Battle With the Hometown Hero

I’ve always looked at this gym from a distance. I could see it from my room across town. I would always watch as boats full of trainers that would sail in with the main purpose of going for the badge. The ones who surfed in on their own Pokémon usually had the best chance of winning, it seemed. All of these people coming to battle the beloved Chuck.

Chuck is the kind of guy who almost everyone likes. He is a big guy always with a smile on his face and ready to give a hearty laugh at a joke, even if it is a bad one, and then give you hard slap on the back. I think most people in town are grateful to him because of the tourists that come here just to challenge him. If it weren’t for the gym and the Safari Zone (which Chuck helped establish, of course), no one would ever come to this podunk town.

As I stand in front of the gym now, ready (well, not really ready, but as ready as I can be) to enter, it seems so much smaller than from my bedroom window. I grab a handle on leathery looking doors and pull it open. As I enter, I notice some trainers working with their Pokémon. A Hitmonlee working on punching bag, a Primeape on a speed bag, even a Hitmontop that was seeming to practice breakdancing with his trainer. The smell of sweat was almost overwhelming. As I walked to the back of the gym, I saw him, sparring with a Machoke. When he finished, he turned to me, “Hi there, young fella! Great day to workout in the gym, isn’t it? Is that what you’re here to do? Train?”

“I --” before I could get two words in, I was cut off.

“Wait a minute… Aren’t you a local?” he asked. “Yeah, you’re Denny and Susan’s kid. Um… Roger, right?”

“Uh… no, my name is Reggie,” I responded.

“Ah, Reggie! That’s right!” he said slapping me on the back. “Well, what I can I do for you, Reggie? Did your dad send you down here for me to give him a hand with something?”

“No, I, uh--”
“Huh! Ok. Hey, did you see any trainers wash up on the shore?”

“No. Not today, but I--”

“Hrm… It has been a bit slow lately. I’m sure some will come in soon. Now, what did you come here for?” he said hurriedly, seeming to want to shoo me away. This is why I say almost everyone likes Chuck.

“I’m here to challenge you for a gym badge,” I was finally able get out.

“YOU!? You can’t challenge. You have to be 10 to challenge a gym,” he said condescendingly.

“I’m 11.”

“You need to have some Pokémon. Go get some and come back.”

“I have some. I got my first one for my birthday a few weeks ago, and even caught some others,” I said, trying to build confidence.

“Well, then,” he said, “it looks like you are ready for your first gym battle.” He slapped my back. “At least, I assume it is your first gym battle.”

I nodded.

“Alright, I will use 2 Pokémon. You may use up to 6. We battle until one of us is out of useable Pokémon. Let’s begin. I will start with a Mankey!”

“Alright, then I will use my Zigzagoon.” It seemed overly energetic, wanting to do well, as it sprang out of its Pokéball.  “Use Tackle!” The small rodent ran up to Chuck’s first Pokémon and heaved its weight at the Mankey. It made contact but did very little damage. I suppose this is to be expected for a well trained Pokémon such as Mankey.

Chuck was ready to respond to this attack. Calmly and confidently, he said, “Karate Chop.” In the blink of an eye, the Mankey responded with a strong flat hand to my Zigzagoon’s back. It let out a yelp I hadn’t heard from it before. It was writhing on the floor before it stood up, ready to attack again. Time for a different strategy.

“Zigzagoon, use Sand Attack.” Using its hind legs, Zigzagoon threw as much sand and dust into Mankey’s eyes as it could manage.  The monkey was infuriated at this and started swinging wildly. None of these attacks would land.

“Mankey! Calm down! Low Kick!” Chuck said a bit more anxiously.

“Sand Attack, again!” Before Mankey could get its kick ready, my Zigzagoon threw another pile of dust in its face. The kick missed. We might have a chance to do something here. “Now use Tail Whip!” It started swinging its tail back and forth with a force that seemed fast as lightning. Mankey jumped back, not wanting to be struck by this.

“Mankey, try another Karate Chop.” With sand still in its eyes, the Mankey rushed forward at my Zigzagoon. It tried to dodge the attack, but it was too late. The strike caught it right on the hind legs, knocking it to the ground, not to rejoin the fray. “I am very impressed that Normal type Pokémon lasted so long,” said Chuck. “You know Normal types are weak to Fighting Pokémon, don’t you?” I didn’t. “Well, what do you have in store for me next?”

I took the Pokéball for Zigzagoon and had it return to safety. I only had two options as that was how many Pokémon I had been able to obtain before facing Chuck. I had a good feeling about what he was going to use after Mankey. I really only have one option right now. “Let’s get it done, Geodude!”

“Ha! No problem! Mankey, start with a Leer!” Through sandy eyes, Mankey gave my Geodude an evil glare, reducing its ability to defend. I needed to respond with an attack.

“Rock throw, Geodude!” I commanded. Geodude punched the ground, grabbing pieces of the floor to hurl at the small primate. As it threw a series of stones across the room, Mankey effortlessly broke right through the stones with each of its limbs. Not one landed a damaging blow.

Chuck was ready to go on the offensive. “Mankey, pick it up and use Seismic Toss.” Mankey ran up to Geodude and grabbed its hands. It picked up my Geodude and gave it a hefty swing to the opposite side of the arena. Geodude landed with a heavy thud, but was ready to fight instantly.

