Barely had they sat down and a reporter introducing herself as someone from the Indigo times, turned instantly to the Panel and addressed Giovanni instead of the two battlers.
”Mr Giovanni, what did you think of this riveting match between these promising rookies?”
He smiled amicably and gave both Carlos and Finnley a magnanimous nod and smile.“Thank you Shirley, I must say I was rather impressed with both, I will defer to Lance for a breakdown and review on this promising talent that Finnley has shown and lets say somewhat creative approach on to how to train your dragons.
I was rather intrigued and focused during the match, by the more unorthodox methods of Mr Sicada here. His simple but rather unique methods of layering multiple strategies within his team. creating multiple layers of redundancy. and the fact he managed to teach all his pokemon to chain moves so splendidly.
Which I’m sure the good professor will have lots to say about?” He gave an amicable smile towards professor Oak, who coughed. More for the pause it provided, then to actually clear his throat.
”Yes, there have been ace, and some talented veteran trainers who have shown such quick results in training new members of their team, but never before with someone on the rookie track, definitely not with someone, who by his own account, only started training electric types a couple of months ago.” He nodded towards Carlos. “I myself am quite keen to hear from the man himself how he managed such a feat.”
All cameras turned towards Carlos. Carlos shuffled before be spoke. “Well obviously I had help From Lieutenant Surge here, who let me test the telemetry on his personal Magnezone, Ampharos and his personal Kilowatrell. This helped me establish a baseline on what the TE frequency needed to be for all three. Further, using detect, I could spot inconsistencies in how my personal pokemon were performing their moves and assist in fine tuning their performance.”
”Personal Pokemon? Will you add them to your roster then?” Another reporter asked.
”Sorry poor choice of words, no I caught this team specifically for the 4th to 6th badge and will remain with the gym. Considering their performance, they will most likely become a 7th to 8 badge team.”
”Don’t you think it’s a bit unfair with all the advantages and privileges given to you on a silver platter, to stack such a team against Finnley?” Shirley asked.
Carlos scoffed. ”Absolutely not, Mr Finnley needed to be humbled and reminded of the fact that as a trainer you do not just seek strength, you seek to find balance and your place in life. No offense Finnley, you needed the ass kicking. That being said: here.”
Carlos handed the third level badge to a stunned Finnley. “W-why? I lost!” He stammered.
Carlos shrugged. “Because it’s pointless to test your team for a third badge. A clever use of safeguard, which you couldn’t teach your Geodude due to your time constraints, would have lead to a sweep, a team the vermilion gym is considering for the 7th and 8th badge duels. That more than qualifies you for the third badge, besides you would have to actively tell your charmander who is already rather close to his evolution to hold back in order not to accidentally kill one of the gym Pokemon.”
Carlos turned to the camera
”To any would be challengers this doesn’t mean I will pull this exception for any of you. If you challenge the third badge. Which I personally consider a joke challenge, you better win with your sorry ass.”
another reporter jumps up and fires off two questions.
”If you consider it a joke challenge, do you disagree with how the league is running the time honored gyms? Do you believe in the dissolution of the leagues?”
Carlos forgot he was in front of Cameras. “What the fuck are you talking about? The league practically coddles newbie trainers for the first 3 rookie badges. This sort of coddling should be done during their prior education, not during their coming of age journey where dreams meet reality. If anything, it’s a gripe I have with the education system, that forces the gyms to coddle rookie trainers.”
Surge jumped in. “You folks gotta remember, Carlos here, survived on his lonesome in the mountains, he knows very well what is at stake if we do not prepare our future generations. Poor choice of words notwithstanding, his philosophy is something I wholeheartedly agree with and something I believe the indigo league needs, our future generations should be better, stronger.”
The rest of the questions was a bunch of back and forth, with the reporters asking easy questions to Giovanni, tough questions to Carlos and the rest of the panel and some more critical questions about Finnley’s stunt of catching a Bagon.
