With the other trainers behind them, Haru and Kasumi stood before the grand entrance of the Viridian Gym. The massive doors loomed above, a testament to the challenges that awaited inside. Despite their recent victory, there was a palpable tension in the air as they prepared to face one of the toughest Gym Leaders in the region.
Haru took a deep breath, glancing at Kasumi. "This is it. You ready?"
Kasumi nodded, determination in her eyes. "We've come this far. There's no turning back now."
[ Ding! Defeat Giovanni, Viridian City's Gym Leader and Team Rocket!
Note: it's not part of the Team Rocket Main Quest
Reward: Aura (Same with Riolu & Lucario)
Can be given to Kasumi ]
"!!!!!!" Haru who saw the Quest Reward was shock that He almost smashed in the doors of the gym.
"Haru! Be serious now!" Kasumi complained.
"Sorry, I'm just nervous" Haru awkwardly lied.
"I'm also nervous but, please, don't smash your face in the door."
"..."
.
.
After a some time, They pushed open the doors and stepped inside. The interior of the Gym was dimly lit, with tall pillars lining the walls and a long path leading to a raised platform at the end. The atmosphere was heavy, and every step they took echoed through the vast hall.
As they approached the platform, they were greeted by a figure standing in the shadows. The figure stepped forward, revealing a tall man with a stern expression, dressed in a dark cloak that added to his intimidating presence.
"Welcome, challengers," the man said, his voice deep and commanding. "I am Giovanni, the Gym Leader of Viridian City."
Haru and Kasumi exchanged glances. Giovanni was known as a powerful trainer, one who didn't tolerate weakness. This was going to be their toughest battle yet.
"We're here to challenge you, Giovanni," Haru said firmly, stepping forward. "We won't back down."
'The leader of the Team Rocket. I hope this goes well'
Giovanni smirked, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the two trainers. "Very well. Since there's two of you and I'm busy with something, I'll make this a 1 vs. 2 Pokemon Battle. But be warned, the Viridian Gym is not for the faint of heart. Only the strongest will prevail."
'Who would've thought that some weak kids wants to challenge me before I head out? Well, I'll treat this a warm up before I meet my executives.'
He stepped back and released his first Pokemon—a massive Rhyhorn that roared as it hit the ground, shaking the entire Gym.
Kasumi tightened her grip on her Poke Ball. "Haru, let's give it everything we've got."
"Right," Haru agreed, his heart pounding in his chest. "We can do this."
The battle began with a flash of light as Haru sent out Pidgeotto and Kasumi released Lapras. Giovanni's Rhyhorn charged forward, its horn glowing with a powerful energy as it used Horn Attack.
"Pidgeotto, use Quick Attack to dodge, then hit it with Gust!" Haru commanded.
"Lapras, use Water Gun!" Kasumi called out.
Pidgeotto zipped through the air, narrowly avoiding Rhyhorn's charge, and unleashed a strong gust of wind that whipped up dust and debris. At the same time, Lapras shot a stream of water, hitting Rhyhorn squarely and causing it to stumble back.
Giovanni's expression remained unreadable as he countered, "Rhyhorn, use Rock Blast!"
Rhyhorn roared, launching multiple rocks at Pidgeotto and Lapras. Pidgeotto managed to dodge a few, but one rock clipped its wing, causing it to falter. Lapras took the brunt of another hit, but remained standing, determined.
"Pidgeotto, hang in there! Use Steel Wing!" Haru urged.
"Lapras, finish it with Ice Beam!" Kasumi shouted.
Pidgeotto regained its balance and swooped down, striking Rhyhorn with its wings. At the same time, Lapras unleashed a freezing beam of ice, encasing Rhyhorn in a layer of frost. The combination of attacks proved too much for Rhyhorn, and with a final groan, it collapsed to the ground, defeated.
Giovanni recalled Rhyhorn, his expression hardening. "Impressive. But this battle is far from over."
'I've gotten rusty from not battling this days.'
He reached for another Poke Ball, and with a flick of his wrist, released his next Pokemon—a fearsome Nidoqueen. The powerful Poison/Ground-type Pokemon roared as it emerged, its eyes locked onto its opponents with fierce intensity.
Haru and Kasumi prepared themselves, knowing that this was only the beginning. The real challenge had just begun.
---
Nidoqueen stood tall, exuding an aura of power that sent a shiver down Haru and Kasumi's spines. Giovanni's calm demeanor only added to the tension, as if he knew his Nidoqueen was a force to be reckoned with.
"Let's not waste any time," Giovanni said, his voice steady. "Nidoqueen, use Poison Sting!"
Nidoqueen lunged forward, its tail glowing with a toxic energy, aiming directly at Pidgeotto and Lapras.
"Lapras, defend with Mist!" Kasumi quickly commanded.
