10 Golden Badge

'This battle should be interesting.' I thought to myself looking down at the stadium. With Aron by my side just slumped down to the floor recovering from the cracks, I remembered what my dad had told me.

The ace trainer Micheal paid Dad off not to use his ace Tyranitar for the fight which shouldn't have surprised me. Flint was able to get a huge chunk of money which included some rights to some fossils the kid's family owns.

Flint told me that it wouldn't really take much effort to win but I'm curious about what Pokemon a bratty rich kid was able to use to become an ace trainer.

Now I've heard that trainers on average if you're rich or not, have at least 25-30 Pokemon which is ridiculous. I might have half of that amount but 30 is too much to focus on training.

I might own more than 30 but I won't train all of them to be battle focused.

"Maybe that's the reason why most people specialise in types as they aren't able to consistently train multiple breeds of Pokemon." I wonder to myself. I'm soon after cut out of my musings as the referee and announcer for the match announce the start of the match.

Looking back down at the battlefield through a private watching room near the roof, I start to get hyped for Dad's first Pokemon. For Golden Badge the gym leader is able to use any type of Pokemon, so this removes his rock-type restriction.

"Hello ladies and gentlemen! Today we've got ourselves a treat with a golden badge challenger. A man quickly making his way up the ace trainer ranks.

ACE TRAINER MICHEAL KIEVE!"

The crowd hearing these words started to cheer but I couldn't really hear it too well from above. It seems like Micheal Kieves is pretty popular in his circle.

"On the other side a person who doesn't need any introductions is Pewter City's past and present Gym Leader.

FLINT HARRISON!" The announcer shouts again causing the stadium to up in uproar. Instead of Micheal's mild cheers, the crowd started to cheer, scream, shout and whistle causing quite the spectacle.

"You're the GOAT Flint!"

"Use Crystal Onix to finish this fool!"

"Send out Kabutops he was so cool!"

Hearing the crowd go wild I started to laugh a little seeing Micheal's perplexed face. It was like someone stole his candy or something.

"Well seeing his reaction to only the crowd, the guy has already lost the match," I observe looking at the guy clenching his fist. The guy obviously had a big ego which was stroked quite a bit to think he was on par with a gym leader.

With the crowd starting to settle down the referee was in the middle near the edges of the battlefield ready to start the match. But before this, it was the announcer's job to introduce the rules to the battlers and spectators.

"Today's Golden Badge battle will be a three-on-three with both challengers can switch out their Pokemon. A Pokemon that's unable to battle will be sent out and won't be able to battle again, this goes on until someone who doesn't have any more Pokemon makes the opponent the winner. If the battle is a tie, the win will be handed to the gym leader."

The announcer just spoke out all the rules without a break but who cares really? If you're spectating you just want to get this out of the way and see the cool battles.

After a few seconds, the referee raised up a green flag making both trainers look at him.

"3!"

Both trainers grabbed their Pokeball as the crowd started to shout along.

"2!"

Flint quickly adjusted his hat and tapped his Pokeball once.

"1!"

Micheal tapping his Pokeball as well, hypes himself up and gets ready to send out his Pokemon.

"GO!" The referee and crowd shout as the green flag was dropped. Both trainers hearing this quickly send out their Pokemon to the rocky battlefield.

*Phsszsst*

"PHANNNN!"

"MACHAMP!"

On Flint's side of the field, a Donphan landed on the ground causing cracks on the floor. For its opposition though, Machamp started to move its feet around not comfortable with the battlefield.

"Now this makes it even worse for Micheal." I chuckle to myself realising what happened. The challenger has the right to request to battle on a flat maple wood which was customary for neutral matches.

But because dad hasn't finished making all the modes for the battlefields to switch out, it wasn't picked.

'He must of been impatient.' I thought to myself feeling a little bad for the guy.

"Donphan C3!"

Donphan started to scrape the floor signalling that it was gonna charge. Machamp not moving from its spot, challenges the Pokemon.

