ran spends at least two minutes struggling with his fourth team member, as he tries his best to extricate Skorupi from underneath the chair.
An endeavor that is made significantly more challenging by Skorupi¡¯s insistence on not being pulled out into the open, as he wraps his tail through the chair¡¯s legs before tightly clamping on to them with his tail claws. What follows is clearly of great entertainment to the rest of the sun deck¡¯s occupants, as Ran can hear more than one snicker and muted laugh, all while he does his best to liberate Skorupi from the bottom of his seat.
He¡¯s completely unsuccessful of course, as Skorupi¡¯s general clinginess clearly translates into an excellent ability to resist attempts at removal from whatever he¡¯s clinging to. Ordinarily, Ran himself is the ¡®thing¡¯ Skorupi is clinging to, which means actually needing or wanting to remove the blue-purple menace is an issue he hasn¡¯t really encountered before. However, Skorupi¡¯s choice to attach to a light deck chair of all things, ultimately proves to be his undoing.
Because after a few minutes of pulling and cajoling and shaking his pok¨¦mon, Ran doesn¡¯t even try to get Skorupi out from under the seat any more. Instead, he simply lifts up the deck chair as a whole and starts shaking it. After just a few seconds, with a plaintive yowl, Skorupi lets go and drops onto the deck.
Triumphant, Ran puts down his chair, ready to get back to his book, only to have to deal with Skorupi immediately crawling up his back and attempting to cling onto his back. Which, again, ordinarily he¡¯s fine with. In a deck chair however, it really does not work.
So he has to spend another five minutes bargaining, threatening and cajoling Skorupi, until eventually his pok¨¦mon consents to clinging onto the back of the chair, rather than onto Ran¡¯s own back. Finally, he gets around to opening his book once more, enthusiastically delving back into the tale of the Great Marsh.
Picking up where he left off, which was the part that mentioned Arbok being native to the region, he swiftly moves through the next few sections on a number of pok¨¦mon both exotic and common. In this way, the next hour passess swiftly, including an interesting section on the Croagunk-line, which is apparently a poison-fighting type. The implications for his team¡¯s potential match-ups against the generally immune steel-types are immense, but he forces himself to carry on, focusing on the pok¨¦mon that¡¯s actually on his team rather than a foreign one he¡¯ll likely never get his hands on.
Thus, he carries on reading, until, finally, he reaches the section he was looking for. Because, with a clear picture of both Skorupi and his evolved form, Drapion, taking up the entirety of the right page, he finally gets to what he was looking for, as the narrator turns to the description of the next two pok¨¦mon he ¡®encountered¡¯ on the book¡¯s imaginary safari.
Skorupi, the Scorpion Pok¨¦mon, and Drapion, the Ogre Scorpion Pok¨¦mon.
Found lurking just under the surface, the highly dangerous Skorupi lies in wait of prey. Capable of surviving without food for incredible amounts of time, this venomous predator sinks into the Great Marsh¡¯s swampy soil, only to snap forwards with devastating speed when an unaware victim stumbles into its killing range.
Skorupi combines sharp and strong claws with lethal poison into a compact and distressingly durable package. As a poison-bug-type, it deviates significantly from more common base stage pok¨¦mon of the bug-typing, like Kricketot and Wurmple. Unlike those more ¡®typical¡¯ bug-types, Skorupi is generally slow to evolve, though it does compensate for this to a degree in its greater battle prowess.
Its naturally strong armor and well-honed instincts for ambush predation make it an incredible battler on the professional circuits. Because of this, the Skorupi-line is one that¡¯s well-sought after by Sinnoh¡¯s many talented trainers, with many considering the effort one needs to invest to truly get the most out of Skorupi well worth it.
For those trainers that persist and show the willingness and ability to give Skorupi all the time, attention and experience it requires, the reward is significant. Because upon evolution, Skorupi becomes the feared Drapion.
Unlike its earlier form, Drapion is no patient ambush predator. Instead, it is a highly territorial roving beast that will attack any pok¨¦mon that dares enter its claimed territory. Unlike Skorupi, Drapion tends to be highly active when awake, constantly patrolling its territory and hunting for prey. Drapion also loses Skorupi¡¯s vulnerability to cold weather, though it maintains a preference for warm temperatures.
The largest shift upon evolution is in its typing, for it loses the bug-typing and gains a secondary dark-typing instead. This makes Drapion extremely sought-after by many, as it only has a single true type weakness, whilst being very strong and versatile at the same time. Successfully defeating and capturing a wild Drapion isn¡¯t for the faint of heart however, so trainers with such ambitions should make sure that they don¡¯t bite off more than they can chew!
In the Great Marsh, only a few Drapion are present at any given time, to ensure that the remaining wild pok¨¦mon population isn¡¯t damaged uncontrollably. Though it is technically allowed to attempt to capture a Drapion during a Safari-outing, many ultimately opt to go for a Skorupi instead, due to Drapion¡¯s rarity, aggression and renowned resistance to capture.
We will ignore the clear signs of a lurking Skorupi for now, allowing it to remain lying in wait for its eventual next meal, and instead carry on to-
Ran closes the book with a decisive snap, looking out over the waters which the ship is still cutting through, as the sheer impact of what he¡¯s just read finally fully sinks in.
Bugsy really did give him a pok¨¦mon with a ton of potential. One desired by hordes of trainers. A pok¨¦mon with enough raw potential to be ¡®extremely sought-after¡¯. Not only for its poison-dark-typing, which itself remains an enormous coup, but for its overall power and ability as well! So Bugsy didn¡¯t just give him a complete and total answer to his team¡¯s current main defensive weakness to the psychic-typing, but one of considerable might in his own regard at that. A pok¨¦mon renowned for its battle prowess and strength¡
Worst of all¡ Bugsy must know. Because he gifted it to Ran partially because Drapion doesn¡¯t retain the bug-typing. So either Bugsy thinks Ran can¡¯t get Skorupi to evolve, that he won¡¯t be able to handle Drapion¡¯s temper post-evolution, or¡ Bugsy genuinely gave him an astonishing reward that forces Ran to completely re-evaluate everything he¡¯s ever thought of Azalea Town¡¯s Gym Leader.
Which is just not an option.
In what has to be a moment of the universe actively working against him, his pok¨¦gear chooses that exact moment to vibrate with an incoming message. Somehow, it isn¡¯t even that surprising to see Bugsy¡¯s name glaring up at him from the small screen.
Opening the message reluctantly, Ran¡¯s conflicted feelings only worsen further, as reads what Bugsy sent him.
Bugsy: Hi Ran!
Bugsy: I had some business with Whitney and she mentioned that you put on an impressive performance against her! Congratulations on winning your third badge!
Bugsy: From what she told me, it must have been quite the sight to see. I look forward to watching some of your matches later in the season, when you reach the higher badge tiers and your performances start to get recorded.
Bugsy: Feel free not to tell me, but I admit to some curiosity on your plans for the immediate future. Are you planning to challenge Chuck or Morty next? Alternatively, if you¡¯re still in the area, I¡¯m also happy to hear that your Spinarak evolved. If you¡¯re interested, I¡¯d be more than happy for you to swing by Azalea Town again to see if I can¡¯t offer you a few pointers on really getting the most out of her, now that she¡¯s an Ariados!
Bugsy: If that¡¯s something you¡¯re interested in, please do get in touch and I¡¯ll make sure to try and clear some room in my schedule. Good luck with your journey!
Now even more conflicted than before, Ran closes his pok¨¦gear in frustration, the brusqueness of his motions startling Skorupi for a moment, as the deck chair shakes in place.
Why would Whitney and Bugsy discuss him? What else did they talk about? What¡¯s with the interest in his next challenge? Is Bugsy keeping an eye on him? Is he going to reach out to Chuck and/or Morty in advance of Ran¡¯s arrival? To what end?
Ran was never particularly close to the old Gym Leader, but surely Walter never kept such close track of the unsponsored trainers hailing from Azalea Town? For that matter, he¡¯d be surprised if Walter even used to keep close track of his actually sponsored trainers. Well, with the exception of Clarence, of course. The other water-specialist was always Walter¡¯s favorite.
But is this going to be the norm for Bugsy¡¯s tenure? Is he contacting Spencer in the same way? Is he tracking his progress as well? What about whoever Bugsy¡¯s sponsored trainer is? Is Bugsy keeping in touch with them as well? Maybe he¡¯s trying to figure out Ran¡¯s route so that he can send his sponsored trainer after him, to try and humiliate Ran by letting him get beaten by another Azalea Town native, in the same way as Bugsy himself once did?
That has to be it.
He¡¯s trying to lure him into a false sense of comfort and security, by awarding him a pok¨¦mon with exceptional potential, but which Bugsy wrongly assumes Ran to be incapable of fostering. How dare he!
This won¡¯t stand. He¡¯s not going to fall for such tricks. He¡¯ll just ignore Bugsy¡¯s messages and prove just how good of a trainer he is by not only evolving Skorupi, but by using Drapion to defeat Bugsy, when Ran eventually returns in triumph, to challenge the Gym Leader¡¯s Elite team. Yes, that sounds perfect.
His jaw, which he hadn¡¯t noticed the tensing of as he tried to puzzle through Bugsy¡¯s intentions, slowly unclenches. He gets up out of his seat and, after hurriedly putting his book, previously still lying in his lap, in his backpack, wanders over to the railing. Behind him, Skorupi tentatively follows, clearly less than enthusiastic about approaching the edge but also wanting to stay close to his trainer.
With an explosive sigh, Ran leans on the railing, looking out over the water as, in the distance, Cianwood City gradually becomes visible on the horizon. He can feel a pulling on his pant leg, as Skorupi tentatively crawls his way upwards, letting out a pleased chitter when he manages to properly settle on Ran¡¯s back again. Clearly, from his usual perch, Skorupi¡¯s earlier aversion to the proximity of the water below is forgotten.
It¡¯s that comforting presence on his back, along with the familiar weight of the rest of his team¡¯s pok¨¦balls on his belt, which slowly eases his mood, his raised temper falling once more. The sun shines overhead, the smell of salt in the air is still novel and he¡¯s traveling by boat for the first time in his life. No matter what Bugsy is plotting or planning, he¡¯ll find a way to overcome those challenges in time. For now, he¡¯s happy to enjoy the journey.
Chapter 20, pt. 1
With Skorupi recalled, Ran disembarks and steps out onto the pier the ferry has berthed alongside. From the ship¡¯s rear, a ramp has been lowered onto the berth, a proper hardened area leading to a road that leads away from the city center. There, tourists are driving their cars out of the hold before setting off for wherever it is they¡¯re going.
The vast majority of the ferry occupants however, like Ran himself, disembark from the side, simply walking down the long gangplank onto Cianwood City¡¯s sole large tourism-oriented pier. In the distance, the city¡¯s actual cargo port can be spotted, where even now a large freighter is being unloaded. But clearly a decision was made at some point to keep the less-attractive, yet utterly practical, port away from the city¡¯s touristic heart.
Because as Ran turns from the pier towards the mainland, the sight before him is admittedly an attractive one.
The first thing to draw his attention is the massive beach, spanning for miles to both the left and the right before eventually getting stopped by the cliffs that ring almost the entirety of Cianwood City, as they come forwards once more and push directly into the ocean. The beach is deep as well, with hundreds upon hundreds of feet of sand only gradually giving way to concrete and asphalt.
That isn¡¯t to say that the beach is entirely bare however, as, only a short way from what appears to be the waterline at high tide, the first restaurants, lifeguard towers, beach houses, changing areas and public restrooms start to pop up like mushrooms. It¡¯s quite the sprawl, at first appearing utterly random, however upon closer examination a somewhat deliberate spread of the commercial offerings on display, as well as a respectable clustering of residential areas, starts to present itself.
Ran walks down the pier, which itself has only one side actually dedicated to being able to berth a ship, the other side entirely taken up by food stalls and carnival games. It¡¯s the middle of the day, which means the carnival games are already open, but the food stalls that are hawking their wares are clearly having more success at the moment. There¡¯s more than a few people enjoying an unhealthy carnival snack already and even as Ran watches, a fair few of his former fellow passengers divert towards the promise of warm, greasy food as well. He can understand the impulse, as the stalls¡¯ only slightly raised prices are a lot more palatable than the robbery the passengers got subjected to on the ferry itself.
He doesn¡¯t join the growing crowd however, instead continuing to walk down the pier as he seeks out the distinct red roof of the pok¨¦center in the distance. He isn¡¯t the only one either, as both ahead of him and behind him he can see more than a few other trainers, fresh off the boat, also marching towards the city proper with clear purpose.
The thought of breaking into a run, to ensure that he¡¯ll have a decent room at the center and that he won¡¯t have to content himself with a bed in the general dormitory, pops into his head briefly. However, after a quick headcount that worry is dismissed, as though there are at least a dozen trainers headed into the city like himself, none of them appear to be nervous or speeding up just yet. Of course that might mean that he¡¯s just the only one that¡¯s properly thinking ahead, but some of those surrounding him are a fair few years older, which implies a lot more experience with travel than he himself has.
Instead of worrying over his sleeping arrangements, he looks out towards the city once more. In the distance, the more relaxed and ¡®wealthy¡¯ feel of the beach houses gives way to clear apartment blocks, trading luxury and space for affordability and convenience. Beyond those, the inlet within which Cianwood City¡¯s been built rather abruptly gives way to hard rock, as the cliffs impose a harsh border to the city¡¯s natural limits. It is without a doubt the most unique city he¡¯s ever seen, an impression that¡¯s further strengthened by the perfect view he gets of two trainers having a battle in the shallows, as an Umbreon and a Tentacruel face off.
There¡¯s a solid chance of Ran getting distracted enough to wander over to the pier¡¯s railing and just watch the ongoing battle, but before he can, a distinct glimpse of red in the corner of his eye recaptures his attention. The pok¨¦center¡¯s distinct red color stands out like a beacon, but it¡¯s the rest of its design that truly draws Ran¡¯s attention.
Because the pok¨¦center hasn¡¯t been built further into the city, where sand gives way to concrete. No, it sits on the beach itself, almost worryingly close to the waterline. It seems weirdly out of place with its ¡®straightforward¡¯ construction contrasting sharply with the large white-and-glass beach houses that claim large parts of the surrounding waterfront. Yet where it stands, the pok¨¦center is comfortably the biggest building around, somehow fitting in perfectly.
It likely helps that, compared to a ¡®normal¡¯ pok¨¦center, part of the center¡¯s side that¡¯s facing the sea is built out into a large glass area that pushes out all the way onto the water, only for the walls and floor to fall away, giving an opportunity for trainers and their swimming pok¨¦mon to swim directly into the pok¨¦center from the sea. With the addition of a large amount of tropical greenery, which Ran can make out even from this distance, there¡¯s an almost subtropical feel to that part of the pok¨¦center.
Still, impressive and inviting as that sight is, the one annoyance he does realize he¡¯ll be stuck dealing with for the foreseeable future, is sand. Because though the pier does connect to a path that leads towards the city¡¯s hardened interior, the pok¨¦center can¡¯t be reached without crossing a significant amount of beach no matter what. Which is a bother, because he didn¡¯t pack any footwear appropriate for the beach.
Something which is further reinforced when one of the trainers who was walking ahead of him pulls over to one of the pier¡¯s benches, before lazily starting to swap his walking shoes for flip flops of all things. It¡¯s apparently an inspiring example, as two other trainers start to do the same, only for a fourth to just kick off her shoes entirely and wander out onto the beach barefoot.
Ran isn¡¯t that desperate however. After all, not that he¡¯s ever really been to a beach before, but how bad could it really be?
As he has well and truly found out by the time he enters the pok¨¦center, it can be very bad indeed, leaving his earlier pleasant mood quite soured. At least the nurse is polite and helpful as she happily books him a one-person room with similar accommodations to what he had in Goldenrod City.
Then, after a brief but badly necessary visit to a store that sells beachwear for some sandals at least, he sets off for the Cianwood City Gym.
The Gym¡¯s positioned a bit further from the water, at the very least not having a direct connection to the sea like the pok¨¦center, but it still sits on the beach rather than further into the city. It¡¯s a remarkably straightforward construction, with the building a clear mixture between modern sensibilities and a classical martial arts dojo. Or, that¡¯s how it appears from the outside, at least.
Because upon entering the main lobby, the distant sound of massive quantities of crashing water hint at some very major interior features that don¡¯t belong in a dojo at all. Still, for the moment Ran doesn¡¯t concern himself with any of that, as he isn¡¯t interested in the Gym¡¯s training facilities just yet. After all, he¡¯s only just made it to Cianwood City and there are plenty of other things to go discover first.
So he simply joins the small queue in front of the receptionist¡¯s desk and patiently waits as the trainers in front of him book their challenges.
It all proceeds smoothly enough, each trainer needing only a minute or two to hand over their license, confirm that they¡¯re looking to challenge Chuck, whether or not they also want to take on the Gym Trainer challenge, with only one of the trainers in front of Ran choosing to, and settling on a time and date. When it¡¯s his own turn, Ran expects the same pattern to repeat, which is why he takes a moment to examine the signs behind the receptionist to see if he¡¯s interested in the Gym Trainer challenge.
He almost immediately decides that he isn¡¯t, upon spotting the rather worrying disclaimer that for the Gym Trainer challenge, the challenging trainer will also be expected to show their own physical prowess. Which, though he wouldn¡¯t call himself weak, still doesn¡¯t even remotely sound like it¡¯s well-suited to him at all. Not to mention the promised cash reward being nice, but by no means all that impressive. A fighting-type boosting Black Belt is a nice additional prize, but not one Ran¡¯s team can make any particularly great use of, further solidifying his decision.
With that already decided, all he¡¯s got left is to settle on an appropriate time to challenge the Gym. Considering his excellent speed so far and the temptation Cianwood¡¯s beach presents, plus the need to train up a bit further between Gyms, he¡¯s thinking an appointment roughly two weeks from today sounds about right. When he hands his license over to the receptionist however, the conversation doesn¡¯t proceed according to the pattern he was expecting.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
It all starts normally enough, the bored receptionist clearly going by rote as she scans his license.
¡°Ran Carr?¡± She asks dryly.
¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± He confirms just as easily, smiling politely as he does so.
¡°Fourth badge challenge?¡± She continues.
¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± He confirms once more.
¡°Very well, let¡¯s see here¡¡± She accepts, before typing on her keyboard in a few quick bursts of motion.
Where she¡¯d moved on to asking for any preferences as to day and hour with the previous trainers however, with Ran, she doesn¡¯t do anything like that.
Instead, her expression sharpens as she sits forward in her seat, something on her screen clearly having drawn her interest. Ran can only wait patiently as her suddenly far more alert face turns to him once more.
¡°Unsponsored rookie trainer, four registered pok¨¦mon, all possessing the poison-typing?¡± She asks with some eagerness, leaving Ran to nod in polite though hesitant agreement.
¡°That¡¯s right.¡± He confirms, unsure as to why she feels the need to ask. It¡¯s all on his profile after all. The previous questions were formalities, just to ensure no mistakes were made, but this feels very different, considering her change in attitude.
The receptionist nods enthusiastically as she turns her attention back to her screen, clicking and typing away as she leaves Ran waiting in silence for a long minute. Behind him, the two trainers currently waiting in the queue behind him remain silent, though Ran can tell that they¡¯re getting somewhat annoyed by the unexpectedly longer wait. There¡¯s nothing for it however, as he hardly knows what¡¯s going on himself.
¡°Mister Carr,¡± The receptionist suddenly snaps, her attention once more shifting rapidly from her screen to him, almost startling him with her speed, ¡°Your fourth pok¨¦mon, Skorupi. Its previous trainer was Gym Leader Bugsy, yet you are flagged as an unsponsored trainer. How did you acquire this pokemon?¡±
¡°It was an additional reward for my performance during my Gym battle. It retains its poison-, but not its bug-typing upon evolution. Bugsy figured I could do it more justice than he himself could. Or so he said, at least.¡± Ran explains politely, before hurriedly interjecting a question of his own before the receptionist can get distracted again, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, what¡¯s all this about? I just wanted to book my challenge.¡±
¡°Hmm?¡± The woman asks distractedly, gaze already having wandered back towards her computer screen before she finally seems to realize that there¡¯s still a waiting queue of trainers. In fact, Ran mentally notes that the queue has grown further, as there¡¯s now three trainers waiting behind him.
¡°Ah yes, of course,¡± The receptionist finally accepts, at last directing her full attention to him, ¡°When would you like to challenge? Please keep in mind, with the start-of-season rush dying down, starting next week Gym Leader Chuck only accepts challenges on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.¡±
¡°Do you have anything open around ten in the morning, two weeks from today?¡± Ran asks, which leads the receptionist to look at her screen once more. After a few moments of searching, she slowly starts to shake her head no.
¡°That week, not until Saturday, when there¡¯d be an opening at a quarter to ten. Alternatively, that same week we still have an opening at nine in the morning on Wednesday, which¡¯d be the Gym Leader¡¯s opening match for the day.¡± The receptionist offers apologetically, drawing a shrug from Ran.
¡°Wednesday at nine is fine, thank you.¡± He accepts, after which he watches the receptionist enter his match into the schedule before she finally hands him his license back.
¡°Please keep an eye on your incoming messages today, mister Carr,¡± She tells him even as she waves him off to the side and gestures for the next, by now properly irked, trainer to step to the front of the line, ¡°Our Gym has been looking for someone with your profile for a potentially interesting opportunity. We¡¯ll be in touch with further details later today.¡±
¡°Uh, alright, sure,¡± Ran curiously accepts, wanting to press for further clarification but understanding very clearly from the expressions of the other trainers in the line that that¡¯d be a bad idea, ¡°I¡¯ll do that. Thank you.¡±
The receptionist offers him a quick final nod, before turning her attention to the next waiting trainer, leaving Ran to wander out of the Gym in a mild daze.
¡®A potentially interesting opportunity for someone with his profile¡¯. There¡¯s no way it¡¯s related to his badge count. Cianwood must get countless mid-tier challengers throughout the Conference after all, plus it wouldn¡¯t explain just how in-depth her investigation of his team was. So¡ Is it related to his roster of poison-types?
Maybe Chuck wants to let his sponsored or Gym trainers work out against poison-types? Considering the way his team resists fighting-type energy, that might make some sense? If that is what the message he¡¯ll be receiving is about¡ he might be able to bargain for free use of Cianwood¡¯s training facilities in turn.
They probably won¡¯t be quite as diverse and extensive as Goldenrod¡¯s, but there¡¯s no debating the progress his team made over just a few days. So if free access to similar facilities is an option, that¡¯s something he¡¯s definitely extremely interested in. Though there¡¯s no point in speculating too much, especially when he¡¯ll receive more information to work with before the end of the day.
So, Ran deliberately wanders out into Cianwood City once more, deciding to just look around for a while in search of a diversion.
His first stop is for lunch, finally giving in to the complaints of his empty stomach as he picks up a meatball sandwich to devour. With that handled, he wanders through Cianwood City¡¯s beach ¡®district¡¯, the crashing of the waves always audible in the distance as he explores without a doubt the most unique city he¡¯s visited thus far.
Of the many shops and stores he passes, it¡¯s the diverse souvenir shops which prove most tempting, offering all sorts of fun, beautiful and intriguing knickknacks he delights in examining. However, the sheer practical matters of storage and transport, as well as his rather thrifty nature, ultimately see him steer clear from actually purchasing anything. Even if a little statuette of a Ponyta, blown out of colored glass, which he spends at least five minutes admiring, would make for a spectacular gift for Josie.
Ultimately he moves on however, the disappointed gaze of the shopkeeper not quite burning holes into the back of his head. Not that he lets her attempt at non-verbally guilting him into changing his mind. She can try that particular trick on another sucker.
Apart from souvenir shops and establishments offering either food, drinks or a mixture of both, Cianwood¡¯s beach actually ends up offering a disappointingly limited array of shops. Apart from one, which noticeably stands out and has Ran enter with interest.
The Cianwood City Pharmacy is a small building, weathered with age. Those features alone are enough to make it stand out in a major way from the far fresher and overall newer buildings that surround it on all sides. They aren¡¯t the only ones however, as compared to just how many windows and glass doors all the other buildings in Cianwood appear to have, clearly with the intent of letting in as much sun as possible, the Pharmacy only has two tiny windows, as far as Ran can tell.
It¡¯s enough to draw the interest of any unwitting passerby, at which point the large sign promising a staggering five hundred years of expertise does the rest.
Ran enters the small building with a mild sense of trepidation, an old-fashioned bell chiming as he opens the door and steps into the dark and cool Pharmacy. From one moment to the next, he¡¯s left the bright beach behind and entered a space that, if anything, is almost reminiscent of Ilex Forest. The walls are ringed with bottles and tubes that likely contain all kinds of pills, potions and salves, though their dark colors and unfamiliar labels leave Ran incapable of deciphering what any of them are meant to treat or aid.
To the left of the door through which he entered, a low counter runs along most of the wall, keeping customers away from the dark curtain that hangs in front of a small opening that leads to the back of the store. As Ran watches, the curtain is disturbed for a moment as a short old lady, whose chin is almost at a level with the counter, comes shuffling out from the back.
¡°Welcome to Cianwood City Pharmacy,¡± She greets him cheerily, ¡°You¡¯re not one of our regulars! Are you here to pick up a subscription for someone else or are you a new customer?¡±
¡°I¡¯m new,¡± Ran admits, before hurrying to clarify that he isn¡¯t actually looking to buy anything in particular, ¡°To Cianwood in general, that is. I stepped off the boat just a few hours ago, I was just touring the city and your shop looked interesting, so I wanted to come and take a closer look.¡±
The old lady nods easily, shuffling over to a small stool he hadn¡¯t noticed yet and plopping herself down on it as she gestures invitingly towards the rest of the store, ¡°Well, have a look if you like, though if you don¡¯t mind, why don¡¯t you tell me a little about yourself? I assume you¡¯re a trainer?¡±
¡°I am, yes,¡± Ran admits easily, wandering over towards a rack of small bottles with, from what he can tell through the dark brown glass, different kinds of brightly colored powders, ¡°What are these for?¡±
¡°Hmm? Oh those are all different kinds of pok¨¦chow supplements, mix in just a light sprinkling into their meal, about a gram¡¯s worth, once a day and within a matter of weeks, be astounded by the results.¡± The old lady explains, before firing off another question of her own, ¡°If you haven¡¯t been to Cianwood before, is this your first circuit, or are you taking your time with it? You don¡¯t seem like you¡¯d be from Kanto, if you don¡¯t mind me saying so.¡±
Ran easily waves her worries away, answering absentmindedly as he looks closer at the labels of the food supplements, ¡°It¡¯s my first circuit, yes. I¡¯m here for my fourth badge. What kind of astounding results?¡±
¡°Well that depends on the supplement and the pok¨¦mon of course!¡± The old lady replies loudly, cackling merrily as Ran shoots her an annoyed look.
¡°How about this, you tell me what your team looks like and I¡¯ll tell you if I have anything that might be well-suited to them?¡± She offers eventually, once she¡¯s calmed down a bit and her laughter has subsided.
Figuring that at least that¡¯s a far more sensible option than continuing the mutual quizzing, Ran consents easily, ¡°I have an Arbok, an Ariados, a Golbat and a Skorupi.¡±
¡°You have a Skorupi?¡± The old lady perks up excitedly, clearly intrigued as she perks up in her seat, ¡°That¡¯s some rare poison, with some rather potent medicinal properties, if used correctly. We don¡¯t have much demand for it, but I¡¯d be quite interested in purchasing a small dose, if you¡¯re willing to let me drain that Skorupi of yours for the day.¡±
Ran turns to face the counter fully, curious bottles with food supplements forgotten for the moment. Intrigued, he speaks.
¡°I¡¯m listening.¡±
Chapter 20, part 2
Ran wanders out of the Pharmacy with an exhausted Skorupi resting in his ball, a backpack that¡¯s significantly heavier than when he entered the store and a whistle on his lips. Though the Pharmacy¡¯s need for Skorupi-venom has been filled completely, ensuring he won¡¯t be making any equally profitable return visits in the near future, he¡¯s still left feeling as if he made out like a bandit.
Not quite in hard cash sadly, but the various medicines and supplements now sitting in his backpack would¡¯ve been ruinous to purchase normally. In that light, enough supplements to enrich his complete current team¡¯s food for the next three months, plus a doubling of his normal healing items like Potions and Paralyze Heals, makes for an extremely productive afternoon. Additionally, Edith, which he¡¯d learned was the old lady¡¯s name, had mentioned an interest in cutting a similar deal further in the future, if he ever felt like swinging by Cianwood City again.
He didn¡¯t really have any hard plans to that end, but if his team showed a clear preference or growth from the Pharmacy¡¯s products, then he¡¯d have to consider that carefully. If the Pharmacy¡¯s wares proved largely useless, then all he¡¯d have lost was a few hours of training for Skorupi, at most. However, the benefits of stuff like X Attack and Calcium had been researched and proven, so he was quite hopeful that the Pharmacy¡¯s wares might also prove worthwhile.
For now, he wanted to get started on the day¡¯s training, but before he could, his pok¨¦gear finally buzzed with an incoming message. Immediately, the good mood he¡¯d left the Pharmacy with evaporates, as anxiety rears its head once more.
Not wasting any more time, he looks to see just what Cianwood City¡¯s Gym is contacting him for.
Cianwood City Gym: Cianwood City Gym is looking for suitable profiles for a comparative pok¨¦mon development study. Applicants will have to prove their ability as trainers. Payment to be discussed. Please let us know if you are interested in applying.
A pok¨¦mon development study?
That doesn¡¯t sound like it has anything to do with letting the local fighting-types practice against his own poison-types. In fact, it sounds vague enough for him to have no clue whatsoever as to just what it¡¯s going to be about. However, considering he¡¯s going to be spending the next two weeks in Cianwood City anyways, he can¡¯t deny that his interest¡¯s been piqued.
Ran: I¡¯m interested in applying.
Message sent, Ran moves to close the messaging window and carry on with his day, however, before he can, a notification shows up indicating that a reply is already being written. Surprised by the speed of the Gym¡¯s reaction, he waits patiently for the next message to come in.
Cianwood City Gym: Excellent! Are you available for a briefing in thirty minutes?
Ran: I am. I¡¯ll be there.
Cianwood City Gym: Splendid! Please present yourself at the reception desk, we¡¯ll be expecting you.
He closes the message with a sigh, a glance at the hour showing that it¡¯s five in the evening already. Any plans of training before dinner will have to be shelved for now, but at least he¡¯ll get to find out what Cianwood¡¯s Gym wants from him. Perhaps he¡¯ll even get some insight into whether Bugsy is pulling any of the strings behind the scenes, though that might be presuming a bit too much.
Opting not to waste any time, he turns to head directly to the Gym, arriving there after about twenty minutes. The receptionist, her workday clearly coming to an end from the three glances she shoots at the clock over the two minutes Ran spends around her, swiftly directs him up the nearest stairs and to the second door on the left.
Politely following her instructions, Ran slides open the wood-and-paper door to walk into a small meeting room, a large oval table taking up most of the room¡¯s floor space. That isn¡¯t what draws his attention however, as rather than any of the room¡¯s interior features, like the apparently constant use of wood lattices and paper sliding walls, he focuses his attention on the room¡¯s lone other occupant.
A dark-skinned young woman meets his curious gaze with one of her own. Neither of them immediately speak, as Ran focuses first and foremost on the three pok¨¦balls on her belt, before properly taking in the rest of her. She¡¯s got black hair falling to the back of her neck, whilst in the front her bangs fall to just between her eyes. She wears a gold-and-pink training jacket - the colors a dead giveaway for something that hails from Goldenrod City - over a black tank top. For the lower part of her body, the ensemble is completed by black sport leggings and gold-and-pink sneakers.
She¡¯s about his own age, potentially even an unsponsored rookie like himself. Notably, however, her hands are taped and there¡¯s a taut muscularity to her frame that hints at a physical strength cultivated over time. As for the eyes that meet his own, stony and hard-to-read as they are at first glance, are an odd brownish gray that, through the soft light that penetrates the room¡¯s paper walls, seems almost a mixture of silver and bronze.
Their mutual staring match comes to an end when the girl blinks, rising from her seat and approaching with an outstretched hand. Ran has to suppress his instinctive desire to reject the approach, before he manages to meet her hand with his own, as they shake hands whilst she introduces herself.
¡°I¡¯m Doro.¡± She greets him, her handshake firm almost to the point of being painful.
¡°Ran,¡± He replies in turn, as they release each other and he takes a few steps to the other side of the table, eyeing a chair of his own, ¡°I guess you¡¯re also here to apply for the study?¡±
¡°I do not know yet,¡± She answers calmly, her surprisingly deep voice carrying an odd accent he doesn¡¯t manage to place, ¡°It will depend on what exactly they want, and what they are willing to offer in return.¡±
Ran nods along agreeably whilst Doro also returns to her previous seat, the two of them facing each other from across the table when he agrees with her, ¡°Same here. It sounds interesting enough and there¡¯s definitely more than a few ways for the Gym to make anything worth my while, but they¡¯ve been frustratingly vague so far.¡±If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
¡°Agreed.¡± Doro accepts severely, before falling silent.
Ran is content to leave it at that and wait quietly for whoever else might be joining them, or for one of the Gym¡¯s employees to come and explain just what their offer is, but Doro appears to feel differently, as she speaks up once more.
¡°I am unsponsored and I am on my first circuit. I have won the Plain Badge from Goldenrod City, the Fog Badge from Ecruteak City and the Mineral Badge from Olivine City.¡± She announces proudly, not asking anything of Ran in turn, though the look in her eyes makes it clear that she does so out of politeness, rather than a lack of interest.
Figuring that fair is fair, he replies in kind, ¡°I¡¯m an unsponsored rookie too. I¡¯ve won the Zephyr Badge from Violet, the Hive Badge from Azalea and the Plain Badge from Goldenrod.¡±
¡°Hive Badge?¡± Doro asks, her head tilting slightly to the side in evident confusion, ¡°What has happened to the Whirlpool Badge?¡±
¡°Walter retired. Azalea Town¡¯s new Gym Leader, Bugsy, is a bug-type specialist.¡± Ran clarifies easily, though he is careful to say no more than he has to, not particularly wanting to get into his own history with Bugsy.
¡°I see.¡± Doro accepts, pausing yet again. Though she seems inclined to continue the conversation once more after a moment¡¯s thought, she is prevented from doing so, as the door to the meeting room, previously having been closed by Ran when he himself entered the room, opens once more.
The man that enters is barefoot, has a belly that obscures muscle rather than fat and is the owner of the most peculiar facial hair - with a bare chin sitting under a massive mustache that connects directly to his mutton chops - that Ran has ever seen. Crucially, he is also extremely recognizable, as both Doro and Ran jolt in their seats as they are surprised by the presence of Gym Leader Chuck, rather than a member of his staff.
¡°Don¡¯t get up, don¡¯t get up.¡± Chuck offers good-naturedly as he turns for a moment to close the door once more.
Ran obliges, sagging back into his seat, but Doro is clearly of a different mind, as she stands up fully and waits in place as Chuck turns to face them once more. The Gym Leader clearly notices her changed positioning, but doesn¡¯t speak on it, instead moving to sit at the head of the table. Only once he¡¯s done so, does Doro also sit down again.
¡°Alright, let me get right to it,¡± Chuck starts immediately, seemingly intending to get right to the crux of the matter, ¡°You¡¯ve both been asked here because your profiles are well-suited to answer a curiosity of mine.¡±
Chuck pulls out a small remote from underneath the table before pointing it at the distant wall, where a white screen swiftly rolls down from the ceiling before an image appears upon it. It takes a moment for the picture to become sharp enough to see properly, at which point they¡¯re all left looking at what is clearly a pok¨¦mon, and one Ran rather recently saw his first picture of.
¡°That¡¯s a Croagunk,¡± Chuck offers dryly, as he gestures at the dark blue bipedal pok¨¦mon on the screen, ¡°A poison-fighting-type from Sinnoh.¡±
Attention now fully captured, Ran can only listen quietly, oblivious to whatever reaction Doro is having, as he can only gape disbelievingly at the odds of what he believes is about to happen, happening to him again.
¡°I recently came into possession of a pair of them. It¡¯ll be my first time working with the species, but I¡¯m not inclined to train up two at the same time. I want a single one to focus on fully, to really examine just what it¡¯s potential is. So that leaves me with one to spare. At which point I figured it might make a fine prize to support one of Johto¡¯s many fine young up-and-comers.¡± Chuck explains, Ran hanging on his every word as the conversation continues to go down a path that feels like it can only have one conclusion.
¡°However, none of my sponsored trainers are in the area at the moment and I don¡¯t want to favor one of them over the others anyways. So, I told my receptionist to be on the lookout for a potential fighting- or poison-type specialist. I figured, either we could learn something interesting about the impact of different fighting-type specialists¡¯ training methods on the same species, or we could learn something interesting about the impact of a species with a dual-typing being trained by two different mono-type specialists.¡± Chuck continues, his tale so far seemingly more intended as an explanation of his thought process, than an actual clarification on what he wants from Ran and Doro.
That changes when his gaze sharpens as he turns from looking at the screen, to examining each of them in turn as he questions them, ¡°The two of you happened to show up on the same day, with one of you seemingly specializing in poison-types and the other apparently doing the same with fighting-types. So, first things first, are you both planning to fully specialize in those typings?¡±
¡°I am.¡± Ran acknowledges confidently, not shying away from the Gym Leader¡¯s demanding stare.
¡°Yes.¡± Doro replies mono-syllabically, attention still fixated on the image of the projected Croagunk.
¡°Alright. In that case, I have an exotic pok¨¦mon available that¡¯d make a fine addition to either of your teams. I¡¯d expect a short, weekly report on its progress, half an hour¡¯s work worth at most, as well as a battle between the Croagunk that leaves with you and the one that stays with me after this year¡¯s Silver Conference Finals. Other than that, the Croagunk is free of charge and will be considered yours in its entirety. So, are either of you interested?¡± Chuck finally offers, gaze panning from Ran to Doro and back.
It¡¯s a tough question, as on the one hand a poison-fighting-type would be a great addition to his team, serving as a great counter to the troublesome steel-typing. On the other hand, he¡¯s only got two slots remaining and those are earmarked for a member of the Nidoran-line and a member of the Bulbasaur-line respectively. Adding an unexpected additional steel-type counter throws the careful balance he¡¯d planned out completely out of whack. Of course Skorupi eventually gaining the dark-typing has done a lot to resolve his team¡¯s crippling weakness to psychic-types already, rendering the acquisition of a Gengar unnecessary, but adding a poison-fighting-type?
The intended Nidoking he¡¯d planned on eventually adding to his team, an addition initially postponed by the thought of Skorupi potentially gaining the ground-typing upon evolution and then by a desire to move on from Goldenrod in favor of Cianwood, was supposed to be his steel-type counter. If he instead adds a Croagunk, does that make Nidoking surplus to requirements? Its great bulk and immense movepool would both be sorely missed only to be replaced by, ultimately, a pok¨¦mon he knew very little about.
He could also forget about the Venusaur he was still dreaming of for his sixth team slot, trusting in Aria and Golbat to do the heavy lifting as far as countering ground-types goes¡ Neither of them actually has much in the way of super-effective attacks for those match-ups though.
The desire to properly analyze the situation keeps him mute and oblivious to his surroundings for long seconds, which is why he doesn¡¯t know how Doro initially responded to Chuck¡¯s offer. When she stands once more and speaks up clearly, however, Ran is drawn out of his thoughts rather harshly.
¡°I am interested.¡± She declares confidently, arms crossing in front of her chest as she looks not at Chuck, but instead opts to stare Ran down.
He can feel his metaphorical hackles rise at the evident challenge, but he just barely manages to restrain his instinctive need to match her. Instead, he hurriedly tries to reduce the question to its absolute essence.
Is he interested in adding an exotic poison-fighting-type to his team? And, if he isn¡¯t, can he really accept backing down now that Doro¡¯s thrown down the gauntlet?
His chair scrapes audibly across the floor as he stands up and meets Doro¡¯s flinty stare with a venomous one of his own, ¡°So am I.¡±
Chapter 21, pt.1
The next day, ridiculously early in the morning, hours before the Gym even opens, Ran looks down from the tall steep cliff Chuck has taken them to with a faint sense of unease. Cianwood City is by no means a small town, yet from the height they¡¯re at, it suddenly seems quite insignificant, only further increasing Ran¡¯s awareness that they¡¯re very, very high up. Not that he¡¯s discovering a fear of heights he wasn¡¯t previously aware of, there¡¯s just something¡ humbling about being so high up. It makes everything seem so much smaller.
With the sun little more than a suggestion at this hour, artificial lighting and moonlight are the means by which the city is visible down below, whilst their own path up the cliffs was lit by flashlights. As he fully realizes just how high up they are, Ran can only warily wonder just what challenge Chuck has in mind for them.
Because when neither Doro nor Ran himself had backed down, Chuck had declared that he¡¯d test them, to see which one of them was worthier of training a Croagunk. Something Ran had initially been more than happy to hear, as he figured any battle between Doro and himself would favor him in a big way, considering their relative type-specialties. But then Chuck had rather summarily dashed those hopes by declaring that he wasn¡¯t interested in watching them battle.
Instead, he sent them away for the day, with instructions to report back at the Gym at an absolutely unreasonable hour. Ran had balked slightly at that, but when Doro hadn¡¯t even blinked, he¡¯d been left with no option but to accept as well.
Upon reporting to the Gym, Chuck had taken them on a demanding hike up the cliff sides, until eventually, after almost two hours of walking, pausing on the crest they were currently standing on. It leaves them standing on one of the highest ridges of the first of a series of mountainous spines that ring Cianwood City. There¡¯s a great variety between the different spines as well, as even at a glance deeper into the mountainous landscape, Ran spots signs of different plateaus, peaks and valleys.
He hadn¡¯t explained what exactly the challenge would be yet, but considering the long hike and the rather demanding pace Chuck set during it, Ran was growing increasingly worried that the advantage might not rest with him after all.
A slight distance behind him, Doro is stretching enthusiastically, her training jacket already tied around her hips. Compared to himself, his thick purple jacket still snug on his shoulders and his breath only just now leveling out after a few minutes¡¯ rest, it¡¯s a rather intimidating sight.
Chuck takes things to another level entirely of course, the man apparently not just going shirtless in his Gym, but constantly. It¡¯s as Ran looks in the Gym leader¡¯s direction, that the man responsible for the safety of Cianwood City and its surroundings finally breaks the silence that has been hanging over their group for the past two hours.
¡°Alright! That¡¯ll do for a warmup, time to give you the challenge!¡± He proclaims enthusiastically.
¡°Any second now, you¡¯ll be getting three locations close to the main hiking path sent to you through your pok¨¦gear. At each of these locations, there¡¯s a pair of flags present. Whichever one of you first gets me a flag from each of the three locations, wins the right to choose one of my Croagunk!¡± Chuck declares boldly, Ran¡¯s pok¨¦gear vibrating accordingly as he receives the locations.
¡°A few rules before you both get started and set out,¡± Chuck continues, one finger raising in warning just as Doro tries to burst into motion and Ran starts to raise his pok¨¦gear, leaving both trainers to falter as they focus back on the Gym leader, ¡°You can¡¯t do anything to the flags your opponent is supposed to be gathering, you can¡¯t mess with the main hiking path the flags are placed along and you can¡¯t directly attack each other. Otherwise, I¡¯d have just let you two battle it out from the start, but that¡¯s not what I¡¯m looking for here.¡±
Ran and Doro both nod in agreement, though Ran can¡¯t help but wonder if those are really the only restrictions Chuck will be imposing. Because although the racing aspect of things will at the least ensure that there is a challenge, it feels somewhat underwhelming thus far, not to mention that as long as they stick to the hiking path, all that will be tested is their speed and endurance.
¡°Finally, there is no set order in which you need to gather the flags, nor do you have to stick to the main path, as far as I¡¯m concerned. You¡¯re young and healthy and you¡¯ve got pok¨¦mon besides, so use ¡®em! I¡¯ll be waiting for you both in my Gym. Oh, one final thing, I have a few Gym trainers out here on training sessions of their own, they¡¯re under orders to make things difficult for you. Good luck!¡± Chuck declares, before jogging towards the cliff¡¯s edge you¡¯re standing near and casually starting to scale down it.
Both Doro and Ran watch in disbelief as the man casually risks his life without a harness of any kind and whilst descending along a worryingly smooth surface. Chuck doesn¡¯t pay either of them any mind whatsoever however, merely whistling merrily as he descends at an impressive speed.
Ran glances towards Doro, the two of them both clearly caught equally off guard by Chuck¡¯s sudden departure. Then his expression hardens, as he hurriedly breaks eye contact and looks at his pok¨¦gear to determine where he needs to go to find the flags. In front of him, he hears the pounding of feet as Doro breaks into a run down the path immediately.
Which he can only assume means that she¡¯s just going to race along the main hiking path as fast as she can and assume that the flags are positioned visibly enough to be easily noticed. It¡¯s a valid plan and one she undoubtedly has the advantage in, as there¡¯s no doubt in his mind that she¡¯s got him beat in both stamina and speed. Still, it seems highly doubtful that just following the main hiking path, which by virtue of needing to be walkable is likely needlessly circuitous, is the only way to go about this particular flag hunt.
