Ch 8 - Dedicated Rufflet

A/N: I didnt even mean to set up Neil to be a rival when writing that but now I kinda like him in an annoying/endearing sense, expect him to pop up again later

Also I may take some liberties with movesets so I can make battles more interesting

Also I didn't realize this until I finished the training montage (someone play eye of the tiger) but this is the longest chapter I've written yet

1.9k words!

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After the battle with Neil, Rufflet clearly wasn't up to more battles after this. Considering this, I went ahead and went to the Pokemon Center and planned out my battle with Burgh while I waited for Rufflet to be healed.

Last time, I mainly looked at forum posts dedicated to strategies the gym leaders used. This time however, I decided it would be wise to actually try to find some recordings of the battles for 0 badge trainers.

After some digging, I stumbled across a 2v2 battle at the 0 badge level. The challenger led with a Lillypup while Burgh led with a Swadloon. 

Based on what I can find online, even beginner battles appear to be much higher level than what appeared in the games. Although levels aren't really a thing here, if i had to put a number to the 0 badge matchups I would guess a minimum of level 20.

This puts me at a disadvantage, as even if larvesta hatches before the match he'll still be too weak to participate. This means that Rufflet will have to overcome a 2v1 if we want to win the badge.

In the battle I'm watching the trainer made several mistakes.

1) Burgh started off the battle commanding Swadloon to use string shot, the trainer ignored this and told Lilypup to power through and attack

Although the string shot had little effect initially, as the string piled up from repeated usage it became clear that the dog was struggling. With a poison powder from Burgh, the puppy soon fell.

2) In the next matchup where Burgh sent out a Dwebble against the Challenger's Panpour, the Challenger tried to keep his distance from the bug. This decision quickly proved to be fatal.

The bug used dig constantly to reposition around the monkey, constantly firing off single shots of rock blasts. Panpur wasn't able to land a single hit before it fell.

Considering this, I felt there were several measures I could take to win this battle. Retrieving the now healed Rufflet, I quickly filled the bird in on my plan for training.

However, before training could start, we felt it best to sleep as the sun was beginning to set. Meeting up with Liz, we were able to mooch a hotel from her, although I didn't feel particularly bad since her research grant was paying for it.

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Sleeping in an actual bed felt like heaven. Rufflet also slept out of it's ball and enjoyed the nice air conditioned room for a change. Waking up the next day, after a quick meal for the both of us we quickly found a park to begin training.

The first and arguably most important measure I want to take is learning hone claws. Hone claws is a valuable move which can boost attack and accuracy.

If Dwebble is going to constantly be moving around, we need to make sure that the hits we land count. Checking online, this is a surprising common move for Rufflets to learn naturally.

The way the move works is that the pokemon channels dark type energy into its feet, causing instinct to take over doing the rest of the move.

I explained this to Rufflet but even after a few attempts, the bird still couldn't accomplish the move. My theory is that since dark is a new type of energy, he was having trouble channeling it.

To help amend this, I checked online to see if there were any nearby trainers with a dark type pokemon we could battle.

I quickly found one and arranged a meetup for a betting match.

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The trainer and I agreed to meet up at the battle courts by the Pokemon Center.

"You must be Alex." The trainer said, extending his hand in greeting.

"And I take it you're Todd?" I said returning the gesture.

I've always disliked people who spelled Tod with 2 d's but I felt it prudent not to mention that. Apparently even in the pokemon world people are bad at spelling.

We soon find an empty court and start our battle.

The man sends out a Pawniard which appears in a flash.

I send out Rufflet in response.

"Rufflet, when he attacks you focus on the energy he uses and try to internalize how it feels." Although this method of learning to channel a new type of energy isn't the easiest or safest, it's by far the one I have most available to me.

…

We ultimately ended up losing the battle. The battle was actually pretty close but the Pawniard ended up dodging the first super power and the muscle strain kept up from getting off a powerful hit after that.

A loss isn't even that bad of an outcome since we just lost the 30$ we earned from Neil. Regardless we returned to the Pokemon Center in what is becoming way to common of an occurrence.

After getting healed we still had some time left so we decided to start up practicing hone claws again. 

"Remember how the attacks Pawniard felt during the match and try to channel that feeling into your claws." I tried to advise Rufflet.

Even though I was talking out of my ass, the advice must have worked as within a few attempts Rufflet was able to finally perform the move.

