EPISODE 31: Drowning in fear!

Today is the day I challenge the Norva city gym leader, Admiral Brooke. Yesterday we defeated and stopped the Pilfering Duos from stealing the blue orb. The orb that gives life to Kyogre; the beast of the raging sea. After defeating and stopping the Pilfering Duos, Admiral Brooke gave me the rest of the day to train for my gym battle today which I did together with my friends.

"So Kalem, are you ready for your gym battle today?" Zhery queried as the four of us walked back to the S.S. PUMS. The place where my gym battle will be held.

"I'm ready and all fired up! I trained one more time yesterday and I can say that I and my Pokemons got stronger!" I beamed with excitement.

"Don't get too confident Kalem, you still don't know what gym Pokemons do Admiral Kalem have," Glade warned.

"But doesn't Kalem have Scyther? A bug type Pokemon which is strong against water?" Camellia wondered.

"I do have Scyther, but Glade is right, I still don't know what Pokemons Admiral Brooke will use for our battle." I agreed with Glade.

"That's why they're called gym leaders. They were born to turn their weaknesses into their strengths." Zhery explained.

"I didn't know that... It is my first time to witness a gym battle after all." Camellia explained.

We arrived at S.S. PUMS or the S.S. Pokemon Universal Marine Services for my gym battle. I knocked on the door with excitement.

"Yes is anyone there?" A captain opened the door.

"Yup! I am Kalem and this is my buddy Riolu! We are here to challenge the Norva gym leader Admiral Brooke!" I explained with excitement.

"Oh another challenger? Sure please come in!" The captain allowed us to come inside the S.S. PUMS.

"Does that mean Kalem isn't the only challenger today?" Camellia questioned.

"Yeah, a lot of trainers will be having their gym battle today with Admiral Brooke. Then, there will be another batch tomorrow." The captain explained.

"So that's why Admiral Brooke told Kalem to challenge him tomorrow... There are batches when it comes to gym battles." Glade concurred.

"Alright Kalem, please write your name and your signature then turn left and proceed to the battle arena inside the S.S. PUMS." The captain instructed.

I wrote my name and my signature and followed what the captain instructed.

"Oh right! I almost forgot to tell you, there's an ongoing gym battle so you may have to wait for a while. In the meantime those who will watch the gym battle must proceed to the right door." The captain instructed.

Before I parted ways with my friends, they bid me good luck for my gym battle.

Me and Riolu turned anxious as we walked and enter the battle arena. What made us more anxious was that once I and Riolu entered we saw a huge crowd currently cheering for Admiral Brooke and the other trainer. I was instructed to take a sit first and spectate the on-going gym battle.

"I feel so worried Kalem. I've never been to a huge crowd before." Riolu explained.

"Its ok Riolu. Don't focus on the crowd, focus on the battle! Don't let the crowd distract you!" I advised Riolu as he sweated heavily.

"I never expected a crowd this big!" Glade was surprised as the three of them sat to spectate the current gym battle.

"I wonder if Kalem and Riolu can handle such a big crowd, they might get distracted by what the crowd might say!" Zhery wondered.

"Kalem can do it for sure! He'll surely win the gym challenge!" Camellia uttered.

"Bayleaf is unable to battle! The winner is Admiral Brooke!" The referee announced as the crowd cheered for the admiral. This made me worried sick! Bayleaf is a grass type it should have been super effective!

"Next up! We have another challenger all the way from Citrus home for the lost! He's ten years old with a determined spirit! I welcome you... Kalem!" The commentator proclaimed.

"Wait, Kalem is an orphan? What happened to his parents?" Camellia queried.

"Kalem's parents died from the Silver-heart city incident alongside with my parents. But one day, a vision came to both of us hinting that they are still alive. That is why aside from doing this journey for Kalem's gym challenges and Pokemon league, we also plan to go to the Cavern of the deep." Glade explained.

"C... Cavern of the deep?" Camellia wondered on her mind as she recalled the name of the place.

I walked to the other end of the battle arena with the crowd and my friends cheering for me.

"Goodmorning Kalem! Did you have a nice sleep?" Admiral Brooke greeted.

