Chapter 2: Larry's First Gym Battle

I walk up to the Cortondo Gym and sigh. I've actually never done a Gym Battle before. It's actually a bit nerve wrecking. However, I own a gym, and so I know what to expect. Before anything, I'll have to do the Gym Challenge.

Honestly, I don't get the point of them. Why put challengers through the pain of doing some random obstacle before the battle? Just let the trainer come in, fight, get out. No need to waste their time with these.

I walk into the tall white building, where Katy is at. Weird, considering she usually spends her free time in her bakery. She smiles as she sees me.

"Hey Larry," she exclaims. "What brings you here?"

"I'm here for a Gym Battle," I answer simply. "But I have to do the Challenge first, of course."

Katy's face scrunches up with confusion. "Why would you want to do that," she questions. Then, she gasps, her eyes widening with fear. "Wait, did Geeta tell you to do this? Is it for all Gym Leaders? I never heard of this! I'm already on the verge of losing my job! I can't afford to miss this!"

"Calm down," I tell her with a tired sigh. "No need to panic. I'm choosing to do this."

"Oh, good," she says, sounding very relieved.

"You said you're in the verge of losing your job. Everything okay," I ask. I normally avoid asking about other's personal life, but the amount of worry she had concerns me for her.

"Not really," Katy answers. "Izzy told Geeta I was the weakest of the Gym Leaders, even at full strength. I'm not upset at the girl for it, but that answer has made Geeta watch me closer, always judging my performance. Jessica, the one at the front desk there, just told me that the chair woman said that if I don't start winning battles, I'm out." Her eyes are filled with tears, but she's trying hard not to cry. "I don't want to lose this job!"

"Um…" I'm not really sure how to react to this. It got emotional real quick, and I'm not good with emotions that aren't tired and stressed. But, I try my best, giving her an awkward pat on the back. "It'll be alright. I won't let that happen."

She tilts her head, her face shifting into confusing again. "How can you guarantee that?"

"Because I'm battling you right now to become champion," I reply. "Not just any champion, though. I mean the primera title. When I have the power, you won't need to worry about losing your job."

"That's a big goal," she tells me. She then smiles widely. "I respect it. Go ahead and do the Gym Challenge. I'll be waiting for you at the battle field."

I nod and she walks away, exiting the building. Once gone, I sigh. Emotions are so stressful, even when they aren't your own. I get over it quickly and approach the woman Katy called Jessica. "Hello. I'm here for-"

"The Gym Challenge," she finishes for me. "I heard. Listen, don't mess this up. I don't want you putting hope in Katy's head just to let her down. You better succeed."

"Trust me. I will," I tell her. Jessica's eyes narrow on me. "I promise."

She continues to glare at me a bit longer before nodding. "Alright," she says, standing up. "Follow me to your challenge."

...

I push the giant olive into the goal at last. I'm hunched over, desperately gasping for air. Who's brilliant idea was it to make the challenge pushing a giant ball through an obstacle course? This was exhausting! Although, it may just be that I'm out of shape...

"You completed the challenge," Jessica exclaims. She decided to stick around and watch. "Great job! You may now proceed to battle the Gym Leader."

I inhale deeply as I stand up straight, releasing it slowly. "Thank you," I tell her as I exit the course. I immediately make my way to the battle field, where Katy is waiting.

"Hello, Larry," she says softly as I approach. "Ready to battle?"

I nod. "Yes, but can you use your team you use on your usual challengers? I won't be using my powerful team."

She seems surprised by this but nods. "Yeah, sure."

"Thank you," I tell her, grabbing a PokéBall. "Are you ready?"

Katy grabs out a ball, too. "Yes," she answers. We throw out our Pokémon in sync, her a Nymble and me Quaxly.

"That's new," Katy exclaims, looking at the duck with surprise.

"That's why I have it," I tell her. "I'm making a new team to battle the champion with."

Katy smiles. "That's amazing," she says.

"Yes. Now can we battle," I ask. "I don't want to sound rude, but it's getting late and I'm hungry."

The baker laughs. "Yes, of course. I'm sorry. Use Struggle Bug!"

"Dodge and use Pound," I command. Quaxly hops away from the green threads of light, pushing off the ground and quickly approaching the Bug type.

"Meet it with Tackle," Katy shouts. The opponent leaps forward. Quaxly swings its wing at it, which Nymble greets head on. The two Pokémon are equal in power, both getting pushed back.

"Follow up with Water Gun," I say. Quaxly takes a quick breath in, releasing water with the exhale. Nymble, which was still recovering from the push back, doesn't have time dodge, taking the hit.

"Are you okay," Katy asks. Her Pokémon grunts a yes. "Good. Use Struggle Bug!"

Nymble moves much faster than it did the first time, shooting the green beams at Quaxly and hitting it before it can react. The duck briefly glows blue as its Special Attack goes down

"Decreasing our Ranged damage. That's fine. We'll go Physical. Aqua Jet," I state. Quaxly covers itself in water as it dashes into the opponent. "Follow that with Wing Beat."

The Water type wastes no time, quickly slapping Nymble with its wing. That's the last hit needed to defeat the bug. "Good job," Katy says a she returns her Pokémon.

"One down," I tell it. "Great work." Quaxly quacks proudly as it pushes its hair back.

"Go," Katy exclaims, sending out a Tarountula. "Use String Shot!"

The spider shoots webs at Quaxly, which tries to avoid but gets caught. It shines blue as its Speed takes a hit. "This is fine," I inform it. "Aqua Jet."

