"A golden Larvesta! Oh my, what a surprise you've brought today." Burgh's voice nearly cracked, his excitement overflowing. His scarf flared as he leaned forward, practically trembling as Larvesta's six eyes burned a harsh glow at Swadloon.
"How splendid! How fierce!" He clapped, as if the battle had already been decided by appearances alone.
I frowned, irritation twitching at the corner of my mouth.
Staring a hole into the referee, he gives a cough before proceeding the battle.
"Battle, begin!"
"Swadloon, [Seed Bomb] high in the air!" Burgh's arm swept upward dramatically.
Seeds burst from Swadloon's shell, glowing green before arcing overhead. They rained down in a cluster, detonating across the field in booming bursts. The same strategy as with Croconaw.
A wall of dirt rose between me and Burgh.
Narrowing my eyes at the familiar sight, I sigh.
"[Flame Charge]," I order.
From the haze Larvesta ripped forward in a streak of ember. It moved like a living fuse, hot and quick. The flame so bright even I could see it through the dust knowing its location.
Burgh watching this didn't idle.
"Dodge with [String Shot] Swadloon!"
'Let's assume Swadloon dodged.' I thought to myself knowing a simple charge wouldn't be enough to take down a gym leader's Pokemon. There was no need to overthink the strength advantage of Larvesta.
Power will prevail.
"[Flame Charge] again!" My shout reaching Larvesta's ears. Its speed starting to pickup due to the boost.
"Ooohh~ I think our little friend is mad. [Electro Web] him in place Swadloon!" Burgh says with a smirk. Swadloon with a serious look immediately sent am electro web at the charging Larvesta.
With the dust now fading I witnessed the webs hit the raging flames.
Simply dissapating as if they didn't affect Larvesta the slightest.
*ZZZzzz*
"Swadloon get out of there!" Burgh losing his smirk had a concerned look as it was too late.
BOOM!
The leaf-wrapped pokemon was send flying back towards Burgh's feet with swirls in its eyes. It was now 2-1 with me in the lead, quite the break I need that's for sure. 'I wonder what's his ace, surely not a Leavanny...'
Watching him return Swadloon he lost his carefree posture.
...
Burgh's fingers twirled his Pokéball in a flourish before tossing it forward. "Whirlipede, roll onstage!"
The armored bug spun out with a metallic screech, its segmented body clicking as violet mist seeped from its joints. Its eyes gleamed a sharp red, fixed on Larvesta.
It certainly wasn't the friendly type.
"Let's not dawdle! [Defense Curl],!" Burgh commanded with sweeping drama hands lifted into the air.
Whirlipede was surrounded by a blue sphere as it screeched out.
"Rest up fully Larvesta. [Morning Sun]."
Larvesta's body relaxed as the sun hitting it from the top of the gym had glass which let it heal quick. A green glow occurred as now a standstill between the two Pokemon was created as they waited on their trainers.
In the anime this sun was a strategy used for [Solar Beam] against Ash, but Burgh never had the opportunity here. Right now this is my advantage.
Watching on, I hesitated a little. But to Burgh it looked like I was unwilling to attack first.
'Fuck what was that move called.'
"If you won't go, then I will Silver! [Rollout] Whirlipede." Burgh shouts.
Whirlipede tucked into itself and launched forward, spinning with brutal force. It tore across the arena as the ground was being carved.
"Oh yeah, [Magnet Rise]," Finally remembering the name of the move, it was basically over. "Then attack it with [Ember]"
Larvesta braced itself, before it started to levitate in the air completely dodging the attack.
Now like a turret seeing the confused Whirlipede, didn't know where its opponent went.
"Whirlipede [Venoshock]!" This order was useless thought as it was quickly swarmed with a multitude of flames. Slowly witling the poor pokemon down as it had no way to attack back.
After a few more seconds the battle was over.
"Finally," I sigh in relief. Seeing my Pokemon going back to the ground and looking at me with anticipation, my eyes soften.
Walking up I scoop him up into my embrace.
...
*Clap Clap*
Burgh from the other side of the battlefield clapped with a sincere smile.
"A great bond…" Burgh's voice trembled as he walked across the scorched field. His scarf still fluttering on command. "Oh, but what a marvel. What splendor! Truly, like a living ember painted by the sun itself."
He circled slowly, eyes darting from Larvesta's gleaming shell to the way its flames still licked across the broken floor. His hands twitched as if he wanted to sketch the scene immediately, charcoal and canvas on the spot.
"Such ferocity! Such color! To battle with you is to watch a moving canvas, a duel painted stroke by stroke! Magnifique!"
Larvesta who was feeling the stares of the creep in front of him, turned around and snuggled into my chest.
"Haha!" Both Burgh and I laugh out loud.
"I'm sorry for scaring you little one, my name is Burgh. Is it alright if I pet you?" He gently asks.
Seeing this I give a smile to Larvesta encouraging it. Seeing it as a sign, Larvesta looked back to the man and nodded.
Burgh with stars in his eyes gave a few pats which made the bug growl in satisfaction.
"Thank you Silver.
I know this is a bit shameless but if it's not too private where did you catch a Larvesta? As embarrassing as it is to say, as a Bug-Trainer. I don't have a Volcarona, even as an admirer of the champion." He dramatically says as if to shame himself.
