The following morning was filled with the visit to the Pokémon Center here in Pewter City. After a checkup for myself and the rest. I was disappointed to hear I wouldn't be able to participate in the Gym battle. Another two days was required for me to be in tip top condition for training again let alone battling. I know better than to argue with a medical professional. Plus, the look one of the Chansey was giving me promised pain should I not heed it.
Nora and I had received information on how to get a nurse Pokémon while there. It wasn't exactly a common thing. While they weren't restricted to have, most people don't want a Pokémon that don't fight to take up a slot in their team because of the carry limit of six. While I understood it also didn't make much sense. Why wouldn't you want a competent medic? When I was on expedition in my previous life having a single medic per every twelve knights going was standard practice. It could be stretched to one per twenty, but it was rarely that bad.
The standard formations were three knights in a close triangle formation around the medic with three knights on each side of the triangle. The secondary and more heavy formation was a six-point star formation with six protecting the medic and two on each cardinal direction and one on each diagonal. The lead Knight in both formations is in front of the medic. Each other knight that is closest to the medic is equipped with a shield and must be proficient at blocking arrow rain by shield locking.
Nurse Joy said that we would have to go to Celadon City where her cousin works to see about getting a nurse Pokémon. Given the distance from Pewter City to Celadon isn't that far away, however the forest separating Celadon and Pewter isn't safe. Due to the time of year, that area of Kanto is a red area. Direct travel in that area of the forest is restricted by the League and Rangers to those with six badges. The Vileplume and Gloom hanging around south of Route Three, Route Four, and north of Celadon are currently full of newly hatched Oddish according to Nurse Joy. It would be significantly safer to go the traditional way to Cerulean City, south to Saffron City, then west to Celadon. That is unless we want to wait for a few months for the Vileplume and Gloom to leave the area. I don't exactly know the distance or time necessary to go through all those routes or through Mt. Moon, but I presume we'd get there faster going through the routes rather than waiting for the wild Pokémon to move along.
Nora and the nurse spoke about any other options, but there wasn't much in the terms of quick options. The only one that comes to mind is getting a lift from the grizzly old bird Galahad and Sherry. Once we left Nora spoke to me about the very same option, but she seems less than enthused about it.
[I just don't want to rely on mom for everything. During my journey I need to do things on my own with the help of my Pokémon. I only accepted the ride from mom home because I don't trust Viridian City anymore. If I can I'll avoid going there for as long as I can. I might even skip the Earth badge and get two minor badges instead.]
I nodded recalling some information I recall from Nora studying and being quizzed by her father. There are six minor badges across the Kanto region. The Dark badge, the Conch badge, the Metal badge, the Clear badge, the Weather badge, and finally the Sky badge. Thing about those badges is they don't have any typing restrictions. Due to that it takes two of the minor badges in Kanto to pass as a singular badge substitute. Those are the ones recognized as gyms by the league. There are plenty that aren't official, that are working day by day to become one.
[What do you think Alistar? Should we skip Viridian Gym?]
I tilt my head thinking about it. The minor badges are a mixed bag, and they have no uniform for difficulty. This means they could potentially be easier or even harder depending on the rules they have for the gym. Minor gyms have different rules on occasion and can use whatever Pokémon they have on hand regardless of the number of badges a challenger has. I don't really have an answer right now, so I just look up at her from my place in her arms. My lack of opinion made Nora frown a bit, but she needs to make these decisions on her own. This is her journey, and I can't make the decisions for her. We traveled the rest of the way to the Pewter Gym in silence.
The Gym was a rather interesting building. It was a building covered in rocks and painted randomly with bright colors. Heading inside we were in a room with a tan guy behind a desk. He looked up and gave Nora a smile.
[Welcome to Pewter Gym, my name is Forrest. Are you here to Challenge the Pewter Gym Leader or make a report?]
[I'm here to challenge the Gym Leader.] Nora said adjusting her arms around me shifting a bit under the gaze of who I can only assume is a Gym Trainer.
[Ah, well that is unfortunate. Leader Brock left about an hour ago to address some happenings in Viridian Forest as of recently. If you'd like to challenge Brock, he should be back tomorrow. Although I can stand in if you have two or less badges.]
[I suppose that isn't a problem then, this is my first gym battle.] Nora responds without much thought.
[Really?] Forrest's eyes drift down to me, but he continues to speak. [That Vulpix of yours doesn't seem to be at the first badge level.]
[Oh, Alistar won't be battling today. My other Pokémon will be.]
Forrest nods before typing something into the computer in front of him. [I'll need your name so I can look you up.]
[Norielle Carolina.]
Stolen story; please report.
The old computer was slow to load up said information but after double checking that she's signed up for the circuit Forrest stood up and gestured for Nora to follow him. The battlefield wasn't at all that amazing. It was just a rocky battlefield with splashes of faded paint in several places. I was set down next to Nora as she pulled a ball off of her belt. If memory serves that's Belladonna's ball.
[This Gym battle will be between Norielle Carolina of Hammerlock City, in the Galar Region vs. The Pewter Gym Trainer Forrest for the Boulder Badge. This battle will be a two on two with the challenger being allowed a singular switch. The Gym Trainer will release their Pokémon first.] My eyes snap up some girl that seems a few years older than Nora wearing a yellow shirt signaling her as the referee.