"Yes I did admiral, now I'm all fired up to win your gym badge!"

"Such a determined kid you are Kalem huh? I'll give you my badge... If you win of course." Admiral Brooke teased.

"The last battle for the morning batch is about to begin! Please listen to the referee for the rules and regulations of this gym battle." the commentator announced.

"The rules are simple and clear! The gym leader and the challenger may use three Pokemons each! But only the challenger is allowed to substitute Pokemon! If the challenger wins, he will be given the extraordinary shell badge! If this is the first gym battle the challenger won, he will be given a Gym case!" the referee explained.

"Alright! Please choose your first Pokemon!" The commentator called.

"Riolu your up first!"

"Heh heh heh! Sealeo be one with the waves with me!"

"Sealeo!? Irys, please scan that Pokemon please." Camellia begged.

"No problem Camellia, I will scan Sealeo right away!"

[Sealeo! The ball roll Pokemon! An ice and water-type Pokemon. SEALEO often balances and rolls things on the tip of its nose. While the POKéMON is rolling something, it checks the object's aroma and texture to determine whether it likes the object or not.]

"So Kalem is up against Sealeo first!" Camellia concurred as she cheered for me.

"Three! Two! One! Battle Begin!" The referee shouted as the crowd shouted and cheered!

"Riolu use force palm!"

"Sealeo! Use a hydro pump!"

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"An astounding performance by Admiral Brooke by countering the force palm with hydro pump blasting Riolu off!" the commentator announced.

"Kalem is already in a tight position, when it comes with fighting type Pokemon close contact attacks don't usually work," Glade explained.

"Amazing! Riolu was able to stand up!" the commentator explained.

"Riolu, use metal claw!"

"Sealeo dod- ah!?" admiral Brooke said in surprise.

"Riolu is a fast Pokemon indeed!" the commentator announced.

"So, the kid's playing fast? I just know what to do!" Admiral Brooke said in his mind.

"Sealeo use water pulse!"

"Riolu dodge it quick!"

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"Riolu was unable to dodge Sealeo's water pulse!" the commentator announced.

"Sealeo! Now follow up with yawn!"

"Yawn? What kind of move is that?" I wondered in my mind.

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"Riolu got affected with Sealeo's yawn!"

"Glade what kind of move is yawn?" Zhery asked.

"Yawn makes the Pokemon slower as it feels drowsy, then the Pokemon falls asleep," Glade explained.

"Riolu looks sleepy!" I uttered on my mind.

"Riolu use quick attack!"

"Sealeo! Now use hydro pump"

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"Yawn took effect and made Riolu drowsy making it slower! Riolu was hit hard with hydro pump." The commentator announced.

"What the!?" I got shocked as Riolu fell asleep. "Riolu wake up!" "Riolu slap out of it and wake up!" I called Riolu's name but it didn't work.

"Sealeo! Use water pulse one more time!"

"Riolu wake up and dodge water pulse!"

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"Riolu wasn't able to wake up and was hit with water pulse!" The commentator announced as the crowd cheered for Admiral Brooke.

"Having a hard time waking up Riolu aren't yah kid? Sealeo use hydro pump!"

"Riolu you can do this! Wake up from the sleep wake up!" I called once more.

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"And Riolu was not able to dodge again! Is this Riolu's end!?" The commentator announced.

"You can do it Riolu!" Glade, Zhery, and Camellia cheered for Riolu to wake up.

"So it's true what people say, Admiral Brooke is truly a skilled gym leader, who could have thought to use yawn to lower Riolu's speed and to make Riolu sleep?" Zhery observed.

"Riolu! Please wake up! Please!" I begged and pleaded.

"Riolu is enjoying his sleepy slumber Kalem, you don't want to wake him up don't yah hahaha! Just kidding around! Sealeo use water pulse on more time!

"Riolu please wake up! Please snap out of it!" I pleaded and begged.

"Riolu was hit with another water pulse! But wait? The water pulse backfired as Riolu woke up!" The commentator announced.

"Riolu are you ok?"

"Yes I am Kalem, I am now up and awake. Let's win this battle!" Riolu proclaimed with full determination and optimism.

