Chapter Text
Luke jumped out of his bed, changing into his trainer outfit as fast as he could. Today was Luke’s first ever gym battle and he was eager to win his first battle. The pair had made it to Violet City from Route 33, late last night and quickly headed to the Pokemon Center to find a place to sleep. Luke was happy with the sitituion since he was a fan of the idea of camping despite Nick’s nonstop mentioning of the activity. Zipping up his jacket, he looked down at Nick who was still asleep in his bed. He wasn’t much of a morning person. Luke thought his messy bed head was cute before his gazed drifted down to his arms wrapped around the pillow. Luke had learned Nick slept with no shirt on and was quite in the fan of it. A slight blush appeared on Luke’s face as he realised he was staring to long. He’ll find me when he wakes up. Luke thought to himself as he ran out of the room.
Luke stood outside Violet City Gym, home to Falkner, the Elegant Master of Flying Type Pokemon. He took a deep breath before stepping inside of the door. Wham! Luke was sudden pushed back a few feet. “S-sorry” Luke mumbled, looking down at the ground, already apolsing for something he didn’t do. “Watch where you're going kid!” A grating, naval voice spat out. Luke looked up to see a teen boy around the same age as him with a careful middle part dyed purple. Luke turned to leave but the teen grabbed his arm yanking him back. “Going to challenge the gym huh?”
Luke nodded in response, struggling to keep eye contact with the aggressive boy. “You’re a bit slow aren’t ya? I already destroyed Falkner and his daddies Pokemon”
“I didn’t know we were racing” Luke replied in a low voice.
The boy grabbed his chin and forced him to look up at him. “I know exactly who you are Luke, You’re Champion Ashley’s son”
Luke looked at him with wide eyes, shocked anyone could even recognize him. Although his mother was famous for being Champion, it wasn’t like that fame passed down to her son, or even her husband. “Your mother destroyed my father’s honour when she unfairly won the championship match. But now I'm here. Evan! And I will beat you and reclaim my family’s honour. Well, that’s if you make it that far, little boy”
Luke could only take so much abuse. “Come on! Let’s battle right here and prove who’s the better trainer!” Suddenly, a white flash appeared and Weedle came out of its balls. It angerily cried at Evan, persumingly having heard the conversation. Evan burst out laughing apon seeing Weedle. “I can see why your ma’s not around anymore. I do would be ashamed if my weakling son had a weakling Weedle. I don’t bother fighting weaklings. See you later bitch!” Evan called out while walking away from the gym.
“Prick” He muttered to himself as he looked down at Weedle who was shaking with rage. Luke crouched down beside him. “Hey, don’t listen to him. You’re very strong!”. Luke’s word seemingly did nothing as Weedle only shook more. It then let out a lound cry and a blinding light shone around his body. Luke fell back covering his eyes from the light in such close proximity. Luke could see Weedle’s boding changing and morphing from within the light. When the light cleared, Weedle was no more and had become Kakuna. Kahuna jumped up and down excitedly. Luke watched on in awe, seeing and evolution happen right before his very eyes. “Yes! Kakuna!” Luke said grabbing his newly evolved Pokemon and standing up.
“Everything okay?” Luke heard Nick’s voice as he turned to greet him. Kakuna jumped from Luke’s arm and down infront of Nick, jumping around him. “A lively one huh?” Nick said with great surprise. “I’m so happy! Now nothing is stopping us from beating Falkner!”
“Wait, but what caused Weedle to evolve?” Nick asked. “I’ll explain later! I need to battle first!” Luke said running through the door. It was half truth as he was scared to tell Nick about Evan. It brought up memories Luke would rather forget.
Stepping into the gym, it was dark room but Luke was able to make out the markings of a field. “Nobody’s home?” Nick asked looking around the dark room with the only light shinning in from the door they entered in.
“A challenger?” A loud voice called out. “Yes!” Luke replied back. “I’m here to challenge the gym leader to a battle”. A loud mechanical noise could be heard as the boys looked up to see the roof was being to open. Light shined through the opening crack and Luke was able to make out Falkner standing on a platform with his hands on his hips.
“So, you want to battle me? I warn you, my flying type Pokemon will out power you in every way!” He called out laughing. “Step forward towards the battlefield and we’ll begin”
Luke took a deep breath and stepped forward. “I’m gonna be in the stands okay? Good luck, I know you can do it” Nick cheered on Luke before sitting down on the stands next to the field.
“This will be a two on two battle! The battle is over once one trainer is unable to fight!” The referee called out. “The challenger will now send out their first Pokemon!”
“Totodile! I choose you!” A white flash appeared as Totodile sprang onto the battlefield, eager to fight. “Go! Hoothoot!” The gym leader called out sending his first Pokemon. “Battle Begin!”
“Let’s go Totodile! Water gun!” Totodile chest swelled before it fired out a fast moving stream of water towards the enemy Pokemon. Hoothoot dodged out of the way, using it’s tall leg to bounce out of danger. “Tackle! Full power!” The bird Pokemon flapped its wings and charged towards Totodile hitting him square in the torso causing the starter Pokemon to fall backwards. “Get close and use scratch” Luke commanded. Totodile leapt and beared his claws to Hoothoot, swinging his arms wildly but the enemy had been trained well and was able to avoid his attacks. “Use leer instead!” Luke said with a bubbling frustration in his voice. Totodile gave a freighting glare at Hoothoot, freezing it in place for a open. Now it was open for attack. Totodile’s claws came at it at rapid speed, slicing the Pokemon multiple times.
