A Trainer's Tale - Chapter 4: Gym Leader Roxanne
Trainer's Tale Chapter 4: Gym Leader Roxanne After their first view of Rustboro, the trio made a trip to the pokecenter. Arriving at the front desk, Ian rang the bell. Then, from behind a door, Nurse Joy's head popped up. "I'm sorry, i'm dealing with a injured Ralts right now, shouldn't take more than a half an hour, you can go sit in the waiting room." Moving over to the waiting room, he sat across from a blond boy looking out the window with a grim expresion on his face. Looking to quench his boredom, he tried to make small-talk "So, what are you doing out here?" Ian asked the boy. The kid turned to him. Eyes red, it looked like he'd been crying. "I- Uh- I Um My ralts and me were attacked by Team Aqua while we were Training. They're working on him in there. He's going to live.. Its just... scary thinking otherwise..." Ian began to put things together.... Blond hair, has a Ralts, emotional... "You must be..." Ian said, before catching himself. Although May had told him of the boy, Wally, she hadn't explained his appearance. If he said his name he'd be some... stalker. The boy looked at him, wondering what he was going to say. "...Heartbroken. I'm so sorry. I'm Ian by the way" Ian said, thankful for his ability to think quick on his feet. "Ian...OH! you're that guy Brandon lost against! He said you had a zangoose!" Wally exclaimed, pointing over to Elizabeth. "Speaking of, Where are Brandon and May?" Ian asked, hoping to see his friends again "Oh they said their going to stay in the forest and challenge Roxanne tommorow." Wally replied. Ian thought back to the games: Wally was supossed to catch Ralts and then meet up with Brandon at Mauville and challenge him. What was he doing here? Then again, theres alot that could happen without the player watching "Hey Wally, what are you here for?" Ian prived "Oh, I came here to challenge Roxanne, but i lost... So i went to Route 116, but a grunt... He tried to steal Ralts... and he hurt her" Wally said, looking like he was about to cry again until gave him a pat on the back "Hey, its okay, you dont have to talk about it if you don't want to" Ian comforted him, hoping to quell his tears "Th-Thanks. I keep telling myself to be fearless. Be brave. Obviously i'm not very good at that" Wally doubt of himself reminded him of Ian's sister, how she always doubted herself when it came to sports. His sister. He hadn't thought about his family in a while. Did they miss him? Did they they think he was dead? Could they contact him? He would've continued his train of thought if not for the sickly boy on the verge of crying. Not wanting another situation, he began to comfort him. "It's okay, Calm down, Its not your fault." "Thanks Ian, Mr. Norman told me you were really nice" Wally continued to thank Ian, all the while Elizabeth looked out the window. The city was so big, much bigger than Peggalbird? I think he said once. Even at this hour, there were still people going in and out of doors. Looking over at Ian and that other boy, she found them still talking about things she didn't care about. Drifting her sight to Jessica, she saw her giving a toothy smirk while dozing peacefully on one of the couches. "Wally, your Ralts is sleeping. I can give you a room to stay in" Nurse Joy informed "Thanks, but no thanks Nurse. I'd like to stay with him. I can sleep in a chair, right?" Wally asked to which the Nurse simpily nodded. After saying his goodbyes, the Nurse began to help the boy "Uh, Sir? I'm sorry for the wait. Can i help you?" Joy questioned "Yes, i'd like to request a room." After the key was obtained, Ian carefully picked up Jessica and made it to their room. "Okay, I'm going to go take a shower. Elizabeth, you can do whatever you want." Ian explained over the sounds of hot water. The buizel slowly arose from her peaceful sleep. Not knowing where she was, she began looking around. Noticing Elizabeth, she began to pester "Hey! where are we, where's Ee ann?" Elizabeth was looking off into the distance until hearing Jessica "Huh? oh he's taking a shower" Elizabeth said in a quiet voice, with a frown on her face. "What's wrong Liz?" Jessica pried. "Liz?" "Yeah! it's like a