Simon stepped forward into the challenger's box. "I will be the your next opponent." he stated. From his pocket Simon withdrew his glasses and slid them on. "I'd like to battle two on two if that's allowed." he continued.
"Alright then." Brock set the two previously used Pokéballs into the machine and selected two more. "Pokémon, go!"
"Shadow, let's go. Pen, you too." Simon tossed the one Pokéball underhanded onto the field of rocks and dirt. Shadow yipped and darted onto the field. Three bright flashes of light briefly obscured the view. The light dimmed down to reveal four very different Pokémon. Simon blinked in surprise when he saw his opponents.
'Aren't those the same as....oh well.' He shoved the now minimized Pokéball into his pocket before taking out his Pokédex to scan the opponents.
While Simon scanned, Brock boasted. "These may look like the same Pokémon, but they're much stronger!"
074 Geodude
Rock Pokémon
HT 1' 04"
WT 44 lbs.
It uses its arms to steadily climb steep mountain paths. It swings its fists around if angered.
246 Larvitar
Rock Skin Pokémon
HT 2' 00"
WT 158.7 lbs.
It is born deep underground. It can't emerge until it has entirely consumed the soil around it.
'Well. This is might be tough.' Simon thought. He drew in a breath and slowly let it out. The fluorescent lights built into the ceiling reflected off of his glasses.
'Alright. Let's go.' Squaring his shoulders Simon gave his first attack commands.
"Shadow, use Leer on Geodude. Pen use Sand attack on Larvitar!"
The Pokémon sounded their agreement and immediately began their attacks. Shadow glared fiercely at the hovering Geodude. Pen stirred up a burst of sand and directed it at Larvitar.
Brock watched Shadow's performance and laughed. "Is that it?" he asked. His expression abruptly became business-like as he issued commands to his Pokémon. "Geodude, use Defense Curl!. Larvitar, leer attack now!"
"
Geo" The rock Pokémon crossed its arms in front of its chest and began to glow. Larvitar puffed out its chest to glare fiercely at the Pidgey in the sky.
Pen looked down to meet the Larvitar's gaze for an instant. Then she squawked and abruptly banked to the left, breaking the gaze. Larvitar made a startled sound. Pidgey appeared unaffected by the intimidation.
'Ha!' Simon thought. Things were going well. "Shadow, use Bite. Pen use Sand Attack again."
Pen gave an affirmative cry and dove down closer to the ground. She stirred up more sand and dirt with her wings and directed the miniature cloud at Larvitar. Extra bits of debris continued passed Larvitar and invaded Simon's trainer area. He quickly brought his arm up to cover his face. His eyes narrowed but the glasses lent him a bit of protection. On the opposite side of the field, Shadow darted toward Geodude and lunged toward the floating rock Pokémon.
"
Cheeee." Shadow growled just before he latched onto one of Geodude's arms. The sound of teeth on stone was just barely audible. Geodude flailed for a few seconds, waving both of its arms frantically trying to disengage Shadow. "
Geo. Geo. Geo" It complained. Shadow gave a muffled growl and continued to hang on. Just before Geodude's arm impacted a nearby large boulder Shadow let go. The Poochyena bounced off of the ground then quickly backed up to get out of range of the still flailing Geodude. "
Geeeo." Shadow's opponent flexed its arm while making what was probably a not-so-polite comment.
Brock looked a bit irritated but his commands were issued in the same brisk tone. "Larvitar, use Screech. Geodude use Tackle!"
"
Geo" "
Lar..." Geodude posed like a runner about to leave the starter's block. Larvitar took a deep breath, its arms moving backwards as its chest expanded. At an unseen signal, Geodude rushed forward and Larvitar opened its mouth. The high-pitched screech Larvitar emitted made Simon flinch. Shadow, who was directly in the path of the noise blast, whined and pawed at his ears.
Geodude was still moving toward Pidgey. But Pennant rose higher and higher into the air, so much so that her wings brushed the edge of the lights. Then she darted to the side. Geodude's attack fell short. The rock Pokémon fell to the ground.
Simon winced as the impact from Geodude's landing shook the battlefield under his feet. He looked up at Pen. The Pidgey was still moving, and had drifted closer toward Larvitar. Simon got an idea. Pointing to the Larvitar he addressed Pennant first. "Pen, use Tackle. Shadow, use Howl."
Pennant circled above Larvitar, looking for just the right angle. Across the battlefield Shadow settled his weight onto all four paws and lifted his head to the sky. The small Pokémon let loose a howl that seemed to come from a much larger body. The gradually increasing sound reverberated throughout the gym. At the howl's peak, Pidgey dove down and hit Larvitar solidly. The heavyweight Pokemon didn't budge but it made a pained sound at the impact. The satisfied squawk Pen made was lost in the dying echoes of Shadow's cry.
