Chapter 5: The Unstrategising Strategy! Elliot vs Lenora!

"Hellooooooo Nacrene City!" "Gligaaaar!"

Several people gave me strange looks as I dashed into Nacrene City, loooking around excitedly. "This place is so cool! We'd better head to the Pokemon Center first though..."

After healing up my team I began looking around for the Gym. "Okay Gligar, here's the strategy." I got out a Poke-Ball. "Since this is a Normal type Gym, our new 5th teammate is gonna be up first, and if that doesn't work, it's up to you and your Brick Break!"

"Gligar!" He nodded, liking the sound of that.

Eventually we found out that the gym was actually the museum, so I went in. "Excuse me? I'm here to challenge the Gym Leader?"

"Ah, your challenging Lenora?" A man in a suit with glasses asked as he walked up to me.

"Yes sir." I nodded.

"Well it just so happens that she's my wife, I'm Hawes, assistant curator of the Nacrene Museum." We shook happily shook hands. "Right this way please."

As we walked down a corridor, Hawes continued talking. "Your lucky to have challenged the Gym now, Lenora is leaving for an archeological investigation in a few hours."

"Phew, looks like we got lucky." I sighed in relief.

We eventually entered a room with a plain looking battlefield, a woman was standing on the opposite end. "Oh? Is this a challenger, dear?"

"Yes, honey." Gligar made a disgusted face, which I glared at him for.

"My name is Elliot." I introduced myself. "If it's alright with you, I'd like to have a pokemon battle please."

"Of course, always time to fit in a battle." She agreed before we took our positions.

"The Nacrene Gym Battle will now begin!" Hawes refereed. "Both sides will use two pokemon, and the victor is whoever's sides pokemon are both unable to battle! Aaaand begin!"

"Herdier! Your up!" Lenora called.

"Herdier!" A shaggy dog-like pokemon appeared, and I got out my Pokedex.

'Herdier, the Loyal Dog Pokémon, and the evolved form of Lillipup. Herdier's hard black fur softens its opponent's attacks like armor.'

"No problem." I smirked as I got out a Poke-Ball. "As long as we've got our strategy, we can't lose! Litwick! Let's go!"

"Litwick!" The little pokemon cried, my Pokedex picking up on it.

'Litwick, the Candle Pokemon, Litwick uses its flame as a source of light, when it actually leeches life energy and uses it as fuel.'

"Litwiiick!" The little pokemon turned around and jumped up for a hug.

"Yeah, it's great to see you too, Litwick." I said with a nervous smile. "You ready to battle?"

"Lit!" She nodded, before walking back into battle.

"Using a Ghost type? Resourceful." Lenora praised. "But that's not gonna be enough to beat us!"

"We'll see." I smiled. "Litwick! Use Flame Burst!"

"Liiiiiiitwick!" Litwick fired an orange/yellow fireball from its mouth towards Herdier.

"Herdier, use Protect!" Herdier barked before a green shield appeared in front of it, blocking the attack.

"So it knows Protect...follow up with Ember!" Litwick spat little fire trails that hit Herdier, causing it to flinch.

"Shadow Ball!" The move took me by surprise as Herdier fired four purple balls of darkness at once.

"Stop it with Will-O-Wisp!" I cried.

"Lit, Litwick!" Litwick created a group of small pink, light blue and dark blue flames that it launched at the Shadow Balls. The two attacks collided in an explosion, but one broke through and hit her!

"Litwick!" I gasped as the super effective move knocked her to my feet. "Are you alright?"

"Lit...wick..." She struggled to stand.

"Now use Roar!"

"Heeeerdieeeeeeer!" Herdier howled, releasing red soundwaves that washed over Litwick, turning her into a red beam and sending her back into her Poke-Ball!

"Wh-What the-!?" I stuttered before Snivy was sent out without my Poke-Ball throwing!

"Sni!? Snivy?" Snivy looked around in confusion, not understanding why it was out.

"What...just...happened?" I gawked.

"Obviously you haven't seen Roar before." Lenora noted. "It forcibly returns your current pokemon and brings out a different one." She then returned Herdier. "Now, Watchog your up!"

"Watchog!" The pokemon cried.

"What's this one?" I got out my Pokedex.

'Watchog, the Lookout Pokémon, and the evolved form of Patrat. Watchog's body contains luminescent compounds, which allow its eyes and stripes to glow.'

"Use Mean Look!"

Watchog closed its eyes and its body became surrounded in a dark purple aura. It then opened its eyes and they started glowing bright red. The purple aura then rose into the air and formed together into an oval shape. The aura then solidified and formed into a black oval. The top part of the oval then opened, forming itself into an eye with a pure black pupil. The eye itself and the pupil then became surrounded in a magenta aura and multiple smaller eyes, each with a magenta aura around it, formed and appeared around it, spread throughout the battlefield. Snivy was covered in a magenta aura before the eyes disappeared.