Even a quick glance at the map feature on his pok¨¦gear is enough to confirm as much, as the main hiking path winds back and forth amongst the cliffs as it descends to the valley separating the spine they¡¯re currently on, before ascending up the next one, only for the path to end up easily four times as long as the remarkably straight line that forms when he simply connects the three dots on the map as the bird flies.
As Ran examines things in more detail however, it also becomes apparent just why that¡¯s how the path runs. It¡¯s the only point where the slope isn¡¯t too steep to be feasible as a walking path. If someone wanted to make the straightest path possible through the mountain from the first flag to the second to the third, that would involve either extreme amounts of climbing and descending, or the use of explosives or drills to burrow through the rockface where it ascends far too steeply to be traversable.
Still, Ran at least wants to have a look at the shortest possible path, only for even a cursory glance in that direction to leave him looking directly at the steep ravine that runs between the mountainous spine he¡¯s on and the next one. Even worse, on the other side of the ravine there¡¯s only a slim ledge before the rock wall rises up at least another twenty feet. So simply traveling in the straightest imaginable line isn¡¯t humanly possible.
But that¡¯s the point. He isn¡¯t forced to rely only on what¡¯s humanly possible.
A single tap to the center of the Level Ball on his belt is enough for Aria to gain her freedom, as she materializes next to him. In the distance, Doro has long since turned the first corner, ensuring she doesn¡¯t see just what Ran has planned, rather than trying to race along the main path like his opponent.
¡°Aria,¡± He asks, gesturing towards the chasm and the rockface rising behind it, ¡°Can you make a rope across the gap?¡±
She chitters enthusiastically in response, mandibles moving apart slightly in clear preparation. Before she can act however, Ran hurriedly asks another question.
¡°Can you crawl up that cliff wall once you¡¯re on the other side?¡± He asks next, earning a moment¡¯s pause from his bug-poison-type, before she chitters in agreement once more. This time however, she doesn¡¯t move to act, instead turning those large purple eyes of hers towards him as she clearly waits to see if he¡¯s about to ask any other questions.
¡°Can you do so with me on your back?¡± He asks next, watching with mild amusement as Aria¡¯s pupils widen in surprise as she processes the question.
This time, she doesn¡¯t offer an immediate response, instead skittering over towards the edge and examining just how much of a distance there is to cover. Rather than pay her trainer any mind, Aria spits out a first massive strand of concentrated webbing, which plasters itself against the rock face on the other side of the chasm, a few feet above the ledge they¡¯re aiming for. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
Ran watches quietly and whilst doing his best to seem patient, even as he warily tries to figure out just how much distance Doro is covering whilst he¡¯s still at the starting point. He¡¯s still got other options, ranging from Aria simply providing him with ropes he can use to scale down ledges, to grabbing on to Golbat¡¯s feet and finding out just how long the massive Bat Pok¨¦mon can carry so much dead weight. Not to mention the option of having Aria stick him to Caesar¡¯s back and letting his massive serpentine body go to work.
But the day promises to be a tiring one, so the more options he has and the better he can divide the load, the better. Which is why it¡¯s a good thing that Aria chooses that moment to fire off a second strand of webbing, parallel to her first one. She tests both strands for tension for a moment, hopping on to her makeshift bridge, before turning her head in his direction inquiringly.
He doesn¡¯t need any further prodding, as Ran hurriedly jogs over and delicately looks for a position on Aria¡¯s back. The position he settles on is uncomfortable and cramped, as he hooks his arms under the foremost of her limbs whilst forcing his legs to fold around the front of the vestigial limbs on her back. Considering the size disparity between them, it leaves him folded up uncomfortably, his knees and elbows only slightly over a foot apart.
Still, he sits securely, only momentarily feeling an immense urge to call the whole thing off when Aria first bursts into motion.
Her moves aren¡¯t tentative or hesitant in the least, as she opts for speed over caution, racing across the large chasm in mere seconds. Ran for his part instinctively squeezes down tightly on the joints he¡¯s wrapped himself around, only for a chiding hiss from Aria to have him ease up apologetically.
She pays him no further mind however, as even as Ran is still processing just how far there is to fall if things go wrong on their makeshift bridge, Aria¡¯s attention is already firmly on the second part of their challenge. Without hesitation, she moves directly from their makeshift bridge to the stone cliff, confidently starting to climb in spite of the dead weight hanging off of her back.
Ran does his best to make things easier for her, trying to keep his own center of mass as low and as close to the middle or Aria¡¯s body as he can. There¡¯s still a few moments where, due to the cliff bulging or receding oddly, it feels like they¡¯re unbalanced and there¡¯s a risk of them plummeting backwards, but Aria¡¯s attached tightly to the stone and Ran in turn clings closely to her. In the end, from the moment he took his seat to the moment Aria crests the top, only about thirty seconds pass.
Going by the racing of his heart, it might as well have been five minutes.
Still, he releases Aria hurriedly and stands up to take in the sight in front of them. A long plateau, before the ground drops away once more, the rest of the cliffs hidden out of sight below. Grinning confidently, Ran jogs forwards, Aria keeping pace by his side as he catches her up on just what they¡¯re doing. As he does so, he isn¡¯t blind to the clear signs of exertion his companion shows, making it clear that though she can serve as a temporary mount, it asks a lot of her.
When they reach the other side of the plateau, Ran looks down to take in their surroundings, the cliffside they¡¯ve ascended up proving to conveniently be one of the tallest in the entire range.
There¡¯s more of what they¡¯ve already faced, with deep valleys and steep walls alternating for at least a mile as the mountainous spines continue to run nearly parallel to each other, only to intersect randomly in places. Then, however, there¡¯s an entrance into the mountainside, as the path turns into a tunnel. A quick glance at his map shows that he can¡¯t circumvent entering the tunnel either, as one of the flags appears to be somewhere in there.
Which is unfortunate, but there¡¯s still a lot of distance to cover before reaching that point. A distance that includes the first pair of flags, which he spots hanging off the side of the valley that separates the third and fourth ¡®spine¡¯, counted from where he¡¯s standing. There, the flags hang easily ten feet beneath the ledge along which the hiking path runs. The path winds upwards towards that point however, with a series of large bends ensuring that anybody running along the path will easily spot the flags long before reaching them.
As for Doro, she¡¯s not rounded the massive cliff which Ran scaled yet, confirming that he¡¯s got a nice lead for now. That¡¯s no reason to rest on his laurels however, as he does still have a lot of distance to cover and there¡¯s little doubt in his mind that Doro will win an endurance race against him, if he doesn¡¯t keep looking for shortcuts.
Which is why, as he looks out over the path ahead, he can¡¯t help but get stuck on the simple fact that the flags he needs to reach are at a lower elevation than his current position. So to his mind, there¡¯s an obvious opportunity that at the very least has to be tried out right now.
¡°I¡¯m going to try something, Aria. Thanks for the help, but you can take a break, alright?¡± He tells the Long Leg Pok¨¦mon by his side, waiting for her assenting chirp before he taps both the Level Ball and Friend Ball at his belt.
Aria dissolves in red energy even as Golbat appears on his other side. Rather than spend time on explaining what they¡¯re doing, which he knows Aria likely appreciated, with Golbat, Ran just gets straight to the point.
¡°Do you think you can carry me to that ledge above those flags over there?¡± He asks immediately, gesturing towards the point he¡¯s aiming for. Assuming Golbat gets him that far, he¡¯ll skip five ¡®loops¡¯ of the path, putting him an enormous distance ahead of the still unseen Doro. Though that part of the path is only some twenty feet below his own current position, so it will only work if Golbat manages to slow their descent significantly.
Golbat¡¯s gaze sharpens for a moment, before he spreads his wings and takes off, flying up to hang just above Ran¡¯s head, offering his feet in a clear unspoken signal. Considering the even more daunting fall involved should this not work out, Ran is somewhat hesitant to grab on. When he does so, he doesn¡¯t do so without giving out a warning.
¡°Just try and lift me up first for a few seconds, alright? Just to make sure you can-¡±
And then Golbat has lifted him up and is flying forwards doggedly. Which goes smoothly for about five seconds, at which point the weight clearly starts to become a major issue, as they rapidly start losing height.
¡°Aim for the nearest ledge!¡± Ran cries out frantically even as they descend at a worrying speed, but Golbat ignores him, merely redoubling his efforts as his wings beat frantically whilst they cross over the first two chasms.
Distantly, he¡¯s aware of an awed shout, but Ran can pay no mind to who exactly is shouting, his attention fully on the distant goal Golbat¡¯s clearly aiming for. At first, they seem doomed, descending far faster than they¡¯re advancing even as the path itself rises up to meet them with each consecutive loop.
Then, however, their descent slows down, Golbat no longer laboring silently but letting out frustrated shrieks as he puts his all into a heroic effort to keep them airborne. Incredibly enough, he¡¯s successful too, as when they still have some thirty feet to cover before reaching the ledge with the flags, Ran¡¯s feet dip below the ledge¡¯s level for just a moment. It¡¯s as if Golbat has a third person view of things, as from that moment on, they don¡¯t drop another inch, the Bat Pok¨¦mon simply refusing to give in to the laws of gravity.
As they reach the ledge, Ran has to lift his feet just slightly to make sure he doesn¡¯t clip the hard stone edge, before he¡¯s landing on solid ground. Immediately, he lets go of Golbat, who almost shoots directly upwards as he continues to put the same amount of force into his wingbeats for a few more seconds. He reigns himself in easily enough however, at which point Ran doesn¡¯t even need to give a command for Golbat to fly down over the path¡¯s edge, flying back up a few seconds later with a flag in his large mouth.
¡°Perfect!¡± Ran cheers happily, accepting his prize from Golbat, before recalling him with a quick thank you.
A hurried look back at the large part of the path they just skipped over shows Doro¡¯s jogging form only just having become visible. She¡¯s all the way back at the foot of the cliff Aria had carried him up, as she¡¯s only just finished rounding it. She was likely responsible for the awed shout, then. Even as she seems to meet his gaze across the significant distance between them, Doro keeps up a jog that is significantly faster than any pace Ran can keep up for more than a few minutes.
And that¡¯s without mentioning the figure that¡¯s loping along easily by her side. He can¡¯t tell whether she used the Hitmonlee that¡¯s jogging alongside her against Chuck¡¯s Gym trainers, whether she encountered some obstacle or another or whether she just felt like giving the fighting-type a work-out. Her reasoning doesn¡¯t really matter, in the grand scheme of things. What matters is that she has a Hitmonlee, which is useful information he duly files away.Even as Ran watches, Doro clearly picks up her pace further from what appears to have been a, for her, comfortable jog, now loping up the path at a speed only just shy of a full sprint. The way her eyes are locked on him leaves zero doubt about the fact that she¡¯s dead set on catching back up to him.
Ran suppresses the worried gulp he wants to let out at the sight of an angry fighting-type specialist chasing after him, instead turning around and looking towards the remaining path. There¡¯s no chasm in front of him, the ledge simply running up to the next cliffside, at which point it raises up perhaps some twenty feet. If there were enough handholds, he¡¯d feel comfortable about trying to climb it himself rather than taking the long way around by running along the slowly ascending path.
Fortunately, when encountering a lack of handholds, he has a convenient solution available. Soon enough, he¡¯s once more on Aria¡¯s back, as she lifts him up another cliffside. He badly wants to look back to see Doro¡¯s reaction to his particular method for climbing the steep cliffs, but even if he¡¯s willing to rely on Aria as they ascend, he still isn¡¯t comfortable enough to do anything but cling tightly against her and tuck his head in as he focuses on not panicking before they¡¯ve crested yet another climb.
Aria meets the challenge wonderfully however, gratefully accepting his choice to recall her yet again as he finally breaks into his own first proper run of the challenge, as he heads into the tunnel. With the first flag rolled up in his backpack and a multiple minute lead over Doro, he¡¯s feeling great about his chances of winning the day.
Chapter 21, pt.2
Rushing into the tunnel, Ran is caught off guard by just how dark it is on the inside for a moment. Hurriedly, he fishes out his flashlight to illuminate the way.
The passage is wide enough for two people to walk side by side, but no wider. The floor is decently level from left to right, though it noticeably slopes downwards, which is a frustrating thing to realize after the effort he had to put into getting this high up in the mountains in the first place. The path itself is straight as an arrow, leaving Ran confident that it¡¯s manmade. Which isn¡¯t particularly important, if it weren¡¯t for the logical consequence that comes with the tunnel not having any bends.
That being his clear view of the tunnel¡¯s exit and the backlit shape of a distinctly human form standing in it.
As he continues to jog onwards, his flashlight¡¯s beam gradually creeps closer to the waiting figure, until details start to become apparent.
It¡¯s very clearly one of Chuck¡¯s Gym trainers, the gi the other guy is wearing making that readily apparent. He looks to be a few years older than Ran and, upon closer inspection, clearly has three pok¨¦balls hanging off of his belt. As Ran gets closer, the trainer speaks up when he¡¯s still a comfortable distance away, his words reason enough for Ran to draw to a temporary halt.
¡°That¡¯s far enough!¡± The Gym trainer calls out as one of his hands drifts to his belt, ¡°The Tunnel exit¡¯s closed to you lot!¡±
¡°What lot?¡± Ran asks in feigned surprise, even as he slowly continues to walk forwards, his hands raised apologetically as he does so, as if genuinely unsure of what he¡¯s wandered into.
He doesn¡¯t consider himself the most gifted actor by any means, but he appears to have more of a gift for it than he thought, as the Gym trainer seems genuinely puzzled by Ran¡¯s response.
¡°Are you not one of the trainers that¡¯s doing Gym leader Chuck¡¯s challenge?¡± He asks in evident surprise, hand moving off of his pok¨¦ball as his stance relaxes.
¡°What challenge?¡± Ran wonders curiously, moving into a light jog once more as he closes the final distance between them, ¡°My boat only came in yesterday and I¡¯m just exploring the area!¡±
¡°Oh alright, my bad,¡± The Gym trainer replies apologetically as he steps to the side, leaving enough room for Ran to jog right on by him, ¡°There¡¯s supposed to be two trainers racing through here for a Gym challenge. You might want to look out for that, as there¡¯s a few of us around and I don¡¯t know if the others will ask questions first, like I did!¡±
The final part of the Gym trainer¡¯s message is shouted, as Ran by that point is already past him and running down the path once more.
¡°Thanks for the warning!¡± He yells back innocently, hardly daring to believe his own luck, as he pours on the speed for a moment, to make sure that he¡¯s definitely long gone by the time Doro arrives. She didn¡¯t seem the type to ask questions, so with some luck she¡¯ll just get into a battle with the guy immediately, winning Ran an even bigger lead.
He hurries on for a few minutes more, before his chest starts to ache from the exertion, at which point he slows down to a walk once more. Continuing along the slowly descending, meandering main path slowly, even as he brings up his pok¨¦gear for another look.
He immediately pauses in surprise, because according to his map, he¡¯s supposed to be very close to the second flag indeed. Hurriedly looking around to see if he¡¯s overlooked anything obvious, Ran winces in displeasure when he finds the next pair of flags.
They¡¯re almost directly upwards of his current position, hanging from the same mountainside which the path he¡¯s following runs alongside. The rock surface isn¡¯t completely sheer at least, with ridges and protrusions offering handholds aplenty.
Still, it¡¯s an imposing climb to say the least, one he genuinely doesn¡¯t want to undertake. Fortunately, he doesn¡¯t have to. With just a quick tap of Aria¡¯s ball, she¡¯s back by his side once more.
¡°Hey girl, can you get me one of those flags?¡± He asks, to Aria¡¯s evident delight. Which, given that he isn¡¯t asking to ride along with her, he can understand.
However, just as Aria starts her climb, the sudden appearance of another Gym Trainer throws a wrench in his plans. Because he¡¯s on top of the rock face Aria is ascending and unlike the one that preceded him, this one catches Ran in the act, voiding any chances of avoiding a confrontation.
¡°Not so fast, kid!¡± The Gym Trainer shouts in what has to be his best movie villain voice, rather than his actual normal one, ¡°You may want to get out of the way of this one! Machoke, use Rock Slide!¡±
Ran¡¯s eyes widen in sudden fear, realization setting in as an imposing Machoke leans over the edge for a moment, clearly getting a look at its targets.
Hurriedly, Ran rushes back down the path a way, even as he taps Aria¡¯s ball to recall her in the nick of time, as a series of large boulders come crashing down the vertical rock wall. She disappears only moments before the first boulder goes slamming right through the space she was occupying moments before, leaving Ran to breathe out a relieved sigh even as he takes in the situation.
The flags are roughly sixty feet up the rock wall, with a Machoke standing a few feet above them with the clear goal of protecting the flags. Any attempt to head directly for the flag is going to run into the major issue that is a Machoke with plenty of ammunition.
So either he needs to take care of the Machoke entirely, at which point Doro might have an easier time catching up, or he needs to distract it for long enough to enable a capture of the flag. If the flag weren¡¯t so high up, he could just have Aria snag it down with a strand of webbing, but considering the directly vertical trajectory of her shot and the winds at those heights, she¡¯d need to make it at least halfway up there before standing any chance at success.
A distraction, then.
For the first time that day, he actually takes a pok¨¦ball off of his belt, throwing it upwards and outwards with a shout, ¡°Get up there and knock that Machoke out, Golbat!¡±
His only team member capable of contesting Machoke on equal footing, given the advantage its position gives it, materializes with a powerful screech. He can easily see both the Gym Trainer and his Machoke immediately locking their attention on Golbat, Ran himself temporarily forgotten as they focus on the rapidly ascending threat.
¡°Get up there and use Air Cutter! Knock them back!¡± He shouts at Golbat, before his own attention shifts temporarily to the fallout of the Rock Slide the Gym trainer so callously sent screaming down the cliff.
The main hiking path, which neither he nor Doro were allowed to mess with, has been damaged, its width reduced by a few feet where the Rock Slide impacted and dragged part of the path along with it. What remains is covered in rubble both large and small, effectively forcing anyone who wants to pass into a risky climb.
Above him, the sound of battle breaks out as Golbat engages Machoke in a fight Ran is fully confident can only end one way. Any other rock-type attacks from Machoke might cause some trouble, but Air Cutter is faster and more accurate besides, not to mention Golbat¡¯s own innate agility. Instead, his own attention remains on the problem facing him.
Aria, only so briefly recalled into her ball, gets sent out yet again, appearing directly in front of him on the path. When she spots the landslide they only barely escaped, her agitation is obvious, her attention immediately shifting to the top of the cliff with narrowed pupils that promise vengeance. There¡¯s nobody for her to see there, however, as Golbat has decisively pushed both Machoke and its trainer back out of view.
Not wanting to waste any time or risk the Gym trainer sending out another pok¨¦mon, Ran¡¯s instructions are swift.
¡°Aria, get up there and get the flag. While you¡¯re up there, attach a strand of webbing and drop it to me so I¡¯ve got something to help me climb across this rubble, alright?¡± He orders swiftly, waiting only for her assenting chirp before he turns his attention back the way he came when the distant sounds of Golbat battling Machoke are joined by the unmistakable sounds of another pok¨¦mon battle.
There¡¯s an instinctive worry that Golbat has stumbled into a two-on-one, but then he realizes that the second fight isn¡¯t above, but behind him. Worried, Ran glances back, just barely able to see the mouth of the tunnel he exited some minutes ago, only to see two battling pairs of figures exiting it in quick succession.
First to come out of the tunnel are two Hitmonchan in what can only be described as a pure boxing match, with neither using any named moves or receiving instruction from their trainers. The one retreating out of the tunnel is clearly on the losing end, taking far more hits than the aggressor who continues to push him back. Yet, as they exit the relatively narrow tunnel and gain a bit more room to maneuver, the fight seems to equalize to a degree.
Second to come out, only a few seconds behind the first pair, are the Gym trainer Ran had tricked and Doro, engaged in a spar of their own in what seems to be an odd meeting of styles, as Chuck¡¯s employee seems to rely on karate only to get forced back by Doro. She¡¯s using some odd style he doesn¡¯t know the name of, involving a lot of short open palm thrusts and forearm blocks, but he can at least speak to its apparent effectiveness.
Both Doro and what he assumes to be her Hitmonchan are winning their fights and somehow they¡¯ve closed the gap to be only a few minutes behind. Considering how much faster Doro was running before than Ran himself, she might be able to close the gap even faster than that.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
Worried, he looks up, only for his worries to be assuaged to a degree, as Aria reaches the flags, shooting him a line of webbing which she attaches against the rock wall before snagging a flag between her mandibles and moving to skitter down the rock wall on the other side of the large obstruction caused by Machoke¡¯s earlier actions.
Ran grabs hold of the webbing, hands sticking to it unpleasantly, before starting to lever himself up against the side of the canyon directly. Rather than risk the unstable rubble, he uses the rope to lever himself upwards until he¡¯s at a height with the top of the obstruction. Then, he simply shuffles horizontally along the wall until he¡¯s past the rubble, before hurriedly descending once more. Overhead, he hears a cry of triumph, as Golbat uses that moment to return to his view, clearly having beaten Machoke.
The Machoke¡¯s trainer¡¯s head reappears over the ledge overhead, only for him to swear when he realizes that Ran has made it past him.
¡°Cheat!¡± He cries out angrily, glaring at Ran in evident frustration.
¡°What? You lost fair and square!¡± Ran calls back in disbelief, even as he recalls both of his partners once more and starts to rush back down the path once more.
¡°You used two pok¨¦mon at once!¡± The trainer shouts in outrage, clearly forgetting that they weren¡¯t in an official battle, something Ran is more than happy to remind him of.
¡°And you threw a Rock Slide at us without any warning! That wasn¡¯t an official match, so everything went!¡± He yells back, having to raise his voice as much as possible as he rushes out of the other trainer¡¯s hearing range.
Now he just has to hope that the guy isn¡¯t a sore loser, because if he decides not to put up as much of a delay against Doro, he might be in some real danger of getting caught from behind. At that moment, however, his prayers are answered, as he turns the next corner in the path only to find a slow, looping descent in front of him. The path winds left for a few hundred feet on a slow incline, then makes a sharp hairpin turn to the right and goes the other way for the same distance, the loop repeating at least four times, as far as he can see.
He feels genuinely apologetic when he has to send out Aria once more.
Something only reinforced when she turns to face him in evident disbelief at being brought out of her ball yet again, and so shortly after the last time at that. He can only shrug apologetically, before gesturing towards the challenge in front of him.
¡°Sorry Aria. Can you carry me down a ledge, or would you rather give me a climbing line?¡± He asks apologetically, drawing an affronted hiss from his companion.
When she turns and waggles her abdomen in clear invitation, he realizes that the affront is over him doubting her ability to carry him, so he hurriedly gets on once more. The position is no more comfortable now than on the previous rides, but Aria at least has clearly become more confident in her ability to handle the extra weight, as she races towards the ledge before sharply tilting down, as they start their descent down the first cliff wall.
It is an extremely disconcerting experience, as Ran can feel gravity¡¯s call far more strongly than he did when they were climbing. The way he clings on to Aria¡¯s back could almost be called scared, if there were anyone present to watch them in action.
Upon reaching the next part of the path, Aria doesn¡¯t even hesitate to race directly across it, almost attacking the second ledge in her eagerness to descend. The third ledge is attacked just as enthusiastically, though part way down that climb, she noticeably starts to lose control, speed picking up dangerously as she skids downwards part of the way, a sign that the exertion is clearly starting to get to her.
¡°Let¡¯s stop on the next ledge, Aria,¡± Ran tells her with some faint worry, as his ride starts to tremble from exhaustion even as she descends the final few feet down the third ledge, ¡°You¡¯ve earned a proper break.¡±
She doesn¡¯t even fight him on it, merely getting them onto the next part of the path, before sagging in place, her long legs falling out from under her as she lays down to catch her breath. Hurriedly, Ran gets off of her, taking just a moment to offer some words of comfort and gratitude before recalling Aria.
Looking down, there¡¯s two more ledges to beat. Looking down at the corner he himself crossed only a minute ago, there¡¯s no Doro in sight just yet and the distance he¡¯s efficiently crossed is significant. Suddenly, his odds of winning look great once more.
Not wanting to burn out Golbat like he¡¯s done to Aria, he breaks into a jog once more, his own stamina sufficiently recovered to keep him going for a while. As he runs, he thinks ahead. Because there¡¯s not just a third flag to retrieve, there¡¯s also a return journey to Chuck¡¯s Gym to make. Which might well be the hardest part of all, as all the tricks he¡¯s used to cut off sections and to gain distance on Doro won¡¯t work once they¡¯re out of the mountainous terrain surrounding Cianwood City.
Maybe he could wrap his arms around Caesar¡¯s thick neck, just under his hood, and try and let the large Cobra Pok¨¦mon serve as a mount for a while? There¡¯s no doubt that between the two of them, Caesar is comfortably faster, not to mention his greater endurance. But it¡¯ll be an uncomfortable and uncertain ride he might not be able to hold on to for all that long. The reactions when he comes riding into town on the back of an Arbok would be a sight to see though¡
It¡¯s an option, but not one he wants to rely on for the entire ride, because he doubts whether he¡¯ll be able to maintain his seat for that long. Hopefully he won¡¯t need to either, as surely Doro must be flagging after the sheer exertion she¡¯s put herself through thus far, considering how much distance she managed to make up before, not to mention her energetic spar against the Gym trainer. Still, he does his best to keep up his own pace as he¡¯s not inclined to risk his chances by betting on her being unable to keep up the level of effort she¡¯s been putting in.
Really, considering how much she managed to catch up on the parts where he wasn¡¯t using his team to take shortcuts, he has to wonder just how much of a lead he¡¯s really got¡
So is there anything else he can do to pull ahead?
Yes there is. Golbat¡¯s already proven that he can carry Ran¡¯s weight for a distance at least. So what if, rather than taking the actual path down to the city, he just cuts the straightest line possible from the third flag to Cianwood, until the point where the mountain range ends? Golbat can parachute him down and, with the sheer amount of distance they¡¯ll cut off compared to the normal route any sane - looking at you, Chuck - human has to take without assistance, surely there¡¯s no way Doro can catch up to him at that point.
As he rounds the final bend of his current descent, from the corner of his eye, up above, he watches as Doro appears at the bottom of the climb already, Hitmonlee once more having taken Hitmonchan¡¯s place and loping alongside her. She really is a lot faster than him.
Then, in an extremely worrying development, he watches as she jumps onto Hitmonlee¡¯s back, only for the fighting-type with the terrifyingly powerful legs to leap down the first ledge in a single bound, landing heavily on both feet. Hitmonlee¡¯s legs bend majorly upon landing, but after just a moment¡¯s hesitance, it easily straightens and advances towards the next ledge down.
Ran can only do his best to ignore the spectacle and focus on his own race. Whether Doro has only been relying on her pok¨¦mon after watching his example, or whether she¡¯s been pulling stuff like this all along, he doesn¡¯t know, but with the sheer speed with which she cuts off the same parts of the track that Ran himself did, he can almost feel his lead evaporating.
Hurriedly, he rushes onwards and properly around the foot of the cliff he¡¯s been working himself down towards for the past ten minutes, causing Doro to disappear from his view once more.
He easily forgets about Doro¡¯s looming threat the next second, when he ends up on a small plateau halfway between the top of the nearby mountains and the valleys that run between them. There, smack dab in the middle of it, sit two flags. Unfortunately, actively training right in front of those flags, are an old Gym trainer, who is sitting with his legs crossed, and his Heracross and Poliwrath who are sparring in front of him.
Instinctively, Ran glances around for anything that might hide him before he¡¯s spotted, but they¡¯re standing on top of a rocky plateau, guaranteeing that no such recourse might be found. Thus, before he can figure out some way to stealthily acquire the flag, with the first plan that comes to mind being Golbat circling way around and snagging a flag on the way back, the Gym trainer catches sight of him.
Ran suppresses a curse when the man immediately raises his hand, his two sparring fighting-types immediately pausing their spar and padding over to stand on either side of their trainer, where they assume resting stances. As for the Gym trainer, a guy that looks to be older than Chuck himself thanks to his long silvery-gray hair which is kept in a topknot, his long Fu Manchu mustache and the equally long goatee that originates from his chin, he looks at Ran in a clear assessment for a moment, before speaking.
¡°You are the poison-type specialist.¡± He declares with a confident, yet reedy voice.
¡°I am,¡± Ran accepts, even as he starts to approach once more, the elder trainer not appearing to object to his choice to do so, ¡°I¡¯ve collected the two other flags, so I just need one of the pair behind you and then I¡¯ll get out of your way, so you can go back to your training.¡±
¡°Oh?¡± The trainer asks, one hand combing through his long goatee as he seems to consider Ran¡¯s words, ¡°That¡¯s mighty generous of you.¡±
Ran doesn¡¯t immediately respond, merely continuing to walk closer, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Which it of course does after a few more steps.
¡°Unfortunately, I cannot accept your kindness. My son was very clear. I am supposed to make things difficult for you.¡± The man speaks up, both of his pok¨¦mon taking an ominously synchronized step forward as he does so.
It¡¯s enough for Ran to draw to a halt once more, as he considers the situation in front of him. Just sending out his full team and attempting to rush the man and his pok¨¦mon is a tempting proposition, but something tells him that the man has more than just the pair of pok¨¦mon in front of him. So he hesitates.
There¡¯s the option of challenging the man to a battle, but that¡¯ll take precious time no matter the outcome. Plus, both of his strong fighting-types seem just a bit too eager for Ran to be entirely comfortable about the idea. If the man really is Chuck¡¯s father, then the odds of him being an easy opponent to defeat feel slim at best.
Yet the longer he hesitates, the more time Doro will be able to make up on him. So how to approach this? The man hasn¡¯t immediately attacked, so maybe there¡¯s a way here to avoid a confrontation? In fact, if it¡¯s just about making things difficult for him, he has an idea or two the old man might just be willing to go for.
¡°Alright,¡± Ran starts slowly, opting to test the waters and the man¡¯s patience, ¡°Did he also mention how you¡¯re supposed to do that? Because I¡¯m not great at talking to strangers, so this is already plenty difficult for me.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t believe he¡¯d consider that sufficient,¡± The man responds with a chuckle, clearly amused by his attempt, ¡°That hardly impacts your ability to race, after all.¡±
¡°Yeah, but so does forcing me to battle. That¡¯ll just delay me, rather than actually make the race itself difficult.¡± Ran points out, receiving a thoughtful hum in turn.
¡°That is a good point.¡± Chuck¡¯s father nods in agreement, head cocking slightly to the side as he ponders things.
Ran doesn¡¯t have the time to waste however, which is why he makes the first offer that comes to mind, ¡°Take my shoes!¡±
¡°What?¡± The old man responds in surprise, clearly doubting whether he¡¯s heard him correctly.
¡°Take my shoes,¡± Ran offers again, ¡°I¡¯ll carry on barefoot. That¡¯ll make things a lot more difficult for me, won¡¯t it?¡±
The man grasps for the ends of his mustache and goatee, gathering them all in one fist as he pulls on them pensively for a few seconds, before his expression clears up.
¡°That is acceptable. You may even learn something. After all, those that study at the Cianwood City Gym never wear shoes. Take off both your shoes and your socks, hand them to Gloves, my Poliwrath, and you may retrieve a flag and carry on with your race.¡± The old man informs him, formally extending the deal.
Ran swiftly accepts, only throwing a single dubious glance at the rocky ground beneath him. As long as he watches his step and doesn¡¯t accidentally plant himself on one of the few sharp edges remaining on the weathered stone, he should be fine. The Gym itself is on the beach, that too, he should be able to withstand.
He scampers over, hurriedly pushing his footwear into the waiting Poliwrath¡¯s hands, before turning his attention to the flags. He grabs one and hurriedly stuffs it away inside his backpack, before turning his attention to his pok¨¦gear to figure out just how he¡¯s going to get back to Chuck¡¯s Gym.
Chapter 21, pt.3
Starting from the Gym, Chuck took them on a roughly southwestern course. The three flags have all been positioned roughly to the north of each other. A quick glance at the map his pok¨¦gear displays is enough to confirm that he¡¯s roughly drawn level with the Gym once more, meaning that a directly eastern course would be the swiftest way for him to make it back to the Gym.
Unfortunately, a look in that direction isn¡¯t all that encouraging. The plateau he¡¯s on drops away sharply at its eastern edge, not offering any real path down as it turns directly into the deep and steep valley separating this mountain spine from the next one. On the other side of the valley, there does appear to be enough of a ledge to run along and that does run east in between two cliffs promising progress in the right direction at least. But the ledge is at least a hundred feet away and only a few feet lower than his own position.
It¡¯s an impossible shot for Aria, which leaves Golbat as the only one that could reasonably make it. Considering the distance involved and how he struggled earlier, when he could descend a lot more between point A and point B compared to the current situation, Ran is hesitant about his flying-type¡¯s ability to carry the load. He can probably do it, but at that point he¡¯ll genuinely have to retire Golbat for the rest of the day. So he¡¯ll just have to continue along the hiking path which runs roughly northeast until a better option presents itself.
Just as he comes to that conclusion, however, the decision is made for him, as Doro appears on the plateau, her arrival announced by pounding feet and loud, labored breaths. Ran can¡¯t help but glance in her direction, to take stock of his rival for the day. The sight isn¡¯t encouraging in the least, as Doro¡¯s own expression lights up when she spots him.
Her eyes catch on his bare feet, then shift to the Poliwrath that¡¯s still holding on to his shoes and then to the patiently waiting elder. Immediately, she moves to untie her shoes.
Well that¡¯s his decision made for him, then.
¡°Come on out, Golbat!¡± He orders hurriedly, even as he takes a few steps back from the ledge to enable a running start.
Golbat materializes and only needs a few moments to catch on to just what¡¯s happening, his proud screech only the slightest bit hesitant.
¡°Right, let me grab onto your feet and then we¡¯ll pick up speed together all the way to the ledge, alright? I¡¯ll jump to give you another foot or two of height and then you just give it your all, alright?¡± Ran instructs hurriedly, glancing worriedly at the center of the plateau, where Doro is already approaching the remaining flag.
Golbat screeches in confirmation, at which point Ran grabs on to his feet once more. He breaks into a run, propelled forwards by Golbat who flies above and slightly in front of him, the pair of pok¨¦mon and trainer picking up speed as they race towards the edge.
When his foot hits the edge of the cliff, he puts everything he can into propelling himself upwards and outwards, attempting the best long jump he¡¯s capable of. For just a moment, it feels like he¡¯s soaring weightlessly through the sky. Then gravity reasserts itself and he starts to fall, only for said fall to be abruptly interrupted as Golbat screams out his frustration and effort, large wings beating frantically as he carries his trainer further.
The distance to the ledge shrinks rapidly, but so too does the height they have to spare. In fact, after just a few seconds, it becomes readily apparent that Golbat won¡¯t be able to keep them above the ledge. Ran¡¯s eyes widen in fright when his ankles sink below the level of the ledge. Hurriedly, he pulls his legs up in preparation as they cross the halfway mark.
But they continue to go down too fast even with that adjustment. Golbat is clearly giving it his all, but the physical demands of what Ran is putting him through are audibly and visibly taking their toll, as despite frantic screeches and violent wingbeats, they continue to descend. When they¡¯ve only got twenty or so feet left to cover, the ledge has risen up above his hips.
At ten feet, his head is below the ledge. He lets Golbat¡¯s feet go with one hand, preparing himself to grab for a handhold of some description even as his eyes frantically scan the cliff for any divots, bulges or cracks he might put his feet up against. It¡¯s only then, as he hurriedly decides where he¡¯ll attempt to grab hold of the cliff, that he realizes just how much the impact is going to hurt, considering Golbat¡¯s speed.
Golbat pours on a last heaving effort, winning them a few inches of height. Immediately, Ran lets go, falling the last foot or so towards the cliff and bleeding off some crucial speed even as Golbat shoots upwards, rather than also slamming his feet into the hard rock.
He collides harshly and painfully with the hard, weathered stone, feet and hands frantically scrabbling for any steady hand- and footholds before he can fall down the nearly completely vertical surface. His right foot catches on a thin uneven line, perhaps half-an-inch thick. Immediately, he turns his foot outwards so that he¡¯s resting on it from big toe to heel. With how thin the ledge is, only a tiny portion of the width of his foot is supported, digging painfully into the bare skin.
But it¡¯s enough of a rest for him to find stability for a precious second. His left hand just about manages to grab onto the ledge itself, which is fortunately not slick with any recent rain, actually giving him a stable enough position to try and lever himself upwards, if he really has to. But he doesn¡¯t have to. Instead, with his free hand, he cautiously brings out Caesar¡¯s pok¨¦ball, throwing it up on the ledge overhead, even as an exhausted Golbat comes to peek over the edge to cheek on his trainer.
¡°I¡¯m alright Golbat, just get Caesar to lower his tail and have him wrap it around me, so that he can help pull me up!¡± Ran explains, even as Caesar audibly materializes on the ledge, just out of his sight.
It only takes a moment for some hurried screeching and gesticulating from Golbat to get the job done, as Caesar¡¯s head only pops into view for a moment, before his eyes widen in obvious distress. Immediately, he turns around, the final quarter of his tail coming down and wrapping under and around Ran¡¯s shoulders, before Caesar starts to slither forwards, dragging his trainer up against the cliffs. It¡¯s nowhere near as painless as his earlier efforts with Aria, but with her exhausted and given the precariousness of his position, it¡¯s perfectly sufficient.
¡°Thanks buddy,¡± Ran gratefully acknowledges Caesar¡¯s efforts, once there¡¯s solid ground beneath his bare feet once more, ¡°Sorry for the scare.¡±
Caesar clearly isn¡¯t content to leave it at that, continuing to glare at his trainer in a clear rebuke for long seconds, before his expression finally softens, tongue coming out to taste the air for a moment as his gaze drifts to the collection of new bruises and scuffs Ran just earned himself. Glancing down to take in the damage, Ran lets out an apologetic wince.
¡°That¡¯ll hurt a lot when showering later today, but for now, we¡¯re in a race and even with that stunt, we¡¯re not guaranteed to win just yet.¡± He admits, before turning his team¡¯s attention back to what really matters.
Glancing back towards the plateau for a moment, he¡¯s mildly disappointed to realize that he can¡¯t see what¡¯s happening up there, but every reasonable assumption indicates that Doro has already won her flag and is once more racing down the main path. So there¡¯s really no time left to waste. Considering his lack of shoes and the rough surface he¡¯d be running on, he opts to immediately move on to his next gambit.
A quick moment of thanks to Golbat is all that can be spared under the circumstances, though he can tell that the exhausted Bat Pok¨¦mon is alright with it, before he¡¯s turning his attention to Caesar once more, with urgency in his voice.
¡°Right, we need to get back to Cianwood City Gym fast. Doro can run a lot faster and a lot longer than me, so I need you to help me out. I¡¯m going to try and wrap my arms and legs around you and then you¡¯re going to race us out from between these cliffs and onto the beach, alright?¡± Ran instructs, receiving a doubtful look in turn, though at least Caesar is willing to let him try, as his starter obligingly turns to offer his trainer his back.
The position Ran settles on is wrapping his legs around Caesar¡¯s body, just under the hood, whilst Ran¡¯s arms reach up and over the top of the hood before coming down on either side of Caesar¡¯s head.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
It¡¯s an even more uncomfortable position than when he was riding Aria, as where he had to make himself unpleasantly small there, here he has to put far too much power into both his leg muscles, to ensure that he doesn¡¯t start to slip down, as well as his arms, to keep them firmly planted in position. It¡¯s immediately demanding, but it¡¯s the only trick he¡¯s got left up his sleeve and so he simply orders Caesar to get going.
His impromptu mount does so without hesitation, immediately slithering forwards at a pace that¡¯s easily greater than any jog Ran can keep up for more than five minutes.
¡°Just follow the ledges and keep heading towards the sounds and smell of the sea, Caesar!¡± Ran instructs, himself unable to see where they¡¯re headed as, whilst his arms are raised up above his head to grab on to Caesar¡¯s hood, his own view is firmly blocked by that same hood.
It makes the ride even more monotonous and unpleasant, as he can only look directly to the sides, to see either the rockside they¡¯re racing alongside to his right, or the chasm between their cliff and the next one to his left. The speed at which both things are flying past is at least an indicator of just how fast Caesar is going, which is a comfort, but it leaves him with nothing to distract him from the strain he¡¯s putting his own body under.
Still, they make good time and so he does his best to tune out his body¡¯s complaints as best he can. Until, suddenly, Caesar comes to an abrupt stop.
¡°What¡¯s up, buddy?¡± Ran asks, more than happy to let go for a minute, sliding down his starter¡¯s back until his feet touch solid ground once more.
Stepping out from behind Caesar¡¯s obscuring hood, it becomes readily apparent just what the issue was.
Overhead, the sun has broken through the morning¡¯s clouds, bathing the now visible Cianwood City in golden light. Ran and Caesar stand at the end of the ledge they¡¯d been traveling along, the cliffs abruptly dropping off down towards the beach, some twenty or thirty feet beneath them. If Caesar had continued on without pause, they¡¯d have plummeted downwards to an extremely unpleasant landing.
¡°Alright, excellent work buddy,¡± Ran tells his starter gratefully, ¡°I¡¯ll recall you for now, we should be far enough ahead for things to be alright at this point. Be ready to race if I bring you out of your ball again in a bit, alright?¡±
Receiving an accepting hiss from Caesar, Ran releases him before yet again allowing Aria to appear by his side. She¡¯s still faintly trembling from exhaustion, a clear indicator that she¡¯s been put through enough for today. Fortunately, Ran has no plans whatsoever of using her as a mount.
¡°Aria, can you attach a strand of webbing here and then climb down this cliffside? I just need a rope to climb down with and I¡¯ll handle things from there, I promise.¡± He asks, hoping that she can deliver him one final piece of help.
Rather than her earlier eagerness, Aria actually walks forwards somewhat hesitantly, taking a good look at what he¡¯s asking of her, before finally chirping her assent. She produces a thick gooey wad of webbing, which gets splattered confidently against the rockface to Ran¡¯s right, before, web still attached to her abdomen by a thick thread, she starts to climb head-first down the cliff.
There¡¯s little of her earlier speed and exuberance remaining, a clear sign of just how drained she is, but Aria doesn¡¯t hesitate and continues onwards nevertheless. It¡¯s a long, tense minute before she reaches the bottom, at which point she snaps off the thread from her abdomen and looks up curiously, clearly waiting for him to get a move on.
Ran obliges without hesitation, grasping a firm hold of the silky rope, before starting to descend. He¡¯s battered and bruised and his feet don¡¯t enjoy the occasional sharp crest or crack they meet in the least, but still he doesn¡¯t rush. Because his team may be tired, but so is he and to take unnecessary risks now out of exhaustion would just be stupid.
Now that the adrenaline has gone down a bit, with Doro out of sight and comfortably behind, he can admit that his final Golbat-ride was an outright stupid thing to do. One they really shouldn¡¯t repeat again. Even if the idea of training Golbat by making him fly with heavy weights has merit, there¡¯s no reason for Ran to function as those weights. Especially not at those kinds of heights.
But those are considerations for further down the line, when he¡¯s won this race and had an opportunity to eat, shower and relax. For now, as his feet finally touch Cianwood City¡¯s sand once more, he¡¯s still got a race to win.
He turns towards the Gym, its distinct shape visible in the distance, before breaking into his final jog of the day. As he does so, he glances warily towards the exit of the hiking path in the distance. Assuming Doro didn¡¯t manage any shortcuts of her own, that¡¯s where she¡¯ll exit the cliffs.
It¡¯s on the other side of the Gym, almost equidistant to it from where he himself left the cliffs. But where Ran cut a nearly-straight line out of the cliffs from the third flag onwards, sticking to the hiking path from that point on must have added at least another full mile of distance to Doro¡¯s race, compared to his own.
With every second that passes in which her distant shape doesn¡¯t appear there, he grows increasingly confident. There¡¯s no reasonable way for her to have covered that kind of distance faster than him, leaving him confident that he¡¯s the first to have made it back to the beach. If she¡¯d appeared on the beach shortly after him, he might have needed to ride Caesar once more to ensure that he¡¯d make it to the Gym first. But even as he continues to get closer to the Gym, there¡¯s no sign of Doro.
Just as he¡¯s about to hit what looks to be about the halfway point, which is the point he¡¯s mentally tagged as ¡®no Doro, win guaranteed¡¯, she appears in the distance, stumbling out of the hiking path at a pace that¡¯s significantly reduced by the exertion she¡¯s surely put herself through to get to this point. Notably, she doesn¡¯t have her Hitmonlee running by her side any longer, instead stumbling directly towards the Gym on her lonesome.
She¡¯s no longer easily faster than him, but it still feels like anyone¡¯s race, considering how hard it is to estimate just which one of them is going to make it to the Gym first. Which means that even though he assumes that he¡¯s only got roughly half as far left to go as her, he isn¡¯t confident about his win yet. It¡¯s with a heated swear that he sends out Caesar, his starter immediately lowering the top of his body to allow Ran to leap on to him.
The landing is uncomfortable and once more assuming the same uncomfortable riding position is almost torturous, as his exhausted muscles cry out in agony. But he clings on nevertheless as Caesar bursts forwards, throwing up a few sprays of sand as he rapidly builds up speed, until they¡¯re racing forwards once more.
In the distance, Doro clearly notices them as well, but there is no further burst of speed from her, even as Caesar becomes visible. She¡¯s clearly pushed herself as hard as she possibly could. But then she seemingly takes inspiration from him again, as just before Caesar¡¯s hood fully obscures Ran¡¯s view of her, he catches a glimpse of her sending out her Hitmonchan again, which immediately kneels in a clear sign that Doro is about to get on its back.
