Chapter 628: Black's Normal Gym Battle
~Third POV~
[Unova Region, Nacrene City – Museum (Gym)]
The autumn breeze sweeping through Nacrene City carried the dry, sharp scent of ancient stone and weathered parchment. Underneath the canopy of ancient trees that lined the cobbled streets, the grand façade of the Nacrene Museum—and the city's official Pokémon Gym—loomed imposingly.
*Clack-clack-clack*
Footsteps echoed against the polished marble stairs as Black strode purposefully toward the entrance, his fists clenched in a familiar, fiery rhythm. Just as he reached the heavy oak doors, they swung open. Out stepped Cheren, adjusting his collar with his usual composed neatness, a faint smile gracing his lips.
Cheren greeted, holding up a small, gleaming piece of metal. He said confidently, "Ah, Black. Just finished my battle and won the Basic Badge."
Black's eyes widened, a wide, competitive grin instantly splitting his face. He exclaimed, "No way! You beat her already?!"
Cheren nodded as he said firmly, though his eyes darted past Black to Azure trailing a few paces behind, "Yes. And Bianca and I will be moving on to the next City. You'd better hurry up, Black. You're falling behind."
Black declared, his voice booming with absolute certainty and confidence, "Hah! I'll catch up in a heartbeat!"
Cheren offered a small, knowing smile, muttered a brief farewell, and walked down the steps. The moment he was gone, Black spun around, completely electrified, ready to burst through the doors.
Stepping into the grand hall, Black and his companion were immediately enveloped by history. Towering skeleton exhibits of ancient dragon-type Pokémon arched toward the vaulted ceilings, while massive stone slabs covered in indecipherable runes lined the walls. In the center of the room, a massive, jagged meteorite hummed with a strange, cosmic energy, casting a cool blue light over the polished floor.
A voice called out from the side, "Well, look at this."
A man in a rugged curator's vest walked out from behind a display case, pushing up his glasses. He said politely to them, "Need a tour, kids? Or are you just wandering through the history of Unova?"
Black didn't miss a beat as he replied, introducing the curator to Azure, "You're Hawes! The director of the museum, and Gym Leader Lenora's husband!"
Hawes blinked, pleasantly surprised. He said, surprised, "Well, someone's done their homework. And who might you two be?"
Black thumped his chest proudly, introducing himself, "I'm Black! And I'm here to challenge the Gym!"
Stepping forward, Azure offered a calm, easygoing nod, his hands tucked casually into his jacket pockets. Perched comfortably on Azure's right shoulder, a bright yellow Pikachu twitched its long ears, while an Eevee resting squarely on his head let out a sleepy 'Vui…'
Azure introduced himself smoothly, a faint, mystic glint flashing in his eyes as a tiny Pichu (Mew)—shifted inside the inner lining of his jacket said casually, "And I'm Azure. Also a Gym Challenger for his Ace Gym Match. Though I'm more than happy to let our hot-headed friend here go first and test the waters."
*BEEP*
Before Hawes could reply, the large digital display screen mounted on the back wall flickered to life. A woman with dreadlocks tied back neatly beamed down at them, letting out a hearty, booming laugh.
Lenora's voice echoed through the grand hall's speakers, "Ah, the challengers who made the appointment this morning! Welcome to the Nacrene Gym! I've been waiting for you in my private room. Good luck finding your way up here, boys!"
*BEEP*
The screen blinked off. Hawes chuckled, crossing his arms as he said casually, "Well, you heard her. To reach the exhibition room and the stairs down to her study, you'll have to find the clues hidden in the library."
Black bolted toward the arched doorway leading to the massive archive of books, leaving Azure to casually follow behind, a digital device glowing softly in his hand, "Got it!"
*Bzzzt*
The Arc Phone in Azure's hand projected a floating, holographic orange-and-blue apparition. Rotom peeked out from the screen, its electronic voice buzzing with amusement, and chimed in, Ooh! Ooh! It's a scavenger hunt! How delightfully retro! Like an old-school text adventure game, Zzt!"
