"I'll go alone today," I said, tightening the strap on my Pokégear.
Her brow lifted. "Alone?"
"You've been stuck at my side every day since Viridian City. Take a break. Go shop, or read, or whatever it is you do when you're not babysitting me." I answer giving her my black card.
She pursed her lips, clearly debating whether to argue. Free use of a card for food in quite tempting. "If something happens-"
"Nothing's going to happen." I insist a bit too strongly. "Now take it already."
For a moment, she looked resigned, but finally she gave a little sigh. "Fine but you're ONLY going to the gym right?"
Her face now a little darker due to the lighting, made the hair on my skin riser a little.
I wanted some sort of alone time and being with a maid constantly was annoying to say the least. Not that it's bad, but when the only alone time I have is sleeping and in the bathroom. These things get to you.
Not looking back, I stepped into the hallway and pulled the door shut.
Something flickered in the corner of my vision. 'Did I blink slower?'
My thoughts soon going away as my first gym battle was here.
The streets outside weren't too crowded.
Castelia was still lively in a way no other city I'd visited was. Streets teeming with people as the sky rise buildings felt sort of suffocating in some parts. Especially in those alleyways which in no way were a good idea to go through.
Thankfully this ain't google maps.
"Thank god for a gps." I murmur.
The Gym sat not far from the central plaza, and it looked nothing like the stone or steel structures of Kanto. It's purple and blue glass design was unique with lots of the high rise buildings being farther away from this place making it seem open.
An earthy smell hit my nose as my legs took my forward.
*Slide*
The huge automatic door slid as I was greeted to the sight of a front desk.
Inside, the space was wooden panels lined with dripping paint swatches, sketches pinned to corkboards, half-finished canvases propped against the wall. It felt more like a half finished art gallery than a gym.
'I guess it's not as filled due to Burgh being a newer leader.' Suddenly I was broken out of my thoughts by a voice.
"Ah! You must be Silver."
The voice belonged to a man who sounded a little zesty?
Turning around, a young adult with thick brown hair, a messy red scarf and a green sweater was there. Leaning onto the wall with his arms crossed, a smork adorned his face.
Honestly the sight was corny but hey, who am I to judge.
"I'm Burgh, the Gym Leader here," he said a bit too excited, extending a hand. "You've got a match scheduled, right?"
"That's right." I shook his hand. A person who focuses more on his art than Pokemon training.
Before we moved to the field, I asked the question that had been sitting on my tongue since I read about him last night. "Do you level your team against challengers? Adjust to what they bring?"
Burgh tilted his head. "No. I fight with the team I have, as they are. What matters isn't how strong my Pokémon look on paper, but what the challenger shows me in the battle itself. Coordination, creativity, instincts… those are the things I judge. Win or lose, if I see promise, they earn the badge~"
He says a hand on his chest as if reciting the last sentence with joy.
"I'm looking forward to battling you~" He adds.
'He definitely looked up my information.' I thought.
At least most if not all Gym Leaders in the games were trust worthy. Especially Unovan leaders treated their role seriously.
Remembering the way the ice type gym leader front kicked a plasma goon, my head slightly jerks.
I followed, my thoughts already racing ahead to the fight that was about to begin. Entering the battlefield, it was like a mini forest. With the main classic earthy battlefield in the middle, the surroundings having lots of greenery with vines creeping up everywhere.
Outside the battlefield was a referee who nodded at us.
...
Burgh strolled across to his side, scarf swaying, looking every bit as theatrical as he had in the lobby.
"This will be a three-on-three!" The referee announced "When all three of a trainer's Pokemon is knocked out and unable to battle the victor goes to the other side. Only the challenger can switch Pokemon mid-fight."
'Alright then,' I thought picking the second Pokeball on my belt.
"As a common courtesy as the gym leader, I'll send out my Pokemon first!" Burgh says with a casual smile.
Burgh tapped his Pokeball once, before doing it again as a red flash left the inside. In a flash of white. His Pokemon appeared, a small hermit like crab with a polished rocky shell appeared.
A Dweble.
"Croconaw, you're up."
*Tzzszt*
"CROC!" My starter bounded forward with a bark, tail whipping the air.
Burgh who saw this had a glint in his eyes.
"What a marvelous Pokemon! As the challenger you get the first move." Burgh says reaching his hands out as if asking for a challenge.
"Alright then, [Dragon Dance]." I oblige.
Croconaw obeyed instantly, as it started to hop around in joy. A build up of blue started to surround him.
Burgh clapped realising I wasn't attacking. "Not a bad decision. Dwebble [Rock Wrecker]!"
Dwebble getting a serious expression started to form a rock with a red hue around it. In a split second it started to hurl itself towards Croconaw in high speed.
"[Aqua Jet] Now!" I shout.
Croconaw now finished with its [Dragon Dance] felt envigorated with its attack and speed buffs. Bending its knees, water started to form around as he ascended upwards. Completely dodging the [Rock Wrecker] which hit the ground bellow it.
*CRASH*
"CROC!" A wave of water raced towards the Dwebble.
Burgh seeing this wasn't idle.
"Dwebble [Protect]!" In an instant a blue sphere surrounded Dwebble as it looked at the floor clenching its eyes.
