Sinnoh Stories
The Legend of Volkner
Chapter 13: The Battle to End them All?
The inside of the gym lit up the moment they passed through, but only barely. It seemed the place was lit by motion-sensing electric candles, their plastic glowing slightly in the dim light of the light bulbs inside their "flame". As they stood there, getting their bearings, the sound of footfall against creaky wooden floors echoed in their ears.
From the darkness, a figure stepped forward.
He stood at what Volkner estimated to be a little under six feet tall, his wide figure draped by a black robe, a hood covering his face. He slipped it off with a single, coarse-looking hand to reveal a short buzzcut head of red hair. His eyes were jet black, his gaze firm and authoritative.
"Hello," he said. "Are you visitors or challengers?" His voice was baritone, intimidating.
"Challengers," Volkner said.
"Ah," the man replied. "Can I get your names then? In return, mine will be given as well."
"I'm Volkner Denzi," Volkner said. "And my friend here is Mana Aname."
The man nodded slowly. "I am Cimmeri. A pleasure Mister Denzi, Miss Aname. I am this gym's leader."
Volkner nodded. "Alright then, Cimmeri," he said. "Let's get down to business. What type do you specialize in?"
"He specializes in dark types," Mana said.
"The young lady has done her homework," Cimmeri said, the slightest hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "Yes, I am a dark-type specialist."
"Heh. Okay then, this shouldn't be too hard..." Volkner mused.
Cimmeri allowed himself a full smile. "As if. Now, young Miss Aname, let's see if you deserve an A or a C on that homework of yours."
Mana spoke up. "Before one can challenge Leader Cimmeri, they must pass through a test. It's a simple but demanding one - find the light switch. There is one configured for each set of two electric candles as only a quarter of them are lit by motion sensory devices; once all lights in the gym are on, the challenger can battle the Leader."
"A-plus," Cimmeri said. "Impressive."
Mana nodded quickly. "I don't go against such foes as gym leaders without studying them first."
Volkner couldn't help but think that this was a bold-faced lie.
"Now of course, I'm a dark-type specialist. Therefore, only a quarter of them is one set. Which means..."
It hit Volkner. "The ones in the entrance are the only motion-lit ones, and there are only a total of eight electric candles in the gym. You're a dark-type specialist... so of course, this place has got to be dark..."
Cimmeri clapped for a few seconds. "Mister Denzi has got it! Now, I'll be heading back to the main arena - and you'd best not keep me waiting long. You guys look like people who could easily take down my gym trainers..."
He scoffed afterward as if what he said was funny. Then he turned around and walked off.
Volkner sighed, and stepped forward, past where the light from the candles shone through. He walked into the complete and total darkness, a hand on one of the walls to keep a steady path. This place was not only dark, but it was apparently in a maze... it would require more than groping around in the dark to find these light switches.
Only the sounds of his and Mana's footfall could be heard, as the two of them moved through the halls. That was, at least, for the first few minutes. As they continued to stumble around blindly, a voice could be heard, speaking in low whispers. It grew steadily in volume, until it was normal audibility. But suddenly, the source of sound changed subjects.
"Have your eyes adjusted to the dark yet...?" a voice asked. "I'd sure hope so... otherwise, well, you wouldn't be any fun to battle, would you?"
Mana spoke next. "My eyes can see decently. A gym trainer, I assume?"
"... You may call me Tamara. Yes, I am a gym trainer. Shall we get your defeat over with...?"
The sound of a Pokeball being unhooked from a belt met Volkner's ears, and a momentary flash of light from the release of a Pokemon illuminated the area for a split second: long enough so that Volkner saw that their opponent was indeed a woman, with long black hair obviously badly kept, a cap concealing her eyes.
"Cats have excellent vision in darkness," Tamara said. "Did you know?"
"Gla! Glameowww..." the cat Pokemon exclaimed alongside her.
Mana tossed forth her own Pokeball then. Volkner only assumed it was her Kirlia, and sighed.
This was going to be a while. Cimmeri had designed this gym with total genius.
Mana spoke. "Volkner, go off to find the next light switch. We'll get things done quicker this way. I'll call you when I beat this girl and get the light switched on, as well you should when you find the next one. Once one of us finds the third, we'll meet up at the central arena. Understood?"