For a moment, all was silent. Then Brock issued his next commands.
"Larvitar, use Bite. Geodude, tackle that Pidgey now!"
"
Geo!"
"
Larrrr"
Brock's Pokémon moved forward quickly. A sharp and pained cry came from Shadow as Larvitar sank sharp teeth into his side. The Poochyena immediately began to struggle but could not break free. All four paws scraped against the ground and his body contorted in pain.
Simon looked anxiously between his two Pokemon.
'Come on...you can do it.... "Get out of there." he pleaded.
"
Pidgeee" Pen cried out loudly as the solid weight of Geodude slammed into her small body. Geodude continued moving, taking the Pokémon further out of Simon's view. "[color]Geo![/color]" The triumphant cry of the rock Pokémon was unsettling to Simon. For a moment all that he could see, or hear...was Geodude.
Simon started to rush forward instinctively but froze with his shoe just touching the edge of the trainer box. He grunted in frustration. Simon called out anxiously. "Pennant?"
"
Pidg..." came the muffled reply. A wing appeared from around Geodude. Then a beak. Slowly the full Pidgey appeared. She was walking on the ground, one clawed foot put shakily in front of another. Her feathers were a mess, ruffled and dirty.
Simon held up Pen's Pokéball. "It's alright." he said, loud enough that his voice carried across the field. "You did well. You can re-"
"
Pidge!" With an angry cry, Pen shook her head and launched into the air. Her flight was unsteady at first, and she dipped down a few times. On the second dip, some unseen wind seemed to ruffle Pen's feathers. With a sudden burst of energy her flight steadied and leveled off.
"
Dgeee." Pen called. Simon peered up at his Pokémon.
'What was that?' he wondered.
Brock was also watching the Pokémon's flight. But for a different reason."Feel free to forfeit" he commented. The Gym Leader had his arms crossed and was now giving Simon a peculiar look.
Simon frowned. Though Pennant had received some energy back she was still visibly battered. He thought back to the scuffle with the angry Beedrill. Pen hadn't moved, then. But now...now she was moving. Though injured, she still wanted to fight. She was determined. Another trait both of Simon's Pokemon seemed to share. Simon looked over at Shadow to see that the Poochyena had managed to free himself and was growling at Larvitar. Shadow's fur was standing on end and his teeth were bared. Larvitar, by contrast, was simply standing still. Waiting for another command. But it was Simon's turn.
"Alright both of you...Sand Attack!" he called.
His Pokémon's affirmative cries were strong. Shadow began running in a circle beneath with Pen hovered. For her part, the Pidgey began stirring up dirt with her wings. Together the two gathered dirt, sand, and bits of rock in the air. One combined sand attack was being created. And then unleashed.
Brock shouted to be heard over the incoming sand wave. "Geodude! Use tackle now! Larvitar, bite attack!" Then the gym leader threw his arms up, preparing to ward off the sand.
"
Geo" Pulling its arms in close to its sides the Geodude launched itself forward. Larvitar opened its jaws to display sharp teeth before lunging at Shadow.
"Shadow, look out." Simon cautioned his Pokémon but it was toward Pennant that he looked. More worried about the giant mass of rock hurtling toward his small bird friend, Simon tried frantically to think. Geodude was closing in fast despite the cloud of sand. Simon needed something quick...he needed...a bit of luck. A windfall, as his father would say.
'Wind...wind! Could it work?' Simon looked up at Pen and shouted. "Pen use Gust!"
And then Simon held his breath. And hoped.
As Geodude continued speeding toward the Pidgey, Pen launched herself upwards, flipped in midair, and gave a mighty flap of her wings. A strong gust of wind slammed into Geodude's back, propelling him past the Pidgey. The wind combined with Geodude's own momentum sent the rock Pokémon flying. Past the giant boulders Geodude flew. Past the battlefield entirely, past the bewildered Gym leader, through the open air, until finally he collided-
*CRUNCH*
-with the gym wall. The sand slowly settled to reveal a Geodude sized dent in the metal wall.
"
Geeeooooo..." Came a muffled cry. Geodude's arms appeared from the sides of the crater. Weakly it pushed against the wall.
*THUNK*
-and fell to the ground. Where it rolled then lay still.
Brock left the trainer box to walk over to his fallen Pokémon. Its eyes were closed and it was emitting a low groan. Brock shook his head. And pulled out a Pokéball.
"
Pidgaaa!" High above the battlefield Pennant was doing a victory lap in the air. Simon laughed and pointed his Pokéball at the celebrating Pokémon. "Well done Pen", he called just before the beam hit. When Pen was safely in her Pokéball Simon turned back to the battlefield. "But it's not quite over yet." he said quietly.
"Shadow, are you alright?" He asked.