Hitmonchan is by no means as fast as an Arbok, or so Ran assumes at least, but it still feels like it¡¯s going to be an uncomfortably close call, especially with his view of his opponent once more obstructed by Caesar¡¯s hood. Surely though, in a race between an Arbok and a Hitmonchan, there¡¯s no real way for him to lose? Or so he hopes, at least.
Caesar rushes onwards, at one point drawing a terrified scream from an older woman who chooses that moment to exit her home only to turn around and see an enormous purple snake rushing by mere feet in front of her. Ran shouts an apology, but then they¡¯re already past her, as they continue onwards to their goal.
There¡¯s a few more close calls, as despite Cianwood City¡¯s unorthodox position on the beach and its generally relaxed holiday atmosphere, it¡¯s still a city. Which, considering it¡¯s sometime around noon by this point, a lot of people. Fortunately, Caesar shows remarkable restraint, successfully avoiding any collisions. It¡¯s following their third close call, which is the first time that the near-victim turns around and throws a string of swears at them, that Ran finally remembers that technically, you¡¯re not exactly supposed, or for that matter even allowed, to use pok¨¦mon as mounts in cities.
He can¡¯t spare that detail any thought however, as Caesar comes to a sharp halt, almost throwing his trainer off and towards the Gym doors.
Ran obliges hurriedly, forcing his objecting legs into movement as he stumbles into the Gym. He doesn¡¯t know how much of a lead Caesar managed to retain over Doro, but Chuck¡¯s words were ¡®waiting in my Gym¡¯, so until he has verbal confirmation that he¡¯s won from the man himself, he¡¯s not willing to risk anything.
So, when he bursts into the reception, he completely ignores the surprised trainer who was clearly in the middle of speaking to the receptionist.
¡°Where¡¯s Chuck?¡± Ran asks, almost shouting as he gets directly to the point, the adrenaline still racing through him making him forgo all manners.
The receptionist has clearly been briefed however, as she merely gestures towards the stairs, ¡°In the same room as where you received your briefing.¡±
Ran immediately stumbles in that direction, pained legs refusing function for just a moment before moving jerkily once more. As he ascends the stairs, behind him, the door slams open once more. He doesn¡¯t need to look back to know who¡¯s hot on his heels, but as he reaches the top of the stairs, he finally allows himself to relax, even as an amused receptionist, this time not even needing any prodding, repeats the instruction she just offered him for the benefit of Ran¡¯s chaser.
She¡¯s too late however, as he turns the corner and stumbles into the peculiar conference room, where Chuck sits at the head of the table. As the Gym leader takes him in, his eyebrows rise in evident surprise as he takes in Ran¡¯s hobbling walk and what are likely more than a few visible signs of bruising and light bleeding.
Ran doesn¡¯t let Chuck¡¯s evident surprise distract him however, instead hobbling forwards even as he faintly hears pounding feet on stairs rapidly approaching, instead swinging his backpack in front of him and frantically digging out three flags, ¡°I¡¯m here! Here¡¯s the flags!¡±
He thrusts them in Chuck¡¯s direction, one of the three fluttering out of his grip as he didn¡¯t grab it securely enough, only for his second hand to catch it before it can hit the floor. Behind him, Doro enters the room, but she¡¯s undeniably second to arrive.
¡°Congratulations, you are the winner of my challenge,¡± Chuck says to him, offering an approving nod, before gesturing towards the chairs around the table, ¡°Please, have a seat, both of you. I¡¯ll have lunch served in a minute. You both look like you could do with something hearty and healthy after all of that. Besides, I¡¯m eager to hear you both tell your tales.¡±
Chapter 22, pt.1
¡°At which point Caesar carried me the rest of the way and I made it here just ahead of Doro.¡± Ran finishes his tale, drawing a final approving nod from Chuck. He¡¯s received more than one throughout his tale, with Chuck having been particularly impressed by his unorthodox deal with the Gym leader¡¯s father. On the other hand, the way Ran managed to fool the first Gym trainer he ran into merely drew a disappointed groan from the experienced fighter. As for his arguably rather dangerous exploits with Golbat, those are enough to make the Gym leader turn quite pale for a few minutes.
Doro clearly isn¡¯t as impressed or affected by Ran¡¯s efforts, though she does appear to be outright indignant when Ran mentions outright lying his way past the first Gym trainer. Still, she¡¯s well-mannered enough not to openly disparage him for his decisions, allowing him to complete his story in a single go. In turn, when Chuck then finally turns his attention to her, Ran listens with a mixture of disbelief and awe as she confirms that she didn¡¯t initially intended not to take a single shortcut.
Instead, she started by relying purely on her own physical ability and her team¡¯s ability to match the Gym trainers¡¯ fighting-types, set on taking the long way around. Only when she realized just how much time Ran was gaining with his approach, did she do her best to copy him, relying on her team¡¯s power and technique to overcome the challenges she encountered and ultimately coming impressively close to making up the major gap Ran opened up early on. It¡¯s mind blowing to him to hear her tell the tale, as although she¡¯s clearly pushed herself and her team to their limits, between the two of them, Doro has come out merely tired, where Ran has picked up legitimate injuries just to beat her by little more than a hair.
The end result is the same however, with him as the winner and the rightful owner of a Croagunk, and her as the loser.
With their lunch - a filling rice dish with plenty of greens and seafood mixed in - finished and their respective tales retold, Chuck finally speaks up properly once more, easily drawing both Ran and Doro¡¯s attention to him.
¡°It sounds like quite the spectacle. One that perfectly illustrates some of the things I¡¯m hoping to see reflected in these Croagunk. Completely different approaches to a shared problem. In the case of your race, the result was quite close to equal, but I¡¯m curious to see how things turn out in a dual-type pok¨¦mon.¡± Chuck declares enthusiastically, before bringing out two pok¨¦balls.
Twin red beams of light arc out into the room, the pair of Croagunk soon appearing in the room. Ran is immediately captivated as he examines the pair closely. The first thing that stands out is that they¡¯re of similar height, with neither having an immediate noticeable advantage in that regard. Upon closer inspection however, some differences do become apparent.
The Croagunk on his left is slightly bulkier, with its musculature noticeably more pronounced compared to the one on the right. The white bands both have running across their torso sit slightly higher on the left Croagunk as well, whilst the blue and orange colors are more vibrant on the right Croagunk compared to its fellow. Combined, it does ensure that upon anything more than a cursory examination, the differences between both pok¨¦mon are clear enough.
¡°Now then,¡± Chuck lets out with a chuckle after a few seconds, finally pulling Ran¡¯s attention back to him with a good-natured smile, ¡°Take a few minutes to make your choice, if you¡¯ve got any questions, feel free to ask them. Doro, please stay around for a minute, I¡¯d like to speak to you afterwards.¡±
Ran nods, ignoring the other trainer in the room as he stands up and walks over to the pair of Croagunk. They reach up to roughly halfway between his knee and his hip, both Croagunk looking up at him as he approaches them.
The Croagunk on the left, the more muscular one, glares at him, stance strong and combative, as if daring him not to choose it. Considering its seemingly superior physique, he can¡¯t blame it. Still, with just how confrontational it seems, he isn¡¯t too enthusiastic about the first impression it makes on him.
So he looks to the Croagunk on the right, whose cheek sacs inflate for a moment as itraises a hand in a lazy wave, a ribbit that sounds suspiciously close to ¡®hello¡¯ coming out.
Caught off guard, Ran can¡¯t help an instinctive snort of laughter. Which just gets the Croagunk to mimic him, which only further increases Ran¡¯s mood.
Ultimately, it¡¯s an easy decision.
¡°This one, please.¡± Ran says, one hand gesturing towards the Croagunk on the right, who waves merrily at Chuck in affirmation, even as the other Croagunk crosses its arms and glares at them both mulishly.
¡°Very well, here you go,¡± Chuck announces, throwing Ran the corresponding pok¨¦ball, ¡°He¡¯s a male and he knows Mud-Slap, Astonish, Poison Sting, Taunt, Venoshock, Sucker Punch, Low Kick and Brick Break.¡±
Ran catches the ball with a grin, offering his new team member an enthusiastic smile, which is met with another wave from Croagunk, before he recalls him for now.
Before he can get around to thanking Chuck, however, the old Gym leader speaks up once more.
¡°Now that you¡¯ve made your selection, Doro, I¡¯d like to offer you the remaining Croagunk.¡± Chuck announces, attention shifting from Ran to the other trainer still lingering in the room.
In a matter of seconds, Ran¡¯s good mood evaporates.
¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± Doro replies in evident surprise, giving a polite and highly-censored voice to the thoughts running through Ran¡¯s own mind.
¡°Ha,¡± Chuck barks out a laugh, before sobering, ¡°Fair enough. Simply put, I told a bit of a lie when I told you that only the winner would be getting a Croagunk. I wanted to see both of you go all out, to get a real idea of your respective characters and what you can do. In truth, any study between these two Croagunk would be completely worthless if one of them is trained by me, an experienced and full-time Gym Leader, and the other is trained by an unsponsored rookie.¡±
Chuck continues easily, once more on a roll as he continues to explain, ¡°So, assuming you both performed well in my challenge, which you did, I always intended to offer the winner first pick, whilst offering the loser the remaining Croagunk. The condition of a short weekly report remains of course, as I do genuinely want to be able to compare both Croagunk¡¯s respective progress.¡±
He falls silent then, leaving Ran to stare at him in disbelief, even as Doro nods pensively for a few moments, before looking up to meet Chuck¡¯s eyes.
¡°I understand and I accept.¡± She declares, her attention only remaining on Chuck long enough for her to catch the pok¨¦ball he throws her, before her attention turns to the remaining Croagunk, who appears no less standoffish than she did when Ran approached her.
Ran would like to pay attention to the first meeting between trainer and pok¨¦mon, but sound and focus fade away as instead the pounding of his own blood in his ears overpowers everything. He stands completely motionless as he furiously processes just what Chuck just told them.
His explanation sounds believable enough, all things considered. But it isn¡¯t fair! He put everything he had into that race, risking his health, even his life, to ensure that he¡¯d win! All to hear that in the end they both get a Croagunk?
No, he doesn¡¯t buy it.
This is all a ploy by Chuck to give the fighting-type trainer, whom he obviously favors over Ran because of their respective specialties, a Croagunk too. If things had ended up the other way around, with Doro winning and Ran coming second, he definitely wouldn¡¯t have gotten the unchosen Croagunk. This whole story about testing their characters and comparing the Croagunk between equal trainers is a fabrication made up on the fly to cover for the fact that he¡¯s being cheated!Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
He stews over those thoughts, anger roiling in his gut, for multiple minutes. It explains the lunch as well, as Chuck must have thought of it on the fly in order to play for time as he had to come up with a believable excuse for why he¡¯d give away both Croagunk rather than just hanging on to one of them.
Before he can ponder the matter any further, he¡¯s brought out of his thoughts by Doro suddenly stepping towards him, her hand extended for a shake, ¡°Congratulations on your win. Though your approach was very different to my own, you proved that it was effective. I look forward to competing against you. Considering how close our race was, I am sure that we will both learn a lot from the experience.¡±
For a moment, his lingering anger tells him to slap her hand away and storm out.
He doesn¡¯t, however. The genuine look in her eyes and the respect in her voice are enough to keep him calm. And, when he actually thinks on it, he begrudgingly has to admit that he can¡¯t blame Doro for accepting Chuck¡¯s offer, as she¡¯d have been a fool not to accept. He¡¯d have done the same thing if their roles were reversed.
So he grasps her hand with his own and, in a great effort, manages to ignore the acrid burning taste at the back of his throat as he acknowledges her words politely, ¡°Thanks. You really pushed us to our limits, I look forward to our next contest.¡±
¡°Good!¡± Doro declares decisively, ¡°Tomorrow, we shall battle!¡±
Her confidence catches him off guard for a moment, but the prospect of a good battle is just what he needs to take his mind off of the lingering resentment towards Chuck, who still remains in the room, waiting to draw their attention back to himself once more.
¡°Sure, that sounds fun.¡± Ran agrees easily, ¡°Are you staying at the pok¨¦center, or do you want to exchange numbers?¡±
Before Doro can reply, Chuck clears his throat, drawing their attention back to him. Immediately, the lingering anger Ran still feels flashes hot once more, but he manages to keep his expression neutral as the Gym leader speaks.
¡°I¡¯ll have my staff send you a message with an instruction manual for your weekly reports. You both did impressive work today, I honestly didn¡¯t expect either of you to make it back in time for a proper lunch. I wish you both good luck in your journeys and look forward to your challenges. For now, however, I still have two challenges scheduled for this afternoon, so I¡¯ll have to ask you both to head downstairs now.¡± He informs them, gesturing towards the door to further reinforce his message.
There¡¯s little they can say to that, so Ran merely nods tightly before heading directly for the door, only barely remembering his manners and pausing to allow Doro to leave the room ahead of him. Which is a decision he immediately gets a reward for, as he receives a visual reminder of the benefits of leggings.
Any slight flushing of the face he might or might not experience as he descends the stairs back down to the Gym¡¯s lobby can surely still be excused by the physical exertion from the race. Or at least that¡¯s what he tells himself, as Doro turns to face him once more when they¡¯ve both moved out of the way slightly to ensure that they¡¯re not blocking the stairs.
She doesn¡¯t outwardly show any response to the slight heat he feels in his cheeks, saving his dignity as she instead brings up her pok¨¦gear. When she speaks, it¡¯s to the point, but not unfriendly, ¡°If you give me your number, I¡¯ll message you later. I¡¯m going for a cooldown run on the beach before returning to the pok¨¦center, so I believe this is the easiest way to handle things.¡±
¡°Sure thing.¡± Ran accepts, before rattling off his number swiftly.
Once Doro has entered it into her pok¨¦gear and repeated it back to him, they say their goodbyes, before going their separate ways. Because while Doro might want to get a run in, Ran needs to get himself somewhere private and in front of a mirror, to finally get a proper look at just what he did to himself in his rather risky approach to the race.
So he returns to the pok¨¦center, where he¡¯s pleasantly surprised to find his shoes and stinky socks waiting for him, as apparently Chuck¡¯s father stopped by to hand them in at the reception desk. It¡¯s a pleasant find, but one that doesn¡¯t delay his decision to turn both Aria and Golbat in for a check-up, considering the strain he put them through, before heading directly for his room. The following half hour isn¡¯t pleasant.
In short order, he gets rid of his dirty clothes before ducking into the shower. The hot water agitates the many small cuts and abrasions he picked up as they painfully make their presence known. Once he¡¯s been properly soaked and lathered up with soap to the point that he doesn¡¯t smell like sweat any more, the next step after drying off is actually taking proper stock of just what he inflicted on himself.
Ultimately, he doesn¡¯t think the damage report is too bad. Sure, his torso is a motley array of blues and purples as bruises of varying sizes compete for real estate, but with the shower having washed away the already dried blood from the relatively few cuts and abrasions he picked up, it really doesn¡¯t look too bad. Admittedly, bending down to dry his lower legs and feet is a rather painful experience, but in a few days, they¡¯ll be old injuries. So long as he doesn¡¯t touch them, they probably won¡¯t even bother him by tomorrow.
Just to be safe, he still rubs some ointment on some of the worst bruises, settling down on his bed to let them soak into the skin for a while before redressing. He¡¯s tempted to let out Croagunk for a proper first meeting, but with two of his team members absent for the moment, he decides to hold off. Instead, he just releases Caesar and Skorupi for now.
Skorupi immediately rushes towards him eagerly, clearly looking to latch on, before pausing as he gets a good look at his trainer. For a few seconds, he actually appears hesitant and doubtful, but once Ran offers him a reassuring smile, he simply switches targets. Instead of continuing on towards Ran¡¯s torso, he instead climbs on to his trainer¡¯s legs, enthusiastically latching on there before turning to face Ran once more, staring at his battered upper body unblinkingly.
Caesar is less eager in his greeting, merely examining his trainer from head to toe before settling down on the large pok¨¦mon bed with a stern look and a warning hiss. Ran waves him off however, not needing the reprimand. Sure, he got roughed up a bit, but in the end, he did make it through as the winner and the reward is an exotic pok¨¦mon who¡¯ll make a fine fifth member to his team.
Admittedly, he probably shouldn¡¯t try to let Golbat carry him anywhere for a while, but today was a proof of concept at the very least. Golbat still has a lot of room for growth left, not to mention the evolution he¡¯s still capable of, somewhere down the line. Though Ran doesn¡¯t plan to hang on to the flying-type with his hands for significant distances, they were still successful enough for him to want to explore the thought of flying with Golbat further¡ Perhaps they could practice above a soft landing surface to start, rather than risking heights and deep chasms again any time soon.
Drawn out of his thoughts by an inquisitive hiss from Caesar, Ran spends a few minutes fully catching up both of his present pok¨¦mon, before sagging back against his bed once more. It¡¯s been a demanding day and they¡¯ve still got training to get to later on, but for the moment, he can¡¯t muster the will to get up from his bed. Instead, he opens up his pok¨¦gear to occupy himself with for a while.
He¡¯s curious about both of his former companions, but messaging either of them is not an option. Spencer because, frankly, Ran doesn¡¯t have anything to say to that ass. Josie¡ There¡¯s actually a lot he¡¯d like to say to her at the moment, but her wishes were clear and he¡¯d be a poor friend if he didn¡¯t respect them. So both of those options are out.
Of course he can and does send an update to his dad, but he already knows that the reply, when it comes later that evening when the man¡¯s done working, will just boil down to a variation of ¡®proud of you, keep it up!¡¯.
So once that¡¯s done, he really doesn¡¯t have too many options left. In truth, there¡¯s really only one. Thus, he opens up his chat with Grady, hesitating for a few seconds as he figures out a good opener and then starts typing.
Ran: Yo Grady, how¡¯s things on your end?
He spends two minutes regretting his chosen words, only able to keep looking at them and keep finding them more cringeworthy with every new read. But then, his pok¨¦gear vibrates with an incoming message and, upon reading Grady¡¯s eager reply, his self doubt evaporates.
Grady: Hey! Super great! I beat Whitney yesterday! She got me a Thunder Stone so now my Eevee¡¯s a Jolteon!!!
Ran: Congrats, that¡¯s huge, on both counts. If you¡¯ve got the time, I¡¯d be happy to read the recap! First, though, are you still in Goldenrod or are you back on the road? Coming to Cianwood by any chance?
Grady: I¡¯m still in Goldenrod for the day because my family is throwing a party for me winning my third badge! Tomorrow, I¡¯m actually setting out for Ecruteak instead of Cianwood, sorry! How are you doing over there?
Ran: I¡¯m doing well. I got a bit banged up in a race against another rookie trainer, which was organized by Gym Leader Chuck. But I beat her and I¡¯ve added a fifth team member as a result, because that was the reward Chuck had on offer.
Grady: Whoa really?! That¡¯s totally super awesome!
Grady: What kind of pok¨¦mon??
Grady: I thought you were specializing in poison-types???
As Ran¡¯s pok¨¦gear starts vibrating increasingly incessantly again as Grady gets worked up, he starts typing another brief message to remind the other boy to mind the spam. Before he can even get halfway through typing it up however, Grady¡¯s next message comes in.
Grady: Sorry about the spam! I got excited. I¡¯ll calm down now.
Ran: Thanks. It¡¯s a Croagunk, which is from Sinnoh and it¡¯s a poison-fighting dual-type.
Ran: But I only won it an hour ago and I haven¡¯t even introduced the rest of my team to it, so a proper update will have to wait. How about you tell me about your match against Whitney first?
Grady: Sure thing! It was epic!
Ran leans back with an amused smile against his bed, as he waits for the first of what promises to be a series of effusively long messages. He doesn¡¯t find himself minding however, especially not when Caesar and Skorupi are both happily dozing nearby.
Chapter 22, pt.2
The sun is well and truly setting by the time Ran, belt once more having all of his team¡¯s pok¨¦balls on it, finally makes it to an unoccupied stretch of the beach clearly meant for training. There¡¯s a few other trainers around, but they¡¯ve all got enough space to work out without hindering each other, so Ran doesn¡¯t pay them too much mind once he concludes that nobody has any poison-types or truly exotic pok¨¦mon out and about.
Taking into account the absence of exotic pok¨¦mon on the beach, prior to his arrival, he really shouldn¡¯t be surprised by the subtle way the trainers surrounding him shift their focus from their own teams to Ran, when he releases his full team. Because whilst most of his pok¨¦mon wouldn¡¯t merit more than a glance, Skorupi very much doesn¡¯t fit that billing.
He doesn¡¯t pay the distracted trainers any mind, his focus instead solidly on his team as they form up around him. Caesar and Skorupi of course have already had a brief summary of the race and its outcome, but Aria and Golbat only take a moment to take in their surroundings before their attention locks firmly on their trainer.
Ran meets their enquiring gazes with a proud smile, which is enough for Aria to do a happy little wiggling dance on the spot as she trills triumphantly, whilst Golbat merely closes his eyes for a long few seconds in a long, self-satisfied blink. Still, Ran isn¡¯t content to leave it at a non-verbal confirmation, instead liberally doling out praise.
¡°We won the race and gained a new team member as our reward. The other trainer, Doro, was a lot faster than me, so I absolutely couldn¡¯t have done it without you guys¡¯ help. Aria, I genuinely hope I¡¯ll never have to use you as a mount again, but you did an amazing job! Caesar, the same thing goes for you, on both accounts.¡± Ran explains and praises in equal measure, before turning his attention to Golbat, who suddenly seems rather wary of his trainer, if the way he shrinks back slightly is any indication.
¡°Golbat, I¡¯m not going to hang on to your feet again, but I¡¯m telling you now, we¡¯ll be experimenting with flying together in the near future. You¡¯ll definitely be able to carry me as a Crobat and honestly, for our first tries, you already did an amazing job. Though when we do practice, we¡¯ll do so while closer to the ground and with something softer to land on, alright?¡± He encourages and comforts the large Bat Pok¨¦mon, even as he can tell that Golbat is less than enthusiastic about the idea.
Golbat still seems less than eager, though Ran is quite confident that he knows just what part his pok¨¦mon is hung up on.
¡°I promise we¡¯ll take proper precautions and be careful about it, alright?¡± He offers gently, which finally draws a soft consenting screech from Golbat.
Pleased, Ran turns his attention to divesting himself of Skorupi for a moment, the smallest of his team members having enthusiastically reacquainted himself with Ran¡¯s back whilst he was distracted. Then, the team he started the day with fully assembled, he brings out Croagunk.
Absently, he takes note of the other trainers on the beach, who¡¯d picked up their own training once more once they finished ogling Skorupi, come to another abrupt halt. But his focus is on Croagunk, who appears in front of Ran and the rest of the team with a calm smile.
From his point of view, it must be quite the sight, with Ran flanked by an Arbok and an Ariados, whilst Skorupi and Golbat stand on the respective ends of the line. Croagunk doesn¡¯t seem bothered in the least however, merely raising a hand in a calm greeting as he lets out another ribbiting approximation of ¡®hello¡¯.
Ran¡¯s lips quirk up in another smile, as amused now as he was when Croagunk pulled that particular trick the first time, but the replies from the rest of his team are nowhere near as calm.
It starts with Caesar, who actually rears back a full foot in surprise at a sound that could be mistaken for a human with a particularly bad cold. On Caesar¡¯s other side, Skorupi outright crawls over the large purple coils that keep him separated from Ran, hurriedly scrambling up his trainer¡¯s back once more as he distrustfully peeks at Croagunk over Ran¡¯s shoulder. On Ran¡¯s other side, Aria freezes completely in place, whilst Golbat hops forwards assertively with a loud screech, wings flaring out threateningly even as Aria partially disappears behind his wing.
Ran is content to watch for the moment as Croagunk merely blinks in slow amusement as he takes in the strong reactions to his greeting. His new team member¡¯s inaction is enough for the rest of the team to ease up in turn, at which point Ran finally speaks up.
¡°Hello Croagunk, I¡¯m Ran, your new trainer, though you already knew that. This is the rest of the team.¡± Ran welcomes his new team member, before gesturing to each of his pok¨¦mon as he introduces them in turn.
¡°This is Caesar, he¡¯s my starter. Then there¡¯s Aria, whom we caught in Ilex Forest a few years ago, along with Golbat here. Finally, hiding on my back is Skorupi, he¡¯s only been with us for a couple of weeks, so the two of you have that in common.¡±
Croagunk merely offers another calm wave, this time letting out a more normal sounding croak, at which point the rest of the team finally fully relaxes. Caesar subjects the newest member of the team to a judging gaze, which Croagunk doesn¡¯t seem too bothered by as he instead greets Aria, who is the only one of the group to actually approach their new team member.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
Not that Ran is too surprised, as she is by far the most sociable team member as far as interacting with other pok¨¦mon goes. For his own part, he patiently removes Skorupi from his own back once more, before starting to give out orders for team training. With a new team member to work with, the rest of his team gets to work on self-directed training, continuing to master their newest moves and working out by themselves.
As for Croagunk, Ran takes a minute to explain the idea of getting a baseline of his current physical abilities, so that they¡¯ll have something to measure his growth against. Unlike Skorupi, who quite despised the process and had to be cajoled into it, Croagunk seems eager to learn just what he¡¯s capable of, easily and eagerly executing everything Ran asks of him.
Unsurprisingly, from a purely physical point of view, Croagunk excels when it comes to explosiveness and raw power, as expected of a fighting-type. However, his main problem is speed, as his short legs and bipedal stance don¡¯t make for a particularly agile or swift runner. Still, there¡¯s enough there for Ran to happily conclude that Croagunk should fit right in with the team, assuming he¡¯s got a decent set of moves to back them up.
Fortunately, whoever Chuck put in charge of sending Ran the manual on writing up a proper report, was kind enough to include another summary of Croagunk¡¯s known moves, saving him the hassle of having Croagunk show them off or trying to recall all of them from the single quick mention Chuck gave them. It¡¯s an impressive list focused mostly on fighting at close range, supplemented with a few surprising tricks that¡¯ll probably catch people off guard.
In total, the list consists of Mud-Slap, Astonish, Poison Sting, Taunt - good luck to the next Gym Leader trying to set up on him -, Venoshock, Sucker Punch, Low Kick and Brick Break. The one major thing that¡¯s really missing, to Ran¡¯s mind, is a close range poison-type move. Of course fixing that is more easily said than done, as, like with Skorupi, he¡¯s once again added a pok¨¦mon to his team that isn¡¯t well-known in Johto, ensuring that there isn¡¯t much of anything to be found about it online.
Still, he¡¯s confident enough that they¡¯ll be able to figure something out. Though his pok¨¦gear isn¡¯t ideal for a proper in-depth research session, the pok¨¦center does have computers available, so that might be something he can spend his evening on. For now, with Croagunk¡¯s baselines measured and the rest of his team still hard at work, he¡¯s happy to simply put his newest acquisition through his paces for another half hour, before recalling them all.
By the time he wanders back to the pok¨¦center, his pok¨¦gear vibrates with an incoming message, which proves to be from Doro. After some back and forth, they end up settling on an evening match the next day, agreeing to meet up at the pok¨¦center after an early dinner before setting out for the beach to have their battle. It¡¯s something to look forward to, which only further motivates him to, after a quick dinner, settle in behind the pok¨¦center¡¯s pc to start digging into anything he can find about Croagunk.
Unfortunately, like with Skorupi, there¡¯s really nothing to be found, the exotic pok¨¦mon¡¯s information clearly not yet having made it onto the publicly available net in Johto. It¡¯s annoying, but not surprising.
Which is why he doesn¡¯t give up there. Instead, he starts digging into every possible known poison-type contact attack that¡¯s available online. Of which there are actually a fair few to choose from, though none he¡¯s never at the very least read about before, which is just a bit disappointing.
But it remains an impressive list, at first. Then however, he starts crossing off options that seem unlikely at best for Croagunk to be capable of. Poison Tail, for example, gets scrapped right off the bat, for the obvious reason that is Croagunk¡¯s lack of a tail. Poison Fang also gets cut, for similar reasons. Finally, the notoriously challenging Cross Poison, which is not only a move Golbat should learn when he evolves again, but which is also part of his long-term plans for Aria, is removed as an option for now, both for its trickiness and for Croagunk¡¯s lack of anything sharp to land the attack with.
Suddenly, he¡¯s left with only a single option, though he¡¯s got a good feeling about it at least. Poison Jab, which ironically is also his next planned move for Aria, makes sense and should have the added benefit of not being particularly demanding from a technical point of view. So it¡¯ll make for a very nice first step, before he tries to figure out if his new team member gets access to the coveted elemental punches.
If he does¡ Well, that¡¯s a concern for further down the line. One that might even merit a return to Goldenrod¡¯s Trainer Department Store. But he¡¯ll reconsider that later. For now, he simply downloads a few videos of different pok¨¦mon, primarily Ariados, using Poison Jab, before deciding to, now that he¡¯s at a pc anyways, have another quick look at the profiles of his former companions.
He starts, to get it out of the way as quickly as possible, with Spencer. A third gleaming badge has been added to his profile page, as the Glacier Badge from Mahogany Town¡¯s Pryce has joined the previous pair of the Zephyr and Rising Badges. It¡¯s not a surprise, but Ran is still a bit irked at Spencer seemingly managing to keep pace with him, despite having taken the ¡®harder¡¯ road.
As for his known pok¨¦mon, there¡¯s no changes on that front, with Forretress, Scyther, Onix and Skarmory still listed as his full team. There is one other change however, one that actually manages to catch Ran by surprise. Because, like Grady, Spencer has actually added a personalized message to his trainer profile.
¡°I took the road less traveled by. It was the right decision.¡±
It¡¯s an arrogant quote and one Ran can only consider a personal slight, under the circumstances. Admittedly, Spencer¡¯s team looks impressive and only promises to get stronger with future acquisitions and evolutions, but this feels like a dig aimed directly at him.
An unprovoked one, at that. They haven¡¯t exchanged any messages and Ran has done nothing to try and draw a response from Spencer. In fact, the only thing he¡¯s really done that involves the other trainer is look at his profile page, both now and back in Goldenrod.
Unless¡
On a hunch, he goes to his own trainer profile page, one he¡¯s never actually paid much mind to. After a minute¡¯s searching, however, his suspicion is proven correct as he discovers a tab that lets him see who has recently visited his trainer profile page.
It¡¯s a very short list of names, with Josie, Grady and Doro all being unsurprising finds. Karolina Brandt, the ice-type specialist he briefly met in Azalea Town is a very surprising find however and one he¡¯d probably puzzle over for at least a few minutes, if his attention wasn¡¯t firmly drawn by the most damning name of all.
Spencer Curtis. Last visit: Today.
Chapter 23, pt.1
The next day, his team fully rested and the sun out in full force, Ran decides against another training day. With his match with Doro planned for some time later in the day, he instead quite enthusiastically decides on a proper beach day. He¡¯s never actually had one and the characters on tv sure seemed to enjoy it, so he might as well. Plus, it¡¯ll be interesting to watch his team interact in a new environment.
So it is that, around ten in the morning, after sleeping in for once, he has a quick breakfast before buying a newspaper and preparing himself for a trip to the beach. Then he marches out of the pok¨¦center in his swim trunks, with a large beach towel and his backpack over his shoulders. Thankfully, his trunks are a special model for trainers, meaning that they do have an integrated belt with the normal clip on attachments for a set of six pok¨¦balls. With his full team on his person, the look is a bit lopsided, with three balls on the right and only two on the left, but that¡¯s easily forgotten about.
Instead, he focuses on the warmth of the sun and the sounds of crashing waves hitting the beach, as a surprisingly strong wind blowing in from the ocean churns up some impressive waves. Already, there¡¯s some surfers, both of the board- and pok¨¦mon-variety, as well as swimmers out in the water, but not to such a degree that the beach feels too busy by any means.
He easily seeks out a spot to put down his towel and put down his bag, taking the time to rub in a decent amount of sunscreen, before pausing as he actually considers just what kind of environment he¡¯s about to bring his team out into. Thinking better of it, he gathers his stuff once more and heads back into the city for a quick shopping trip.
Half an hour later, when he returns to the beach once more, he¡¯s carrying a big, reinforced beach umbrella. It¡¯s not the easiest work to actually drive its large foot into the sand deep enough to stop the wind from stealing his new acquisition, eventually forcing him to release Croagunk early, as the fighting-type¡¯s combination of raw strength and manual dexterity makes him the best candidate to help.
After that, it¡¯s easy enough work to ensure that his beach umbrella creates a large patch of shadow in the middle of the beach, the crashing waves only some sixty feet away. When a large gust of wind merely manages to make the material flutter slightly, the structure in its entirety not moving in the least, Ran offers Croagunk a satisfied smile, before releasing the rest of the team.
He lets them out directly under the sun¡¯s bright light, knowing that even with the size of the beach umbrella, there isn¡¯t enough room there for all of them to fit. Especially not if Ran himself wants to keep his beach towel even remotely free of sand.
As they come out of their pok¨¦balls, the different reactions are amusing to say the least. Caesar and Skorupi visibly perk up under the hot sun, curiously looking around, whereas Aria and Golbat can¡¯t get to the shade provided by the beach umbrella fast enough.
Once he¡¯s out of the direct sunlight, Golbat is actually thoughtful enough to be slightly tentative as he tests whether the beach umbrella¡¯s struts can support him. To Ran¡¯s pleasant surprise, the salesperson he talked to proves to have been honest, as the beach umbrella does in fact easily bear Golbat¡¯s weight without budging. As for Aria, she scuttles around for a moment, before coming to a halt.
Ran watches her for a moment, but when Aria does little more than glance around between the umbrella and the rest of the team, he puts her out of mind for the moment, as he instead turns his attention to the rest of the team, which still lingers in the sun.
Croagunk is seemingly perfectly content to just stand around and observe the surfers in the water, not paying any real attention to Ran or the rest of the team. The same can¡¯t be said for Caesar and Skorupi, however, as both enthusiastically start to try and burrow down into the sand. It¡¯s an endeavor Skorupi sees a lot more success in than Caesar, as whilst both are successful in digging down, Skorupi¡¯s smaller body ensures that he manages to fit fully within the dry sand, whilst Caesar digs down too deep, at which point his hole starts filling up with water.
It¡¯s an amusing sight to see the massive Arbok shooting an envious look at the little Skorupi, who manages to exude smugness from his own burrow. It¡¯s an impressive feat, considering the fact that only his eyes are really left visible, the rest of him obscured by the sand he¡¯s hidden himself under. Clearly unwilling to give up just yet, Caesar¡¯s second attempt is admittedly inspired, as rather than dig down again, he instead uses his tail to start ¡®brushing¡¯ together a large mound of dry sand.
Ran is curious to see whether his starter¡¯s plan will succeed, but he¡¯s distracted by chittering behind him. Looking back towards the beach umbrella, he¡¯s met with a surprise as Aria has finally burst into motion.
She¡¯s actually crawled on top of the umbrella, a large and dense thread of her string having been fired towards the sand to the west. Unfortunately for her, the loose sand doesn¡¯t exactly make for a solid attachment point, leaving what appears to be an intended frame thread to dangle uselessly from the top of the umbrella. It¡¯s only as Ran looks towards Aria once more that he realizes that her chittering is directed at him.
After a moment¡¯s hesitation, he realizes that he¡¯s being tasked with providing her thread with a better, more solid attachment point.
Fortunately, he has just the thing, as he digs around in his backpack for a minute to come up with three large tent pegs. Calling out to Croagunk to come and assist for a moment is quick work, at which point Aria starts directly directing the newest team member.
Soon enough, the tent pegs are hammered into the ground to her satisfaction, at which point she starts working on what can only be a web intended to significantly increase the amount of available shade for Ran and his team.
Using the umbrella as an elevated attachment point, fires off a total of three large frame threads, after which she starts skittering up and down the threads as she starts working on a tight net of string threads. She clearly isn¡¯t aiming for full cover, but Ran is quite confident that when she finishes, the effect will be quite similar to resting under a tree¡¯s foliage. He honestly thinks the end result might end up being preferable to the total cover provided by the beach umbrella.
Still, Aria clearly has a fair bit of work ahead of her, so he turns his attention back to the rest of the team once more.
Caesar has actually succeeded in creating a large mound of dry sand, which he¡¯s now carefully slithered into, ensuring that his, surely unbearably warm, resting place is entirely dry. Skorupi is seemingly perfectly content in his own burrow, whilst Golbat likewise shows no intention whatsoever of moving from his own perch.
With Aria hard at work on her extension to the umbrella, that leaves Croagunk, who looks around at the others for a moment, before turning his attention to Ran curiously. He lets out a low and long croak, gesturing out towards the sea curiously.
¡°Do you want to go for a swim, Croagunk?¡± Ran asks kindly, not sure just what his new team member wants and not quite able to read his body language to the same degree that he¡¯s capable of doing with the others.
Croagunk shakes his head no, before pointing at Ran himself.
¡°Me? I was planning to catch up on the news first, so the water can warm up for a bit longer.¡± Ran responds, only to be left with a small but amused smile when Croagunk nods acceptingly, before wandering towards the shade provided by the umbrella, where he plants himself down right next to Ran¡¯s beach towel.
After another moment to look over the rest of the team, to make sure that they¡¯re all happy with their current situations. The trio of resting pok¨¦mon clearly are, as they¡¯re all already dozing or on their way to dozing. As for Aria, she¡¯s started rhythmically clicking her mandibles together again whilst she works, leaving him confident that she¡¯s enjoying herself tremendously.
Confident that they¡¯re all happy as can be, Ran wanders over to his beach towel, where he swiftly brings out the day¡¯s newspaper, before settling down next to Croagunk, who seems content to croak placidly at his trainer.
Ran starts to read, only to be interrupted after a few seconds by a slightly louder croak from Croagunk. Glancing towards his new team member in surprise, when Croagunk gives no further indication as to just what he wants, Ran brings the paper up and tries to start reading once more.
Before he can even properly get back to where he¡¯d gotten, another, louder, more insistent croak breaks him out of his concentration once more.
¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± He asks, lowering his newspaper once more as he meets Croagunk¡¯s eyes, only for the poison-fighting-type to point at the newspaper insistently.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
It still takes Ran a few seconds to realize just what Croagunk wants from him but, eventually, the pok¨¦dollar drops.
¡°You want me to read it to you?¡± He asks in surprise, not quite believing that he¡¯s interpreting Croagunk¡¯s behavior correctly. But the pleased nod he receives in turn makes it very clear that that is, in fact, what Croagunk wants.
Seeing no real reason to object, Ran brings his paper up once more, but this time, he starts fresh. Clearing his throat, for a moment, he does his best to start reading out loud in a pleasant way.
¡°Following increased criminal activity in Celadon City, the police and Pok¨¦mon League have issued a joint statement promising an increased presence of both police officers and Ace Trainers. This measure, which has been a long time coming, was first hinted at-¡± Ran starts to read, with Croagunk listening along attentively.
Above and slightly behind him, Aria continues to ¡®sing¡¯ merrily as she works, whilst the rest of the team dozes off lightly. Ahead of them, the waves continue to crash into the sands, whilst the strong winds remain, preventing the slowly increasing heat of the day from becoming truly oppressive, even as more and more people gradually make their way to the beach and into the water.
The next hour passes pleasantly like that, until Ran has read every interesting article the paper has to offer. He considers the puzzle section for a minute, but then decides against it, instead feeling the need to get up and do something already.
Behind him, Aria has been finished with her massive web for the past fifteen minutes, as she now hangs off of its underside. It doesn¡¯t fully block out the sun, with small holes still letting through maybe a third of the sun¡¯s rays, but thanks to the breeze that ensures that the web is near-constantly rocking in place slightly, the overall effect is still quite pleasant. The rest of the team is still resting in the same places they assumed an hour ago, but as Ran glances around, he feels increasingly energized.
When he closes his newspaper decisively, Croagunk, who¡¯s been listening along attentively the whole time, still noticeably perks up.
¡°Right, let¡¯s go and do something fun already!¡± Ran declares decisively, drawing an enthusiastic croak from the Toxic Mouth pok¨¦mon.
The rest of the team is nowhere near as eager, seemingly content to continue to bask and lounge around, but Ran isn¡¯t dissuaded. It¡¯s quick work to ensure that he¡¯s got a fresh coat of sunscreen, before he glances around at the rest of the team. Barring Croagunk, the others are still not getting around to moving just yet, which is why rather than go for a swim just yet, he opts for a form of entertainment most of his team isn¡¯t all that well-suited to.
Digging around in his bag until he comes up with the rubber beach ball he also bought earlier, he¡¯s gratified to see Croagunk perk up in clear interest. As the only one of his team with a body that¡¯s really suited to playing with a ball, Ran is more than happy to lightly toss the ball towards Croagunk, before starting to move backwards, gradually increasing the distance between them.
Croagunk¡¯s first throw, whether due to the shape of his hands or unfamiliarity with a throwing motion, is wildly off target, forcing Ran to go and pick the ball up on the edge of the water. Still, with just a few practice throws, soon enough they¡¯re throwing it back and forth easily enough, at which point Ran gradually draws Croagunk into the shallows.
They can¡¯t just claim a whole strip of the shallow water without taking the other beachgoers into account, but they still get plenty of room to throw the ball around comfortably enough. It isn¡¯t the most exerting or exciting way to pass the time, but it¡¯s enjoyable enough and Ran at least learns a few things about Croagunk.
Because his new team member, though his expression remains remarkably placid no matter what he¡¯s doing, has a significant breadth of different croaks at his disposal. The one Ran rapidly becomes familiar with, is the agitated apologetic one Croagunk releases whenever one of his throws is even remotely challenging to catch. Outwardly, Croagunk doesn¡¯t show much expression, but the combination of his croaks and the faintest notes of tension in his posture whenever he throws a suboptimal ball is actually quite interesting to Ran.
He doesn¡¯t vocalize his discovery just yet, not wanting to put Croagunk on the spot just yet, especially with how new their relationship is. But if Croagunk doesn¡¯t ease up on himself somewhat over the next few days, he might have to address it directly. For now however, he isn¡¯t sure yet whether Croagunk is just unduly hard on himself, or whether he¡¯s temporarily insecure about his position or value to his new trainer.
So he simply focuses on the more positive of his discoveries, which is that Croagunk is supremely observant. Or at least when it comes to movements and physical techniques. Whether that will hold true for other things is something he¡¯ll again need more time for, but for now, Croagunk¡¯s ability to pick up on minor technical tricks is astounding.
It starts with the simple act of throwing a ball, with Croagunk¡¯s grip and throwing motion rapidly improving over just a few minutes, until after just a handful of minutes, his first few misses are distant memories. By that point, not only can Croagunk get the ball to him reliably, but he can do so on a tight line, in a lob, or skipping across the water. The next step is adding spin, which he picks up from just a single instance of Ran deciding to put some backspin on his throw in a spur of the moment decision.
Maybe it¡¯s not an overall observantness and instead merely something that comes with Croagunk¡¯s fighting-typing, but even then Ran can¡¯t help but be impressed by the speed with which his new teammate picks things up.
Still, there¡¯s only so much to be gleaned from throwing a ball around and so, eventually, he calls a halt to their game. Instead, he informs Croagunk that it¡¯s time to rouse the rest of the team, which is easily accepted. Croagunk starts to play with the ball by himself, giving Ran an opportunity to go and take a look at the rest of his team.
They¡¯re all still where he left them, but with the sun out in full force and all of them having had plenty of time to nap already, he¡¯s quite willing to get them moving. Aria is exempt for now, as she at least spent some time building her web. But the others have no such excuses, which is why he wakes them up decisively.
¡°Caesar, Skorupi, Golbat! Up and at ¡®em!¡± He calls out loudly, not paying any attention to the few curious looks he draws from other vaguely nearby beachgoers.
The reactions he gets are varied, as Caesar blearily wakes up, before slithering out of his mound of sand easily and coiling up before looking at Ran curiously. Skorupi actually bursts out of his burrow at speed, seemingly not having been asleep as he enthusiastically scrambles towards Ran, only to think better of climbing up his trainer¡¯s bare back and instead contenting himself with using Caesar¡¯s coils as a jungle gym.
His starter allows as much, which is a lot nicer of him than the reaction Golbat gives Ran, as the large flying-type angrily rustles his wings before crossing them in front of his body once more, clearly hoping to be left to his nap.
Ran isn¡¯t so easily dissuaded however, instead heading directly for his bag and fishing out the bottle of sunscreen he got specifically for Golbat.
¡°Come on Golbat, you can¡¯t just sleep the day away. I specifically got this stuff for you, just let me put it on and I promise that the sun won¡¯t bother you once it¡¯s soaked in a bit, alright?¡± Ran cajoles his teammate, who still hangs from the beach umbrella¡¯s struts, actually putting them roughly face-to-face.
A single, baleful eye peeks out from behind Golbat¡¯s large wings, making it very clear just how he feels about Ran¡¯s suggestion, but then the whole umbrella vibrates for a few seconds, as Aria wanders over from her own resting spot on the bottom of her web. Once she¡¯s close to Golbat, she chidingly chitters something, at which point a begrudging Golbat finally opens his wings.
The glare he shoots Ran makes it very clear that he¡¯s expected to get on with it already, which Ran is more than happy to do. In just a few minutes, Golbat is covered in sunscreen, to Aria¡¯s evident delight.
Ran shoots her a conspiratorial wink, before finally directing his attention to the team at large.