Volkner understood the plan, but did understand why Mana seemed to be putting so much effort into this. Perhaps to keep up the facade of traveling for the purpose of the gym circuit.
"Alright," Volkner said. He stuck his hands into his pockets and began to walk for the north, removing his hand as soon as he felt a wall coming close. He wished his eyes would adjust to the darkness already: he could just barely see his own hand in front of his face.
He continued walking for a good few minutes, shouting an occasional, "Speak up if you're there!" but receiving no response. Finally, his phone rang, and as he pulled it out and pressed it against his ear, an idea hit him. He nearly smacked himself on the forehead for it, but supposed that would sound ridiculous to Mana.
"Figured out you could use the phone's light, huh?" Mana asked immediately.
GOD DAMN PSYCHIC.
"Now, watch your language, young man," Mana said in a teasing tone.
"Shut up. You beat the girl?" Volkner asked.
"Yep. And found out something interesting - each gym trainer gives clues to the location of the next light. They're simple riddles. Hers is, 'the escapee's path of choice. Pick its opposite.'"
"The logical assumption is that someone would escape through the front door. So... the opposite is the back door. The back of the gym."
"Correct," Mana said. "I'm gonna stay here and wait. Call me back when you find the next clue."
Mana hung up.
Volkner placed his phone out in front of him and moved through its light, until he finally found what he believed to be the back of the gym. He was correct, as a moment later, he came across a person with a hood on their head, who looked up at him as the light hit him. A grin crossed the person's lips.
"Hello," the person said. Their voice was obviously male. "I see you've beat Tamara."
His tone was annoyingly smug.
"Yep," Volkner said. "And for some reason, I doubt you'll be much tougher."
The person nodded slowly. "I see. We'll just have to prove you wrong then. My name is Jason."
Volkner unhooked a Pokeball from his belt. "Well then, let's get this party started, shall we Jason?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
bang bang
bang bang bang
BANG BANG
"Jeez!" Maylene cried. "Hold on a second! Someone's coming!"
Maylene sighed in annoyance, walking over toward the door and turning the knob. She pulled the door back and looked at the person standing in front of her with a dagger-like gaze. "Will you have some patience, guy?"
The man looked down at her, and scoffed. "Forgive me. Volkner Denzi is staying here currently, isn't he? I'm... a friend of his."
He was an odd looking man, dressed a t-shirt and jeans, with a u-shaped blue hairstyle.
"Yeah," Maylene said. "But he's at the gym with that girly. Maybe you should go there instead."
The man nodded. "I will."
He turned around and walked off.
~*~*~*~*~~*~*~
Volkner grinned, returning his Pokemon and hooking the Pokeball back up to his belt.
"Wrong, hm?" Volkner gloated. "Too friggin' easy."
Jason scowled, turning to the side and flipping on the light switch. A dim light suddenly rushed through the area, allowing more visibility on all sides.
"The clue," Jason said. "Is 'opposite from the original'. Good luck solving it."
Volkner scoffed and pulled out his phone, pressing a few buttons then placing it against his ear.
"Nice job," Mana said instantly. "As for the next clue, well..."
"Opposite the original."
"Right. I'll take care of it. Wait for me in the central arena."
Volkner flipped the phone shut and headed for the central arena. Once he got there, he saw a steel door with four bulbs around it. Three of them were lit.
He sighed, leaned up against the wall, and awaited Mana's victory.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Some time passed before it happened. Volkner supposed it was simply a tough battle: but eventually, the light outside the door did pop on, and in-turn, the steel door slid open with the slight grinding sound of metal on metal.
Volkner walked inside. He had to move down a massive flight of steps, but eventually reached a room down in the depths of the ground.
In the center of the room was an arena, illuminated only by a small square of red lights. Volkner was glad for their dim guidance: he had went down the flight of steps in utter darkness. He had worried the entire way about tripping and hurting himself.
He walked up the smaller flight of steps up to the arena, and stared for a few moments at the figure waiting for him there.
"You and Miss Aname were the only duo smart enough to actually work together," Cimmeri said. "I've got to commend you two for that. But beating me won't be so easy!"
Cimmeri unhooked a Pokeball from his belt, and pressed the release switch with his thumb. The ball expanded and popped open, sending forth a flash of white light to further illuminate the area, albeit only momentarily.
