From: BBD127 (bbd127@aol.com) Subject: [PW!] If at first you don't succeed.... Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon Date: 2000/04/26 "Maybe he'll just *give* you the badge," commented Taron. "He knows he can't win against a Staryu." Procyon shrugged. "Maybe. We'll see. Ought to be interesting, anyway." The two approached Brock's imposing gym carelessly, talking easily and discussing the future. They reached it in good time, and Procyon opened the door, peering inside. "Come on in!" came a voice. Both trainers followed the advice, Procyon surveying his surroundings cautiously. He stepped up to the battle area and stared expectantly at Brock. At last the gym leader broke the silence. "Back again?" Procyon nodded. "Rematch time." "And you've caught a water-type, no doubt?" "Well, can you blame me? I didn't really have much of a chance with normal types. I mean, could *you* win with a normal type in this gym?" Brock stared off into space thoughtfully. "Somebody once beat me with a Pikachu...." he murmured. "Hm?" asked Procyon. "Never mind. Two on two?" "Fine." While they prepared for battle, Taron, who had heard Brock, merely pondered what he had said. "Some Pikachu," he muttered. Meanwhile Brock was saying, "Onix, GO!!" Procyon smirked. "Go, Pleiades!!" "Staarr!" "Pleiades, Water Gun!" A stream of water fired from the Staryu's jewel and rocketed into the Onix's hard exterior. Its cry of pain was piteous to hear, but nonetheless it held its ground. Brock smiled at his Pokemon's valiant effort and urged it on confidently. "Don't give up, Onix! Underground, now!!" "GRRROOOONNN!!" The giant gray creature dug into the gym's dirt floor with surprising ease and quickness, leaving a surprisingly small hole for such a massive creature. "Listen closely, Pleiades!" Procyon commanded with a confidence that he didn't feel. "Try to predict where it will come up next. Don't let it get you!" The Staryu danced around nervously, trying not to stay in one spot for too long. The more time that passed without its nemesis surfacing, the more nervous it got. "Star... star... yustar... starstar... staryu?" it said, becoming more frantic as the Onix still did not show itself. Brock let this continue for some time, smiling slightly as he watched his opponent's Staryu grow more and more nervous. At last he gave the command. "Onix, come up!!!" When training Pokemon, it is easy to get so caught up in the study of statistics, types, attacks, and strategies that you forget about the animals themselves. It's easy to forget that, when you get right down to it, all you really have is two physical beings attacking each other. It's easy to forget that, all type differences aside, a Staryu is just a creature like any other, and vulnerable in spite of all. The ground below Pleiades rumbled slightly, heralding the monster's approach before exploding into a giant mass of rock and debris, shooting up into the air with the strength and power of a freight train. This fearsome behemoth slammed all of its weight straight into the quivering Staryu above, smashing it into the ceiling with a crash that made Procyon's heart jump. Five full seconds elapsed before Pleiades fell back to the ground with a sickening THUD. It struggled slightly, got up weakly, and turned to face Procyon. "Starrrr..." it whimpered softly, before collapsing once more. The shards of its brilliant purple jewel now lay around it, shimmering slightly in the lights overhead. There was stunned silence for a moment before Procyon said, in a voice that sounded as shattered as his Pokemon's jewel, "Pleiades, return." He didn't speak again for a moment as he stood, staring with empty eyes at the Onix before him. After a few seconds had elapsed, Brock said in a voice that was clearly trying not to be condescending, "Look, kid, you tried your best. And you didn't do too bad. But gym trainers aren't supposed to be pushovers, even against water types. Like I said, you can come back anytime." Taron felt bad for his friend as well. "There's nothing wrong with giving up a match, as long as you don't let it stop you or your final goal." Procyon let the words run over him, then raised his eyes to meet Brock's. Something flickered in them for a moment before a smile formed on his lips. "Who said anything about giving up?" "What?!" said Brock. "Look, Procyon... I know you want to win. But your other Pokemon don't have a chance against me. You've got to know that. Don't put them through this, just for one battle. It isn't fair to them. Just give up now." But Procyon's grin had not disappeared