Chapter 45: Two Battles (I)

1 of 2 battles!

Don't forget to drop those power stones!

*

"Since Itsuki and Lillie will partake in these two battles, why don't I oversee it?", Serena proposed while clapping her hands together.

Hearing that, I raised my eyebrows at Serena.

"Are you sure, Serena? Do you know how it's done?"

"Of course. I've watched my plenty share of battles too you know."

"Good. We'll leave it to you then. Everyone, return.", I said, recalling my Pokemon.

"That works for me. Come back, guys.", Ken also said, recalling his Pokemon as well. Lillie proceeded to do the same, only for Serena to keep hers out to watch.

After cleaning camp up, we packed away everything and made sure we left no traces of the night before. We were now on a large straight path surrounded by trees. Further ahead of us we could see the path wrap to the right again out of sight, and to the back was the entrance into the inner region.

I took my spot next to Serena as Ken and Lillie walked forward, only to part ways. They made enough room apart as if we were actually on a battle field, despite just standing on grass.

Seeing the two ready, Serena spoke out as I stood by to watch.

"This will be a one on one battle. The first Trainer to knock out their opponent's Pokemon will be declared the winner!", Serena yelled out.

"I'll give you the first choice. I'm looking forward to seeing who you choose.", Ken said, getting ready himself.

"Thank you. Let's do this, Caterpie.", Lillie confirmed, grabbing Caterpie's Pokeball. She tossed it out, A golden caterpillar-like creature popped out, letting out a a cute yell.

"So you did choose Caterpie after all. Then I've decided.", Ken said, revealing his own Pokedex. One of his six Pokeballs suddenly vanished, only for it pop out another. 'So that's how that feature works for having more than six Pokemon, huh? We could still move Pokemon around digitally after a few years passed since I came into this world, which still lets us check on their health and such, and see if they need to be brought out. But this mobile box space really works wonders. It's a shame it wasn't brought into the earlier generation games.

Not only that, Ken had his own Pokedex. Looks like he went through school and received a sponsor from one of the Kanto professors. I'll see where his strength lies in my battle. I may give Ken a nudge to join the Kanto league, though I'm not sure if he has participated any in the past.

"Come out.", Ken yelled out, only to toss out the new Pokeball he just brought out. A similar caterpillar like creature popped out, letting out a cute noise.

"So you have a Caterpie too...As expected of a bug expert.", Lillie complimented.

"I've caught most of the Pokemon available here already. Caterpie are quite easy to evolve to let's see if we can reach that opportunity in this battle."

"Yes!", Lillie nodded.

"Then, let the battle begin!", Serena yelled out, signaling the start of the battle.

"Umm, Caterpie, use String Shot, try to trap it.", Lillie said, issuing her first move.

Caterpie listened. White energy began to form over its mouth, forming white strings one after another. Caterpie shot out String Shot at a fast pace, making the grass sticky all around Ken's Caterpie, trying to trap it.

"Caterpie, use your tail to jump into the air and shoot out an Electroweb to slow her Caterpie down.", Ken issued his. His Caterpie slammed the grass with his tail, flinging itself into the air.

A bundle of electric energy formed over its mouth, only for it to spread out into a big bug-like net. This was the same move Ash often used in Journeys with his Pikachu. I knew each season his Pikachu changed his special move from one to another, but besides trying to trap them similar to String Shot, Electroweb isn't powerful at all. The only other benefit it has is it reduces Speed too. Seriously, why would they remove his ridiculously powerful Volt Tackle into a shitty electric web? I didn't get that.

Lillie was stunned for a moment, only to see an Electroweb fast approaching her. Seeing the grass still laid with String Shot all around the two, Lillie decided her next move.

"Caterpie, quickly use your own Electroweb to counter it. Then launch yourself and use Bug Bite!", Lillie said, issuing two moves this time.

Electric energy formed over the golden Caterpie's mouth, and shot it out, forming a giant web of its own. The two collided, creating a boom and a cloud of dust. After the energy and dust dispersed, green fangs appeared over the golden Caterpie's mouth, and suddenly used its remaining momentum to push through, quickly arriving at Ken's Caterpie.

"So you used the momentum, I like it. Caterpie, use String Shot. Bring Lillie's Caterpie down and slam it into the ground."

