Subject: [PW!] Aerial Assault Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2003 03:30:16 -0500 From: "Clayton" <redneckdadd@yahoo.com> Organization: Bell Sympatico Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon Ah yes, the Violet City Gym, first gym of the Johto League. Amateur trainers often come here to win their fist badge, the Zephyr Badge, from the local gym leader -- Falkner. At least that's what would happen on a normal day and to normal trainers ... ... but normal trainers don't have the issue of having a killer type DISadvantage against the resident flyers of the Violet City Gym. This would be the main reason why Bob has spent the last half an hour standing or sitting in front of the Gym's doors. His frustration wasn't being helped by a certain Girafarig laughing at him at every chance "I don't notice YOU helping me get in there." he cracked to Raffy. #Ain't my problem breeder boy.# "Uh-huh. And remind me to make you the FIRST pokemon I call out when we get to Azalea Town" Bob snapped back. #You're not that mean# Raffy replied, grinning. #Plus bugs beat grass# "Damn." Bob replied, snapping his fingers. 'Forgot about that' he added in thought. #I heard that# Raffy said, just adding to his trainer's misery. And so the wonderful day continued for Bob. About an hour, and two failed attempts later, Bob decided to give entering the gym one more shot. Sneaking the door open, Bob crept inside. Raffy simply sat down outside counting off the seconds in his head, waiting for what he thought was the inevitable result. Actually inside the Gym, Bob tiptoed through the main floor of the gym, careful of not rustling any papers or feathers or trip over any bird poop. After what could be dubbed the eternal minute, it finally happened. Raffy got bored and snuck up on Bob, the resulting yip got the attention of every single bird on that floor. The Girafarig just rolled over laughing while Bob's eyes almost bugged out of his head. Taking a look behind him at the entrance and then to the stairs ahead of him, he decided to bolt for the stairs. Raffy, smiling on both heads, strutted towards the stairs casually. For Bob, it seemed like a gauntlet from an action movie. There were Pidgeys using Wing Attack and Spearows trying to Peck. And there was even a couple of Farfetch'd trying to use their mad leek skills as well. But like all the contrived action flicks, Bob got to and up the stairs in record time and without serious injury. Thr rest of the trip to the rooftop arena was rather dull in comparison. On the rooftop, Falkner was training with a rather pudgy Pidgey. "Um, you Falkner?" The gym leader in question turned his head and nodded. "Well then I'd like to challenge you for a badge." "You got an electric pokemon?" Falkner asked. Bob shook his head. "Then you're on. My birds'll wipe the floor with you." Falkner declared, moving over to his side of the arena. One of the junior trainers that was with Falkner on the roof was acting as the referee for the match. "This will be a 2 on 2 match with no time limit." Bob sweatdropped and moved to the other side of the arena. Shrugging and muttering about this guy having a grudge against electric pokemon, he failed to notice the Pudgy Pidgey Pecking at his leg. Gently moving it away with a foot, Bob glared at Raffy. "You want to fight in there, or keep the birds from killing me with various aerial attacks?" The Girafarig thought about it for a minute. #Meh, I'll help you.# "Good." Bob replied, getting that straightened out. Taking another pokeball from the ol' belt, he dropped it on the ground, the light coalescing into a Ninetales. It promptly greeted him by shooting a Flamethrower at Bob, missing by a good couple of feet, but making his point clear. Falkner sweatdropped. "Yeah ... well I'm starting with a Pidgeotto that'll actually LISTEN to me," he called out, sending out a Pidgeotto into the fray. Bob sweatdropped. 'If he only knew,' Bob thought. "Buddy, you remember what to do?" He asked the Ninetales. Nodding, the Ninetales unleashed a Confuse Ray, confusing the hapless bird. Falkner shakes his head, realizing his mistake, before trying a new strategy. "Double Team. Make sure that Ninetales can't hit you." Pidgeotto flew around the arena, leaving several copies of itself in various places. Both Bob and Buddy smirked -- the next move was obvious. Before Falkner could say "Quick Attack", Buddy faded out of sight. Falkner looked a bit confused bore Bob answered the unanswered question. "Faint Attack. Hits every time." Bob replied as Pidgeotto plopped to the ground, thoroughly beaten. After a few seconds of Pidgeotto not moving, the referee raised the flag. "Pidgeotto is unable to battle." "Hmph. You may have gotten one of my weaker Pidgeotto's to fight, but I paid good money to get this sucker bred, and I'm going to use it. Get 'em Fearow." A rather impressive-looking Fearow materialized over the arena's floor. Bob looked at the Fearow. "Buddy, it might be faster so fight flyer with fire." "You can't hit what you can't find." Falkner said dramatically. "Faint Attack." And just like Buddy did earlier, Fearow now faded out and smacked around Buddy a bit before fading back in. Buddy was hurt physically, but he was down right irritated that his own bred stunt was used on him. For the next minute, it turnd into a battle of Faint Attacks until a well placed Steel Wing upside Buddy's head knocked him out cold. The referee/junior trainer gave the Ninetales a couple of seconds before declaring him unable to battle. Bob recalled the Ninetales. "Well, dumb lucked worked once, but it's time for a type advantage. Dragonair, you're up." Bob picked out and threw out a pokeball and a Dragonair appeared on the field. "Plan A Dragonair: Trap him in your Dragon Rage." "Not if that dragon's knocked out first. Drill Peck!" Fearow charged at the dragon-type with intent for a one-hit kill. Dodging at the last second got the Fearow's beak stuck in the arena's floor where the full power of the Dragon Rage was focussed. The good news for the Fearow is that the move freed his beak. Bad news: by the time he got his bearings back, he ws eating a full-powered Ice Beam. The Fearow cube dropped out from the sky and shattered, leaving shards of cold ice and one fainted bird. Falkner didn't need to be told that he lost before he recaled the chilled bird and handed Bob the Zephyr Badge. After accepting the badge, the breeder scratched his head. "Um, are those birds going to mob me again?" "They shouldn't have the first time. They really only attack grass-types." Falkner replied chuckling. "Um ... yeah ...." Bob replied. A while later, The sun was setting and Bob was back in the Pokemon Center. He was scarfing down a plate of food, and somehow wondering what was missing. Raffy was eating his own stuff while somebody was in the back room, tending to his Ninetales and Dragonair. "Well, I guess it's find Aerie and see if she knows where to go next. Anything to get this fight out of my head." ------- Clayton