"Guess unexpected things can happen huh? Well then, Sealeo use roll out!"

"Riolu, just like we did with Golem! Use Force palm and push Sealeo away!"

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"What!? An unexpected turn of events just happened as Riolu force palmed Sealeo back to admiral Brooke! What a surprise!" The commentator announced.

"I never thought of that if I was Kalem!" Glade was in awe with my battle strategies.

"Sealeo can you still battle?"

SEAL!!

"Alright then Sealeo! Use Hydro pump!"

"Riolu dodge the hydro pump then go around Sealeo using quick attack!"

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"Remarkable dodge! Looks like Riolu's sleep gave Riolu an energy boost? And what's this? Riolu is circling Sealeo!? What could they be up to?" The commentator announced as the crowd cheered on.

"What could the kid be up to?" Admiral Brooke wondered in his mind.

"Alright Riolu! Attack from behind with force palm!"

"Sealeo look behind you then use ro-"

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"Sealeo was hit with Riolu's metal claw and blazing speed! I have never witnessed a gym battle like this ever before!" the commentator announced.

"Sealeo is unable to battle, the first match goes to Riolu and Kalem!" The referee announced.

The crowd began to cheer for me and Riolu! The battle was getting tough.

"Ha haha! I've never felt like this for a long time! You truly are a skilled trainer! But remember, I still have two Pokemons left! Poliwrath let's go!"

Admiral Brooke's second Pokemon was Poliwrath, a Pokemon with a circular body with two mighty arms!

"Poliwrath!? Irys please scan that Pokemon!" Zhery pleaded.

"No problem Zhery!"

[Poliwrath! The tadpole Pokemon! A water and fighting type! Its highly developed muscles never grow fatigued, however much it exercises. This POKéMON can swim back and forth across the Pacific Ocean without effort]

"Kalem is up for a harder challenge," Glade observed.

"Challenger Kalem, do you wish to switch your Pokemon?" the referee asked.

"Alright Riolu, you battled tough! Now take a good rest... Zorua come on out!" I called.

"And it looks like Kalem's second Pokemon is a Zorua!" the commentator announced.

"Why would Kalem switch out Riolu, isn't Riolu badly damaged?" Camellia queried.

"Yes but Kalem wants Riolu to rest, I think he knows the Admiral Brooke has a tough Pokemon coming up next," Glade answered.

"Kalem still has Scyther, meaning Kalem is preparing for something big!" zhery warned.

"Three two one... BATTLE BEGIN!"

"Zorua use pursuit!"

"Poliwrath hit Zorua back with dynamic punch!"

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"Poliwrath was almost hit by that Pursuit but punched back Zorua with dynamic punch." The commentator announced.

"Zorua you can do this!"

"Zorua is still standing even after that strong dynamic punch!" the commentator explained.

"Zorua use pursuit in a zig zag!"

"Poliwrath watch out for Zorua!"

POLIIIIIII!!!!

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"Poliwrath is hit by that pursuit! And it looks like the crowd is getting wild as the battle heats up the S.S. PUMS!" the commentator announced.

"Zorua is small but strong indeed! Poliwrath use hydro pump!"

"Thanks Admiral! Zorua use purs- wha?"

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"Zorua was hit hard by hydro pump that even Kalem couldn't finish his command."

"Zorua no!"

"Zorua is unable to battle! The second match goes to Admiral Brooke!" the referee announced as the crowd cheered for the admiral.

"How could Zorua faint that easily?" Camellia asked.

"Dynamic punch plus hydro pump? Those are two strong attacks that hit Zorua! That's why Zorua lost easily." Glade explained.

"It's even now, both sides have two Pokemon each left," Zhery observed.

"Riolu I choose you!"

"Kalem sends out Riolu once more!" the commentator announced.

"Riolu lets finish Poliwrath!"

"Alright Kalem! We can do this!"

"Riolu use force palm!"

"Intercept with Dynamic Punch!"

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"Force palm and Dynamic punch collided! Pushing both of them against the wall!" the commentator announced.

Riolu started to gasped for air as it walked back removing its sweat away. His heartbeat got louder and staired in Poliwrath's eyes.