"Phannn!" The Pokemon roars out imbuing itself with two hues. One light brown and another blue, seeing this I recognise the combo.

'It's a {Defence Curl} and {Rollout} combo. Now Machamp might resist Rock-attacks, it's not immune. Making a multi hit {Rollout} deadly in its home ground.'

Soon after this Donphan rolled towards Machamp to which it anticipated the hit.

"Champ…" The Pokemon winces feeling the pressure of a rolling tank hit it.

"Grab it Machamp!" Micheal commands. Machamp tries to grab the rolling Donphan but to his displeasure, Machimp isn't able to convert and is sent crashing to a boulder.

*Crack*

With this, Donphan's {Rollout} receives a boost and is now using its home advantage to keep its momentum.

"Go in for another {Rollout} Donphan!"

"{Dynamic Punch} Machamp!"

Both Pokemon rushing at each other, make impact which soon crated a huge explosion.

*Boom!*

Unfortunately for Micheal his Machamp was sent out of the dust cloud, fainted in front of him.

The crowd seeing this started to cheer loudly seeing the first knockout of the match.

"Let's go Flint!"

"Donphan is caked!"

"Ayo?!"

Looking down at Micheal who retrieved Machamp, anyone could see that his expression was ugly.

'I wanted to trade attacks by letting Machamp take one, but it didn't work out.' Micheal thought to himself while he grabbed his next Pokeball.

"That's surprising, a 1/2 effective move two shots a Machamp." I murmur watching Micheal pick out another Pokeball.

High level battles usually ended either pretty quick or get dragged off for a long time. Now I don't know why but I'll ask Flint later.

From his past ace trainer matches, he mostly used Tyranitar for a Sandstorm + Earthquake combo no matter what type of Pokemon.

Unless his opponent was a flying type, Tyranitar would intensify {Sandstorm} and use {Rock Throw}. It wasn't a complicated strategie but keeping it simple was the best.

It was Tyranitar's bread and butter for battles. But right now he was off the table.

With myself and Aron attentively looking at the field, I realise that there was a glint in Aron's eyes.

'Hopefully he takes something away from the battle.'

Taking my eyes off Aron, I observe Donphan who had an obvious damage mark on his forehead showing that it wasn't a clean exchange.

"Challenger you have 10 se-"

Before the referee could finish, Micheal sent out his next Pokemon.

*Phsszszt*

"Venasaur!" The Pokemon growled out observing its surroundings. There were a few cheers in the crowd but most of them just casually observed the stage.

Micheal clicking his tongue quickly starts the battle off.

"{Frenzy Plant} Venusaur, don't let it recover!"

Flint hearing Micheal's commands from the other side, doesn't flinch and keeps a straight face.

Venusaur charging up its attack, sees that Donphan stood still and wasn't trying to dodge at all.

"SAURR!"

Multiple roots the size of pillars started to erupt from the ground, heading towards Donphan with unrest.

With a glint in Flint's eyes, he grabs Donphan's Pokeball and taps it.

Micheal's eyes started to widen seeing the red hue envelop Donphan's body.

"Are you fucking serious, you pussy why did you recall him!" Micheal says completely losing it. Flint without responding swiftly sends out his next Pokemon.

*Phsszszt*

What appeared next confused the audience as it wasn't a familiar Pokemon that was seen in public.

Seeing this Pokemon I start to remember its name.

"Doll!" The Pokemon hums out.

'Claydol huh, it's a Pokemon related to ancient civilisation a lot.' I thought to myself seeing the thing. From what I remember it was a Psychic and Ground type which is a hit or miss combo.

It had six weaknesses, resisted four and immune to two.

"Don't let it go unpunished Claydol, use {Ice Beam}!" Flint shouts. With not even half a second later, the clay doll Pokemon processes it and instantly uses {Ice Beam} seamlessly.

"Vena!" Venusaur cried out as the left side of its body got frozen from the hit.

"Damnit Venusaur return." Micheal says making a split decision. He didn't have much of a choice seeing that Venusaur would of lost prematurely due to his brashness.