Watching the man hold the back of his hand to his forehead, my mouth twitched.
For a moment, I considered brushing it off, but the truth cost nothing. It's not like Burgh even from the anime would try to steal them. "I caught an entire colony in the desert resort. The golden one was the leader and now is my partner." I shrugged.
Burgh's expression became more serious. "Treat them well. They are quite rare and more than endangered at this point."
Nodding at his words, it was all the confirmation he needed.
After a few minutes of small talk, the referee from before comes in with a small case which held the badge. Pulling a polished badge from his pocket a green, stylized leaf with gold edges. "You've earned this, of course. The Insect Badge."
I accepted without ceremony, slipping it into my case.
"Where will you go next?" he asked, suddenly curious.
"I'm thinking about Nimbassa as I just came from there but got side tracked. But it's not concrete." I respond scratching my cheek.
"Well. If you aren't set yet then!" His scarf spun as he twirled dramatically, pointing outward as though the walls weren't there. "The Skyarrow Bridge leads straight to Nacrene City which has a great gym. My hometown, in fact! You must visit the museum there, the fossils, the paintings, the sheer history of it all! Lenora who is the gym leader is just a bit older than me!"
He beamed.
His yapping was starting to annoy me but there was a charm to it I guess. Deadpanning at his words, he kept on talking as even Larvesta was starting to stare at him.
"Vesta? (Do i get more food if I hit him?)"
"Of course, Nimbasa is always an option too with such bright lights. The thrill and energy! You'd find a worthy opponent in Elesa. A clash of sparks and style!"
I slipped Larvesta into his Pokeball and back onto my belt. "I'll think about it, I appreciate the hospitality sir. Hopefully we get to meet again sometime."
I turned to leave.
My first gym badge in Unova.
Secured.
...
The afternoon sun cut sharp lines across Castelia's streets as I stepped out of the Gym.
Behind me, the Gym's doors shut with a heavy slide. Ahead, the city pulsed with life vendors hawking skewers, business people weaving between taxis, the endless sprawl of skyscrapers blotting out the sky.
'Must have spent a bit more time there than I thought.'
I found a quieter corner near the plaza fountain and pulled my phone out. Opening the map the routes were displayed for me to see.
Castelia → Skyarrow Bridge → Pinwheel Forest → Nacrene City. Or Castelia → Route 4 → Desert Resort → Nimbasa City.
*Ding*
Suddenly a notication.
'What is that.' I thought before I froze.
[Sabrina - 3 unread message]
Oh shit.
I proceed to open up the messages in curiosity.
---
[Sabrina: I've caught Pokemon you think is strong for me that I can access.
[Sabrina: I can't finish my fire/water/grass core
[Sabrina: Why is Hypno bad?
---
"..."
'What.' I thought taking a second peek.
Lets ignore that Hypno question...
It does seem like she's taking this trainer thing seriosly though, seeping deep into my mind trying to make a fire/water/grass core. Which in all honesty is pretty good but I can't remember any fire/psychic type Pokemon off the top of my head.
Let alone anything she could possibly catch right now.
'Wait that could work.'
---
[Me: What does your team look like right now?]
[Sabrina: Kadabra, Exeggutor, Starmie, Kirlia]
[Me: In my opinion being a trainer of a specific type doesn't mean you need to have a full psychic team. I have a Pokemon that could help you.]
[Me: I have a gift for you, like the scarf]
[Sabrina: Is it like the scarf?]
[Me: Precisely like the scarf]
[Sabrina: Give it now]
---
'Give it now?' I read her message with some concern.
Demanding much, but hey I can't refuse. At least we can avoid the Hypno question everything else is fine.
Her current team was already busted and in many ways better than my current Unova caught lineup. Two fully evolved Pokemon plus her starter of Kadabra. A future Gardevoir or Gallade?
Genuinely might thrash me in a battle despite my newer catches.
Speaking of, a Volcarona in her lineup wouldn't be too bad due to how it's super effective against dark types. While it finishes up her core, I'm unsure how it would do on her team.
Other than that, her potentially is actually scary.
In the anime she had an Abra and apparently beat the breaks off the fighting dojo until they had to stop. This either meant her Abra was fucking broken, or she just did most of the work herself.
Like psychic boosting her Pokemon with her own powers.
Team Rocket Sabrina on the other hand was just a menace.
'Is there a rule preventing such things?' I now question realising how bull that is. It's not even Abra fighting at that point, its her.
Ref do anything!
Standing up from my seat, I started to head back to the hotel where Clara was staying. There wasn't much to do now.
...
'Where to go.'
Now back in the hotel room just goofing off. Clara was behind me, looking at the map as we discussed our next destination.
Elesa in Nimbasa was a different kind of test as she was fast, technical, flashy. Lenora in Nacrene would test knowledge and preparation more than speed. Two very different styles.
Seeing the lineup of my team it seems that Lenora would be better for now.
But I wanted to see Elesa...
For no reason in particular as I'm very distinguished gentleman.
"Where next..." I murmur.
"Master Silver, I would suggest Nacrene City due to its museum." Clara randomly says seeing me contemplate.
Now where have I heard those words before.
Well it's decided.