Chapter 7: First Battle

After agreeing to battle each other Gareth and I moved to the backyard of Isla home.

Which is a wide-open space.

Perfect for a pokemon battle.

As the two of us took up opposite positions from each other Gareth gave a nod to his Deino who moved up.

While I did did the same with Ladon, who moved up as well.

As for Dratini he stayed coiled around my body.

Like he has been since he agreed to become my pokemon.

Which I don't mind.

I just hope he eventually grows out of this habit. Since he won't be able to do this once he fully evolves into a Dragonite in the future.

Well, I'll cross that particular bridge when I come to it.

In no time at all Gareth, I, and our pokemon were ready.

Then all it took was for us to glance at each other to signal the start of the battle.

"Watch closer Dratini, since this is what you'll be doing in the future." I told him.

He gave me a curt nod in response.

"Deino, use Headbutt." Gareth spoke.

"Dodge that. Then use Focus Energy, followed by Dragon Breath!" I commanded Ladon.

He then dodged Deino attack, and powered up before unleashing a blast of rainbow-colored draconic energy from his mouth.

Scoring a direct hit on Deino as he did so.

Even so the pokemon got back to its feet.

"Shake it off. Use Work Up, then use Dragon Breath." Gareth spoke.

Deino then powered up like Ladon, and unleashed a Dragon Breath attack as well.

Which scored a direct hit on Ladon.

But he too got back up. A grin on his face as he did so.

I mirrored it.

Since pokemon battling truly is amazing.

"Flamethrower." I said.

"Dark Pluse." Gareth cried.

Also fun fact, unlike in the games pokemon in this world can learn more than four moves. They can actually learn as many moves as possible. Giving trainers greater variety in battle.

Like now.

Ladon unleashed a torrent of flames from his mouth, while Deino unleashed a concentrated pulse of dark energy from its own. The two attacks hit each other and pushed against each other for a moment.

But eventually an explosion occurred.

When it did both pokemon jumped to their perspective side.

Smirks on their faces.

"You're good." Gareth told me.

"Same to you." I said. "But that doesn't mean we'll lose."

"Took the words right out of my mouth." Gareth replied.

"Deino!" Deino cried.

"Bagon!" Ladon cried.

"Nasty Plot. Then use Dark Pulse once more." Gareth ordered.

"No you don't. Scary Face. Then Flamethrower once more." I said.

Since we don't need these two boosting their attack power further.

Ladon sent a glare at Deino which stopped it in its tracks before it could complete its move. He then unleashed another torrent of flames from his mouth but Deino managed to dodge it.

"Dragon Breath!" Gareth cried.

"Dodge it. Then use Headbutt." I said.

Dodging the Dragon Pulse Ladon quickly closed the distance and slammed into Deino on its left side.

Sending it skidding across the ground.

"Nasty Plot, and then Dark Pulse." Gareth said.

Since the distance was greater Deino was able to power up, and then unleashed a pulse of dark energy which struck Ladon.

"Keep it up, Dragon Breath."

"Dodge." I said.

But Ladon couldn't.

He was struck and then skidded across the ground, landing near my feet after he did so.

"Ladon, can you continue?" I asked him.

"Bagon." He said.

Ladon then picked himself up off the ground.

"You're tough, but we're winning this." Gareth said.

"Deino!" Deino cried.

"It's not over." I said.

"Bagon. Bagon!" Ladon cried.

As he did so his entire body became engulfed in a brilliant light.

The light of evolution.

Which left me speechless.

The two of us have only been together for three months and yet here and now he's evolving.

I guess all that training he did in the wild brought him close and he just needed a push to go all the way.

As I watched my starter go to the next level I became mesmerized.

Pokemon evolution is truly a sight to behold.

As the light died down, I now found myself looking at a Shelgon.

"Shelgon!" Ladon cried.

Then the second after he did so he charged forward and his entire body become enshrouded in draconic energy.

"Dragon Rush." I muttered.

As I did so Ladon slammed into Deino, sending it flying.

When Deino landed it was unconsious.

Meaning Ladon and I won.

"We won." I said.

"Shelgon!" Ladon cried.

"Very well done."

Turning around I saw Isla standing there, along with Drayden.

"Ah, how long have you two been standing there?" I asked.

"Shortly after the battle began. But you two were so entranced you didn't notice us." Drayden explained.

"That's not a good habit to develop." Isla said.

"Yes." I said.

"Yes, grandmother." Gareth said.

Turning back around toward him I saw him checking on Deino.

Seeing this I moved to do the same with Shelgon.

After I saw he didn't have any serious injuries I moved over to Drayden and Isla.

Gareth doing the same, Deino in his arms.

"That was a good battle. And it could've gone either way. But evolution is a powerful game changer." Isla explained.

"Yes. Even though it doesn't happen often. But when it does, even experienced trainers will lose. I have." Drayden admitted.

Gareth and I both nodded at his words.

Once we did so Gareth suddenly pointed a finger at me.

"Ezra, congratulations. From today onward you are my rival!" He proclaimed.

"Right." I said, putting a wry smile on my face.

"No need to thank me." Gareth said. A smile on his face.

But I'm not going to thank him.

Though having a rival won't be too bad.

I just hope Gareth doesn't start wearing a green spandex jumpsuit and get a bowl-shaped haircut like some other people I know who also enjoy rivalries and competing.

Just thinking about that sends a shiver down my spine.

Yeah, I want none of that thank you very much.

After everything was said and done we all went back inside the house and Isla and Drayden tended to our pokemon.

Then Drayden and I returned home.

Getting a satisfying ending to a satisfying day.