Forrest tossed a ball off his belt and out popped a rock with a scowl on its face. A Geodude, this wouldn't be a good fight for Belladonna based on her typing but perhaps she can slow them down a bit.
[Challenger please release your Pokémon.]
Nora nods and tosses Bella's ball. [Belladonna, it's time to battle!]
Belladonna appeared in a flash of white. Her head shifted right to left and seemed to stretch before lifting her head into a striking position.
[Round one, Ekans vs. Geodude. BEGIN!]
=====
It began with the shouting of orders of 'Geodude use rollout!' and 'Bella, Iron Tail!' the clash was extremely one sided and Geodude was launched away by the swing of her tail against the rolling rock-type that was gaining speed. It didn't change the fact Belladonna just took some damage from the clash. The Geodude while it was launched away it kept its rotational momentum and if anything, the rock Pokémon picked up speed while airborne. The ball of rock came around for another go at Bella still rolling and gaining speed.
I can't place precisely how the living rock pulled that off, but it must be something they trained to be prepared for. Nora called for another Iron Tail, and I could only internally nod. I could see only two ways to best this with the current tools Bella has at her disposal. Outlast the rock type by hammering it back each time it approaches or...
Bella's eyes glimmered with brilliance as she shifted herself, lifting her body and putting her whole muscular structure into turning her Iron Tail into a hammer strike instead of a slashing motion like the last one. Slashing motions are good when used by a blade due to the area of the attack and possibility of wide area of damage potential. So instead, she used her tail like one would a Warhammer against a helmet or chest chainmail. Someone wearing chainmail would be strong against slashing and moderately effective against stabbing damage. However, if one were to use extreme blunt force, like a Warhammer? The effectiveness is far more effective.
The strike was far more effective and if that hit a human soldier wearing a helmet, best case they would have a severe concussion. No need to even mention the worst case. The Geodude thankfully is far more durable than what I would expect of a living rock. It was unconscious, and nearly three-fourths buried into the ground. Belladonna nearly nailed the Pokémon completely into the ground.
Belladonna is brilliant, she managed to use her own body like a weapon. She might not be aware of her genius at the moment. I will have to ask her a few questions and put the understanding of what I know of weaponry advantages against different foes. She may end up being versatile enough to be able to apply all three primary attacks with that powerful tail of hers 'Piercing' may be difficult to teach but 'Slashing' and 'Striking' she already has a hold on. As of now I only truly have a hold on striking myself in this new body of mine. I will need to shore up that weakness sooner rather than later.
The next opponent made their presence known with a resounding roar. It was a snake made of literal large rocks and a few smaller boulders. The thing is massive and honestly, I find myself a bit unnerved looking at it. I am far smaller than I once was, but it is not my foe. Belladonna and Zinnia have to face this. It is two against one, yes. I find it is more in the rock snake's favor than I'd like. Iron Tail is really the only truly effective move that Belladonna has against Onix. Zinnia has Vine Whip and Razor Leaf both are highly effective attacks but on a Pokémon of that size being effective isn't enough. Bella will have to do all she can to leave a weak spot.
My mind froze its processing when Belladonna was recalled by Nora, and I couldn't help but look up at my Lady trying to grasp her intention. Nora was silent while she clipped the ball to her belt and grabbed hold of Zinnia's throwing it with enthusiasm. Her eyes were focused on the battlefield with a coolness I would have found in a seasoned fighter. Turning my head, Zinnia appeared with a blazing intensity. Zinnia was standing firm like a soldier ready for war. The feelings of confidence and fearless determination were oozing from her as she lifted her eyes up at the Onix and shifting her stance to fight. It seems she had been watching closely when I was fighting that Raticate, as it mirrored my own with a slight alteration.
The fight was re-started with a shout of, 'SLAM!' Once it was said Zinnia bolted and was on the move just like I taught her to do. That endurance and stamina training would be useless if she didn't keep moving. 'Vine Whip!' Nora's voice came out crisply over the sound of the giant rock snake smashing into the ground. The dust the slam kicked up made it difficult to see, but that big of a target wasn't that hard to hit. A roar of pain came from the dust but when it cleared the huge snake was gone. I spotted Zinnia still moving her eyes had slid across the battlefield once before she focused her attention on the ground and its rumbling. She leapt to the left as the Onix's huge head broke through the ground.
'Pelt it with Razor Leaf!' Zinnia responded launching two large Razor Leaf from the leaf on her head with a single swing. The leaves collided with the Onix's head as it attempted to retreat back into the ground causing another roar of pain. Onix made it back into the ground, and Zinnia kept moving. Her current movement could use work though. She needs to change direction and add a feint or two especially against an enemy that is underground looking for an opportunity to strike. As if my mind was read Zinnia made to dodge left but put everything into leaping to the right. Zinnia slid a bit her leaf knocking aside a rock that was heading her way as two Vine Whips extended from her neck and wrapped firmly around the horn on Onix's head and yanking herself towards the rock snake, the leaf on her head glowing a deep forest green. The leaf extended slightly, and it rotated across the face of the Onix cutting a deep gash. Zinnia landed facing her opponent the leaf on her head still glowing with power.
Onix teetered for a moment before its head slammed down launching up a small cloud of dust. The dust cleared quickly, plainly showing the opponent unconscious. The state of her opponent made Zinnia sigh in relief slumping to the ground legs sprawled making her look like a very odd starfish.
Nora had obtained her first badge with a resounding victory, and I couldn't be prouder.