One of the reasons why Lance and Oak were here, was because they had been called in to help appease the horde of Salamence set on a rampage. Finnley had to prove his worth, trustworthiness and Fiber, not just to the Salamence, but also Lance and by extension the Indigo league. Full blown dragons were difficult to handle, even for renowned dragon trainers like Lance.
It was no coincidence that Lance’s first six members were 2 dragonites, due to him growing up with them, a Charizard. A Kingdra a Goodra and an onix with the dragon born ability. All Dragon types, known for their somewhat laid back character.
Salamence and Hydreigon’s were something he only began training, once he himself hit the Ace track.
Obviously there were rookie trainers out there with a “true” dragon type but it was usually their starter or the only one they had. A true dragon trainer was a long arduous path. Finnley had already signed an agreement with the league that he would spend a year with Lance or another Dragon trainer in the ranger Corp, after he was done with his rookie circuit.
Carlos was only half paying attention. He disliked press conferences, or more precisely, asinine journalists constantly setting up traps with words and putting words in his mouth.
”Mr Sicada I am from the Magazine PokeFleur. You have made quite a few waves with your open admittance in dating a nurse Joy, a hotly debated subject in some circles, I’ve always wondered, does miss Joy’s carpet match the drapes?”
Carlos was brought back with one of the oddest questions asked, by a rather good looking man with a disturbing glint to his eyes. and it caught him completely flatfooted. He had to think on that for a moment.
He was so distracted he didn’t catch or hear the disapproving grunts and tsk’s of some of the female reporters.
”You know, that is a bit of an odd question, since C…, Cough, my Joy, is stationed in Blackthorne, I never had the chance to see her own place, so I actually don’t know. If you want, you can come along, you could ask her?”
Finnley leaned whispering but loud enough for the mic to pick up. “You really don’t know that colloquialism?”
Carlos was smiling amicably to the reporter of Pokefleur, till it dawned on him what it most likely meant and he schooled his expression.
The room was completely silent, except the snickering of Surge and a smirking panel. Giovanni leaned into his Microphone, with a big smirk. “I am sure your readers would love to know the answer to that question. Perhaps Mr. Sicada might be swayed to give you an exclusive interview but are there any more questions in regards to the match?” This caused some chuckling amongst the reporters and the reporters of Pokefleur shrugged and said back down smiling deviously. Scribbling notes.
”Yes I have one.” A tall brown haired man stood up. “I am not with any of these vipers, but I have a question for Mr Whisperer here. You talk a big game but all you ever faced, were little rookies who could never stand up to someone who lived in the wilds like you. I wonder how would you fare against a veteran?”
”You mean a veteran like yourself?” Carlos shot back. He really didn’t like the condescending tone the man had.
Carlos glanced at the room, he saw everyone school their expressions, everyone knew this man wasn’t supposed to be here. Surge however, had a knowing smirk, that he hid before the cameras could catch it but Carlos saw it.
”That bastard has a side hustle going on.” He thought smiling. “Gonna ask him 10% again, pretty sure he broke a few rules letting this dude in.”
”Who wants to know?” Carlos asked the man. He knew where this was going. Some verbal barbs back and forth and one of them would challenge the other. Everyone knew where this was going. It was unsurprisingly quite common, for people to get randomly challenged.
The tall brown haired man huffed. From his clothing and accent it was clear he came from Johto. ”The name is Koji, I am a veteran trainer from Johto. Decided to come here for my veteran circuit, can’t say I am Impressed so far with the Kanto Gyms.
Heard a lot of big talk about the new Kanto whisperer, but all I saw was a fool, relying on a complete misfit team that pulled through with a Watrell, obviously trained by a real electric specialist, Surge, not you.”
Carlos took a few breath’s to calm himself down. The accusation was stupid. Everyone in this world readily accepted genuine assistance of others, this wasn’t something people used, to discredit your time and effort. However this Koji had a nasty bite in his voice that made you forget all about it.