Rock Blast wasn’t effective. In the back of my mind, I remember that Rock Pokémon are weak to Fighting types. Great choice, Reggie… not like I had many choices to begin with. I had to put  some damage on Mankey. It was a gamble, but it was my only chance.  Magnitude: often this attack would hit with average or below average power (seemingly in the most inopportune moments) but when it is at its best, it can be one of the most devastating attacks used by a Pokémon. This was the only way I was going to be able to bring Mankey down.  “Geodude, you have to hit it with the best Magnitude you’ve ever had!” The words seemed to resonate with Geodude as it took one of its rocky fists and drove it into the ground harder than I had ever seen. It hit so hard it had knocked me to the ground. Not only that, but everyone in the gym had stumbled off of their feet, except Chuck. All eyes were on the arena at this point. The attack had thrown dust into the air. “Geodude?”

It responded. “Geodude!” It was safe.

As the debris descended slowly, a debilitated monkey was on the floor. Mankey had fainted. “Nice shot, kid. That was impressive. Mankey, return.” I had taken it down, but Geodude wouldn’t last much longer. I would often hang out at the café in town. After battles, many gym challengers would come here and recount the tales of either victory or defeat. Many of them would be taken down by Chuck’s Poliwrath, but a few inexperienced trainers would say they faced a Poliwhirl.

Everyone in the gym had stopped their training and were watching the match now. “Poliwhirl, go!” From the stories I heard, this Poliwhirl made more Pokémon faint than Poliwrath. He must use this one to put new trainers in their place. This was not a Pokémon to take lightly. “Attack with Water Gun.” The Pokémon was released from its Pokéball and before the it had touched the gym floor, the attack was in motion.

I wanted to say something. I wanted to tell Geodude to dodge, to move, to get out of the way. Before the words would get to my mouth, Geodude was pummeled by a rush of water and was blasted to the back of the gym. Needless to say, it would not be rejoining the fight. It was now down to a 1-on-1 fight. And I had a chance…

“Chikorita, give it all you got!” Taking a note from my opponent, I had it attack straight from the Pokéball. “Razor Leaf!” The little green quadruped jumped out of the ball and showered the Poliwhirl with a fury of sharp leaves. It took a good deal of damage but wasn’t ready to give up.

“Brick Break, Poliwhirl!” The water Pokémon ran up to Chikorita and with a force that would smash through a building, swung at the plant Pokémon and landed a devastating blow. I was prepared for such a situation.

“Use Synthesis, Chikorita!” At that command, Chikorita concentrated on all of the light that was filtering into the room. It absorbed enough to heal itself, almost to full strength before Poliwhirl was back on the offensive.

“Alright, Poliwhirl, use Double Slap.” The tadpole Pokémon smacked Chikorita back and forth several times. It hadn’t done too much damage it had seemed, but Chikorita was now facing Poliwhirl squarely. “Perfect, now use Hypnosis!” The swirl on Poliwhirls belly started to spin. It had used the Double Slap to position Chikorita for the next attack!

“Chikorita, close your eyes and use Razor Leaf.” It obediently followed orders. Without a way to ain, leaves flew all around the room, hitting anything but their desired target. Poliwhirl was easily able to dodge these haphazardly aimed shots. It had also used this opportunity to make its way around Chikorita and deal another damaging blow.

Chikorita let out a sharp groan of pain, “Chik-OOH”

“Nice Brick Break, Poliwhirl!” said Chuck. “It’s on the ropes now!”

“Don’t give up Chikorita. We can still use this. Synthesis!” Once again, it took in sunlight

and healed itself, but not to the level it was at before. It was still in trouble.

Chuck then instructed Poliwhirl to attack with Brick Break, again. If Chikorita took this hit, the match would be over. It seemed as though Chikorita sensed this, as well. It carefully tracked the movements of Poliwhirl and jumped out of the way at the last second. “Poison Powder!” While still in proximity to the Poliwhirl, Chikorita spun the leaf on its head and a fine mist floated down onto the gym leaders Pokémon. The effects were immediate, as Poliwhirl struggled to regain composure for the next attack.

“Poliwhirl, Double Slap.” Laboring to swing its hand, the amphibian landed a few strikes on Chikorita, each swing doing more damage to itself, due to the poison. Chikorita took significant damage too, though. The moments remaining in the battle were fleeting. Either Poliwhirl would succumb to the poison and grass attacks or it would be able to land a finishing blow to Chikorita.

Knowing it would end at any moment, we had to seize this opportunity. One shot left. “Chikorita, use Razor Leaf!” From the leaf atop its head, Chikorita loosed several green darts to Poliwhirl, each one landing in the center of the spiraling target. Amazingly, this wasn’t enough to do Poliwhirl in. It stood its ground, ready for the next attack.

With a smile, Chuck announced the final move of the match. “Poliwhirl, finish it with Brick Break!” Poliwhirl raised its arm and made its way to strike down Chikorita. Chikorita closed its eyes, waiting for the hit come… but it never came. Poliwhirl was limp on the arena floor, taking its final damage from the poison.

Chikorita was as surprised as I was. “Ha! Good job, kid!” Chuck shouted from across the gym.

“We won!?” A smile crept across my face and stayed there for the rest of the day. “WE WON! YEAH!”

“You fought well, Reggie. I was worried this was going to be too easy, especially considering your choices of Pokémon at the start of the battle, but you made it back. You’re gonna do this town proud,” he said giving me a slap on the back that almost knocked me over. “Here is your Storm Badge. You earned it! So I suppose you’re off to the mainland then to collect some more badges. You know Olivine City is the first one you will come across. Jasmine is no push over.  You should look at getting a Fighting Pokémon before that match,” he said with a wink.

The plan was to go to Olivine next. I just had to figure out how to get there… If only Chikorita could fly...