A thick mist enveloped the battlefield, obscuring Nidoqueen's vision. The Poison Sting attack missed its mark, dissipating harmlessly into the fog.
"Pidgeotto, use Gust!" Haru followed up.
Pidgeotto flapped its wings, creating cyclones of wind and send it towards Nidoqueen, further blinding the already disoriented Pokemon.
Giovanni smirked. "Smart, but it won't be enough. Nidoqueen, use Earthquake!"
The ground beneath them began to shake violently as Nidoqueen stomped with all its might. The mist dissipated as the tremors grew stronger, causing both Lapras and Pidgeotto, who's wings are currently weak due to multiple usage of strong gusts and was hit by Rhyhorn earlier, lose their footing. The powerful Earthquake sent shockwaves through the ground, knocking Pidgeotto out to the air and causing Lapras to cry out in pain.
"Pidgeotto!" Haru shouted, watching as his Pokémon struggled to get back up. "Dang it! Who would've thought that ground-type moves will be used in such timing and way!"
Kasumi clenched her fists, refusing to give up. "Lapras, use Ice Beam!"
Lapras, despite the damage, managed to create continuous sharp shards of ice that it hurled at Nidoqueen. The attack landed, but Nidoqueen barely flinched, its thick hide absorbing most of the impact.
"Pidgeotto, return!" Haru decided, recalling his injured Pokemon. He quickly sent out Eevee in its place. "Eevee, let's go!"
Eevee emerged, growling determinedly at the intimidating Nidoqueen. Haru knew it was a risky move, but he had faith in his Pokemon.
"Eevee, use Quick Attack!"
Eevee darted forward with incredible speed, aiming to hit Nidoqueen before it could react.
Giovanni watched calmly. "Nidoqueen, counter with Body Slam."
Just as Eevee was about to strike, Nidoqueen used its massive body to slam down onto the small Pokemon. The impact was devastating, sending Eevee rolling across the battlefield.
"Eevee, no!" Haru cried out, but Eevee, though injured, slowly got back on its feet, determined to keep fighting.
Kasumi knew they had to act quickly. "Lapras, use Sing!"
Lapras began to sing a soothing melody, and Nidoqueen's eyelids started to droop. The powerful Pokemon wobbled, struggling to stay awake, but ultimately, it collapsed to the ground, fast asleep.
"Great job, Lapras!" Kasumi cheered.
"This is our chance," Haru said. "Eevee, use Quick Attack! Max Power!"
Eevee charged at Nidoqueen with all its might, glowing with energy as it unleashed the its most powerful Quick Attack. The force of the impact was enough to cause significant damage to Nidoqueen, but it also took a toll on Eevee, who staggered from the recoil. However, Nidoqueen remained asleep, giving them a critical opportunity.
Kasumi seized the moment. "Lapras, finish it with Ice Beam!"
Lapras unleashed a chilling beam of ice that struck Nidoqueen directly. The powerful attack froze parts of Nidoqueen's body, dealing heavy damage. Nidoqueen stirred, trying to wake up, but the combination of Ice Beam and Quick Attack had taken its toll.
Giovanni's expression hardened as he watched his Nidoqueen struggle to stand.
"Nidoqueen, return," he said, recalling the defeated Pokemon. His gaze sharpened as he prepared his next move. "You're both stronger than I expected, but let's see how you handle this."
He tossed out another Poke Ball, and from it emerged a towering Kangaskhan, its baby safely tucked in its pouch. The Normal-type Pokemon looked ready to fight, and its presence alone was enough to make Haru and Kasumi realize they were far from victory.
"Kangaskhan, Mega Punch!" Giovanni commanded.
Kangaskhan's fist glowed as it charged forward with blinding speed, aiming directly at Eevee.
"Eevee, dodge it!" Haru shouted.
Eevee tried to move out of the way, but the Kangaskhan was too fast. The Mega Punch landed squarely, sending Eevee flying across the battlefield. The impact was too much for Eevee, and it fainted, unable to continue.
"Eevee, return," Haru said softly, recalling his Pokemon. He looked at Kasumi, who nodded back with a determined expression. They still had a chance, but it was going to be a tough fight.
Kasumi also recalled her Pokemon. "Lapras, return!"
Kasumi then called out, "Piplup, I choose you!" Piplup came out of its Poke Ball, eager to show its fruits of labor from its training.
Kasumi then commanded, "Piplup! Bubble Beam!"
Piplup launched forward, creating a powerful assault of Bubbles to Kangaskhan, using its experience, she then put a direct hit into the massive Pokemon. The impact was solid, but Kangaskhan remained standing, barely fazed.
Giovanni smirked. "Kangaskhan, use Dizzy Punch."
Kangaskhan swung its fist in a disorienting pattern, aiming for Piplup. The attack landed, and Piplup staggered, clearly dazed by the blow.
