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Chris, determined to challenge the Lavaridge Gym, had underestimated the strength of its leader, Yasha, and her two Pokémon.
**Torkoal Lv. 36**
**Arcanine Lv. 39**
Chris had no idea about the exact levels of Yasha's team and ended up losing the battle.
It was hard to believe—after all, Chris had just defeated Tabitha's three level 40 Pokémon. How could he lose to Yasha's team when neither of her Pokémon had even reached level 40?
The answer lay in Yasha's clever strategy. She led with Torkoal, activating its Drought Ability, which created Sunny Day. This made Fire-type moves 50% stronger and cut Water-type moves' power in half.
The advantage Chris had hoped for with type matchups was neutralized. Without weather moves like Sandstorm or Rain Dance, Chris could only watch as Torkoal maintained control of the battle.
To make matters worse, Yasha's Torkoal was likely holding a Heat Rock, extending the duration of Sunny Day, allowing her to dominate the fight. From start to finish, Torkoal's Lava Plume—a powerful area-of-effect attack—was relentless and unavoidable.
Chris managed to push through with Greninja, but Yasha's Arcanine came in next, using Intimidate to lower his Pokémon's attack. Starting with Extreme Speed, Arcanine quickly knocked out the already weakened Greninja. Then, using the Fairy-type move Play Rough, it swiftly took down Chris's Gabite, leaving him unsure how to fight back.
If Chris wanted to win a rematch, he knew he needed to focus on two key areas.
First, his team's level. Greninja had to be at least level 40 to stand a chance. Based on his experience, Chris figured Yasha's Trump Card would be at least level 42. If he wanted a real shot, he needed to be prepared for levels as high as 44 or 45.
Second, he needed to counter Yasha's weather strategy. Without a move like Rain Dance or Sandstorm, Torkoal and Arcanine would continue to feel like they were several levels stronger than they actually were.
It was clear: if Chris didn't prepare properly, Yasha's Torkoal and Arcanine would continue to perform like powerhouses.
Determined to level up, Chris headed to Route 113, near the Fallarbor Gym, for some crowd-battle training using Sweet Scent.
It wasn't about catching new Pokémon; the wild Pokémon on Jagged Pass weren't suitable for training. They were too difficult to defeat in one move, and missing a second attack meant risking Gabite or Gardevoir being knocked out.
Luckily, Gardevoir had recently mastered Dazzling Gleam, a perfect move for handling groups of opponents. Still, Meteor Falls was swarming with Zubat and Golbat, making it less efficient for leveling.
After considering his options, Chris decided that Route 113 was the best place to train. The wild Pokémon there, like the Normal-type Spinda and Ground-type Sandshrew, were easy to handle. Skarmory appeared rarely, and in those cases, Chris would simply flee from battle.
With the Exp. Share equipped, Greninja was gaining levels steadily, while Gabite and Gardevoir took turns leading the charge.
Chris knew he had to be patient and retreat for a while, focusing on training before returning to Lavaridge for another challenge.
Time passed quickly. When you're doing something you enjoy—like playing a game on the weekend—it's easy for the hours to slip away. Chris felt the same way while training, even though he wasn't battling all the time. In school, time also flew by, whether he was attending classes or reading books.
September had come and gone, and now October arrived, marking the shift from summer to autumn. The temperature fluctuated at the beginning of the month, but soon enough, it was time to start wearing more layers.
During the October vacation, Chris planned to explore a D-level dangerous area called the "Forest of Plenty" with the senior sisters from the Berry Club. Their main goal was to find the rare Enigma Berry, but the seniors weren't too serious about the search, treating the trip more as a chance to relax and have fun.
The vacation was seven days long. On the first day, they would prepare their luggage. The second day was set for traveling to Forest City, the closest city to the Forest of Plenty. They'd spend the third day exploring Forest City before entering the forest on the fourth and fifth days. Finally, they'd return to school on the sixth day.
Chris, however, had little interest in eating and shopping with the seniors, so he decided to join them directly on the fourth day. He bought an early ticket to Forest City and planned to meet up with them right before entering the forest.
As for the first three days, Chris decided to go home and take care of something important—catching the elusive Shiny Onix! He had been worried that if he waited too long, it might become harder to track down.
On the first day, Chris set off.
**On the train.**
"Toge~pi~pi! (≧▽≦)"
"So~fun! No! ㄟ(≧◇≦)"
Togepi and its new friend, Wynaut, sat on the small table in front of Chris, both playing online games on their devices. They were completely immersed, their little cries of joy filling the train car.
Delibird had also tagged along, eager to visit Redwood City. It still had some unfinished business—collecting its salary from the owner of Patato Brisket Rice, a local restaurant. It was so determined that it even requested braised chicken from the canteen in advance! Although Chris couldn't quite understand how Delibird managed to ask its boss for leave, he didn't question it.
Since Chris and Delibird weren't staying at home, Togepi refused to be left behind and came along as well. Wynaut had recently hatched from an egg Chris received from the hot spring elder, making its appearance just a day after Chris's last leveling session.
**Why hadn't Chris sent Wynaut to the storage box?**
Because it was special:
**[Wynaut (Psychic)]**
**[Level: 3]**
**[Ability: Shadow Tag (Prevents non-Ghost-type Pokémon without Shadow Tag from switching or fleeing.)]**
**[Individual values: HP (31), Attack (31), Special Attack (31), Defense (31), Special Defense (31), Speed (31)]**
**[Moves: Charm, Encore, Counter, Mirror Coat, Safeguard, Amnesia, Destiny Bond]**
**[Held item: None]**
This Wynaut was a perfect 6V Pokémon, with top stats and a deadly combination of moves that made it a force to be reckoned with. Chris couldn't bear to leave it in storage. With its move set, Wynaut had become a master of stalling and countering:
- "Counter" for reflecting physical damage.
- "Mirror Coat" for reflecting special damage.
- "Safeguard" to block status conditions.
- "Encore" to trap opponents into using the same move repeatedly.
- Its **Shadow Tag** Ability prevented opponents from fleeing.
- And if things got dire, "Destiny Bond" could ensure that even if Wynaut fainted, it would take its opponent down with it.
Chris could already see the future battles—opponents would be afraid to attack, unable to escape, and if they dared to defeat Wynaut, it would at least take one of them down with it. It was a brilliant strategy, if not a bit frustrating for his rivals.
For Chris, though, Wynaut was the ultimate defensive wall, and he was excited to start training it further. His plan? To get the Enigma Berry during their trip and use it to train Wynaut, then equip it with Leftovers for even more sustainability. He was eager to recreate the legendary "God of Berries" strategy!
After all, Team Rocket's Wynaut once reflected Giratina's Shadow Ball. The potential was limitless!