”Would be rather stupid, not using the vast knowledge A gym trainer has on the subject , right?” Carlos drawled. This drew some chuckles from the reporters. Interdependence was universally brewed into this world.
Koji scoffed. ”Pff I doubt he has more knowledge than the electric Gym back in Johto, which is a minor one. Wasn’t Surge like the only one barely suitable for the job?” Koji sneered. Surge didn’t seem to be too concerned. He had a thick skin but anyone from Johto could crawl under his skin and live there if they so much as breathed wrong.
Carlos shrugged. ”If Surge is so shitty, why then, is it such a problem for you, that he helped me?” Carlos countered.
Koji threw a primed and ready response”Hey, he might be shitty but he’s a shitty gym leader, that still counts for something, right?” Koji shot back. “Sheesh he rehearsed this.” Carlos thought.
Mr Giovanni and Oak had both placed a hand on Surge’s shoulder holding him down. The man was slowly becoming more agitated. All three men were smiling. But it was not the nice kind of smile. Lance sighed, a small groan escaped him.
”You talk a lot a shit for someone within punching range.” Carlos spoke darkly. “I don’t need my Pokemon for that.” He was getting tired of this fool. Carlos response brought the temperature down in the room. The reporters were furiously scribbling things down. and some of the reporters shuffled uncomfortably.
Koji looked triumphant. ”My my, look at that! Well if there was any doubt about whether you were Johto or Kanto. That barbaric need for violence settles it. But I guess that’s to be expected of an uncultured savage from the wild, not that there is any difference between that and kantonians.”
Carlos had to respect the man for his gutsy bravery. shooting shots at everyone in the room. Saying that kind of shit would have the local Jennies look the other way.
”You are correct.” Carlos didn’t miss a beat, responding. “Violence is not the answer, it’s the question. Yes or no? You are the type of guy who proves the answer for Kanto is always yes. Now is there a point to your role play of a wheezing, puffing your toxic fumes everywhere or was there a question?”
”I thought the question was already brought to your barbaric attention. Are you man enough to challenge someone who has the strength to beat you?”
”Ah he can’t technically challenge me.” Carlos thought.
“Fine I challenge you to a last man standing of 6, no switches, with 2 switch moves per Pokemon.” Carlos said stoically. His Patience had officially run out.
”The arena is technically ready, would be a nice bonus for all the people who paid a premium price for those tickets.” Surge added.
Carlos nodded and got up. ”Sounds good to me, but I ain’t doing another boring press conference, or interviews after this.” Carlos didn’t deign Koji with another word or glance. He left the conference room and headed back to the gladiatorial pit.
Surge rushed after him, catching up to him in the hallway leading to the gladitorial field and handed him his old belt. Six Pokeballs were attached.”6th one is the Mareep.” He added. His signature shit eating grin was on his face. But his eyes were dark and predatory.
”This another hustle at my expense?” Carlos jabbed smirking. Both men knew no one cared about that now. Someone was gonna get his shit kicked in.
”Sort off?, see I’ve been talking with Sakaki and Samuel and they both agree that it’s a waste of time to have you run the Rookie circuit for a year. Pryce however is an obstinate fool more concerned with whatever goes on in that head of his, than with the good of the league.
You being forced into the rookie circuit has the same energy as forcing Finnley to go through the charade of going for a 3rd badge again.”
Carlos had the contain his snicker, Surge was not a talker but somehow he always triggered the guy to ramble.
”That’s rather magnanimous, why go out of your way to help me shorten my 2~3 years of obligations down to less than 2? I thought the whole reason I tied myself down like this was protection and a believable cover story.”
”That in part is true but you gotta realize that your reputation is already making waves. It was Giovanni actually who casually mentioned to me and Oak that it was weird even for Pryce to not reconsider.”
”Does he suspect anything?” Carlos asked. Surge shrugged. “You don’t get to be him, if you’re not at least a bit suspicious on everything.
He always does his due diligence. We often joked, back during the army days he had a bit of Joy or Jenny in him, with how meticulously he is. Yeah obviously he suspects something is up.”
