Chapter 665: Black's Electric Gym Battle
~Third POV~
[Unova Region, Meanwhile, Nimbasa City – Gym]
The neon pulse of Nimbasa City thrummed through the damp, post-storm air, a vibrant tapestry of carnival lights, buzzing marquees, and the cheerful, tinny melodies bleeding out from the nearby Musical Dome.
But inside the cavernous steel belly of the Nimbasa City Gym, the atmosphere wasn't built for cotton candy and Ferris wheel romances. It was built for speed, voltage, and unrelenting momentum.
*Clack-clack-clack-clack*
The roller coaster track curved sharply, a sickening loop of polished chrome and high-voltage wiring suspended fifty feet above a sprawling, neon-lit battle arena. And right in the middle of it, strapped impossibly tight into a rogue coaster cart, was Black.
His hair was plastered to his forehead, and his eyes were wide with the sheer absurdity of his predicament. Black strained against the metal safety harness, his face flushed red with a mixture of exertion and pure, unadulterated stubbornness, and shouted, "Come on, you blasted piece of junk!"
*Click-whir*
Down on the central platform, Elesa, the Shining Beauty of Unova and the Gym's reigning master, crossed her arms. Her striking yellow-and-black tracksuit caught the glare of the arena lights as she offered a cool, amused smirk. Her blonde hair cascaded past her shoulders, catching the neon discharge of the overhead rails.
Elesa's voice echoed crisply through the cavernous metal dome, carrying an effortless melodic lilt: "I told you, challenger. The mechanism needs proper calibration. If you had just waited for the maintenance crew to fix the cart instead of rushing headfirst into the ride, you wouldn't be stuck playing a stationary target."
Black shouted back, his voice cracking slightly as the cart shuddered on the rails, threatening to jerk him forward again, "I don't need maintenance! I came here for a Gym battle, not a scenic tour of the amusement park! Tula! Keep your footing!"
Perched precariously on the edge of the moving cart's dashboard, Tula—Black's loyal Galvantula—chittered nervously, its electric-blue pedipalps clicking against the metal dashboard.
*Zzt-zzt*
The spider Pokémon leaped backward just as the cart lurched violently forward, picking up speed as it navigated an unexpected banking curve. Elesa's smile widened, a glint of genuine thrill dancing in her eyes.
She loved a trainer with spirit, but this kid—hyper-focused, stubbornly charging ahead without looking at the whole picture—was a special breed of hot-headed.
Elesa declared, tossing a sleek Ultra Ball into the air with a fluid, model-esque motion, "Very well then, this will be a 2-vs-2 Battle. Let's see how well you fight when the ground beneath your feet won't stay still! Go, Zebstrika!"
*Flash*
With a concussive blast of white light and a crackle of raw electricity, a magnificent, black-and-white striped zebra Pokémon materialized onto the battle stage.
*CRACK*
Zebstrika reared back on its hind legs, kicking out with razor-sharp hooves that struck the concrete floor with a deafening CRACK, unleashing a ferocious neigh that rattled the glass of the observation booths. Elesa commanded, pointing a slender finger forward, "Zebstrika, use Flame Charge!"
Black roared, fighting against the centrifugal force of the accelerating cart, "Tula, counter with Electro Ball!"
*Whoosh*
Tula spun its abdomen, gathering crackling spheres of golden electricity before launching a crackling orb straight at the charging zebra. The Electro Ball sailed true, connecting dead-center with Zebstrika's chest in a blinding flash of light and a sharp BOOM!
*BOOOM*
Black pumped his fist, a triumphant grin breaking across his sweat-stained face. He shouted, "Got 'im!"
*Vrrrroooom*
Instead of staggering back, Zebstrika's stripes flared with blinding luminescence. The electric impact hadn't hurt it; thanks to its Motor Drive ability, the stray electricity had been absorbed directly into its musculature, surging through its body like jet fuel. Zebstrika's eyes flashed a brilliant cyan, and in a heartbeat, it turned into a streak of black-and-white lightning, charging straight up the metallic support beams of the roller coaster itself.
