Chapter 13: A Sparkling Gym Battle
As I sat in the spectator stands an waited for the battle to commence my eyes drifted toward Elesa.
I took in the nervous expression on her face.
A far cry from her future confident anime counterpart.
I also am not ashamed to admit I checked out her body.
Since I am a man of culture after all.
But I only looked at her briefly before averting my gaze.
Due to the fact that memories from my past life started surfacing. Mostly the times when I looked at Elesa from the rule 34 perspective.
...
What, don't judge me.
Despite being an anime focused towards kids, pokemon has a lot of beautiful women in it.
Other than Elesa there is Cynthia, Sabrina, Hilda, and one of my favorites is Lorelei. Her schoolteacher look really does it for me. She can give me a lesson anytime.
*Ahem*
Moving on.
I worked to erase the thoughts I had of Elesa surfacing in my mind. Since she is a real person now, not just a character on a screen or page.
As I did this I noticed her waving at me.
So I looked at her again and waved back.
But we stopped when the gym leader arrived.
Lenora Aagard.
Normal-type specialist, and archaeologist. I have equated to a female pokemon version of Indiana Jones.
She took up her position opposite of Elesa.
While the referee, her husband Hawes, took up his position.
Well, I'm not actually sure they are married yet. But whatever. They will be so its fine.
"This will be a two-on-two between the gym leader Lenora Aagard, and the challenger Elesa Lennon from Nimbasa City. The match is over when one of either sides pokemon is completely unable to battle, or one side surrenders. Only the challenger is allowed to make substitutions. Begin." Hawes stated.
At that, both ladies sent out their first pokemon.
"Emolga." Elesa said. Sending out one of her two Emolga.
"Cinccino." Lenora said. Sending out her pokeon.
The two of them took to the field.
"Use Swift." Lenora said.
Deciding to kick things off.
And with one of the peskiest moves around too.
Her Cinccino unleashed stars from its mouth, which landed a direct hit on Emolga.
"Brush it off. Charge, then use Discharge." Elesa said.
When she did so her Emolga generated massive amounts of electrical energy around itself, before releasing bolts of electricity arcoss the entire field. Striking Cinccino after it did so.
"Rock Blast." Lenora spoke.
"Evade it using Double Team. Then Agility." Elesa spoke.
As Cinccino formed rocks around itself and hurled them forward, Emolga went from one to many. It's afterimages getting hit, while it sustained no damage and then boosted its speed.
"Acrobatics." Elesa spoke.
Deciding to unleash a powerful move. Especially in this world, where held items in battle are not a thing.
"Escape it using Dig." Lenora said.
Her Cinccino then dug its way into the ground, avoiding Emolga's attack.
"Thunder Schock into the hole." Elesa commanded.
"Encore, then use Sing." Lenora said.
When she did so Cinccino suddenly popped out of the hole in front of Emolga, which then suddenly used Acrobactics again.
Evading the attack with ease Cinccino started singing a melody, which caused Emolga to gently fall to the ground and end up asleep.
This is why normal-type pokemon are so dangerous. There vast move pool. Which under the right trainer can become a terrifying weapon.
Seeing Emolga alseep Elesa quickly took out its pokeball and returned it.
"Oh, a good call there young miss." Lenora spoke.
Since gym leaders are supposed to teach young trainers who challenge them. Not just defeat them in battle.
"Thank you mam." Elesa said.
She then sent out her second pokemon.
Her Zebstrika.
Which based on the way I caught the two interacting at the pokemon center, is her starter.
"Thunder Wave." Elesa said.
Waves of electricity then rolled of Zebstrika, giving Cinccino the paralysis effect.
Looks like Elesa isn't taking any chances now she's been forced to us her second pokemon so early.
Good.
"Charge, then use Thunder."
"Dodge it, Cinccino."
Zebstrika charged up and then fired off a powerful bolt of electricity in Cinccino direction, which it tried and failed to dodge. Due to the paralysis inflicted earlier.