*WOOSH!*
The impact of the shield and attack hit but with only Croconaw being sent back a couple steps. Burgh seeing the opportunity immediately trounced on it.
"[X-Scissor] now Dwebble, don't let it rest!"
"Croconaw [Ice Punch!]"
Both Pokemon now at each others throats each manifested some elemental energy. Dwebble with two light green blades symbolising an X, while Croconaw had ice enchanced fists running at each other.
Unfortunately for Dwebble the difference showed as its twin blades were broken through by one punch.
Shattering the attack and consequently hitting it back.
"BLE!" The Pokemon groaned in pain as it was sent flying back.
Landing it started to breath heavy as a +1 [Ice Punch] from a Croconaw really packed a punch to the small bug. This was further amplified by the +1 speed as that was technically an attack boost with how physics works.
"Dwebble no!" Burgh shouts realising the situation. "Use [Dig] and get out of there!"
"Don't let it go Croconaw!" I shout not wanting to drag this fight out any longer than it needs to be. Stalling is only acceptable if I'm the one doing it alright.
The Dwebble now picking itself up started to [Dig] but it wasn't fast enough.
*Boom!*
A sudden icy right hook immediately made contact sending it farther than the first hit. Making it ragdoll to the ground with swirly eyes.
"Dwebble is unable to battle!" The referee announces to my relief. Burgh who heard this had stars in his eyes.
"How splendid! How spectacular! This battle only deserves my full attention, lets go Swadloon!" He shouts out as the Pokemon was sent out.
Seeing this my mind raced at my options currently.
Switching out to Larvesta seemed like the best idea, but wasting Croconaw's free boost with no damage taken was hurtful. It didn't really lose too much stamina too as the only exertion was maybe hitting Dwebble's [Protect].
'Alright we will stick with him.' My thoughts now final.
"Begin!" The referee shouts.
"Silver, I'm a firm believer that how a person battles reflects their personality, how they act and they think. Do you believe this too?" His voice clear as day which made me confused. Was I supposed to answer his question?
Remember his earlier comment of calling me a puppeteer, my eyebrows furrow.
'Is he calling me controlling? Well It's not exactly off.' I realised now understanding his words.
"I don't agree! Battles force you to adapt and such things can never be consistent." My answer seemingly satisfying his curiosity as he stops all that conversing in the middle of the battle.
"[Razor Leaf] Swadloon!" Burgh shouts now the one starting the attack.
"Swa!" The Pokemon roars out whipping its head forward, makes a multitude of razor sharp leaves head toward Croconaw.
Now tens of leaves were zooming past through the air.
"[Aqua Jett] into an [Ice Punch]!"
My starter blurred forward, water trailing his body before his fist froze over in jagged ice. The strike connected cleanly, slamming into Swadloon's side and driving it back with a pained squeak.
Burgh didn't even flinch. "Swadloon, [Razor Leaf]!"
"Dodge Croconaw!"
Dozens of sharp leaves spiraled from its body, forcing Croconaw to twist and dart back, breaking the close pressure we had.
"Now, [Seed Bomb] up high!" Burgh's arm cut dramatically through the air.
Swadloon leapt, launching glowing green seeds high overhead. They rained down in a wide arc, slamming into the field behind Croconaw.
*BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!*
The explosions kicked up dirt and smoke until half the arena disappeared behind a curtain of dust.
"What..." I murmur. My view of the field was gone. Croconaw's outline flickered, barely visible in the haze. Burgh, though, I noticed—he still stood calm, head tilted, as if he could see perfectly through the mess.
From across the smoke, his voice cut sharp
"What happens when the puppeteer loses one of his strings?"
My brows furrow for a second time this match as without vision, I became hesitant to act.
"Croconaw, [Aqua Jet], straight into the air!" I say in a rush. He obeyed, water surging as he rocketed upward in a streak of blue light. For a second, I thought buying height might stall until the dust cleared.
"Magical Leaf!" Burgh's voice sang out.
The air shimmered as glowing leaves curved unnaturally, homing on Croconaw mid-flight.
*Boom!*
"Cro—!" He cried out, twisting as the barrage struck, driving him into a spiral.
Before he could right himself, Burgh snapped another command. The dust started to settle as what greets my sight is my starter falling from the sky.
"[Seed Bomb], finish it!"
"Dodge Croconaw!"
Swadloon launched another cluster. The seeds exploded against Croconaw's chest mid-air, blasting him down to the battlefield with a sickening thud.
*Thump!*
Croconaw twitched, then went limp.
"Croconaw is unable to battle!" the referee announced.
I clicked my tongue, pulling his Pokeball back to my hand. "Return."
Fuck
I'm not sure why I thought stalling out the dust was a good idea. Did he just mind trick me into throwing Croconaw into the air? If Croconaw knew counter-shield or just went in for an attack.
I reckon he would of been alright, but a impulse decision is unfortunate.
Fine.
Let's use a newly caught Pokemon with experience battling without orders.
Returning Croconaw's Pokeball to my belt which was the second slot. I take the fourth slot Pokeball and send my next Pokemon out. A Pokemon with a shimmering gold and white fur appeared as Burgh looked on with widened eyes.
"Oh my arceus, is that what I think it is..."
He was speechless.
A smirk crept up on my face.