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Brock released his first Pokémon—a brownish-gray boulder Pokémon known as Geodude. Its bulging, rocky eyebrows and trapezoidal eyes with brown pupils gave it a formidable appearance, complemented by muscular arms ending in five-fingered hands. Unlike its portrayal in the anime, this Geodude clutched a smooth, partly crystalline rock in its left hand.
As the dust settled around the rocky terrain, it swiftly transformed into a swirling sandstorm. "Sand Veil," Austin murmured, his tongue clicking in slight annoyance.
"Pika," Pikachu voiced, sensing Austin's concern.
"Don't worry, I have a plan," Austin reassured, leaning down to whisper something to his partner before extending his hand for him to jump off.
Brock watched this with a frown. Given the electric type's disadvantage, he wondered, Did I overestimate this rookie?
"Forrest signaled the start of the match. "Hajime!"
Before Brock could issue a command, Austin shouted. "Jump and Thunder Wave!"
Brock observed without much worry as the nimble electric type leapt into the air, cheeks sparking. Pikachu released a wave of electricity, but not at Geodude. Instead, it aimed at the ceiling.
Ceiling? Brock puzzled over the target until he gasped in realization just a moment too late.
The electricity struck the sprinklers, triggering them to release water throughout the arena. The sandstorm was immediately quelled, and the rocky terrain began to turn muddy under the deluge of water.
Brock gulped as he caught sight of Austin's smile.
In a single calculated move, Austin had neutralized the advantages Brock's setup provided—the Smooth Rock that extended the sandstorm, Geodude's evasion boost, and the familiar dry terrain were all rendered useless.
'I was right, this guy isn't an ordinary trainer,' Brock thought, But how did he know about the sprinklers?
Brock shouted, "Rock Polish!" and Geodude slammed its fists together, causing the rocky skin across its body to glow white with increased speed.
"Quick Attack!"
Pikachu's response was lightning-fast, vanishing the instant it touched a rock, leaving only a yellow blur in its wake.
"Fire Punch!" Brock countered as Geodude's newly gained speed allowed it to catch up with Pikachu, thrusting an uppercut enveloped in flames towards the electric mouse.
"Iron Shield!"
Pikachu reacted with astonishing speed, twisting in mid-air just feet before Geodude's fiery punch could connect. The attack was intercepted by Pikachu's tail, which had taken on a metallic sheen, cushioning the blow and deflecting the force. Pikachu was thrown into the air, but the Pokémon seemed unfazed by the impact, thanks to its Iron Tail used defensively as an 'Iron Shield.'
"Roll out to dodge!"
Geodude curled into a ball and rolled forward, dodging just in time as Pikachu struck the ground where the Rock-type had been, mud splashing from the impact.
"Roll out!"
"Double team!"
Geodude spun rapidly towards Pikachu, flinging mud in its wake. Simultaneously, multiple figures of Pikachu ran from the other side; Geodude phased through the illusory clones, but its momentum carried it straight into a rock, sending it airborne.
"Sword Strike!" Austin's voice rang out clear.
"Sword Strike?!" Brock echoed, confused by the unfamiliar move. He watched as Pikachu, assuming a stance of a Quick Attack, charged as a blur towards where Geodude would land.
"Rock Tomb!"
Due to the move Rock Tomb, rocks flew towards Pikachu, attempting to envelop him. However, Austin had prepared the electric type for this exact scenario. Pikachu leapt, skillfully dodging some of the rocks, and used a swiftly approaching boulder as a platform to launch himself higher.
How?! Brock thought.
Pikachu's Quick Attack stopped abruptly, its inertia and momentum carrying into a spin. In a swift, fluid motion, Pikachu used Iron Tail like a sword, slamming it downward with the combined force of its Quick Attack momentum and gravity.
The impact was tremendous; Geodude slammed into the mud-covered ground, mud splashing everywhere from the force.
The arena fell silent for a moment before the referee declared Geodude knocked out, the Rock-type Pokémon lying motionless in the muddied pit it had created on impact.
Brock returned his Geodude as he noticed that Pikachu was inflicted with confusion, its head bobbing slightly from side to side. The flaw of your Sword Strike, the gym leader thought, seeing an opportunity to launch a free attack on Pikachu, since the rules prevented recalling a Pokémon under a status effect without waiting a turn.
Suddenly, Pikachu pulled out a bitter berry and ate it, immediately shaking off the confusion and sprinting back to his trainer, effectively dousing Brock's hopes for an easy advantage.
"An amazing performance," Brock conceded.
"Thanks, I have been training for it for like a week," Austin boasted, his tone deliberately arrogant. He wanted Brock to think he was overconfident; an arrogant opponent might be deemed prone to mistakes against a much more intimidating foe. Plus, Austin couldn't deny that it felt somewhat satisfying to brag a little.
