There's a First Time for Everything

Gin approached the gym with a conscious look on his face. Walking into the gym, Kazaru was amazed by the Gym simply because it was the first time they've been in one. The two of them stood there and awaited the greeting of the Gym Leader.

Welcome challenger. I am the gym leader Mike. The rules are simple two pokemon battle. Only you can substitute. If you win you receive my badge as proof of your victory. Mike said throwing one of his pokeballs in the air sending out Roggenrola. Now lets get this started. Show me how far you and your pokemon have come. He said waiting for Gin to send out his first pokemon.

Gin looked at the gym leader as he presented himself with that Pokemon. He had heard about the Gym Leader having rock Pokemon, so he figured that he would use something good against Rock Pokemon. He threw out a Poke Ball, and out of it came Scraggy. He then said, "Zukin, use Faint Attack then Low Kick." The Fighting/Dark type did just that. It disappeared and reappeared behind the Roggenrola, then used the move Low Kick. Gin and the Monferno simply watched the Pokemon battle.

How foolish. Jump then Rock Tomb. Mike yelled, Roggenrola jumping up in the air dodging the low kick then falling back to the ground. As Roggenrola hit the ground rocks shot up from it around Zukin, trapping in a cage of rocks stopping its movements ever so slightly.

Gin looked as the Scraggy was trapped. He found that it would be pretty difficult for the Pokemon to escape, but they could try anyways. Gin then said to the Scraggy, "Use Low Kick on the rocks." After saying that, the Scraggy kicked the rocks causing them to crack and fall to the ground. The Scraggy then stood up and Gin said, "Use Faint Attack." The Scraggy then disappeared again and reappeared next to the Roggenrola going to sucker punch it.

Harden. Mike said, Roggenrola standing still increasing its defense as it was hit and sent flying back. Now to sand attack. Mike said again his Roggenrola yes having taken some damage but because of harden not enough, started throwing sand at Scraggy.

Gin watched as the hit connected and it was good to see their attack hit. Then when the Roggenrola used Sand Attack, Gin said, "Counter it with your own Sand Attack, then Faint Attack again." The Scraggy did just that, blocking the attack of the Rock type. After which it disappeared and did the same as it did the last time; going to sucker punch the Roggenrola from the side.

Well the two sand attacks countering each other was something interesting to say the least as the sand just fell to the ground. Not like any of that mattered anymore as now Scraggy was onside Roggenrola and hitting it across the field again. But taking advantage of its sliding Roggenrola used Rock tomb again forcing rocks to shoot out of the ground trapping Scraggy yet again. Now get it. Mike said as Roggenrola used sand attack again throwing a massive amount of sand at the trapped Scraggy.

Gin watched the Scraggy attack then get pinned again. It would seem that this move that the Roggenrola was using was their signature move or something; it was interesting in the least. Gin then said, "Use Low Kick again." After he said that, the Fighting/Dark type kicked the rocks that pinned it and caused it to crack and fall once again. When the rocks fell, so did Zukin, so it had just avoided the attack from the Roggenrolla. Things were going good for Gin... for now. He then said, "Use Low Kick." The Scraggy then pulled up its pants and darted towards the Roggenrolla and kicked at the Rock type.

Standing its ground Roggenrola waited till Scraggy got close then jumped forward at it. Now Headbutt. Mike yelled as Roggenrola jumped straight at Scraggy's kick, the two colliding sending both of them flying back. Roggenrola still standing thanks to its two earlier harden's wouldn't last much longer but at least it was standing.

Gin watched as the Scraggy had bounced back towards him and hop back up. He wasn't surprised by how intense this battle had gotten, but it wasn't over just yet. He knew for sure that they needed to try harder. He then yelled out, "Faint Attack, again!" The Scraggy then ran towards the Rock Type only to disappear before reaching it. It then reappeared directly in front of it and punched towards the Roggenrola. This battle was getting really interesting.