"
Chee!" Shadow growled his response and settled himself in front of Larvitar. Some of Shadow's fur was at Larvitar's feet, apparently removed during the attack. But Larvitar was injured as well. Scuff marks and welts were visible on its green skin.
Brock walked back to the field. In one hand he held Geodude's Pokéball.
"You've beaten one of my Pokémon." He told Simon. "But I won't let you beat them both."
'We'll see.' Simon thought.
Brock threw out his hand, dramatically shouting to his Pokémon. "Larvitar use Bite attack!"
Immediately following Brock's command Simon gave one of his own. "Shadow, tackle it." There was a chance this could work.
Larvitar began moving forward, each step the Pokémon took leaving heavy footprints on the field. Shadow also began moving toward his opponent. His four paws moved quickly, covering more ground more quickly. Shadow leaped, Larvitar snapped. There was an sudden cloud of dust. Simon leaned over the edge of the trainer box, straining to see clearly.
The dust cleared. And its wake both Pokémon were revealed. Larvitar was holding one of Shadow's hind legs and there was an angry red mark on Larvitar's midsection. Shadow pawed at the ground, desperately trying to get traction against the dirt. He whined, and yelped. His trapped leg tried to move within its confinement.
Brock grinned. Something Simon noticed and disliked. "Come'on Shadow." he called. "You can do this."
Shadow struggled harder. His short but sharp claws dug into the dirt. Some of the debris flew back into Larvitar's eyes. Larvitar blinked instinctively. And for a second it's hold weakened. It was enough. With an angry growl Shadow yanked his leg out of Larvitar's mouth and scrambled to get away.
'That was close.' Simon moved to the edge of the trainer box and knelt down. He tried to see how injured Shadow was, but he couldn't tell for sure from where he was. The Poochyena was limping, but his head was still held high. Determined, though injured.
"Good job, bud" Simon said quietly. "Tackle Larvitar again." he called.
'If you can...'
Brock frowned. "Larvitar use sand attack!" he commanded.
"
Larrr" Larvitar reached down and grabbed handfuls of dirt. In quick jerky motions Larvitar threw the sand mixture at the incoming Poochyena.
"Yen." Shadow yipped and shook his head as sand was thrown into his face. From the trainer box, Simon could see that the Pokémon was starting to slow down. Which would mean his attack wouldn't be as effective. "Shadow!" he called, "keep going!"
"
Chee!" Though blinded, Shadow trusted his trainer. His speed increased again. Larvitar continued to hurl sand and dirt but no amount of debris dissuaded Shadow. At the last instant Larvitar tried simply to dodge, but it couldn't move fast enough. With Larvitar half-poised to shift its weight, Shadow connected. He hit the off-balance Larvitar head on in the center of its mass.
"
Laaaarrrr" Larvitar toppled backwards, rolled twice, and landed face first in the dirt.
Shadow immediately pounced on top of Larvitar, pressing it further into the dirt.
"
Cheeeee." Shadow rumbled.
"
Lar. Lar-lar!" Larvitar's arms waved as it protested quickly.
"
Chee." Shadow replied. The Poochyena leaned down and poised to bite Larvitar's neck. But Shadow didn't finished the attack. Instead he growled a final time and hopped off of Larvitar's back. Without the extra weight Lartivar was able to stand up on its own. So it did. And then it immediately fell back down, putting one small hand to its leg.
"
Larrrrrr" It complained. Shadow huffed and took a few steps backwards.
Simon watched in disbelief as the two Pokémon who had just been battling now sat in the middle of the field....
talking.
'What do I do now?' He wondered. Was there any kind of precedent for this kind of thing? He certainly hadn't read about any gym battles or any battle for that matter that ended with Pokémon striking up a conversation.
Simon sighed and knelt down in the trainer box. Brock hadn't shouted any commands yet, so he guess that he was safe until then.
Brock was peering intently at his Pokémon. He watched as Larvitar struggled to stand up again then cried out loudly what was clearly a complaint. Contrary to Brock's earlier claim, these Pokémon were actually the same level as his last set. And like the last set, these Pokemon appeared to be beaten. Brock was disappointed, but knew better than to push a Pokemon who could not even walk.
"Larvitar, return" he called.
Simon scrambled to his feet, almost tripping in his hurry. As soon as the red light enveloped Larvitar, Shadow bounded back to his own trainer. His gait was a bit lopsided due to his injured leg.
"
Chee!" Shadow said happily. Simon laughed and knelt down to pet his...victorious?...Pokemon.
"Excellent job, Shadow. You did it." he praised while carefully looking at his Pokemon's injuries. Then, a little quieter, Simon voiced the question he couldn't help but ask. "What were you guys talking about?"
"
Che. Yen. Cheee." Unfortunately for Simon, Shadow's reply made no sense. But the trainer was still proud of his team. After he finished congratulating Shadow Simon returned him to his Pokeball.
