Wingull,Round Two

Tyrunt and I were back out by the training fields near Route 207, putting the final polish on Rock Slide. It had taken days of throwing rocks at everything that moved—or at least everything that wouldn't immediately fight back—to get Tyrunt comfortable enough with the move. He could hit targets, adjust his angle, and, most importantly, he finally understood that randomly chucking boulders without aim was not going to cut it in a real battle.

Today, though, I was hoping for more than just practice. I was hoping for some payback.

I spotted him from a distance—Travis, the same cocky guy we fought last time. The headband was unmistakable, bright green and obnoxious, standing out against the brown and gray of the landscape. He was standing in the same spot, right near the Gym entrance, talking to a few other trainers. And there it was—his Wingull, perched on a rock beside him, its wings fluttering like it was the king of the skies.

I clenched my jaw, a small smile forming. "Hey, Tyrunt," I said, nudging the dinosaur Pokémon beside me. He looked up at me, his blue eyes narrowing slightly. "Recognize that guy?"

Tyrunt followed my gaze, then let out a low growl. It was a sound that carried all the frustration and annoyance of that last fight, of every drop of water that had splashed his face while he snapped uselessly at the air.

"Yeah, I thought you'd remember." I started walking toward Travis, Tyrunt following beside me. His eyes stayed locked on the Wingull, his tail swishing behind him.

"Hey, Travis!" I called out, my voice echoing across the clearing. Travis looked up, a flicker of confusion crossing his face before he recognized me. He smirked, standing up a little straighter, and I could already see the confidence building.

"Well, look who it is," Travis said, his tone as smug as ever. "Back for another beating, Jack?"

I gave a shrug, keeping my face neutral. "I figured it was time for a rematch. You and that Wingull got lucky last time." I looked at the Wingull, who seemed utterly unimpressed with my existence. I narrowed my eyes. "Besides, I think my Tyrunt's learned a new trick since then."

Travis laughed, tossing his Poké Ball up and down in his hand. "Sure, alright. Let's see what you've got."

We took our positions, and Wingull immediately took off into the air, circling high above us. Tyrunt watched it go, his eyes following its every movement. This time, though, we weren't helpless. This time, we had a plan.

"Alright, Wingull, you know what to do!" Travis called out. "Use Water Gun!"

The Wingull let out a caw, swooping down and opening its beak, shooting a stream of water towards Tyrunt. But I was ready this time.

"Tyrunt, dodge it and use Rock Slide! Aim high!"

Tyrunt darted to the side, the stream of water splashing harmlessly against the rocky ground. His tail began to glow, and he stomped down hard, the ground beneath us trembling. Small boulders lifted into the air, and with a flick of his head, Tyrunt launched them upward, his roar echoing across the clearing.

The Wingull, completely caught off guard, barely managed to flap its wings before the rocks slammed into it, knocking it out of the air. It let out a startled squawk as it fell, tumbling to the ground in a heap, feathers flying.

Travis's jaw dropped, his expression one of pure disbelief. He scrambled forward, kneeling beside his fallen Wingull. "What... what just happened?"

I crossed my arms, a grin spreading across my face. "That's Rock Slide, Travis. And that's what happens when you underestimate us."

Tyrunt let out a triumphant roar, stomping his feet as he glared down at the Wingull. I could see the satisfaction in his eyes—he had waited for this, and now, he had it.

Travis sighed, recalling his Wingull, and stood up, dusting off his knees. "Alright, alright, I get it. You guys have definitely gotten stronger. I wasn't expecting that," he said, giving me a grudging nod. He reached into his bag, pulling out a small stack of cash—another 500 Pokédollars. "Here. You earned it."

I took the money, giving him a small nod. "Thanks. It was a good fight." I looked down at Tyrunt, who was still staring at the empty spot where the Wingull had been, his jaw slightly open, as if he was ready to chomp down on something, anything. "Alright, buddy, settle down. You won."

Travis shook his head, giving a small laugh. "You know, you're lucky that Tyrunt of yours isn't any bigger. That thing's got a serious mouth on it."

I shrugged, patting Tyrunt's side. "Yeah, well, we're working on it. Besides, a little biting instinct never hurt anyone... except maybe that Wingull."

Travis gave a nod, then turned, heading back towards the Gym. I watched him go, then looked down at Tyrunt. He was still growling softly, his teeth bared, ready to snap at anything that looked even remotely like a seagull.

"Alright, alright, let's not get carried away," I said, giving his side a gentle nudge. "We've still got a lot to work on. Rock Slide was a good start, but we're far from perfect."

Tyrunt looked up at me, giving me that intense stare of his—half challenge, half pride. The little guy had a competitive streak a mile wide, and it showed. I chuckled. "Yeah, I know, you're feeling pretty good about that win. But there's always another challenge out there, so let's not get lazy."

Tyrunt snorted and, true to form, clamped his jaws down on the edge of my bag, shaking it slightly as if to remind me he was still a force to be reckoned with. I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah, we get it—you're a tough guy. Now let go before you tear my stuff apart."

Tyrunt huffed but let go, and we turned back towards the training fields.