Azure murmured, side-stepping a towering bookshelf, "Indeed. Classic puzzle mechanics. Perfect for a museum."
From the shadows clinging to the corner of the high ceiling, a pair of glowing purple eyes blinked open. A sleek, violet phantom drifted downward, phasing silently through a stone pillar until it hovered just above Azure's shoulder.
Gengar rasped in a hushed whisper that only Azure and his immediate Pokémon could hear, "Ke-he-he… humans love playing hide-and-seek with books. Should I give the kid a scare and point out the button?"
Azure replied, amused, watching as Black frantically pulled a thick, leather-bound tome from a shelf, "No, let him work for it."
Black shouted, a folded piece of paper sliding out from the pages. He scanned the memo furiously, "Aha! Okay! Go to the middle shelf... take a step backward... one step left... and two steps forward!"
*Click—GROAN*
True to the instructions, Black stomped his foot against the hardwood floor. A faint click echoed beneath his boot. With a mechanical groan, the massive bookshelf beside him slowly swung outward, revealing a set of dark stone stairs descending into the subterranean depths of the museum.
Black grinned back at Azure. He said, "Right this way!"
Descending into the basement, the atmosphere shifted. The air was cool, heavy with the scent of old dust and polished stone. Standing by a large oak desk surrounded by glowing display cases was Gym Leader Lenora.
She turned, clapping her hands once in approval as she said, "3 minutes and 30 seconds. Not bad at all, Black. Fast reactions."
Black said casually, rubbing the back of his neck with a grin, "I used to visit these libraries all the time when I was a kid. I know my way around a book index better than anyone!"
Lenora's eyes gleamed with sharp intellect replied, "I can see you're prepared. You're radiating pure enthusiasm. And I suspect you've already figured out my typing."
She crossed her arms, glancing past Black to the young man hanging back. Then she asked curiously, "And who's the audience?"
Azure said smoothly, walking over to a wooden spectator bench and sitting down, Pikachu hopping off his shoulder to curl up in his lap while Eevee yawned and settled beside him, "I'll take a backseat for now. Take your time, Black. Show us what those nine years of dreaming are made of."
Lenora nodded, stepping up to the chalk-drawn battle square on the stone floor. She then declared the rules as she tossed a Poké Ball forward, "A 2-on-2 battle it is. Let's see what you've got!"
*Clang*
Out materialized a massive, rugged canine with a majestic, thick gray coat—a Stoutland. Black slammed his fist into his open palm as he declared, hurling his Poké Ball forward, "Go, Musha! Let's do this!"
*POP*
A pink, dream-eater Munna materialized, floating gently in the air with a soft battle cry, "Munn… NA!"
Lenora raised an eyebrow, a Patrat peeking out from the pouch of her apron within its Poké Ball, being transparently clear. Lenora said slyly, "Welcome, challengers. But tell me... do you mind if I see your other Pokémon?"
Black declared, "Not a chance! Musha, start us off! Use Hypnosis!"
*Hummm*
Musha's eyes glowed with a hypnotic, swirling purple ring of light. A wave of psychic energy washed over Stoutland, attempting to pull the massive dog into a deep slumber.
Stoutland's eyelids grew heavy, but with a sudden, thunderous bellow, it unleashed a violent concussive wave of sound: "Grrrr… BARK! ARF!!"
"ROAR!"
*BOOM*
The sound wave shattered the hypnotic waves instantly, but the sheer force of the technique slammed into the air behind Musha, acting as a mandatory switch move under the effects of Roar!
*Whoosh*
A red beam shot out of Black's belt, violently yanking Musha back into its Poké Ball against Black's will, and in its place, a massive, proud avian burst into the air with a sharp, piercing cry, "BRAV?! (Nani?! It's my turn already?)."
Black gasped, stumbling back a step, "What?!"