It was very easy to tell when it got the move. Instinct took over causing the bird to run the edge of its talons against one another.

Now that he can finally use it, we can move onto the next stage of training - using it while dodging.

Since Burgh generally leads with Swadloon and uses string shot right off the bat, it's important that we are able to buff up while avoiding it. Since Rufflet is my only choice, any debuff will ruin our chances of pulling off the 1v2.

Earlier at the PokeMart, I bought something that should help with training this - a pellet gun. I don't even think the mart stocked this for this reason, my theory is they just wanted to take advantage of impulsive young trainers wanting to buy a shiny toy.

Regardless, I ordered rufflet to try to use Hone Claws in the air while dodging the little plastic beads I fired from the gun.

To any outside observer, I probably look like a psychopath trying to shoo off the local bird population.

Although at first I was regularly hitting Rufflet with the beads, Rufflet soon began to dodge them while using the move. After he learned to do that, I instructed Rufflet to try to narrow the margins of his dodging to conserve energy and so that he wouldn't have to commit himself as much.

This continued until it got too dark to practice further.

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The next day we decided to tackle the last item of our list of prep against Burgh - Countering his powder moves.

If Burgh manages to hit us with any of the powder, we basically lose the 2v1 as we don't have a backup.

If Rufflet were any other bird I would have it learn gust, but unfortunately Rufflet can't learn that. Instead we have another, more interesting option.

Tailwind. In the games Tailwind works by doubling the user's and its teammate's speed for 5 turns. In reality, the move works a bit differently. 

The move works by summoning a gust of wind behind the user speeding it up. The only issue is that the burst of wind has to be controlled manually, and it doesn't naturally follow the user.

In a weird way, that kinda helps our purposes since we want rufflet to be able to use it to blow away powder in front of it rather than behind it.

Rufflet and I watch some videos of pokemon using it online. We find one of a Skarmory using it to quickly launch itself at an opponent which feels like a good place to start training.

Rufflet starts out by flying up into the air and trying to channel its flying type energy behind it.

At first it only manages to make a small breeze, but it quickly manages to create a gust of wind propelling itself forward at high speeds.

Based on what I can find online Rufflet normally struggles to learn this move at low levels so it surprised me he was able to learn it so quickly. 

As I look at the bird in an awed curiosity it merely cocks its head back at me.

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It took the rest of the day and several breaks for Rufflet to figure out how to use the move in front of him.

Although the user is supposed to be able to manipulate the move to some extent, the manipulation is generally limited to the angle and direction rather than the placement. 

Because of this, the Tailwind rufflet is able to use in front of him is much weaker than a normal one. Fortunately that won't really matter for our purposes since we are only trying to blow away powder.

With all our preparatory measures done I decide to meet back up with Liz to go book our gym match.

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"So have you finished all your prep?" Liz asked while leaning in out of curiosity.

"Yeah, I feel like we have some tricks that will help us win." I reply.

After a brief walk, we quickly reached the reception counter at the gym.

"Hi, is there where I book a gym match?" I ask the lady manning the counter.

Gym challenges normally consist of 2 phases.

1) The gauntlet.

Trainers would face a series of challenges and battle testing their cooperation and strength of their team. After that they would be healed up and enter the next phase.

2) The gym leader battle

Trainers who completed the gauntlet get the chance to challenge the leader for the badge and a cash prize.

Most gym's gauntlets rarely change and it's very easy to find information online. However Burgh's gym is unique in this regard. Trainers are forbidden from sharing their experiences online. Because of this, it makes it very difficult to prepare in advance. 

Additionally, Burgh regularly changes out his gauntlet creating elaborate works of art out of them. As a result, his tend to be some of the most unique experiences you can face.

Turning my attention back to the receptionist she responds, "Yes sir, just pay the challenge fee and I can set you up with a time and date!"

With a blank look on my face, I turn and whisper to Liz, "There's a challenge fee?"

Somehow, in all of my research I managed to miss this crucial fact. Liz fills me in on this information.

"Yep, gyms require challenges to pay a fee in order to challenge the gym. Typically the fee is half the cash prize of beating the gym leader."

Feeling my empty wallet, I turn to Liz with a pleading look on my face.

"Fine, I'll pay for you this time but you better pay me back from your prize."

Liz hands the receptionist 100poke.

"Alright, does tomorrow at noon work for you?" The receptionist asks.

"Sounds good, thanks!"

With my gym battle book, I begin to mentally prepare myself for tomorrow.