Now it was over to Roggenrola, the next attack slammed Roggenrola into the ground only to reveal that it was KO'ed. You did a good job. Come out Cranidos. Mike said returning Roggenrola then sending out Cranidos his final and strongest pokemon.

Gin watched as the Roggenrola was defeated, and he was glad that he was now past the first part of the battle. He looked to the Scraggy and it looked like it wanted to keep fighting, but he could tell it was still tired. He then returned the Pokemon to its Poke Ball and looked to the Monferno standing next to him. The Monferno looked back and he said, "You ready, Kazaru?" The monkey's eyes had widened as it jumped out on the battle field, bouncing from one foot to the other; it was in a fighting stance. Gin then said, "Use Mach Punch." The Monferno's right arm was now glowing and it disappeared. It reappeared in front of Cranidos, quickly punching towards the Fossil Pokemon's face.

Hmph..Rock Tomb. Mike said as Cranidos just stood there stomping its foot on the ground as rocks shot up from the ground trapping Kazaru in rocks, stopping his fist right in front of Cranidos. Now headbutt. Mike said, Cranidos bringing its head back and going to slam it on Kazaru.

Gin watched the Monferno get trapped by the rocks and said, "Mach Punch." The monkey then broke the rocks that were trapping it with a swift punch, then it aimed the punch directly at the Cranidos' Headbutt. It seemed like the two attacks were going to clash, but who knows. Gin simply watched and waited.

Indeed the two attacks did clash sending them both back but causing Monferno more damage due to not destroying the rocks behind it, which it was sent through from the clash. Well that took its toll. Mike said, Cranidos obviously feeling more damage then Monferno.

Gin had watched the Pokemon struggle to get up and he was surprised that it took that much damage. He was sure that the Monferno would have been able to overpower the Cranidos, but he was wrong. Kazaru had stood up and shook the dirt and chip of rocks off of its body. It looked to its trainer then to the Rock Type and it had this rage in its eyes. It was ready to fight. Gin then said, "Mach Punch again." Arms glowing, it disappeared only to reappear in the face of the Cranidos going to uppercut it with the Mach Punch. Gin watched his Starter Pokemon fight with its all.

And do it again. Mike said, knowing that this strategy that was being used by his opponent was easy to read. He was trying to use the fighting-type advantage to against him and then using Mach Punch he had all the speed he needed to finish the battle, but Mike wasn't going to allow that. Being the gym leader he already seen people trying to use the type advantage idea and he learned how to deal with it. Cranidos stomping on the ground again, used Rock Tomb, forcing more rocks to shoot out the ground trapping Monferno, before it could even strike Cranidos. Doing the same routine as before Cranidos went in for another headbutt, this might turn into a battle of who could take the most punishment.

Being trapped once again, Kazaru was starting to get upset. He crashed out of the rocks that was used to pin him down with a Mach Punch and jumped back out of the Cranidos' Headbutt. It then used Mach Punch once more, but this time it stalled it. It ran towards the Rock type then disappeared before it would have punched the Fossil Pokemon. It then reappeared right above the Cranidos, striking down on the head of Rock Type Pokemon with the Mach Punch that it had prepared earlier. This attack had caused the Cranidos to go straight into the ground face first. The Pokemon then jumped back out of the way of the Rock Type Pokemon just in case it was gonna try and get up and do something, that was if it could get and do something. The Monferno and Gin both watched the Pokemon waiting for its next move.

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Being flung across the field Cranidos didn't have a chance at all for surviving that attack. Hitting the ground Cranidos didn't even bother to get up as the smoke cleared and it was already knocked out. Well good job young man. Mike said walking over to Gin and handing him the badge, a TM, and 1200 pokedollars. This badge is proof of your succession over my gym. Keep up the good work and grow even stronger with your pokemon.

Gin gratefully took the items and thanked the Gym Leader for a good experience. He then returned the tired Monferno to its Poke Ball and went to a Pokemon Center. After going there, they set off again to places unknown. They were on their way to become a Pokemon Master.

[Exit]