In the darkness, Volkner had mild trouble identifying the opposing Pokemon. It was black, he could tell, with something red on its head.
Volkner removed a Pokeball from his pocket, and tossed his arm forward, thumb against the release switch. From the burst of light the Pokeball sent out, Elekid materialized, his body providing another source of dim lighting.
"An electric type- heh. Impressive. Electric Types use bio-luminescence don't they?"
Volkner wanted to punch himself in the face. He hadn't even thought of that. But he grinned in response, nodding in order to provide a facade of knowing just what the hell he was doing. "Of course."
"You know the rules of the gym battles, I assume? The first one to have no Pokemon able to battle wins. The challenger is allowed to rotate Pokemon. I am not."
"Right."
"Then let's go! Sneasel, use Icy Wind!"
Sneasel opened up his mouth and shot forth a small gust of breathe, the air condensing enough to be visible in the frigid temperature of the attack.
Elekid lifted his arms in front of his face, forming an X-shaped guard. The icy wind hit him dead-on, but he seemed to shrug off its effects.
"Good guard, Elekid!" Volkner praised, though a second later he almost -did- punch himself in the face for it. "Now, let's retaliate with a Swift attack!"
Elekid let his jaw fall, putting a single hand in front of his mouth. He spat out a small collection of star-shaped energy discs, each which landed in his hand. Elekid then ran forward toward Sneasel and began to run circles around him, every few seconds tossing forth one of the discs. Each one connected perfectly, despite Sneasel's attempts to guard himself.
Sneasel came out of the barrage with small cuts all over his body, each one oozing a strange blueish-red colored blood.
Cimmeri grinned. "Nice. But not nice enough! Sneasel, give it a Faint Attack!"
Sneasel calmly began to walk forward, until he came to a baffled Elekid. He then extended a hand in request of what appeared to be a handshake.
"... What the hell is it doing?" Volkner thought.
Elekid blinked once or twice, before nodding slowly and extending his own hand.
Which proved to be a mistake.
Elekid's hand was grabbed with a fierce amount of strength and drawn in close to Sneasel, before the Ice-type hit the opposing Pokemon with a fierce punch by his free hand.
Elekid was not released, however. He was held firm, struggling to break free of Sneasel's icy cold grip, but it was fruitless.
"Now, while it's up close, use a Screech!" Cimmeri ordered.
Sneasel pulled Elekid in even closer, then let loose an eardrum-shattering scream.
Volkner clasped his hands over his ears, and in that moment, actually felt a swell of sympathy for Elekid, who obviously could not have protected himself in the slightest from the banshee-like howl.
"... Elekid, use Thunderpunch!"
Elekid took a few seconds to respond to Volkner's command, leaving Sneasel enough time to try and get away.
But Sneasel, evidently, could not. Elekid's grasp was now firm and fierce, and Sneasel writhed, trying to break free, but it was obviously not going to happen. Elekid used his free hand to deliver a strong blow toward Sneasel's stomach, moving so fast through the air that sparks of electricity surrounded it. The electrical energy grew as it moved forward, and the fist was very quickly covered by it as it drove into the opposing Pokemon's gut.
But this was not its finishing blow. Sneasel fell limply into Elekid's arms, barely able to support himself. Elekid, however, was not finished. He tossed Sneasel upward, and before the Sharp Claw Pokemon could possibly even begin to fall, Elekid was doing a handstand, constantly shifting his position in a blur of expert speed. His legs were twirling.
And, as Sneasel fell toward Elekid's position, a Rolling Kick was what knocked it into unconsciousness.
"Impressive, Mister Denzi," Cimmeri said, a hint of awe evident in his voice.
Cimmeri returned his Pokemon, and unhooked another Pokeball from his belt. As he prepared to release it, though, something happened that left his and Volkner's mouths both gaping open.
"He's... evolving...?!" Volkner gasped.
Elekid was glowing a bright white, illuminating the room perfectly. Volkner could see his shape quickly growing larger, but at the same time more slender.
And as the light faded, the new form of Elekid was visible.