¡°To the water!¡± Ran declares loudly, before breaking into a sprint and charging that way ahead of the rest of his team.
Behind him, there¡¯s a brief ruckus, as his team follows their ingrained habit of sticking with their trainer by chasing after him, rather than actually considering whether they want to get wet. By the time logical thought overcomes ingrained habit, he¡¯s lured everyone but Golbat into the shallows, as the flying-type is still waiting for his sunscreen to properly soak into his vulnerable skin.
Before anybody can break ranks and flee back to the beach, Ran speaks up, ¡°Alright guys! Options! You can come and swim with me, stay here in the shallows, or work on building a sandcastle! No more sleeping until you¡¯ve actually done something fun first.¡±
It¡¯s interesting to observe the team¡¯s varied reactions, as Croagunk just sits himself down right on the spot, sinking down into the water so that only his head is still properly above the water. Beneath the water, Ran can see him scooping through the wet sand merrily, clearly enjoying the feel against his fingers.
Aria and Skorupi head back out of the water, where they obligingly start working on a sandcastle. It¡¯s an interesting sight with neither of them actually having arms or hands, but between Skorupi¡¯s tail and Aria¡¯s legs, they start making a solid go at it nevertheless. Finally, Caesar hesitates for a moment, before using his hood to float out into the deeper water, the sea clearly warm enough for his tastes.
Ran is more than happy to join his starter for a moment, before he turns his attention to Golbat, who finally departs the beach umbrella¡¯s protection. As the naturally nocturnal loner¡¯s wings flare open, finally allowing the harsh sun to hit him directly, Ran can tell precisely when Golbat feels the difference the sunscreen makes, as his large mouth opens into a pleased smile.
With a sharp whistle, Ran calls Golbat¡¯s attention to him, the large flying-type easily winging over to his trainer in response. Ran happily keeps himself afloat by abusing Caesar¡¯s remarkably buoyant hood, until Golbat is within comfortable speaking distance.
¡°I know we¡¯re not going to be doing any real flights together just yet, Golbat,¡± Ran starts to say, ¡°But I think it¡¯d be a lot of fun if you could lift me up out of the water so that I can drop back in! Let me do some dives and flips!¡±
Golbat seems pensive for a whole second, before he lets out an enthusiastic cry of affirmation. He descends slightly, once more offering his feet for Ran to grab on to.
This time however, Ran is a lot more relaxed about things, his grip on Golbat¡¯s feet a lot less nervous than on their previous attempts. Golbat, fully rested and clearly knowing what to expect, still has to work hard to get them ascending, but he manages it well enough.
After a few seconds, Ran looks down at the water below, realizing that Golbat, whose wingbeats grow increasingly labored, has given him a great height to drop down from.
With an enthusiastic smile, Ran calls out to Caesar, who still floats roughly underneath them.
¡°Bombs away!¡±
Then he drops down into the waves with an only mildly terrified but definitely excited shout.
Chapter 23, pt.2
After a lot of dropping into the sea by means of Golbat-flight, Ran eventually retreats from the water, joining Aria and Skorupi in their efforts at building a sandcastle. The end result isn¡¯t particularly pretty, but the process is still enjoyable enough.
Then, with the hot sun beating down on him and his team all the while, Ran eventually retreats back into the shadow once more, where tiredness and heat start lulling him into a late afternoon nap, as his various team members return to their previous resting spots. As for Croagunk, the only one to not have napped or basked earlier, he seems content to wander back out into the shallows and sit in the water which comes up to just under his mouth.
Ran would normally keep more of an eye out, but Croagunk isn¡¯t too far away and the appeal of a nap proves too strong, finally causing him to drift off fully.
He is woken up by somebody prodding him in the leg.
Blinking awake groggily, it takes him a moment to realize that the figure responsible for his waking up is actually Croagunk, who points apologetically towards another figure standing in front of the almost tent¨Clike structure formed by the beach umbrella and Aria¡¯s webs. Looking in that way, Ran¡¯s eyes need a moment to adapt to the bright sunlight - although it¡¯s clearly early evening by now as the sun has lowered substantially, with the shadows lengthening accordingly - before he can make out just who is waiting for him.
Doro stands in front of him with her arms crossed, her usual sporty outfit replaced by a sleek and no less sporty black swimsuit, with some thin white lines running up the sides as the only decoration. She doesn¡¯t seem impressed by finding him napping, but Ran can¡¯t find it in himself to feel self-conscious about it.
That was a good nap.
¡°Oh hey Doro,¡± He greets her casually, only having to resist the temptation to take her in more properly a little bit as he does so, ¡°How¡¯s things?¡±
If she wasn¡¯t impressed earlier, now she appears openly skeptical of him, as one of her eyebrows climbs up as she processes his words.
¡°How¡¯s things? You look like you got pulled across a box grater. I should be asking you.¡± She replies dubiously, which finally draws a slight blush from Ran as he rapidly recontextualizes her earlier expression.
Looking to save face, his reply at least comes out suitably blas¨¦, ¡°It was a close race, I had to cut some corners.¡±
She squints at him, even as off to the left, Caesar seems to have become aware of his trainer¡¯s return to consciousness, as he comes winding out of his new sand mound. His starter offers Doro a polite nod in greeting, before he slithers under the beach umbrella, winding around Ran before lowering his head into his trainer¡¯s lap, where Ran obligingly starts to offer some scratches as he continues his conversation with Doro.
¡°I don¡¯t know whether to be impressed by your tenacity or worried for your sanity.¡± Doro replies, before finally looking around for a moment, as her gaze pans across his various team members.
When she finishes her brief inspection, she speaks up once more, now more openly appreciative even as she points to Skorupi¡¯s burrow, ¡°You have an interesting team. Although I do not recognize the one that¡¯s still lurking in the sand over there. What is it?¡±
¡°Skorupi,¡± Ran smiles proudly, ¡°They¡¯re native to Sinnoh too, I got him from Bugsy.¡±
Doro¡¯s head tilts to the side in surprise as she takes that in, before posing another question, ¡°I thought you were unsponsored, like myself?¡±
¡°I am.¡± Ran replies briskly, instinctively on the defensive before he realizes from Doro¡¯s expression that she meant no offense.
Taking a moment to reign in his temper, his next words are more measured, ¡°I am unsponsored, I won Skorupi off of Bugsy as an extra reward following my battle for the Hive Badge.¡±
She considers that silently for a few long seconds, before shrugging, ¡°That makes no sense to me, but I will spare you the trouble of telling me the full story. I actually came to the beach to swim, but then I saw your Ariados¡¯ work, so I figured I¡¯d come to take a closer look. But now, seeing as we¡¯re both here, we could have our battle a bit earlier than planned, if you¡¯re up for it?¡±
He doesn¡¯t need to consider the question for more than a moment, as he swiftly offers an enthusiastic nod, ¡°Sounds good. Let me give Golbat another coat of sunscreen and then we¡¯ll see about claiming a large enough section of the beach as our arena, alright?¡±
¡°That works for me,¡± Doro accepts with a light smile, ¡°You take care of your pok¨¦mon and I will see about securing us a battlefield.¡±
More than happy to oblige, Ran pokes Golbat in the side until he stops pretending to be asleep, before giving him another coating of sunscreen. Though the effects of the first round are undeniable, as Golbat has by this point spent multiple hours in the sun without any significant sunburn, he¡¯s still clearly unhappy to have the sticky stuff smeared across his skin.
Still, soon enough, Ran is recalling his team and cleaning up his beach umbrella, with Aria wadding up her web into a single large ball. Biodegradable as it is, Ran has no qualms about throwing it into the sea before heading over towards Doro¡¯s easily recognizable figure, the dark-skinned athlete only just having finished drawing out an arena¡¯s outline in the sand.
Stepping into the unoccupied trainer box, Ran looks towards Doro, who takes the meeting of their gazes as a sign to speak up, ¡°Singles, three-on-three?¡±
¡°Sounds good, do you want to put a wager on it, or keep it unofficial?¡± Ran asks in response, even though as the challenged party it is technically entirely his prerogative to set a wager.
¡°Of course,¡± Doro replies indignantly, ¡°You may have the type-advantage, my rival, but this is a battle, there must be stakes!¡±
¡°Alright, let¡¯s do the three badge average then.¡± Ran accepts, receiving a decisive nod from Doro in response.
They stare each other down for a few seconds before, at a signal that isn¡¯t spoken or shown so much as it is mutually felt, they both send out their first choices.
On Doro¡¯s side of the field, a Hitmontop appears. On Ran¡¯s, Skorupi comes out of his Luxury Ball.
The fight doesn¡¯t begin immediately, as both pok¨¦mon acquaint themselves with the situation and their respective trainers consider the opposition.
It¡¯s an intriguing match-up, as Hitmontop has the physical advantages in size, weight and probably overall power, whilst Skorupi has a major type advantage. Unfortunately, that advantage is purely defensive, which Ran expects Doro¡¯s Hitmontop to be capable of working around. It¡¯s also, unlike Skorupi, an evolved pok¨¦mon. So the odds probably aren¡¯t in their favor.
But then he was expecting as much, as Skorupi simply isn¡¯t at the same level as the rest of his team just yet, nor does Ran expect him to be. But it¡¯ll be a good test and actually getting into a battle every now and then will hopefully help to keep Skorupi motivated in training.
¡°Hone Claws, Skorupi.¡± Ran announces, breaking the silence and starting the fight in a single go.
¡°Fake Out, Quick.¡± Doro counters, her Hitmontop immediately darting forwards and closing the distance with incredible speed.
Before Skorupi can finish executing his move, Hitmontop is close, seemingly falling forwards in a full-body charge. Instinctively, Skorupi¡¯s tail lashes out defensively, but before it can connect, Hitmontop rolls forwards into a headstand, rotating on its pointy head and landing a spinning kick just behind Skorupi¡¯s tail claws with a resounding crack.
Ran¡¯s pok¨¦mon hisses in pain, faltering for a moment as Hitmontop lands the first blow of the fight. Ran is sympathetic, but when Doro gives another order, he wastes no time in countering with his own.
¡°Rapid Spin, Quick! Build up speed!¡± Doro commands, her Hitmontop obediently continuing to spin away like a top as kick after kick gets slammed into Skorupi¡¯s smaller form.
¡°Poison Fang, Skorupi! Let it kick into your stingers!¡± Ran counters, accepting that Skorupi has no means of truly forcing Hitmontop off of him and instead choosing to aim for a revenge hit.
Hitmontop builds up speed for a few moments more, Skorupi continuing to cower under the withering hail of kicks rained down upon him by Hitmontop¡¯s Rapid Spin. Then, however, he manages to turn sharply on the spot, repositioning just enough to point his stingers directly at Hitmontop¡¯s incoming kick. With the sheer momentum Hitmontop has built up, there¡¯s no chance of it avoiding the Poison Fang.
The impact is significant, as Hitmontop¡¯s previous hits were placed just so to allow it to retain its speed after every hit. With Skorupi suddenly catching the next hit full on, two things happen in short succession.
The first is Skorupi¡¯s stingers, whilst glowing with menacingly purple poison-type energy, digging deeply into Hitmontop¡¯s leg. The second is Skorupi getting sent flying along with Hitmontop¡¯s leg for a few moments, before Skorupi frees his stingers and he is sent skidding backwards over the sand, a small gap of some five feet opening up between both pok¨¦mon.
Skorupi is clearly worse for wear from having taken multiple hard hits, as he is somewhat slow to move now. His tail still waves threateningly behind him however, claws snapping together in a threat display that lacks its usual crispness. Hitmontop is a lot better off, hopping back to stand on both feet briefly, dancing in place for a moment even as it does noticeably favor a leg, showing that Skorupi¡¯s attack did at least manage to hurt it.
With Toxic Spikes mostly useless due to Hitmontop being capable of the field-clearing Rapid Spin and Hitmontop far too fast for Skorupi to have any real chance of managing a Venoshock, Ran¡¯s next order is an unhappy one.
¡°Get ready to land another Poison Fang, Skorupi.¡± He orders tersely, begrudgingly accepting that the initiative lies with Doro and Hitmontop.
¡°Quick Attack.¡± Doro instructs, proving Ran¡¯s choice not to even try for Venoshock to be correct.
Immediately, Hitmontop is upon Skorupi once more, a series of rapid punches and kicks forcing Skorupi on the defensive once more. The poison-bug-type is clearly weakening, but he doesn¡¯t yield just yet. Instead, rather than his stingers, his tail claws glow with ominous purple before darting forwards, snapping harshly into Hitmontop¡¯s body and landing another wicked Poison Fang.
It¡¯s a good hit and it¡¯s the last one Ran expects from Skorupi, as Hitmontop¡¯s assault only intensifies, rapidly pushing the smaller pok¨¦mon towards unconsciousness. Before that can happen however, Ran recalls Skorupi.
¡°I withdraw Skorupi from the match,¡± He announces to Doro, before turning his attention briefly to the Luxury Ball he¡¯s holding, ¡°You did great, Skorupi. We¡¯ll keep working and you¡¯ll be winning matches like this in no time.¡±This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Ran dares a look towards Hitmontop, hoping to see any evidence of poisoning whatsoever, but apart from nursing the places where it took direct hits from Skorupi¡¯s Poison Fang, there¡¯s no evidence of any injuries to be seen. He hesitates for a moment, considering whether Aria has a real shot at knocking Hitmontop unconscious with her Fell Stinger, without needing to take unnecessary damage in exchange.
It isn¡¯t a risk he¡¯s willing to take, especially when he¡¯s got the perfect counter to Doro¡¯s team available.
¡°It¡¯s time to get to work, Golbat.¡± Ran announces, as he releases his team¡¯s only flight-capable member from his green Friend Ball.
Golbat appears with a sharp cry, announcing his presence confidently. Doro is clearly less enthusiastic, her expression grim as she snaps out an order, ¡°Quick, Fake Out and don¡¯t let it go.¡±
¡°Quick Guard!¡± Ran snaps back instinctively, grinning in delight when, despite Hitmontop¡¯s immense speed, its attempt at another feigned charge into a spinning kick is evaded by Golbat, who beats his wings powerfully as he shoots backwards before ascending.
¡°Those are impressive reflexes.¡± Doro compliments, though whether she means Golbat for his speed of execution or Ran for his swift command he isn¡¯t quite sure.
No matter, he merely nods even as he prepares to give another command. Before he can however, Doro speaks once more, bringing up a ball of her own.
¡°I withdraw Quick. She is injured and under these circumstances has no real options against a flying-type capable of keeping her at a distance.¡± She declares, swiftly putting her words into action as Quick the Hitmontop is recalled, only to be replaced by Doro¡¯s Hitmonchan.
Her smile is confident, as she announces her next fighter¡¯s name, ¡°Precise, however, is more than capable of contesting your Golbat.¡±
¡°We¡¯ll see about that.¡± Ran grins back enthusiastically, blood pumping as the flow of the battle increasingly gets to him.
¡°Indeed you shall,¡± Doro declares, before without hesitation snapping out a command to her Hitmonchan, ¡°Vacuum Wave, Precise! Contest the air!¡±
Obediently, Precise the Hitmonchan rapidly starts to whirl its fist in a tight circle, fighting-type energy manifesting to form a tight funnel within the circumference of the formed circle within moments. Before Ran has even been able to get a good look at the attack, it¡¯s already shooting out from Hitmonchan and towards Golbat.
¡°Quick Guard!¡± Ran manages urgently, ¡°Follow up with Screech!¡±
¡°Again!¡± Doro counters instantaneously, clearly showing that her plan to counter Golbat¡¯s ranged superiority is simply to give Ran¡¯s pok¨¦mon not a moment¡¯s rest to actually use that advantage.
Golbat obediently jukes out of the way of the first Vacuum Wave, before his maw gapes open to Screech. Before he can, however, Hitmonchan¡¯s next salvo is already flying towards him. Ran hesitates for just a moment, but he doubts whether Golbat can abort Screech and pull off a Quick Guard fast enough to avoid the incoming attack. Instead, he merely clamps down on the instinct to shout new instructions, watching as Golbat gets hit by the attack.
It¡¯s a decently powerful attack and it hits Golbat full in his gut, clearly knocking at least some air out of him. But the enormous advantage Golbat¡¯s dual-typing gives him against fighting-type attacks is undeniable, as he mostly seems to shrug it off, the Screech he releases in return clearly discomforting Hitmonchan.
¡°Vacuum Wave, and don¡¯t let up, Precise!¡± Doro instructs her pok¨¦mon with confidence, clearly intent on annoying them into closing the gap.
Ran isn¡¯t willing to do so just yet however, instead deciding to try a ranged duel for now.
¡°Answer with an Air Cutter! Your hits hurt a lot more than theirs do!¡± He orders, even as it means forcing Golbat to take another Vacuum Wave.
Golbat obliges without hesitation, easily powering through the second Vacuum Wave of Hitmonchan that hits it, to fire off an Air Cutter in return. Unfortunately, Vacuum Wave has a reputation for being a very fast move and it proves why on this occasion. Before Air Cutter can cross half the distance between them, the next Vacuum Wave is already flying forwards to meet it, the two moves largely cancelling each other out, with just a small remnant of Air Cutter carrying past the point of collision before petering out before it can reach Hitmonchan.
¡°Again!¡± Ran snaps out, confident in eventually overcoming their opponent thanks to the type-advantage between the two clashing moves.
Doro does not respond, seemingly content to continue the clash of ranged attacks as well. At first, Ran grins in delight when the next clash of Vacuum Wave and Air Cutter sees Golbat¡¯s attack triumph more easily, the Air Cutter carrying on towards Hitmonchan with actual power behind it.
But before it can connect, the next Vacuum Wave is already flying to meet it, destroying Golbat¡¯s Air Cutter with little trouble.
A few more attacks are exchanged, but for every Air Cutter Golbat manages, Hitmonchan manages to respond with two of its own, the tide gradually shifting against them until, around the fifth volley, a Vacuum Wave makes it through uncontested to slam into Golbat¡¯s gut. More incensed than hurt, the large Bat Pok¨¦mon fires back a strong Air Cutter, but it again gets cancelled out by Hitmonchan¡¯s greater volume of fire.
It¡¯s a near stalemate and they could play the long game, where Ran gambles on Hitmonchan tiring out before Golbat does. But they¡¯ve got the major type advantage and this is still supposed to be a fun battle, rather than a slog, so he doesn¡¯t. Instead, he gives out a new order.
¡°Quick Guard! Get around and close in! Poison Fang!¡± He rattles off, watching eagerly as Golbat smoothly rolls over the next incoming Vacuum Wave with a few strong wingbeats, before tucking into a divebomb, headed directly for the opposing pok¨¦mon.
¡°Hold, Precise!¡± Doro responds smoothly, her Hitmonchan obediently breaking off its next Vacuum Wave and instead setting its feet and raising its fists in a clear defensive guard.
Golbat closes the distance between them in seconds, though everything about Doro and her Hitmonchan screams that the other shoe is about to drop. Yet, though some instinct screams at Ran to back out of the Poison Fang and use an Air Cutter at close range instead, he ignores it.
¡°Thunder Punch!¡± Doro barks at the last second, not even leaving enough time for Hitmonchan to wind up a proper hook. Instead, one of its fists immediately sparks with electricity before jabbing out towards Golbat¡¯s rapidly approaching form.
¡°Do¨C¡± Is as far as Ran gets, before impact.
Golbat¡¯s superb instincts allow him to at the very least deviate his course slightly, ensuring that Hitmonchan¡¯s hit doesn¡¯t hit him directly in the head, instead connecting harshly just to the side of Golbat¡¯s gaping maw. It¡¯s still a hard hit, as electricity arcs across Golbat¡¯s form, drawing a pained cry from Ran¡¯s team member, but it isn¡¯t enough to stop the Poison Fang from landing in return, as Golbat bites down harshly.
Both pok¨¦mon spasm uncontrollably for a moment, as Golbat is hit by the lingering effects of electricity whilst Hitmonchan reacts with a sharp flinch to the harsh impact of the Poison Fang. The result is that they flinch away from each other, almost thrown apart by their respective uncontrolled bodily reactions.
¡°Away!¡± Ran shouts immediately, desperately wanting Golbat out of range of Precise the Hitmonchan¡¯s super-effective strikes.
¡°Ice Punch!¡± Doro commands at the same time, clearly trying to decide the match on the spot.
Fortunately, Golbat proves faster by a hair, frantically beating his wings to retreat backwards, escaping Hitmonchan¡¯s vengeful Ice Punch by inches.
¡°Supersonic! Then up and away!¡± Ran orders, heart pounding in his chest as he processes the close call.
Golbat obeys instantly, the close range Supersonic screaming out at Precise, who ignores Doro¡¯s order for a Vacuum Wave as they attempt to follow through on their first missed Ice Punch by sprinting after Golbat with a second swing. It¡¯s clearly an ingrained one-two-combination, but in these circumstances, with Golbat kiting out of range, it¡¯s the wrong call, as the attack once again falls short, leaving Hitmonchan no chance to escape as Golbat¡¯s counterattack impacts.
The Supersonic clearly rings Precise¡¯s bell, as they blink rapidly in discomfort and shake their head rapidly. It¡¯s enough for Golbat to fully get away, as with a handful of harsh wingbeats, he gains height and comfortably gets out of Precise¡¯s striking range.
¡°Now, let¡¯s try this again! Air Cutter!¡± Ran commands with confidence, delighting in the pinched expression that appears on Doro¡¯s face.
¡°Vacuum Wave! You can outfire them!¡± She encourages her fighting-type.
Which is true, but Ran is quite confident that Precise won¡¯t manage anything close to the rate of fire he did earlier, especially if one of the Vacuum Waves backfires, rather than launching properly.
Still, the first Air Cutter is contested, weakened by the first Vacuum Wave that hits it and dissipated by the second. For a moment, Precise shows no signs of its confusion, seemingly powering through it.
Then, however, its eyes noticeably cross for a moment, the next Vacuum Wave, rather than launching properly, dissolving into nothing. It¡¯s enough for Golbat¡¯s second Air Cutter to hit with full power, slamming into Precise¡¯s torso with a vengeance.
Combined with the confusion brought on by Golbat¡¯s earlier Supersonic, it¡¯s enough to knock Precise over, causing them to fall onto their back. Immediately, Golbat pounces, firing off another Air Cutter before closing the distance once more, clearly loading up another Poison Fang before Ran even has to give the order.
¡°Break through, Precise!¡± Doro encourages her pok¨¦mon, but it¡¯s too little too late, as by the time the Hitmonchan¡¯s eyes draw into sharper focus and it sits up, the second Air Cutter is already connecting.
The super-effective attack impacts heavily, Precise¡¯s arms going slack and flying up over their head, as they get knocked backwards from the seated position they¡¯d just managed to get back into. It isn¡¯t quite enough to knock them out on the spot, but it is clearly enough for Doro to decide that she¡¯s seen enough.
¡°I withdraw Precise from the match. He won¡¯t be able to take another of those hits without going unconscious and I see no reason to put him through that. Unfortunately, I will also have to forfeit the match.¡± Doro announces even as she brings out Precise¡¯s pok¨¦ball and recalls him, to Ran¡¯s surprise and Golbat¡¯s pride, as his own pok¨¦mon lets out a proud cry.
¡°Strong, my Hitmonlee, does not have an answer to your Golbat yet,¡± Doro clarifies apologetically, ¡°He is powerful and absolutely capable, but he has no response to Golbat¡¯s mobility and ranged attacks yet. It is a shortcoming I had underestimated, as I thought Precise would be able to handle any flying-types. I see now that we have a lot of work left before facing Falkner. Fortunately, we¡¯ve got plenty of time yet. Thank you for the match, Ran, the deserved victory is yours.¡±
¡°Alright, good job Golbat, I¡¯ll recall you for a bit!¡± Ran nods to acknowledge her briefly, before first addressing his pok¨¦mon. Only once Golbat has been recalled, does he fully turn his attention to Doro.
Ran offers a smile, ¡°Good match, Doro. I forgot to account for the elemental punches. That really could have gone either way. You¡¯ve got a great team! I probably should have expected that you¡¯d have a Hitmontop, after already seeing your Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee, but I have to admit that it was still a surprise.¡±
¡°There is a small story, actually,¡± Doro replies whilst she clips Precise his pok¨¦ball back onto her belt, putting her at a total of four once more, ¡°How I came to own all three of the Tyrogue-line evolutions, I mean. If you wish to hear it, I could tell you as we walk to the pok¨¦mon center.¡±
¡°Sounds good,¡± Ran agrees with an easy smile, before walking up to Doro¡¯s side, as the pok¨¦center lies in the distance beyond her, ¡°Do tell.¡±
Doro starts to walk alongside him, easily beginning her tale as she does so, ¡°I¡¯m from Goldenrod City. Originally, I tried out for a sponsorship at the Gym, but I fell short and missed out on a starter. Looking back on it, that was the right decision, for I lacked focus and knowledge, at the time. However, it did make me lose my way for a while. Until, a few months later, I was hanging around in- that doesn¡¯t really matter. What matters is that I should have been in school, but instead I ended up stumbling into a wild pok¨¦mon battle.¡±
Ran, listening along with interest, can¡¯t help but ask a worried question, ¡°Without a pok¨¦mon of your own?¡±
¡°Indeed,¡± Doro nods gravely, ¡°It was a dangerous situation I should have immediately retreated from. But I was young and foolish. Fortunately, I wasn¡¯t the only one to interfere. The fight was between a Persian and some Rattata, over some scraps of berries the Rattata had managed to scrounge together. The Persian, though it was clearly well-fed and not in any urgent need, was bullying them off of it and being quite aggressive about it, seriously injuring one of the Rattata in just the few seconds of the fight I witnessed before interfering.¡±
Doro looks away self-consciously for a moment, before continuing, ¡°Things might have ended very poorly, but with the mindset I was in, that did not cross my mind at the time. I simply ran in whilst screaming for the Persian to lay off of the little things. Moments after my arrival, just as the Persian turned to face me with a menacing snarl, three Tyrogues came rushing out to attack it.¡±
Doro smiles wistfully, as she clearly pictures the moment in her mind¡¯s eye, ¡°They attacked without hesitation, but their coordination was lacking, as they got in each other¡¯s way as often as they helped each other. Which meant that, once the element of surprise was lost, the fight turned against them. I shouted out a warning when, whom I now know to be Precise and Strong, were about to stumble into each other. They listened and avoided the collision. From there, it seemed logical to keep giving them orders and they honored me greatly by following my instructions. Together, though it was not easy, they won the fight, forcing the Persian to retreat.¡±
A hand caresses the pok¨¦balls on her belt, as she finishes up the story, ¡°The Rattata shared some of their scraps with my newfound friends and I said my goodbye to all of them. When I turned to leave, the three of them came running after me. I won¡¯t bore you with the details, but one thing led to another and they convinced me, after which I convinced my father, into accepting all three of them as my pok¨¦mon.¡±
Doro looks up to meet Ran''s gaze, as they wander between the buildings, getting closer and closer to the pok¨¦center, ¡°Their presence gave me a renewed purpose and the discipline typical of fighting-types did the rest. Now, here we are.¡±
¡°That¡¯s quite the story,¡± Ran acknowledges with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m glad to know it¡¯s got a happy ending.¡±
¡°So am I,¡± Doro agrees with a small smile of her own, ¡°What about your own story?¡±
Ran offers a chuckle, before delving into his own tale, which lasts through handing in their teams at the pok¨¦center and up to the pair of them having dinner together. By the end of the evening, he confidently calls Doro not just a rival, but a friend.
Chapter 24, pt.1
In the remaining week and change before his scheduled match against Chuck, Ran handles a few major things.
First and foremost, he gets back into a proper training schedule, working with his team of what is now five pok¨¦mon to the best of his ability, pushing them to be faster, stronger and more precise with their attacks day after day. There¡¯s also some major progress made by Skorupi and Croagunk in particular, as they benefit significantly from training with Ran¡¯s older and more experienced team members.
Neither quite fully masters the moves they¡¯re working on just yet, at least not to the degree where Ran considers either Venoshock or Poison Jab fully mastered, but he¡¯s at least confident that they¡¯re able to use the moves, when not under pressure. As for the rest of his team, there¡¯s no major breakthroughs for any of them, with Aria actually seeming to struggle with Poison Jab more than Croagunk, her ability to manage the move lagging behind compared to the newer team member. Still, Ran assures her that she shouldn¡¯t feel too bad about it, as she still puts enough effort into their training to leave him happy.
Second, he ends up returning to Cianwood Pharmacy, hoping to barter Croagunk¡¯s venom, which he can¡¯t picture as being a lot more common or cheaper than Skorupi¡¯s, into another batch of supplements. He¡¯s not quite as successful as he¡¯d like to be, as the pharmacy¡¯s owner points out that they actually get a regular supply of Toxicroak venom from the Gym. Which, in retrospect, isn¡¯t really all that surprising, though it does confirm to Ran that Chuck has at least one Toxicroak of his own. Not that he expects to see it in their match, but it¡¯s nice to have the confirmation.
Still, it¡¯s an intriguing visit, as although there¡¯s no deal to be made with the old lady who runs the place as far as Croagunk¡¯s venom is concerned, she does make another offer that Ran files away for later consideration. The old lady, whose name he learns is Margaret, after his failed attempt to negotiate a deal around Croagunk¡¯s venom, suggests that he intern at the Pharmacy for a while. Essentially, in exchange for free labor, she offers to teach him what she knows about venoms and toxins, their potencies, how to increase them and how to turn those things into remedies, rather than things that hurt.
It is definitely something Ran has a fair degree of interest in, but it also fits into his plans somewhat poorly at the moment. Especially as, although his team hasn¡¯t objected to the supplements he¡¯s been adding to their meals since his prior visit, they also haven¡¯t shown any noticeable improvements just yet. If Margaret is as skilled as she claims to be, he¡¯s got a lot to learn from her, but he can¡¯t accept on the spot.
She¡¯s quite gracious about his refusal, stating that the offer is open indefinitely, as she¡¯ll always have room for some free labor, especially when said labor comes from a trainer with a team full of poison-types. So, ultimately, they part on good terms, with Ran promising to keep the offer in mind and Margaret waving him out with a polite smile before he ¡®scares away the paying customers¡¯.
Third, a new discovery Ran wasn¡¯t previously aware of, though the small line of waiting trainers clearly shows that the place has at least some amount of reputation, is Cameron¡¯s Photography Studio. At first glance, it¡¯s little more than a normal family home, but the large sign outside advertising photography services for trainers and their pok¨¦mon hints at the business operating out of the premises.
Ran ends up lining up more out of curiosity than any genuine desire to purchase anything, but when, some ten minutes later, he makes it inside and actually gets to have a look at the listed prices, he decides to actually stay around and have a picture taken with his team. It¡¯s a pretty cheap service and, judging from the two trainers he¡¯s seen leave with wide smiles on their faces, it¡¯s clear that they¡¯re quite satisfied with whatever service they received.
It¡¯s a bit of a surprise to discover that Cameron is only a few years older than Ran himself, but the young man is clearly on a tight schedule, leaving Ran little time for chitchat. Not that he really minds, to be fair.
For the picture, he actually gets led into the house¡¯s backyard, which of course, as is typical for Cianwood, is made out of sand, rather than a less¡ messy material like grass or tiles or some other harder surface material. Still, there¡¯s a large white canvas for Ran and his team to pose in front of and a selection of backgrounds to choose from. Alternatively, there¡¯s also a small honest to goodness dune, at the top of which there¡¯s an undisturbed view of the ocean.
After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Ran chooses his preferred background, before releasing his whole team. It only takes a minute to make it clear to all of them just what they¡¯re doing, at which point a small scuffle breaks out as they all maneuver for position. Cameron is kind enough to provide some boxes to provide elevation, as well as a perch for Golbat to hang down from. Within minutes, Ran is leaving with the physical copy of his team photograph stored securely in his backpack, and a digital copy saved on his pok¨¦gear, ready to be sent to his dad, something he handles later that evening.
Finally, outside of a few training sessions with Doro and them promising to come and watch the other¡¯s matches at the Gym - conveniently on the same day -, there¡¯s one final major event in the lead-up to his match against Chuck. In fact, it¡¯s the Tuesday evening before his challenge, right after he finishes having dinner, that his pok¨¦gear buzzes with an anticipated, though also unexpected, message.
Josie: I smoked Morty! Tell me I¡¯m awesome!
Ran grins in delight at the sight of Josie¡¯s familiar name on the small screen, eagerly sending back a message of his own. Under the circumstances, he isn¡¯t even snarky about it.
Ran: You¡¯re awesome! Great job, Josie!
Josie: Thanks! Won¡¯t bore you with the details, don¡¯t feel like typing it all out. Plus I want to keep some surprises to myself. Clear win though. 3-on-3, used the team you know, with new tricks. Say hi to my new team member btw.
Before Ran has even finished reading, his pok¨¦gear is already buzzing with an incoming picture. The quality isn¡¯t the greatest on the tiny screen, which means he¡¯ll likely have to open it on one of the pok¨¦center¡¯s computers later, but he can still make out Josie smiling at the camera as she hugs a Vulpix.
Josie: This is Lady, Caught her on Route 37 just outside of Ecruteak. Isn¡¯t she precious?
Ran: Sure is. Congrats Josie, glad to know you¡¯ve been doing well. Where are you headed next?
Josie: Sticking to Ecruteak for a while longer, lots to learn here! Then I¡¯m going to Olivine. See you there? Been missing you.
Ran hesitates for a moment, unsure just how much to read into Josie missing him. After all, they split up because that¡¯s what she wanted, not to mention the radio silence since. It takes him a few minutes to muster up a response which, once he manages to type it out, ends up feeling lackluster.
Ran: I¡¯m challenging Chuck tomorrow. If I win, I¡¯ll probably take one of the next boats to Olivine, so we¡¯ll hopefully meet there, yeah.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Josie¡¯s response only takes seconds and feels less warm than her previous messages.
Josie: Understood, good luck tomorrow.
Trying to keep the conversation going, Ran texts back swiftly this time.
Ran: Thanks! What are your plans for tomorrow, if you¡¯re staying in Ecruteak for a while longer?
Josie doesn¡¯t immediately respond, leaving Ran to close the message window. It¡¯s only later that evening, just before bed, with him having taken his pok¨¦gear off for his shower, that he comes back to find a message from Josie waiting.
Josie: A learning opportunity. Don¡¯t feel like typing it out. Leave a girl some secrets, won¡¯t you? See you in Olivine!
Not wanting to push further, for fear of causing Josie to withdraw once more, Ran keeps his response brief and enthusiastic.
Ran: Looking forward to it!
For a moment, he considers sending Josie a picture of his own team, before deciding to hold off. Her winning her third badge and expanding her own team has probably done a lot of good for her mood, but he still doesn¡¯t want to risk offending her by showing off that his own team has had another exotic addition. Instead, he merely prepares to put his pok¨¦gear away after reading Grady¡¯s daily update, a habit the other trainer picked up the day after leaving Goldenrod once more. Currently, the younger trainer is camping just half a day¡¯s travel outside of Ecruteak at the moment.
Ran could of course inform either Josie or Grady of the other trainer¡¯s proximity, but either the two of them have stayed in touch, in which case they can figure things out themselves, or they didn¡¯t, in which case Ran isn¡¯t going to try and force a friendship between the two. Instead, he merely sends Grady back a short update of his own day, with a few minor embellishments, before turning in for the night, his team taking up their own sleeping spaces throughout the room he hopes to leave behind in just a few days.
The next morning, after a light but nutritious breakfast for himself and his team, he runs them all through a quick fifteen minute warm-up on the beach, before recalling them all and heading towards the Gym. The same receptionist he¡¯s grown used to seeing in Chuck¡¯s Gym is already in place behind the desk, though this time there¡¯s something significantly more confrontational about her as she meets Ran¡¯s gaze.
¡°Welcome, challenger,¡± She says to him, ¡°We are ready to instruct you in the power of the fighting-type¡¯s discipline. Please enter the second door on your right and think on the merits of your challenge. When you hear a gong, exit the room through the sliding door on the other side and follow the stone path. We suggest taking off your shoes throughout this challenge, allowing you to feel the ground on which your pok¨¦mon shall battle, though it is not mandatory.¡±
Ran nods gratefully, before deciding to follow the suggestion and taking off his shoes. Fortunately, the wooden floor and the tatami mats upon it hardly make for an unpleasant walking experience. With shoes in hand and a polite nod to the receptionist, he enters the waiting room, which proves to be a small, square room without decorations, though the floor is entirely covered in comfortable mats, ensuring that he can sit down easily wherever he likes.
The walls aren¡¯t quite as bare as the floor, with banners and posters hanging off of the walls. Some show off fighting forms, both for humans and for different fighting-types. Others hold mantras or motivational quotes and then there¡¯s a few paintings of man and pok¨¦mon clashing with nature, as mighty tidal waves and rock slides are contested by trainer and fighting-type working in tandem to overcome the elements.
It¡¯s quite the inspiring sight, which stirs something even in Ran¡¯s rather cynical heart. Still, it¡¯s only a momentary lapse, as he soon concludes that rather than fighting nature, if the trainers in the paintings had been better prepared, they would never have ended up in such danger in the first place. For his own part, Ran would rely on Golbat to get him out of those situations, something he¡¯s confident the poison-flying-type will be capable of with ease, if they keep up the weighted flying training they¡¯ve been engaging in lately.
Before he can ponder the decorations any further, a gong rings out from beyond the second door. Obediently, Ran moves towards the door, sliding it open to find a path made up of small, loose, rounded river stones. His first step is just the slightest bit tentative, to check just how much give there is to the stones, but his feet only displace enough of the small rocks to sink in by a quarter of an inch or so, at which point his steps become more confident.
It¡¯s actually quite pleasant to have the stones, clearly polished to smoothness over many years, gently pushing against the soles and sides of his feet, as he follows the slightly descending path, taking a turn to the right, before ending up in front of another paper sliding door. Ran doesn¡¯t hesitate to open it, finding himself looking out into what was clearly inspired by a martial arts arena, only to be adapted to the sensibilities of pok¨¦mon battling.
The room is ringed on all sides by elevated wooden benches, the early hour ensuring that only a limited number of spectators are present, though Ran notices Doro amongst them. Her presence is one he¡¯s been expecting, as upon finding out that they¡¯d booked challenges on the same day, they¡¯d agreed to watch each other¡¯s matches. He offers her a brief nod in greeting, a gesture she mirrors, before he turns his attention back to the rest of the arena.
Ran enters into the room from a small corridor which tunnels under the spectator seating, with a similar tunnel on the other side clearly being the Gym leader¡¯s entrance. Chuck is already present however, standing in his trainer box, clearly delineated by the black tatami mat he¡¯s standing on.
There is a second black mat, clearly waiting for Ran, which he quietly moves towards, even as he examines the rest of the floor. Around the outside of the room, there¡¯s the expected beige tatami mats that seem nearly ubiquitous in Chuck¡¯s Gym, however, the actual battleground, where their pok¨¦mon will fight, shows clear signs of the allowances that have been made for non-fighting-type moves, as there the mats have been removed and even the wooden floorboards have been stripped away, leaving mostly sand, with the exception of a number of large, scattered rocks, which dot the battlefield.
The sand makes for a looser, more physically demanding surface to fight on than the usual grass or hard earth, but it may well enable an interesting trick or two for Skorupi, who doesn¡¯t know Dig, but whose burrowing skills have proven more than a match for loose sand in the past. The same goes for Caesar, actually. It¡¯s something to keep in mind, though for now Ran¡¯s gaze pans around the full arena before landing on the referee, standing to the side on a black tatami mat of his own.
She¡¯s a younger referee, as far as the age range of referees Ran has observed so far, looking to be in her early- to mid-twenties. When she notices Ran¡¯s attention on her, she takes that as an invitation to start running through the rules. The commentator, which Ran has gotten used to from his previous Gym challenges, appears to be absent here, as it is instead the referee who runs through not just the rules, but the announcements as well.
¡°Gym Leader Chuck has been challenged! The challenger is Ran Carr, who challenges for the Storm Badge at a fourth badge level! This will be a singles battle. Each trainer will have a total of three pok¨¦mon. Each trainer is allowed to make up to three free switches. Any further switches will result in the pok¨¦mon that gets switched out, forfeiting its place in the match. Held items are allowed for this match. Gentlemen, are these rules clear to you both?¡± She rattles off swiftly, even as she taps one of the pok¨¦balls on her own belt to make a Mr. Mime materialize by her side.
¡°They are.¡± Chuck acknowledges, nodding solemnly.
¡°They are.¡± Ran agrees, following the Gym leader¡¯s words, only to be caught by surprise when Chuck directly addresses him, before even sending out a pok¨¦mon.
¡°To a good match, Ran!¡± Chuck calls out to him, before bowing towards him solemnly, in what is an undeniable show of respect, though Ran, not having scouted the Gym, can¡¯t tell whether it¡¯s a genuine gesture, or a formality Chuck insists on carrying out for every match. No matter which option it is, Ran sees little option but to follow, though his own bow isn¡¯t the full ninety degree bend that Chuck offers. In his defense, he doesn¡¯t keep to the same physical habits as Chuck either.
¡°Very well, trainers, release your first battler in 3, 2, 1, now!¡± The referee calls out, as both Ran and Chuck select a pok¨¦ball, sending out their first pok¨¦mon of the match.
Ran chooses Skorupi, intent on setting up early Toxic Spikes and encouraged by Skorupi¡¯s decent showing against Doro. When a Machoke appears on Chuck¡¯s side of the field however, he can¡¯t help the pained wince he lets out at the sheer size disparity between the two pok¨¦mon. Still, the typing-advantage remains solidly with Skorupi, leaving Ran optimistic about the match-up.
¡°You may begin,¡± The referee speaks once more, drawing both Ran and Chuck¡¯s attention to her for a moment, ¡°in 3, 2, 1, now!¡±
Chapter 24, pt.2
¡°Toxic Spikes!¡± Ran immediately orders, eager to dictate the rest of the battle¡¯s terms.
Skorupi obediently moves to execute the order, his carapace glowing with poison-type energy in preparation as tiny bristles start to form in preparation for their launch. Chuck clearly doesn¡¯t intend to give any freebies however, as his own order is only a half second behind Ran¡¯s.
¡°Bulk Up, Machoke!¡± Chuck declares enthusiastically, before slapping his own slight belly as he continues, ¡°It¡¯s time to get in fighting shape!¡±
Machoke immediately carries out the move, whilst Skorupi is still in the process of executing Toxic Spikes. The Superpower Pok¨¦mon¡¯s thick hide seems to ripple, as his muscles bulge with power, the powerful fighting-type flexing every possible muscle in its body as it poses not unlike a bodybuilder might.
It¡¯s a worrying sight, the promise of power rolling off of Machoke¡¯s form a clear reminder that Skorupi, already the underdog, is well and truly outmatched from a physical perspective. Still, as the Toxic Spikes fly out and sink partially into the sand, lying in wait for an unsuspecting victim, Ran can¡¯t feel too bad about the fight¡¯s first moments.
¡°Venoshock!¡± He instructs Skorupi next, ¡°Take your time, pick your moment!¡±
¡°Very well, return fire, Machoke,¡± Chuck orders calmly, only the pleased glint in the corner of his eye hinting at the other shoe he¡¯s clearly about to drop, ¡°Use Rock Tomb.¡±
Ran¡¯s eyes widen in dismay, not having expected the rock-type move.
¡°Dodge, Skorupi! Burrow into the sand and hide!¡± He orders hurriedly, forcing his pok¨¦mon to break off his budding Venoshock, the slowly building amount of poisonous liquid he was gathering in his mouth dripping uselessly onto the sand.
Still, Skorupi obeys without hesitation, hurriedly dipping down into the sand beneath him and starting to burrow to the best of his ability. Unfortunately, Skorupi doesn¡¯t know Dig, which means that his digging isn¡¯t assisted by ground-type energy. The result of that, is that he isn¡¯t by any means fast enough to avoid Machoke¡¯s attack, as the imposing fighting-type moves.
With a few loping strides, Machoke reaches the nearest rock before easily hoisting it up with a single hand. It tosses it up like a tennis ball once, as if to test its weight, before confidently throwing it at Skorupi with an underhand motion, ensuring that the massive rock will slam right down on the frantically digging poison-bug-type. Ran can only watch in dismay, knowing full well that Skorupi has no earthly chance of outrunning or otherwise evading the enormous projectile.
At least Skorupi has dug down somewhat, the top of his body roughly at the same height as the sand on either side of him, hopefully muting at least some of the impact. It¡¯s still a crunching hit, however, as the massive rock lands heavily on Skorupi¡¯s back, completely obscuring Ran¡¯s pok¨¦mon from view.
¡°Skorupi!¡± Ran cries out in dismay, as he glances worriedly to the referee, to see if she has a better idea as to the state of his pok¨¦mon.
The referee doesn¡¯t seem worried however, simply continuing to observe the battlefield and the large boulder sitting on top of what used to be Skorupi¡¯s position on the field. Chuck similarly doesn¡¯t seem too worried, though both he and Machoke are clearly scanning the field with increasing attention, as the boulder doesn¡¯t move and Skorupi doesn¡¯t immediately surface.
¡°Skorupi, if you can, get close and use Poison Fang!¡± Ran orders hopefully, unsure of Skorupi¡¯s state or whereabouts, but at the very least trying to give his pok¨¦mon a fighting chance.