A voice rang out from behind. ”It is also in part, because you failed to keep the unique moves, of your Personal Pokemon hidden like I told you when we first met.” Carlos turned around. Professor Oak stood behind him. Carlos was a bit freaked out. He hadn’t heard the man at all.
He smiled sheepishly, Oak was friendly but something about the man’s demeanor set him on edge. An intense silent storm.
”Yea sorry about that, turns out my privacy as a gym trainer was sketchy at best. Lots of people stalking and staking me out to catch my training methods.”
Oak shrugged, “what’s done is done. You are monstrously talented but many who have watched and debated your training methods, question your sanity.”
Carlos was a bit taken aback by that. “What are you talking about? I mean I push my team but only as far as they can go. I don’t go breaking them.”
Surge snickered. “I forget you don’t use the pokenet that much.” Oak had a blank stare and turned on a video. A video in high slow motion quality, with a complete analysis of the fight between him and Loki about a month ago, the one where Loki stabbed him.
An enthusiastic steel typed trainer pointing out various things on how he believed one could trigger chaining moves. The next video was about the same Trainer in the intensive care for a week.
Oak put his dex away and looked at Carlos. The end of the tunnel leading to the gladiatorial pit was in sight. The sunlight of the afternoon shone in their faces.
“You are already considered a complete oddity, but people have come to expect it from you. The fact that you are quite… aggressive has helped tremendously with squashing any theory you might be a star child.”
”So why the posturing with this challenge from this veteran guy?” Carlos asked.
Oak shrugged. ”Simple, most Johtonians and Kantonians both vainly believe they are superior. Pryce, once he found out you would be attached to Kanto as it’s second whisperer, he pushed the book on us, refusing to allow you special dispensation for joining the veteran circuit.”
”So him pushing that contract wasn’t just distrusting me but political?” Carlos hated politics.
”Yup, that’s why I riled up that Johto piece of shit, although in my defense, I wasn’t expecting him to talk that much shit.” Surge smirked. Carlos nodded and clasped his belt around his waist and walked toward the trainer podium.
The crowd booed Koji but cheered on Carlos. He saw Corey, he was too far to look for her tells but she had her joy mask plastered he knew she would complain about his aggressive attitude on live TV after this. He put it out of his mind and focused on the match. Koji was smirking. Carlos let his team out of their Pokeballs and Koji did the same thing. Carlos swallowed hard. He really didn’t like what he saw. Every single of Koji’s Pokemon were higher level and although oddly trained, had definitely been put through the furnace and been trained to their limit.
To the challenger goes the first Move! Koji called out smirking.
“Guys I hate you say this but this is going to be a 3v6 on our side. I know what you’re going to say Loki but this is too much of a difference. Your time will come. Loki nodded, he wasn’t offended in the slightest.
“You are the boss-king. You must rule with an iron fist if we are to succeed, I will stand by your decision without question.” Loki said sternly.
”My god that guy is getting intense, should have let him stab me from the get go.” Carlos smirked and patted both Gwen and Loki.
”It’s ok, I don’t think I would like you dance with any of them anyway, they look mean.” Gwen said with her overly positive attitude.
Carlos looked at the Mareep.
”No need to say anything, no way can I be of any use against a full team of rock and ground Pokemon. I will cheer you on though!” Carlos really felt bad, he liked this Mareep but he knew she would be wasted on his current team. She was trained with other Electric Pokemon in mind.
”Yo! You gonna have a picnic? CHOOSE!” Koji yelled.
Dianne! you are up!
Kleavor! Rock and Roll!
The Kleavor on his side leaped from the podium and came crashing down.
”KLEA ME VOR! CRUSH!”
Kleavor
Sheer Force: double atk stat.
Sturdy: Increase HP and Defense stat by an additional 50% and prevent Crits.
He charged instantly, green bug TE and brown rock TE simultaneously wrapped around him and he seemed to grow larger.
“avoid at all cost! Set up!
