@OtomostheCrazyAlexis watched the battle proceed. To be completely honest, it somewhat intimidated her. Her opponent was a tricky one, though she guessed that it was to be expected. He was a gym leader, and what he showed the day before made this all look like child's play. She did snicker a bit watching Sophia start losing from the beginning, but then the gym leader gave out advice towards. Advice that was completely and utterly obvious for everyone. Advice that required people to do the same as Alexis was doing, and observe in order to get an idea of what to do. She wasn't quite a big fan of stuff like that. Even if Lan was a gym leader, saying something like that was, in her eyes, too arrogant of him. A stepping stone has no right telling someone how to simply walk.
It took the humor of Sophia's defeat right out of the battle, and Alexis was trying to enjoy the day too. Now she had to deal with an idiot like Lan. Her confidence was a bit shaken, but she still held fast to the belief that she would at least do better than Sophia. Losing has become so common now that Alexis was beginning to accept that there will be bumps along the road. Doesn't mean that she has to like it.
Before Alexis took a step forward to challenge the gym leader next, Yuki stopped her, and hopped up to her shoulder. The Pokémon whispered something in her ear, and hopped down to her side. Alexis glanced at her Pokémon, but proceeded forward anyway.
"
I guess I have to show everyone how it's done", said Alexis with a sigh. It seemed a bit hollow, though. As if she didn't really mean it.
With a slight bow of his head, Lan faced the new challenger.
"Again, you move first," he said.
"But remember, too much confidence is as harmful as too little. Especially if you have to force it." Like Sophia, Alexis struck him as someone who had something to prove.
The screen behind the two lit up with Alexis' trainer card picture above Lan's, the referee announcing the challenge.
"Are you ready?" Lan calmly asked his opponent.
Alexis said nothing again, as she reached for her Eevee's pokeball. She let Gabby out, but before the snickering pokemon moved to the battlefield, Snorunt went up to her, and whispered in her ear as well. The Eevee nodded, and snickered as she hopped over to the field, apparently ready for battle.
Lan stood with a steely gaze, reaching for a Pokeball.
"Munchlax," he said, letting out the Pokemon in a brilliant white burst of light. The dark green, scruffy Pokemon waddled towards the snickering Eevee, waiting for it to move first. From the whispering, Lan wondered if this team had more of a plan than Sophia's had. Then again, this was clearly another overconfident trainer he was about to battle.
Only time would tell how this would go.
At this point in time, Alexis would have made a big show of this fight. She would have picked up her decorative microphone, and started acting as if she was in a contest rather than a gym battle. However...Alexis was just standing there, hand on her hip, while the other hung down. She didn't say anything.
Suddenly, Gabby charged right at Munchlax. She stopped a small distance away, and kicked sand in the opposing pokemon's face.
A furrow in Lan's brow deepened as the Eevee acted of its own accord, kicking up sand at Munchlax.
"Defend using Stockpile," he commanded. A purple glow appeared around the Pokemon. This way, Munchlax would be better protected against future attacks - especially if the Eevee acted in such a way again.
Raising his head, Lan turned his attention from the two Pokemon to Alexis, who stood there frozen up.
"There is no need to be so worried," he explained.
"If you are not ready yet, you can challenge me again when you are. But I must wait for you to give the command to your Pokemon before I make another move."It was obvious that, for Alexis, this was a matter of pride. But that need to impress others was doing to her what desire for approval had done to Sophia. Worse, in fact.
Alexis raised a brow at Lan, but remained silent. His words were supposed to sound wise, but at the moment, Alexis really didn't care. Now was not the time to focus on him. The attack seemed a bit strange. The Munchlax didn't seem all that strong in comparison to yesterday, but it knew a move that she honestly hadn't expected. She was beginning to understand a bit more. Still...
Gabby acted again, this time, coming up close and using Tail Whip.
As Munchlax stepped forward, Lan motioned and called for him to wait before looking at Alexis again.
"A badge is proof of a trainer's work with their Pokemon," he said,
"so it has to be you who commands them. I will let you move again, but if this keeps happening, I'm afraid I will have to postpone the match until you and your Pokemon are truly ready."A Pokemon acting on their own... Was this going to be like some of the other incidents he'd seen? If it was, he would have no choice but to put a stop to the match before things got out of hand.
Yuki looked up to her trainer with an expression that brought a message across. Alexis closed her eyes and sighed before speaking again.
"
Tackle."
Gabby complied and jumped back, before rushing forward again and slamming herself into Munchlax. When the attack finished, however, the Eevee felt a little dazed. It was as if she just slammed herself into a very thick wall.
"
Okay."
Lan still watched out for any signs of trouble, but now that Alexis could bring herself to speak, and the battle was seemingly under control, the next move was his. He gave the command to Munchlax.
"Chip Away."Noticing the opening the Eevee's attack had left, Munchlax stomped forward and struck repeatedly at the opposing Pokemon.
Yuki and Alexis narrowed their eyes at the sound of the gym leader's command. Immediately the attack looked to put down the hurt on Gabby, and the Eevee was unconscious. Rather than return the pokemon, however, Alexis simply pulled out another pokeball and sent out Hoppip while Yuki carried Gabby out of the field.
"
Tackle, Puffpuff."
The Hoppip complied as well, and slammed himself into the Munchlax. It noticeably did less damage, but seemed to have bounced off and right into the air.
