Chapter 251: Father and Son Battle! (2) [Bonus]
~Third POV~
[Hoenn Region, Mauville City, Pokémon Center – Battlefield]
They moved to one of the Pokémon Center's battlefields, a designated area with a raised platform and clear boundaries. Sapphire, her eyes wide with anticipation, stood beside Azure, ready to witness a confrontation far more personal than any Gym Battle.
Azure announced, his voice clear and authoritative, setting the official tone, "This will be a 3-on-3 Pokémon battle between Norman, the Petalburg City Gym Leader, and his son, Ruby, the Coordinator. Trainers, send out your first Pokémon!"
Norman, without hesitation, drew a Poké Ball. He commanded, "Slakoth, prepare for battle!"
*Pop*
A beam of red light materialized a small, brown Pokémon with large, perpetually drowsy eyes. Slakoth yawned, scratched its belly, and settled into a lazy slump, yet beneath its indolent exterior, a quiet power resided.
Ruby, in turn, clutched a Poké Ball, his gaze fixed on his father's Slakoth, then down at the Poké Ball in his hand. He took a deep breath, his earlier defiance solidifying into calm resolve.
Clenching the Poké Ball tightly, Ruby declared, releasing his Pokémon, "Nana, it's time to show them your true beauty and strength!"
*Pop*
With a flash of light, Nana the Mightyena appeared, a stark contrast to Slakoth's lethargy. Her sleek, black fur rippled with muscle, her eyes gleaming with intelligence and loyalty, already poised for battle.
She let out a low growl, a silent promise of her devotion to Ruby, and positioned herself gracefully, tail wagging ever so slightly, "Graooo!!"
Azure called, stepping back to let the field belong to father and son, and their Pokémon, "Battle begin!"
The air crackled with anticipation, the weight of their family history settling over the battlefield. This wasn't just a contest of power; it was a plea for understanding, a clash of wills, and a son's desperate attempt to prove his worth on his own terms.
Norman, ever the strategist, spoke first. He commanded swiftly and sternly, "Slakoth, use Curse!"
*CRACK*
Slakoth's muscles tensed under the force of Curse. Ruby's eyes narrowed as it began to set up as he swiftly ordered, "Nana, use Crunch!"
*Wooosh*
Nana lunged forward, its jaws powered by darkness as it rushed forward, intending to chomp down on the Slakoth. But Norman remained calm as he knew Slakoth might be slow, but it could be surprisingly tough, and its ability, Truant.
Its ability, which made it loaf around every other turn, often made Trainers underestimate its potential during its active turns. Norman's eyes narrowed as he casually ordered, "Slakoth, use Dig!"
*Rmbl*
Before the Crunch could connect, Slakoth, with a burst of uncharacteristic speed, burrowed into the ground, disappearing just as the attack would have hit. Crunch harmlessly missed where Slakoth had been moments before.
Azure observed, his voice neutral, "Slakoth is underground!"
Ruby gritted his teeth. He analyzed swiftly the situation as he barked orders, "He knows Nana's speed. He's countering with defensive maneuvers to waste our moves. Nana, stay alert! Prepare for Slakoth to emerge!"
The ground remained still for a tense moment. Nana paced, her ears twitching, scanning for any disturbance…
*RMBL*
Suddenly, a tremor ran through the ground beneath Nana. Norman roared, seizing the opening, "Now, Slakoth, emerge and use Slash!"
*BOOOM*
Slakoth burst from the earth directly beneath Nana. It had foregone its usual lethargy, its claws extended, sharp and glinting.
Ruby yelled, a flicker of desperation in his voice, "Nana, dodge it and use Crunch!"
He knew Slakoth's Slash could be surprisingly potent. Nana responded swiftly, leaping back…
*Wooosh*
… Nana, quick as ever, leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding Slakoth's attack. Her jaws snapped open, teeth glowing an ominous white, and she lunged, aiming for Slakoth's exposed flank.
Norman barked, anticipating Ruby's move, "Slakoth, Counter!"
*CHOMP*
Before Nana's Crunch could fully connect, Slakoth, with a surprising surge of power, glowed faintly. It seemed to absorb the impact of Nana's attack, even as her teeth scraped against its tough hide…
*BOOOM*
… The energy from Nana's Crunch was then channeled back, amplified. Slakoth slammed its palm into Nana's chest, a physical retort that sent the Mightyena skidding back several feet.
Ruby cried out, concern etched on his face, "Nana!"
He hadn't expected Slakoth to have Counter, a move that reflected physical damage with double the power in return. It was a cunning choice, perfect for a Pokémon that often looked weak.
