Folker vs Chelsea

The next day, Farlan was about to go back to Vermilion City but Folker tried to persuade him to stay for a while.

'It's not like I particularly have anything to do back home' Farlan thought to himself before he agreed.

"Let's put it this way, I'm also heading back home but I'm not particularly in a hurry. How about you join us?" Folker said with a smile.

"Alrighty then" Farlan said with a sigh, as if he was reluctant. He didn't plan to join him on his journey but sticking with him for a while isn't bad either.

"Perfect!" Folker cheerfully said but inwardly, he said 'Nice, a good cook is always welcome'.

"Folker, how about we battle? Just two on two" Chelsea proposed. Folker was taken aback by Chelsea's sudden battle proposal.

"And here I thought you were just being low profile with your pokemon like you usually are" Folker replied as his lips curled up before he nodded.

"Sweet. But let's do it in Cerulean Gym to get ourselves some privacy" Chelsea said as she walked away. Folker and Farlan followed her from behind.

After a few minutes of walking, they arrived at the Cerulean Gym and met Misty who appeared to be in a swimsuit, swimming in the pool with her pokemon. After she saw Folker's group, she then got up and welcomed them.

"Hey guys, welcome to Cerulean Gym. Are you here for a Gym challenge, Chelsea?" Misty asked as she looked at Chelsea's figure.

Chelsea shook her head and replied "Can we rent a private battlefield for ourselves?". Gyms always have private battlefields for challengers who prefer battling without an audience.

Each trainer has their own battle style, along with their strategies. There are trainers who prefer the presence of an audience to fuel their motivation in battle while there are also trainers who prefer to not have their trump cards leaked.

Trump cards are only called trump cards because of the element of surprise. Otherwise, their future opponents can just prepare a countermeasure against their strategies ahead of time.

This is why trainers usually don't go all out during public battles, unless it has something to do with the indigo league conference and gym battles.

In addition, strategies can also be replicated, as long as one has the right pokemon on their team. Trainers who came up with their own strategy wouldn't just want others to enjoy the benefit of their effort. Of course, it's not that easy to replicate a strategy.

It would require deep cooperation between the pokemon and the trainer, as well as some training. As for those trainers with unpredictable battle style, they usually don't have to worry about their strategy being replicated as they are usually creative and can just think of other strategies and countermeasures.

Such is the beauty of pokemon battles.

At this time, Misty and Folker's group arrived at a private battlefield with only two benches. Just because it's a private battlefield doesn't mean that there would be no audience. As long as one has the permission of both trainers, one can spectate private battles.

Misty volunteered as the referee, to which both Chelsea and Folker just agreed. They weren't that much guarded on Misty as she can be considered as their friend. As for Farlan, Folker at least trusts him.

When it comes to judging people and their intentions, Folker can be considered to be trusted in that department. As long as Folker trusts him, he's not that bad of a person, at least for Chelsea.

It's just that it's a bit troublesome considering that her pokemon is a very rare pokemon from a faraway region of Unova. As for its practicality, it's better in comparison to Folker's Lucario and Corin's soon to be Gardevoir, or Gallade, depending on its gender.

Considering that there's literally a criminal organization out there that actually promote stealing a trainer's pokemon, Chelsea is a bit on guard on this one. After all, the ability to use illusions is very attractive for a criminal organization like Team Rocket.

As for Lucario, and Kirlia, although rare, they aren't that much unique in terms of practicality, which, at least, allows both Corin and Folker to openly show them in public.

Although Chelsea didn't really hide her pokemon that much, it still used illusions to imitate other pokemon, making other trainers mistake it as another pokemon. As someone who has healing abilities, Chelsea was spared from visiting Pokemon Center, which prevents her pokemon from being discovered.

Now then, it's time for the battle.

Folker stood on the left corner of the battlefield while Chelsea stood on the opposite corner, facing Folker's figure. On the sides are Farlan with his Eevee as he sat on the bench and Misty, who volunteered as the referee.

"For you to suddenly challenge me, do you have something in mind?" Folker asked as he looked at Chelsea.

"Nothing in particular, I just want to compare where I stand among my peers. Had Corin been here, I'd also challenge him to a battle" Chelsea replied as she smiled.

"What about stakes? With or without one, I'm in" Folker said as he held a pokeball in his hand.

"How about this one, the loser will owe the winner a favor?" Chelsea proposed as she smirked. Folker recalled the time he battled Corin as he couldn't help but laugh at how similar Chelsea and Corin acted.

'Or was it me? I forgot hehe' Folker thought as he chuckled.

"Very well" Folker agreed.

"Ooooh, you can use this chance to ask her to be your girlfriend, you know" Farlan commented from the sides.

"Just so you know, by any chance that I lose, if you did so, I wouldn't refuse" Chelsea smiled mischievously.

"I'm rather confident in my looks so don't worry about it. Even if I like you, I'd boldly ask you out without tricks" Folker replied with a grin. He then called out his pokemon on the battlefield.

"Another battle" Lucario murmured as its lips curled up.

Chelsea also called out her pokemon as the figure of green reptilian pokemon appeared on the battlefield.

"Ivysaur!"

Folker eyed Ivysaur's figure suspiciously and said "You wouldn't happen to be Zorua, are you?"

Chelsea just laughed as she shook her head.

'Technically' Chelsea thought to herself as she flashed out a mischievous smile.

...

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

I know we've had plenty of battles but rest assured, after this one, we'll proceed with adventuring as well as catching new pokemon