Poliwrath stood up and glared at Riolu's eyes. Both of them were trying to intimidate each other.

"Poliwrath use Scald!"

"Riolu dodge it then use force palm!"

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"Riolu dodged itself from that boiling scald! Will Riolu's force palm reach Poliwrath?" The commentator announced.

"Poliwrath use dynamic punch!"

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"Force palm and Dynamic punch collided once more! But this time, those attacks were three times stronger than awhile ago!" The commentator announced.

Riolu and Poliwrath was thrown again! They walked back with determination to the stage. Everybody was silent as the two Pokemons stared at each other. Then suddenly both of them dropped dead.

"This third match is a draw! Riolu and Poliwrath are unable to battle!" The commentator announced as the crowd cheered and beamed with excitement.

"I guess that means Scyther is left, but what Pokemon will admiral Brooke choose?" Glade wondered in his mouth.

"Scyther its time for a battle!" I sent out my last Pokemon.

"From the looks of Scyther's eye, Scyther is definitely strong!" the admiral said in his mind.

"Lapras! Show them the power of the waves!" Admiral Brooke called.

"Lapras... Now that's a big one!" Camellia observed.

"Irys, please scan Lapras," Glade asked.

"No problem Glade..."

[Lapras! The transport Pokemon! A water and ice type! People have driven LAPRAS almost to the point of extinction. In the evenings, this POKéMON is said to sing plaintively as it seeks what few others of its kind still remain.]

"The last match will determine the winner! Three! Two! One! Begin!"

"Lapras use surf!"

"Oh, no Scyther!"

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"Scyther was hit by an undodgeable move! But Scyther is still standing strong!"

"Scyther use sword dance!"

"Lapras use water gun!"

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"Riolu was hit with a water gun but Scyther is still standing strong!?" The commentator announced.

"If you won't dodge then fine! Lapras use water gun once more!"

"Scyther use sword dance again!"

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"Scyther is not dodging this is a surprise! Scyther was hit with water gun again!" the commentator announced.

"What? Why is Kalem not dodging?" Camellia wondered.

"Kalem is going for an easy win! Scyther keeps getting stronger every time it uses sword dance."

"Lapras finish Scyther with hyper beam!"

"I knew it!" I beamed with excitement. As I asked Scyther to use sword dance again.

"Admiral Brooke's Lapras has finally damaged Scyther badly! What will Kalem do?" The commentator announced.

"Now use FURY ATTACK Scyther!"

"So that was his plan!?" Admiral Brooke got shocked.

"That means! Scyther was using sword dance because he knew that Lapras knows a hyper beam! Since the Hyper beam takes one move to recharge or move, Lapras can't dodge the fury attack!" Glade noticed.

Fury attacked sent Lapras flying. Lapras dealt additional damage when it hit the floor!

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"Lapras is unable to battle! The winner is the challenger Kalem!" The referee announced as the crowd stood up and cheered. I beamed with happiness and I uttered to my mind. "If only my parents were here to watch, they will be super proud"

Admiral Brooke came close to me and gave me the gym badge and gym case.

"Congrats kid! I was in awe with your tactics you know! Because of that, I give you the shell badge!"

"Thank you admiral Brooke!" I greeted as the morning batch ended. I met up with my friends again at the door of S.S. PUMS.

"Congratulations Kalem! You finally have your first badge!" Camellia greeted.

"Yeah! You battled tough!" Glade added.

"That was such an amazing performance Kalem!" Zhery added. Somebody from behind came to me.

"I've never experienced a gym battle like that! This was my first time enjoying a gym battle!" Admiral Brooke complemented.

"Thank you so much admiral! But it was my Pokemon who won everything for me!"

"May I suggest that you head to Macropolis city for your second gym badge? I heard that the gym leader there is strong!" Admiral Brooke advised.

"Thanks for the suggestion admiral!" We waved goodbye as we left S.S. PUMS

"So Kalem where are we headed next?" Camellia asked.

"I say we go to Macropolis city! It is the fastest route to the cavern of the deep after all!" I beamed.

Camellia felt worried again as I said the name Cavern of the deep.

It's off to Macropolis city, the site of my second gym badge as the journey continues.