But Norman wasn't done as he ordered, "Slakoth! Encore!"
Slakoth, with surprising swiftness for its species, let out a cheerful, almost mocking "Slakoth!" and clapped its paws together. A ring of magical energy enveloped Nana as it was down.
Ruby gasped in shock as he uttered, "Encore? He's trying to trap us!"
He knew Encore would force Nana to repeat her last move. Norman was playing mind games, trying to force Ruby into a predictable pattern.
Nana shook her head, letting out a pained whimper, but quickly regained her footing. The Encore effect then flared, locking her into the last move she successfully executed: Crunch.
Ruby muttered as he realized, his breath catching, "Now she's locked!"
This was the trap. For the next few turns, Nana would be forced to use Crunch, whether it was effective or not.
Norman smiled, a grim, satisfied expression. He followed up calmly, "Precisely. Slakoth, use Yawn!"
*Yaaaa*
Slakoth settled back into its lazy demeanor and let out a massive, unhurried yawn. A wave of soporific energy drifted towards Nana.
Ruby urged, but the effects of Yawn were insidious and almost impossible to resist, "Nana, shake it off! Don't fall asleep!"
Nana's eyes began to droop, her movements slowing. She tried to fight it, shaking her head vigorously, but the overwhelming urge to sleep was too strong.
*Thud*
She stumbled, forced by Encore to attempt another Crunch at the air, before collapsing onto the ground, fast asleep. Azure declared, his voice cutting through the silence that followed, "Nana is asleep!"
Ruby stared, devastated. His star Pokémon, his beautiful Nana, was rendered helpless by a combination of clever strategy and Slakoth's deceptively potent moves.
Norman, showing no mercy, pressed his advantage as he ordered sternly, "Slakoth, use Fury Swipes!"
*Shinng*
Slakoth, despite being on its Truant's turn where it should be loafing around, surprisingly swung its claws. The Fury Swipes move, however, was still active on its turn.
Its Truant ability only prevented it from executing a new command, not from finishing a multi-strike move already initiated, or from taking its active turn to prepare for the next, though its attack was weaker due to its exhaustion.
But it didn't use a new move. It still followed the rules.
Azure, observing, was suddenly inspired and confused. He gazed at his Slakoth as he thought critically, 'Wait, Norman is a Gym Leader. He knows his Pokémon inside and out. Slakoth's Truant ability means it can only attack every other turn. If it used Yawn, it shouldn't be attacking with Fury Swipes now. Unless... Norman knows something, I don't, or he's deliberately bluffing, or Slakoth's moveset is designed to exploit the very nature of Truant with multi-turn attacks.'
Azure paused, reviewing the move list for Slakoth in his mind, then the rules of its infamous ability, Truant. Truant states that the Pokémon "loafs around" and "does nothing" on alternate turns.
However, multi-turn moves behave differently. He carefully watched Slakoth. The Slakoth, rather than loafing, seemed to struggle to perform the Fury Swipes, a testament to its nature.
It was its inactive turn. Curious Azure interjected, raising a hand as he said clearly, "Hold on, Norman. Slakoth's ability, Truant, means it loafs around on alternate turns. It used Yawn last turn, initiating an action. This turn should be its inactive turn. Fury Swipes would not be possible."
Norman merely smiled, a slight, knowing glint in his eye. He began to explain casually for Azure to understand, "Ah, but you clearly haven't witnessed Slakoth's full potential. Its Fury Swipes is a multi-hit attack. While it feels like it's loafing, it's merely preparing its next flurry. The ability applies to initiating a new command, not continuing a sequence or passively buffing."
He paused, then added with a subtle challenge in his tone, but also a hint of something more... a specific strategy, "Unless of course, you are suggesting my Slakoth is not adhering to the rules."
Azure narrowed his eyes, re-evaluating. He was an experienced Trainer, but even he could be surprised.
If Norman had found a way to work around Truant with a specific move combination, it was a masterful strategy. He knew some Multi-turn moves had specific interactions with abilities like Truant.
For example, if a Pokémon with Truant started a move like Fly, it would attack on the first turn but would loaf around on the second turn, after setting up. But Fury Swipes was a single-turn multi-hit move.
That was when Azure thought of considering another theory, 'Unless... Normans' Slakoth has learned a unique way to apply a move that stretches the boundaries of Truant without breaking the rules…'
Azure considered this. As a referee, he had to be fair and correct.
He did not want to undermine Norman's genuine strategy. Azure conceded, taking a moment to fully process the nuance, a rare admission for him, "My apologies, Norman. My understanding was that Truant always meant no action. However, the nuances of some multi-hit moves and their interaction with abilities can be complex. If Slakoth is indeed capable of executing a weakened Fury Swipes during what appears to be its inactive turn, that is a testament to your training."