Dianne rightfully assumed what her orders would be and had already sunk into the shadows and created 3 shadow clones and howled. It was not the best move since it wouldn’t stack but his whole team benefited from it.
“defense&power!” Koji switched gears, knowing he had to anticipate Dianne.
Koji was tense, but not concerned with Dianne, Kleavor had bug typing which was effective against Dark.
“Nasty Plot!”
Carlos ignored the nasty smirk on Koji’s face.
Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.
Kleavor slammed his cleavers into what he thought was Diane coming out, creating a massive crater. Carlos heart was beating hard. This Cleavor would one shot Dianne if she got caught off guard. Rock typings large area coverage was another nail in her potential coffin as a speedster, he had to make the first shot count or withdraw Dianne.
”Ok girl all at once,” he muttered. He knew one of her clones was close by, relaying what he said. A trick they picked up a while back. Carlos waited a split second knowing she was getting in position. Right when Koji was about to call out his next command, Carlos roared.
”SHADOW PLAY!”
instantly 3 clones shot out from the darkness and all used foul play. Shadow clones could only use a single move per round but that was plenty. They were far too fast for the Cleavor to avoid. Their black shadowly fangs clamped in his throat, head and waist. He squirmed and writhed from the intense pain. Even though he was resistant to Dark, foul play interacted with the TE seeped and molded into his body, further enhanced by his sheer force ability and it tore him apart from the inside.
“BATON…!” But Koji stopped mid sentence. All three clones had dispersed. The crowd was completely stunned. Koji didn’t miss a beat and withdrew a Kleavor slumped on the floor, unable to stop his spasms, returning him in his Pokeball. He knew his Pokemon well enough to know he was down.
The medical assistant on call quickly grabbed the ball and rushed it to the emergency room on the side of the arena.
“Graveler! You are up!”
Dianne had already gone ahead and created more shadow clones. Although finally a Cardinal move, the move still took a percentage of her TE. She had pumped quite a bit of TE into the tripple foul play. She was down below 35% of her Dark TE. And had to tap into her normal TE to create the shadow clones. Her burst was hard and fast but costly. As a non ghost type she couldn’t remain in the shadows for too long and this is what Koji waited for.
“volt play!” He yelled, as a panting Dianne came leaping out.
Dianne had already used double team 2 times on her own before Carlos was about to call it out, his chest beat proudly, she knew him so well. With her expert subterfuge she had lead the Graveler to believe one of the double team illusions was her. 2 of her Shadow clones used foul play in combination with extreme speed.
Dianne was dangerously low on her TE she still hadn’t mastered the Extreme speed yet, partially because it created micro fractures in her bones whenever she used it, the move was not recommended for her but using her shadow clones circumvented this issue. Still she was standing shakily on her legs.
Dianne levels up!
Dianne you did GREAT! Ref! Im withdrawing my Poocheyena! KONG! You are up!”
A Thirty second time out was called out as Kong took to the field and an exhausted but smug Dianne got swept up in a hug by both Gwen and the Mareep.
Koji wasn’t smiling anymore, he had a foul expression “Rhydon kill that fucking furball!”
The Rhydon lept onto the field and Roared, it was a great deal larger, but Kong didn’t let that bother him in the slightest. The crowd had become rather quiet. An awesome match was awesome, but Dianne had basically executed two Pokemon, both known to be powerhouses. No one wanted to miss anything.
SandRush. Instead of decreasing speed inside of a sandstorm you increase speed and reflex by 50% instead. Additionally you deal 50% more damage with ground moves.
“Sandstorm!” Koji called out.
buff up!
“Tackle into double smackdown!”
The rhydon came rushing through the storm. Riding the currents of the sand and came bounding in, using his superior weight and height and slammed his front paws fueled by rock TE into Kong, in a rapid pace. Kong flowed like water, moving along with the force, reacting with ease, his guard fortified him tremendously.
“Counter! into Double mach kick!”