Black's jaw dropped exclaimed, "What?! It got faster?!"
Elesa called out, her voice dripping with confident amusement as she watched her partner scale the tracks with terrifying grace, "Electricity is our specialty, Black! You fed the beast, and now you must outrun it!"
*Hissss*
Before Tula could react, Zebstrika closed the distance with horrifying velocity, its body wreathed in roaring, orange flames. The Flame Charge slammed directly into the Galvantula, sending a shockwave of heat through the metal cart.
*THUD*
Tula was thrown backward, tumbling helplessly off the dashboard before hitting the ground below with a dull thud. Black yelled, leaning so far out of his jammed harness that he nearly tipped the cart over, "Tula!"
He recalled his fallen partner with a swift press of a Poké Ball, the red beam absorbing the spider with a soft ping. The cart sped around another sharp bend, the wind roaring in Black's ears. His mind raced, 'Zebstrika's speed is off the charts. Electric-types... grounded... I need a Ground-type. Krok!'
Black hurled the Poké Ball down onto the battlefield as his cart whipped past the arena floor, and he shouted, "Alright, Krok, your turn!"
*Flash*
Krok, Black's fierce Krokorok, materialized with a low, menacing growl, its black-banded snout kicking up dust from the arena floor. The moment it appeared, its Intimidate ability flared outward, washing over Zebstrika like a cold wave and forcing the zebra's ears to pin back defensively.
Black commanded, "Dragon Claw!"
*Wooosh*
Krok lunged forward with surprising agility for its stocky, muscular frame, its claws glowing with a deep, iridescent purple energy. It slashed downward, aiming to catch Zebstrika before the zebra could recover its momentum.
*Clang*
Zebstrika pivoted on its hind legs with breathtaking speed, bringing its heavy, lightning-infused hooves up to deflect the blow, sending a shower of golden sparks cascading across the floor. Elesa chuckled, her eyes sparkling. She commanded, "Impressive power, Black! You brought a Ground-type specifically to counter our Electric moves. But let's see how you handle a little misdirection. Baton Pass!"
*Wooosh*
Zebstrika's body suddenly dissolved into a haze of purple static. Krok's claws slashed through empty air. Black blinked, his eyes darting frantically across the arena as he asked, "Where did it go?!"
Elesa said smoothly, "Up."
*Pop*
From the dizzying heights of the steel rafters, a second flash of light detonated. A small, flying squirrel Pokémon with wide, teal eyes and glowing yellow cheek pouches dropped out of the air like a falling star.
Emolga twisted its membrane-like arms, catching Zebstrika's stored speed boost in a shimmering aura before diving straight toward Krok. Elesa commanded in a firm tone, "Emolga, Iron Tail!"
Black cursed under his breath, watching in horror as the fluffy rodent's tail hardened into a glittering, metallic silver blade, "When did she switch?!"
*BAM*
Emolga struck Krok squarely across the jaw, sending the Krokorok skidding across the concrete. Black slammed his fist against the side of the cart, the metal groaning in protest exclaimed, "This is ridiculous! Every time I make a move, she just pivots! Volt Switch, U-Turn, Baton Pass... she never lets me settle into a rhythm!"
Elesa crossed her arms, her pose immaculate even amidst the chaotic backdrop of the battle. She said casually with a sly grin, "That's the beauty of fluid strategy, Black. Stagnation is defeat. If you can't anticipate where your opponent is going, you're always playing catch-up."
She chuckled as she barked, "U-Turn!"
*Swooosh*
Emolga bounced off the arena wall, executing a swift, spinning U-Turn right back toward Krok, trailing a brilliant streak of bug-type energy. Black shouted in a frantic tone, "Krok, block it with Protect!"