Lenora stated calmly, her eyes flashing with tactical brilliance, "Stoutland used Roar. And now... Stoutland, Ice Fang!"
Before the Braviary could even steady its wings, Stoutland lunged forward at blinding speed. Its jaws locked around Braviary's wing, glistening with a lethal, frost-bitten aura, with a loud CRUNCH!
*CRUNCH*
Braviary shrieked in absolute agony as crystalline frost instantly spread across its feathers, chilling the air in the basement, "Kaaah!"
Rotom chimed loudly from Azure's Arc Phone, hovering slightly higher to get a better view of the ongoing battle, "Zzt! Critical hit! Frostbite effect applied! That dog packs a serious bite, Zzt!"
Gengar muttered, her red eyes narrowing at Black's Braviary, "The bird is taking heavy structural damage. And the kid looks like his brain is about to short-circuit from overthinking."
Black gritted his teeth, sweat beading on his forehead as he thought worriedly, 'She predicted it! She had Patrat look beyond its Poké Ball and saw I was carrying Braviary, and she countered my switch-in with Roar!'
Black muttered aloud, his fists trembling, "I messed up. I didn't prepare enough... I underestimated Patrat's eyesight!"
Lenora shook her head, her voice firm as she stated, "It doesn't matter how many books you've read, challenger. Knowledge in a textbook is useless if you can't adapt to the reality of the battlefield!"
Lenora extended her arm and ordered, "STOUTLAND, TAKE DOWN!"
*BAM*
With a brutal charge, the massive dog slammed Braviary directly against the stone wall of the basement!
*CRASH—Thud*
Braviary dropped out of the air, hitting the floor with a heavy thud. A thick layer of ice completely encased its left wing…
It struggled, twitching weakly, on the verge of fainting. Black rushed forward, kneeling beside his partner, and exclaimed, "Brav!"
He looked up, his chest heaving. Black felt relieved, then asked her, "Lenora... why did you build your gym with a basement?"
Lenora blinked, surprised by the sudden, unrelated question. But she answered, "It's obvious. This is my study room. Battles and historical artifacts fascinate me. I keep them both down here so they're safe, where I can study them properly."
Black whispered, staring at the ancient fossils glowing inside their glass cases, "You don't want any harm to come to these relics."
Lenora replied softly with a fond expression, "Of course not. They are our roots. They tell us where we came from."
Black stood up slowly, a fierce, blazing light returning to his eyes. He declared in a determined tone, "I have the same idea! My dream of winning the Pokémon League isn't just mine—it's a goal my Pokémon and I share! We've trained for this with everything we have. Our hearts, our bodies, our moves... they're completely in sync!"
*Fwp-fwp—FWP*
From the ground, Braviary let out a low, defiant screech, its eyes snapping open, "BRAVVV!!! (I'm not out yet…!!)."
Lenora raised an eyebrow in genuine astonishment, commenting, "Can it still fight, even with its body frozen solid?"
Black roared, "Watch us! Brav! Whirlwind!"
Despite the frost clinging to its feathers, Braviary whipped its massive wings around, generating a violent, localized gale-force wind inside the confined basement.
*WHOOSH*
*POP*
The swirling tempest caught Lenora completely off guard, instantly forcing Patrat out of the battle and dragging it away from the sidelines, disrupting the Gym Leader's formation. Black smiled triumphantly and stated, "My Brav can drag a Pokémon out of battle just as easily! Patrat's eyesight might be incredible, but it can't see everything coming!"
Lenora murmured, "Magnificent! Now, finish it!"
Black shouted, "Brav! Air Slash!"
With a majestic sweep of its wings, a razor-sharp blade of wind sliced through the air, striking Patrat dead-on!
*SMACK*
Patrat's eyes rolled back, and it hit the floor, completely knocked out.
Black pumped his fist and exclaimed, "Yes!"
Lenora recalled her Patrat with a calm smile, stepping forward to re-engage. She said firmly, reminding Black the battle isn't over yet, "Impressive turnaround, Black. But don't forget... Stoutland is still standing."