Kong used the residual kinetic energy from the powerful strikes of Rhydon, still in his body and merged it with his fighting TE. Exploding forward, creating a temporary cylinder in the sandstorm. Allowing the spinning centrifugal force of the first kick to carry over in the next. Both hitting home hard into the Rhydon’s skull. Rhydon stepped back, reeling from the intense concussive force, roaring his name.
“Sandveil! Tackle into sand tomb!” Koji was fully invested in trying to drag as many of Carlos Pokemon down with him.
“No fucking way! Defiance works on that?” Carlos wasn’t going to question it.
“Double Bulk! Detect! Counter kick!” He yelled. The gleeful raging furball had no delay in his response. Like Dianne once the flow was in his control the next moves Carlos would order were a done deal.
Again the cylinder in the sandstorm. Kong was beginning to mess with the flow of the sandstorm by sheer power of will. It began to fade.
Rhydon was brought to 1 knee. “Finish him!” Carlos called out.
Kong practically teleported behind him driving home a spinning heel kick followed up with a spartan kick, both landing in the temple of Rhydon who got flung towards Koji and didn’t get up again.
Kong enveloped in a bright white light. And grew exponentially. Once the light faded his height pushed 6 feet.
”PRIMEAPE!!!!” Kong roared and howled his name. All stood witness to the explosion of his raw power.
Kong Fully Rejuvenates!
Anger Point. Atk boosts can now stack up to double your highest boost (240%) bulk up, Rage and Curling Fury, stack up to 6 stacks, instantly upon use.
the upper limit of atk, can be increased by learning the proper moves. 3 moves of any typing that boost your stats can be acquired as cardinal moves.
2 New moves learned
Brick break.
No defense can stand against your might. Break any and all before you.
Cost = 20%. intense = 1. Level = Advanced.
deal 150% damage. And ignore 50% of defense.
Noble Roar
You and your allies gain the benefits of Safeguard for the next 3 moves.
Additionally, once per day all recover their TE fully.
Carlos didn’t know what to think, like everyone else he watched silently. He had witnessed evolutions before but this was special, not just because it was his Pokemon. Kong had done more than just evolve. Kong had proclaimed to the world he was going to be very best. He had done it in the most savage, magnificent and majestic way possible.
The way he looked was very reminiscent of the vague memories of how the anime had portrayed Primeape. Kong was twice as big and his arms and legs weren’t cartoonishly gangly, oh no, they were thick bulging cords of steel as if a silver back gorilla had been juicing and lifting his whole life.
“Huh, his Defense went up by a lot! Guess all that defensive training did serve a purpose. Gotta brainstorm with him on it to see if he’s ok with what we are doing currently.” Carlos brain was high strung and wired with the possibilities.
Carlos shook his head, him and Kong had a habit of getting distracted with the pro’s and con’s when it came to training.
Koji resigned to his utter defeat. Called his next Pokemon, it was however, clear none of his remaining Pokemon had any desire to Fight the monster that was Kong. Carlos had to give the man and his Pokemon credit, they didn’t back down, their resignation was one thing but they faced it head held high. Koji could surrender but his pride, the pride of his Pokemon, refused to back down.
Heavy metal: all normal moves can be converted to steel type. Normal and steel type TE is combined and all steel type moves either deal 20% more damage or multiply any sort of duration of any move you use by 2.
Koji called his order. “Iron power and sandveil!”
Lairon began his self buffing. The grayish TE of steel, layered on top of his thick armored exoskeleton. Granting a glimmering sheen. The fading sand of the storm began to swirl around him. He Stomped the ground. Activating the ancient powers of the Titan.
“alright! Curling Fury! Bulk up, detect!” Carlos couldn’t deny the incredible high he was on. What happened next was frightening, even to Carlos. Kong’s eyes began to glow an intense red. Screaming: “Primeape! Primeape! RAARGH!”
He could barely control himself.
“man this fucking guy is gonna pulp everything, seems like we will have to redo his training on control.” Carlos was brought back to reality real fucking quick. The ref took some involuntary steps back.
