Subject: [PW!] Storm gathering Date: Wed, 01 Jan 2003 16:39:14 GMT From: Worry <Not@acceping.today> Organization: RoadRunner - Triad Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon Becky, with Travis in tow, spent the morning training. Making sure that her fighting pokemon were warmed up and ready to go, then spending time training Double You. The shiny Unown was pretty weak. His first battle against a smallish Krabby resulted in his being fainted within a minute. She had begun to despair that it would ever gain experience, but she Wanted to see it become a battler. Two hours later, the shiny Unown was surviving a bit better, and in a rematch with the smallish Krabby, he managed to eek out a win. Becky grew tired of calling out "Hidden Power!" and decided that was enough for that day. Back in his Dark ball, Dbu was satisfied. Battling was tough, but he had gained strength. It was a good enough start. At last she was ready for her attempt to win a Badge from Chuck. The Cianwood Gym was a flurry of activity when the traveling companions arrived. The students were all going through the rigorous training in the martial arts under Chuck's watchful eye. Now and then he would stop a student saying "Timmy, that punch needs more shoulder into it!" Showing what he meant and making the student repeat the move again and again until he was satisfied. It all brought back fond memories for Becky. Though her Sensei taught her one on one, having no other students at the time. Most of the students were paired off sparring, throwing controlled force punches at each other, but three were off in a corner of the room, practicing forward thrust kicks at practice dummies. Looking in that direction, Becky spied a blonde headed girl. Belle was throwing hard kicks, her bare foot rocking the practice dummy. But after each kick, the girl stumbled back a bit. Becky saw that her plant foot was set at a slight angle, throwing her balance off. Becky was about to walk over to give the blonde a few tips, when she was interrupted by Chucks booming voice. "Ho there! We have visitors!" And suddenly the slightly chubby gym leader was in front of her. "Im sorry, Sensei." Becky stated with a respectful bow. "I didn't mean to interrupt your training session. I have come to challenge for a gym badge. But I can wait until you are done." "Nonsense, young lady." Chuck boomed. "I will accept your challenge! I saw you in Scarlet, didn't I? You won the tournament?" All the activity in the gym had ceased as the student looked at the newcomers. Most wore expressions of curiosity, but out of the corner of her eye, Becky saw Belle regarding her with an odd expression. Resentment was evident, and possibly outright hostility. Becky wondered about that for a moment, then dismissed it as she answered the gym leader. "Yes sir." "I wondered then, and was going to ask before we got interrupted, about that outfit you are wearing. Is it just decoration, or did you earn the right?" Chuck asked casting an appraising eye over the girl. If Becky resented the implication, she didn't show it as she immediately answered. "I studied Martial Arts for six years under my Sensei, Hiro Matsuta. I earned the black belt in two disiplines." "Matsuta, huh? I thought he quit taking on students years ago." Chuck replied thoughtfully "He made an exception in my case, sir." Becky informed him. "He and my parents were close friends, and he agreed to teach me at my fathers request." "I see." Chuck replied. "Then let's see how well you learned. Take a fighting stance!" He ordered. Becky hadn't come here for this, but she obeyed nonetheless. Standing with feet shoulder width apart, one just slightly behind the other, her hands held at the ready at waist height, she held the ready position as Chuck began walking around her appraisingly. After a time, the Cianwood city gym leader said "Textbook." Returning to stand in front of the gi-clad girl, he placed his large hand on her chest. The overly familiar gesture would seem strange to most people, and Chuck could have gotten in trouble, but Becky knew what was coming. Chuck pushed gently against her breast bone, smiling when the girl didn't budge. His grin grew wider when he pushed harder and she still held her position. "Great balance!" Chuck then took a similar stance to Becky's in front of her and stated. "Three blows. respond to all three, then you are permitted one in return!" Before Becky could respond, Chuck was in motion. throwing a straight right jab right at her face! Becky's left hand came up from her waist, the back of her hand catching the gym leader's fist and sending it high. As she did, Becky realized that it wasn't a half speed blow. If it had connected, it would have hurt like hell! Becky had no time to object, as Chuck followed up with a left. Becky's right hand described and arc and