The Pokemon was roughly fifty percent larger than his old form, with a larger body (though not from fat - most of it was obviously muscle), with more defined legs, toes ending in small claws. His arms were more sleek, but still intimidatingly muscular. His ears had disappeared entirely. His body was covered in yellow fur, black stripes decorating it, including one in the shape of a thunderbolt on his torso.
From the pulsation of energy the new Pokemon emitted, his Pokedex turned on, droning in the darkness in its mechanical voice.
"Electabuzz, the Electric Pokemon," it said. "Electricity runs across the surface of its body. In darkness, its entire body glows a whitish-blue. Getting close to it will make your hair stand on end. It windmills it arms to slightly boost its punches: foes have been known to escape in the meantime. Half of all blackouts occur when this Pokemon appears at power plants and eats electricity."
Almost as if on cue, Electabuzz began to glow a whitish blue.
Volkner grinned from ear to ear.
"Alright, then," Cimmeri said. "I suppose we'll have to call for the big guns with this one!"
Cimmeri tossed his arm forward, and a bright flash of light was sent forth from the Pokeball in hand, materializing into a Pokemon.
It was about the same height as Electabuzz, but quadrupedal. It was covered in white fur, but the skin bare beneath it was jet black. On its head was a sickle-like horn. Its bright red eyes were gleaming with excitement.
Having turned on, Volkner's Pokedex automatically began to pull information on the next Pokemon too.
"Absol, the dis-"
Volkner shut it off. "Stupid thing..."
"Alright," Cimmeri commanded. "Absol, start this off with a Double Team!"
Absol instantly darted out of his original spot, running in circles around Electabuzz. Every other second, an after image was left behind, staying there in an odd form of shimmering solidity.
"Electabuzz, find the real one and shoot a Thundershock at it!"
This was easier said then done. Electabuzz turned around in circles a multitude of times, trying to differentiate the after image from the Pokemon, but to no avail. Electabuzz eventually settled for shooting a three-way Thundershock: one from each hand, and one from the mouth.
Three after images where eliminated.
"Keep up the Double Team!" Cimmeri shouted.
Volkner groaned. This was going to be a while.
And it was. Electabuzz kept eliminating after images, only for Absol to form more. But finally, the strategy was changed.
"Swords Dance, Absol!"
Absol's after images did not follow this command. Volkner realized it quick. And this was his chance.
Absol was on his rear legs, performing a strange dance, his paws waving back and forth while a small blue glow came from his stomach.
He shouted so loud that Cimmeri yelped in shock.
"IT'S GOT A FLAW! FIND THE REAL ONE, QUICK, ELECTABUZZ! HIT IT WITH A LOW KICK!"
Cimmeri's eyes widened as Electabuzz ran toward the exact thing he had been unable to hit for the past ten minutes of the fight: the real Absol.
Absol, by now, had gone back down to his hind legs, but Electabuzz was sliding on its arm toward him. Absol was sent off of the ground from the force of the kick, and as he fell, writhing in pain, Cimmeri called out the next order.
"And now for the Coup de Grace!" Cimmeri said. Volkner could tell the lack of confidence behind that statement. "Absol, Slash!"
Absol hit the ground with a thud, landing on all fours. He was panting visibly: watching it run, Volkner believed that perhaps the attack had broken or at least injured one of the Pokemon's legs. He ran toward Electabuzz with his head down, as did all of the after images. They appeared to have a better sync with Absol on more physical moves, Volkner observed.
"Alright," Volkner commanded. "Leap up, Electabuzz, as high as you can! Once in the air, produce as many Swift-Stars as you can and fire them! Don't worry about throwing!"
Electabuzz suddenly leaped into the air, watching as Absol skidded to a stop as he realized he wasn't going to hit his opponent. Electabuzz then opened up his mouth, and without worrying about throwing the stars, he shot a barrage of star-shaped rays toward the many after images covering the battlefield.
The number was decrease substantially. And, interestingly enough, the attack also appeared to hit the real Absol, as one of the images began to bleed.
Volkner grinned. And there was the way to identify.
"Focus on the bleeding one, Electabuzz! It's the real one! Finish it, quick, with a Thunder Punch!"
"Fine! This is the last stand! Absol, slash it before it can hit you!"
Electabuzz hit the ground with a soft thud, finding the one that leaked a steady red liquid. Blood. He ran toward it, arms pinwheeling as he ran, generating a steady current of electricity toward his fists.
