Chapter 104: Battle For The Rainbow Badge! (II)

Power stones please?

Second of three chapters for the fourth gym. Next chapter will conclude the battle!

*

Seeing Tangela down and out, Erika gracefully walked up to it. Erika then squatted down, and patted Tangela.

"You did well, Tangela. Now, deserve a nice long rest.", Erika said with a praise. She then recalled her Tangela and walked back to her position.

As for me, I looked up at Fearow and pointed my Pokeball at it.

"You did well too, Jack. Enjoy a good rest for now.", I said, recalling Fearow. Fearow flapped its wings in victory as it got recalled by the red beam.

"Already recalling your first Pokemon? Your Fearow still seemed to have energy to use.", Erika said with interest.

"I like to spread experience around if I can. Let my Pokemon experience the joys of battle. My next one though may be a bit rowdy. I hope you are prepared."

"Is that so? Let me witness your next Pokemon.", Erika responded as she tossed out her next Pokemon I did the same and two figures soon appeared before us.

One was a rather small blue bipedal figure that had a bulbous flower on its head, separated into four large reddish-brown petals. The moment this Pokemon appeared, a bad stench started to strike against the soothing smell of the flowers and trees around us. It seemed Daisy was used to this smell but I saw Serena and Lillie plug their nose with their hand. This caused me to inwardly laugh a bit, but I wouldn't lie the smell this Pokemon releases is quite bad.

"Gloom...", Gloom said, revealing itself. Of course, it was Gloom who was Erika's second Pokemon.

As for mine, a larger bipedal Pokemon appeared before me. which was a large insectoid. It had two scythes for hands and white wings the back that acted similarly to a cicada's wings, constantly flapping.

"Scyther!", Scyther said, revealing itself, which caused surprise to appear in Erika's eyes.

"A Scyther...Quite a rare Pokemon indeed. You must have had a good encounter in Viridian Forest.", Erika responded with a praise.

"It was a fruitful encounter to say the least.", I responded with a smile.

"I see. Then we will set the field to our liking. Gloom use Grassy Terrain.", Erika said, revealing her firs move.

Grassy Terrain...that will power up grass type moves and heal grass type Pokemon. This move can definitely make grass type Pokemon scarier to deal with.

Thinking that, I saw Gloom release dense grass energy, spreading out around the whole battle field. Grass started to sprout, and flowers started to bloom in an instant. Aromas began to waft around us even more, which started to negate Gloom's stench.

Seeing this, I decided to use my first move.

"Scyther, use Laser Focus. Be ready to launch an attack.", I said my first move.

"Scy!", Scyther said, brandishing its two scythes. It then tucked them into a cross pattern over its chest. As it did, a red aura began to emit from Scyther's body, signaling that is was powering itself up.

Laser Focus worked very similarly to Focus Energy, except there was one key difference. Instead of critical hits landing more easily, Laser Focus guaranteed Scyther's next attack to be a critical hit.

"Gloom, before Scyther can do anything, close in and hit Scyther with Venoshock!", Erika said her next move. Gloom unexpectedly became serious and actually entered a dash. A clumsy Pokemon like Gloom could enter a dash huh?

Before I realized it, Gloom entered close range of Scyther, and poisonous liquid began to form in Gloom's mouth. In the next moment, it shot out small waves of purple liquid, turning into Venoshock. Seeing poisonous liquid get launched at Scyther, Scyther acted quickly and started to dodge. One after another, Scyther dodged it but its moving range started to shorten considerably, as the grass and flowers got drenched in poisons.

"Scyther, good work. Now jump up over the poison and strike Gloom down with Dual Wingbeat.", I said, showing my next move.

"Scyther.", Scyther replied, letting its two wings start to glow white. Dual wingbeat was a move that hit twice upon succession, not letting Pokemon get a breath in. Scyther jumped up quickly, jumping over the poison that was sprayed out from Gloom. Gloom saw Scyther's shadow quickly swoop over its body, causing Gloom to stare at Scyther. Poison stopped forming in its mouth.

The gap between the two closed before we blinked, and Scyther struck down with. Bang!

A loud bang struck, hitting Gloom directly for super effective damage. Yet Gloom withstood the impact. At this time, just as Scyther swooped down with its other wing, I saw Erika smile.

"Now Gloom, use Vine Whip and grab a hold of Scyther!", Erika said.

"Gloom!", Despite in pain from Dual Wingbeat, Gloom replied in fervor, immediately letting out its vines from Gloom's flower bulb. Since both were at close range, the Vine whip moved very quickly, fast. Yet just as Gloom's vines were about to latch onto Scyther, I smiled back.

"Not so fast. Scyther, stop using Dual Wingbeat and use Counter!", I also said my next move. I was able to teach Scyther how to stop using moves that attacked in succession like Dual Wingbeat, and Scyther was able to do it. The white glow on Scyther's wings quickly returned to normal, only for an orange glow to appear on Scyther's body.