knocked Chuck's blow to the side. But the gym leader was already in motion, his right foot coming up off the floor and spreading towards her head in a roundhouse kick. Becky ducked under it and it sailed harmlessly over her. As Chuck followed through on the spin to come back to the ready position, Becky took her shot. Aiming at the biggest target she could find, she used the same forward thrust kick that she had seen Belle practicing earlier. Her foot made solid and satisfying contact with the gym leaders paunchy belly, and Chuck grunted at the impact. He absorbed the blow, but appeared amazed at how much force the tiny girl had put into the kick. As he left the fighting stance, he couldn't stop a huge grin from forming. Sudden tears streamed down his face as he cried out "Excellent! You have learned well!" Becky left her fighting stance and went into a respectful bow, accepting the compliment. "Thank you Sensei." "If your pokemon are as well trained as you are, then I wont have an easy time of it today." Chuck stated "Let us adjourn to the arena and see how well you do!" With that Chuck walked away. As Becky moved to follow, one of Chuck's Gi-clad male students approached her and asked to see her Pokegear. He recorded some information off of it, then took a position to the side of the battle area. As this was going on, Travis made his way over to Chuck's students who were gathered to watch the battle. Off to the side a bit, Travis saw Belle. Making his way over to her. he said, "Hello Belle. Very nice to see you again." "Hi handsome." Belle replied. "Just couldn't keep away, could you? Had to follow me here all the way from the Whirl Islands. But did you really have to bring HER along?" Before Travis could form a response, he was interrupted by Jimmy the referee. "This will be a two on two match for a Storm Badge. Chuck of Cianwood Gym versus the blue trainer, Becky Thornbird of Trovita Island! Let the match begin!" "I'll get things started." Chuck stated. "In honor of your win at the Whirl Cup, I will choose a water Pokemon to battle. Since he did't get to see any action there, I choose Poliwrath!" A Poliwrath appeared on the field and put its fist together before making a slight bow. Chuck sweat dropped. Poliwrath had been doing that ever since seeing a small Mukrow do it a few days earlier. At least the Poliwrath changed the bow to be in line with a fighting gym. "Then I choose Fireslap!" Becky called out releasing the Hitmonlee onto the arena floor. Fireslap began bouncing from foot to foot while throwing half speed punches in the air. Once more, tears streamed down Chuck's face as he said "Oh! What a fine looking Hitmonlee! It is so good to see a member of the under utilized Fighting class!" Then Chucks tears dried up as quickly as they appeared and he went on, "But don't think I am going to take it easy on you just because you use fighting pokemon! Poliwrath, use Dynamic Punch!" "Fireslap, use your agility to dodge it!" Becky called out. Poliwrath approached the Hitmonlee with a fist spinning wildly, prepared to deliver a punishing blow. But just as he let the attack fly, Fireslap disappeared and reappeared behind the Poliwrath. As Poliwrath spun to catch sight again of his foe, Fireslap once more flitted behind the half water type. "Poliwrath, find it with Mind Reader!" Chuck yelled out. "Fireslap, use Substitute!" Poliwrath screwed his fists up to his temple trying to locate the swiftly flitting Hitmonlee with his mind. but just as it did so, Hitmonlee appeared ten feet in front of him, standing stock still. "Now Poliwrath, use Dynamic punch again!" Chuck cried watching in satisfaction as Poliwrath rushed the still form in front of him, fist whirling in a blur. "Fireslap, counter with Headbutt!" Becky called out. The Poliwrath reached the still form of Fireslap and the Dynamic punch struck home. When it did, the Hitmonlee appeared to shatter. But even as the substitute broke apart, the real Fireslap appeared behind the shocked Poliwrath and drove his head sharply down into the back of Poliwrath's own. "Now, before he can recover, use high Jump Kick!" Becky called out pressing the advantage. Fireslap leapt into the air, coming down foot first into the exact same spot that the Headbutt had struck. The still reeling Poliwrath was driven down face first into the arena floor, where he laid still. "Poliwrath is unable to battle!" Jimmy called out pointing a blue flag at Becky "Fireslap is the winner!" "Very good." Chuck said happily as he recalled the fainted Poliwrath. "But can you deal with my number one battler? Machoke, I choose you!" Chuck cried releasing the Machoke right in front of himself. "Machoke, Focus your energy!" The Machoke thrust his arms out in front of himself and appeared to take on a glow as he focused himself for the fight. "Fireslap, use