"Well, then let's see how you'll perform against him," Brock said as he threw out his next Pokéball. In a flash of red, a Pokémon composed of a giant chain of gray boulders that became smaller towards the tail emerged. Its formidable size made it the tallest Rock-type Pokémon, with black eyes and a rounded snout topped by a rocky spine.
Intimidating was indeed an understatement.
As the giant Pokémon appeared, Pikachu took a hesitant step back, but Austin remained utterly calm. He knew that unlike in the games where battles could be resolved with a simple button press, here a lot of other factors mattered in a battle.
If he appeared scared, then his Pokémon's morale would falter.
With a steady hand, Austin released Spearow into the battlefield.
Brock raised an eyebrow, curious about the choice of Pokémon and the next move.
The commands came quickly.
"Double Team!"
"Leer!"
Onix moved like a snake burrowing into sand, disappearing into the muddy terrain with a swift, smooth motion. Suddenly, three Onixes burst from the ground, a common intimidation strategy that Brock employed. Austin, having been forewarned by Jimmy, quickly discerned the real Onix by noting which one actually emerged from a hole in the ground.
"To your right!" Austin shouted. Spearow spread his wings wide, catching the air displaced by Onix's massive form, and maneuvered like a kite in a gust of wind. The maneuver allowed Spearow to dodge the gigantic rock snake's attack gracefully. Spearow's eyes then glowed red, successfully lowering Onix's defense.
"Rockslide!"
Onix roared, its body glowing white momentarily before it summoned multiple rocks outlined in a white glow, hurling them at the flying Pokémon.
"Aerial Wing!"
Spearow became engulfed in streaks of white light, charging at the opponent with its wings aglow. The attack, resembling Aerial Ace but with the added strength of Steel Wing, wasn't as fast as the traditional move but potent enough to break through the Rockslide, striking directly on Onix's horn.
Brock watched as the impact momentarily stunned the flying type. "Bind!" he called out quickly. Onix wrapped its tail around Spearow, squeezing tightly.
Austin smirked, all according to plan. "Assurance."
"Onix, let that bird go!" Brock yelled, realizing too late the setup Austin had laid out.
Spearow's beak, glowing with a crimson black aura, slammed into Onix's tail, causing visible cracks in the rock snake's armor.
The speed at which Onix released its bind and roared for another Rockslide surprised everyone in the gym. Austin contemplated recalling Spearow, but he saw a defiant look in his Pokémon's eyes, a look of pride that refused to back down.
"Steel Wing!"
Almost humorously, Spearow used his wings like a bat, swinging at the rocks flying toward him, using the motion to inch closer despite his wings showing damage from the Bind attack.
"Fury Attack!" Austin yelled next.
Spearow descended with his talon aimed at Onix's right eye, missing narrowly but continuing the assault.
"Spear!" Spearow yelled as he twisted mid-fall, setting his second talon strike, which landed on the lower mouth of Onix as the flying Pokémon fell to the ground. Before Spearow fainted from the ordeal, he cast one last Leer at Onix, further reducing its defense.
"Your prideful son of a bitch, couldn't just take the easy way out," Austin muttered as he recalled the brave but injured Spearow.
Onix's segmented body was suddenly enveloped in a greenish glow, a clear sign of healing.
Austin noticed that the glow was particularly bright around its third segment, indicating the hidden location of the item—Leftovers which allowed Onix to gradually recover health, but the intense brightness of the glow betrayed its exact placement.
Austin had pieced together that Brock's Onix possessed an ability known as Weak Armor, which decreased its defense but increased its speed with every physical hit it took. Despite the rapid healing from Leftovers, the repeated strikes from Spearow had left Onix defensively weakened yet incredibly fast.
"I need to get rid of that item."
"Little lady, I call for your help!" He then sent Rattata onto a rock in the muddy terrain.
"You are a very unconventional trainer," Brock commented, crossing his arms in a pose that caught Onix's attention—a clear signal between trainer and Pokémon.
"Let's start off with Sword Strike!"
Rattata moved with astonishing speed, even outpacing Pikachu, and charged towards the rock snake.
Onix responded by glowing its horn, creating a sphere of white energy that plummeted to the ground.
As the energy sphere made contact with the ground, a distinct smell of ozone permeated the air. The sphere unleashed a massive wave of electricity that radiated outwards in an omnidirectional burst. The electrical discharge crackled violently, sending arcs of blue-white energy dancing wildly around the battlefield. The air around it seemed to vibrate with the raw power of the unleashed electricity, causing the hair on the back of Austin's neck to stand on end.
Hidden Power: Electric, Austin realized, recalling the information he had gleaned from Jimmy.
The battlefield was soon covered in a dense smoke cloud.
Suddenly, darting out from the concealing smoke, Rattata appeared, completely unscathed. Brock's jaw dropped in astonishment while Austin couldn't help but smirk; he had trained Rattata to use her iron tail to slam into the ground, effectively creating a lightning rod to counteract Onix's Hidden Power: Electric.