Scyther entered a counter stance, grabbing a hold of Gloom's vines, and swung Gloom hard. As Gloom flew at Scyther, Scyther struck down with its scythes, causing another loud bang to echo in the battle field.

"Gloom!", Gloom yelled out in pain, getting blasted back from Counter. It flew several feet away, sliding into the flowers closer to Erika. Yet thanks to Grassy Terrain, a green glow covered Gloom, a healing light. Parts of Gloom's wounds began to heal quickly. Grassy Terrain not only powered up grass type moves, it also healed them. It was one of the better terrain effects.

Seeing Gloom get healed up a bit, Erika spoke out to Gloom.

"Are you okay, Gloom?", Erika asked in worry.

"Gloom...", Gloom responded in its usual manner, slowly standing back up. Seeing Gloom still good to battle Erika turned back toward me.

"So it looks like you were able to see what I was trying to do.", Erika said, complimenting me.

"Yup. You like to get in close range with Trainers to catch them off guard with status ailments, right? I was anticipating Poison Powder next if Vine Whip successfully landed. Thankfully I was able to use Counter."

"Fufu, I was not expecting for Scyther to know Counter either. Trying to land a hit on Scyther is quite challenging."

"I was thinking about ending this second battle in the next move.", I decided.

"Is that so? Gloom can't withstand much more, so I'll try to meet up to your expectations.", Erika responded in confidence.

"Hear that, Scyther? Get your scythes ready. We're going to go all in.", I said.

"Scyther!", Scyther responded in fervor, brandishing its two scythes out., and entered an attack stance.

"Do it, Gloom. Take aim at Scyther!.", Erika said.

"Gloom!", Gloom also responded in anticipation. Yet as if Gloom understood Erika's intent, Gloom withstood its stance. It then tucked its body downward, letting its flower bulb protrude out.

In the next moment, Gloom's flower bulb started to absorb in sunlight!

Solarbeam...

One of the strongest grass moves, to the point to where it required time to launch the attack.

"Scyther, let's go. Close in and use X-Scissor!", I said my move.

'Scy!", Scyther answered. In the next moment it raised its two scythes, allowing a green coating to cover them, forming two large scythes themselves.

With X-Scissor used, Scyther dashed forward, flying off the ground swiftly, heading right to Gloom.

Yet there was enough time to pass to let the Solarbeam gather enough grass energy.

"Solarbeam now, Gloom!", Erika said her move.

"Gloom!" Gloom responded. Fwooosh!

The gathering sunlight burst forth, forming a large green beam of light, shooting right at Scyther!

As Scyther sashed in, Scyther attacked Solarbeam head on with X-Scissor. The moment the two clashed, Scyther didn't get blasted back, but it started to take damage. Yet Scyther kept pushing through, slicing the Solarbeam.

Scyther actually managed to keep slicing Solarbeam until it arrived at Gloom's side. Scyther then hopped to the right, and slashed down hard. Bang!

Just as Gloom's Solarbeam finished, another loud bang struck our ears. X-Scissor landed contact on Gloom, causing Gloom to get blasted toward Erika.

As for Scyther, it took quite a beating from that powered up Solarbeam, and several damage marks could now be seen on its body. But Scyther pulled through, and hit Gloom hard.

Erika saw Gloom struggle to get up as Grassy Terrain ended. But its legs couldn't hold on, and Gloom collapsed. Faint circles soon appeared in its eyes.

Seeing Gloom unable to battle, the ref concluded the second battle.

"Gloom is unable to battle. The challenger's Scyther is the winner!", The ref said.

Erika smiled at Gloom and walked up to it.

"You did great, Gloom. Please enjoy a good rest now.", Erika said, recalling Gloom.

Scyther walked back to my side and I also spoke out to it.

"You did great too, Scyther. You good for a break?", I asked.

"Scyther." Scyther responded with a nod. Seeing this I recalled Scyther.

"As for Erika, the second battle was over so she spoke out to me.

"That was a great battle, Itsuki. You raise your Pokemon well. Should I say, as expected of a Professor?", Erika retorted with a giggle.

"Heh, perhaps that may be part of it, but we trained quite a bit before coming to Celadon. Guessing this next one will be our last?", I asked Erika.

"It will be. But this last battle will be the toughest of the three. Looks like I'll have to rely on my partner today.", Erika said, gently holding onto her third Pokeball.

"Your partner...you don't mean?", I asked.

"You've met her once already." Erika responded with a smile.

"So you're going to use that Pokemon...", I uttered. This also drew Daisy's, Serena's and Lillie's attention.

Seeing this, I spoke out to Erika.

"Very well. If you are going to use your partner, Erika, then I too must respond in kind.", I answered.

I then slowly reached to grab a certain Pokeball with a different pattern to my others...