¡°Machoke, use Strength on the boulder, prepare to bring it down again if it¡¯s still conscious and under it.¡± Chuck orders tersely after a few long seconds, as the sand remains entirely undisturbed, leaving both trainers, the referee, Machoke and the respectfully silent crowd all watching either warily or uncertainly as they all seek for any sign of Skorupi.
Obediently, the large fighting-type steps forwards, large hands reaching out to grasp the boulder as if it weighs nothing, before its biceps bulge briefly, as it hoists up the boulder and looks down. As it lifts, however, for a second, the boulder obscures Machoke¡¯s vision of what lies underneath. In that second, Ran just manages to catch a glimpse of Skorupi¡¯s familiar pale purple, before his pok¨¦mon seemingly uses his tail to fire himself out of the hole he¡¯d been squashed into, flying directly at Machoke¡¯s face.
Machoke stumbles backwards in surprise, the boulder dropping out of its hands and crashing back to the ground mere inches from Machoke¡¯s feet as it forms an instinctive block whilst jerking its head back in a move that, against a punch or kick, would at the very least have dodged a hit to the head and quite possibly would have blocked the incoming attack entirely. Against the vengeful Skorupi however, who has become quite the specialist in crawling all over humanoid bodies due to his habit of using Ran as his personal mount, it merely sees the attack hit lower than intended, as Skorupi¡¯s jaws, dripping with poison due to his prepared Poison Fang, slam into Machoke¡¯s chest rather than his face.
It¡¯s a strong hit, with Skorupi clearly pumping his opponent full of venom in the second it takes Machoke to stumble back and Chuck to react.
¡°Revenge!¡± Chuck snaps out sharply, seemingly ignoring the double resistance Skorupi¡¯s typing gives it in favor of the increased damage the move is capable of under circumstances like these.
Knowing that there¡¯s no chance for Skorupi to get clear, Ran simply doubles down in return, ¡°Cling on! Poison Fang again! Use your tail!¡±
Ran means for Skorupi to land his second Poison Fang by using the large claws on his tail, but Skorupi clearly interprets things differently, wrapping his tail part way around Machoke¡¯s abdomen. Skorupi isn¡¯t big enough, and his tail too short, to fully wrap around, but it¡¯s still effective enough as, although Machoke¡¯s Revenge, a harsh punch, clearly knocks Skorupi loopy and causes him to lose his perch on Machoke¡¯s chest, but it doesn¡¯t fully knock the smaller pok¨¦mon off.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Instead, Skorupi¡¯s clinging tail slows his descent down just enough for him to regain his footing on one of Machoke¡¯s tree trunk thighs. Immediately, Skorupi bites down once more, pumping a second load of his venom into the larger pok¨¦mon.
Both pok¨¦mon are clearly hurting at this point, with both showing obvious signs of exhaustion and pain. Machoke¡¯s breathing is labored, whilst its movements show the occasional jerking reflex that make it very clear to Ran that it¡¯s picked up a proper poisoning. It still looks ready to go, however. Unlike Skorupi, who looks as if a stiff wind might be enough to do him in, after getting crushed by the super-effective Rock Tomb and then hit hard by the damage-fueled Revenge.
Immediately, Ran accepts that Skorupi won¡¯t win this fight. But he might be able to pull out a draw.
¡°Venoshock, Skorupi!¡± He snaps out, relying on Machoke¡¯s poisoned status to empower the move further and knock it into unconsciousness.
¡°Strength, Machoke! Hurl it into one of the rocks!¡± Chuck counters, miming out a hammer throw on his mat as he does so.
His pok¨¦mon obeys immediately, one hand wrenching Skorupi¡¯s tail off of his hips before stepping into a turn. Skorupi, in the moment before he gets wrenched off of Machoke¡¯s thigh, fires off the tiny beginning stages of his Venoshock directly in front of him, the deep purple liquid seeping into Machok¡¯s thigh and drawing an annoyed hiss from the poisoned fighter.
With just how little time Skorupi got, however, and just the small amount of poisonous liquid he managed, it isn¡¯t enough to disrupt Machoke¡¯s attack, not to mention knock it unconscious. So, Machoke steps into a spin, whirling around his own axis twice before letting go of Skorupi¡¯s tail.
Ran¡¯s pok¨¦mon is sent hurling through the air at worrying speed, headed directly for the same boulder he ended up under in the beginning stages of the fight. Fortunately, Machoke¡¯s windup gave Ran enough time to unclip Skorupi¡¯s pok¨¦ball, as he immediately recalls his team member before he can make impact.
Recalling a battling pok¨¦mon in the middle of a move is frowned upon to say the least, which is why Ran immediately raises a hand, ¡°I recall Skorupi from the match, he would¡¯ve been knocked out if I hadn¡¯t recalled him.¡±
The crowd, completely silent up until now, lets out a short but polite round of applause, whilst Chuck nods in approval, before recalling his Machoke.
¡°I¡¯m switching,¡± Chuck declares easily, shooting Ran a taunting smile, ¡°I know of your stall trick with poisoned opponents kiddo, you¡¯re not getting any freebies off of me.¡±
Ran huffs, not even trying to argue as, yes, he would have played the clock to the very last second, if Machoke had still been on the field. It seemed so close to fainting!
Unfortunately, with that plan now well and truly sunk, he¡¯s not quite where he wanted to be by this point in the match. Still, it¡¯s not as if they¡¯re doing poorly either, with Skorupi roughly having traded one-to-one and his Toxic Spikes set up for the remainder of the match.
Hesitating for just a moment, Ran can¡¯t suppress a dismayed frown when the referee turns to him first, with his pok¨¦mon having been the first to be recalled.
¡°Challenger, send out your next pok¨¦mon!¡± She instructs, forcing Ran to make a decision.
He wants to send out Golbat next, as between his extreme type-advantage and his mobility, he¡¯s just extremely good against fighting-types. But the looming risk of another fighting-type capable of the elemental punches causes Ran to hesitate. Caesar is more vulnerable to ground-types and an easier target to hit in general, but his only real weakness Ran sees being a factor is his weakness to ground-type attacks.
Ultimately, with seconds to spare, he convinces himself to send out Caesar rather than Golbat. A decision he immediately regrets, when he sees Chuck hurriedly clip the pok¨¦ball he¡¯d just taken off of his belt back on, before selecting another option. When Chuck sends out his selection, Ran isn¡¯t particularly happy to see a Poliwrath on the other side of the field, considering the significant number of ground-type moves he knows it gets access to.
Before anything can happen, other than Poliwrath getting poisoned by the lingering Toxic Spikes, Ran immediately recalls Caesar, ¡°I¡¯m switching!¡± He calls out instantaneously, hurriedly sending out Golbat in Caesar¡¯s stead.
Chuck squints at him in obvious annoyance, his own hand moving to his belt for a moment, before he noticeably pauses. Glad to take the moment¡¯s pause to give Golbat some time to gain his bearings and subtly gain some extra height whilst at the same time letting the poison do its work on Poliwrath, Ran doesn¡¯t order an immediate attack, instead waiting for Chuck to voice whatever is clearly on his mind.
¡°Slow your heartbeat, Poliwrath!¡± Chuck orders sharply, as if it were a regular instruction he gives his pok¨¦mon every other day. Then, he turns his attention to Ran, ¡°We¡¯ve both used one switch. If I switch, you¡¯re just going to send that Arbok of yours back out again, aren¡¯t you?¡± Chuck huffs, though he seems more amused than truly put off.
¡°Yes sir,¡± Ran agrees easily, ¡°Whatever your other pok¨¦mon is, it¡¯s obviously your answer to Golbat, considering how you just reacted, so I¡¯d be stupid to give you the match-up you want when I don¡¯t have to.
¡°You realize that you only have the initiative because I recalled Machoke to counter your little stalling trick? You¡¯re really going to use such a lucky turn to try and force my hand?¡± Chuck asks, expression severe as he stares Ran down across the battlefield, his Poliwrath slowly crossing its arms in front of its chest disapprovingly in concert with its trainer.
It¡¯s a gesture that immediately gets met with a challenging shriek from Golbat, but Ran remains calm, taking a moment to examine the Poliwrath on the other side of the field before answering. It¡¯s obviously, as expected for a fighting-type specialist¡¯s pok¨¦mon, in superb physical condition. In particular, its exceptionally thick shoulders and arms hint at the raw power with which it can cut through even the choppiest waters at great speeds.
The thought of a Poliwrath in water is enough to turn Ran paranoid for a moment, as he hurriedly glances around the arena for any hidden sources of water, or maybe a sprinkler installation. Fortunately, there¡¯s no such tricks to be found, the large rocks scattered around the battlefield seemingly the only advantage Chuck granted his fighting-types.
Still, that leaves an imposing Poliwrath squaring off against them. As Ran looks towards it once more, it chooses that moment to dance in place for a moment, hopping from one foot to the other and back again as it shakes out its limbs in clear preparation for the match, despite Chuck¡¯s earlier order to slow its heartbeat.
Golbat lets out a frustrated screech then, as Poliwrath still doesn¡¯t even spare Ran¡¯s pok¨¦mon a single look, its angry look instead remaining fixed on Ran without showing any sign whatsoever of the poisoning that must be afflicting it. It¡¯s that detail which finally spurs Ran into answering Chuck¡¯s taunt.
¡°That stalling ¡®trick¡¯ is a valid tactic, which forced you into using one of your switches, giving me the initiative,¡± Ran counters, ¡°I¡¯m playing to my strengths and implementing a strategy! Or should we discuss these totally naturally occurring rocks that just so happen to be scattered around the field?¡±
For a few seconds, Gym Leader and challenger stare each other down, a tense silence broken only by the beating of Golbat¡¯s wings falling over the battlefield. Then, Chuck lets out a loud guffaw, clearly amused by Ran¡¯s response.
¡°Ha! You¡¯re alright kid. I look forward to seeing just what you end up doing with that Croagunk. Very well, let¡¯s do this then!¡± Chuck laughs enthusiastically, before spontaneously punching and kicking an imaginary opponent in front of him for a few seconds.
When he plants both feet back down onto the ground again, Ran can tell by the tensing in his jaw that he¡¯s about to snap out an instruction for his Poliwrath. Without hesitation, Ran snaps out his own order as well.
Chapter 24, pt.3
¡°Hydro Pump, knock it out of the sky!¡± Chuck orders without hesitation, his Poliwrath obeying immediately, as its usually hidden mouth right above its stomach swirl flies open and a massive concentrated jet of water comes pumping out.
¡°Evade! Then Supersonic!¡± Ran instructs in return, giving Golbat only just enough time to fly out of the way of Poliwrath¡¯s initial salvo. Chuck¡¯s pok¨¦mon is well-trained however, the Hydro Pump not just consisting of a single burst of water but instead managing a sustained beam as it shifts to follow Golbat¡¯s flight path.
¡°Break off!¡± Ran calls hurriedly, realizing that any attempt from Golbat to target the notoriously finicky Supersonic accurately will result in getting hit by Poliwrath¡¯s powerful Hydro Pump in turn.
Golbat manages in the nick of time, his attempt to come around and aim his large mouth, already halfway open in preparation of his supersonic cry, breaking off at the last moment as he spins up into a sharp climb. Poliwrath¡¯s Hydro Pump cuts right through the space Golbat was filling just a fraction of a second later, the Hydro Pump clipping Golbat¡¯s feet as he wings out of the way in a move that clearly shows the benefits of the countless hours of agility training on obstacle courses Ran has put him through.
Fortunately, it¡¯s just a glancing blow, allowing Golbat to make it out only a little worse for wear. Poliwrath¡¯s Hydro Pump finally cuts off the next second, as it has to catch its breath for a moment, though whether from exertion or the poison running through its veins finally making its presence felt, Ran can¡¯t tell.
Still, he isn¡¯t in the habit of wasting any time, as he enthusiastically calls out an order for Golbat, ¡°Air Cutter! Put it under pressure!¡±
¡°Rock Tomb!¡± Chuck orders for the second time today, seemingly disregarding a response to Ran¡¯s attack in favor of his own offensive move, ¡°Knock it out of the sky!¡±
Both pok¨¦mon swiftly move to obey, handily favoring Golbat, as he doesn¡¯t need to retrieve ammunition and appears to be the naturally faster pok¨¦mon of the two besides. Within moments, he¡¯s sending a sharp blade of flying-type energy towards Poliwrath. Chuck¡¯s chosen fighter doesn¡¯t make for a stationary target however, as it¡¯s broken into a run towards the nearest boulder, which it is already hefting into the air by the time Golbat¡¯s first attack impacts.
It¡¯s a harsh hit that clearly sends Poliwrath stumbling for a moment, but it doesn¡¯t get knocked over and it doesn¡¯t lose its grip on the boulder it¡¯s hoisted up. Golbat needs no instruction from Ran to fire off another Air Cutter, but his window has closed, as Poliwrath easily interposes his newfound shield between the attack and itself.
The Air Cutter cuts a few inches into the rock, but otherwise doesn¡¯t truly impede Poliwrath as it runs towards a second rock. Golbat swings around, wings beating frantically as he tries to circle around to Poliwrath¡¯s weak side, but the compact water-fighting-type isn¡¯t impressed, easily switching the boulder over to its other side and catching Golbat¡¯s third Air Cutter just as easily as it did the second.
Then, with its free hand, it levers the second rock it arrives at up out of the ground, before turning to face Golbat once more. Ran¡¯s pok¨¦mon hesitates noticeably, clearly hesitant to load up another attack for fear of opening himself up to a thrown boulder from Poliwrath. It¡¯s a feeling Ran can understand, though it doesn¡¯t change the need for him to find a solution.
Poliwrath for its part doesn¡¯t immediately attempt to carry out the Rock Tomb Chuck called for, as it instead slowly walks towards a third rock, never taking its eyes off of Golbat as it walks in that direction with a large boulder in each hand. It¡¯s an imposing sight, but Golbat doesn¡¯t appear too affected, firing off a testing Air Cutter without even waiting for an order from Ran. Poliwrath blocks it off of course, almost bored as it holds a rock in front of it like a shield.
¡°Be ready to dodge!¡± Ran instructs, even as he cautiously waits for Poliwrath to act, well aware that the poison in its system will force it to act eventually.
Or at least, that¡¯s the plan, only for Chuck to rather handily throw a wrench in things.
¡°Build yourself a house, Poliwrath.¡± The Gym Leader instructs calmly, his pok¨¦mon immediately dropping both large rocks he¡¯s holding next to the third one he¡¯s wandered over towards, before delivering a few sharp chops to cleave off some parts of the boulders and leave them oblong-shaped enough to form a rough pyramid, which Poliwrath swiftly hides within.
Then, with a smile that wouldn¡¯t look out of place on a kid managing to sneak a cookie out of the cookie jar, Chuck speaks once more, ¡°Now Rest up buddy, I bet you¡¯ll feel better after a little nap.¡±
Ran can only listen and watch in dismay, as Chuck pulls out an unexpected trick. Ran didn¡¯t even know that Poliwrath could learn Rest!
There¡¯s clearly something of his surprise visible in his expression, because Chuck lets out an audible bark of laughter, before offering a brief comment, ¡°People always forget that the Poliwag-line has a bit of an affinity for psychic-type energy.¡±
Golbat¡¯s annoyed screech makes his feelings on the matter perfectly clear, stuck on the outside of an impenetrable protective shell that keeps the resting Poliwrath safe from harm. Ran can¡¯t help but agree with his team member, especially as Golbat doesn¡¯t have any moves that will allow him to use Poliwrath¡¯s temporary sleep to set up his own advantages.
However, Ran has another team member who can do precisely that. Even if it does play into Chuck¡¯s hand to a degree, by giving him the initiative once more as far as match-ups go, an opportunity for Caesar to get off a free Stockpile or two is too tempting to miss out on.
¡°Come back, Golbat!¡± Ran calls out, even as he raises Golbat¡¯s ball, ¡°You¡¯ve done enough for now.¡±
His most temperamental pok¨¦mon clearly isn¡¯t happy about it, but Golbat only lets out a brief plaintive cry, not otherwise resisting as Ran recalls him and hurriedly sends out Caesar. Because while his Golbat may not have a move that will allow him to make use of a sleeping opponent, his Arbok absolutely does.
Without wasting time, Ran immediately calls out an order, ¡°Stockpile, Caesar! There¡¯s a Poliwrath inside that pile of rocks, get ready to fight it!¡±
His starter obeys immediately, loosely coiling up in place as he starts to stockpile energy, head coming to rest on a loop of his own body as he faces Poliwrath¡¯s makeshift bunker.
Long seconds pass in silence, as Chuck, now seeming at least somewhat bothered as he looks at Caesar¡¯s long body, and Ran, who tensely watches the small pyramid of rocks, both watch quietly, anticipating the resumption of hostilities. As they do so, Caesar continues to lay in wait, his scales slowly seeming to shift apart just slightly, as Stockpile¡¯s effects make itself known.
Of course, the quiet can¡¯t last forever. When it ends, it does so abruptly.
Between one moment and the next, the rock most directly facing Caesar is flying directly at him, launched forwards with great force. Rocks two and three are following close behind, the trio of massive weights sailing through the air in quick succession. Following after them at a dead sprint is an angry Poliwrath, clearly fully patched up and rearing for a fight.
Caesar is caught off guard, unable to evade as the first rock slams into him. He at least manages to twist in place, turning numbers two and three into glancing hits, even as Ran calls out a late warning he feels stupid about the moment it leaves his lips. There¡¯s no time to be wasted on self-recrimination however, as Poliwrath is still on the charge.
¡°Bulldoze, Poliwrath! Run it over!¡± Chuck orders confidently, leading to Poliwrath immediately hunching over, large white hands dragging over the ground and pushing up a rapidly growing wall of sand in front of it.
¡°Glare, then Thunder Fang!¡± Ran hurriedly cries out, immensely grateful for Caesar¡¯s obedience and reaction speed, as his starter immediately rears up and locks eyes threateningly with Poliwrath.
The move clearly connects, but Poliwrath¡¯s built-up momentum and muscle memory are too great, as it simply rushes onwards, closing the final distance between the two pok¨¦mon. At the last second, fangs crackling with electricity, Caesar lunges head first into the incoming Bulldoze, attempting to punch right through the worst of the attack and land his own in return.
It doesn¡¯t appear to have worked at first, as his body gets knocked back and swallowed up by the Bulldoze, Poliwrath¡¯s charging form pushing the far larger and heavier pok¨¦mon at least twenty feet from his previous position before coming to a halt. However, even though Caesar got swallowed up in the attack, his head did in fact manage to punch right through the large sand wall Poliwrath pushed up in front of it, an angry Thunder Fang landing on Poliwrath¡¯s right arm.
In fact, on closer inspection, with Caesar still angrily hanging on and Poliwrath clearly struggling to break free, the undeniable conclusion is that Poliwrath¡¯s Bulldoze only came to an end where it did because Caesar forced it to. Still, it¡¯s a precarious position, as the vast majority of Ran¡¯s starter¡¯s body remains buried in a seemingly rather heavy heap of sand.
Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
¡°You can¡¯t miss! Mud Shot!¡± Chuck orders enthusiastically, karate chopping the air in front of him as if he were personally bringing his fist down on Caesar¡¯s neck.
¡°Wrap it up and Thunder Fang again!¡± Ran instructs as an immediate response, ¡°The paralysis will give you a moment and you¡¯ve got the better defenses! Just hang in there!¡±
Caesar winds forwards out of the small hill he¡¯s been buried into, finally releasing Poliwrath¡¯s shoulder only to immediately lurch out and start wrapping around the other pok¨¦mon. He doesn¡¯t get to do so without being contested however, as Poliwrath¡¯s mouth opens once more, a thick, painful spray of mud slamming directly into the poison-type¡¯s side. The dampening effect the ground-type energy has on Caesar¡¯s inherent poison-type energy is apparent, with Ran¡¯s starter letting out an aggrieved hiss, but it isn¡¯t enough to force him to back down, as Caesar vigorously wraps himself around Poliwrath.
Before he can really start squeezing however, Chuck interferes.
¡°Don¡¯t let it squeeze you out! Overpower it!¡± The Gym leader commands, setting up a direct battle of raw power, as Caesar uses every muscle in his body to squeeze, whilst Poliwrath stretches out its forearms as far as they can go in either direction, pushing against Caesar¡¯s thick loops to the best of its ability.
It¡¯s a grinding contest for a few long seconds, but then, even though on raw muscle strength, Poliwrath might have held out, sheer size comes into play. Poliwrath only has two hands to keep Caesar back with, as the lowest loop, the one going around Poliwrath¡¯s legs, cinches tight first. Then, Caesar lifts the coils Poliwrath is wrestling with slightly, forcing his targets arms diagonally upwards. It¡¯s enough to create room for another loop of Caesar¡¯s coils, as he squeezes down further.
Within seconds, it becomes apparent that Poliwrath isn¡¯t gaining anything by expending its significant strength on trying to keep the coil it is wrestling against open. Instead, Chuck lets out an actual snarl, ¡°Earth Power!¡±
Poliwrath pulls back its arms, clearly preparing to try and call up an Earth Power directly around it, but before it can, Caesar, now finally confident that his Wrap is secure, carries out the second part of Ran¡¯s orders. His two large fangs crackle menacingly with electricity for a moment, before he bites down vengefully on Poliwrath before it can perform Earth Power.
The impact is a vengeful one, the spark and sizzle of Thunder Fang almost worrying in its intensity. Ran can immediately tell, from the way Caesar¡¯s coils loosen almost imperceptibly just moments after impact, that Poliwrath is out cold.
Immediately, before Chuck or the referee can even speak, he¡¯s calling out instructions, not blind to just how beaten up Caesar just got.
¡°Release and then use Swallow, Caesar,¡± He calls swiftly, not wanting to waste any time, ¡°You did great, now heal up and get ready for round two!¡±
Caesar, ever obedient, follows orders without hesitation, allowing a slack Poliwrath to slump onto the ground unmoving.
¡°Poliwrath is unable to battle!¡± The referee calls out immediately, ¡°Gym Leader Chuck, please recall it and send out your next pok¨¦mon.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t need to tell me twice.¡± Chuck responds without fanfare, a pok¨¦ball in each hand just so he can waste as little time as possible, recalling Poliwrath at the same time as he lets out the only pok¨¦mon he hasn¡¯t used yet in this battle.
Considering the way it was obviously meant to be used against Golbat, Ran was expecting a Hitmonchan. The sight of a Primeape is unexpected, but not necessarily unwelcome. Especially as, despite Chuck¡¯s best efforts, Caesar manages to execute Swallow, visibly healing up even as he seems to deflate slightly, as Stockpile wears off.
The large Arbok doesn¡¯t quite appear to be back to peak condition, but between Swallow and the slow but constant effect of the Black Sludge that¡¯s attached in the slight fold where his hood flares out from his body, nearly all of the damage that was inflicted by Poliwrath¡¯s attacks appears to have been taken care of. It¡¯s a comforting sight to say the least, as Caesar once more rears up and hisses threateningly at Primeape.
Ran can only wince in dismay, as the Pig Monkey Pok¨¦mon¡¯s eyes narrow in obvious anger. Clearly, he¡¯s failed as a trainer by never preparing his starter to face the notoriously ill-tempered fighting-type that¡¯s now facing him. Still, at least the Mankey-line doesn¡¯t get access to Guts, which means that the Toxic Spikes, still lingering from the start of the match, are just as much of a detriment to Primeape as they were to Poliwrath. Before it used Rest, at least.
¡°Fling.¡± Chuck orders calmly, kicking off the next phase of the fight with just that single word.
¡°Glare, then Acid Spray!¡± Ran orders in return, spurring Caesar into action once more.
Primeape immediately moves to grab something on its back, which it then attempts to fling harshly in Caesar¡¯s direction. However, to both Ran and Primeape¡¯s evident surprise, nothing flies through the air, as Primeape evidently doesn¡¯t have a held item to throw. The fighting-type turns on its trainer with an angry snarl, a vein visibly pulsing in frustration above its eye.
It doesn¡¯t pay Caesar any mind whatsoever, even as Ran¡¯s starter hisses to try and draw the opposite pok¨¦mon¡¯s attention so that he can actually use Glare as planned. Instead, Primeape is too busy stomping the ground in frustration as it bounces up and down in a growing hissy fit.
Only when Ran catches sight of the smirk Chuck is hiding under those massive sideburns of his, does he realize what¡¯s about to happen, just before Chuck speaks once more.
¡°Stomping Tantrum.¡± The Gym Leader announces with a hint of malice, a voice that¡¯s clearly well-suited to the Primeape, as it only seems to wind it up further. When it pivots on its heel to stare right at Caesar, it doesn¡¯t even react to Caesar¡¯s Glare, the move either failing or Primeape simply refusing to be intimidated.
Still, though Glare might fail, Primeape still has a bit of distance to cover, as it starts stomping over, the ground trembling under its feet with every angry stomp it unleashes on the ground as it approaches. It leaves a perfect opportunity, advancing mindlessly in a straight line as it is, for Caesar to unleash an Acid Spray, which he does without hesitation.
The fine purple spray of fluid that leaves his Arbok¡¯s mouth shoots out in a cone, focused on Primeape. The angry fighting-type stomps right through, the tiny acid particles settling all over its fur and exposed skin in equal measure before sinking in. It doesn¡¯t appear affected by the attack, though it surely must hurt, as the attack clearly does some damage, with Primeape¡¯s previously puffed-up fur noticeably losing volume as it storms onwards.
With Acid Spray stripping away some of Primeape¡¯s natural defenses to attacks, weakening its vigor, Ran immediately gives another order, even as he realizes that Caesar won¡¯t be able to pull it off in the second before the stomping Primeape closes the distance.
¡°Sludge Bomb!¡± Ran shouts nevertheless, before being forced to watch as Primeape arrives.
Its angry stomps at this point send plumes of sand flying up around its feet with every step it takes. When it arrives within striking range of Caesar, it grabs onto him just underneath his hood with both hands, before violently starting to jump up and down, wildly jerking his head up into the air before slamming it into the ground. A move it angrily repeats again and again and again.
Caesar is clearly knocked loopy, each hit hurting him badly and clearly disorienting him. It¡¯s a worrying sight, one that makes it clear that Sludge Bomb is a pipe dream under the circumstances, with Caesar being unable to gather his bearings for even a moment.
¡°Abort Sludge Bomb, try to knock it away!¡± Ran calls out hurriedly, watching with increasing worry as Caesar continues to get slammed into the ground.
It isn¡¯t an easy ask, under the circumstances, but despite the beating he¡¯s taking from Primeape, Caesar manages to flail wildly in place, a lucky jerk slamming part of his lower body into Primeape¡¯s legs. It¡¯s enough for the fighting-type¡¯s legs to buckle for a second, which in turn sees it release its grip on Caesar as it¡¯s finally knocked out of its Stomping Tantrum for a moment.
Caesar is clearly significantly worse for wear, but Ran doesn¡¯t even try to have his starter retreat. Giving a furious Primeape a target to chase is the last thing he wants to do. Instead, he tries once more to let Caesar set up a decisive advantage.
¡°Sludge Bomb!¡± He calls without hesitation, watching hopefully as Caesar¡¯s hood bulges out around his throat slightly in preparation.
¡°Thrash!¡± Chuck counters, his Primeape immediately becoming an even more insanely raging ball of frustration.
Primeape¡¯s moves are entirely uncontrolled, as it essentially becomes a bouncing ball of anger with four erratically moving limbs that punch and kick out powerfully at a continuous pace in wildly unpredictable directions. Caesar immediately takes a few powerful hits, whilst at the same time clearly being unable to ensure that his own stored up Sludge Bomb will actually hit his target.
Ran calls out an order for Caesar to try and Wrap his target up first, which clearly aligns with Caesar¡¯s instincts, as Ran hasn¡¯t even finished shouting out the order before Caesar is already coiling around Primeape, barely managing to pin the fighting-type in place but forced to take a battery of ongoing hits for every moment he maintains his hold, before rearing up. It¡¯s clearly with his last strength that Caesar opens his maw, a large globule of dark purple sludge shooting directly at Primeape.
The hit draws an angry, but also pained, cry from Primeape, his thrashing intensifying even further until, just seconds later, he jerks around so powerfully that he manages to tear free from Caesar¡¯s grasp. Just moments later, Caesar¡¯s head sinks onto the sand, his tongue slipping out as his eyes slide closed in a clear sign of his defeated unconsciousness.
Ran hurriedly recalls his starter before his prone form can take any further damage from the rampaging Primeape. Taking a look at it, it¡¯s clear that the angry pok¨¦mon has taken a lot of damage, not to mention the poison that¡¯s been coursing through its system throughout the fight. Still, before he can properly examine it, or even really poison stall at all, Chuck is recalling Primeape.
¡°I¡¯m switching,¡± he announces, ¡°Machoke should still have something left in the tank and I think Primeape can use a moment to regain his bearings.¡±
Ran can only watch with a mix of mild frustration and begrudging respect as Chuck yet again denies him an opportunity to poison stall. Still, with Ran only left with Golbat and Chuck still having the poisoned and battered pair of Machoke and Primeape, there¡¯s no more secrets left for either trainer to pull out, at least as far as team selection goes.
So, without hesitation, he brings out Golbat once more, speaking some words of encouragement as he does so, ¡°Come on buddy, it¡¯s time for you to win us the match.¡±
¡°Come, Machoke!¡± Chuck shouts with some suitably dramatic flair, as he sends out his own pok¨¦mon in response, ¡°Our opponent is down to his last pok¨¦mon!¡±
The two pok¨¦mon stare each other down for a moment, but with Machoke on a poison-inflicted timer, there¡¯s no time for any banter or any feeling out. Something Ran is well aware of, which is why Chuck doesn¡¯t even manage to beat him to the draw.
¡°Up!¡± He shouts immediately, eager to see Golbat get out of Machoke¡¯s immediate range.
¡°Rock Slide, Machoke! Anti-flying-type-variation!¡± Chuck calls to his battler. Ran is dismayed to hear the Gym leader call for a move that¡¯s even worse for Golbat than the previously displayed Rock Tomb. Though what Chuck means by anti-flying-type-variation is a mystery to him, his only conclusion being that it likely won¡¯t be good for Golbat.
Chapter 24, pt.4
Machoke bursts into motion, immediately rushing over towards the trio of boulders that got thrown around by Poliwrath earlier. They¡¯ve ended up remarkably close to a fourth rock, giving it plenty of ammunition, should it reach its destination. Something Ran isn¡¯t inclined to simply let happen.
¡°Air Cutter!¡± He orders yet again, hopeful that Golbat will once more see actual success with it, rather than the abject failure that resulted once Poliwrath started using its improvised shields.
Golbat immediately fires off an Air Cutter, but the attack isn¡¯t quite fast enough to reach Machoke before it can reach the unnatural rock formation. Immediately, Machoke hoists up a rock in each hand, but rather than putting them in between itself and the incoming blade of wind, it immediately throws them up towards the ceiling. It¡¯s a decision that leaves it completely open and vulnerable to Golbat¡¯s attack, which strikes Machoke directly in the gut.
The large fighting-type is clearly hurt by the hit, as it lets out a pained grunt and its knees noticeably buckle for a moment. Yet it doesn¡¯t let that delay it, as the two rocks it threw towards the ceiling reach the zenith of their flight.
In a smooth motion, Machoke collects the remaining two boulders, even as Golbat, seeing an open target, fires off another Air Cutter. Unfortunately, he¡¯s too slow to prevent Machoke from absolutely rifling the remaining two rocks directly at the two previous rocks which are just starting to fall.
The sound of rock impacting rock isn¡¯t muted or muffled, but rather a terrifyingly loud impact that¡¯s accompanied by multiple dry cracking and snapping sounds, as all four rocks shatter into multiple smaller rocks and shards of stone, sized anywhere from roughly as large as a fist, to some that are larger than a Marill. The impact is so great that not only is the downwards momentum of the first two rocks temporarily stopped, but the shards also get sprayed around in all directions, creating an actual hail of stone over the entire battlefield.
¡°Quick Guard!¡± Ran instructs, more out of optimism than genuine belief that Golbat will make it through the attack unscathed, but with Mr. Mime¡¯s barrier visibly flaring up on all sides as it contains errant rocks, it¡¯s clear that there¡¯s no safe airspace anywhere on the battlefield.
At least Machoke gets hit by the second Air Cutter, which is finally enough to knock it out, its eyes sliding closed before it¡¯s even finished falling, a clear sign that it really had to push itself to its limits to enable its final attack. The results are undeniable however, as Golbat, with a frantic screech, does his best to dip and dive through the barrage of rocks.
He manages to avoid some of the largest pieces, but still gets hit by at least five rocks over the next few seconds, slamming into either his large back or his wings. The hits land with dull thumps, the limited intensity of the sound belying the sheer force behind the impacts. One of the shards is sharper than its fellows however, actually cutting a gash through the lower side of the membrane on Golbat¡¯s right wing. It¡¯s a nasty hit which draws a bloodcurdling scream from his pok¨¦mon.
¡°Golbat!¡± Ran cries out in dismay, as he watches powerlessly as Golbat¡¯s flight becomes a lot more unstable, clearly greatly hindered by the wound.
The poison-flying-type pays his trainer¡¯s shout no mind however, finally making it through the last of the rock rain and remaining airborne in the aftermath.
¡°Get ready, Golbat,¡± Ran calls out once more, actually getting an affirming cry from his team member this time even as they both completely ignore the referee¡¯s announcement that Machoke is unconscious and that Chuck is down to his last pok¨¦mon as well, ¡°You¡¯ll be facing a Primeape. It¡¯s poisoned and Caesar hurt it a lot already. Use Absorb the second you can to heal up a bit!¡±
¡°We¡¯ll see about that!¡± Chuck counters, sending out his Primeape in response.
The brawling ball of fuzz has clearly calmed down thanks to the forced respite in its pok¨¦ball, appearing on the field with an only mildly peeved expression, rather than the abject rage that was rolling off of it earlier. Golbat wastes no time, eyes closing in concentration for a moment in a clear sign that he¡¯s trying to call up the appropriate energy for the rarely-used Absorb.
¡°Swagger.¡± Chuck instructs calmly, arms crossing in front of his chest as he stares disdainfully at Ran in a clear challenge. It¡¯s a posture Primeape immediately copies, though it of course stares at Golbat, whose eyes open only to be met with a disrespectful snort of Primeape¡¯s nose.
Were the fuzzball capable of it, Ran is pretty confident that it would have hocked out a wad of phlegm to further emphasize its point. The move¡¯s effect isn¡¯t missed however, as Golbat¡¯s ire is clearly raised by the move. Immediately, any attempts of using Absorb go out the window, despite Ran¡¯s explicit instructions.
Instead, with an angry screech, Golbat divebombs towards Primeape.
¡°Golbat, no! Break off! Air Cutter! Keep at range!¡± Ran instructs frantically, watching in dismay as his temperamental pok¨¦mon completely ignores all instructions and common sense to fly directly at his opponent. Golbat¡¯s fangs gleam with purple poison-type energy, making it very clear that he¡¯s trying to use a Poison Fang, completely disregarding Ran¡¯s instructions.
Swagger, from what he recalls, plays on a pok¨¦mon¡¯s temper, increasing the damage it can manage with an attack whilst at the same time causing confusion. Nothing in there is supposed to make a pok¨¦mon disregard its trainer¡¯s instructions to this degree, which can only mean that Golbat¡¯s temper, already having caused trouble in the past, is reacting extremely adversely to the move.
Ran can only watch in frustration, as his continued commands for Golbat to break off go ignored in favor of the Bat Pok¨¦mon¡¯s desire to chomp down on Primeape.
Chuck of course is visibly delighted, clearly happy for the stroke of good fortune that¡¯ll actually put Golbat within punching range of Primeape.
¡°Thunder Punch!¡± Chuck snaps out, finally revealing the elemental punch he¡¯s clearly been planning to use specifically against Golbat since the very start of the battle.
Primeape squeals in anger as its fist, coated in crackling electricity, flies forwards in a malicious right hook. Ran¡¯s frantic shout for Golbat to dodge comes too late, the Thunder Punch landing directly between Golbat¡¯s eyes. The effect is immediate, as Golbat¡¯s flight gets stopped on the spot. In fact, he gets launched back the way he came slightly, before gravity asserts its will and Golbat crashes into the ground, skidding a small way before finally coming to a stop in a pained heap.
¡°Follow up!¡± Chuck orders, his Primeape obediently stepping forwards, only for said step to clearly demand a lot of it, as its whole body trembles just to take a single step. Clearly, its earlier damage and the poison still coursing through its system are getting increasingly close to knocking it out.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
Golbat just needs to last a bit longer. Miraculously, he does, as his large, winged form slowly regains his feet. Normally, his wings are stretched out when he¡¯s on the ground and close to an opponent, to make himself seem larger. There¡¯s nothing of that now, as Golbat¡¯s whole form is hunched together, a clear sign of the pain he¡¯s in.
Still, Ran can¡¯t show mercy yet.
¡°Golbat, I need you to get in the air! Get out of its range!¡± He instructs hurriedly, ¡°Listen to me, before you get yourself hurt even worse!¡±
Whether it¡¯s the reprimand or simply Golbat snapping out of his confusion, Ran doesn¡¯t know. The end result is the same, as Golbat, despite sharp, pained and agitated cries, stretches out his wings before hurriedly gaining flight. Chuck¡¯s order for Primeape to close in and use Assurance comes too late, as although Primeape manages to break into a stumbling jog, it isn¡¯t fast enough.
¡°Just keep away for now!¡± Ran calls out, ¡°It¡¯s on its last legs!¡±
¡°Rock Tomb, Primeape! Knock it out of the sky!¡± Chuck counters decisively, watching tensely as his fighting-type stumbles over towards the nearest rock.
¡°Get ready to dodge!¡± Ran counters without even trying for another Air Cutter, as he considers how bad Golbat¡¯s right wing looks at this point, the tear in his membrane having worsened from the skid across the sand.
Primeape reaches the first throwable rock, its hands digging for purchase beneath it. It leans forwards, putting its snout against the stone for a moment as it clearly struggles to muster up the strength needed to hoist the massive weight.
A second passes.
Another second passes.
Suddenly¡
¡°Primeape is unconscious and is unable to battle! The Challenger has won!¡± The referee announces.
Ran has to do a double take, before what he¡¯s seeing fully sinks in.
On sheer persistence, Primeape managed to stumble over to the rock, putting its hands under it to start levering up, before the poison finally did it in. With the fighting-type falling forwards in unconsciousness, it came to rest against the rock in such a way that it looked at first glance like it was simply putting extra force into its lift.
Upon closer inspection however, it¡¯s undeniable that the referee is correct, with Primeape clearly unconscious. Golbat isn¡¯t far behind however, as the moment Ran¡¯s victory is declared, the final remaining participant of the match immediately descends to the ground, his landing a lot more brusque than normal, as he only uses the absolute minimum number of wingbeats to slow his fall. Without hesitation, Ran brings out Golbat¡¯s Friend Ball, immediately recalling him, to the Bat Pok¨¦mon¡¯s obvious relief, whilst a round of polite applause rings out from the crowd.
¡°We¡¯re going to discuss your behavior later,¡± Ran says to the balled pok¨¦mon, less than happy with Golbat¡¯s hotheadedness almost costing them the match, ¡°I need you to calm down and be sensible in the future.¡±
There¡¯s no response from Golbat¡¯s ball, as Ran clips it onto his side before striding out onto the battlefield and moving towards the circle in the middle, the point which Chuck is also striding towards with the clear intent to meet him there.
¡°That was fun!¡± Chuck declares boisterously, before pulling out the Storm Badge, which he presents to Ran.
¡°As the Cianwood City Gym Leader, I deem you worthy of receiving the Storm Badge!¡± Chuck announces,drawing another brief round of applause, before the crowd finally breaks out into murmured discussions of their own, leaving Chuck and Ran with some relative privacy, as long as they keep their voices down.
Which, unlike Whitney, Chuck gets directly into, as he doesn¡¯t expand any further on the public part of his speech. Instead, he looks at Ran assessingly, offering a slight smile, before speaking softly, ¡°You didn¡¯t visit my Gym to scout me out, did you?¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t, no.¡± Ran agrees slowly, unsure where the Gym leader is going with the somewhat random question.
¡°I could tell. From a trainer like Doro, that¡¯d probably be a decision made out of a desire to face me on equal terms, out of some desire for an honorable match or stuff like that. From you, however,¡± Chuck pauses for a moment, frowning slightly, before continuing, ¡°I think you¡¯re getting a bit overconfident, kid.¡±
Ran sputters for a moment in surprise, but before he can formulate a retort, Chuck is already explaining himself, ¡°That Skorupi had a great type match-up, but so did your Ariados and that¡¯s clearly the stronger pok¨¦mon of the two, at this point, at least. I can understand wanting to spread the matches out a bit and you won, so you were right to. Especially with the defensive advantage your team has here. But combine that with not scouting and clearly getting caught off-guard by some of my counters¡ It paints a picture of a trainer who¡¯s been doing better than he was expecting and whose head is getting a bit too big as a result.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± Ran answers politely, mindful of the circumstances surrounding them, which hardly make for a decent opportunity to argue with the Gym leader or to confront him over his favoritism following the contest to win Croagunk.
Chuck, fittingly, chuckles, before speaking once more, ¡°You¡¯ve got a lot of potential kid, I¡¯m not blind to that. It¡¯s why I gave you one of my Croagunk in the first place.¡±
Something in his gaze sharpens then, a sign that Ran¡¯s attempt to suppress any outward reaction to the man¡¯s words clearly wasn¡¯t entirely successful. The Gym Leader looks at him taxingly for a moment, before finally sighing heavily.
¡°Just to clarify, Ran,¡± Chuck rumbles, ¡°As long as you didn¡¯t unveil any troubling behavior towards your pok¨¦mon during that race, you were always going to get a pok¨¦mon. I explicitly told you both that you¡¯d be racing for the right to choose one of my pok¨¦mon. Choose, not receive. The loser was always going to get the second Croagunk.¡±
Ran doesn¡¯t particularly want to believe Chuck¡¯s words, but the gym leader isn¡¯t afraid to meet his eyes, expression earnest and open as he forces eye contact between them, ¡°Think about it, kid. Any comparative study between me, as a Gym leader, and a rookie trainer, would be worthless out of the gate. At least for the purposes I have in mind, which are far more focused on typing primacy.¡±
¡°Then why¡¯d you deliberately let us believe that we were racing for the right to have a Croagunk?¡± Ran asks mulishly, still not wanting to believe this version of events where he¡¯d still have gotten a Croagunk if he hadn¡¯t won the race.
¡°I told you,¡± Chuck replies easily, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to see any troubling behavior, and the best way to check for that was by putting you under pressure. It worked, too. You made some very worrying calls with your own safety, but you never mistreated your pok¨¦mon and well¡ it would be hypocritical for me, of all people, to tell you not to take such risks when you saw me climbing down a mountainside without any safety gear just a short while beforehand.¡±
Ran takes in Chuck¡¯s words, really weighing them and trying to find some kind of fault or lie in them. It¡¯s hard to believe that things would have played out the same way if he¡¯d lost the race, but with the Storm Badge in hand and a Croagunk on his team, Ran can¡¯t really think of any remaining reason for Chuck to lie to him. So, begrudgingly, he finds himself accepting the man¡¯s words.
¡°Alright, I believe you. Thanks for explaining.¡± Ran answers, ingrained politeness now a lot more genuine sounding.
¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± Chuck replies softly, before finally raising his voice as he returns to the more public parts of their little ceremony, ¡°Ran Carr, you showed some real fighting spirit and you allowed your pok¨¦mon to play to their natural strengths, whilst enhancing them and their abilities! This is why I also reward you with this TM for Focus Punch and the fourth-tier badge cash prize will be transferred to your account. Congratulations.¡±
¡°Thank you, Gym leader Chuck,¡± Ran answers politely, ¡°It¡¯s been an honor, sir.¡±
Chuck waves him off dismissively, ¡°If you want to honor me, there¡¯s two things you can do for me, kid. First of all, work with that Croagunk of yours and show me what a Toxicroak can do in the hands of a poison-type specialist. There¡¯s no way Koga hasn¡¯t got his hands on one and I want to get some idea of the tricks a poison specialist might be able to come up with before he can surprise me with them.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡± Ran vows immediately, never intending any less than the very best for any of his team members.
¡°Good,¡± Chuck nods, before his gaze pans to the stands for a moment, ¡°Second, Doro is challenging me later, stick around and watch, yeah? The two of you could learn a thing or two from each other.¡±
There¡¯s something in Chuck¡¯s expression as he says it that indicates that there¡¯s more to his request than Ran can easily pick up on, but he still nods easily, ¡°We already agreed to watch each other¡¯s matches in advance.¡±
¡°Good,¡± Chuck agrees, ¡°Then get out of here already, so I can face my next challenger!¡±
Interlude 4: Josie
Josephine Shelby, though she goes by Josie, watches proudly, tension slowly draining out of her, as Ginger gallops across the field. The Agility she managed earlier in the match allows her starter to dictate the terms of the engagement against Morty¡¯s third and final pok¨¦mon, a Haunter, with ease. It¡¯s still been a good match of course, but Josie has a fresh team member in reserve and it¡¯s obvious that Morty¡¯s Haunter is running on fumes.
The fight has been a completely different experience from her battle against Whitney, which only affirms her in the decisions she¡¯s made since. It hasn¡¯t been the easiest time, all things considered, but now, as she watches Ginger land another Smart Strike that badly winds her opponent, she can confidently conclude that it¡¯s all been worth it.
