Ch.7

'Leo's Howl is still in effect,' "Leo use Leer!" I say while keeping note of how long his Howl will remain. From our practices, his Howl will stay in effect for three minutes. So far he has another minute or so left on this one. 

"Graveler use Rock Polish!" Flint says at the same time I command Leo. They both finish their moves at the same time. 

"Leo use Flame Charge!" I say this since Leo has very high stats for any Pokémon from his high potential. 

"Graveler meet it head-on with Rollout!" Flint says a second after hearing my command. 

The two Pokémon crash into one another, with Leo overpowering Graveler and sending him back a few feet after the crash. Graveler cries out in pain, taking the full damage instead of resisting the fire-type damage like it normally would. I believe this is from Leo absorbing Magmar's scale drastically raising his stats, plus Leo's Howl is still in effect. 

"Leo use Flame Charge again! Don't let Graveler recover!" I say seeing Graveler was stunned at being pushed back and losing a head-on fight. 

"Graveler use Bulldoze!" Flint says making Graveler snap from its surprise and it creates the move. 

Though from using his Flame Charge multiple times his speed stat has far outpaced Graveler's speed. Making him reach Graveler before it can use Bulldoze. Leo crashes into Graveler again though this time Graveler is able to not flinch and finish his move. 

Leo cries out in pain as ground-type moves are super effective against him, plus being this close to the move made it critical hit him. Seems my overconfidence may have caused us a win. As Leo is thrown back a few feet from the hit while falling to the ground. 

"Leo!" I say worried that he is very hurt. 

"Growlithe!!" Leo gives another roar getting up with a defiant look on his face. I can see he is very hurt but refuses to give up. We share an understanding look and I continue the fight. 

"Leo! Use Ember!" I say since now I want to keep a distance from Graveler. 

"Graveler use Rollout to close the distance and then use Bulldoze again!" Flint says seeing us not forfeiting the fight. 

Though in my surprise instead of a small stream of fire, Leo lets out a large very hot stream of Fire. As it seems his defiance and rage made him learn Flamethrower. This surprised everyone, especially Graveler who took the hit head-on. The intense heat and already damaged Graveler passed out mid-roll and came to a crashing stop. 

"Graveler is unable to battle! The winner is Lucas and Leo! Flint, please send out your last Pokémon," Flint's wife says seeing Graveler not move after crashing. 

"This… This is AMAZING!! You are a prodigy kid! You and your Growlithe are amazing! It has been years since someone has pushed me to this limit with only one Pokémon!" Flint says with a newfound excitement and respect in his eyes. 

"Uhm, thanks," I say since really it is because I was taught by a gym leader and have a one-in-a-million potential Pokémon.

However, it seems the crowd agrees with Flint becoming excited seeing this happen, especially from a Growlithe and one that they haven't seen before. I've learned that the Hisuian Growlithes don't exist in this world, as either they all died out or never existed. While the continent Hisuian is real, just not this type of Growlithe. 

"Flint! Your next Pokémon!" Flint's wife says making him refocus on the battle. 

"Right! Sorry, honey!" Flint says with a laugh. 

He then throws out Onix for his last Pokémon. Like the last two, it gives out a battle cry upon entering the field. The size difference between the two Pokémon is huge as Onix is a very large Pokémon (average is 28.8ft or 8.8m tall/long), plus this one seems bigger than your average Onix (this one is 33ft or 10m tall/long). However, Leo seems unfazed by this size difference staring at Onix with the same defiant and confident look. 

"Begin!" Flint's wife says starting the last battle seeing everyone ready. 

"Leo, Howl then Leer!" I say since his Howl effect ran out and we are going to need it. 

"Onix, Rock Polish then Iron Defense!" Flint says canceling out my moves basically with his Iron Defense. 

'Shit!' I think as both Pokémon finish their moves. 

"Leo use Flamethrower!" I say with Leo powering up his move, though this will take longer as he has just learned it. 

"Onix use Dragon Breath!" Flint says as Onix releases his one dragon-type move. 

Thankfully Leo was able to dodge before finally releasing his move hitting Onix who tanked the hit flinching slightly from the pain. Seems unlike Flint's last two Pokémon Onix has a much higher defense even without Iron Defense. 

"Onix use Screech and then Sandstorm!" Flint says as Leo finishes his Flamethrower. 

Leo flinches from the ear-piercing screech Onix screech lets out, with a sandstorm kicking in. However, it remains on the battlefield only as every official Pokémon League battlefield has an invisible barrier to keep the Pokémon's moves inside the field. Each barrier can handle up to several Hyber Beam blasts from a King/Queen Ranked Pokémon. 

'Thankfully Leo is a rock type too,' I think and no one outside my Dad and me knows Leo is a dual type. As sandstorm doesn't affect Pokémon of rock, ground, and steel types. 

'Leo act like the sandstorm is affecting you' I say to him hoping this will lower Flint's guard. Leo then acts like the sandstorm is slowly pleating away the last of his strength. Flint and Onix seem to buy it along with everyone else, which hopefully makes Flint think we will be more reckless. 