"Oh no...", Lillie uttered, appearing worried after hearing Ken reveal his next move.

Ken's Caterpie acted quickly, letting string after string form. String Shot shot out, hitting Lillie's Caterpie head on. Her Caterpie tried to wiggle free but struggled and slowed down. It wasn't even a few feet to Ken's Caterpie before the golden Caterpie stopped moving, letting its green fangs from Bug Bite disperse.

It altogether halted its movement as it couldn't move anymore, starting a slow descent. But then it was halted again. Lillie saw her Caterpie still had a taught string tied, which connected all the way to Ken's Caterpie. His Caterpie swung it around like a rope, and swung down hard.

"Caterpie try to cut yourself free!", Lillie tried to say, but Caterpie could only struggle. Its speed of its descent sped up thanks to the swing of Ken's Caterpie. It rushed downward, creating a large bang upon reaching the ground. It still couldn't break free from the cocoon it was trapped in.

After the impact blew away the dust it created, the golden Caterpie struggled to move a bit. It then stopped moving, only to have faint circles appear over its eyes.

Seeing this, the result is clear.

"Lillie's Caterpie is unable to battle, Ken is the winner!", Serena said, raising her hand.

Ken saw his Caterpie fall down and caught itself from the air, and walked up to his. Lillie saw the String Shot disappear over her Caterpie, and quickly approached it, bringing Caterpie into her arm.

"Are you okay, Caterpie?", Lillie asked, worried. Caterpie nudged her a bit and gave a weak response. Seeing this, Ken and his Caterpie walked up to hers.

"Even though it was a rather quick battle, you show promise, Lillie for being such a new Trainer. You used quick momentum at the start but I was able to take advantage of that, and reversed the outcome. You need to stay strong through the whole swing as I'd say it.", Ken said, complimenting her.

"You think I'm a good battler?", Lillie asked with anticipation.

"You can be one, Lillie. Ken is already a veteran Trainer so its good to receive praise from him.", I said to Lillie.

"It was still a good battle. I'm surprised yours know the most potential it can have so it was a pretty even field. Did you enjoy it, Caterpie?", Ken asked his Caterpie.

His Caterpie gave its acknowledgment. His Caterpie then turned toward the golden one and crawled up to it. Lillie's struggled in her arms, only to get down. Everyone watched on as the two approached each other.

A couple moments passed in silence as the two Caterpie conversed with each other. After their conversation, Lillie saw her Caterpie got its energy back.

Yet before anyone could do anything else, both Caterpie raised their heads letting out a cute voice. All of a sudden they both starting spinning strings, letting strands of string cover their whole bodies. In the next moment their bodies were covered in a blue light.

"Oh my,", Serena said in excitement.

"Haha, guess both were now due.", Ken also said.

The spinning soon ended and two Caterpie were no longer there. Two cocoon like figures replaced them, increasing in size.

One was green. One was amber.

"Metapod.", the green Metapod said. "Metapod.", the amber colored Metapod also said, only to look at Lillie. Lillie, seeing her Caterpie evolve, brought a smile to her face.

"So you evolved...I guess you're Metapod now.", Lillie said happily, and picked up her Metapod, only for it to appear happy in its eyes.

"Metapod.", Metapod responded happily. Lillie took this time to stand back up.

"Congrats on yours evolving too, Ken. Looks like you gained something out of this.", I said as I approached the two.

"I did. Come back, Metapod.", Ken replied, recalling his Metapod.

"You return too.", Lillie also said, recalling her shiny Metapod.

Ken then turned towards me seeing his battle was now done with Lillie.

"I haven't forgot about our agreement yet. You're up next, aren't you, Itsuki? I'm curious to see what you hold in those two bracelets of yours too. I do see one of them is a Mega Ring which has been being promoted recently, but I'm unsure what the other one is."

"If I'm brought down to use it, I'll show it off. It's going to be fun having Amber battle. She hasn't fought anyone in a while. You good for the next one, Serena?"

"Yup!", Serena replied with a smile.

Now that I think about it, this will be my first battle with another Trainer since our journey started, huh? I'm already looking forward to it!

*

Main characters actually lose? What is this?

Next battle, Alolan Ninetails vs Scyther!