Chapter 7: vs Brandon

A month had passed since the intense 5km race. In that time, not much had changed dramatically. Rambo and Zigzagoon participated diligently in the Training Classes and daily lessons, gradually becoming more knowledgeable and stronger. They focused on honing their physical strength and deepening their bond.

Rambo and Zigzagoon remained at the top of Class 6B in every session. The Training Classes included various sessions such as the Race Session, Battle Strategies Session, Survival Skills Session, Pokémon Biology Session, and Pokémon Breeding Session. With each class, Rambo and Zigzagoon excelled, becoming more adept and confident.

Finally, on the first Training Class in February, Mrs. Katherine made an exciting announcement during the Battle Strategies Session. "Alright, everyone. Today, we will have real Pokémon battles between students."

The room buzzed with mixed reactions. Some students looked anxious, their faces pale at the thought of a real battle. Others were curious, whispering among themselves and wondering who they would face. A few even looked afraid, particularly at the prospect of battling against Class 6A.

Larry, however, looked thrilled. "Finally, we get to beat the asses of those Class 6A students," he said, grinning and clenching his fists in excitement.

Rambo nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and determination. "Yeah, we have been waiting for a practical fight for a long time."

"Zigza!" Zigzagoon responded enthusiastically, its eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Mrs. Katherine continued, "Don't be nervous, this is not the end of the world anyways. Be calm and be ready for your fight. The greatest respect you can give to your opponent is giving everything you've got. I understand some of you might be nervous, but this is an excellent opportunity to apply what you've learned. Remember, it's not just about winning but about learning and improving your strategies."

The students from Class 6B, including Cassandra with her Magnemite, were listening intently. Cassandra looked determined, and Magnemite hovered beside her, buzzing with energy.

"Alright, let's get started. We'll begin with six students from 6A battling six students from 6B. For this time, I've decided to pick the Top 6 in each class, so the list is as follows," Mrs. Katherine announced, and a blue virtual screen suddenly appeared in front of everyone.

Brandon versus Rambo

Hiroshi versus Larry

Iwen versus Viola

Gwen versus Cassandra

Jin versus Tyler

Veronica versus William

The list was displayed on the blue virtual screen, visible to everyone. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation as the students readied themselves.

Each pair of students took their positions on one of the six battlefields. The other students, eager to watch the matches, gathered around the edges of the fields. Six students had been chosen to act as referees, ensuring that each battle was fair and followed the rules. The referees signaled that the battles would all start simultaneously to make sure there was enough time for every student to fight each other.

Rambo and Zigzagoon took their place on the first battlefield, facing Brandon and his Tyrunt. Rambo felt a surge of excitement. "Rock and Dragon-type, huh? That's tough."

"Zigza!" Zigzagoon responded, undaunted by the dinosaur-looking Pokémon.

Larry and Ferroseed stood opposite Hiroshi and Sawk on the second battlefield. Larry looked determined, his eyes locked on his opponent. "Just you and me, Ferroseed. We can beat his ass off."

Hiroshi, clearly annoyed, muttered to himself, "Tch, pointless fight, what a waste of time."

The referee stepped forward to explain the rules. "This is a 1v1 solo battle. No battle items are allowed during the battle. Trainers, ready your Pokémon."

Rambo sized up Brandon. He wore sunglasses and had silver hair that set him apart from the others. A dragon-shaped ring adorned his left hand, and his outfit exuded wealth and confidence.

Brandon smirked, not seeming to care about the match. As soon as the battle started, he initiated his strategy. "Roar!"

The Roar echoed across the battlefield, intended to intimidate Zigzagoon. However, since this was a solo battle and Rambo had no other Pokémon, the move only served to startle Zigzagoon. Zigzagoon shook off the initial surprise and followed Rambo's instruction. "Zigzagoon, use Tackle!"

Zigzagoon charged forward, hitting Tyrunt with a solid Tackle. Brandon quickly retaliated. "Tyrunt, Tackle."

Tyrunt lunged at Zigzagoon, but Zigzagoon managed to dart back, creating distance between itself and Tyrunt immediately after the impact. All of the training over the past few days had paid off, as Zigzagoon's agility and quick reflexes were now evident.