*POP*
Hurling a Poké Ball forward, Stoutland emerged, trotted forward, letting out a low, rumbling growl, "Growlll…."
Black clenched his jaw, analyzing the battlefield as he thought quickly of his current situation, 'Okay. Roar, Ice Fang, Take Down... what's its next move? She's been holding it back the entire time!'
Lenora chuckled, picking up on his internal panic. She raised her hand, ordering, "I do love children who think things through. You've figured out I'm saving it for the final confrontation, haven't you? Stoutland, finish this! Use LAST RESORT!"
*BOOM*
Stoutland burst forward with terrifying, raw, unadulterated power, slamming directly into Brav with an impact that shook the entire museum floor above. Brad took the full brunt of the attack, his eyes spiraling as he collapsed to the stone floor, completely unconscious, "KAAAAH!"
*THUD*
Black rushed over, quickly recalling his exhausted partner with a heavy heart. He gritted his teeth in frustration, "Brav! I knew it was coming... I knew it was Last Resort, and I still didn't have a countermeasure ready in time!"
Sitting back on the spectator bench, Azure crossed his arms, watching intently. Gengar's voice echoed in the room, "The boy relies too much on raw passion. He calculates moves, but forgets the psychological pressure."
Azure agreed quietly, his Pikachu twitching its tail in agreement, "True. I've told him that he needs Protect for his teammates, as it will come in clutch; hopefully he'll learn from this. But passion is also what breaks limits. Let's see how he pivots."
Black recalled Brav, thanking him for service. Then he grabbed his last one, hurling his last Poké Ball, and next declared, "Musha! Back out there!"
*POP*
The pink Munna floated into position once more. Black commanded desperately, "Musha, use Hypnosis!"
*Hummm—Swoosh*
Musha's eyes glowed, but Stoutland sidestepped the psychic wave with a fraction-of-a-second twitch of its body, completely dodging the attack. Black shouted, "Again! Use it again!"
*Hummm—Swoosh*
Musha fired a second time, but Stoutland ducked its head, easily evading the slow-moving psychic pulse. Black groaned in frustration and exclaimed, "Ugh! Why does Hypnosis have to miss at the worst possible times?!"
Lenora raised an eyebrow, her voice echoing in the stone room, "Is accuracy really the problem here, Black?"
*Clatter*
Suddenly, a heavy, metallic clatter echoed from one of the glass display cases near the wall. Lenora warned sharply, her tone dropping in temperature, "Oi! Careful! Do not attack near that case. It contains rare bones and fossils. These things are our roots! What once walked in flesh now lies in dirt, preserved through the ages. They survived history itself, and I value them above all else."
She softened slightly, looking at her loyal canine, adding, "Just as I value Pokémon. This Stoutland has been with me since it was a tiny Lillipup."
Black blinked, the words echoing in his mind, 'Roots... fossils... Stoutland...'
Suddenly, a lightbulb went off in his head realized, 'Wait! Stoutland didn't just dodge... it reacted before Musha even fired!'
Quickly pulling out his Pokédex, Black slammed a button on the side. The digital voice chimed: "[Stoutland: The Big-Hearted Pokémon. It uses the long fur covering its face as a radar to sense changes in the wind and surroundings.]"
Black gasped aloud, realizing Lenora's strategy utilizing Stoutland, "That's it! It's not dodging because it's lucky! It's using its fur as a radar to sense the air currents before Musha even casts Hypnosis!"
Lenora smiled, a proud glint in her eye. She answered Black's discovery in a knowing tone, "Bingo. You figured it out. And you can't win if you just keep repeating a low-accuracy move it can easily sense. Stoutland, Take Down!"
Before Black could issue a new command, Stoutland charged forward at breakneck speed, colliding directly with Musha!
