Chapter 11
A Long-Awaited Rematch
Andrew recalled his shameful loss. It was, no doubt, embarrassing.
But I am much stronger now, he thought.
Before he went to the Gym, he decided to give Combusken the TM he had received from Brawly-Bulk-Up. Andrew figured it would be useful.
He and Julia went into Norman's Gym. As they walked in, a trainer walked out. He had just lost. Norman was healing his Pokémon when Andrew approached him.
"Norman! Remember me?" Andrew asked.
Norman turned around. "Ah, yes, you again. Have you actually trained your Pokémon?" Norman questioned, his only intent to anger Andrew.
Andrew tensed. He had no other intent in the world except to pound Norman into the dirt. "Norman," he said sternly, "I don't want to hear it. Just send out your first Pokémon, and I'll send out mine."
Norman frowned. "You are rushed…tense. You shouldn't take it so seriously."
"I thought that you are the passionate one. Regarding Pokémon, I mean."
"Yes, I am. But not to your extent. You are too caught up in winning."
"Yeah, right. Now send out your Pokémon. It's payback time."
"All right, then," said Norman. "But first, the guidelines. I will use three Pokémon, and you may use however many you want. Okay? Zangoose, go!" Norman threw a yellow-and-black Ultra Ball into the gym's dusty arena, releasing the furry Pokémon. It was slightly intimidating, since his white fur had red furry slashes across it. Not to mention the large black claws it sported.
"Grovyle, go!" Andrew yelled. He was going to go all-out, in a sort of blitzkrieg.
"I see that you have done a little training," said Norman, "but the real question is, is it enough?"
"We'll see. Grovyle, Vine Whip!" Vines lashed out at Zangoose, but he slashed them away. Zangoose then dashed toward Grovyle and sliced Grovyle. Damn, he's quick, Andrew thought. "Grovyle, Pursuit!"
As Zangoose came to a stop, Grovyle rammed into him, knocking him down. However, Zangoose spun around (while on the ground), tripping Grovyle. Before Grovyle fell, however, Zangoose used Mega Punch, sending Grovyle flying.
"Grovyle might be fast enough to take him on, but he lacks the pure power that Zangoose has," Andrew muttered. He recalled Grovyle. "Combusken, come out and use Bulk-Up!" Combusken materialized from the white, shimmering light. He then closed its fists while flames encircled him. Small rocks rose from the floor of the gym. After Combusken had raised its Attack and Defense, the flames remained around him, flowing up and around him.
"Quite interesting," Norman said. "Zangoose, Crush Claw!"
"Focus Energy," Andrew started, "and the block the attack!" Flames shot up around Combusken again, and as Zangoose went to slam its claw on Combusken, he caught it in his talon. "Nice work! Now, Seismic Toss!" Zangoose's eyes doubled in size as he was lifted up and thrown across the room, smashing into the wall.
"Yikes! Zangoose, are you all right?"
Before Zangoose could answer, however, Combusken ran across the room and leapt into the air. He kicked Zangoose with both of its feet (Double-Kick), and then did a flip off of him. Combusken landed in a fighting stance, waiting for Zangoose to move. He didn't.
"All right! Nice work, Combusken."
"Hm. It's only one Pokémon. I still have two more left. Zangoose, come back. Go, Exploud!" Norman sent out a bluish-purple Pokémon that had horn-like appendages coming out of his head. He also had a large mouth. A very large mouth.
That's a…very large mouth, indeed, Andrew thought. In fact, that mouth might be big enough to eat Combusken. Better watch out.
"Combusken, Jump Kick!" Andrew instructed. Combusken jumped into the air, and as he was going to kick Exploud, a deafening roar pushed him backwards. "What-what was that?"
"Ha! It was Uproar! You don't' like that move?" Norman chuckled. "Do it again, Exploud!" Out of his horns (which, apparently, served as speakers) and his monstrous mouth another thunderous sound impacted on Combusken. He tried to stand up and counter-attack, but it was futile; he couldn't get near him without getting struck by Uproar. The flames around Combusken faded away; they were only there as long as Combusken was strong enough to stay powered up. Now that he was weakened, the flames disappeared.
"Okay, then, Combusken…Flamethrower!" Fire was shot at Exploud, but with another Uproar, the flames were reflected. "What! How am I supposed to defeat you?"
Norman shrugged. "It's up to you to figure that out." Norman turned back to the battle. "Exploud, finish it with another Uproar!" The sound echoed around the room, bringing Combusken to his knees. He collapsed, knocked out.
Andrew thought for a moment. He knew he couldn't use Mightyena, because he only had physical attacks. Corphish's Water attacks would just be reflected in a spray and splash. Grovyle seemed to be his only choice.
"Grovyle, attack again! Use…Vine Whip!" Vines wrapped around Exploud. He tried using noise to get them off, but he couldn't.
"What? Uh…Exploud, use…"
"Grovyle, Slam!" With Exploud tied down, Grovyle could manipulate it as he wished. He rammed into Exploud, who lost its balance and fell down. "Good job. Now, toss him away!" Grovyle launched Exploud into the air. He hit the roof, and then fell on the ground. Parts of the roof collapsed on Exploud. An instant knock-out.
"All right…my last Pokémon will be a familiar one. Slaking, go!" The large sloth-like Pokémon appeared. This time, however, Andrew was not going to be bowled over.
"Grovyle, Leech Seed!" Grass seeds were imbedded in Slaking's fur. Slaking wobbled over to Grovyle and then used Body Slam, knocking him out. Andrew withdrew Grovyle, and sent out Mightyena. Mightyena used Bite, and then followed up with Swagger. Now Slaking was confused.
"Slaking, another Body Slam!"
"You are too predictable," Andrew said. Slaking hurt itself in confusion, leaving him vulnerable to attack. Mightyena launched another attack, this time Faint Attack. However, Slaking snapped out of confusion, and then starting charging up for an attack-Focus Punch.
Not knowing what this attack was, Andrew told Mightyena to use Swagger again, increasing the Attack power of Slaking, but also confusing him. Slaking wasn't affected by the confusion, and punched Mightyena in the ribs. Mightyena fainted upon impact.
"Gah! Mightyena, return." It's a good thing he's letting me use four of my Pokémon, he thought. "Corphish, go! Use Surf!" A wave crashed down on Slaking, doing mediocre damage. Slaking charged up for Focus Punch again. "I'm not letting you destroy my Corphish," said Andrew. "Ice Beam!" An freezing ray struck Slaking, disrupting his concentration. Corphish followed up with a last-ditch attempt to win-Guillotine. "Come on, hit!" Andrew wished. It missed.
"Slaking, Body Slam!" Norman shouted. Slaking slammed its body on Corphish, nearly knocking it out.
"Try Guillotine again!" Andrew commanded. Corphish reared back its claws, and then clamped down on Slaking, one-hit- K.O. Andrew had won.
"That was nice work. Not the best I have seen, but it'll do," Norman said. He handed Andrew the Balance Badge.
"It's my sister's turn now," Andrew said.