pet name! While we're on the topic, you can call me Jess! Wait! Back on your problem! What's wrong?" "Its..Its just-" While the two talked, Ian was deep in thought. How was he going to battle Roxanne? Would he win? Maybe he should've had three pokemon. Even so Jessica was the only one who had any real chance against them, with her water-based attacks. He would have to put her in first. How would Elizabeth take it? Would she be mad at him? Ian then realized he'd been here for an hour. Getting a towel, he forgot his clothes in his pack. Putting the towel around his waist, he opened the bathroom door and saw Elizabeth looking at the city, as well as the buizel still asleep (unbeknownst to him that she had woken up and had a discussion with the zangoose but afterwards fell asleep again.) "Hey Elizabeth, just came to get my clothes." He said as he began to dig through his backpack. Turning to him, she noticed him standing there in a towel. Her eyes went wide and she blushed a deep red. Getting his gear, he turned to see her staring. "Uh, Elizabeth, what are you doing?" He asked, hoping to have her stop gaze. "Huh? Oh I-I'm sorry... I don't know what came over me..." She said, lookingaway. "Okay...I'm gunna go change in the bathroom, Okay?" He said, still questioning her actions. After Ian went back inside the bathroom, Elizabeth gave a sigh. Why had she been so shy? It was just Ian, right? Why had she been so flustered? After Ian got his clothes on and Elizabeth calmed down, the went to bed
As daybreak approached, the three awoke. After getting ready, they headed the the cafeteria to talk about the big day. "So, first we're going to train, then take on Roxanne, right gang?" Ian asked, to which the girls gave a muffled 'Ya!' due to their mouth full of the pokefood. After a training session in Route 116, the group head to the Rustboro gym for they're very first gym fight. "Okay guys, this is it!" Ian said smiling broadly at Elizabeth and Jessica. Entering the gym, they were greeted by other trainers Ian had to battle before the big fight. "Hello, I'm Roxanne, the Rustboro city gym leader! You look like a smart kid so i won't be so formal. You're here for the badge, correct?" Roxanne asked. "Yes ma'am, my friend Wally came by here yesterday as well." Ian explained, hoping to win this fight in Wally's name "Ah, the sick boy, was it? Yes, he had quite a bit of fight in him. It's a shame he lost, good kid." Roxanne liked the boy. He obviously had quite a bit of respect for his pokemon "Okay kid, Let's do this." Roxanne said, pulling out her geodude's ball and getting ready. Ian did the same with Jessica, already telling the two of the plan. Elizabeth, thankfully, hadn't been too angry about the whole situation. In fact, she hadn't been angry at all. It was unlike her. Futhermore, she had been rather distant. He assumed she was just angry with him and didn't want to talk out of spite. "Okay Jessica, this is our big moment. Try your hardest!" He yelled as she ran to the field and took her stance. "Begin Round 1!" The referee shouted "Jessica, start this with Water gun" Ian commanded as Jessica squirted the attack at the Geodude, sending it against the wall. Roxanne gritted her teeth. "Geodude, use Rock tomb." Roxanne ordered as the rock-type sent boulders flying in Jessica's direction "Quick, Jessica, dodge the attack then finish Geodude off with another Water gun." Ian shouted over the moving rocks Jessica heeded Ian's orders as she jumped out of theway, the rocks only hitting her left foot and knocking her to the ground. She quickly got to her feet and charged up her attack "Geodude, while she's-" Roxanne was about to give another command, but was cut off by the buizel shooting Geodude once more, knocking it out cold. Ian ran out into the field, giving Jessica a hug similar to the one he gave Elizabeth on her first fight. The referee made his way to the middle of the stage "The first battle goes to Ian. Onto battle 2. If Ian wins the next battle, He will win the Rustboro gym badge." After letting go of Jessica, he began to check her for marks. "Jessica, are you okay to battle?" Ian asked, not wanting her to get exhausted. "I'm fine Ee ann, just don't be such