and Brock knew it was no use; some lessons had to be learned the hard way. He was not surprised, then, when the other trainer plucked a Pokeball from his belt and hurled it into the arena. "Bulletwing, GO!!" he cried. "Doduodododo!!!" it screeched. "All right, Bulletwing, this isn't going to be easy, but we can do it. That thing is weak already, all you have to do is deliver the final blow. It's really big, but it's slow and we can turn both size and speed to our advantage. Growl at it! Lower its attack!!" The Doduo seemed incredulous but did as it was told, letting out a weak growl. "Doduuuu...." "Come ON, Bulletwing, you can do better than that!!" called Procyon. "That little squeak wouldn't scare a Caterpie! I mean GROWL at it!!!" Thus encouraged, it turned and gave it another try. The result was an ear-splitting "DOOOOOOOOO!!!!" "Don't let that discourage you, Onix! Tackle it, now!" The rock monster hurled its body at its tiny opponent, but the little bird was too nimble for it and sidestepped easily. "That's it! Now, give it a taste of its own medicine and Fly up into the air!" It took to the air with a loud cry and began circling the gym, up near the ceiling. Brock's Onix looked up at the faint speck above and sweatdropped. "Oooonnnn?" "Don't worry, Onix! Just let it come, you can take that measly little bird!!" "Bulletwing, dive bomb it! Go for the eyes!!" With startling speed and accuracy, the two-headed Pokemon shot itself towards the only weak spot in its opponent's exoskeleton. It tried to dodge the attack but was far too slow; the bird's twin beaks rammed straight into its eyes. It fainted. "YEEEAAAAH!!!" yelled Procyon. "I won! I won! I actually WON!! I got a Boulder Badge! Haha!!" Both Brock and Taron stared at him uncertainly. Finally Procyon stopped his ranting and turned to face Brock. "What?" "You do realize, don't you, that I still have another Pokemon in reserve?" "Um... oh. Right." He sweatdropped. "Carry on." "Vulpix, GO!" he yelled. "Vuulllll!" "Vulpix, give it a Fire Blast!!" A bright burst of flame shot out of the fox's mouth, shooting through the air and searing Bulletwing. It coughed slightly and fell over. "Doduuuu..." it moaned. "Come on, Bulletwing! Don't stop now! Get back up!!" It righted itself unsteadily and assumed attack position once more. "Vulpix, Tackle it now!!" The bird hadn't even got in a single attack when it felt the animal's weight slammed into its own. It cried slightly, regaining its balance before being rammed again. And again. And again.... At last, it was over. The Doduo, burned, battered, and beaten, fell to the ground. Brock shook his head. "I'm sorry, kid. But look, I warned you. Try again next time." Procyon sighed. "Bulletwing, re- huh?!" The bird, sprawled out on the ground, was glowing brightly. Flashes of multicolored light danced across its charred body, making it shine like a hundred little fireflies all converged into a single mass. "It's... evolving..." said Brock. And indeed it was. The dark room was lit up for a splitsecond by a blinding flash. Moments later, its metamorphosis complete, the Pokemon leapt up into the air with a deafening cry. It circled the room, all fatigue gone, awaiting its next order. "Dodrio!!" smiled Procyon. "My Bulletwing, a Dodrio now!" He couldn't help laughing despite himself. "Awesome! All right, give it a Peck!" A tan blur shot through the air and collided with the little fox, sending it flying. It smashed into it again and again before finally flying up high with a triumphant scream and bringing the full force of its body and beaks straight into the Vulpix. It staggered slightly, swayed, and fainted. Procyon paused. "Did... did I win this time? Is this one for real?" Taron couldn't help laughing. "Yeah, you did it. Don't know how you pulled it off, but you did it." "Well, ok then..." Procyon paused, then shouted, "YEEESSSSSS!!!!!!!" "Well done," commented Brock. "Not bad, not bad at all. Here you go." He handed him a Boulder Badge and the TM for Bide. "Congratulations. I wish you a good journey. And..." he glanced at the boy's Pokemon momentarily, "don't forget to write an entry for that one." Procyon did the impossible and widened his smile even further. "I will." One trip to the PokeCenter and one Pro-dex entry later.... "So, where to next?" asked Taron. "Well," replied Procyon, looking at his map, "Looks like we go to Cerulean City from here. Sound good to you?" "Fine," he said. "Ready?" Taron grinned. "Let's go!!" TBC ~BBD127 "Mr. Data, things are only impossible until they're not." ~Captain Jean-Luc Picard