Join my p@treon for more chapters
p@treon.com/Tempest_29
It snowed in the skies above, a frosty cascade brought forth by Abomasnow's Snow Warning ability.
In the heavy snow, non-Ice Pokémon suffered persistent damage. While the games quantified this as 1/16 of maximum health per turn, reality painted a harsher picture. The intensity of the weather dictated the toll, and elemental weaknesses compounded the effects—sheer torment for Garchomp, whose quadruple weakness to Ice made this environment its personal nightmare.
This wasn't just an ordinary battle—it was a gym challenge. The tension was palpable, even to the referee and the spectators. Chris, the challenger, seemed determined, while Robert, the gym leader, watched calmly, her focus unshaken.
"Garchomp, use Rock Smash!" Chris commanded.
Garchomp darted forward with incredible speed. The snowfall was still light, the ground not yet icy, and the temperature hadn't dropped significantly. Chris aimed to end the fight before the blizzard intensified.
"Icy Wind!" Robert called, raising her hand confidently.
Abomasnow exhaled, sending a frosty gust across the battlefield. The chilling aura spread rapidly, but Garchomp's sharp reflexes cut through the cold. Sparks danced beneath its feet as it accelerated, closing the gap in an instant. With a gleaming claw, it struck Abomasnow square in the chest, Rock Smash delivering double damage due to Abomasnow's Ice typing.
"Use Ice Punch!" Robert's reaction was swift, though Garchomp's speed had clearly caught her off guard.
Frost coated Abomasnow's fist as it swung at the imposing dragon. Yet neither Chris nor Garchomp retreated. Instead, they clashed head-on.
"Boom!" Their moves collided with an audible impact, the opposing energies neutralizing each other. Abomasnow staggered back from the sheer force, unable to match Garchomp's overwhelming power.
From this exchange, Chris realized something important: this Abomasnow wasn't Robert's ace Pokémon. It was likely around level 60—a formidable opponent, but not insurmountable.
"Not quite the challenge I expected," Chris muttered under his breath, recognizing that this battle was more of a test than a true contest.
"Force Palm!" Chris continued, pressing the advantage.
Abomasnow, recovering from the earlier clash, suddenly felt a powerful impact on its arm, forcing it back yet again. Sensing victory, Chris followed up with another command. "Garchomp, Rock Smash!"
Garchomp lunged with its glowing claws once more.
"Ingrain! Protect!" Robert countered calmly.
Abomasnow planted its feet firmly into the ground, roots sprouting beneath it and anchoring it in place. This stabilized the Pokémon, allowing it to regain health steadily. Simultaneously, it crossed its arms to summon a shimmering protective barrier.
"Bang!" Garchomp's Rock Smash slammed into the Protect shield, shattering it. Although some force carried through, the damage was mitigated significantly.
"Force Palm!" Chris ordered, relentless.
This time, the move struck Abomasnow directly, amplified by Garchomp's Fighting-type energy. The earlier defense drop from Rock Smash left Abomasnow vulnerable, and the move's damage was undeniable.
Robert narrowed her eyes but remained composed. The battle wasn't over yet, and she wasn't ready to concede the stage to Chris so easily.
In other words, Abomasnow took a direct hit from Force Palm while its defenses were lowered!
Despite being severely injured, it wasn't knocked out immediately—a testament to its resilience and strength.
"What kind of move is this?" Robert rubbed his chin curiously. For all his time in the world of Pokémon battles, it was the first time he'd seen a move like Rock Smash carry such an additional effect. How did it manage to deliver an invisible follow-up strike?
"Rock Smash again!" Chris commanded, continuing his relentless assault.
"Use Ice Punch!" Robert countered firmly.
"Dodge it! Get around Abomasnow and attack from behind with Rock Smash!" Chris quickly adjusted his strategy.
Garchomp leapt back, narrowly avoiding the icy fist aimed directly at it. Swiftly, it maneuvered behind Abomasnow, claws glowing with energy, and struck from behind.
Abomasnow tried to respond, but its roots, planted firmly in the ground from Ingrain, prevented it from moving. At this critical moment, there was no time to lift the Ingrain effect. The Rock Smash landed squarely on its back.
"Abomasnow is unable to battle! Garchomp wins! The victory goes to candidate Chris!" the referee declared.
From the outset, Chris had skillfully used the type advantage to press in close and neutralize Abomasnow's ability to unleash wide-area moves. Garchomp's superior power had then maintained dominance in the fight. In the end, Chris exploited the limitations of Ingrain to deliver the finishing blow. A well-executed strategy!
"Good fight," Robert said with a his, her expression one of approval as he recalled Abomasnow into its Poké Ball.
Chris sighed inwardly. Shouldn't the winner be the one saying that?
"Pavilion Master," Chris began, "about the surprise you mentioned earlier? Now that I've won, I'd like to know what it is."
"Surprise…" Robert's gaze shifted to his eldest daughter, Grace, who had been watching from the sidelines. "How about I introduce my eldest daughter to you as a wife?"
"...Huh?" Chris froze, blinking in disbelief. His gaze involuntarily drifted to Grace. She was undeniably beautiful, but… wasn't this a bit sudden?
Wait a second. Could that sentence also be interpreted as, Come and be my son?
This situation felt strangely reminiscent of an overly protective elder declaring, Marry my daughter, and you'll have my blessing! But Robert wasn't some kind of "Whitebeard."
Before Chris could process further, a gritted "Dad!" snapped through the air. Grace's face flushed red, her expression a mix of embarrassment and anger. She glared at her father with the kind of "murderous intent" that made even seasoned Trainers pause.
"Alright, fine! I'll quit drinking for half a month!" Robert haggled quickly, clearly trying to avoid further embarrassment.
"The doctor already told you to quit completely! I'm doing this for your health!" Grace retorted.
"No way! Life without wine is no life at all!"
Chris and the referee stood awkwardly to the side, feeling the image of Robert as a composed and fearsome Gym Leader crumble into dust. No number of tweezers could piece it back together.
"Ahem, I was only joking!" Robert finally relented after some intense bargaining with his daughter. Clearing his throat, he addressed Chris again. "The real surprise is in my gym. Since you know Trevor, come to the Star Moon Gym with him after this year's New Year."
"Got it," Chris replied, though his tone betrayed his reluctance.
"Don't look so unwilling! It's originally a part of my daughter's dowry!" Robert teased with a smirk.
"Dad!!" Grace's voice snapped again, full of menace.
"Okay, okay! It's not a dowry anymore! It's just a reward!" Robert quickly amended, waving his hands in surrender.