a worry-wart!" Jessica replied giving him a lick on the cheek. After the intermission was over, everyone got into fighting position "Begin Round 2!" The referee shouted "Nosepass! get her with Tackle!" Roxanne this time started the battle, seeing what happened last time when she didn't. Ian wasn't lucky enough to even start giving his commands, as the Nosepass smashed into Jessica, making Ian wince. "Okay Jessica, show them how you do things by doing a SonicBoom!" Ian shouted as Jessica shot the white shapes at the Nosepass, sending it a couple inches (which is alot for the easter-island like pokemon) "Use Rock Tomb!" Roxanne yelled "Counter it with an Sonic boom!" Ian screamed back. The two attacks hit, sending rocks flying at Nosepass, as well as Jessica. The rocks knocked out both pokemon, forcing the referee to come out again "With both pokemon unable to battle, as well as Roxanne having no pokemon, Ian is the winner!" the referee shouted. Ian would've been joyful, if not for Jessica unconscious on the field. Returning her to her ball, He faced Roxanne, who was giving a scowl. She never like losing. "Alright kid" She said with a sigh "I guess you deserve this. Nice job" she said defeatedly, holding out the Stone badge. He just stared at it. He had won! He'd won against Roxanne! "Well? Are you just gunna Gawk at it? Take it kid!" Grabbing it, he quickly pinned it to his vest.
Ian was in the waiting room of the pokecenter while Nurse Joy fixed up Jessica. Right now he was subconsciously petting a puring zangoose while staring at his badge. Right now it was about 3 o'clock, 2 hours since the battle and he was still staring at it. When he had let Elizabeth and told her the news and they did their little happy-dance, he had noticed she didn't seem so mad. Maybe she wasn't mad about not being put in the battle. Then why had she been avoiding him like the plague? He guessed either it had worn off or that she wanted some alone time or whatever. "Ian? Your buizel is doing fine. She's awake, would you like to see her?" The Nurse asked. "Oh, I''l see her now" The boy explained, walking with Elizabeth into the room. "Ee ann?" He heard as he stepped through the doorway. The buizel had a few bandaids in miscellaneous places, and her arm in a cast. "Hey kiddo, how're you doing?" He asked Jessica. "I'm okay! I heard the pink lady say i could leave tomorrow!" Jessica said in her perky way "Thats good Jessica, I'm so proud of you!" Ian said, giving her a hug. "Elizabeth, could you please watch over her? i'm going to go make a few stops in town, Okay?" Ian explained "Okay Ian" The two pokemon responded at the same time While taking a quick walk after getting some things from the Pokemart, he noticed a familiar sight. Stepping over to the sight, he saw a professor talking to some kid. Before going back to his walk, he remembered the kid: It was Brandon! running over, he greeted the him "Brandon!" Ian yelled running towards him. "Oh! Ian! what are you doing here!" Brandon asked. "I could ask you the very same!" Ian replied with a laugh "OH, well i just saved the Devon corperation and Mr. Stone's given me a task and this cool PokeNav'. By the way sir, could my friend here have one?" The scientist didn't say anything, just threw him the device, then went inside "He was strange..." Ian commented. The two talked for a while, Brandon discussing his heroic acts against Team Aqua and his prize of getting a ride to Dewford town (to which he allowed May and Ian to join on the trip), and Ian explained how Jessica was in the hospital and his win against the stubborn Roxanne. At about 5, he had noticed they'd been talking for two hours! After saying their goodbyes and explaining where to meet up, Ian headed back to the Center. After being explained the extent of Jessica's injuries, He was allowed to have her sleep with him. After taking a shower and changing into his sleep gear, they all drifted to dreamland. End of Chapter 4
Chapter 4 completed! I liked this chapter, my favorite to write. This marks the first appearance of Wally, who will appear more than Brandon, and will be the main rival. Next chapter will be Ian's first encounter of Team Aqua, and possibly someone else?