"I can't use Snivy now!" I thought aloud. "Snivy, return!" The beam show forward, but the magenta aura returned and blocked the beam. "What was that!?"

"Mean Look prevents you from returning your pokemon." Lenora smiled.

"I...can't switch Snivy?" 'I don't believe it...she's destroyed my entire strategy in just a few moves!'

"Precisely." She agreed.

I grinded my teeth. "Then I'll just place my trust in Snivy! Let's do it!"

"Snivy!" He agreed.

"Start strong! Tackle!" Snivy charged forward.

"Use Low Kick!" Watchog dashed forward and kicked Snivy! He was sent skidding back to my side.

"If that won't work then...Vine Whip!" "Sniiiivy!" Snivy sent its two long vines towards the intimidating pokemon.

"Low Kick again!" "WatCHOG!" It backflipped and kicked the vines away!

"Now use Thunderbolt!" "Waaaaatchoooog!" Watchog let loose a bolt of electricity that hit Snivy, but he quickly shook off the attack with an annoyed look.

"Here's an attack you can't Low Kick! Use Grass Pledge!" Snivy pounded the ground with its tail, surrounding Watchog with pillars of leaves before enveloping it in a giant one, the pokemon winced and staggered as the attack died down. "Now Tackle again!"

"Confuse Ray!" Watchog held its arms out and five golden orbs of light appeared and circled around its body. When it raised its arms in the air, the five orbs fired at Snivy and stopped above it.

"Sni? Snivy?" He panicked as the orbs landed on top of him! "Sniiiii..." Snivy began staggering around, really unlike him.

"Snivy? What's wrong?" He wouldn't respond.

"No matter what your skills are, they aren't useful if your Pokemon is confused." Lenora smirked. "Use Low Kick!" Watchog slammed its leg into Snivy, throwing it back!

"Get a grip Snivy! Use Tackle!" Snivy charged, in the wrong direction! He crashed into the ground!

"Thunderbolt!" "Waaaaaatchog!" The Lookout pokemon shocked the starter with a bolt of lightning!

"Please, Snivy!" I begged. "Use Vine Whip!"

"Sn...Sniiii...v-VY!" He began hitting himself!

"Let's finish this! Use Thunderbolt!" "WatCHOG!" It fired one more bolt of lightning.

"Snivy! LISTEN TO MY VOICE!" I shouted.

"Snivy!? Sni!" He suddenly tore through the Thunderbolt with one of his vines and hit Watchog!

"Watchog!" Lenora gasped as it struggled to get up.

"That's it! Now Tackle!" "Snivy..." Snivy worriedly charged, and hit Watchog full on! It struggled to get up, but quickly fainted.

"Watchog is unable to battle! Snivy is the winner!"

Snivy gained a purple aura that dispersed. "Looks like Mean Look's gone." I sighed in relief. "Thanks Snivy, return." The still confused Pokemon was returned to its ball. "Litwick! Your up again!"

"Litwick!" She smiled.

"Watchog! Once more!" "Hruh!" The dog pokemon barked.

"Use Flame Burst!" "Litwick!"

"Protect!" "Heeerdier!" Once again Herdier stopped the attack.

"Ember!" "Dodge it!" That outcome was different, with Herdier leaping out of the way.

"Now use Shadow Ball!" The dangerous spheres were launched.

"It's gonna be different this time! Flame Burst!" "Liiiiiitwiiick!" The fireball collided with one Shadow Ball, whilst the spreading embers exploded the other ones. "Prepare another one!" "Liiiiit..."

"Again? Protect!" Herdier once more put up its shield.

"Now fire it NEXT to Herdier!" Litwick nodded as it fired at the ground next to Herdier, the fireball exploding with small fire chunks flying off and hitting Herdier, who cringed at the damage.

"So, you found away to get around Protect." The Gym Leader said with a hint of admiration. "Shadow Ball!"

"Flame Burst!" Once again the two attacks cancelled each other out, only this time Litwick's flame shrunk! "Litwick! Your flame!"

"Liiiit...liiit..." She panted heavily.

"It seems your Litwick's running out of firepower." Lenora acknowledged. "Once more, Shadow Ball!"

"Dodge!" But poor little Litwick was too weak and was hit full on, falling back with swirled eyes.

"Litwick is unable to battle! Herdier is the winner!"

I gently picked the little pokemon up as she awoke. "Lit..." She whimpered with tears in her eyes.

"Litwick, you fought hard, there's nothing to worry about." I got out her Poke-Ball. "I won't let you down, take a rest, okay?" I recalled her and got out Snivy's sphere. "I'll put my trust in you...Snivy!"

"Snivy." He said as he appeared, glaring at Herdier as the dog pokemon growled.

'Snivy's already taken damage from his battle with Watchog...' I thought. 'I have to be careful...'

"Herdier! Shadow Ball!" "Herer!" More were shot forward.