Battles against trainer like Flint must be nerve wracking as hell. They make almost the perfect decision every match and are able to break down your team in seconds depending on what mistake you made.

In my level of battles, the trainer is encouraged to be able to adapt to their opponents Pokemon as the battle goes on. But this is completely thrown out of the window later on as type effective moves are just a luxury.

I'm able to make multiple mistakes and not get punished even if the indigo league from what I've watched on TV. So I'll just focus on strengthening my Pokemon for now.

If the start of the battle has shown me anything, resistance to attacks mean nothing if you deal enough damage.

"What will Micheal send out next as his third Pokemon?!" The announcer shouts seeing the poor guy retrieve his Venusaur. Micheal hearing this clenches his fists even more while taking another Pokeball and sending it out.

"Poliwrath!" The tadpole Pokemon growls while pumping its fists up. Poliwrath ended up being his third Pokemon which was in all things considered pretty smart.

"Poliwrath start this off with a {Rain Dance}." Micheal says calmly. Seeing this I realise that he now has his head in the game.

'It's a bit too late though.' I thought to myself as his situation currently was horrid. There really wasn't much he could do unless he cleanly battles Claydol and win.

Poliwrath soon after used {Dain Dance} which created a few dark cloud above the stadium to which it didn't affect the crowd or myself.

"Use {Sunny Day}." Flint says immediately. Micheal realising this gets Poliwrath to close the gap.

"Quickly close the gap and use {Waterfall} now!"

Poliwrath getting the memo, practically speeds towards Claydol as there was still some initial rain activating it's ability, {Swift Swim}.

Claydol unable to dodge is able to pull of the {Sunny Day} but gets hit by a super effective move sending it crashing to the floor.

"Claydol, use {Power Trick} straight into a {Rapid Spin}."

"Follow up with a {Hydro Pump} Poliwrath!"

With Poliwrath needing to land back on the ground and charge up its attack, Claydol was able to quickly recover and use {Power Trick}.

This move switches the Pokemons attack and defence stat which increases Claydol's attack and lessens his defence.

"WRATHH!" The tadpole Pokemon shouts sending a beam of compressed water towards Claydol. With Claydol getting up from its spot, it uses {Rapid Spin} in swift succession and practically cuts through the attack like butter.

Micheal seeing this started to panic a little. "{Waterfall} attack, hurry Poliwrath!" He says observing the flying saucer which would be impacting his Pokemon.

Poliwrath regaining itself, tries to use {Waterfall} but it was too late.

*Crack*

With Claydol's first hit, Poliwrath was sent to the floor instantly which the human eye could not comprehend. Claydol still spinning and ready to give more, followed up the attack and finished off Poliwrath with another hit as it was on the floor.

*Boom!*

"That seems like a wrap for Poliwrath folks." The announcer shouts seeing the huge impact made on stage.

These words were later backed up after the dust cloud settled and Claydol was left floating over Poliwrath.

After this the battle was soon won by Flint after Claydol took advantage of the frozen Venusaur swiftly taking it out with an {Ice Beam} again.

"That was an amazing battle, by Dad of course." I laugh to myself seeing the dazed expression of Michael.

He not only got outplayed with quick decisions that made the match last no longer than eight minutes. His Pokemon were severely weaker than dads as proof of Donphan just bulldozing Machamp who seemed to be Micheal's second strongest Pokemon in my opinion.

With the battle over, Micheal was sent out of the battlefield with an empty expression.

"Oh yeah I was gonna take some photos with Crystal Onix and post them on Pokebook." I said out loud remembering what I wanted to do this morning after training.

Well I better get a move on.

(A/N: Did y'all like the battle? It was pretty fast but in my opinion a Pokemon battle should be at that pace. At a high level every move and recovery time would matter. Unlike a lower level to which a Pokemon could adapt to the opponent overtime by trial and error.

If you guys have some battle strategies that aren't FEAR and Poison stall then by all means tell me. I'll most likely use them as I need ideas!)