Chapter 48: The 'First' Gym Battle (Patreon)

Renan wasn't a fanatical Pokémon battle enthusiast.

The reason he was traveling through the Kanto region with the three little ones came down to fulfilling the wish of that other self, the one who had already died.

So he honestly had no objection to doing it Ash's way, earning badges from Gym Leaders through a half-battle, half-gift arrangement.

Of course, what he thought in private was one thing. In reality, the instant Misty's words left her mouth, he was left with only one choice.

After two seconds of silence, Renan let out a heavy breath. "Fine."

Seeing him accept the challenge, Misty's expression didn't change, though inwardly she gave a small nod.

"The Gym battle will be 2v2, with a four-move limit, fought over water. As Gym Leader, I can't swap Pokémon. You can do as you like."

With that, she led Renan to another pool, one reserved for Gym battles where no Pokémon lived. She crouched and pressed something twice.

Then, with a creaking, grinding sound, two platforms rose out of the water.

Renan stepped onto the command area and turned to the three little ones beside him.

Thanks to the high-grade supplies from Lance, the body-tempering effect built into Thunder Breathing, and sensible daily training working together, the three little ones had leveled up at a rocket's pace these past few days.

Charmeleon had quietly reached Level 19 and would likely hit the Veteran Class the day after tomorrow at the latest.

Nidoran and Pidgey had also reached their second stages, yesterday and the day before respectively.

After evolving into Nidorino, Nidoran had followed roughly the same path Charmeleon once did. It learned Toxic Spikes, the spike-laying move, ahead of schedule, and on its own it even grasped Thunderbolt, which normally takes a TM disc or special training to learn.

Pidgeotto, for its part, had learned Whirlwind, Agility, Roost, and, unexpectedly, an Electric-type Hidden Power.

It was fair to say that as long as Renan wasn't reckless enough to send out Charmeleon as a target dummy on the platform, then either Nidorino or Pidgeotto could overpower whatever Misty sent out, given their current movepools and real strength.

Thoughts flickering by, the black-haired boy took out his Poké Balls and temporarily returned his partners to them.

Then he tossed one toward the pool and said, "Go, Pidgeotto."

In a flash of red light, a Pidgeotto fully two sizes bigger than others of its kind appeared above the water.

Misty stood on the opposite side. She had already seen Renan's three little ones when they first entered the Gym, so she showed no surprise now and simply said in a calm voice, "I'm sending out Staryu. As the challenger, you get the first move."

Renan glanced at the Staryu standing on its metal platform, then gave his order. "Gust."

Misty countered. "Staryu, dive into the pool, then hit Pidgeotto with Water Gun."

This Staryu lived at the Cerulean Gym. It wasn't the one Misty traveled with in the anime.

Its level was probably around 15.

It clearly wasn't the first time it had been commanded in battle, either. It moved the instant it heard the order.

But just as Staryu leaped into the water, bent the horn on its head slightly toward Pidgeotto, and began gathering energy at the tip,

Renan's voice suddenly rang out again. "Take it! Hidden Power!"

"Pidge!"

Pidgeotto had flapped its wings twice, looking every bit like it was about to use Gust.

In truth, the three little ones had spent more than half a month at Renan's side. Night after night they listened to their Trainer analyze and break down tactics, and through repeated lessons they had even gradually mastered the type chart.

So when Renan first called out Gust, it had already guessed this might be a feint, and it hadn't actually gathered much Flying-type energy.

Hidden Power, being off-type for it, came out a beat slower than Staryu's Water Gun. But once the yellow-white arcs of electricity gathered around its body and were released, it was like Thunder in the rain: there was no such thing as a chance to miss.

"What?!"

Seeing Pidgeotto suddenly use an Electric-type move, Misty was thunderstruck.

Her aptitude as a Trainer was stronger than any of her three older sisters', but she had only just started her journey, and her command skills weren't fully honed yet.

All she could do was shout on reflex. "Staryu!"

Compared to the girl across the pool, Renan was far calmer.

He didn't panic just because Pidgeotto had taken a Water Gun head-on. A battle meant Pokémon would get hurt, no way around it. The only thing he had to do as a Trainer was win in the fastest, most sensible way and not waste his Pokémon's efforts.

Thoughts flickering by, he called out again. "One more time, Hidden Power!"

"Pidge!"

Yellow-white arcs of electricity formed around Pidgeotto's body once more.

Seeing this, Misty understood that unless she did something, the Staryu, its ruby core already starting to flash, would surely be knocked out.

People are like that sometimes. Unless you're pushed, you never know how much potential you have.

Misty was no exception. Driven to a flash of inspiration, she actually found a way out. "Staryu, spin at high speed and fly out of the pool!"

Staryu clearly didn't want to be taken down that easily, either.

It spun its body with everything it had at the command and actually leaped clear of the water before Pidgeotto's attack landed.

But that was all it managed.

Because in the next second, Renan's voice followed right behind. "Quick Attack, send it off."

"Pidge!"

Pidgeotto could now use Thunder Breathing in battle as well, so its close-quarters combat was actually stronger than Hidden Power, which only produced the power of a Regular Class Pokémon.

A white light flashed around its body as it shot toward the Staryu that had just left the water.

There was no surprise. It slammed Staryu straight back down to the water's edge. The jewel on its chest flickered rapidly twice, then went dark for good.

Misty had stood in for her sisters as Gym Leader before and taken Trainer challenges.

Seeing Staryu faint, she couldn't help feeling that Renan had somehow gotten the better of her, but there was no time to dwell on it.

She took out a Poké Ball, returned Staryu, and said gently, "You did great."

Then she threw a second Poké Ball. "Go, Starmie!"

In a flash of red, Staryu's evolved form, Starmie, took its place on the platform.

Misty looked at the boy not far away. "I underestimated you in the first round, but this time, you won't win so easily."