“Confuse ray!” Falkner ordered and the Pokemon quickly followed. Its eyes became wide and hypnotic staring deeply at Totodile. “No! Don’t look!” Luke pleaded but it was too late for he was already confused. “Totodile return!” A red hue wrapped around the starter Pokemon as he was called back to his Pokeball. All I have is Kakuna. Great. It’s over. “Go! Kakuna!” Out came Kakuna, bouncing eagerly into battle. What am I do to do? One attack and Kakuna’s out. “Luke! Don’t give up!” Nick shouted from the stands. He was right! I can do this!
“Peck! Let’s finish this fast!” Falkner said ordering his Pokemon. Hoothoot once again began to fly towards Kakuna, its beak sharp and ready. “Harden!” Kakuna’s hard shell shone bright as a new stronger coat wrapped around its body. Hoothoot beak hit down on Kakuna hurting it. Luke flinched but was undeterred in his strategy. “Harden again! Again!” Kakuna did as told, slowly becoming a iron casket. “Stubbornness will get you nowhere in battle” Falkner lectured Luke. “Now! Let’s end this with one last peck!” The bird Pokemon let out a fierce cawk and lunged towards Kakuna. However this time when it’s beak stabbed down into Kakuna, it’s shell was so hard that it hurt Hoothoot more than Kakuna. The flying type recoiled in pain, its wing coming up to touch its sore beak. Falkner let out a surprised gasp watching his Pokemon stumble around in pain. “Poison sting!” Kakuna fired multiple poison darts towards Hoothoot, each one hitting its mark and the bird Pokemon fell to the ground, unable to battle.
“Yeah! Kakuna! I knew you could do it!” Luke cheered at the Bug Pokemon bounced happily in victory. Falkner returned his Hoothoot and grabbed the ball for his next Pokemon. “Not bad, but that was nothing compared to my next Pokemon! Go Pidgeotto!” Pidgeotto flew out it’s ball, flying high into the air thanks to opening roof.
Kakuna fired out another round of poison darts per his trainer's request. Pidgeotto quickly dodged using the open battlefield to her full advantage. It’s too fast. I gotta slow it down somehow. “String shot!” Kakuna fired a string of webbings towards Pidgeotto, wrapping around her wing and leg. With her wing trapped in a cast, the Pokémon began to fall to the ground. “Quick, use wing attack!” Falkner commanded. Pidgeotto flapped its trapped wing with a fierce deadly strike, ripping the webbing and freeing her wing, although a small string of web stayed, wrapped around her leg like a bracelet. “Now, gust!” The flying type flapped her wings are a rapid pace creating a powerful gust of wind, concentrated at Kakuna. Kukuna was sent flying backwards rapidly, slamming against the wall. “Kakuna!” Luke cried out running towards his hurt Pokémon. “Kakuna is unable to battle!” the referee called out.
Luke gripped his last Poke ball. Totodile was still tired from his battle with Hoothoot. Luke had to end this fast before Totodile collapsed from exhaustion. Luke threw the ball and out came Totodile, breathing heavier than before. “Water gun!” Totodile blasted Pidgeotto with a powerful jet of water, but she was quickly able to dodge with a flashy spin. She let out a screech as she followed her trainers' orders and whacked Totodile with a powerful wing attack. The flying type landed on the ground, waiting for Totodile to get back up. That's when Luke noticed the string of web hanging off Pidgeotto’s leg. That was his chance. Thank you, Kakuna. Totodile shook his head and got back up. “Quickly, bite down on that string!” Totodile raced towards Pidgeotto. She tried to escape via flight, but Totodile clamped down hard on the string of web. Still, however, Pidgeotto was strong enough to lift Totodile into the air as it took flight. “Get that Pokemon off of you Pidgeotto!” Falkner cried out as Pidgeotto did a series of spins to shake off Totodile but his jaws would not falter. Now Pidgeotto had no escape and was in perfect range. “Water gun!” Totodile let go of the string, shooting Pidgeotto with a blast of water while falling to the ground. Pidgeotto was drenched and crashed down on the floor while Totodile landed gracefully. “Pidgeotto is unable to battle! The victory goes to the challenger!”
“Yes!” Luke cheered while catching Totodile who jumped into his arms. “You did amazing out there” Luke petted the Pokémon softly. “Luke, that was amazing” Nick said, running up to him from the stands. “Oh, it was nothing really...” Luke awkwardly accepted the compliment.
“Luke, that was quite a battle. You and Kukuna proved how little type match up can matter in a real battle. You have the skills of someone who could become great. That’s why it’s my honor to give you this, a Zephyr badge” Falkner handed the teen his first gym badge. Luke gently grabbed it from his hand and held it up high. “I did it, my first badge” He spoke softly, almost to himself.
“I’m assuming you want to challenge me too?” Falkner turned his attention towards Nick.
“Oh yeah. I do!”
“Well come back later when my team is well rested. My expectations are high after battling your friend here”. With that, Falkner returned to the gym, leaving the two boys alone. “That was a really great battle man, it’s gonna be hard to live up to that” Nick sighed.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be cheering you on from the sidelines” Luke said, gripping his arm with great concern in his voice. Nick smiled back at him, appreciating the support. “Plus, you might as well put those concerns to rest, you ain’t ever going to compare to me”
“What? I’m gonna show you!” Nick argued back.
The two boys continued to argue until they made their way back to the Pokémon center. Nick was nervous to have his first gym battle, but he was determined to win a badge and hearing Luke praise him didn’t sound so bad.