Her match against Morty started out great and things only got better from that point on. She started with Soot the Houndour, who did a spectacular job against the Misdreavus that Morty started out with. Of course the Murkrow he sent out next was a surprise and it managed to inflict enough damage for Josie to recall Soot. But then Ginger hit the field and well¡ her recently-evolved Rapidash really showed off the sheer gap in speed and power between her time as a Ponyta and what she¡¯s now capable of. Add to that her skill with Agility¡
It must be a rare sight for the spectators, to see Morty¡¯s opponent be the one that seems to blur in and out of existence, materializing to dish out a hit before dipping out of range before a counter can be struck. From Morty¡¯s intrigued expression, it¡¯s something he himself is also not particularly used to, but Josie doesn¡¯t allow herself to get too distracted. They¡¯re winning, yes, but the fight isn¡¯t over yet.
Still, Haunter is clearly hanging on by a thread, only temporarily saved from being knocked unconscious by floating out of Ginger¡¯s striking range. That could have been a problem, a few weeks ago. By now, however, Josie and her team have put a lot of work in precisely to have answers for these kinds of situations.
In Ginger¡¯s case, that answer boils down to a single instruction.
¡°Flamethrower, Ginger!¡± Josie commands confidently, ¡°Burn it up!¡±
Obediently, her starter rears up on her hindlegs, massive fiery mane flaring up even larger for a moment, before an enormous cone of red hot flame comes pouring out of her mouth. Haunter doesn¡¯t stand a chance, far too battered to even think of getting away, as it gets swallowed up in Ginger¡¯s massive fiery breath for a few seconds. Then, its singed form falls out of the cone of flame, splatting onto the floor before slowly starting to sink into the ground.
Before its unconscious form can sink fully into the floor, Morty is recalling his pok¨¦mon, whilst the referee is announcing Josie¡¯s victory, to cheers and applause from the crowd.
A proud tear itches at the corner of her eye, but Josie refuses to let it fall, forcing herself to inhale sharply for a moment, in order to woman up. The Fog Badge and the encouragement she receives from Morty are the affirmation that she¡¯s on the right path now. She¡¯d like to say she¡¯s on the right path once more, but in truth, the quick succession of losses that culminated in her failed challenge against Whitney was exactly what she needed.
Only thanks to some heavy self-reflection and a few serious heart-to-hearts with her team, can she now proudly add her third badge to her collection. The four pok¨¦balls on her belt are the sign of a serious trainer, the private knowledge that she actually captured one of them further supporting her in her belief that she has her place as an equal of any other rookie on the circuit.
Morty¡¯s words are largely perfunctory, though his observations about Ginger¡¯s clear strength do draw a mild blush from her. Ultimately however, the part of the conversation that really sticks with her is the throwaway comment Morty leaves her with mere seconds before shooing her out of his arena, as the next challenger¡¯s match is due.
¡°Oh and Miss Shelby, the Burned Tower normally has a five badge minimum for those wanting to wander its remains, but I¡¯ll make sure that an exception is made for you. For a fire-type specialist, it¡¯s really the least I can do.¡±
After her victory over Morty, the only thing Josie wanted to do was text Ran. Which she almost immediately did, proudly informing him of her success and letting him know that she¡¯s been missing him and that she wants to meet up with him once more.
And what does she get as a response?
A notice that he¡¯s about to be one badge ahead of her once more, as of tomorrow, and a halfhearted response about possibly running into each other in Olivine. It¡¯s miraculous how one stupid boy can turn her from queen of the world into a self recriminating mess over the course of just a few text messages.
Fortunately, Lady, her recently-caught Vulpix, is very successful in drawing Josie out of her funk, as the fluffball cuddles up with her and bats insistently at her trainer¡¯s hands with her six tails, making it very clear that she wishes to be pampered. Josie doesn¡¯t object, eagerly digging both hands into the warm fur of her newest team member as she gives her the massage Lady clearly desires.
The contented purr Josie receives in return is enough to drive any thoughts of that frustrating boy she kissed out of her mind. Well, most of them, at least.
She looks out over her team for a moment, with Chief and Soot tugging on the ends of a rope that¡¯s been looking more and more frayed by the day, and Ginger, who rests carefully in the deliberately cleared part of the room that¡¯s just large enough for her to lie down comfortably. Together, they make up her three-badge team. Admittedly, the thought of her lost challenge against Whitney still stings, but between the addition of Lady and the evolution of Ginger, she¡¯s gotten a lot stronger over a short span of time.
They¡¯ll head to Olivine next and melt those steel-types in an incredible inferno. Then, assuming Ran isn¡¯t a dick and actually shows some form of enthusiasm about traveling with her, they can revisit Ecruteak and Goldenrod, in whichever order, really. Sure, at that point heading to Mahogany and Blackthorn leaves her a ways from Cianwood, but the season¡¯s plenty long yet.
And she can¡¯t deny that there¡¯s a part of her that wants to explore the idea of dragging Ran, who by that point should have all of his badges, along with her to Cianwood City and its beaches. If his reaction to her kissing him is any indication, then his reaction to her in swimwear should really be spectacular.
Annoyed with herself for the way her thoughts once again drift to the boy who can¡¯t even muster an ¡°I¡¯ve been missing you too¡± when she texts him, Josie waves her hand in front of her face, as if batting away the pesky thoughts. Fortunately, a yawn from Lady, showing off her gleaming ivory teeth, proves enough of a distraction to finally have her focusing on other matters.
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Specifically, thoughts of the Burned Tower. She¡¯s got plenty of Charcoal already, so the rumors that some of the Tower¡¯s remains can be used similarly don¡¯t really interest her, but the rumors that there might be Magmar lurking in its depths¡ Now that, that is something that is extremely intriguing to her.
Maybe adding another team member so shortly after adding Lady is premature, but Magmar or, if she ever manages that particular stunt, Magmortar, is a noteworthy powerhouse she¡¯d be happy to go through the extra effort of integrating two team members at once for. Because really, what other options does she have? Flareon is unremarkable, the Cyndaquil-line is rare and unremarkable and from what little she knows of Hoenn and Sinnoh, they don¡¯t exactly have anything better to offer.
Until she can add a Charmander as her final team member, which¡¯ll be a matter of convincing her father to use his deep pockets, a Magby or Magmar is really the only option she feels like adding to her team. As far as she knows, they¡¯re only really native to the expensive Safari Zone, which necessitates a trip to Cianwood City, and possibly the Burned Tower. It¡¯s not officially confirmed, but if there is even a chance of those rumors being true, then she owes it to herself to look into it properly.
Besides, even if the Burned Tower doesn¡¯t offer her the Magmar she seeks, it¡¯s still a good training location with strong wild pok¨¦mon that she¡¯d usually be barred from with just three badges. Plus, from what she¡¯s heard, there¡¯s supposed to be some real strong Koffing and Weezing in there. If Ran can¡¯t be arsed to be enthusiastic about meeting up with her, then she¡¯ll just have to send him a picture or two whilst she¡¯s in a location he doesn¡¯t have access to (yet). That¡¯ll teach him, the big jerk.
Her excursion to the Burned Tower the next morning starts off well enough, her trainer ID enough to get her past the automated turnstile and into the enormous Burned Tower¡¯s ground floor. Despite the clear structural damage that¡¯s left enormous holes in walls and lets her see through multiple rooms, she still can¡¯t by any means see the entirety of the tower¡¯s ground floor, more than enough pieces of walls and columns remaining to block her view of at least half of the floor from where she¡¯s standing.
It truly must have been a monumentally imposing building, back in the day, as even now, despite the enormous damages it suffered, Josie feels rather small all of a sudden. Somewhere in the distance, she hears faint echoes of some kind of pok¨¦mon battle, but with the sheer scale of the tower and the many obstacles and angles for the sound to bounce off of, there¡¯s no way for her to tell just how far away the battle is, nor, for that matter, from which direction the noise is coming, exactly.
Before she can really get around to exploring, Josie immediately runs into a large sign that spells out a few things to look out for whilst inside. It feels like the typical kind of League-decision for a ¡®Trainer-only¡¯ location to simply drop a warning sign and call it a day, rather than actually investing in decent, structural safety measures. Then again, she¡¯s got some idea of just how much work the League has elsewhere with, for example, keeping dangerous wild pok¨¦mon away from ranches, so she can¡¯t fault them too much.
Still, the signs are not exactly a roaring endorsement of the steps the League has taken to make the Burned Tower a safe place to be in, with such highlights as ¡®when are stairs too structurally damaged to use¡¯ and ¡®creaking floorboards, the differences between ambient sounds and preludes to collapse¡¯. Just one look around is enough for Josie to see the merits in the sign though, as upon inspection she rapidly notices that the ceiling directly above her has more holes in it than it does remaining floorboards. In fact, one enterprising trainer or another has actually attached a rope, with climbing loops, to a crossbeam above them, providing by far the most reliable means of getting up to the next floor within her sightline, because neither of the stairs leading upwards that Josie can see from the entrance seem all that capable of bearing her weight.
Of course, there isn¡¯t just the way up to consider, as just a brief look also reveals at least one level of the underlying basement, a large hole in the floor off to the right allowing a free look in that direction. After a moment¡¯s searching, she also spots the doors behind which the stairs to the lower floor are likely hidden. As for wild pok¨¦mon, though none immediately jump out to her on the ground floor, she can already see a Koffing gently bobbing along in the basement, seemingly content to drift in a lazy circle around what looks like the charred remains of what must have been a row of support columns.
There¡¯s also the distant sound of footsteps upstairs, another clear sign, combined with the distant sounds of battling, that she isn¡¯t the only trainer in the Burned Tower today, though there don¡¯t seem to be too many other visitors either. The distant presence of other people is still more than welcome, as it makes the charred and burned environment seem just a mite bit less ominous. Not that she¡¯s scared or intimidated or anything, but there is definitely something off about the gargantuan Burned Tower, something more than just the obvious safety concerns.
She examines the ground floor in more detail, finally wandering out onto the floor properly and taking in the damage this place once suffered. After a few minutes, a Rattata pops up out of nowhere, but Josie doesn¡¯t even get an opportunity to release Chief from his ball, as the purple rodent only takes her in for a moment before turning tail and skittering away. The rest of her ground floor exploration is quiet and undisturbed, as she encounters neither other trainers nor any other wild pok¨¦mon, all of them seemingly evading her. After what feels like almost half an hour of wandering through the maze that is the ground floor, she¡¯s left to conclude that she¡¯ll have to either climb up to what remains of the higher floors, or descend into the depths of the tower¡¯s basement.
With what remains of the building made out of wood, whereas the basement is dug into the ground, there¡¯s really only one option if she genuinely hopes to find a Magmar. Besides, at least by descending, she won¡¯t run the risk of falling through the floor and injuring herself, like she might if she did try to climb up into the tower¡¯s higher parts.
Mind made up, she wanders over to the doors she spotted earlier. Soon enough, she¡¯s entering the first level of the Burned Tower¡¯s basement. Here, there¡¯s a noticeable smell that wasn¡¯t as present above, where the structural damage to the walls allows outside air to flow in freely. It¡¯s an acrid, unpleasant smell, one she struggles to believe a single Koffing capable of producing.
As a precaution, she releases Chief by her side, the loyal Growlithe taking in the situation immediately and only letting out a single whine at the unpleasant scents that assault his sensitive nose, before he stalwartly follows Josie as she continues to explore. The Burned Tower¡¯s basement is in a significantly better state than what lies above, the far smaller amount of wood involved in its construction having saved it from the amount of destruction the aboveground parts of the structure suffered.
Some minutes later, they actually end up in a brief battle, as an angry Zubat shows its displeasure at their ¡®intrusion¡¯ into its territory. Of course Chief dispatches it with just a few attacks, but it¡¯s still a useful find, as Josie quite confidently concludes that a weak Zubat would never live anywhere near a Magmar.
So, down they go.
She doesn¡¯t know how many basement floors there are to the Burned Tower, but there¡¯s at least two, as after ten minutes of searching she does find another set of stairs that lead down. As she descends however, the temperature noticeably rises by a few degrees, to Chief¡¯s clear delight. Josie doesn¡¯t begrudge her companion in the least, as the optimist in her takes it as a clear sign that if there¡¯s Magmar to be found, then she¡¯s on the right path.
However, as she enters the second level of the basement properly, she realizes with a start that there are definitely no Magmar to be found here. Instead, perhaps having chosen this floor for the slightly higher ambient temperature, she stumbles into what can only be described as a warren of Rattata. A warren that happens to include multiple Raticate.
As the whole pile of furry flesh turns beady eyes upon her, noses twitching irritably and overly large front teeth gleaming menacingly in what little ambient light there is, Josie can think of two options. First of all, she can immediately retreat up the stairs and hope that they won¡¯t follow her too far. Second, the option she¡¯ll have to take if she wants to go and hunt down that potential Magmar¡
Her hands graze along the pok¨¦balls at her belt, drawing out Ginger the Rapidash, Soot the Houndour and Lady the Vulpix in quick succession. With her full roster in front of her, Josie gives a simple order, ¡°We need to get through them, burn us a path!¡±
Chapter 25, pt.1
With Doro¡¯s match scheduled at eleven and Ran¡¯s match and the ensuing conversation only having ran for about fifteen minutes, he¡¯s got over an hour and a half to kill before he has to be in the stands to watch Doro¡¯s match. Which is good, because his first stop, the moment he exits the Gym, is of course the pok¨¦center.
It¡¯s quick and easy work to hand in the balls of Caesar the Arbok, Skorupi and Golbat, leaving him only with Croagunk and Aria the Ariados still in their balls and on his belt. Then, he wanders over to the computers. Considering the relatively early hour, it¡¯s no surprise to see only one of them in use, allowing Ran to settle down comfortably and, after attempting a video call which of course isn¡¯t answered as his father is working, send his father a long video message in which he recaps the battle and its outcome.
With that handled, he sends Grady an update, letting the younger trainer know about his triumph over Chuck and his future plans to head to Olivine. A response doesn¡¯t come immediately, likely meaning that Grady is too busy to notice or read Ran¡¯s message. An answer isn¡¯t particularly urgent by any means, so Ran is content to consider it a job well done, as he turns his attention to texting Josie.
Immediately, he runs into bigger issues, as he doesn¡¯t quite know how to start the message. There was something off about Josie¡¯s final few messages and he isn¡¯t quite sure what he did to cause it. All he knows is that he doesn¡¯t accidentally want to upset her.
He considers mirroring Josie¡¯s first message, proclaiming his victory and demanding acknowledgement of his awesomeness, but considering Josie¡¯s own admission that she might have started to resent him if they stuck together, he doesn¡¯t want to risk offending her in that way. Another option would be just letting her know when he¡¯s due to arrive in Olivine, but that¡¯s something he doesn¡¯t actually know yet, not until he¡¯s booked a ticket, which he won¡¯t do until he¡¯s had an opportunity to talk with Doro after her own match against Chuck.
Ultimately, he settles for a neutral update, simply informing Josie that with his goal in Cianwood accomplished, he¡¯ll be booking a ticket to take ship to Olivine sometime in the next few days. It¡¯s yet another message he isn¡¯t too happy with, as it reads more like a formal obligation than an update sent out of friendship or care. Still, he¡¯s sent it and, with Josie also not responding immediately, there¡¯s nothing left to be done but grab a quick snack before he wanders back over towards Chuck¡¯s Gym.
Once there, it¡¯s just a matter of heading up the right stairs to start making his way to the stands. Before he can enter however, his eyes fall on the large instructional posters plastered against the double doors. He scans them, rather than reading them in full, but even that cursory look is enough to reveal that the crowd¡¯s remarkably restrained behavior isn¡¯t so much a matter of choice on their behalf, as it is a demand levied upon them by Chuck and his Gym.
Not particularly bothered by the instructions, as they essentially boil down to ¡°be quiet and clap when the rest of the crowd does¡±, Ran opens the doors and moves to pick out a seat in the stands. It¡¯s an easy enough task, though he does immediately notice that there¡¯s been a significant increase in the amount of spectators, compared to the numbers that were present for his own match. Which makes sense, of course, considering the far more palatable hour of day.
Doro herself is no longer in the stands, clearly already having moved towards the waiting area. Which is a bit of a shame, as Ran wouldn¡¯t have minded an opportunity to exchange some words, but then he would have needed to arrive a lot earlier, as there¡¯s a clear ban on talking during the matches themselves. A ban which at least is lifted temporarily then, as Chuck chooses that moment to have his pok¨¦mon, a peculiar white and light blue humanoid figure with an onion-shaped head, Zen Headbutt its opponent, a Machop, into unconsciousness.
Ran joins the crowd in a round of polite applause as Chuck exchanges some words with the clearly disappointed trainer he just battled. The guy in question looks to be about Ran¡¯s age, though from the brief look Ran got of his Machop, he¡¯s quite confident that the other trainer isn¡¯t at Ran¡¯s level. Something which is confirmed when he gets a proper look at the other trainer¡¯s belt and only spots two pok¨¦balls on it.
Though Ran feels somewhat apologetic towards the other trainer for his uncharitable thoughts, he can¡¯t help but be gratified, in a way. After all, after spending so much time with Spencer, Josie and, recently, Doro, it¡¯s easy to forget that there¡¯s a lot of trainers out there that are a lot slower to grow, if they even do so at all. In that regard, it¡¯s an encouraging sight to see a rookie who is so clearly behind Ran in his own journey.
Of course, it¡¯s a bit of a pointless realization, as he already knew full well that he¡¯s miles ahead of schedule, but still. Affirmation is always nice.
He gets drawn out of his own self-justifying thoughts, as Doro finally enters the arena. She makes quite an entrance too, with her usual gold-and-pink training jacket nowhere to be found. Instead, she¡¯s only wearing her black tank top and black shorts with white stripes running up the sides. Complimented by some white boxing tape which she¡¯s got wrapped around her hands, it¡¯s a look that, if she wasn¡¯t here for a pok¨¦mon battle, would make any viewer believe that she¡¯d be stepping into the arena herself.
Chuck for his part seems unbothered, though there¡¯s a clear eagerness to him at the sight of the budding fighting-type specialist that was missing for his earlier matches. Ran can¡¯t exactly blame the man, as, unlike for example a poison-on-poison match, with no mutual resistances and similar mentalities about training and battling, fighting-types might well prefer fighting each other over any other possible challenger. It wouldn¡¯t be too surprising to see that extend to the trainers as well, which in fact seems like it perfectly explains the existence of such niche-competitions as the P1 Grand Prix, over in Celadon City.
The referee swiftly runs through the rules once more, similar to the rules Ran himself was subject to, which makes sense as Doro is also challenging at the fourth-badge level. There¡¯s a difference in which badges they¡¯ve acquired beforehand of course, with Ran having previously acquired the Zephyr, Hive and Plain badges, whilst Doro is the proud owner of the Plain, Fog and Mineral Badges, but that¡¯s an irrelevant detail under the circumstances.
The match starts with another surprising mirror match, after Doro¡¯s earlier contest between her own Hitmonchan, Precise, and the gym trainer¡¯s Hitmonchan, during the Croagunk-race. This time, her Hitmonlee, Strong, faces one of its fellow Kicking Pok¨¦mon. Both bounce in place loosely as they wait for the fight to start, their trainers similarly rolling their heads and noticeably loosening their shoulders for a few seconds.
Then, the fight begins.
It¡¯s an intriguing match, with neither Hitmonlee seeming to have any way to hit the other with a super-effective attack, it all comes down to the pure essence of fighting-types, those being physical prowess and technique. Though Strong would undoubtedly be outmatched by any Hitmonlee Chuck would consider part of his true elite pok¨¦mon, he clearly has the advantage against what Chuck considers an appropriate challenge for a fourth badge level pok¨¦mon.
Neither trainer really gives many orders, as the Hitmonlee dance around each other whilst snapping kicks at each other, the fight too high-paced for either trainer to risk directly distracting their team member. Ultimately, between its superior physique and cleaner technique, Doro¡¯s Hitmonlee starts to fully take over the match, forcing Chuck¡¯s own battler completely onto the defensive.
It¡¯s a state of affairs that can¡¯t last indefinitely, but the way in which it comes to an end still comes as a surprise to Ran. Having been solely on the defensive for the past minute, Chuck¡¯s Hitmonlee makes the mistake of attempting to lash out with a Blaze Kick, only for Strong to lean back far enough to get out of reach. He actually bends back so far that he has to put his hands on the ground behind him to keep himself from falling. However, this leaves him in the perfect position to be the faster of the two to recover, as he lashes out with a Low Kick to sweep his opponent¡¯s planted leg.
Chuck¡¯s Hitmonlee hits the ground and, before it can even think of recovering, is on the receiving end of a punishing Double Kick that knocks it out, as Strong puts all of his weight onto his arms for a moment in an impromptu handstand, before launching himself upwards and landing on his prone opponent with a heavy double stomp. Doro takes the lead in convincing fashion, to a round of polite applause from the crowd, which Ran joins in with, almost overeager in his enthusiasm before he manages to restrain himself to simply clapping along calmly with the other spectators.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
The withdrawal of Chuck¡¯s Hitmonlee and the accompanying applause only provides a brief intermission in the bout, as Chuck congratulates Doro on her well-trained Hitmonlee, a compliment she accepts with a polite nod, before he sends out his next combatant. It¡¯s a Heracross, which draws twin frowns from Ran and Doro, likely for similar reasons. Its dual-typing gives it a defensive advantage over Hitmonlee which the Kicking Pok¨¦mon only has a single, easily-scouted answer to, and Heracross tends to learn Aerial Ace, which is far more of a predicament.
Because Aerial Ace is renowned for its speed of execution and precision, making it far more challenging for Strong the Hitmonlee to defend himself against Heracross¡¯ super-effective attack, than the other way around. Ran isn¡¯t sure just what Doro¡¯s own internal thought process looks like, but from the frown on her face, it¡¯s rather similar to his own.
Doro doesn¡¯t balk or hesitate however, simply initiating the next stage of the fight by ordering Strong to Focus Energy and prepare to counter Heracross with a Blaze Kick when it closes in. It¡¯s a clever move, assuming Heracross has no self-boosting or ranged moves of its own, as it forces Heracross to close the distance, giving Hitmonlee an extra moment or two to try and dodge the inevitable Aerial Ace.
It¡¯s a good idea, in theory. Unfortunately, though it¡¯s hardly a move that sees much action at the highest levels for its relatively limited impact, all Heracross innately know the move Leer. Chuck is more than happy to remind Doro of that detail, immediately instructing his Heracross to carry the move out. So, even as Strong bounces in place, a small aura of fighting-type energy briefly flaring up around him, Heracross meets its eyes with an intimidating look of its own that, through the bizarre and still ill-understood mechanics of pok¨¦mon battling and type energies, weakens Strong¡¯s innate defenses.
If the stand-off continues, it will increasingly favor Heracross, which is why Ran isn¡¯t surprised to see Doro snap out an order for Strong to close in. Immediately, Doro¡¯s first fighter lopes forwards at speed, only for Heracross to meet it eagerly, large arms easily coming up to block Hitmonlee¡¯s first few kicks.
Both trainers give the order for their pok¨¦mon to use their respective super-effective moves at the same time, with Heracross¡¯ horn and Strong¡¯s foot obediently glowing with flying-type energy and bursting into flame respectively. Heracross is the faster, however, simply jerking its head down sharply in a move that at once lets its Aerial Ace slice across Strong¡¯s body, whilst also allowing it to duck under Hitmonlee¡¯s spinning Blaze Kick.
It¡¯s a hard and clean hit that clearly hurts Strong a lot, but Doro¡¯s battler isn¡¯t down for the count yet, simply spinning through into a second Blaze Kick, the fire only seeming to intensify. Heracross, caught unaware by Hitmonlee spinning a full revolution to execute the same attack again, straightens, only to catch Hitmonlee¡¯s burning foot directly to the side of its head. The impact is crunching, the bug-fighting type¡¯s carapace noticeably cracked and charred as it''s sent stumbling backwards a few steps.
Chuck doesn¡¯t hesitate to order another Aerial Ace however and, to Heracross¡¯ credit, it immediately snaps out of its daze, rushing to meet a charging Strong, who tries to capitalize on his temporary advantage. At such close range and with such speeds, there¡¯s no way for Strong to avoid the retaliatory Aerial Ace. Heracross actually uses its horn to throw its opponent into the air this time, only to then fly up and meet his falling target in the air with a punishing hit that knocks Strong out before he¡¯s even hit the ground.
Another round of applause rings out, though Ran has no trouble sticking to the acceptable volume this time, clapping out of respect rather than enthusiasm now that Chuck has brought the match back to equal. In pure numbers, at least, because even a cursory look at Heracross¡¯ shows that it clearly took a lot of damage, leaving the advantage firmly with Doro.
She doesn¡¯t hesitate to send out Precise the Hitmonchan, who only takes a moment to take in his surroundings, before nodding eagerly when his trainer orders him to close in. Chuck lets Precise close in on his Heracross, before ordering another Aerial Ace, but this time it doesn¡¯t land, as Doro counters with a Fake Out that perfectly catches Heracross out.
It¡¯s wobbling, but not done yet, another attempt at Aerial Ace pre-empted wonderfully by Detect. Then, before Heracross can muster any further defense, Doro barks out a sharp order for Precise to use Fire Punch. It¡¯s the decisive blow, as Precise¡¯s fist, wreathed in flames, smacks Heracross right between the eyes, on the base of its horn. The Single Horn Pok¨¦mon goes cross-eyed for a moment, the flames licking at its carapace and leaving a large black scorch mark, before slowly falling backwards, like a tree being felled.
Precise proudly returns to Doro¡¯s side of the field, completely unhurt and fully fresh to continue the battle. As he moves, he raises his fists in obvious triumph, taking in the newest round of applause from the crowd with evident pride. Ran makes sure to match the rest of the crowd in enthusiasm, even as his thoughts race ahead enthusiastically.
With Precise fully fresh and Quick the Hitmontop still in reserve, assuming she doesn¡¯t intend to use Toff the Croagunk - Ran had double-checked whether Doro meant ¡®Tough¡¯ when she told him its name, only for his newfound rival to look at him as if he were insane - Chuck¡¯s third pok¨¦mon needs to be a lot more impressive than what he¡¯s seen fit to use so far. That seems unlikely, which leaves it extremely likely that Doro is about to win the Storm Badge as well.
When Chuck reveals its third pok¨¦mon however, Ran discovers that he may have to reevaluate the thought that Doro¡¯s final challenge won¡¯t be of a different caliber than what has come before. The humanoid pok¨¦mon, its upper body, arms, head and feet gray, whilst its legs and headdress are red-and-yellow, reminds Ran vaguely of the blue-and-white pok¨¦mon with the onion-shaped head he¡¯d briefly seen Chuck use in his previous match.
The pok¨¦mon announces itself calmly, letting out a brief call as it turns to face Chuck, bowing first to its trainer before repeating the gesture towards Doro and Precise, ¡°Medicham.¡±
Doro is clearly just as unsure about just what she¡¯s facing as Ran himself is, her whole stance screaming hesitation as she gazes uncertainly at her opponent. Fortunately, she doesn¡¯t let her uncertainty stop her from giving orders, as she instructs Hitmonchan to use Agility. It¡¯s a call that leaves the initiative with an unknown pok¨¦mon, which Ran isn¡¯t too wild about, but under the circumstances he understands her decision.
Unfortunately, Chuck doesn¡¯t seem to mind in the least, as he orders his Medicham to use Work Up. Which is a move that has all kinds of alarm bells going off in Ran¡¯s head. Because Work Up doesn¡¯t just boost a pok¨¦mon¡¯s Attack, but its Special Attacks as well. He worriedly glances towards Doro, only to let out a relieved sigh when Doro¡¯s pinched expression makes it very clear that she¡¯s caught on to that seemingly insignificant detail as well.
Immediately, she orders Hitmonchan to fire off a Vacuum Wave, only for what might well be a worst case scenario to reveal itself, as Chuck calmly orders his Medicham to counter with a Psybeam.
Vacuum Wave is the faster move to be executed, with Precise firing it off within a second and the move swiftly crossing the distance. Medicham seems to deliberately wait for half a second, just long enough for the Vacuum Wave to hit it and dissipate. It doesn¡¯t appear as impacted by the attack as it should, lending credence to Ran¡¯s growing worry that it doesn¡¯t just know psychic-type moves, but that it¡¯s a proper fighting-psychic type.
The Psybeam crosses the distance swiftly, with Precise unable to muster the last-second Detect Doro calls for in time. He still tries to hurriedly sidestep to the right, at the very least not taking the full brunt of Medicham¡¯s attack, but the glowing pinkish-purplish beam still wings the Hitmonchan¡¯s right shoulder, a ripple effect seeming to radiate out from there and towards his head.
Precise is clearly hurt from the super-effective hit, but by no means is he out of the match yet, as Doro hurriedly instructs him to close the distance. It is here that Agility proves its value, as Medicham appears to be roughly as fast as Precise would be under normal circumstances. With the boost to its speed provided by Agility however, Medicham stands no chance of preventing its opponent from closing the distance.
Instead, Chuck calls for a Zen Headbutt, only for Precise to start rifling Bullet Punches into Medicham¡¯s face with unerring accuracy, disrupting its attempts to muster up the concentration needed for the move. The punches land with one painful thud after another, Medicham actually stumbling backwards as it attempts to defend or block Precise¡¯s hits. Its noodly arms are no match for the Punching Pok¨¦mon however, the momentum of the match firmly shifting to Doro¡¯s favor.
Chuck waits for multiple seconds to see if Medicham will manage to get its Zen Headbutt off despite the barrage it¡¯s suffering. It¡¯s too long a wait, in Ran¡¯s opinion, but finally the Gym leader orders his final battler to use Detect, at which point it starts managing to dodge Precise¡¯s hits by a hair, again and again and again.
Doro wastes no time in ordering a Feint, which successfully gets Medicham to dodge into a punch, but the impact lacks the raw power of the previous attacks. It¡¯s enough of a reprieve for Medicham to finally muster the Zen Headbutt Chuck calls for, its red headdress glowing with a slab of concentrated psychic-type energy.
The Medicham has taken an absolute battering however, clearly on its last legs as it finally snaps its head forwards with frightening speed. Precise stands no chance of preventing the hit from landing, but he does manage to snap off a final Bullet Punch directly into his opponent¡¯s torso, just as the Zen Headbutt connects.
Both pok¨¦mon are sent flying backwards, sliding on their backs and throwing up sand. Medicham is unfortunate, crashing hard into a boulder after sliding just a short distance. Precise is more fortunate, his own involuntary path not having any boulders on it, as he more gradually comes to a stop on the sand. Neither pok¨¦mon stirs for a few seconds, the referee swiftly glancing from one to the other, clearly ready to proclaim a double knock-out.
Just before she can, however, there¡¯s movement.
Precise the Hitmonchan rolls over onto his belly, fists planting into the ground before he slowly starts to lever himself upwards. It¡¯s a maneuver that isn¡¯t matched by Medicham, who remains prone. The referee announces Medicham¡¯s defeat and Chuck¡¯s along with it. Ran jumps upright, barely restraining himself from cheering wildly as he claps with an enthusiasm that draws a few side-eyed glances, but little more than that.
Doro has won the Storm Badge!
Chapter 25, pt.2
Ran and Doro end up meeting up outside of the Cianwood City Gym, walking towards the Pok¨¦center together so that Doro can hand Strong and Precise¡¯s pok¨¦balls in for treatment. It¡¯ll leave her with as many team members still available as Ran himself has, but that doesn¡¯t change the fact that she beat Chuck three to one, whereas Ran went three to two.
It¡¯s something the dark-skinned girl delightedly points out whilst she puts her training jacket back on, drawing an amused laugh from Ran. His own counterpoint, that he didn¡¯t exclusively rely on team members that have been with him from the start comes easily, only for Doro to retort that she didn¡¯t have his type advantages. It¡¯s an enjoyable bit of banter to exchange, especially as the mood remains jovial and both Ran¡¯s congratulations to Doro and hers to him are equally genuine.
Their conversation remains lighthearted and easygoing all the way through Doro handing in her team and the two of them agreeing on a place to have lunch at. It¡¯s only as they are both taking their first bites of their respective sandwiches, that Ran turns the conversation to a more serious topic.
¡°So,¡± He starts after swallowing his second bite of sandwich, ¡°Are you sticking around Cianwood for a while longer, or are you leaving soon as well?¡±
¡°I have some interest in training in Chuck¡¯s Gym for a few days,¡± Doro responds easily, ¡°But I believe my team would benefit more from such a thing if it was complete, so I was not planning to do so for long. Why do you ask?¡±
¡°Well, I¡¯m planning on heading to Olivine and, if you felt like heading that way, I figured we could take the same ship there.¡± Ran responds easily, extending an invitation with a soft smile.
Doro blinks slowly, once, then twice. When she speaks, it is with a question, rather than with a proper answer, ¡°You realize that I have already beaten Jasmine, yes?¡±
¡°I do,¡± Ran allows without hesitation, ¡°But you¡¯ve also already beaten Whitney, so I figure you¡¯re either headed for Azalea or Mahogany next, and seeing as I don¡¯t know which one you have in mind, there¡¯s no harm in extending the invitation, right?¡±
¡°I suppose not,¡± Doro agrees after a moment¡¯s thought, ¡°I shall tell you of my plans, then. I was planning on heading to Azalea Town next. Ilex Forest shall provide me with a Heracross and I do not wish to postpone my fated meeting with Falkner¡¯s flying-types any longer than necessary. It is why I was planning to take a boat to Goldenrod, when I leave here.¡±
¡°Alright, fair enough.¡± Ran agrees lightly, following Doro¡¯s reasoning without trouble and, although it doesn¡¯t align with his own plans as nicely as he might have hoped, finding no fault in her logic.
Doro doesn¡¯t acknowledge his response, simply continuing to speak placidly, ¡°However, the season isn¡¯t even halfway into its third month and I already have four of the eight badges required. I enjoyed Olivine and I believe I would enjoy traveling with you, for a short while at least. Plus, I am curious to see more of your Croagunk. I believe it would be educational for us both to observe the impact our training has on them. So, when were you planning to set sail?¡±
Ran, caught off-guard by Doro¡¯s seeming one-eighty from passing on his offer to actively working to accommodate the offer, struggles for a moment to formulate a response. When he manages to speak, it¡¯s more hesitant than he would have liked, ¡°I was thinking of taking the earliest possible ship, but if you want to spend a few days training at Chuck¡¯s Gym, I¡¯m happy to accommodate. So depending on when the ferries to Olivine go, something in four or five days?¡±
Doro chuckles, her surprisingly deep voice making the sound resemble a low bass. Her response is amused, but not mean-spirited, ¡°Cianwood-Olivine is a far busier route than Cianwood-Goldenrod, Ran. There is a ship every day. But four days from today sounds good to me, we can go and book our tickets when we¡¯re done here.¡±
¡°I did not know that,¡± Ran admits with an apologetic grin, ¡°But that works for me. I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll join you at Chuck¡¯s Gym yet, but I¡¯ll figure it out by tomorrow morning.¡±
¡°Good.¡± Doro responds simply, before dedicating her full focus to her sandwich.
It¡¯s an example Ran enthusiastically mirrors, both young trainers wolfing down their meals in short order, once they don¡¯t have to carry a conversation any more.
Afterwards, they make their way to the ferry service ticket station, where it¡¯s easy work to book tickets for a similar passage to the one Ran booked for his journey from Goldenrod City to Cianwood City, though the journey is supposed to take a few more hours, on account of the ferry to Olivine being both larger and significantly slower than the one Ran took from Goldenrod.
Just as they¡¯re finishing up with that, Ran¡¯s pok¨¦gear buzzes with an incoming message, a quick glance at the screen showing Grady¡¯s name. He doesn¡¯t immediately open the message to read it, but when they exit the ticket office and Doro admits that she wants to go and get a work-out in, it does give Ran a reason to decline her invitation for him to join her. Tempting as the idea of watching Doro work out might be, the idea of not being able to keep up with her is more than enough for him to pass up on the opportunity.
He wanders back to the pok¨¦center, eager to go and check if his recovering team members are ready to be discharged yet, as he opens up Grady¡¯s message. It is, in fact, just a singular message, though it is a long one, as Grady once more sings his praises before requesting a full recap of the battle and reacting enthusiastically to the possibility of encountering Ran in Olivine, as his own battle against Morty is scheduled to take place three days from today, after which he¡¯ll be heading in that direction himself.
Ran sends back a brief response of his own, wishing Grady the best of luck against Morty and agreeing to let him know just when he¡¯s in Olivine, so that they can coordinate to meet up. He finishes typing the message just as he enters the pok¨¦center, allowing him to easily move on to the reception desk and inquire about the condition of Skorupi, Caesar and Golbat.
The news is good, with Ran receiving all three in their balls, though he does also receive a topical salve to apply to Golbat¡¯s wing a few times over the coming days, the membrane apparently healed but still tender and fragile. For Skorupi and Caesar, no such warnings apply, both having healed swiftly and once more ready for action. Not that Ran intends to put them through any work for the rest of the day, of course, but it¡¯s comforting to have the weight of a nearly full belt on his hips once more.
He accepts the jar of topical salve with a polite smile, storing it away securely before moving away from the pok¨¦center¡¯s main area and towards his room. Golbat¡¯s lingering injury, compared to his other two team members, is a strong reminder that the team¡¯s most headstrong member came worryingly close to losing them the match, when he had neither right nor reason to.
Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
Of course Ran wants to convene with the whole team and catch them up on their victory over Chuck as soon as possible, but Golbat will need a private word, first. It¡¯s with that thought in mind, that he settles into his room, placing the jar of salve on his nightstand, before deliberately releasing Golbat onto his bed, just a foot away from Ran¡¯s own seated, cross-legged form.
Golbat glances around sharply for a moment, before noticeably deflating, a pained twitch running through him when he relaxes his wings only for his not yet fully recovered membrane to make its presence felt. Ran doesn¡¯t enjoy seeing his team member in pain and he has to suppress an instinctive urge to reach for the jar of salve, but he wants Golbat to understand what he¡¯s about to do before he does it, at the very least.
¡°Easy there, Golbat,¡± he tells his pok¨¦mon, the Bat Pok¨¦mon¡¯s large eyes coming to rest balefully on his trainer¡¯s face, ¡°You took a serious hit, the pok¨¦center couldn¡¯t patch you up fully, so you¡¯ll be feeling that for a few more days. I¡¯ve got a salve to put on it, so carefully extend your wing and I¡¯ll put it on, alright? It should help with the pain.¡±
Golbat clearly isn¡¯t happy with the situation, his large feet shuffling awkwardly on the blanket for a moment as he clearly itches to take flight and claim a more solitary perch, but he does begrudgingly extend his wing, the movement clearly physically unpleasant.
Ran unscrews the cap from the jar of salve, slathering some across his hand, before taking a good look at the membrane of Golbat¡¯s right wing. The dark purple is noticeably lighter where the tear had been, seeming thinner as well. It¡¯s a displeasing sight that goes entirely too well with the many thin and faded scars on Golbat¡¯s body, a carry-over from his time as a Zubat. At least it makes it very easy to identify precisely where the salve needs to be applied, which is why Ran immediately gets to work.
After a few tense seconds, Golbat seems to relax slightly, stance becoming just a bit more relaxed, a clear sign of the relief brought on by the treatment. Ran allows his pok¨¦mon just a few seconds to suffer the treatment in silence, then, he speaks.
¡°You almost cost us the match today.¡± He announces straightforwardly, immediately feeling Golbat stiffen in response.
Ran waits for a few seconds, continuing to treat Golbat calmly as he lets the message sink in. Finally, just as he spots the telltale tensing of Golbat¡¯s jaw that indicates he¡¯s about to shriek plaintively, Ran speaks once more.
¡°Swagger doesn¡¯t make pok¨¦mon attack. Swagger confuses pok¨¦mon. If you¡¯d failed to carry out my orders because of Swagger, that¡¯d be one thing, but you outright disregarded them. Don¡¯t deny it.¡± Ran informs his third team member, receiving only an annoyed glare from Golbat, rather than the verbal response that he¡¯d clearly been about to release just before.
Golbat¡¯s annoyance draws out Ran¡¯s own, though he does continue to dutifully rub salve into the injured wing. Neither one of them makes a sound, with Golbat continuing to glare balefully at Ran, whilst Ran completely ignores his pok¨¦mon¡¯s ire in favor of making sure that he properly coats the entirety of the healing membrane with salve. The stand-off continues like that for long seconds, until finally, Golbat huffs out an aggrieved breath.
Ran takes that as a sign of defeat, finally meeting the Bat Pok¨¦mon¡¯s eyes once more, as he continues to speak, ¡°I don¡¯t mind you having a temper, Golbat. I don¡¯t mind you preferring to be on your own either. Those are things that make you who you are and I don¡¯t want your personality to change, because I do care a lot for you. But when you let those things dictate your actions to the point where you don¡¯t listen to me, that¡¯s where we run into a problem.¡±
Golbat hunches into himself slightly, which Ran takes as a sign that he¡¯s getting through to the seemingly repentant poison-flying type.
¡°This isn¡¯t the first time your temper has caused trouble, Golbat.¡± Ran reiterates, sighing heavily, before he starts to list off examples.
¡°You got badly hurt against Morton¡¯s Ampharos in a fight you caused when I was about to back off. You took another bad electric-type attack when we battled Chuck, because you didn¡¯t wait for my orders.¡± He lists off, counting along on his fingers, before shifting focus.
¡°It isn¡¯t even just during battles. During the race, you didn¡¯t even wait for me to give the okay before taking off. If my grip had been worse, I could¡¯ve gotten seriously hurt there. Plus, at the beach, you were flat out disobedient, before Aria talked to you.¡± Ran continues his tally, before finally coming to a stop for a moment.
He looks taxingly at Golbat, who seemingly doesn¡¯t know where to look under the weight of Ran¡¯s disapproval.
Ran isn¡¯t done yet however, as he finally continues in a softer voice, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t even mind it as much if you didn¡¯t end up paying the price every time. When I give you orders, I do so because that¡¯s the best call at that time. You¡¯ve got instincts, instincts that usually boil down to get close and bite whatever you¡¯re mad at, but that isn¡¯t always the right call. I don¡¯t want to keep patching you up after you get hurt because you get your temper up and don¡¯t listen to me, you understand?¡± Ran explains genuinely, his words heartfelt and hopefully getting through to Golbat because of that.
He doesn¡¯t immediately get a response, Golbat simply remaining quiet as Ran continues to slather his wing in salve. Ran finishes after another half minute of work, at which point Golbat slowly tests out his wing, flexing it up and down and bending it this way and that for a few seconds. He doesn¡¯t seem particularly inclined to acknowledge his trainer¡¯s words, gaze already shifting towards the perch he¡¯s spent the past few nights hanging down from.
Ran isn¡¯t content to leave it at that however, deciding that, for lack of a carrot, he¡¯ll have to opt for the stick, ¡°If you¡¯re not willing to listen to me over your own ego, Golbat, there¡¯ll come a point where we may have to re-evaluate if I¡¯m the right trainer for you.¡±
Golbat¡¯s eyes widen in surprise, his eager eyeing of his distant perch entirely forgotten, as he meets Ran¡¯s own stern expression.
¡°I don¡¯t want to,¡± Ran clarifies severely, ¡°But either I¡¯m your trainer all of the time, not just when you feel like listening to me, or I¡¯m better off not being your trainer at all.¡±
That, apparently, is the right snare to hit, as Golbat hops forwards on the bed, closing the distance with his trainer, before gently placing the top of his head against Ran¡¯s chest, letting out a soft, keening cry that Ran easily translates as both an apology and an acceptance of his demands. Without hesitation, he runs his hands over the parts of Golbat¡¯s form that aren¡¯t recovering from injury, eager to clarify that a genuine apology is all he needed.
¡°Just listen to me and keep your temper, Golbat, that¡¯s all I ask. I don¡¯t expect you to be perfect, alright? We all make mistakes, change is never an instantaneous thing, just show me that you¡¯re trying and try not to get yourself hurt when you don¡¯t need to, alright?¡± Ran asks, receiving a short and affirmative screech from Golbat.
¡°Alright then,¡± Ran accepts with a smile, before finally speaking the words that he knows Golbat has been eagerly waiting for, ¡°You can get to your perch for now, I¡¯ll let the others out and catch everyone up on the match, alright?¡±
Golbat eagerly nods his assent, before doing as instructed and enthusiastically flapping to his perch. Ran observes the movement for a few long seconds, pleased to see that, for all that Golbat¡¯s wing is still tender, it doesn¡¯t actually seem to hinder him to any significant degree for a short flight. With that handled, he taps the rest of his pok¨¦balls in quick succession, letting the rest of the team out.
Aria immediately heads for the wardrobe, Skorupi and Caesar both start out on the large pok¨¦mon bed and Croagunk moves for the nearby desk chair. After a few frantic seconds of movement, with Skorupi now clinging on to Ran¡¯s back, Aria in the wardrobe, Croagunk merrily spinning around on the desk chair and Caesar¡¯s head lounging in his lap even as the majority of his starters¡¯s body remains on the pok¨¦mon bed, Ran¡¯s team is ready for him to recount their match against Chuck.
He does so enthusiastically, smoothly briefing his team on the entirety of the fight, though he does take care to gloss over Golbat¡¯s behavior, not particularly wanting Caesar to get angry on his trainer¡¯s behalf. The team is in an excellent mood by the end of things, though Aria, even as she ¡®hums¡¯ a merry tune, does insist on getting a closer look at Golbat¡¯s wing, which he clearly only allows because none of them are capable of refusing Aria.