"Good job, Zigzagoon! Keep moving," Rambo encouraged, keeping his focus on the battle.

"Zigza!" Zigzagoon responded, its eyes locked onto Tyrunt.

Brandon adjusted his sunglasses, he was slightly irritated. "Tyrunt, don't let it get away."

Even though Brandon didn't specify the next move, Tyrunt instinctively used Bite, demonstrating that Brandon and Tyrunt had undergone rigorous training. Dark-type particles swirled around Tyrunt's jaw as it charged towards Zigzagoon with intent to bite.

"Zigzagoon, use Sand Attack!" Rambo commanded. Although Bite would only deal half damage to Zigzagoon, Rambo couldn't risk letting Zigzagoon take the hit.

Zigzagoon kicked up a cloud of sand, hitting Tyrunt in the face and causing it to flinch and miss its target. The audience gasped in amazement at Zigzagoon's quick reaction.

"Now, Zigzagoon, use Headbutt!" Rambo ordered.

Zigzagoon, taking advantage of Tyrunt's temporary blindness, charged forward and landed a powerful Headbutt on Tyrunt. The force of the attack knocked Tyrunt off balance, sending it stumbling back. However, Tyrunt, being a Rock-type Pokémon, took minimal damage from Normal-type moves like Headbutt.

Rambo had his own strategy in mind. He aimed to exhaust Tyrunt by forcing it to use too many moves. Although he believed Brandon wouldn't let that happen easily, Rambo was determined to give it a try. Zigzagoon had better agility and stamina compared to Tyrunt, thanks to their intense training sessions.

As the battle continued, Rambo stayed focused. "Zigzagoon, keep your distance and use Tail Whip!" Rambo thought, "Zigzagoon won't deal much damage if Tyrunt's defense isn't lowered."

Tyrunt started running to get close to Zigzagoon, but Zigzagoon, nimble and quick, kept darting away, maintaining its distance while wagging its tail cutely to lower Tyrunt's defense.

Brandon's eyes narrowed as he revealed his hidden move. "Rock Throw, finish it."

He had been saving this move to catch Rambo off guard. Rock Throw, a powerful Rock-type move, would deal regular damage to Zigzagoon but with a STAB boost from Tyrunt being a Rock-type. Tyrunt roared and stomped the ground, causing several large rocks to rise. It then hurled the rocks toward Zigzagoon with great force.

The rocks flew through the air with tremendous speed and force, creating a sense of impending danger. However, Zigzagoon's swift movements allowed it to dodge the rocks just in time, zigzagging skillfully to avoid being hit. But as Zigzagoon dodged the last rock, Tyrunt managed to close in with a sudden burst of speed, catching Zigzagoon off guard with a Tackle. The impact sent Zigzagoon rolling across the battlefield.

"Zigzagoon, are you okay?" Rambo called out, worried.

Zigzagoon shakily got back on its feet, determined to continue. "Zigza!"

Seeing Rambo's Zigzagoon move so quickly, Brandon couldn't help but frown. He thought to himself, "If I can't stop its speed, I'll have to rely on that move."

"Tyrunt, Dragon Dance," Brandon commanded loudly. He wasn't keen on using this move because it drained Tyrunt's energy significantly. The increase in Attack and Speed also put a considerable strain on Tyrunt's body. But with no other way to counter Zigzagoon's speed, Brandon felt he had no choice. He was determined not to lose.

Rambo heard Brandon's command and his heart began to race. "How did it inherit Dragon Dance? Zigzagoon's speed advantage will disappear if Tyrunt manages to use Dragon Dance even once. I need to stop it!"

"Zigzagoon, Extreme Speed!" Rambo shouted.

Zigzagoon's eyes gleamed with intense focus. It crouched low, muscles tensing, and then it shot forward like a lightning bolt. The air seemed to warp around it as it moved, its form a blur due to the sheer speed. In an instant, Zigzagoon was upon Tyrunt.

The force and speed of Zigzagoon's Extreme Speed were incredible. Tyrunt, caught mid-dance, didn't have time to react. Zigzagoon slammed into Tyrunt with immense power, interrupting the Dragon Dance and knocking Tyrunt off balance.

