CHAPTER 20
DREAM
Kamon and I headed straight for the gym, where we met two people (co-gym leaders): Carlos, and his younger sister, Carly. Surprisingly, neither were Hispanic.
Carlos used Ice-type Pokémon, while Carly used miscellaneous Pokémon.
Carly had shoulder-length dark blonde hair. She was slightly shorter than I was, and had a perfect figure. 'I'll battle the short one,' she said in a sweet, gentile voice.
'I-I accept,' I stuttered.
Kamon shot an awkward glance at me. 'You okay, man?'
'Never been better,' I whispered.
Kamon walked over to Carlos. They both sent out their Pokémon: Carlos sent out Dewgong, while Kamon used Typhlosion. He picked wrong, but I didn't care. All I cared about was Carly. I meant, the battle with her. Whatever.
'You can send out first,' I said.
'No,' Carly objected. 'You first. I insist.'
I cleared my throat and sent out my first Pokémon: Ampharos.
'Donphan, come out and use Earthquake!' Carly commanded. Ampharos fell down, startled, and then hopped back up. Surprisingly, it didn't do that much damage.
'Thunder!' I yelled. Wait, that's not right, I thought. I pondered on that last attack for a moment. Then, Carly spoke up.
'Idiot. Have you ever fought in a Pokémon battle? Magnitude,' she said. Donphan slammed its feet on the ground, causing a Magnitude 8. Ampharos took even more damage.
'Ampharos, Fire Punch attack,' I said. The attack glanced off of Donphan. Carly wasted no time in telling Donphan to use Earthquake again. Ampharos fainted. 'Wow, that was quick,' I commented.
'I'm sure,' Carly replied. 'Now send out your next Pokémon.'
'If you insist,' I said, smirking. Carly just rolled her eyes. 'Feraligatr, go! Whirlpool!'
'Whirlpool?' Carly questioned. 'What sort of pathetic attempt at an attack is that? Donphan, Mega Horn!' Feraligatr was launched across the room. Her regained balance, and then attacked Donphan with Hydro Pump. Donphan fell.
'Finally,' I muttered under my breath.
'Togetic, I choose you! Metronome!' Togetic wiggled its finger, and then kicked Feraligatr in the leg. Low Kick, no doubt.
'Feraligatr, Slash!'
Carly sighed with relief. 'I just realized that your Pokémon could use Ice-type attacks,' she said.
'Huh? Oh, so?' I responded. Carly looked dumbfounded. I thought for a second, and then remembered that Togetic was Flying-type, too. God, I am such a dumb ass, I thought.
'Now, Togetic, use Body Slam!' Carly's Togetic slammed itself on top of Feraligatr, paralyzing him. Togetic then used Hyper Beam, doing even more damage.
'Feraligatr, Ice Beam attack!' I instructed. Togetic used Detect, blocking it.
'Togetic, Thunderbolt!' said Carly. Togetic shocked Feraligatr, critical hit, knocking him out.
'I can't believe this,' I exclaimed. I called back Feraligatr, and sent out my last Pokémon: Tyranitar. 'Tyranitar, Rock Slide!' Tyranitar hurled rocks at Togetic, also knocking it out.
'Come back Togetic, and go, Vaporeon! Use Hydro Pump!' Carly commanded. Vaporeon doused Tyranitar with water. She retaliated with Earthquake, doing minor damage. 'Vaporeon, another Hydro Pump!' Tyranitar suffered another Water attack.
She can't take much more, I thought. 'Tyranitar, Hyper Beam!' Tyranitar launched the golden light beam at Vaporeon, but it did not knock Carly's Pokémon out. Carly wasted no time in using Waterfall, knocking out Tyranitar. I had lost to someone not even half as good as I was.
* * *
Kamon, of course, had won.
'It's not everyday,' Kamon said, 'that one has more badges than the mighty Drew Anderson.'
'Shut up,' I snapped.
'Drew, seriously, what happened?' Kamon asked me.
'I...I don't know. It was like, I wasn't all there. I didn't even really...try to win,' I replied.
'Hmm...' Kamon said thoughtfully.
'It might have been...her. It was like...I got all infatuated when I was around her. I was entranced. Like I was in a spell. Being around her is intoxicating. I couldn't battle.'
'Ah, well, that's your problem. You are in love,' Kamon said.
'No! I mean, I guess so,' I responded. I sat down, thinking about it.
'Look, don't let your emotions get in the way of battling. You have been known for never going easy on someone. Don't let it end now,' Kamon told me.
'You're right. I'm going to go back there and fight her again. This time I'll win. I must win.'
'You always win, remember?' Kamon said satirically.
'Of course.'
I went back to the gym. Carlos greeted me this time. 'Do you want to fight me this time, or my little sister?' he said, almost with a laugh.
'Oh, I'll fight your sister,' I said. And I'll win, too, I thought.
'I'll send out first, this time,' said Carly. 'Go Arcanine!'
'Lugia, go!' I yelled. 'Lugia, Rain Dance, and then Hydro Pump!'
'Yikes. Arcanine, Body Slam!' Carly commanded. Lugia was too quick, and Arcanine was knocked out. One-hit K.O.
'Good job, Lugia,' I said.
'All right, come out Yanma! Your Wing Attack!' The blow just glanced off of Lugia. I told Lugia to use Aeroblast, also knocking out Yanma in one hit. 'Incredible. You're like, a completely different person this time,' said Carly.
'Well, I think last time, I was a little, er...' I paused for a moment, and then continued, 'distracted.'
'Oh?' Carly said, slightly surprised. 'By what?'
I heard Kamon laugh from behind me. I turned around and gave him an evil glare. He stopped laughing.
'Nothing. Anyway, send out your last Pokémon. I want to hurry up and beat you and move to the next gym,' I said.
'Cocky. My last Pokémon will be...Espeon! Use Shadow Ball!' Carly instructed.
'Protect,' I started, 'and then another Aeroblast!' Lugia deflected the attack, and then launched another white beam at Carly's Pokémon. Espeon was not knocked out in one hit, though.
'Shadow Ball!' Carly commanded. The attack didn't do too much.
'Lugia, use your Shadow Ball!' I said. Lugia blasted the purple ball at Espeon, knocking him out. 'Yes!' I cheered. 'Come back Lugia. Now...' I said, turning to Carly. 'A badge?'
'Of course,' she said. She walked over to me, and handed me the badge. Kamon and I left the gym, and went back to the Pokémon Center.
* * *
'I don't want to leave,' I responded to Kamon's question. 'Not yet, anyway.'
'You want to stay for her?' Kamon asked.
'Yeah,' I replied. 'But...he have to continue our quest. It's not over yet.'
'It's quite a predicament,' Kamon said.
'I have an idea,' I said, getting up. 'You stay here; I'll be right back.' I ran out of the Pokécenter, and headed back to the gym.