"Knock them away! Vine Whip!" "SniiiiVY! Vy! Vy! Vy!" Snivy smacked the attacks away with its vines.

"Giga Impact!" Wait, what!?

"HeeeeeeeerDIER!" Herdier jumped high into the air while facing towards the sky. As it did, its body became surrounded in an invisible energy. A bright flash of yellow light appeared in front of its face and it faced towards Snivy. It then shot itself at him as an orb of light purple energy with spiraling light yellow streaks around it appeared around Herdier's body!

"Sni!? Sniv-" Snivy was cut off as Herdier smashed into him, tossing him like a kicked can to my feet.

"Snivy!" I yelled in horror as the starter lay in front of me, covered in injuries.

"Your Snivy's been very impressive to last this long, but I'm afraid it's over." Lenora lamented.

"S...nivy!" My pokemon objected as it stuggled to its feet, clutching its left arm in pain.

'Can Snivy really do this?' I debated in my head. 'He's taken so much damage, and it's like Herdier is on a whole different level of strength...how can we win with such odds?"

"Gligar!" The pokemon on my head snapped me out of it. "Gli! Gligar!"

"Sni..." Snivy weakly gave one of his smiles.

'...Even if we're backed into a corner, we don't give up! That's what you guys have taught me!' I couldn't help but smile. "We're not done yet! Vine Whip!"

"Sn...i...vy!" Mustering up the strangth it had, Snivy whacked Herdier with its long vines.

"Now! Grass Pledge!" Snivy hit the ground with his tail, making leafy pillars erupt and hit Herdier, throwing it back. "You've still got the drive to do all of this...Tackle!" Ignoring the pain, Snivy charged forward.

"Your determination is astounding." Lenora noted. "But that can only get you so far! Protect!" Snivy bounced harmlessly off of the shield, clutching its head in pain. "Shadow Ball!"

"Get out of there, Snivy!" He nodded and tried to run, but quickly became fatigued, and was thrown back by the mere force of impact. "Oh no..." Defying all odds, Snivy jumped straight back up, panting heavily.

"Your Snivy is an impressive pokemon." Lenora said. "But this is where it ends! Giga Impact!" "Heeeeer..." Herdier jumped up, charging energy.

"Snivy! Defend yourself with Grass Pledge!" "S...ni...vy..." Using the last of its strength, Snivy hit the ground with its tail and surrounded itself with leaf pillars.

"Dieeeeeer!" Herdier charged straight into the leaves, creating an explosion that covered the whole battlefield! When the smoke cleared, both pokemon were sprawled on the ground, heavily injured.

"Herdier! Get up!" Lenora coaxed, the Normal type struggling to his paws.

"Snivy...I'll leave this choice to you..." For a few seconds it looked like he was going to stay down, but very slowly, pushed itself to its hands and knees.

Seconds which felt like hours passed, until Herdier collapsed.

"Herdier is unable to battle! Snivy is the winner! And the victory goes to Elliot!"

I just stood there for a second in pure shock, against all odds, we had one. "Snivy!" I ran over to the starter filled with pride and joy, just in time for him to fall into my hands with swirled eyes. "You fought incredibly hard, you deserve a long rest."

"Gligar." The Pokemon feed Snivy a Sitrus Berry, he had to help the unconscious Grass type chew and swallow, but with it he regained consciousness and smiled tiredly.

"Wow..." Lenora sighed as she walked over with Herdier. "That was one gutsy battle, your pokemon were giving absolutely everything they had out there, they must really value you as a trainer.

I let out Litwick, who cuddled my leg. "I know...I'm truly lucky."

"So..." She held out a holder with a thin rectangular badge with purple squares inside. "As proof off your victory, I present to you the Basic Badge."

I thankfully accepted the badge. "Lenora...thank you!"

"We did it! We got...the Basic Badge!" "Gliiiigar!" "Sni...vy." "Litwiiiiiick!"

After healing up my pokemon, we hit the road again. "I can't believe how strong Lenora was..." I told Gligar, looking at my Badge Case. "And Snivy...he pushed himself beyond his limits, for me."

"Gligar, Gli." My partner pointed out, I somehow knew he was saying that they'd all do the same thing.

I couldn't help but smile. "Helping each other grow stronger...putting unwavering trust in one another...is this what it means to be a Pokemon Trainer?"

I looked up with a huge grin. "Lenora was really strong! So it looks like our path's gonna get REALLY tough! But I'll keep getting stronger together with my friends! That's what being a Trainer's all about!"

Heyo! Thought I'd get one more chapter before Christmas! Sorry it's kinda late...what did you think of the battle? Say in a review!

Thank you so much to Not Official Staff, ThiefofStealth, Razzorow, PokemonKing, Pizzalord, Guest and El Torro for reviewing! I consider you all my friends! (And yes, NOS, your not alone.)

Merry Christmas!