Quaxly dashes across the field encased in water. Due to being a priority move, it's not effected by the Speed drop. The duck rams into the Bug type.

"Good. Now Wing Attack," I command. This is where I see the String Shot take its toll. As Quaxly runs up to Tarountula, it is incredibly slow, giving Katy an opening.

"Bug Bite," she shouts. The Bug type launches itself at Quaxly, biting it relentlessly. The duck quacks in agony, stumbling backwards.

"Are you able to keep going," I ask it. The Water type struggles to its feet, giving me a weak nod. It's obvious it can't take much more. "You may be able to but you're not going to. Great job out there, but return."

In a red beam of light Quackly is taken back to its PokéBall, making an audible sigh of relief as it goes. "Let's go, Charcadet," I states as throw out my next Pokémon. The little Fire type pops out of the ball with a determined grunt.

"Another new Pokémon," Katy exclaims in shock. "I know you said you were making a new team, but I didn't expect you to already have two catches!"

"Well, Quaxly was given to me," I admit. "However yes, I have two new members."

"That is wonderful! Now I'll go back to the battle for you," the baker says. "String Shot!"

"Dodge and use Fire Spin," I shout. Charcadet jumps above the web and shoots a little flame at the spider. On impact, the shot bursts into a circle of fire, doing massive damage to the Tarountula.

"That's not good," Katy states. "You won't last long, so let's make this count. Use Struggle Bug!"

The Bug type shakes, sending little beams of green energy at Charcadet. "Flame Charge through it," I tell it. The Fire Child rushes in without a second thought, burning the threads and slamming into the opponent.

Tarountula attempts to get up, but then Fire Spin activates, taking away the last bit of health it has. The spider collapses to the ground, giving in to defeat. "You fought hard," Katy says as she returns it. "Take a rest."

"You defeated it. Good job," I tell Charcadet. It does a little bounce of joy, cheering. "We've got one more to go."

Katy sighs as she tosses out Teddiursa. "You're strong, even with a new team," she admires as she pulls out a Terra Orb. "But I'm not going down without a fight!"

I pull out my own Terra Orb. "I would hope not."

The two of us activate the balls, glowing energy filling them up. We then toss it at our Pokémon. Crystals cover our fighters, and when they burst, they're Terrastylized. Teddiursa has two green antennas on its head. Charcadet, to my surprise, doesn't have red candles on its head. Instead, it has a black mischievous smile rising from its head.

"You're a Dark type," I exclaim with shock. It nods at me. "This isn't good…" I mutter. I'm now at a huge disadvantage! It probably would have been smart to check its Terra Type before bringing it into a battle…

"Looks like you made a mistake, Larry," Katy says, a wide smile on her face. I shrug.

"Nothing we can't handle," I respond with confidence. In reality, I'm worried. This could completely ruin my chances at a victory. Quaxly is close to being out and, even though it's part of my team, it would be unfair to use Staraptor since I asked Katy to use her weak team. This battle's outcome relies on Charcadet, which went from huge advantage to a huge disadvantage.

"Fury Cutter," Katy commands. The bear sprints at the Dark type, claws out.

"Dodge," I state. Charadet twists to the right, barely avoiding the attack. "Now use Ember."

Charcadet pushes its hands out, launching tiny beams of fire at Teddiursa, which staggers back from the hit. "You're alright," she tells it. "Fury Cutter, again!"

Teddiursa closes the distance much quicker this time, landing a powerful hit on Charcadet. The Fire Child is sent flying, tumbling backwards a bit before finally getting its feet in the ground. "We can do this," I reassure it as it slowly stands up straight. "Flame Charge!"

"Fury Cutter," Katy counters. The two Pokémon charge straight at each other, meeting the other's attack with their own. Both Pokémon get knocked back, but Charcadet received a heavier blow due to Teddiursa's Terra buff.

"Don't let up," I shout. "Fire Spin!

Charcadet acts immediately, shooting a tiny flame at the opponent that bursts into a ring of fire. The bear howls as the flames damage it. "We can't go down yet," Katy exclaims. "Fury Cutter!"

"Flame Charge," I counter. The Speed boosts from the last two Flame Charges give the Fire Child enough power to close in on Teddiursa before it can react, ramming into it at full force. That along with the Fire Spin damage is all that's needed to end the battle. The Little Bear's crystals shatter as it collapses.

Katy sighs as she returns it. "Good job, dear," she mutters to the PokeBall. "You earned this rest."

"You fought well," I tell Charcadet, which is jumping around excitedly. It then runs at me, unexpectedly leaping into my arms. "Whoa! O-Okay," I meet its embrace, patting it on the back. I return it once it hops off of me.

"Good battle, Larry," she says, offering out a Gym Badge.

"Yeah, you too," I reply, accepting it. "Listen, I know you have to tell Geeta we battled. And you'll have to tell her why I'm doing this because we all know she'll ask. However, can you keep my team a secret. I want it to be a surprise."

Katy nods with a smile. "Of course," she answers. "I won't say a word."

"Thank you. Now if you excuse me, I'm starving," I tell her. "I'm gonna head back to Medali and get some food."

"Or we could eat some pastries instead," Katy offers. "To celebrate your first Gym Battle and victory."

I smile softly. "Sounds good. How much will it be?"

Katy shakes her head. "On the house," she answers.

"That sounds really good," I exclaim. Katy laughs and me and her walk to her bakery, ready to enjoy some well-earned sweets.