As the team listens enthusiastically to Skorupi, who starts with what is clearly his own recounting of his part of the match, Ran¡¯s pok¨¦gear buzzes once more. Glancing at it to see Josie¡¯s name, he isn¡¯t particularly proud of just how swiftly he opens the message.
Josie: Cool, see you there
Chapter 26, pt.1
Their final days in Cianwood City pass easily, with Ran and Doro both putting their teams through their paces in Chuck¡¯s trainer facilities. They¡¯re nowhere close to the scale and sophistication of what Whitney offered back in Goldenrod, but then, even with Cianwood City¡¯s significant prosperity due to tourism, that¡¯s simply an unreasonable bar to set.
When freed from an unfair comparison to Goldenrod¡¯s facilities, Cianwood Gym¡¯s own offerings become perfectly sufficient. The Gym¡¯s chosen type-specialty is readily apparent and seems to pour out of every part of the building, but that isn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing.
Like with the rest of Chuck¡¯s Gym, the inspiration for the training facilities is clearly a martial arts dojo, with the building largely fashioned out of wood. There¡¯s a large open courtyard, tamped down dirt making for a good place for pok¨¦mon to run through drills and new move combinations. It¡¯s the perfect location for Skorupi and Croagunk in particular, as Ran focuses heavily on them for the remaining duration of their stay in Cianwood City.
For Skorupi, that boils down to a lot of work on his maneuverability, reflexes and defense at close range. It¡¯s good fun for Ran and Croagunk, who gets to assist, as the pair of them spend more than a few hours pelting Skorupi with tennis balls and other throwable objects, as the poison-bug-type is forced to scramble around whilst using his tail to ward off what blows he can¡¯t dodge. Additionally, when not working out in the courtyard, they continue work on Venoshock, which Skorupi finally begins to manage with repeated success, finally becoming competent enough at the move for Ran to consider it mastered.
It does leave him at somewhat of a crossroads with Skorupi, as he doesn¡¯t actually know what might be a good next move to teach his first Sinnoh-native team member. Or it would have, if he hadn¡¯t received another congratulatory text message from Bugsy, just a day after he¡¯d beaten Chuck.
Bugsy doesn¡¯t even pretend to have had a reason for contacting Ran this time, simply starting his message with congratulations before swiftly moving on to a few questions about how Skorupi has been doing and whether Ran will be staying in Cianwood for a while longer, as Bugsy¡¯s sponsored trainer should be arriving there in a few weeks. The feelings that Bugsy¡¯s continued attempts to reach out to him evoke are¡ complicated, but, with his own response to Bugsy¡¯s previous messages perhaps having been somewhat paranoid in retrospect, now, Ran can¡¯t help but look at the text thread as if it might well be the solution to his Skorupi-related problems.
Ultimately, though he deliberates over his response for multiple hours, he actually sends Bugsy a brief response. His message to Bugsy is extremely to the point, as Ran manages to thank the Gym leader for his kind words, let him know that he¡¯ll be long gone from Cianwood by the time this ¡°Jeff¡± arrives and that Skorupi is progressing well but that Ran needs some kind of idea of what moves it can normally learn in a grand total of three sentences. He explicitly doesn¡¯t actually ask Bugsy if he can provide any additional information on Skorupi, unwilling to stoop to that level, but when Bugsy texts back later that evening with a short list of moves, Ran, though it pains him to do so, immediately copies them down into his planning notebook.
He even finds the strength to muster another, genuine, thank you message for Bugsy. Though once that¡¯s handled he firmly ignores Bugsy¡¯s next message, entirely unwilling to actually start a proper ¡®chat¡¯ with Azalea Town¡¯s Gym leader.
Still, for as unpleasant as the thought of actually receiving help from Bugsy is, he can¡¯t deny its usefulness, as towards the end of their final day of training in Cianwood Gym¡¯s trainer facilities, once Skorupi has truly mastered Venoshock, they get started on Knock Off. The Dark-type move¡¯s known ability to interfere with held items, either, as the name implies, through knocking items off or through using dark-type energy to interfere with their effects, will be an extremely useful tool to add to his team¡¯s bag of tricks.
Of course Skorupi has a lot of work left ahead of him, but between his future evolution that¡¯ll see him gain the dark-typing and the clear signs of him mustering at least some faint amounts of dark-type energy around his tail once Ran has explained the move, Ran is confident that Bugsy¡¯s list of moves is genuine. With a new move under his belt, his overall maneuverability significantly improved and a clear path for future growth ahead, Ran can only be extremely pleased with Skorupi¡¯s progress.
The same can be said for Croagunk, though there are more than a few key differences. For one, unlike with Skorupi, Ran has no issues whatsoever with directly approaching Chuck for a list of all of the moves Croagunk should be capable of learning. With the air between them cleared, as far as Ran is concerned, he¡¯s more than happy to rely on the resource that the Gym Leader, who has already trained at least one high-level Toxicroak, presents.
Chuck is willing to provide a list of possible moves, which brings Ran to the second major point of difference between Skorupi and Croagunk, as Croagunk has a convenient rival to compare himself against for the entirety of their three day training period. Doro¡¯s Croagunk clearly puts a lot more stock in the rivalry than Ran¡¯s far more lackadaisical Croagunk, but both trainers see the benefits in letting the two spar and work out together for multiple hours each day. There¡¯s no major differences in their approaches just yet, though Ran does note that Doro puts more emphasis on pure strength training and on refining her Croagunk¡¯s striking technique, whilst he himself spends far more time and attention working on his own Croagunk¡¯s speed and the move Poison Jab.
Doro¡¯s Croagunk dominates the spars, but Ran still feels like his chosen training will prove more beneficial down the line, accrediting the outcome of the current spars to the greater bulk of Doro¡¯s Croagunk compared to his own. It helps that, unlike Doro¡¯s Croagunk, his own new team member successfully learns how to use Poison Jab by the end of their third day of training. They don¡¯t really have time to get started on any other moves, which is good, as Chuck¡¯s list is quite comprehensive, so not having to decide on the spot is something Ran actually doesn¡¯t mind in the least, torn between Bullet Punch and Toxic as he is.
Outside of the two members he¡¯s added to his team over the course of the past two and a half months, there¡¯s also the original trio of course, though they spend most of their time working out elsewhere, rather than out in the open courtyard.
Golbat, Ran actually orders to sit in on multiple tranquility sessions, led by Chuck¡¯s father. It¡¯s very clearly something Golbat doesn¡¯t enjoy in the least, but it ensures both that Golbat doesn¡¯t tax his wing too badly, whilst it continues to recover, as well as hopefully helping to further curtail the Bat Pok¨¦mon¡¯s notorious temper. As part of the tranquility sessions, which are essentially a combination of pok¨¦mon-yoga and meditation, at least based on the glimpses Ran catches of them, Golbat also has to spend a lot of time in close proximity to other pok¨¦mon and people, without lashing out. If that can help socialize him a bit better so that he won¡¯t always be quite as reclusive as he tends to be, then that¡¯d be a nice side benefit, though Ran honestly isn¡¯t holding out much hope in that regard.
Finally, Caesar and Aria actually get the most free reign of the lot, as Ran sets them loose upon the part of Chuck¡¯s facilities that are essentially a private beach for large swathes of time. A serious excavation effort has allowed for the large walled-in area to have a small groundwater pond, the rest of the terrain simply being loose sand.
Aria, when not working with Croagunk to also perfect Poison Jab, something she finishes up with early on the second day, gets to make free use of Ran¡¯s beach umbrella, a video of another Ariados using Sticky Web playing on repeat on Ran¡¯s pok¨¦gear, which he leaves wrapped around the umbrella¡¯s pole. It¡¯s a terribly tricky move and one Ran doesn¡¯t expect Aria to learn all that soon, but whenever he has a moment to spare and visit her, she¡¯s either watching the video intently or working on turning the beach umbrella into a teepee again, which he can only take to mean that she¡¯s working on it.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
As for Caesar, the loose sand and the events of their match against Chuck have both made a glaring weakness in his toolset readily apparent, as well as providing the perfect opportunity for him to work on remedying things. Ran¡¯s orders to him are brief and simple, before he lets his starter spend most of the three days pursuing the goal Ran set for him however he pleases.
All Ran asks of Caesar, for the entirety of their three day training period at Cianwood City¡¯s Gym, is that Caesar get started on learning the move Dig.
It is, from the observations Ran gets to make whenever he has time to swing by the private beach area, a hellish assignment. Ground-type energy doesn¡¯t come naturally to the Arbok-line, which Ran knows, but it¡¯s one thing to know something in theory and another to actually observe it in practice. Caesar gives it a valiant go of course, and he undeniably starts to muster up the correct energy type over the course of the three days, but his attempts at digging are by no means the smooth tunnelling that Dig should be capable of, but more a slow wriggling into the ground, which takes over ten seconds to complete. Even then, he¡¯s got nowhere near the underground mobility that he should, not to mention that he gets to practice the move on loose sand, rather than the far more resistant surfaces most of his future battles will be taking place on.
But, that Caesar manages progress at all, especially considering how much time Ran spends on catching up Skorupi and Croagunk, is really a miracle in its own right. It leaves him enthusiastic and complimentary of Caesar¡¯s work ethic, when he runs through the day¡¯s work every evening, to his starter¡¯s obvious delight.
By the end of the three days, his team is fitter, stronger and better-trained than ever, with Golbat¡¯s wing finally fully healed up and all of them ready and eager to travel once more and get a break from the non-stop training. The same can¡¯t quite be said for Doro¡¯s team, as though they¡¯re all also stronger now than they were just three days ago, she wouldn¡¯t be a proper fighting-type specialist if they didn¡¯t all appear quite mournful about leaving Chuck¡¯s Gym behind.
Ran offers a comforting shoulder pat to Doro as they leave the Cianwood City Gym¡¯s training facilities for the final time, before they head out to go and have dinner. It¡¯s on the way to a charming little bistro, that Ran gets an update from Grady he¡¯d been eagerly anticipating.
Grady: Beat Morty! 3-2, started out with Guardian, he beat Misdreavus, but went down to Haunter. Then used Bob, who blew right through Haunter. His final pok¨¦mon¡ actually I won¡¯t spoil that, but it was exciting! Bob was losing, so he used Self-Destruct (don¡¯t worry he likes it!) to weaken it. Dynamo cleaned up like it was nothing!
Upon reading Grady¡¯s words, a grin immediately breaks out on Ran¡¯s face, his fingers already flying through a congratulatory response, when he gets stuck on the names of Grady¡¯s pok¨¦mon. He remembers Bob the Voltorb, of course, and Grady did mention naming his Jolteon Dynamo shortly after her evolution. But the name ¡®Guardian¡¯ is new.
Ran: Congrats, Grady, great job! I look forward to seeing you and your team in Olivine. One question though, who is Guardian?
It takes a minute for Grady to respond. When he does, a picture accompanies his message.
Grady: Guardian¡¯s my fourth team member! He was a reward from Whitney for being the first of her rookie sponsored trainers to beat her this year! It took her a while to set things up, so I didn¡¯t get him until a few days ago, but he¡¯s already really strong and super cool, so I just had to use him!
The accompanying picture shows a pretty small, green, canine pok¨¦mon with a yellow pattern running across its snout and eyes, as well as having a yellow tip to its otherwise green tail. Ran pegs it as an electric-type at a glance, which lines up neatly with Grady¡¯s explanation that Whitney had to set things up specifically for her sponsored trainer.
Ran doesn¡¯t know the name of the Pok¨¦mon he¡¯s looking at, though he¡¯s quite confident that he has actually seen its evolved form in action at a Conference in the past. If he isn¡¯t completely off the mark, this has to be the pre-evolution of Manectric, an impressive electric-type that is notably fast, which he¡¯s seen in action exactly once at a previous Silver Conference.
Ran: Does that evolve into a Manectric? I¡¯ve never seen its pre-evolution before.
Grady: Great catch! It¡¯s an Electrike, yeah!
Ran: Well he looks great, plus he¡¯s clearly strong, if he already helped you win a Badge. Congrats again, Grady, we¡¯ll have to catch up properly in Olivine, see if our teams can¡¯t train together for a while.
Grady: That¡¯d be super cool! Totally! Looking forward to it!
They exchange a few more messages, before Ran lets the conversation peter out when Doro and he arrive at the bistro of their choice.
¡°A friend?¡± Doro inquires politely, nodding towards Ran¡¯s pok¨¦gear.
¡°Yeah,¡± Ran agrees with a light smile, ¡°Grady¡¯s one of Whitney¡¯s sponsored rookies. I think I mentioned him before?¡±
Doro chuckles in amusement, clearly connecting the name Grady to Ran¡¯s recounting of his journey, some days ago, ¡°Ah yes, your fan.¡±
¡°He¡¯s a bit enthusiastic, but I didn¡¯t call him my fan, did I?¡± Ran asks in disbelief, surprised by the somewhat demeaning representation of Grady.
¡°You didn¡¯t,¡± Doro assures him, ¡°But with what you mentioned of him, it¡¯s how I remembered him.¡±
¡°He¡¯s really a very talented trainer,¡± Ran insists, wanting to set the record straight about his younger friend, ¡°He was the first of this year¡¯s rookies to return to Goldenrod and beat Whitney for example and he¡¯s got four badges, just like you and I.¡±
Doro raises her hands apologetically as she answers, ¡°I meant no offense. I have not met him yet, but if he is your friend, I am sure that he¡¯s a good sort. You don¡¯t seem the type to maintain relationships with bad people. Or not anymore at least, from what you mentioned of your first traveling companion.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t really want to discuss Spencer,¡± Ran frowns, ¡°Excusing his behavior for as long as I did was a mistake I¡¯ve learnt from and that¡¯s all that matters.¡±
¡°My apologies,¡± Doro offers with an accepting nod, ¡°I didn''t mean to upset you.¡±
¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Ran waves her off, ¡°Though that does bring me to another point, actually. I never asked if you¡¯ve been traveling by yourself for the whole season so far, or if you¡¯ve had a companion or companions at any point.¡±
She hums thoughtfully in response, before calmly answering, ¡°I¡¯ve been traveling on my own up until now. Between my three starters, my decision to immediately challenge Whitney as an unsponsored trainer and my lack of strong friendships in Goldenrod, I ended up setting out on my own. You have been the first fellow trainer I¡¯ve had more than a few passing conversations with. I don¡¯t believe I¡¯ve really missed out on anything so far, but I do look forward to your company.¡±
¡°Well that¡¯s good,¡± Ran drones sardonically, ¡°I¡¯d hate for my presence to be a burden to you.¡±
Doro¡¯s response, unlike Ran¡¯s own joking demeanor, is delivered with complete sincerity, ¡°It is your job, as my rival, to be a burden, Ran. Otherwise, without being challenged, how can my team and I grow?¡±
¡°That¡¯s what the Gyms and the Conference are for.¡± Ran replies slowly, not quite understanding Doro¡¯s point.
She merely waves his words away dismissively, ¡°Bah, the Gyms are fine enough as milestones, but they are fixed points. On the other hand, the Conference is an obstacle I can¡¯t possibly overcome in the near future. Reaching it is a goal, performing well is a goal, but winning it? Unachievable for now. A worthy rival however, and this is where you come in, is a moving target. For each day I spend with my team, so too do you spend time with your team. For every opportunity I have to train, so you have yours. Overtaking you and defeating you is a good goal to have for now. Once we have managed that, I believe you won¡¯t be the type to leave things at that, so then trying to stay ahead of you will be another good challenge to face.¡±
Ran can only listen as Doro explains her reasoning, admittedly a bit irked to be portrayed as little more than a training instrument, rather than as a friend. There must be something of his feelings visible in his expression however, as Doro, after pausing for a few seconds, further clarifies her words.
¡°Of course all of this would be irrelevant if I didn¡¯t also genuinely enjoy your company. Otherwise, I would have simply taken a ship to Goldenrod and kept in touch with you via messages, to set up a match later in the season.¡± She clarifies, which is at least enough to take the sting out of her earlier reasoning, clinical as it was.
¡°Well good, I¡¯d hate to be a bother.¡± Ran snarks at her, only to almost choke on his next bite, when Doro meets his eyes sincerely, before answering in a completely even voice.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll tell you if you become one.¡± She deadpans, before finally letting a small grin break through at the sight of Ran¡¯s reaction.
Chapter 26, pt.2
The next morning, earlier than he¡¯d like but not so early as to have to operate in the dark, Ran boards the ship to Olivine City alongside Doro. They¡¯ve both got their bags full with all of their possessions once more, their pok¨¦mon all in their balls and on their trainers¡¯ belts. After the long stay in Cianwood, which between its beachwear and the sheer convenience of having everything he needs in very close proximity to the pok¨¦center, his gear actually feels quite heavy, the habit of lugging everything along with him clearly having withered over the past two weeks.
Doro shows none of the weariness Ran feels at once again being loaded with gear like a pack Tauros, though with her habit of personally working out every day, that isn¡¯t really a surprise. That doesn¡¯t make the sight of her easily bouncing on her feet any less irksome though, as Ran mulishly swallows a complaint about Doro¡¯s good cheer.
He¡¯s fully aware that his bad mood is his own fault, the discomfort of his full backpack on his shoulders a logical result of not keeping up with his physical fitness over his stay in Cianwood City. But that knowledge doesn¡¯t actually help to cheer him up, it only just about keeps him from snapping at Doro unfairly.
Fortunately, there¡¯s enough distraction to be had from the weight of his backpack.
The ship they¡¯re on is quite similar to the ferry Ran took from Goldenrod City, to get to Cianwood City in the first place. Though the ship they¡¯re currently on is a bit larger, that¡¯s easily explained both by the greater number of passengers and by the less challenging route, as the waters on this side of the Whirl Islands are calmer.
Yet again, even with the trip slated to take until well into the afternoon, Ran hasn¡¯t seen the need to book a cabin, something Doro agreed with, having come to the same decision. The logical consequence is that they go and explore the ship together, even as a glimpse of the four pok¨¦balls on Doro¡¯s belt, compared to the five on his own, draw a question from him.
¡°You mentioned wanting to add a Heracross in Ilex Forest, right?¡± He asks, clearly catching Doro slightly off-guard, as they wander into the ship¡¯s bowels, both having agreed to start on the lowest accessible level and work their way up from there in their exploration.
¡°I did, yes.¡± Doro responds simply after a moment, looking towards him as they walk side by side, clearly curious to know why he broached the subject.
Ran hums thoughtfully, ¡°I was wondering about your plans for your team. My own team is going to end up looking pretty different to the plans I drew up before setting out, so I¡¯m curious to hear the thoughts of another rookie who¡¯s ended up with an unplanned pok¨¦mon on her team.¡±
¡°I see,¡± Doro acknowledges, pausing for a few long seconds, which Ran takes as a sign that she¡¯s looking for the right words, before she finally asks a question of her own, ¡°You had all six of your team members planned out in advance, then?¡±
¡°I did,¡± Ran confirms without hesitation, ¡°You know Caesar, Aria and Golbat. I originally planned to add a Gastly and a Nidoran. Then, for my final team member, I wanted a Bulbasaur, if I could somehow get my hands on one, though that was always meant to be something for late in the season and even then I admit it was a long shot. The alternative was either an Oddish or a Bellsprout, which I could have added way sooner, but I didn¡¯t want to give up on my hopes too soon.¡±
¡°But then you received Skorupi,¡± Doro mentions, ¡°And now, Croagunk as well.¡±
¡°I did, yeah,¡± Ran affirms swiftly, ¡°It¡¯s thrown my plans for a bit of a loop, to say the least.¡±
Doro nods slowly, ¡°But now there is only one spot left on your team and you are left with three, or five, depending on your count, options to choose from, no?¡±
Ran hesitates for a moment, the conversation derailing further than expected, as he wanted to discuss Doro¡¯s plans for team building rather than his own. Still, expecting her to share her plans when he isn¡¯t willing to do the same would be pretty dumb, so he answers honestly, ¡°Yes and no. I had my reasons for each of the possible additions, and some of the concerns they¡¯d address can be answered in other ways now, so it isn¡¯t as much of a choice as you might think.¡±
The conversation comes to a natural lull then, as they reach the lowest accessible floor of the ship. It¡¯s just a large hangar filled with parked cars, which hardly makes for an interesting sight and so, after a few seconds, they turn for the stairs, to head up to the next floor. Once more on the move and having used the brief reprieve to order his thoughts, Ran starts to explain his reasoning.
¡°Assuming all of my current team members eventually evolve, I¡¯ll have three who are super weak to ground-types and four who are super weak to psychic-types. At the same time, the team will have one member with an immunity for each of those types, plus Aria, who isn¡¯t weak to ground and who can at least counter psychic-types with her own super-effective hits. That¡¯s a super solid core. Solid enough for me to dismiss Gengar entirely, as Drapion¡¯s even better against psychic-types than it could ever hope to be.¡± Ran explains, drawing a nod from Doro, as she indicates that she¡¯s following his reasoning so far.
¡°At that point, it¡¯s a choice between a grass-poison-type and a Nidoran-line pok¨¦mon.¡± Ran continues, only for Doro to interject with some insight of her own.
¡°You¡¯re only considering defensive weaknesses? Outside of Aria, you haven¡¯t mentioned your offensive advantages yet.¡± She posits, which gains her a pleased grin from Ran, even as they arrive on the next floor, the pok¨¦mon hangar. Perhaps because of the early hour, it¡¯s currently entirely abandoned, nobody having come down here to let their pok¨¦mon stretch their legs just yet.
¡°I¡¯m taking them into account, but there I can compensate by teaching my team enough coverage moves,¡± Ran offers, shrugging as he continues to speak, ¡°Poison isn¡¯t a particularly great type for offense, but perhaps because of that, most poison-types can learn a lot of moves. Ground-types are always going to be a problem of course, which is why a grass-poison-type would make a lot of sense, but, honestly, I just don¡¯t really like Vileplume or Victreebel and Venusaur is just as much of a long shot now as it was three and a half months ago.¡±
He pauses then, waiting for Doro to come to the only possible conclusion, which she does after a few seconds, when she realizes that he¡¯s waiting for a response.
¡°A Nidoran-line pok¨¦mon, then? Poison-ground, no?¡± She asks eventually.
¡°When it¡¯s fully evolved, yes.¡± Ran clarifies, not accidentally wanting to claim that a Nidoran has a dual-typing.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Doro remains quiet for a few long seconds, but just as Ran is about to inquire about her own plans, she finally speaks up, ¡°I can¡¯t help but note that you forgo an extra answer for psychic- or ground-types in favor of one that might help you against steel-types.¡±
Ran¡¯s expression pinches together at that particular observation, though he doesn¡¯t give voice to the instinctive denial he feels burning on the tip of his tongue. Instead, he waits for a moment, before responding more coolly.
¡°Steel is a very strong defensive typing that¡¯s growing in popularity,¡± He finally formulates, not quite denying Doro¡¯s observation so much as he tries to recontextualize it, ¡°But more importantly, the Nidoran-line gets enormous type-coverage. I¡¯d have to check my notes, but I¡¯m pretty sure that, with the right TMs and tutoring, there isn¡¯t a pok¨¦mon in the world that a fully evolved Nido can¡¯t hit for super-effective damage.¡±
Doro remains quiet, their wandering exploration by this point having brought them to an on-board personal gym, of all things. From the stars in her eyes, Ran can tell that he won¡¯t have Doro¡¯s company for the entirety of the trip, though with an empty stomach, she at least doesn¡¯t insist on getting a workout in immediately.
Finally, yet again moments before Ran can try and turn the conversation to Doro¡¯s own plans for her final future team member, she breaks the temporary silence that¡¯s settled over them once more.
¡°You¡¯ve clearly put a lot of thought into planning out your team. But does that not feel¡ restrictive to you? Does it bother you that you made such elaborate plans, only for at least a third of your final team to have been unplanned for? Or what if you run into a Weezing which you feel a real connection to, before you add your sixth member? Will you not attempt to capture it because it does not suit your plans?¡± She asks him slowly, her words clearly carefully chosen.
Ran¡¯s answer isn¡¯t immediate, the two of them continuing to ascend up the ship¡¯s innards until they finally reach the restaurant. With the hour now a lot more suitable for breakfast, it¡¯s a quick mutual decision for them to take seats and have a look at the menu, a waiter swiftly taking their drink orders as they browse the menu, before Ran finally answers Doro¡¯s questions.
¡°I like having a plan,¡± He starts with dryly, before, at Doro¡¯s unamused expression, elaborating with a slight smile, ¡°It¡¯s comforting to have something more tangible to fall back on, at times. Obviously, in this case, things haven¡¯t gone as planned, but they¡¯ve still turned out more than fine, so that¡¯s alright. I guess you could consider the time I put into research and planning a waste, but maybe I¡¯ll use that knowledge or those skills at some other point in the future? Even if I don¡¯t, I enjoyed coming up with the plan and it¡¯s not as if I could have spent my time, before journeying, very differently.¡±
¡°And if you run into a wild pok¨¦mon you feel a strong bond with, before you can find a suitable Nidoran? Or if you don¡¯t find a Nidoran that suits you?¡± Doro prods cautiously, even as she nods along in understanding for the rest of his explanation.
¡°Then that¡¯s a bridge I¡¯ll cross when I get to it. I have a plan, I intend to carry it out, but if circumstances change, I¡¯m not going to freak out over it either.¡± Ran replies confidently, drawing an approving smile from Doro.
¡°I understand,¡± She accepts with a nod, before throwing him completely for a loop, ¡°As for myself, I intend to add a Heracross to help with psychic-types. It is, outside of Quick, Precise and Strong, the only pok¨¦mon I truly believe I need to add to my team. Toff, my Croagunk, has been a pleasant surprise and I am sure that, somewhere along the way, another pok¨¦mon with a suitable warrior spirit shall cross my path.¡±
At the flabbergasted look on Ran¡¯s face, Doro chuckles huskily, ¡°You were about to ask about my own plans for my final free ¡®slot¡¯, were you not? I can¡¯t give you a clearer answer, my rival, for I don¡¯t know who my sixth member will be any more than you do.¡±
Ran can¡¯t muster up a response, silence hanging over their table for a minute until he¡¯s finally shaken out of his surprised stupor when someone comes by to take their orders - eggs and bacon for Doro, a panini for Ran - and to deliver the drinks they¡¯d ordered mere moments after sitting down. Only then does he finally reply to Doro¡¯s admission that she has no concrete plans for her final team member.
¡°There¡¯s not enough fighting-types native to Kanto and Johto for this to be a hard decision! It¡¯s either Primeape, Machoke or Poliwrath! You should at least have a preference between those three, unless you¡¯ve got something more exotic in mind?¡± He asks in disbelief, unable to comprehend Doro¡¯s claim that she really has no concrete plans for the completion of her team.
¡°I do not have a preference between those three and I have no specific foreign pok¨¦mon in mind either,¡± Doro responds placidly, smiling lightly at the look on his face, ¡°It will sort itself out in time.¡±
¡°I¡¯m going to change the subject, because you¡¯re giving me a headache.¡± Ran tells her mock-seriously, waving his panini in her direction ¡®threateningly¡¯.
Doro raises her hands in faux surrender, the rest of their breakfast passing pleasantly as they discuss their plans - reading and relaxing on the deck for Ran, working out and then having her team spar amongst themselves for Doro - and enjoy their meals. Afterwards, they pay before putting words into action, going their separate ways as Ran wanders out onto the deck, where the sun has climbed high into the sky and is shining down pleasantly.
Claiming a deck chair is easy work, though actually sitting in it is another matter. Because he decides to let Skorupi out of his ball again, at which point he ends up in another half wrestling match with the poison-bug-type over their seating arrangement. Ultimately however, he manages to cajole Skorupi into settling for a reasonable position on his lap, so that Ran can actually enjoy his seat without having Skorupi¡¯s sharp carapace digging into him.
Then, he digs out a book, before losing track of the world for a while, as he enjoys the read. It is, for once, not part of research or study, but rather a book of fiction, about a trainer whose bond with his starter, a Sandshrew, is so strong that it doesn¡¯t just evolve into a Sandslash, but it becomes capable of temporarily evolving again in moments of need. The premise is ridiculous of course, but it¡¯s an enjoyable read, the words evoking a very clear picture of the world and the characters seeming just about ready to leap off of the page.
By the time Ran is drawn away from his book once more, a few hours appear to have passed, Skorupi dozing peacefully on the back of his chair. At first, he doesn¡¯t know just what it is that¡¯s disturbed his focus, but then he notices the large and growing congregation of passengers near the ship¡¯s starboard side railing. Leaving his chair to go and have a look of his own, Ran soon realizes that they¡¯re passing the Whirl Islands and the wild waters that protect them from human intrusion.
The Whirl Islands are notorious for being a notoriously hard to reach Trainer-only location for anyone who can¡¯t fly there directly. Ordinarily, simply Surfing a sufficiently powerful pok¨¦mon should be able to do the trick, but the whirlpools that surround the islands are supposedly a genuine challenge for even the strongest swimmers. Though there¡¯s also rumors of Chuck¡¯s Poliwrath regularly swimming over to work out in the whirlpools before swimming all the way back to Cianwood City, so Ran doesn¡¯t quite know how seriously to take those claims.
It¡¯s not particularly relevant to him either way, as his team¡¯s not slated to have any team members whom he would willingly try to Surf on for any serious distances. Besides, most trainers who visit the Whirl Islands do so by flying there, as evidenced by the distant silhouette of what appears to be a Fearow with what has to be its trainer riding on top of it. So why would Ran risk the waters, if Golbat or, by then hopefully Crobat, will be more than capable of safely getting him to the islands? If he even ends up ever visiting them in the first place, seeing as the Whirl Islands aren¡¯t exactly known for having much to offer to anyone that isn¡¯t interested in water- or ice-types.
After watching for a few moments, Ran wanders back to his chair, not as impressed by the distant isles and the whirlpools surrounding them as so many of the other passengers. Instead, he happily devotes his attention back to his book, pausing only for lunch, which Doro comes to collect him for at one point, before getting right back to it once more.
By the time late afternoon rolls around, he¡¯s made an enormous amount of progress in his book, only to be interrupted once more, when another hubbub breaks out. Though this time, people are gathering further towards the bow of the ship. As Ran stands up to join them, the reason becomes readily apparent, as Olivine City becomes more and more visible in the distance.
Chapter 27, pt.1
Olivine City, at first sight, is a city that doesn¡¯t realize it¡¯s a city.
Though it is a coastal city, with the port that entails, it is very clear that, where Cianwood City was primarily a tourist destination and Goldenrod was the beating heart of Johto¡¯s administrative and commercial endeavors, Olivine looks most of all like a town that never quite stopped growing outwards, whilst at the same time refusing to grow upwards.
It isn¡¯t quite the gargantuan sprawling maze of buildings that Ran considers Goldenrod City to be, but it isn¡¯t as far removed from Johto¡¯s largest city as Ran was expecting. Or it isn''t too far from it in surface area, at the very least. Height is a very different matter.
Approaching Olivine City¡¯s Port, the ferry glides through the water, giving an extensive and increasingly detailed look at the buildings that make up the most northwestern city in Johto. The better Ran¡¯s view, the more he finds his first impression of Olivine City confirmed. There¡¯s hardly any buildings that have more than two floors, the streets are narrow and winding and there¡¯s a surprising amount of greenery visible rising up from between the buildings.
The few exceptions to the height limitations, whether coincidental or imposed, are obvious eyecatchers as a result, rising up to dominate their neighborhoods. Immediately noteworthy is the lack of a large, red-roofed pok¨¦center, which a city of Olivine¡¯s size should really merit. It¡¯s only on a second, more thorough examination that Ran realizes that Olivine¡¯s design philosophy has been carried through in its pok¨¦centers, with multiple smaller buildings with the trademarked red roof scattered throughout the city.
With that mystery solved, he moves on to the few actual large buildings that stand out. There¡¯s a large, beam shaped building close to the entrance to Goldenrod¡¯s Port. Doro, having rejoined him just a few minutes prior, notices what building has drawn his attention, cheerily informing him that the building in question is the, supposedly, renowned Olivine Caf¨¦, the main go-to for the many sailors that frequent Olivine City.
According to Doro, they¡¯ve got some of the best food in Johto, at fair prices. Knowing Doro as he¡¯s come to do, Ran mentally translates that to mean that the portion sizes are large whilst the contents emphasize protein and starch. Which isn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing by any means, but ¡®best food in Johto¡¯ might be overselling it just a bit.
Another building that stands out for obvious reasons is of course the Lighthouse, its tourist deck visibly has a few dozen people milling about, though details are impossible to make out due to the distance. There¡¯s no light at the top, at the moment, but before Ran can embarrass himself by asking a dumb question, he¡¯s fortunately able to eavesdrop as a nearby kid asks his parents the exact same question Ran himself had in mind.
The revelation that the Lighthouse is actually powered by a pok¨¦mon and is only used in cases of extremely poor visibility because of that is interesting, though he is left to wonder at the efficiency of such a system. Still, the building itself is imposing enough and when Doro mentions that the floors above the tourist deck are Trainer-only areas, Ran silently vows to visit the Lighthouse at least once over his stay in Olivine.
Last, but by no means least and in fact, to Ran¡¯s mind at least, by far the most important building of all, is the Gym. It is the single largest building in Olivine City and it is not close. It is not close at all.
It is an enormous building that he can only really adequately compare to an airplane hangar, both in shape and size. Other than for its sheer size, it¡¯s outwardly unremarkable, not particularly decorated or even really at all different in aesthetics from an average hangar. There¡¯s no greater focus on steel in its construction, no great windows to showcase the training or battles that must take place inside. It is merely an enormous, functional building. Which, in its own way, feels like a perfect home for a steel-type gym. Seeing as Jasmine is the second steel-type specialist to be Gym leader over Olivine, after Gholam, her grandfather who still sits on the Elite Four despite his advanced age, it¡¯s really no surprise to Ran to see the building so well-suited to the Gym leader¡¯s specialty.
He glances towards Doro, to see if she has any input to offer, but his friendly rival doesn¡¯t acknowledge the building she¡¯s already triumphed within, instead nodding invitingly in the direction of where they¡¯ll eventually have to disembark.
¡°We¡¯ve been traveling long enough, I¡¯d like to go and get ready to get off the ship as soon as possible.¡± She tells him, drawing an assenting smile from Ran.
¡°Sure thing,¡± He accepts, ¡°Though I do have a few questions about the pok¨¦centers whilst we wait.¡±
Doro raises her hand, pre-empting him from asking any of the questions he feels like posing, ¡°Wait, wait, let me guess. Let¡¯s see: I stayed at the one closest to the Gym, though availability was low and with Jasmine¡¯s reputation, there¡¯s good odds that it¡¯ll be busier now than it was a few weeks ago. There is no real meaningful difference between the pok¨¦centers as far as services go. They did it this way because there¡¯s laws in place that say that any large constructions need to gain enough signatures in support from the local populace and it¡¯s very rare for that to happen.¡±
¡°Not quite the order I was going to ask in, but sure, that¡¯s everything I wanted to know.¡± Ran admits with a grin, which turns to a chuckle when Doro, in a moment of cheesiness, fistpumps triumphantly at his acknowledgement of her guesses having been correct.
They banter for a while longer, with Ran finally recalling Skorupi, shortly before the ship starts to dock. Just a few minutes later, the gangplank is lowered and they¡¯re setting foot on solid ground once more.
¡°So, the pok¨¦center?¡± Doro asks him, drawing an agreeing nod from Ran.
¡°Best to get lodgings out of the way, yeah. Lead the way.¡± He accepts easily.
The two of them set out towards the city proper, the Port connecting directly to the only truly large roads Olivine seems to have, with most of its road network mirroring the buildings, by being smaller than he¡¯d have expected from a city. It gives the city a very cozy feeling, though the sight of nearly every local they cross paths with either using a bicycle, an electric scooter, some other form of small wheeled transport or a pok¨¦mon mount to get around soon impresses one major conclusion on Ran.
With the city as sprawled out as it is, getting anywhere on foot is going to take far longer than he¡¯s particularly happy about. Doro obviously doesn¡¯t mind, the physical fitness freak even suggesting they jog to the nearest pok¨¦center, completely disregarding the heavy bags they¡¯re both carrying. Fortunately, she accepts Ran¡¯s refusal with good grace, the two of them continuing to plod towards the pok¨¦center that¡¯s closest to Olivine City¡¯s Gym.
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Olivine fortunately isn¡¯t as warm as Cianwood, the temperatures more in line with what Ran consider normal for early spring weather. It makes the walk more bearable than if he¡¯d had to do it in sweltering heat at least, though when a light rain begins to fall when they¡¯re still at least five minutes away from the pok¨¦center, he isn¡¯t exactly enthused about that either.
Things get worse when they finally do make it to the pok¨¦center, only to find out that the center is nearly fully booked, with no single rooms available and only a single double, which doesn¡¯t have any amenities for Caesar to be able to rest comfortably out of his ball. Even then, that would assume that Ran and Doro are willing to share a room for a week or more, something neither one of them is all that keen on.
So, begrudgingly, Ran follows Doro out of the pok¨¦center and towards the next closest one to Olivine¡¯s Gym. Annoyingly, it¡¯s on the opposite end of the Gym, which means both another long walk, as well as passing by the Gym itself whilst still carrying all of his gear along. All while the rain, which has slowly intensified from a light drizzle to properly annoying, keeps falling.
There¡¯s an umbrella somewhere in his backpack, but he didn¡¯t account for rain today and so it¡¯s hidden somewhere in its depths. Plus, Doro shows no signs whatsoever of being bothered by the rain, which is another reason for him to tough it out as well. Even if that means getting increasingly drenched.
As they pass by the Gym, its understated monumentality even more imposing from up close, Ran is tempted to head inside and book his challenge whilst they¡¯re there, but the straps of his backpack biting into his shoulders and the sight of queuing trainers are enough to make him think better of that particular idea. Instead, he simplys keeps following Doro, who has the temerity to say something about rain causing more oxygen in the air, as she leads the way to the next pok¨¦center.
What feels like half an hour later, they finally enter the pok¨¦center in question. By this point, Ran feels soaked to the bone, but at least the pok¨¦center is dry and warm, giving him an opportunity to take off his coat and hopefully dry up slightly faster. His mood is lifted when the nurse has great news for them, actually having enough room for both Ran and Doro to book single rooms with the necessary facilities to give their pok¨¦mon the freedom to rest out of their balls.
With rooms booked and key cards in hand, they agree to go and put their stuff away, as well as seeing about drying off or getting changed, before meeting up once more near the reception desk. It¡¯s quick work, as Ran dumps his stuff and eagerly changes clothes, finishing by swapping out his drenched purple coat for a thinner, but water-repellent dark blue raincoat.
He takes a brief look at his pok¨¦gear, confirming that he hasn¡¯t got any new messages, before heading back towards the reception area. Doro is already there, waiting for him. She¡¯s also changed outfits, to Ran¡¯s surprise, seemingly more affected by the rain than he¡¯d realized.
Like him, she¡¯s also got a raincoat on, which is fully zipped up for once, leaving it unclear whether she¡¯s still got a bare midriff underneath or whether she¡¯s also dressed a bit warmer for the circumstances. Not that it really matters, as they set out into the City once more, returning to the Gym in short order. No longer having to lug his whole gear along, Ran is a lot more enthusiastic about joining the queue of waiting trainers, even the rain, which hasn¡¯t let up in the least, no longer really bothers him.
After maybe twenty minutes of waiting, they make it to the front of the queue. Ran easily hands over his identification to the receptionist, a dour middle-aged woman, before confirming the standard information she rattles off. There¡¯s a moment¡¯s hesitation when she inquires whether he¡¯d like to take on the Gym¡¯s Trainer Challenge, but Ran soon opts against it, not particularly enthusiastic about forcing his team to face more steel-types and their enormous defensive advantage than they have to.
Then, however, they hit a hiccup.
¡°It¡¯s the 14th, how could you possibly not have any availability left until the end of the month?!¡± Ran asks in disbelief.
The receptionist, not at any point having made any effort to be friendly or approachable, is entirely unaffected by his dismay, not even offering up an explanation.
¡°I could book you for the 28th, at twenty before four in the afternoon.¡± She offers dryly, rather than actually offering any context or explanation for the extremely long wait.
¡°If you¡¯ve got nothing earlier, I¡¯ll take it.¡± Ran accepts moodily, less than enthused that he¡¯ll have to wait more than two weeks for his match.
¡°Fifth badge challenge, four on four, April 28th, twenty before four.¡± The receptionist rattles off, before visibly turning her attention to Doro, who merely shakes her head no, at which point the receptionist¡¯s gaze moves on to the next trainer in line, who at least looks faintly discouraged by the less-than-friendly woman.
Ran moves to the side in frustration, leaving it to Doro to formulate the obvious explanation he¡¯s also landed on, though some amount of confirmation or explanation would have been nice.
¡°Olivine must be seeing a spike in trainers right now. Depending on the routes people take, the schedule the Gym keeps, how many people go for a rematch after their first try¡ It is unfortunate, but Jasmine¡¯s steel-types are notoriously challenging at the higher levels, so it is not too surprising that a lot of people plot their routes to pass through here before they¡¯ve got five or six badges, no?¡± She posits, to which Ran can only nod in affirmation.
¡°Yeah, I guess, but she could¡¯ve just said that,¡± Ran replies, not content to just forget about the receptionist¡¯s appalling behavior like that, ¡°Because then I could¡¯ve asked if the spikes are different every season, or if there¡¯s a pattern. Maybe then I, or some of the other queuing trainers, would¡¯ve reconfigured their routes to come back at another time, rather than force people to plan around an appointment that¡¯s two full weeks down the line.¡±
¡°You have a point,¡± Doro accepts, ¡°But Olivine is not so bad a place to be ¡®stuck¡¯ in. Besides, you have your challenge booked for your fifth badge at the end of the season¡¯s third month. It is not as if you are in a bad rush. This will give you more time to prepare.¡±
Ran huffs, but doesn¡¯t argue the point any further, instead focusing on Doro¡¯s own plans. Because with his match against Jasmine planned further in the future than he¡¯d hoped, Doro¡¯s own plans to stick with him for the duration of his stay in Olivine may well have been compromised.
¡°A lot more time than I was planning on having,¡± Ran opens, after he takes a moment to compose his thoughts, ¡°But not really enough to head to Goldenrod and make it back here comfortably, if I also still want to get enough training in.¡±
¡°That is true,¡± Doro agrees, ¡°Taking the official Routes and going via Ecruteak is more than a week of traveling single way. You could take a ship, but I have had quite enough of that, and I assume you mention this because you are trying to bring the discussion to my own travel plans, no?¡±
¡°I am, yeah.¡± Ran agrees openly.
¡°I figured. Don¡¯t worry, though. Two weeks is longer than I was planning to spend in Olivine, but I have half of my badges already and we¡¯re only about a quarter of the way into the season. Taking some time in the city to socialize, get to know other trainers, train in better circumstances and enjoy the comforts of plumbing, before I start trekking towards Ilex Forest, is something I quite look forward to. In truth, I rather enjoyed Olivine, compared to Goldenrod. Having an excuse to spend two weeks here is something I don¡¯t mind at all.¡± Doro informs him easily, casually dispelling any worries Ran might have had about his newfound companion leaving before they¡¯ve even properly started traveling together.
¡°Alright then,¡± Ran accepts with undisguised relief, ¡°Seeing as you¡¯ve been to this city before, do you have any suggestions for dinner?¡±
¡°I do!¡± Doro agrees enthusiastically, ¡°It¡¯s the perfect place to start our evening tour of some of Olivine¡¯s main attractions!¡±
¡°Wait, what evening tour?¡± Ran asks in surprise, not recalling ever agreeing to anything of the sort.
¡°I had to spend most of the day on a ship, Ran Carr,¡± Doro tells him seriously, expression completely neutral as she faces him, ¡°I have energy to burn and, as I told you, I quite enjoyed Olivine City. After dinner, we shall tour some of the sights. But first, to the Sailors¡¯ Caf¨¦!¡±
Chapter 27, pt.2
The Sailors¡¯ Caf¨¦ proves to be one of the largest buildings in Olivine. Which isn¡¯t saying too much on its own, considering Olivine¡¯s choice to have smaller buildings sprawl out in all directions rather than build upwards, but even in Goldenrod, the Caf¨¦ would still be remarkable. It sits just outside of the cargo area of Olivine¡¯s Port, part of a four story monstrosity of a construction that also holds a hotel, a spa, a recreation center and a laundromat, amongst other things.
Doro stops listing the many facilities held within the Olivine Caf¨¦ at that point, in favor of simply dragging Ran along to the top floor. There, the term ¡®caf¨¦¡¯ proves to be somewhat of a misnomer, as they instead enter a massive all you can eat buffet style restaurant. Just a quick look around at the clientele confirms what the Caf¨¦¡¯s name already hinted at.
This place heavily focuses on serving sailors and other people with nautical professions. Not that Ran and Doro are the only trainers in the enormous room, which has ballroomlike proportions, but they¡¯re a very small minority indeed. As Ran takes a look at the fees and the terms and conditions, he also realizes just why that is.
The charged rates are exorbitant for any person with a normal appetite, especially for those who only want to partake for an hour. However, for those both capable and willing of gorging themselves for a few hours on end, suddenly the value proposition shifts to a major degree, as the price doesn¡¯t rise commensurately with the extra time at all.