Lan ignored the challenger's glare, his expression composed.
"Munchlax, Zen Headbutt."A blue glow surrounded Munchlax, brightest at the top of his head. The Pokemon charged at Hoppip, only to miss.
"Remember what I told Sophia about strategy," Lan said as if talking to one of his students.
"The earlier Sand Attack would have been a good starting move, if you had commanded it, and told your Eevee to use it more than once." Maybe, if she swallowed her pride, Alexis would use his advice in future battles.
"
Geez, you just can't wait for after the battle, can you?"
Both Alexis and Yuki were getting annoyed by the fact that this guy was trying to lecture them. He was so busy talking, he didn't notice anything strange. This guy just doesn't want himself to be liked, does he?
"
Tackle again."
Hoppip repeated the move, slamming himself into the Munchlax again, and bouncing off once more.
Lan gave a sigh at Alexis's taunt. He wasn't looking forward to how this trainer would react if she lost the battle, but hopefully she'd learn from it.
"It's up to you to decide whether to take away any lessons from this," he said softly.
"But we'll see if you can turn this battle to your favour. Now, Munchlax, use another Zen Headbutt."Munchlax launched himself at the Hoppip again, but the sand in his eyes made it difficult to see. For the second time, he charged right past.
"
Tackle, again."
Puffpuff, realizing that his opponent wasn't even all that fazed by his tackle hesitated, but eventually complied. He floated close once more, and slammed into Munchlax.
It looked like this was Alexis' only strategy, and the confidence she'd tried to display earlier had faded completely. Lan knew it was best not to draw this battle out, for her sake. It was time to use a more accurate move.
"Chip Away."Taking a step forward, Munchlax struck at the Hoppip who still floated nearby.
Just like before, instead of returning Hoppip to his pokeball, Alexis simply allowed Yuki to move Puffpuff out of the way. Yuki took to the field, nodding at Alexis. She stood where she was, and waited for the first command.
"
Alright, Yuki. Double Team."
Yuki moved fast, creating afterimages, and continuing to move in order to keep it up.
Lan gave a slight frown at the Snorunt's actions. From the start, she'd been acting oddly. Before the battle continued, he'd have to ask more about this.
"I must ask why you aren't returning your Pokemon?" he said to Alexis.
Yuki was still on the battlefield, so she couldn't even give a hint as to what Alexis should say. It was all on Alexis to say something.
"
...I caught those two yesterday. I figured that they'd feel more comfortable resting like they would in the wild."
Yuki made a mental note to help Alexis make up better excuses in the future.
Even as Alexis made her excuse, Lan could tell there was more going on than what she was saying.
"If something's wrong," he said,
"or your Snorunt's worried, we can stop the battle and you can challenge me again another time." His voice was calm, yet had a note of concern. After what Alexis had said earlier about showing people how it was done, he hadn't expected her to act so subdued.
"What do you want to do?""
Sorry, but we've gone this far. Might as well keep going until the end! Yuki! Double Team! Again!"
The Snorunt nodded, and sped up once more, creating more afterimages. Yuki was glad that Alexis had decided to take the loss this time. If she didn't, then Yuki wouldn't have gotten a chance to see just what they were up against. These gym leaders not only were strong, but their Pokémon had learned the kind of moves that were just as powerful. Yuki knew they'd lose the match after seeing what happened to Sophia.
This time, Lan called for Munchlax to attack. It would be best for both Alexis and Yuki if the battle ended soon.
"Munchlax, use Chip Away."Even with the afterimages, the Munchlax's barrage of strikes hit their target. The gym leader's face was solemn. Just like Sophia, Alexis had come in underprepared, but he was sure that the two of them would return, having learned the battle skills they'd need for their journey.
When Yuki was hit, she let out a scream of agony that was much more dramatic than it should have been. She landed on the floor, and didn't move. A moment passed in silence. Alexis had lost, adding to her already poor win/loss ratio. Alexis looked down, the lighting casting a shadow over her face. If one were to listen closely, they'd here her making a quiet sound...and then they'd here similar sounds joining her.
It initially sounded as if it was quiet sobbing, but as they got louder, Alexis raised her head to show that she was laughing! And she wasn't alone. Yuki and Gabby got up as well, laughing along with her. The only one that didn't laugh was Puffpuff, but he woke up with a bit of a groan.
As the Snorunt screamed and fell, motionless, to the ground, Lan stepped forward. For a moment, he worried that Yuki had been hit a little too hard, but his Munchlax had never severely injured a Pokemon before...
A few seconds later, Alexis started laughing, her Pokemon waking up and joining in. Lan sighed. He should have known the girl had been planning on mocking him right from the start, but he wasn't the type to truly get annoyed.
"Young lady," he said.
"As well as coming back better prepared, I also recommend taking gym battles more seriously." At least she hadn't reacted as badly as he'd thought she would. She was able to deal with knockbacks, even though this wasn't the way to go about it.
"
Oh, trust me, I wanted to, but Yuki's little plan was just too good to pass up!"
Alexis' pokemon returned to her side as she prepared to leave. Some more easily than a certain floaty pokemon.
"
If we went all out on you, then there'd be no question that I'd win. You'll see how, next time. For now, we need to go and practice. If you're going to lose, then I'll at least let you lose in spectacular fashion!"
Alexis and her pokemon laughed as they left the field and exited the door.