With swift agility, Rattata climbed up Onix's massive body, deftly snatching an item that resembled a half-eaten apple. She had removed Onix's Leftovers, which was critical for its recovery. As she completed her theft, she spun into a backflip, her tail whipping across Onix's face as she gracefully landed on the ground.
"Rockslide!"
"Sword Strike!"
Rattata executed the move combo perfectly, targeting the weakened spot where Spearow's Assurance had previously hit, causing Onix to scream in pain. The small purple Pokémon she leapt onto Onix's tail. In an instant, she scaled the rock snake's body again.
"Onix, shake it off!" Brock yelled, but it was too late.
Rattata opened her mouth, dark type energy swirling around her teeth as she bit down hard into Onix's horn.
The Pokémon roared in agony and then fell silent as its defenses crumbled.
The attack was too much, especially directed at the horn that seemed to magnetize each segment of the Pokémon. Onix began to crumble into boulders, the once formidable rock snake now defeated and knocked out.
"Pika Pi!" Pikachu cheered from the sidelines. Austin placed his hand on his rapidly beating chest, his breath catching with the thrill of victory as he saw Rattata stood proudly on the head of the defeated Onix, her posture one of triumph.
Austin stood frozen in the center of the arena, the echoes of the battle still lingering in the air like a distant roar. The gym was silent now, save for the hum of the lights above and the faint click of Onix being recalled into its Pokéball. The flash of red light marked the end, but Austin's mind struggled to catch up. For a fleeting moment, it didn't feel real. He had won. They had won.
The realization struck him like a jolt of electricity, and before he could even move, a purple blur crashed into his legs, followed by a flash of yellow. Rattata and Pikachu tackled him to the ground in an explosion of joy, their triumphant cries filling the quiet gym. Austin's laughter erupted uncontrollably as he fell back onto the cold stone floor, his Pokémon climbing over him, their tiny bodies radiating warmth.
Staring up at the vaulted ceiling, the gym lights casting a soft glow, Austin let out a deep, shaky breath. The Pewter City badge was theirs. His first gym victory. And as he lay there with Rattata perched proudly on his chest and Pikachu nestled against his side, he couldn't help but grin.
This wasn't just his victory—it was theirs!
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[ Author's Note ]
Here it is, folks—the Pewter City showdown! I packed this chapter with all the strategy, creativity, and tension you've been waiting for. Let's break down some of the highlights and moves from this battle:
Austin's Combo Index:
This chapter marks Austin's first attempt at using combo moves, which will be a major feature of battles going forward. Here are the combos Austin used and their mechanics:
Sword Strike: Combo : Quick Attack + Iron Tail Limitation: A 50% chance of causing confusion due to the mental strain of focusing on two distinct moves at the same time. Austin's Solution : Used Bitter Berry, a status-curing item, to counteract confusion. Aerial Wing: Combo: Aerial Ace + Steel Wing Limitation : The speed boost from Aerial Ace is slightly reduced since Spearow has to focus on charging Steel Wing simultaneously. While the momentum increases Steel Wing's damage, it also inflicts recoil damage on Spearow due to the strain on his body. Austin's Solution: Limited usage of the combo to critical moments in the battle where the risk was worth the payoff.
Buffing Brock's Team:
Brock isn't a pushover in this version of the story. I made it a priority to elevate him from his anime portrayal, where his Gym battles could feel underwhelming. Here are some of the key ways I made Brock a more formidable opponent:
Strategic Coverage Moves:
Geodude: Learned Fire Punch to counter Grass-types, eliminating one of its key weaknesses. Onix: Learned Hidden Power: Electric to combat Water-types, another common threat to Rock-types.
Competitive Items:
Smooth Rock: Used to extend the duration of Sandstorm, giving Brock a consistent advantage during the battle. Leftovers: Provided Onix with gradual healing, adding to its already impressive durability.
Sandstorm Mechanics:
The use of Sandstorm wasn't just for show. Brock used it strategically to chip away at Austin's Pokémon over time while increasing his team's evasiveness thanks to the Rock-type buff during Sandstorm.
What are your thoughts?
How did you feel about the strategy and pacing of this battle? Did Brock feel like a genuine Gym Leader challenge?
Also, I'd love to hear your ideas for more combo moves! Here are a couple of guidelines to help brainstorm:
The combos should involve combining two moves in a way that feels creative and synergistic.They should have limitations or drawbacks, like reduced speed, potential self-damage, or requiring specific conditions/items to execute effectively.
Feel free to share your ideas in the comments—I might even feature them in future battles!
Looking Ahead:
This Gym battle was just the beginning. As Austin continues his journey, the battles will only get more intense and strategic. Each opponent will bring something new to the table, and Austin will need to grow both as a trainer and tactician.
Thank you so much for your continued support and engagement with this story. Your feedback fuels my creativity, and I'm beyond excited to see how you're enjoying this journey. Have a blessed day, and as always, I'll see you in the comments!