Now Elesa is beginning to fight like an electric-specialist.
"Keep things up. Charge once more, then use Charge Beam." Elesa spoke.
"Stop in its tracks using Hyper Voice." Lenora said.
When she did so a high pitched scream exited Cinccino mouth and struck Zebstrika, making it skid back across the field and fall on its front legs.
"Rock Blast."
"Dodge it, using Agility." Elesa said.
As Cinccino formed and hurled several rocks at Zebstrika, it managed to evade and increase its speed.
"Good boy. Now Ion Deluge, and then Hyper Beam." Elesa said.
I whistled slightly at this.
Electrical particles scattered across the field, and then Zebstrika unleashed a Hyper Beam. Made even more powerful thanks to Ion Deluge turning normal-type moves into electric-type ones.
As the attack struck Cinccino, the pokemon passed out.
Giving Elesa the first win in the battle.
"Cinccino is unable to battle. That means the challenger Elesa is the winner." Hawes stated.
Lenora returned her Cinccino.
She then sent out her second and final pokemon.
A Watchdog.
"Confuse Ray." Lenora said.
"Toxic." Elesa countered, a slight smirk on her face.
"Watchdog, dodge." Lenora quickly spoke.
So instead of using Confuse Ray, Watchdog dodged the Toxic.
"Agility, then use Quick Attack." Elesa said.
So once more Zebstrika sped up, and then slammed into Watchdog, driving it into the ground.
"Psych Up, then Hyper Fang." Lenora stated.
Then in an instant Watchdog became as fast as Zebstrika and closed the distance. Snapping its powered up fangs into the left side of its body.
"Thunder Wave."
"Hypnosis." Lenora said.
Since there speed was the same, both pokemon managed to hit each other with their attacks simultaneously.
Watchdog gained paralysis, but Zebstrika also ended up asleep.
Which wouldn't matter if Elesa had taught it Sleep Talk. But from the look on her face she hasn't managed it yet.
"Work up, then Sunny Day followed by Flamethrower." Lenora spoke.
While Elesa could do nothing as Zebstrika remained asleep, even as she called to it.
Leaving Watchdog to power up, and then unleashed a powerful torrent of flames from its mouth. Which of course scored a direct hit on Zebstrika, knocking it out could.
"Return." Elesa spoke. Returning Zebstrika to its pokeball.
After she did so Lenora spoke up.
"So, what will you do? Continue." She spoke.
Elesa shook her head. "No. I concede defeat." She said.
A pain in her voice as she did so.
I can understand that. Pokemon trainers always want to win. but sometimes that's not always. Like right now.
Emolga is probably still asleep because of Cinccino, so sending it out to face Watchdog would be reckless.
"The challenger has conceded defeat. Thus the victory goes to gym leader Lenora." Hawes stated.
Once he did so Lenora moved over to Elesa and gave her the Basic Badge.
"Instead of trying to recklessly force a victory you put your pokemon first. That in my eyes means you deserve this badge. Keep up the good work young lady. I can tell you'll go far." Lenora started.
'She has no idea how right she is.' I thought.
Nodding, Elesa accepted the badge and a TM.
She then came to sit next to me in the stands.
"Well, that certainly how I expected this day to go." She spoke.
"Hey, it's nothing to be ashamed of. If I was in your situation I would've made the same call." I told her. "So hold your head up. Even Lenora acknowledged you made the right decision."
"Yeah I guess. It's just..." Elesa clenched her fists in frustration. "I wanted to win."
I decided to say nothing. Since I know I would feel the same way.
The two of us sat there in silence for a few moments.
Until eventually I heard my name on the speaker system.
"Will the next challenger please head to the battle area of the gym."
"Guess that's my que." I said.
I then stood up.
Heading to the challenger's side.
When I was there I saw Elesa's gaze focused on the field.
Looks like she wants to watch my battle.
Alright then.
That means I need to give her a battle worthy of watching.
Since she did that for me.