“Sandstorm!” Koji called the order, it was obvious he was hoping sandveil, the storm and the iron defense, would be enough. he couldn’t afford losing the storm.
“ATTACK!” Was all that Carlos called out, pointing at the Lairon who braced for impact.
For just a split moment, all sound seemed to fade, Kong almost seemed lucid for a split second until he disappeared from sight. Rings of air pressure expanded, centered around his trajectory. The delayed sound of the explosion of his movement, cracked shortly after. Clouds of dust expanding as he blasted towards his target.
Kong flew through the air, his left paw forward his right pulled back, the centrifugal force combined with a huge amount of condensed Fighting TE shot out instantly and he was back to his left paw forward right paw backwards pose, as if he had never moved.
Rings of air pressure expanded again, centered around where his right arm had been. Lairon’s head cratered into the soil. For a moment Kong hung in the air till he gracefully came down on the ball of his feet. The move granting him some semblance of control.
Carlos swallowed when he saw the thick cracks on Lairon’s exoskeleton armor.
Koji was catatonic. Looking at his Lairon downed in one brutal takedown. He didn’t respond to the ref’s question. Who his next Pokemon should be.
Carlos withdrew a raging Kong and switched in Gawain, putting Kong in his Pokeball. He trusted Kong, but better safe than sorry. He clearly needed time to get accustomed to his awakened Anger point.
Obviously Carlos could sweep Koji’s team with Kong but he wanted, no he knew Gawain needed the experience. He was hesitant, the magcargo didn’t bother him as much as the Pupitar. He didn’t know this particular one, but his Experiences with Tyranitars in the hollow mountains were always intense.
He needed to push through his hesitation. He needed to show Gawain he trusted him just as much as he trusted Kong and Dianne. They went through too much together.
“Sunny Day!” Gawain Diligently did what was expected of him.
Koji sighed and shook his head, he put up a strong front but his expression was morose.
“Pupitar You are up! Show them why you are my strongest!.”
”Oh shit.” Carlos cursed. The Pupitar had been out of the range of his Arceus system and seeing the level difference, close to ten, upped the adrenaline.
“Trust Gawain Dammit! He is a fine Pokemon! You can’t coddle him! He fucking knows you already are!”
Carlos reprimanded himself silently. “How you feeling Gawain? Ready to crack some shells?” He called out, trying to exude confidence. One on one, against stronger mon’s wasn’t Gawain’s strong suit. And this level Difference was big.
”Seems like you saved the best for me Uncle! I won’t let you down!” Gawain called back. Carlos saw how the pragmatic Cyndaquil understood why Carlos was hesitant, he hated seeing it nonetheless.
The Sandstorm was not something Carlos wanted for Gawain.
Incendiary! I’ve got an idea!
“Dig! Sandveil and sand Rush!
“Quick team and hold big flare at the ready!”
Gawain went to work, cleverly making extra sounds on places with one of his illusions in place to trick the Pupitar. Even Koji was fooled as his eyes tracked a 100% lifelike illusion. Through the storm and smoke A big blue flare sparked on his back and all the illusions back.
“Ancient plot!” Koji called out.
Carlos had waited and called out at the same time Koji. ”NOW!” Gawain reacted instantly. And Carlos breathed a sigh of relief when he saw his plan work. Gawain reached back and grabbed the flame and flung it into the cloud, causing the explosion to blast the storm and Pupitar off course.
“Huh, that went better than expected.” Carlos thought as he tracked a pupitar who got veered of course by the explosion.
Nice one! Double team and double curl”
Tackle and Dark Pulse!
Quick attack and blast him with swift!
It was hard watching Gawain squirm from the intense pain. Dark pulse was an insidious move that focused on causing intense amounts of pain. Gawain’s thick skin was getting ripped and torn by the tendrils emerging from the black fog coming out of the slits of Pupitar’s shell. It moved at an incredibly fast and unnatural pace. Blood seeping and dripping out of a weeping Cyndaquil. Koji perked up and was grounding his teeth ready to repeat his order.