*CRACK*
Krok crossed its arms, a translucent green barrier springing into existence just in time to absorb the brunt of the U-Turn. The barrier held, but the moment Emolga bounced off, the space behind it rippled. Zebstrika reappeared in a flash of white light, instantly replacing the flying squirrel through the chained momentum of the switches.
Elesa called out, "Flame Charge, again!"
Black roared, desperation fueling his voice, "Now, Krok! Earthquake!"
Krok slammed both of its heavy front paws directly into the concrete floor…
*RUMBLE-RUMBLE-CRACK*
The entire Nimbasa Gym floor fractured in a spiderweb pattern. A massive shockwave of seismic energy erupted outward, catching Zebstrika square in the midsection before the zebra could finish its charge.
*BOOOM*
The impact was devastating; Zebstrika let out a distressed cry as it was launched backward, crashing hard into the padded wall of the arena and sliding down into unconsciousness. Elesa's eyes widened slightly in genuine surprise.
She commented in a surprised tone, eyeing Black's Krok, "A hidden move... Earthquake. You kept that card close to your chest, didn't you?"
She glanced down at Krok, noting the heavy, ragged breathing shaking the Krokorok's frame. She added, "But look at your partner, Black. He's running on fumes. And as long as Emolga has the skies, you don't have a reliable way to hit her."
*Pop*
True to her words, Emolga fluttered gracefully above the wreckage, completely untouched by the seismic tremors below. The flying squirrel took a deep breath, its cheeks glowing with crackling yellow energy.
Elesa ordered, "Emolga, Energy Ball!"
Black yelled, "Krok, dodge!"
…but it was too late. Krok's legs simply refused to move fast enough.
*BOOM*
The glowing sphere of grassy energy exploded against Krok's chest, lifting the Krokorok off its feet and sending it crashing violently upward—right into the bottom of Black's moving roller coaster cart.
*CRASH*
Krok crumpled to the ground below, as its chest rose and fell in breathing to signal he was still in the fight. Just barely…
Black shouted, leaning so far out of the cart that his jacket caught on the jammed safety harness, "Krok!"
He gritted his teeth, his chest heaving. Black thought worriedly, 'One more attack, and Krok is finished.'
Down on the platform, Elesa sighed softly, stepping forward. She said firmly, "That's game, Black. You fought brilliantly, but your team has hit its limit."
She tilted her head, a curious expression crossing her face, adding, "Tell me... why didn't you have Musha use its psychic ability to clear your mind? You've used its mist to solve puzzles, navigate this ridiculous roller coaster maze, and clear away your mental fatigue countless times before. Why not now?"
Black froze. He looked down at the small Poké Ball on his belt containing Musha, the Munna who had been his faithful companion through countless over-dreaming blackouts and frantic library research sessions.
He shook his head, looking directly at the Gym Leader. Black said firmly, his voice dropping an octave as a fierce, stubborn conviction hardened in his eyes, "No… I made a promise to myself. I'm not going to rely on Musha's ability during battles."
Elesa raised an eyebrow as she asked curiously, "Oh? And why is that?"
Black declared, his hot-blooded passion cutting through the hum of the electric rails, "Because a trainer isn't a puppet master, and a Pokémon isn't a tool to wipe away my own mistakes. My relationship with my team... It's like a sports coach and his players. If I keep asking my Pokémon to fix my mental blocks or carry my strategies for me, I wouldn't be a good trainer. My job isn't to look for an easy way out of trouble. My job is to figure out how to get out of it myself!"
Elesa stared at him for a long, silent moment. A slow, deeply appreciative smile spread across her face as she said curiously, "A sports coach, huh? That's... surprisingly noble. But philosophy doesn't win battles. Emolga is right above you, and your cart is still locked in place. How do you plan to get out of this situation?"
*Shiiii*
Emolga hovered overhead, coiling up a massive, glowing sphere of green Energy Ball energy, ready to deliver the finishing blow. Black's eyes darted around the arena. The cart was moving again—the automatic timer had kicked in, dragging him along the rails at a steady, inescapable clip.