Brandon's eyes widened in surprise. "That speed… it's unbelievable."

Tyrunt stumbled, trying to regain its footing. Rambo seized the moment. "Zigzagoon, keep up the pressure! Use Tackle!"

Zigzagoon, still energized from the Extreme Speed, darted forward again, hitting Tyrunt before it could fully recover. The relentless assault left Tyrunt reeling, unable to complete its Dragon Dance.

But Tyrunt, showing its resilience and determination, made a split-second decision. It knew it couldn't finish Dragon Dance, so it opted for a desperate move. Tyrunt stomped the ground, summoning large rocks with Rock Throw, and directed them at itself, aiming to catch Zigzagoon in the crossfire.

The rocks hurled towards Tyrunt and Zigzagoon. Zigzagoon, in the midst of its Tackle, couldn't dodge in time and was struck by the barrage of rocks. The impact sent Zigzagoon flying backward, tumbling across the battlefield.

Rambo's heart sank as he saw Zigzagoon take significant damage. "Zigzagoon, are you alright?" he called out, worry etched across his face.

Zigzagoon struggled to its feet, clearly hurt but still determined to fight. "Zigza…"

Brandon smirked, impressed by Tyrunt's quick thinking. "You can't be a real Pokémon Trainer if you keep worrying about your Pokémon taking damage," he said, his eyes locking onto Rambo with a hint of contempt.

"A true Pokémon Trainer should believe in their Pokémon. That's the respect your Pokémon deserves," Brandon continued seriously. Despite his dislike for Rambo, he was willing to impart some hard-learned wisdom.

Rambo fell silent. He knew that Brandon was right, but he couldn't help feeling protective of Zigzagoon.

"Change your mind, or you can just be a Pokémon Breeder. Being a Pokémon Trainer is not suitable for you," Brandon's words struck a chord, piercing through Rambo's doubts and fears.

Rambo took a deep breath, pushing aside his worries. He knew he had to trust Zigzagoon's strength and determination. "You're right, Brandon. But I won't give up easily, Zigzagoon!"

"Zigza!" Zigzagoon responded, its eyes blazing with determination.

"Zigzagoon, use Sand Attack again!" Rambo commanded. Rambo thought, "If this drags on, Zigzagoon's stamina won't hold out. We need to find a way to end this quickly."

Zigzagoon, despite its injuries, kicked up another cloud of sand, hitting Tyrunt in the eyes and causing it to flinch. The audience watched in tense silence, amazed at the back-and-forth between the two Pokémon.

"Now, Tackle!" Rambo commanded.

Zigzagoon darted forward with blinding speed, slamming into Tyrunt and knocking it off balance once more. Tyrunt, still struggling to see through the sand, couldn't counter effectively.

Brandon wasn't fazed. "Tyrunt, use Dragon Tail!"

Tyrunt, still partially blinded, swung its glowing tail in a wide arc. Zigzagoon tried to dodge but was caught by the powerful move, sending it tumbling across the battlefield.

"Zigzagoon, get up!" Rambo shouted, his voice filled with urgency.

Zigzagoon struggled to its feet, visibly exhausted. Rambo clenched his fists, knowing they were running out of options. "Zigzagoon, one last Extreme Speed!"

Zigzagoon charged forward, putting all its remaining energy into the attack. Its speed was incredible, a blur across the battlefield. But Brandon was ready. "Tyrunt, finish it."

Tyrunt, despite its exhaustion, mustered its remaining strength and swung its tail in another powerful Dragon Tail. The move connected squarely with Zigzagoon, sending it flying back. Zigzagoon hit the ground hard and didn't get up.

Rambo's heart sank as he saw Zigzagoon faint from exhaustion and the impact. "Zigzagoon!" he called out, rushing to its side.

The referee raised his hand. "And the winner is Brandon and Tyrunt!"

Brandon walked over, a look of respect in his eyes. However, he didn't want to engage in further conversation with Rambo after the battle, so he simply nodded and left the field, heading back to watch the other fights.

Rambo gently lifted Zigzagoon, hugging it tightly. "You did great, Zigzagoon. I'm proud of you."

"Zigza…" Zigzagoon responded weakly, nuzzling Rambo with affection.