*CRASH*
Musha was hurled backward, skidding across the stone floor with a pained squeak. But as Stoutland completed the charge, the recoil kinetic feedback of the move sent a violent shockwave back into the dog's own muscles, causing Stoutland to stumble and wince in pain from the backlash.
Black's eyes widened as he put the pieces together. He didn't hesitate anymore. Black shouted, "Musha! Up close! Zen Headbutt!"
Musha's head glowed with a brilliant, psychic pink aura as it rocketed forward!
Lenora commanded, "Stoutland, meet it head-on with Take Down!"
*BOOM*
The psychic-infused headbutt and the brutal physical charge collided dead-center in a blinding flash of kinetic energy. The shockwave rattled the glass display cases, sending a gust of wind across the entire basement.
For a second, everything went completely silent.
Then, both Pokémon pitched forward.
*Thud*
Musha hit the floor, its eyes spinning in defeat…
*Thud*
Seemingly at the same time, Stoutland wobbled, took one heavy step, and finally collapsed right beside the Munna, knocked out cold.
The basement fell utterly silent, save for the hum of the overhead lights. Lenora stared at the two fainted Pokémon, blinked once, and then let out a rich, booming laugh. She turned toward Black, gesturing with her hand, asking, "Hahaha! Come here, challenger."
Black stood frozen, pointing a shaky finger at the battlefield. He couldn't help but ask in a confused tone about Lenora's actions, "Wait... wait a minute! Both of our Pokémon fainted! That's a double knockout!"
*Click*
With a knowing smile, Lenora tapped a remote on her desk, projecting a slow-motion replay of the final clash onto the wall screen. She explained to Black in a sly tone, "Watch closely, Challenger Black."
On the screen, Stoutland's Take Down connected. Still, because the move inherently inflicts recoil damage upon the user, Stoutland's remaining health bar had already been shaved down to a sliver by previous attacks…
The moment the collision happened, Stoutland's HP hit zero a microsecond before Musha's did. Black stared at the screen, his jaw dropping. Then, the realization hit him like a freight train. Black leaped five feet into the air, pumping both fists toward the ceiling in pure, unadulterated euphoria, and exclaimed in pure happiness, "I... I WON?! YES! WE DID IT! WE ACTUALLY WON! WE WON!!!"
Lenora walked over, shaking her head with an amused smile. She explained to him in a knowing tone, "To be honest... I felt like I was going to lose the exact moment you called for Zen Headbutt. Stoutland's recoil was its undoing, but you forced it into that corner by adapting on the fly."
She reached into her pocket, pulling out a small, metallic token and a neatly folded pouch. She said in a proud tone, "You and your Pokémon didn't show a single ounce of weakness when it mattered most."
She handed Black the prize money, the Basic Badge, and a small technical machine, adding, "Take them. You've earned every bit of this."
Black clutched the gleaming Basic Badge in his palm, tears of joy practically welling up in his eyes as he held it up to the light. He shouted happily, "My second Unova Gym Badge! We did it, Musha! We did it, Brav!"
From the spectator bench, Azure stood up slowly, a calm, approving smile on his face as Pikachu climbed back onto his shoulder and Eevee stretched lazily. Azure called out, walking down the steps toward the battlefield, his boots clicking rhythmically against the stone, "Well fought, Black."
*Bump*
He stepped past Black and offered the young trainer a casual fist-bump, which Black eagerly accepted. Azure stopped in front of Lenora, his hands sliding back into his jacket pockets while Mew shifted invisibly beneath the fabric.
Azure said calmly, his eyes locking onto the Gym Leader with a cool, collected confidence, "Now then… If the historical tour is finished... I believe it's my turn to challenge the museum for the Ace Gym Match."
Lenora grinned as she replied with a confident expression, "Of course. After all, it's not every day a Gym Leader battles a Champion. Best be prepared, Challenger. I'm Lenora, an Archeologist with a Backbone."
Both eyes locked onto each other could only mean one thing between two Trainers… It was time to battle!
/////
A/N: Hope you like the chapter!