The cart was passing directly above the upper tier of the ruined battle stage, right where the jagged chunks of broken concrete from Krok's Earthquake were scattered. Black thought, his hyper-focused vision locking onto the angles of the track, the speed of the cart, and the exact position of the hovering rodent: 'The environment… I don't need a psychic trick. I just need physics.'
Black suddenly yelled downward, "Krok! Don't let that overgrown flying rat stop you! Show that flying squirrel your teeth!"
Despite being battered and bruised, Krok's eyes flickered open at the sound of its trainer's voice. The Krokorok let out a low, guttural growl, hearing his pride being belittled, its body suddenly radiating a blinding, white-hot brilliance.
*Pop-Snap-Crackle*
Elesa gasped as Krok's limbs lengthened, its sleek, striped hide hardening into a thick, crimson-and-black armored carapace. Its snout elongated into a massive, powerful jaw lined with razor-sharp teeth.
In the span of a single heartbeat, before the very eyes of the Gym Leader, Krok evolved right there on the arena floor into a towering Krookodile!
Elesa's jaw dropped as she exclaimed, "An evolution, right in the middle of battle?!"
Black screamed, "Now, Krok! Catch the rail! Use the coaster's momentum!"
With a burst of raw, newly evolved power, the massive Krookodile lunged upward, its claws catching the underside of Black's passing roller coaster cart.
Using the violent forward momentum of the speeding coaster to propel itself like a human-and-reptile catapult, Krook whipped through the air in a breathtaking arc, swinging directly toward the hovering Emolga.
Emolga's eyes went wide in panic as it released its Energy Ball prematurely.
Black roared, "Fissure!"
Krook spun in mid-air, bringing its massive, heavy tail and armored fists down in a devastating, one-hit KO strike!
*KABOOM*
The force of the Fissure wasn't just a ground attack; channeled through the kinetic momentum of the roller coaster, Krook drove the attack downward with the force of a falling meteor. Emolga was caught dead-center, smashed violently into the concrete floor in a blinding explosion of dust, rubble, and flying sparks.
Silence fell over the Nimbasa Gym, save for the hum of the neon lights and the slow, rhythmic clack-clack of the roller coaster cart as it finally glided to a halt at the unloading platform. Down on the floor, the dust cleared. Emolga lay flat on its back, completely knocked out, tiny cartoon stars spinning lazily above its head.
Elesa stood frozen for three full seconds, her violet eyes wide with utter disbelief. Slowly, a breathless laugh escaped her lips, and she began to clap—a slow, genuine ovation that echoed through the vast steel dome. Elesa shook her head, a mixture of utter shock and profound admiration written across her face as she muttered, "An aerial-assisted Fissure... You used the roller coaster's own momentum to force my flying Pokémon down into the earth. You completely outsmarted me, Black. Well done."
*Hisss*
The automatic release hiss of the safety harness finally went off, and Black tumbled out of the cart, landing hard on his hands and knees before pushing himself up with a victorious, breathless grin. He dusted off his jacket, panting heavily.
Elesa walked over, extending a sleek, pristine badge that gleamed like pure gold under the arena lights, accompanied by a small leather pouch of prize money and a technical machine. Elesa smiled, handing him the Bolt Badge as she praised his battle tactics. She said proudly, "You've earned this. And take TM—Volt Switch. You might actually learn a thing or two from how I use it."
Black took the rewards, a surge of adrenaline and profound satisfaction washing over him. He exclaimed with a proud smile, thanking her, "Thanks, Elesa. That was... definitely a battle I won't forget."
*Vrrrroooom*
Before Black could even step off the platform, the automated track system gave a violent jerk. The empty roller coaster cart slammed into him from behind, shoving him roughly toward the exit doors with unceremonious automated efficiency.