"Piplup, hang in there!" Kasumi called out, but Piplup was struggling to stay focused.
Haru knew they needed to change tactics. "Kasumi, let me handle this. Magikarp, it's your turn!"
Kasumi looked surprised but trusted Haru's decision. Haru sent out his Magikarp, who flopped on the ground with its usual lack of grace. The opposing trainers might have expected laughter, but Giovanni watched with cold calculation, knowing better than to underestimate any opponent.
"Magikarp, use your newly learned move, Flail!" Haru commanded, his voice filled with confidence.
Magikarp, taking advantage of its weakened state, suddenly burst into a frenzy of powerful thrashing, hitting Kangaskhan repeatedly. The surprise attack took Kangaskhan off guard, and the sheer force of the Flail attack caused significant damage.
Giovanni's eyes narrowed. "Kangaskhan, finish this with Hyper Beam!"
Kangaskhan began charging up a massive beam of energy, but before it could release the attack, Kasumi quickly called out, "Piplup, use Whirlpool!"
Piplup, shaking off its dizziness, managed to create a small vortex and throw it at Kangaskhan. The Whirlpool struck Kangaskhan in the face, disrupting its concentration and causing the Hyper Beam to miss its mark.
Haru seized the opportunity. "Magikarp, one more Flail!"
With a final, desperate thrash, Magikarp struck Kangaskhan with all its remaining strength. The repeated blows were too much for Kangaskhan, and with a pained grunt, the massive Pokemon collapsed, unable to continue.
Giovanni silently recalled Kangaskhan, his expression unreadable. "Well done, both of you," he said, his tone respectful. "You've earned your victory today."
'Defeated by a Magikarp? How ridiculous!'
Haru and Kasumi exchanged relieved smiles, their hearts pounding from the intensity of the battle. They had done it—they had defeated Giovanni and earned their place among the strongest trainers in the region.
As Giovanni recalled his defeated Kangaskhan, the tension in the air began to ease. Haru and Kasumi stood side by side, their Pokemon battered but victorious. Just as they were about to relax, a bright light began to emanate from Haru's Magikarp.
"What's happening?" Kasumi asked, eyes wide with surprise.
Haru's heart skipped a beat as he realized what was happening. "Magikarp... it's evolving!"
The light around Magikarp grew brighter, its form shifting and expanding as it evolved. The once small and seemingly weak Pokemon transformed into a massive, intimidating creature. When the light faded, a Gyarados roared mightily, its serpentine body coiling with power.
Haru stared in awe at his newly evolved Gyarados. "I can't believe it... Magikarp, you really did it!"
Gyarados let out another powerful roar, its eyes blazing with determination. The transformation had not only changed its appearance but also unlocked its true potential.
Giovanni observed the evolution with a calm but impressed expression. "A Gyarados... now that's a Pokemon worthy of power. You've proven your strength today, Haru."
'I shall keep my eyes on these two kids'
Haru nodded, still trying to process the fact that his Magikarp had evolved into such a powerful Pokemon. "Thank you, Giovanni. But this victory wouldn't have been possible without Kasumi and our Pokemon."
'This Giovanni was plotting something, I can feel it'
Kasumi smiled, feeling proud of their teamwork. "We did it together, Haru."
Giovanni gave them a final nod of respect. "You've earned the Earth Badge. Take it, along with my congratulations."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, earth-toned badge, handing it to Haru. The Earth Badge gleamed in the light, a symbol of their hard-fought victory.
Haru accepted the badge with a small smile. "Thank you."
Kasumi received hers as well, and they both looked at their new badges with a sense of accomplishment. They had come a long way since they first started their journey, and this victory felt like a significant milestone.
Giovanni turned to leave, his expression returning to its usual stoic demeanor. "I look forward to seeing how far you both go. Keep pushing your limits."
With those final words, Giovanni walked away, leaving Haru and Kasumi alone in the gym.
As they exited the gym, the sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow over Viridian City. The streets were quiet, and the city felt peaceful, a stark contrast to the intense battle they had just experienced.
Kasumi looked at Haru, her eyes reflecting a mix of excitement and exhaustion. "So, what's next?"
Haru recalled his Gyarados back to his Poke ball, and glanced back to Kasumi who was now looking at him with anticipation. "I think we should take a break, let our Pokemon rest after that battle. But after that... I say we keep training and get even stronger. The world is still full of challenges, and we can't stop now."
Kasumi nodded in agreement. "Right. We'll need to be at our best for whatever comes next."
They both knew that this was just one of many battles they would face on their journey. But with each victory, they grew stronger, both as trainers and as friends.
[ Ding! Quest completed! Defeat Giovanni, Viridian City's Gym Leader and Team Rocket!
Note: it's not part of the Team Rocket Main Quest
Reward: Aura (Same with Riolu & Lucario)
Can be given to Kasumi ]
---