"Leo use Flame Charge!" 'while hitting Onix from behind,' I say while telling him the last part through our connection. 

"Onix use Slam!" Flint says thinking Leo is going to head on again like all the other times. 

This time Leo dodges Onix and hits him in the side before running around behind him. Flint is taken by surprise along as Leo connects his attack damaging Onix slightly more. 

"Leo keep using Flame Charge!" 'Though make sure to act like the storm is still affecting you. Then slowly charge up Head Smash we will end this in one move,' I say to Leo who keeps up the act while hitting Onix with weakened Flame Charges, but focusing all the remaining power he has into his strongest move. 

"Onix use Iron Defense!" Flint says seeing Onix is still too slow to catch Leo and wants to play the long game outlasting Leo.

'Yes! He fell for it!' I think Onix is able to use Iron Defense again. Leo then tells me he is ready for the move through our connection. 

"Leo use it now!" I say with Leo letting out one last battle cry as he charges Onix with all his remaining power slamming into it. 

Flint and Onix both seem confused at the move Leo is using, but then Flint realizes it but it is too late. As Leo crashes into Onix sending the huge Pokémon flying back and crashing into the invisible barrier for falling to the ground. Leo lands on the ground with heavy breaths and on his last leg, looking about to pass out any second. However, it seems Onix has been taken down with our last move. 

"Onix is unable to battle! The winners of the final battle are Lucas and Leo! Congratulations!" Flint's wife says while Leo and I give out a cheer for our victory. 

I then run over to Leo healing his wounds as best I can before taking him to the Pokémon Center later. Leo leans into my arms extremely tired but with a very happy look on his face. 

"Great job buddy! You were amazing!" I say healing his wounds and giving him a well-deserved treat which he eats very happily wagging his tail while still extremely tired.

"Seriously you two, that was amazing! I never thought I'd see a day where someone beat me without losing a Pokémon! Here is your extremely deserved Boulder Badge," Flint says while handing me a round silver badge that resembles a shiny rock. 

"Plus here I will have some credits transferred to your account and here is a TM of Rock Slide. Normally I'd not do all this but you two are going places, I just know it!" Flint says while handing me a TM for Rock Slide. 

"Also, you don't have to tell me… But this Growlithe used Head Smash, right? I never knew they could learn that move, plus he seems unhurt after using it. I guess he has the ability of Rock Head?... Don't worry I won't say a word, but once other people watch this battle they will figure it out too I bet," Flint says to me I was surprised he was able to deduce that from the battle, then again he is an Ace Trainer like my Dad and a gym leader. 

"Yeah, Leo is a one-of-a-kind Growlithe," I say to Flint who nods his head, smiling to the both of us. 

"I can see that! Once again congratulations you two!" Flint says as Leo and I make our way to the Pokémon Center. 

"Oh, one more thing! If you see a young man your age and looks like me, that is my oldest son, Brock!" Flint says as we are about to leave the gym. 

"Oh, ok!" I say though I already knew that. 

We then headed to the Pokémon Center where many people in the city who saw the fight were pointing at us while talking about the battle I guess. Once Leo had done his check-up, we headed to the all-you-can-eat buffet in the city. We both then ate our fill while celebrating the victory today. We also found out after his check-up that he leveled up a few times from the battles today. He reached the final level before his next rank, level thirty. 

As we finally got back to the hotel to relax and rest, Leo promptly fell asleep on his bed. With me meditating before bed, but I got a phone call interrupting me. It was my Dad, so I answered it. 

"Lucas! Great battle today! You and Leo were amazing! I can't wait until you come home to challenge me!" Dad says to me as I smile at hearing his praise. 

"Thanks, though it was thanks to you and all the help you gave me. If it wasn't for that I doubt we'd be doing as well as we have," I say and I really meant what I said, I may have some advantages others don't from my past life's knowledge. But this world is way more different than I originally knew and I'm always learning something new. 

"Two things, first you are my son, so of course, I will help you the best I can. Second, don't count yourself short, you and Leo have some natural talent that puts you above others. Even without my help, you two would still be doing great," Dad says to me while I just thank him, even though I'm not sure how true that is. Leo has really good natural talent, but I feel like an average person with just more knowledge and minor psychic abilities. 

"But I'll let you go and get some rest. I look forward to your next gym battle," Dad says before hanging up as it seems he was waiting for me to battle my first gym. 

Waking up the next day, Leo and I make our way to Route Three. We skipped the Diglet cave as it seemed like it was more of a tourist attraction. Plus the area trainers could go to was overcrowded. So we planned on going to the next city, but we're gonna spend another two months in the forest by Mt. Moon and possibly visiting it before going to Cerulean City. 

"You ready?" I ask Leo as we are standing by the city exit to Route Three. 

"Growlithe!' Leo says nodding his head. 

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AN: Once again I updated Leo's page. For those who noticed, yes I did switched his one egg move of Stone Edge to Head Smash.