He had to trust Norman's experience with his own Pokémon, especially a Gym Leader's. It was a unique interpretation or training method, but not explicitly against the rules if the Pokémon could perform a modified version of the move.
Perhaps it was a slower, more deliberate swing that technically registered as a move, but was still an expression of its slothful nature. Norman confirmed, seizing Azure's decision, continuing his attack, "Slakoth, then, execute Fury Swipes!"
Slakoth, as if stirred by its Trainer's command and Azure's temporary doubt, swung its claws, albeit with a noticeable lack of enthusiasm, landing a few glancing blows on the sleeping Mightyena. Nana whimpered again as the hits connected, not enough to wake her, but enough to add to the accumulating damage.
Ruby watched, his frustration mounting. His Mightyena was trapped, asleep, and being chipped away.
He had to think fast. Ruby shouted, desperately trying to trigger a move that might snap her out of sleep, "Alright, Nana, wake up! Use Howl!"
Howl, though a stat-boosting move, was often used by Mightyena to rally itself. But the Yawn was deep.
Nana remained still, eyes shut tight, occasionally twitching a paw. The Encore effect on Crunch was still active, but she couldn't even attempt that in her sleep.
Norman commanded, seeing his son's desperation seize the moment coldly, "Slakoth, now, use Slash!"
This was Slakoth's active turn again. Norman was relentless.
*SHINNG*
Slakoth delivered a powerful Slash, its claws raking across Nana's side. The Mightyena cried out, jolting awake, but the damage was significant.
She struggled to her feet, dazed and disoriented, the Encore still forcing her to use Crunch. She tried to execute it, snapping her jaws at nothing, still groggy.
Ruby cried, his heart aching for his partner, "Nana! Are you okay?"
Nana whimpered, swaying slightly. She was hurt, but her eyes, though tired, still held a spark of determination.
She looked at Ruby, then at Slakoth, and finally let out a weak growl, "Grr…"
Norman pressed his attack, aiming to finish the first match decisively, "Slakoth, one more Slash!"
Ruby knew he had to act, even if Nana was forced into Crunch. He barked out fiercely, "Nana, focus! Aim Crunch at the ground around Slakoth! Create a dust cloud!"
Nana, though tired, understood. Instead of directly attacking Slakoth, she lunged at the earth just beside it, forcing the Encore-mandated Crunch into a distraction.
*Pooof*
Her powerful jaws tore into the dirt, sending a cloud of dust and debris directly into Slakoth's face. Slakoth, momentarily blinded and annoyed, flinched back, its Slash attack going wide.
Azure commended, a rare smile gracing his lips, "Excellent thinking, Ruby!"
It was a clever way to utilize a forced move. Ruby commanded, hoping the surprise might break through Slakoth's defenses, or at least force Norman to react, "Now, Nana, follow up with Crunch!"
But it was too late. Slakoth, shaking off the dust, had already focused its next attack.
Norman countered, not missing a beat, "Slakoth, use Faint Attack!"
*Wooosh*
Slakoth, moving with surprising agility, lunged forward. Faint Attack, an attack that never misses, connected squarely with Nana, who, still disoriented from the dust and the previous damage, couldn't react in time.
*BAM*
The force of the blow sent her sprawling onto the ground. She struggled to rise, her body trembling, then collapsed, unconscious.
Azure announced, his voice carrying a note of solemnity, "Nana is unable to battle! Slakoth wins for Norman!"
Ruby rushed to Nana's side, gently scooping her unconscious form into his arms. He whispered, stroking her fur, a tear tracing a path down his cheek, "You were wonderful, Nana."
He returned her to her Poké Ball, a mixture of pride and disappointment washing over him. He had lost the first round, but his Nana had fought valiantly.
Norman stood on his side of the field, his expression unyielding, but a flicker of something in his eyes suggested he had watched Ruby's desperate, clever move with a hint of admiration. Slakoth, exhausted yet victorious, emitted another wide yawn and slumped onto the ground, clearly entering its Truant "loafing around" phase for the next turn.
The tension remained, perhaps even deepened. Ruby had seen his father's unwavering resolve and strategic depth.
Norman had seen his son's passionate dedication and surprising tactical wit. The first round was over, but the true battle for understanding had only just begun.
Azure watched them both, knowing that the next Pokémon, and the next, would reveal even more about the two Trainers and their complicated relationship. The stage was set for a truly pivotal confrontation.
/////
A/N: Reach the goal of 300 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!