“spam incendiary! Quickly before he recovers! Carlos called out
“Stealth Rock! Lets make his Life miserable!” Koji had gained a bit of bravado.
“What!? You have got to be shitting me!” Koji realized his mistake, he had gotten greedy.
“Set him ablaze!” Carlos called out.
”Use Dig!” But it was too late, Stealth Rock turned out to be the achilles heel. Pupitar was still recovering from the move.
Gawain’s back flared with 2 big azure flames as he belched out more incendiary smoke, he reached back towards the two flames with his paws, holding them and jumping into the sky, throwing one into the smoke, setting off another explosion. Pupitar had been too late to use dig and cratered into the dirt from the explosion. Gawain inhaled and exhaled a burst of air with incredible strength, creating a line of sight within the smoke and ruthlessly threw his second blue flame into the Pupitars face, who screeched as the flames seeped past his exoskeleton and his insides were getting burned.
Pupitar was a pitiful husk of smoldering meat and cracks were plain to see for all.
”Uncle I wish to fight the last one without your help.” Gawain called out while zipping around the field using Trail blaze, charging his solar energy.
Carlos nodded, “After that performance, you earned it.” Meanwhile he let out Kong who’s rage and anger point had simmered down. They looked at each other, it was still the same Kong. Albeit almost as tall as him. They fist bumped and watched Gawain. Dianne pretended not to notice, Loki sized up Kong and Gwen was simply happy that Kong had grown to a more appropriate hugging size.
Molten Snail: all special moves gain 100% speed. Gain 50% more reflex and defense and ignore critical hits.
Gawain didn’t refresh Sunny day. He shimmered from the heat, having built up a lot of solar energy and as soon as Koji’s Magcargo took to the field, Gawain began belching out his incendiary. He was running somewhat low on his TE but it didn’t matter. The Magcargo was not as well trained as the Pupitar and it showed. It was almost pitiful how Gawain slowly whittled it down with ineffective explosions, constantly interrupting the Magcargo’s attempt at using moves.
Koji kept trying different things but everyone could tell his heart wasn’t in it. All present, stood vigil and watched the stout little Cyndaquil take down a seemingly superior opponent. Whose fire was hotter, bigger and more potent. None of that mattered. Gawain’s steely wit and guts prevailed. He didn’t slip up once, Carlos had trained him too well for that.
In Gawain’s unyielding state he simply couldn’t be stopped by this particular Magcargo, whom had little to no utility and his Lava plume, whenever he did get it off. Set off the incendiary cloud, knocking around the poor Magcargo who never stood a chance.
Once he slumped down from fainting, Gawain had only been grazed by the Magcargo and was rather close to a technical knockout.
Gawain.
(Cardinal) Trail Blaze: Cost 2 intense 1. Lvl advanced.
Surge forth with the power of the sun.
atk 150%, speed 150%.
increase speed by 20% for 3/6 rounds and atk by 20% when under the effects of Sunny day.
Magcargo’s defeat caused Gawain to level again. Putting him right next to Dianne as far as levels was concerned. Gawain, wheezing and puffing, but proud and vigorous in spirit waddled back to Carlos and looked up to him.
“I did it uncle, I showed everybody I am worth just as much as big bro and sis.” It brought a tear to Carlos eyes, he had done Gawain’s fiery spirit wrong by not trusting him.
“You did so much more than that Gawain, you keep exceeding my expectations by a landslide every time, Please do not let these foolish hesitations of mine ever bring you down ok? They are my weakness as a trainer, not yours.”
Carlos bent down and picked him up and raised him to the crowd. Who thundered their applause. Gawain squirmed uncomfortably. Not liking the absurd amount of attention he was getting. “Breathe it in Gawain! THIS IS YOUR VICTORY!
“CYNDAQUIL!” He roared. Everyone on Carlos team, roared with him.