Viewed in that light, the many sailors aren¡¯t a surprising sight. After all, if their ships are docked, it¡¯s not as if they can¡¯t spare the time and they¡¯ve probably got physically demanding jobs. Doro¡¯s clear enthusiasm for visiting this place would be more surprising, if Ran hadn¡¯t gotten a pretty clear view of just how many calories she burns through in a day.
Clearly, he won¡¯t personally be frequenting this place, like Doro seems to be planning, but for a one-time splurge, he¡¯s more than willing to indulge, even if they¡¯re just staying an hour. Soon enough, he¡¯s carrying a first plate, filled modestly with some appetizers, to the small table they¡¯ve been allocated to. Unsurprisingly, when Doro joins him, her own plate is easily twice as full as his.
¡°So, what do you think?¡± She asks enthusiastically, before starting to wolf down the meal in front of her.
¡°It¡¯s impressive,¡± Ran allows with a slight smile, ¡°Though calling this place ¡®Caf¨¦¡¯ is a bit of a misnomer, isn¡¯t it?¡±
Doro nods in agreement, swallowing the bite she¡¯s chomping down on before answering once her mouth is empty, ¡°I looked into that, when I was here before. This is the fourth iteration of the same business. It grew along with the port itself. Four generations ago, it really was ¡®just¡¯ a caf¨¦, and the name was never changed.¡±
Ran accepts the explanation easily, the conversation flowing organically, interrupted only to eat and to go and get more food. By the time their hour ends, Ran¡¯s just about ready to go lie down and sleep, whilst Doro looks as if she¡¯d be more than happy to tack on another hour, but her desire to lead him on an evening tour proves to be greater still. Thankfully, the rain has stopped at least.
They start, upon exiting the Caf¨¦, by turning to the Port.
A large part of the Port, really everything that handles cargo shipping, is obviously off-limits to them. Which isn¡¯t a surprise, but as the Caf¨¦ sits closest to those parts of the Port, they do end up having to walk for some fifteen minutes, before finally reaching the more touristy, public, commercial part of the Port.
What Doro leads him to is the quintessential kind of yacht harbor that belongs on a postcard, with narrow and quant piers sprouting out from the coastline, which recedes here to form a natural bowl-shaped harbour, and countless small sailing ships moored on all of them. As for the buildings that ring the natural harbor, there¡¯s charming seafood restaurants, quaint souvenir shops and fishing supply stores as far as the eye can see. Doro doesn¡¯t seem too impressed, but Ran doesn¡¯t even try to hide just how charmed he is by it all.
¡°You didn¡¯t consider one of these restaurants for dinner?¡± Ran asks his companion, gesturing expansively towards the many trainers and not-sailors he can see frequenting the many establishments, ¡°We would¡¯ve fit in a lot better here.¡±
Doro scoffs, shaking her head incredulously, ¡°You think this would have been better? A strong trainer needs hearty fare, not these unfulfilling half plates these people dare call a main course.¡±
¡°We don¡¯t all need to eat as much as you, Doro,¡± Ran disagrees mildly, ¡°For us feeble mortals, what you consider a half plate is usually a full meal.¡±
¡°Pah, you just don¡¯t appreciate good food yet. Don¡¯t worry, my rival. I shall save you from your foolishness yet.¡± Doro states in what Ran hopes is an attempt at a joke, though her expression is worryingly serious for his tastes.
Opting to distract her, for his own safety, Ran starts to wander forwards once more, ¡°Well, this place is lovely, but I doubt your tour is just an enjoyable trek along the coastline, right?¡±
¡°You are correct,¡± Doro acknowledges immediately, ¡°We shall go to the Lighthouse.¡±
¡°Doro, the Lighthouse is miles away, it¡¯s almost entirely on the other side of the city.¡± Ran responds slowly, trying to impress upon his rival just how he feels about the idea.
¡°Indeed,¡± Doro agrees swiftly, ¡°It will allow us to take in most of Olivine Beach. Besides, a good, brisk walk after dinner shall help you with digestion.¡±
Ran looks at her warily for a few long moments, before finally letting out a beleaguered sigh, ¡°Alright, fine. For future reference, I want it on record that my digestion is also fine without taking any absurd walks.¡±
¡°So noted.¡± Doro confirms, before starting to lead the way.
They start to walk along the boulevard, or what passes for Olivine City¡¯s boulevard. It isn¡¯t a massively wide or impressive path by any means, but with the beach and sea on one side and Olivine¡¯s uniquely small buildings on the other, it should make for an enjoyable enough walk nevertheless.
Especially as unlike most of the city, the boulevard has clear signage allowing for pok¨¦mon to be out of their balls. Something both Ran and Doro make immediate use of. It makes for a busy moment, as they suddenly go from a party of two to a group of ten, but with their teams at the very least having met already, even if they aren¡¯t particularly familiar with each other, the situation isn¡¯t as chaotic as it could have been. Not that that¡¯s saying all that much.
Ran focuses on his own team, allowing Doro to do the same for her own squad as well.
With twilight in its waning moments and the city¡¯s artificial lighting being sufficient but somewhat sparse, Golbat is clearly in his element, only waiting for a single approving nod from Ran before he¡¯s flying up to the nearest light post so that he can hang from it comfortably. Not that the rest of his team is far behind in their enthusiasm. His first three pok¨¦mon all had a natural preference for being active at night already and through circumstance, his fourth and fifth members seem to fit quite nicely into that mold as well.
Which in a way isn¡¯t exactly ideal for Ran of course, who keeps to a far more human, diurnal schedule. Of course his team has generally adapted to his rhythm, but its moments like these, as he watches them all enthusiastically take in their surroundings, nearly buzzing with energy, when he wonders if there¡¯s any concessions he could make to their natural schedules, when he¡¯s not beholden to things like Gyms¡¯ opening hours.
The sight of Caesar, whose whole hood vibrates slightly as he lets out a pleased hiss, and Aria, who wiggles in place eagerly whilst taking in her surroundings, is reminiscent of the enthusiasm they used to show back in Azalea Town, when Ran planned late night or extremely early morning training sessions. Of course their bodies are different and so the moves and sounds aren¡¯t exactly the same, but there¡¯s a clear remnant of the behavior they showed as small, unevolved pok¨¦mon in their actions.
It¡¯s that realization that has Ran pay some extra attention to Skorupi in particular, who of course has already managed to scramble up his back, where he¡¯s attached like a limpet, and Croagunk, who is as cheery as ever, offering another croaked ¡®hello¡¯, to the rest of the team¡¯s dismay, when he notices Ran¡¯s eyes on him. Taking up three-fourths of the boulevard for the moment, as Ran greets all his pok¨¦mon and starts to catch them up on their plans for the evening, Ran does for a moment feel awkward when an older couple has to walk single file for a moment, to be able to pass the congregation of his and Doro¡¯s teams.
He raises an apologetic hand, but the couple in question waves him off, with the older lady in particular visibly melting when she catches sight of Skorupi clinging onto his back. Her husband, or that¡¯s who Ran assumes the man to be at least, is less enthusiastic, attention tensely shifting between Caesar and Aria, but he too proves unable to resist Croagunk¡¯s cheery wave, which he answers with a brisk nod, before hurrying his wife along. As they pass, Ran can just catch the lady gushing about ¡®that adorable bug-type¡¯ on his back, whilst its good that he only catches the very first words of the man¡¯s response, as the snappish way in which says ¡®exclusively poison-types¡¯ implies that whatever he responds to his wife, Ran doesn¡¯t want to hear it.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
Fortunately, rather than get too distracted, he¡¯s brought back to attention by Doro, who has clearly already finished talking to her own team, with the fighting-types neatly paired up and clearly eager to get going. Ran¡¯s own team is a bit more rambunctious and less-organized, though it only takes him a few seconds to check if any of them want to be returned to their balls, which they don¡¯t.
They start walking down the boulevard, with Golbat periodically flying ahead to a light post before he hangs from it until the procession catches up and passes it, at which point he easily flies ahead once more. As for the rest of his team, they¡¯re all more than happy to travel with the group, though with Skorupi eagerly clinging onto his back, his head just popping over Ran¡¯s shoulder so that he can keep an eye on where they¡¯re going, Ran¡¯s own team can¡¯t neatly pair up like Doro¡¯s own.
Fortunately, that¡¯s easily remedied by Aria who, clearly having taken inspiration from the race in Cianwood, happily settles on Caesar¡¯s back to let herself be carried. That way, Croagunk can walk alongside Ran¡¯s starter and the three of them can have their own discussion, though Aria and Croagunk are clearly the main participants, with Caesar only ever offering a brief hiss here or there to interject or express his (dis)approval of whatever the other two are debating.
It¡¯s an amusing display to watch proceed in front of them, as Ran¡¯s team takes the lead on their walk. Apart from the practical consideration that Ran doesn¡¯t want to lose sight of them, not trusting them in their enthusiasm to stay close by and behave, there¡¯s also the cool-factor of having an Arbok sliding ahead of him to announce his approach.
Not that there isn¡¯t any entertainment to be had behind them, as Doro¡¯s team has its own sideshow going on. Because the pairs walking together change around, a lot. Whenever Ran glances behind him, a different one of Doro¡¯s three starters is walking next to Toff the Croagunk. Her own preference seems to go to Quick the Hitmontop, the other female member of team Doro, but from the moments Ran observes, Strong the Hitmonlee and Precise the Hitmonchan constantly team up to have one of them distract and draw away Quick, so that the other can walk next to Toff.
Ran doesn¡¯t bring it up and Doro doesn¡¯t comment on it, but it¡¯s an amusing spectacle to say the least.
The majority of Ran¡¯s attention is on practical matters, as with their stay in Olivine now planned to take a lot longer than he¡¯d originally planned and a solid date in the books for his match at the Olivine City Gym, Ran can¡¯t make himself hold off on making firmer plans for what comes next any longer.
¡°So, I¡¯ll have my fifth badge by late afternoon of the twenty-eighth,¡± He announces, drawing a soft sound of assent from Doro, which is enough for him to continue, ¡°Then, you want to get to Ilex Forest. I see two options. First, we could swing by Ecruteak, at which point it¡¯d make no real sense for me to leave there without also challenging Morty, which would put me at six, assuming you¡¯d want to stick around that long and we want to commit to doing the whole circuit together. Because then we¡¯d move through Goldenrod on the way to Azalea and Violet to get you up to six as well, before cutting through the Dark Caves to do Blackthorn and finish in Mahogany.¡±
Ran explains the first option, his old worries over timing admittedly having been lessened to a significant amount now that he¡¯s scheduled to add his fifth badge before the end of the ten month season¡¯s third month. Doro is content to listen quietly, only nodding to indicate her understanding as they continue to walk.
¡°Alternatively, we could cut directly to Goldenrod, rather than swinging by Ecruteak,¡± Ran starts to explain the second viable path forwards he sees, ¡°It¡¯d be quicker and should give me in particular ample opportunity to track down a really strong member of the Nidoran-line, rather than having to settle for a weaker member of the species that hasn¡¯t been driven off of the Routes by the Rangers. It¡¯d be more challenging of course, but at this point, with our full teams, I think we¡¯re ready to brave the real wilds. Then, from Goldenrod on, we could just continue on as discussed, only we¡¯d tack on Ecruteak at the end instead of the beginning and I¡¯d be challenging one level lower than you in Blackthorn and Mahogany. All of this in the assumption of course that we continue to enjoy traveling together and that we¡¯re both willing to compromise here and there to make that possible.¡±
¡°All of this assumes that you defeat Jasmine, of course,¡± Doro responds calmly, before raising her hands apologetically to ward off his angry glare, ¡°I mean no offense. These plans also assume that we have success at the future Gyms, but Jasmine is the first in line.¡±
Ran huffs, not looking to fight, but also not entirely appeased as the implied slight lingers, ¡°I will beat Jasmine. My match against Chuck was a bit closer than expected, but that was calculated, otherwise I¡¯d have used Aria over Skorupi. Steel has a defensive advantage, but I have plenty of answers for her. If anything, it¡¯s your match-up against Falkner where we¡¯d run into trouble, assuming you do still actually want to travel together, because you haven¡¯t answered that yet.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t tend to plan as far ahead as you do,¡± Doro replies patiently, ¡°And I do not wish to commit to a months-long journey just yet. But I do believe the journey directly to Goldenrod holds more merit than the official route through Ecruteak. One of the major advantages to travelling together, to my mind, is the safety in numbers that an exploration of the wilder areas can only benefit from. So, if you must absolutely have a plan for your own sake of mind, plan for that path, I would say.¡±
¡°Alright,¡± Ran accepts, hesitating for a moment to turn Doro¡¯s words over in his head, before accepting the logic behind them, ¡°I guess that makes sense. It¡¯s not as if my initial plans have survived this far anyways.¡±
¡°They have not,¡± Doro chuckles, ¡°Though from what you have told me, and what I believe you have omitted in your retelling, I do hope that if we do part ways at some point before the Conference, it will be on better terms, no?¡±
Ran doesn¡¯t directly admit that Doro is correct that he didn¡¯t share his whole story with her, though he omitted more about his history with Bugsy than he did of his conflict with Spencer. Instead, he merely agrees with a slight smile, ¡°I hope so too.¡±
The conversation turns lighter after that, their procession continuing to lazily make its way along the boulevard that runs along Olivine Beach, towards the gradually growing less distant shape of the Lighthouse. There¡¯s a moment of hilarity when Aria, who clearly wants Golbat to be a bit more sociable, tries to tag him with a string of her silk, to stop him from flying ahead yet again.
Unfortunately for her, she overestimates her grip on Caesar¡¯s back, as well as her own weight, whilst underestimating just how strong Golbat¡¯s been getting. Which means that when her shot lands, a thick strand of webbing connecting her to Golbat¡¯s abdomen, Golbat isn¡¯t arrested in his flight. Instead, Aria is sent flying after him, Golbat¡¯s momentum and strong wing beats tearing Aria off of Caesar¡¯s back, leaving her to trail after him just a few feet above the ground.
Ran hurriedly pulls out Aria¡¯s ball to try and prevent a painful crash landing, but Golbat catches on to just what¡¯s happened just in time, putting extra effort into maintaining his height whilst bleeding off speed. Aria meanwhile lets out one of the shrillest chirps she¡¯s ever produced, as with Golbat stopping his forwards momentum, she in effect become a pendulum, swinging onwards past the flying-type she¡¯s attached to, her legs clipping the ground at the bottom of the swing, before she is carried onwards and upwards.
Golbat clearly can¡¯t keep it going for too long, but when Aria realizes that any immediate risk of a crash has been averted, the sounds she produces become a lot more enthusiastic, spurring Golbat to ascend just a bit more before simply letting Aria¡¯s momentum bleed off slowly. She swings back and forth another five times, before finally coming to a rest a few feet above the ground. Then, she simply lengthens the strand she¡¯s attached to Golbat by until she gently lands on the ground.
The reactions of the rest are mixed, with Caesar seemingly set on lecturing both Golbat and Aria for their tomfoolery, whilst Skorupi is glaring distrustfully at Golbat as if scared that, with the poison-flying-type¡¯s strength proven, he might himself be carried off at any time. Croagunk, meanwhile, has visible stars in his eyes as he gazes hopefully at the strand of web that¡¯s still attached to Golbat¡¯s abdomen.
As for Doro and her team, they all seem just about equally puzzled, clearly unsure how to handle the chaotic moment. Which leaves Ran to impose some amount of order.
¡°Alright, Golbat, clearly Aria wants you to stay close, so hitch a ride on Caesar with her for now. Aria will help you get rid of her webs. Croagunk, you can try and convince them to let you have a go later on, when we¡¯ve got free time and enough room to do so safely. Caesar, it¡¯s alright, Aria shouldn¡¯t have tried to force Golbat to come down, but nobody was hurt and I¡¯m sure that she¡¯ll apologize. Oh and Skorupi, ease up, Golbat isn¡¯t going to grab you and take you flying.¡± He lists off, looking each of his team members in the eye in turn.
It¡¯s enough to restore order, as an only slightly annoyed Golbat hops onto Caesar¡¯s back, allowing Aria to enthusiastically start chittering at him in what could almost be an Ariados¡¯ version of a serenade. At the same time, Skorupi¡¯s grip on Ran¡¯s back, having grown significantly more tense over the past minute, eases up again whilst Croagunk contents himself with simply continuing to walk alongside Caesar¡¯s form for now. With that sideshow handled and once more preceding them, Ran turns his attention to Doro, only to be met with an extremely puzzled look.
¡°What?¡± He asks cautiously.
¡°I find you a confusing boy, Ran Carr.¡± She simply informs him, not expanding any further on just what she means by that statement over the next ten minutes, no matter how much he badgers her over the matter.
Finally, his demands for an explanation come to a halt, as they arrive at the foot of the Olivine Lighthouse. By this point, the sun has set and though there is a decent amount of moonlight, the tourist deck is already closed.
¡°The area up to and including the tourist deck is freely accessible to anyone who wants to take in some of the city¡¯s history and culture, or who just wants to go and enjoy the view. Beyond the tourist deck, the tower¡¯s upper innards, is a Trainer-only area that may be worth a few visits, as although there are no wild pok¨¦mon, it makes for an interesting battling location. There¡¯s an unofficial, though quite reputable, gauntlet ranking system.¡± Doro explains, as she looks up towards the tower¡¯s top.
¡°Oh?¡± Ran asks, intrigued by the mention of a competition.
Doro doesn¡¯t hesitate to explain, clearly a fan of the concept, ¡°There are multiple floors. To proceed to the next floor, it is considered proper practice to win at least a single one-on-one battle before doing so. Of course not everybody participates as it is an unofficial thing, but for those that do wish to partake, they simply need to buy a souvenir pin of the lighthouse and pin it onto their clothes upside down. I made it up three floors the last time I was here, under the circumstances, that was quite a good performance.¡±
¡°It sounds like fun,¡± Ran agrees, ¡°We¡¯ll have to come by and give it a go sometime in the next few days.¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Doro agrees enthusiastically, ¡°We should.¡±
Chapter 28, pt.1
Over the next three days, Ran gets into a comfortable enough rhythm. Whilst Doro takes off early every morning for a hard training session, Ran and his team have a more leisurely start to the day, before heading out towards the Beach for some light training of their own. Unlike Doro, who puts her team through a strenuous workout which she herself joins in, Ran focuses on letting his team work on expanding their move pools, with plenty of time for relaxation.
Caesar works on Dig, one of the absolute keystones to how Ran envisions his starter¡¯s battling style down the line. His progress isn¡¯t great, as he continues to struggle with calling up the ground-type energy to actually make his movement through the earth as swift and silent as it should be.
For Aria, Poison Jab is the obvious addition to her arsenal. When she works on it, she shows clear aptitude, but with Ran giving her plenty of freedom as he focuses on the team members who aren¡¯t learning as intuitively as her, her progress is slower than it should be. From what he observes, her delays are due to her preference for watching her team members¡¯ training over focusing on her own assignment. Part of Ran wants to be stern with her over the matter, but considering how well they¡¯ve all been doing and just how far ahead of his schedule they are, he can¡¯t find it in himself to actually carry through on that thought.
In no small part, because he heavily focuses on working with Golbat, who is the only team member who doesn¡¯t get off lightly for their morning training sessions. Because whilst the others get to work on ¡®simply¡¯ learning and mastering new moves, Golbat gets the vast majority of Ran¡¯s attention. Not that the Bat Pok¨¦mon is happy about it, as Ran deliberately baits and antagonizes Golbat for long minutes on end.
He does so by shouting, throwing sand, poking Golbat with a stick and anything else he can think of to irritate or provoke Golbat into snapping. It isn¡¯t fun training of course, neither for Golbat nor for Ran, but it is the best trick Ran can think of to try and teach Golbat how to rein in his temper and instincts. At least Golbat understands and, crucially, he does progress. To compensate somewhat, they spend the end of every training session with some flying training, as Ran hangs on to Golbat¡¯s feet whilst they race along the beach.
With the majority of Ran¡¯s time devoted to Golbat¡¯s behavioral training, he can¡¯t supervise Skorupi or Croagunk as closely as he¡¯d like to either, but both seem to have well and truly found their feet by now. Skorupi actually makes the most progress of all of Ran¡¯s team members, confidently showing off his ability to use Knock Off by the end of the second day¡¯s training session. Not that the smallest member of Ran¡¯s team earns any time off by mastering the move, as Ran simply instructs Skorupi to join Caesar in trying to learn Dig.
Finally, as for Croagunk, the notes Chuck provided him with are significantly more exhaustive than what Bugsy sent him on Skorupi - though Ran is willing to concede that Bugsy may simply not have access to as much information as Chuck - which means the options to choose from are significantly more exhaustive. A lot of the options Chuck listed do mention the need for either a TM or tutoring however, so Ran discards all of those for now. Ultimately, though he hesitates for a long time over the option to get Croagunk started on Toxic, he chooses to get Croagunk started on Bullet Punch. Not that an offensive steel-type move adds much in the way of coverage, but its increased speed and ability to cut opponents off before they can get started on their own strategies is strong enough for Ran to value it quite highly.
When the morning¡¯s training sessions end, Ran meets up with Doro at the pok¨¦center once more where, after a change of clothes for Doro, they wander out into the city. They spend time visiting shops, watching trainer battles on the beach or near the Port and by examining Olivine City¡¯s many little peculiarities.
Due to the city¡¯s unique lay-out, it¡¯s almost more like a bunch of villages that just happen to be placed directly next to each other, rather than a proper city. Which, as Doro is happy to show Ran, means that each neighborhood has its own typical lay-out and characteristics, with every day of the week offering some kind of activity or diversion in at least one of the neighborhoods.
The most obvious of these is the fact that in Olivine City, there is no weekly market, as instead there¡¯s a market somewhere in the sprawling city on every single day of the week, each of which draws tourists and trainers like Beedrill to honey. It becomes a daily ritual for Ran and Doro to seek these markets out, as they take in the many handmade curiosities and local delicacies on display. Of course there¡¯s other distractions as well, like small museums, plenty of parks, pok¨¦mon playgrounds and scenic outlooks.
It¡¯s easy work to fill most of their day with such diversions, only for Doro to inevitably declare that she wants to get started on the day¡¯s second training session. For these, they stick together, with Ran trailing more slowly after the overly enthusiastic Doro, as she leads them to whichever is the nearest publicly accessible area where they can let their teams work out freely.
Once they make it there, for each of their first full three days in Olivine City, the same pattern plays out. Firstly, Doro¡¯s Croagunk stomps over towards Ran¡¯s, loudly and abrasively challenging it to a spar, which Ran¡¯s own fighting-type is never particularly enthused about. Though each time when Ran does try to cut in and spare his team member from what he doesn¡¯t seem to enjoy, Croagunk waves him off, before trudging after his rival.
Second, Doro¡¯s three starters all make a beeline for Golbat who, still carrying more than a bit of irritation from each morning¡¯s training session, is more than happy to take them on in whatever order they figure out amongst themselves. Inevitably, those spars end with one or two of Doro¡¯s hitmen and Golbat passing out. They all seem to enjoy it however and none of them are hurt beyond what the pok¨¦center can easily fix, so Ran is content to let Doro supervise those particular spars.
Third, Ran is left supervising Caesar and Skorupi as they continue working on Dig. However, unlike in the mornings, when he asks Aria to work on Poison Jab, in the afternoons, Ran simply has her join the other two in trying to learn Dig. His notes are very clear that Ariados don¡¯t naturally learn the move and are supposed to use a TM to learn the move, but with both Caesar and Skorupi already working on it, Ran opts to at the very least let Aria try to learn alongside the pair. A reusable TM would be vastly preferable of course, but even with his recent winnings, the going rates for those are so high as to leave Ran short of breath.
Progress, across the three days, is extremely slow, but that there is any progress at all is all the evidence Ran needs that he¡¯s onto something. Even if it does slow his team¡¯s overall progression down significantly, the sheer mobility and coverage provided by Dig is too great for him not to try and let each of his team members learn the move. In fact, according to Chuck¡¯s notes, and supported by the natural behavior he¡¯s observed from Croagunk, the poison-fighting-type is also capable of picking up the move, though for him at least there¡¯s other priorities to pursue in the short term.
Inevitably, despite the slow but steady progress they make, Ran and his team are ready to call it quits in favor of a timely return to the pok¨¦center, so that they can rest and freshen up before dinner. Doro always continues on for another half an hour or so, before also returning to the pok¨¦center. Once they¡¯ve both got those team members that need treatment handed in to the staff and their outfits changed for something more suitable for dinner, they head out to eat.
This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.
It¡¯s an enjoyable rhythm. Ran is quite enjoying the relaxed lifestyle, though both Doro and he agreed that they¡¯d spend the next day taking on the Lighthouse Gauntlet. Or at least that was the original plan, but then, just after they¡¯ve finished paying for dinner on their third full day in Olivine City, his pok¨¦gear buzzes with an incoming message.
Josie: Made it to Olivine, you around?
Ran: Yeah, we just finished having dinner. Are you at a pok¨¦center or¡?
Josie: Closest one to the Gym.
Josie: Hang on, ¡®we¡¯?
Ran has to do a brief double take at Josie¡¯s responses. The first reason is the matter of her managing to get a room at the exact pok¨¦center Ran and Doro failed to get rooms in. But that part he can easily explain, either through Josie having gotten lucky with a room having freed up recently, or because she was willing to shell out the necessary cash for a larger room. It¡¯s her second response, which seems almost like an afterthought, that causes a faint sense of unease in his gut, though he can¡¯t figure out why.
After a few moments¡¯ hesitation, he responds.
Ran: Can be there in maybe twenty minutes, if that¡¯s okay with you. We = Doro and me. She¡¯s my new rival. Or well, I¡¯m hers, at least. Long story.
Josie doesn¡¯t immediately respond, her side of the conversation remaining ominously quiet for what feels like some very long minutes. Finally however, a response appears.
Josie: Alright, I¡¯ll wait in the lobby, hurry up. You can tell me all about it when we¡¯re catching up.
Ran: On my way.
Ran closes his pok¨¦gear, looking up to realize that Doro is watching him patiently, clearly waiting for him to be ready to leave the restaurant they had dinner in. With an apologetic smile, Ran puts on his jacket, before joining Doro as they depart the small bistro. Then, not needing Doro to actually voice the obvious question, he speaks up.
¡°I just got a message from Josie, the girl that travelled with me from Violet City to Goldenrod City. She just arrived in Olivine and I promised to go over and meet up with her.¡± Ran explains, receiving an understanding nod from Doro in turn, as her curious expression lightens slightly.
¡°Alright. Can I join you, or would you prefer a private reunion?¡± She asks simply, leaving Ran to blink in surprise for a moment, not understanding why he wouldn¡¯t take Doro along.
¡°Of course you can come,¡± He replies instantaneously, ¡°We¡¯ll probably be hanging out together a lot over the next few weeks, so the sooner you meet the better.¡±
Doro doesn¡¯t seem entirely convinced, which leaves Ran wondering whether she¡¯s a bit anti-social or if she got a bad first impression of Josie based on Ran¡¯s stories. It¡¯s something he ponders as they make their way over to the pok¨¦center closest to Olivine¡¯s Gym, but he doesn¡¯t come any closer to a definitive answer at any point.
They end up making it to the pok¨¦center in fifteen minutes, rather than the twenty he¡¯d estimated initially. Not that it really matters, as upon entering the lobby, Ran still immediately spots Josie, who is fiddling with her pok¨¦gear whilst she sits off to the side on one of the couches that ring the lobby.
Ran takes just a moment to take his friend in. It¡¯s been close to a month since they went their separate ways, but it seems to have done Josie a lot of good. Her tan is deeper, there¡¯s two new pok¨¦balls on her belt - so another addition on top of Vulpix then - and even as she fiddles with her pok¨¦gear, there¡¯s something visibly relaxed about her. She¡¯s also, though he¡¯s noticed that part before, still very pretty.
¡°Josie!¡± He calls out enthusiastically, approaching her with a grin whilst Doro follows along behind him.
Josie glances up towards him, meeting his grin with a smile of her own as she stands up from the couch, ¡°Hey!¡±
As she gets up, Josie raises her right arm in a kind of half-salute, hovering there for a half second before she pulls it back to play with her ponytail instead. Ran doesn¡¯t quite know what to do with the odd motion, especially as they¡¯d already said hello, but he still offers a half wave of his own. He clearly does something wrong however, as Josie¡¯s smile is noticeably more pinched, probably out of embarrassment over her peculiar salute.
¡°How was your trip? I figured you¡¯d make it here before us.¡± Ran asks valiantly, trying to forge past Josie¡¯s awkwardness, which is enough for her smile to become a lot more genuine once more.
¡°I got held up, but with good reason! I don¡¯t want to give the surprise away too early though, I¡¯ll show you later. For now, why don¡¯t you introduce us?¡± She answers enthusiastically, before shifting her attention to Doro.
¡°Right,¡± Ran agrees self-consciously, scratching at the back of his head for a moment before gesturing apologetically from Josie to Doro and back again, ¡°Right, Josie, meet Doro. Doro specializes in fighting-types. She and I were competitors for a challenge from Chuck. Then we found out that we¡¯re both unsponsored rookies at the same point in our journeys and we got both a reward and an assignment from Chuck. So now we¡¯re rivals and, for now at least, we¡¯re traveling together.¡±
Ran then turns his attention to Doro, ¡°Doro, this is Josie, my previous traveling companion, whom I¡¯ve mentioned before. She specializes in fire-types.¡±
¡°It is nice to meet you.¡± Doro offers first, an acknowledging nod accompanying her words.
Josie responds with a nod of her own, ¡°You as well, though I¡¯ll be wanting the details of that challenge and your rewards later.¡±
Doro chuckles in obvious amusement, but she doesn¡¯t dispute Josie¡¯s request, merely stating that she can arrange for a proper retelling later.
For now however, before their conversation can really get underway, Josie¡¯s stomach audibly rumbles.
¡°Haven¡¯t had dinner yet?¡± Ran asks with a teasing smile, which the blonde mulishly confirms.
¡°I was planning to go and eat with you, actually, but I arrived a bit later than planned and you¡¯ve both just eaten, so I¡¯ll just fix something up in my room,¡± Josie insists, ¡°How about this, I¡¯ll take the rest of the evening to get the grime of the road off of me and to get used to being in the city once more. Then we can meet up tomorrow and catch up properly.¡±
Ran glances in Doro¡¯s direction, who offers a simple nod to Josie¡¯s words, leaving Ran free to accept as well. They work out the details easily, with Josie expressing some surprise upon learning that Ran and Doro aren¡¯t staying at the same pok¨¦center as her. When Ran actually inquires about her own room however, Josie does freely admit that she booked a two person room for herself.
That particular tidbit promises to pop into Ran¡¯s head at the most inconvenient moments, but for now, he manages to ignore the implications. Instead, Doro and he merely wish Josie a pleasant evening before leaving the pok¨¦center and heading to the one they are staying at. As they walk, Ran exchanges a few messages with Grady, discovering that the younger trainer hopes to arrive in Olivine in another day or three.
He informs Doro of Grady¡¯s plans, admitting that he¡¯d like to meet up with the younger trainer as well, once he makes it to the city. Doro accepts easily, but her attention isn¡¯t really on Grady¡¯s pending arrival. Instead, when she does respond beyond a simple nod, it¡¯s with a statement about Josie, ¡°I believe you haven¡¯t told me the full story of your friendship with Josie.¡±
Ran pauses for a moment, surprised by Doro¡¯s words, which shows in his words, ¡°What do you mean?¡±
¡°From what you told me of her, I would have expected a warmer welcome.¡± Doro replies, pausing for a moment, before letting out a dry chuckle, ¡°Forgive the pun, it was unintentional.¡±
¡°What do you mean?¡± Ran asks, not letting Doro¡¯s moment of levity distract him, ¡°She was nice, wasn¡¯t she?¡±
Doro nods agreeably, ¡°She was. But there was something¡ peculiar about the way she looked at me. She was cordial, but I don¡¯t think she was happy to meet me.¡±
Ran slowly shakes his head, not having noticed anything of whatever Doro thinks she¡¯s caught on to, ¡°She had a long day travelling here, maybe she was just tired? Trust me, if Josie doesn¡¯t like something or someone, she¡¯ll come out and say it.¡±
¡°If you say so,¡± Doro allows slowly, ¡°I think you don¡¯t understand her as well as you seem to believe you do.¡±
Ran doesn¡¯t immediately answer that, not particularly wanting to admit that when Josie and he parted ways, he was struck completely mute by her kissing him out of, to his mind, nowhere. Still, he was pretty confident that she wouldn¡¯t be doing that to Doro, so he felt like his judgement on the matter was still valid.
Chapter 28, pt.2
The next morning, rather than the routine they¡¯ve established over the past three days, Ran and Doro head to the pok¨¦center Josie is staying at, picking her up before heading to the beach once more. On the way, Josie catches Ran, and by extension Doro, up on just what she¡¯s been up to over the past month.
¡°I met Lady, my Vulpix, pretty soon after leaving Goldenrod. I spent some time really working with my team, on stuff like agility, ranged attacks and strategies that were a bit more complex than variations of ¡®charge!¡¯. After Whitney, I was actually a bit hesitant about challenging Morty at first, so I went to watch some matches before I booked my own challenge. After spending a whole morning watching people challenge, I realized that my team was definitely strong enough to win their third badge and that it was just me not giving them the right tools to work with which was holding us back. So I booked my challenge and then we doubled down on expanding movesets and figuring out just how to handle opponents that we couldn¡¯t just burn through.¡± Josie explains, before briefly getting distracted as they reach the beach itself, drawing a delighted smile from the blonde.
¡°Oh this is nice! I¡¯m going to have to keep this in mind for in a few months, if my schedule allows for a beach trip.¡± She declares, to Ran¡¯s amusement.
¡°The water¡¯s pretty alright actually,¡± Ran offers, ¡°Or at least it was in Cianwood, and it''s only a little warmer there than it is here.¡±
Josie lifts an eyebrow in surprise, ¡°The two of you went swimming already, huh? It¡¯s a bit early in the year for my tastes.¡±
¡°I went with my team,¡± Ran corrects, ¡°But it was really pretty pleasant! There were a lot of people in the water, over in Cianwood. There¡¯s less tourists here and it¡¯s early now, but there¡¯ll be people in the water by noon, I guarantee it.¡±
¡°You can guarantee it all you like,¡± Josie responds without blinking, ¡°But you¡¯re still not getting me into that water any time soon.¡±
¡°If you plan on crossing to Cianwood after your stay in Olivine, I would urge you to at least test the water out once you get there, but it is of course entirely your decision,¡± Doro cuts in, before getting them back on track, ¡°But you were discussing your preparation for facing Morty.¡±
Josie hesitates for a moment, before offering Doro a grin, ¡°Right! So once my challenge came around, Soot and Ginger were enough to get me past him without any real difficulty. With me specializing in fire-types, he got me clearance to head into the Burned Tower, which ended up being a very eventful trip in its own right, but I don¡¯t want to hold us up too long, so suffice to say my time there was productive. Then we started coming this way, only to end up in a bit of a situation with this farm I promised my father I¡¯d swing by. It all turned out well enough eventually, at which point we finally made it here. All the way, I¡¯ve been keeping a few things quiet, just so I could reveal them now. Come on out y¡¯all!¡±
Josie releases her team, her hands grazing along the five pok¨¦balls on her belt in a swift move. As the fire-types start to materialize, Ran doesn¡¯t know where to look first, as there¡¯s a lot of changes from when he saw them last, though ultimately, it¡¯s the entirely unfamiliar shape that first draws his attention.
The bipedal pok¨¦mon he ends up looking at isn¡¯t all that tall, but it is undeniably an intriguing sight, as, although it isn¡¯t all that strong yet, it is undeniably rare. Not to mention, though it looks a bit goofy, it is also absolutely adorable.
The Magby takes in its surroundings curiously, glaring distrustfully at the ocean and immediately spitting out some flames around its own feet, as if to make sure that it can¡¯t get wet. It makes for a charming scene, but Ran can¡¯t devote too much attention to it, as his focus is irresistibly drawn towards a large, dark figure, who announces his presence with a breath of flame that has an ominously dark core to it.
¡°Houndoooooooooom!¡± Soot howls loudly, the Dark Pok¨¦mon throwing his head back a bit too enthusiastically, accidentally poking himself in the back of his neck with his massive curled horns. At least he doesn¡¯t appear to have hurt himself, merely cutting off his howl a bit prematurely before sheepishly looking towards Josie in what Ran can only consider a clear sign of a rather recent evolution.
Josie offers a comforting hand for the large dark-fire-type to nuzzle into, which he eagerly does, but she doesn¡¯t take a single step in his direction, as her other hand is rather occupied gently combing through the flaming mane of Ginger, her starter.
Her starter who has also evolved at some time in the past month, as when Ran turns to look at her, he doesn¡¯t find the Ponyta whose head was roughly of a height with Josie¡¯s face. Instead, his eyes land on a towering Rapidash, her massive horn making for a rather intimidating sight in its own right. Add onto that its flaming mane, fetlocks and tail, and all of a sudden any thoughts of the Ponyta-line being ¡®typical¡¯ for girls are very, very, very far from his mind.
It¡¯s actually a relief to see Chief the Growlithe and Lady the Vulpix scampering around in their unevolved forms, after the near whiplash Josie¡¯s three consecutive reveals give him. Not that said relief keeps him from voicing the praise Josie richly deserves for what is, frankly, an astounding amount of progress on her end.
¡°It¡¯s been less than a full month,¡± Ran expresses in awed disbelief, ¡°Ginger and Soot evolved and you got a Magby as well as Lady?!¡±
Josie absolutely glows at his words, almost preening under his gaze before she seems to remember herself, instead meeting his eyes with a smug smile.
¡°Yep. Whitney was the kick in the ass we needed! It was a lot of work, but the squad really stepped up. And Chief¡¯ll get his due once I head back to Goldenrod to re-challenge Whitney. Might as well buy two Fire Stones whilst we¡¯re there, though I¡¯ll obviously hold off on evolving Lady until we¡¯re a bit further down the line.¡± Josie happily informs him drawing an eager yip from Chief, who hurries over to accept head pats from his trainer¡¯s unoccupied hand, whilst Lady more tentatively explores their surroundings.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
The Vulpix¡¯ tentative moves leave Ran curious to find out how she¡¯ll respond when Doro and he release their own teams, but it¡¯s only an errant thought he doesn¡¯t pay too much mind to in the moment. Instead, his focus shifts erratically between Magby and Josie¡¯s two fully evolved team members for a few seconds, before finally settling on the new addition first.
¡°So, Magby? How? When?¡± He asks, struggling for a moment to form proper sentences as he frantically tries to process just how much Josie accomplished in under a month¡¯s time.
¡°Her name is Torch,¡± Josie allows with a grin, ¡°She¡¯s actually why I went into the Burned Tower in the first place. Had to burn my way through a colony of Rattata to find her, but we managed it eventually. She came willingly, damn near volunteering to get captured, but let me tell you, the mom, or dad, I¡¯m not even sure, was not amused at all. It was actually during that battle that Soot evolved into a Houndoom. That, combined with Ginger getting Flash Fire activated was ultimately enough to force it to back down, but it was a very close thing for a while.¡±
Ran lifts an eyebrow in surprise, ¡°That sounds like quite the adventure. I¡¯m glad to hear you made it out alright.¡±
¡°Oh yeah no worries on that front,¡± Josie waves him off confidently, ¡°I still had Chief and Lady in reserve to help us back off if needed. But I wanted a Magby or Magmar and the Burned Tower was my only good shot at getting one without heading to Johto¡¯s Safari Zone. Besides, from what I¡¯ve heard, Safari Zones are always a crapshoot, so I really didn¡¯t want to have to rely on that.¡±
Not having visited the Safari Zone near Cianwood City himself, both due to the exorbitant entrance fees as well as his lack of interest in acquiring his sixth team member there, Ran doesn¡¯t argue the point, instead shifting his attention to Ginger.
¡°You¡¯ve not mentioned Ginger¡¯s evolution yet,¡± He states simply, ¡°What¡¯s the story there?¡±
Josie¡¯s smile is fond as she answers, her own focus shifting to her starter, whom she¡¯s been gently petting throughout their conversation, ¡°That happened just a few days after leaving Goldenrod. I was riding her along the Route towards Ecruteak, when we turned out from this part of the road that wasn¡¯t in the best shape. You know, it had trees close on both sides and the trunks were pushing up the path a bit, there were a few fallen branches here and there, that kind of stuff. Nothing too troubling, but annoying to ride on, as you can¡¯t really pick up the pace.¡±
¡°Sure.¡± Ran agrees, not bothering to mention that he can¡¯t particularly empathize due to his lack of riding experience, his experiences clinging on to Aria and Caesar not exactly comparable to a casual ride on Ponytaback.
¡°So we came out from between the trees and there was this gorgeous stretch of dirt road at least a mile long. It¡¯d rained a few days before, so it wasn¡¯t dusty, but the ground wasn¡¯t too heavy either. There wasn¡¯t a trainer in sight, nor any wild pok¨¦mon near it that might¡¯ve taken umbrage at a racing Ponyta coming through. So I asked Ginger if she was thinking what I was thinking. She made it clear that she was, so there we went.¡± Josie recounts, eyes almost starry as she tells him of what is clearly a very fond memory already, even though it¡¯s only been a few weeks since then.
¡°We¡¯ve galloped before of course, but between it being the first time Ginger really got to properly cut loose under such great conditions, how much stronger she¡¯d gotten since we started journeying and the way the wind rushed by allowing us to clear our heads, she hit some kind of threshold. Partway through the run, she started glowing and shifting. By the time she started to slow down at the end of the mile, I was sitting higher up in the air and her saddle was ready for the bin.¡± Josie finishes her retelling, the vivid picture she painted slowly fading away.
Then, with a guilty grin, she tacks on a final admission Ran finds less than amusing, ¡°We had a bit of an exciting moment when she threw her head back to look at me whilst not accounting for the horn, but I leaned back in time and I didn¡¯t like that top anyways. I actually considered texting you to let you know that evening, but I figured it¡¯d be better for me to keep radio silence for a while longer. For my own peace of mind, if anything.¡±
Still hesitant to address their text messages in any form, entirely too aware of how awkward he¡¯d felt whilst reading, interpreting and writing each one, Ran simply allows Josie¡¯s point to pass. Instead, he tries to figure out what to say next.
¡°Awesome job, Josie. This is extremely impressive.¡± He manages to muster, even as he tries to figure out what he wants to ask next. There¡¯s a lot of options, ranging from the new moves, to what training she¡¯s been putting her team through now that they¡¯ve evolved.
¡°Thanks, that means a lot coming from you.¡± Josie accepts with a surprisingly tender smile.
The uncharacteristic response catches Ran even more off guard, leaving him scrambling for a way to continue the conversation even more. Fortunately, he¡¯s given some extra time to order his thoughts and figure out just how he¡¯s going to continue talking to Josie, because Doro, having calmly observed their conversation up until now, finally breaks her silence. There¡¯s a very familiar gleam in her eyes that tells Ran what the fighting-type specialist is about to suggest before she even opens her mouth.
¡°Josie, I wish to spar.¡± Doro announces in her typical deadpan, but her enthusiasm is clearly visible in just how tense she appears, which Ran can tell is a deliberate effort on Doro¡¯s part to keep from getting overly physical in her eagerness to battle.
The blonde fire-type trainer, whose attention had been on Ran, is clearly caught on the back foot for a moment, but she doesn¡¯t hesitate to answer Doro¡¯s request with an enthusiastic smile, ¡°Awesome, let¡¯s do it!¡±
¡°Happily,¡± Doro accepts with a smile of her own, ¡°I would request a singles battle, two pok¨¦mon each. Quick and Precise need to be fully fit for the day¡¯s training, but Strong, my Hitmonlee, and Toff, my Croagunk, could use a good spar.¡±
As Doro makes her offer, she releases her own team, the three different evolutions of the Hitmon-line and her Croagunk appearing by her sides in moments. Josie¡¯s eyes immediately land on Toff the Croagunk, seeming to weigh it for a few seconds, before her attention shifts to Ran¡¯s belt, where his own team¡¯s balls still rest.
¡°A reward from Chuck, huh?¡± Josie huffs at him, obviously amused, shifting her attention from her upcoming match with Doro back to Ran for a moment.
¡°Well, I¡¯d apologize, but I kept one little secret and I at least mentioned getting a reward from Chuck. You just showed off two evolutions and an unannounced capture, so you¡¯ll forgive me if I don¡¯t feel too bad about not informing you earlier.¡± Ran snarks at her, drawing an amused snort from Josie.
¡°Fair enough, but there¡¯s clearly more of a story there than what you told me before, so that¡¯s something we¡¯ll circle back to later,¡± Josie accepts, before turning her attention to Doro once more, ¡°So you¡¯ll be using a pretty new team member and, what, did you have three starters?¡±
¡°I did, yes. It is a long story, but Quick, Precise and Strong have all been with me for the same amount of time and, although Toff has made good progress, I would consider them to be a cut above her still.¡± Doro acknowledges.
¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll use Lady, my Vulpix, and Ginger, my Rapidash.¡± Josie acknowledges, before her attention shifts once more to Ran, ¡°So, are you going to referee, or are you going to go and train by yourself?¡±
¡°I¡¯ll referee.¡± Ran accepts, finally releasing his own team as well.