Absol dashed forward, ignoring the pain in his leg. His head was down, prepared to gut the opponent like a Stantler. His sickle-horn glowed a faint white.
The two hit each other in a collision of energy.
Electabuzz had his fists together, both charged with electrical power. A hammerfisted Thunder Punch. It had hit Absol good and hard, Absol now laying on the floor, totally immobile. The acrid smell of burned hair entered Volkner's nostrils: the attack had singed the Pokemon's fur.
But Absol had done some damage too. Electabuzz had a deep gash on his stomach. It was not serious, not even CLOSE to fatal, but it would hurt until Volkner got him to a Pokemon Center: not that Volkner really cared.
Electabuzz stumbled backward, and fell onto the ground, immobile.
"...And that was my only other Pokemon," Cimmeri said with a sigh. "But you have two left, don't you?"
"Yep."
Volkner pressed his thumb against the release switch of Electabuzz's Pokeball. The Pokemon returned in a flash of red light. Cimmeri did the same for his Absol.
"Then you, my friend, have earned the Absence Badge. You're a commendable battler. You also will receive another gift from me. The TM for Double Team."
Cimmeri reached into his pocket, pulling out a small black badge with a golden outline, circular in shape. In his other hand, he held a small white disc. He handed them both to Volkner, who thrust them into the pockets of his jeans.
"And what about you, Miss Aname?" Cimmeri asked.
Volkner wheeled around, suddenly becoming aware of the fact that Mana had arrived. He sighed, and moved down the steps of the arena.
"Ah, from seeing that..." Mana said. "I actually think I'll forfeit. Perhaps I'll battle you later: I'm not skilled enough to take you now, unlike Volkner here..."
She placed a hand on Volkner's shoulder, and Volkner instantly broke through the grasp.
"Right. It's a shame," Cimmeri said. "But I suppose to each his or her own. I'll see you two."
Volkner muttered a simple, "Sure."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Outside of the Gym, Volkner and Mana began to walk toward their place of residence.
"Nice job on the badge," Mana commented.
"... Yeah, yeah," Volkner muttered. He had to say though, that it did indeed feel amazing to have that small circular thing in his hand. It was a feeling that made him perceive power. He had won his first gym battle.
But his happiness wouldn't last for long. It was replaced with a searing pain in his shoulder. He felt the warm flow of blood, and then he heard the bang. He realized with horror... he had been shot.
Mana looked toward him with her eyes wide.
"Volkner, what- there's-"
Mana turned toward the nearby forest, and saw the blue-haired man rush toward Volkner. She had frozen in place, absolutely mortified. This wasn't supposed to happen.
The man was dressed in blue jeans and a gray shirt, covered by a black vest. His hair was blue, in an odd u-shape.
"... Saturn," Volkner muttered.
Mana looked down at Volkner, and the blood flowing from the wound in his right shoulder. The man stood in front of him, gleaming silver metal in his hand aimed toward Volkner's left shoulder: a gun.
Mana tried to move, but was still paralyzed with fear. She had not predicted this? How could she not have? She should have been able to feel the malice in the air-
She heard the bang. A second shot, this one lodging a bullet in Volkner's left side.
The sound of Volkner's scream broke her. The gentle flow of tears hit her cheeks.
"Now then," the man called Saturn said. "Young lady, you're going to take the boy's Pokeballs. You're going to break them. And then you are to turn around. Understood? It means Captain Giggles will die if you don't."
Mana allowed herself a slow nod. She kneeled at Volkner's side, and gently began to remove the Pokeballs from Volkner's pockets. The familiar feeling of touching his flesh sent shivers down her spine. She couldn't believe she was about to let this happen.
She took the first Pokeball in her hand, and thrust it toward the ground. It cracked, breaking the release.
She took the second Pokeball and repeated the process. Her muscles grew weak with fear, tension and self-hatred.
She took the third Pokeball in her hand, and waited a few seconds.
"You're doing well so far, girl. Don't do something stupid."
She took the third Pokeball and pressed the release switch. A flash of light illuminated the area, and Mana heard the sound of Saturn speaking, but to her, it was all a blur of words, indecipherable. Her body moved on its own.
She heard the bang, and it all went black.