Black sputtered, swatting at the metal seat. He shouted in distress, "Hey! Stop it! I already won! Let me out of here!"
Irritated by the mechanical assault, Black shoved his way past the exit turnstiles and pushed open the heavy glass doors of the Nimbasa Gym, stepping out into the open air of the city. Except... the city was no longer bathed in the warm, golden glow of the afternoon sun.
*CRACK*
The sky above Nimbasa City had turned a bruised, ink-black purple. In the blink of an eye, the weather had shifted violently; a torrential downpour of freezing, heavy rain was slamming into the pavement, turning the streets into rushing rivers of water. Lightning split the sky with a deafening CRACK, followed by rolling thunder that shook the neon marquees.
Black threw his hands up over his head, completely overwhelmed by the sudden, freak downpour. He shouted in a startled tone, "What in the world?! Where did this storm come from?!"
Through the sheets of driving rain, a massive, towering silhouette flickered near the edge of the street. It was a hulking, muscular figure floating effortlessly above the ground, its body wreathed in dark, roiling storm clouds and crackling, blue-white plasma. Before Black could even process what he was looking at, the figure turned its glowing, fierce eyes toward him. A jagged bolt of lightning arced directly from the sky, striking Black dead-on.
*ZZZZZT*
Black screamed, "GYYAAAHHH!"
His hair stood straight up on end as smoke billowed from his jacket. He collapsed onto his knees, twitching uncontrollably as the electrical charge grounded itself into the wet concrete. The heavy gym doors swung open behind him, and Elesa rushed out, shielding her eyes from the rain. She exclaimed, "Black! Are you—good grief, what happened?!"
She froze as her eyes caught the massive, floating silhouette hovering in the stormy sky above them. Black groaned, sprawled face-down in a puddle, though he muttered weakly, "At... at least the safety harness is off..."
Elesa stared at the towering, thundercloud-wrapped entity, her breath catching in her throat. Memories flashed through her mind—a journey years ago to Route 7 to visit her grandmother, staring up in awe at the legends told by the elders of Unova. Elesa breathed, her eyes wide with a mixture of awe and disbelief.
She muttered, "Thundurus..."
She looked down at Black, then back up at the legendary beast as she explained, "My grandmother... she told me about them. The Legendary Flying Pokémon of Unova. One is Tornadus, and the other is... Thundurus."
Wiping rain from his face, Black managed to haul himself up to a shaky standing position, his newly evolved Krookodile—Krook—stepping out of its Poké Ball to stand defensively by his side, growling at the storm deity.
Black wiped soot off his cheek, staring up at the magnificent, terrifying creature. He whispered, "Thundurus?"
Elesa murmured, a nostalgic smile touching her lips as she watched the legendary Pokémon pivot effortlessly in the gale-force winds, "When I was younger, before I became an Electric-type expert, I actually dreamed of catching it. They say it flies from one corner of the Unova region to the other in a single day. To actually see it here... you must have incredible luck, Black."
As quickly as it had appeared, the storm clouds parted. A single ray of golden sunlight broke through the heavy gray canopy, instantly burning away the rain and leaving the streets of Nimbasa gleaming as if it had never rained a single drop.
*RMBL*
High above, Thundurus let out one final rumble of thunder before soaring away into the stratosphere, vanishing into the blue horizon. Black stood in the drying sunlight, blinking in amazement. First Virizion out in the wild, and now Thundurus.
Unova was a vast, sprawling world filled with incredible mysteries, legends, and creatures he had never even dreamed of reading about in his childhood library books. He reached up, carefully pinning the newly won Bolt Badge to the lapel of his jacket. Beside him, Krook let out a low, proud grunt, flashing its sharp fangs with a confident grin.
Black said, a wide, determined grin spreading across his face as he adjusted his cap, "Come on, Krook! We need to go find Azure and White. I've got a badge to show off, and a whole region left to conquer!"
/////
A/n: Hope you like the chapter!