Substitute!" Fireslap concentrated a moment then became totally still once more. "Don't be fooled! Use Karate Chop!" Chuck bellowed. The Machoke ran over to the still Hitmonlee and brought a hand down viciously into his head. Once more, the Substitute shattered and the real Fireslap appeared behind the Machoke. "Headbutt!"Becky called But the Machoke had seen what happened to the Poliwrath and was ready. Spinning in place, arms crossed about his chest, Machoke let fly with a devastating Cross Chop that caught the Hitmonlee perfectly on either side of the head as he was trying to land the Headbutt. Fireslap stood for a moment grimicing in pain before his eyes rolled up into the back of his head and he slumped to the gym floor, fainted by the Critical Hit. "Fireslap is unable to battle, Machoke is the winner!" Jimmy cried out enthusiastically pointing his red flag at his Sensei." Becky recalled the fainted pokemon and regarded Chuck's smug look as she pulled her next pokeball. "I'll have to fight experience with experience. Go Kicker!" She called out releasing the Hitmochan. Once more tears streamed down Chuck's face, and his voice broke as he ordered, "Machoke, focus energy!" "Kicker, use Mind Reader!" Becky called out. Once more the Machoke glowed, and Kicker put clawed hands to either side of his head as his eyes glowed. "Lets finish this one quick!" Chuck called out. "Use Cross Chop! Get another Critical!" The Machoke rushed the concentrating Hitmonchan and delivered his strongest attack. but just before it struck home, Becky yelled out. "Kicker, Counter!" The Machoke delivered the attack, but the follow through left him wide open. With his arms spread wide, Machoke could do nothing as Kicker's clawed foot landed in his belly, lifting him from the floor and sending him sailing backwards as the Counter attack returned twice the damage he had inflickted. As the Machoke struggled gamely to his feet, Becky cried out, "Now, Kicker! High Jump Kick!" The Hitmonchan obiediantly launched himself through the air, landing another clawed foot into Machoke's face just as the blue pokemon gained its footing. Machoke was once more launched backwards, this time completely out of the battle arena and into the wall behind Chuck. Machoke slowly rode the wall to the floor, coming to rest in a sitting position with his eyes closed. "Machoke has been defeated! The winner of the battle and the match is Becky Thornbird!" The students, though Loyal to Chuck, nevertheless cheered at the great match they had seen. Chuck himself was beaming as he recalled the fainted Machoke then approached the Black Belt. "In all my years as a gym leader, I have never been so proud to give out the Storm badge." Chuck said fondly as he handed the prize over. "I couldn't be more proud of you if you were one of my own students!" Becky accepted the badge then bowed and said, "Thank you. It was a tough battle!" "I only hope I can do half as well tomorrow." Travis stated coming up beside his traveling companion and placing a congratulatory hand on her shoulder. At Chuck's look of askance, Travis added. "I will be challenging you tomorrow." "Are you a fighter too?" Chuck asked. "No sir. Not hardly." Travis answered. "I let Becky handle all the rough stuff. I am here to provide the tender moments." As he was saying that, Belle came up. Hearing the words she blushed a deep crimson. Travis didn't notice, but Becky did. The Blush was gone as quickly as it appeared, and was replaced with the same hostile expression as she had earlier as Belle regarded Becky. "Congratulations on the victory." The blonde told the black haired girl with ill grace. Not giving the Black Belt a chance to respond, Belle turned to Travis and said, "Lets continue our conversation somewhere a bit more private." The two of them had been talking throughout the gym match. As Belle dragged the purple headed teen away, Travis called out to Becky, "I'll see you back at the pokecenter" Which earned him an extra hard tug from the blonde. Chuck watched the pair leave with troubled eyes, but he didn't feel the need to intervene. Turning to Becky he stated. "To celebrate your victory, I insist you stay for the midday snack! You can tell me all about Hiro Matsuta. I haven't seen him in many years!" Becky wanted to decline, but Chuck wasn't taking no for an answer. As soon as she saw the spread of snacks laid out by Chucks lovely wife, The situation with Travis and Belle fled her mind. -- Worry's first SIG sig file ------------------------------------------------------------------ *"It takes a Worried man to sing a Worried song..." Kingston Trio* *And the award for the funniest line in a cartoon goes to Superman who remarked "Don't look at me, I just catch 'em!" after stopping a crane thrown by Bizzaro from crushing a wedding party.* Proud owner of 300 fake code points