After Oscar has finished talking to and healing his pokemon, he goes and gets Skoll, Nomia and Kushala and takes them to the seating area in the main arena. the gym leader, Lan seems to have finished up and looks to prepared for the next battle. Oscar takes a deep breath and tries to settle any remaining nerves as much as possible. He stands up straight, calls over his three battling pokemon and walks up to Lan.
"Lan, sorry to challenage you so soon after a battle but I would like to obtain your badge that you have on offer."Lan had just received his Pokemon from a student who'd had them healed, when a new challenger entered the arena - the boy from earlier, who had accompanied Sophia. When the boy spoke, Lan gave a gentle smile.
"There's no need to apologise," he reassured him.
"My Pokemon are fully healed, and this gives others in my team a chance to battle." He made his way back to the other end of the arena, facing Oscar with a bow of his head as the referee announced the start of the gym challenge. A cheer rose up from the spectators.
"Bunnelby," he said, taking a Pokeball and letting out a little grey rabbit. The bunny hopped forward, flexing his ears in preparation as he waited for his opponent.
Oscar does a bow in response to be respectful as he stands in position across from the gym leader. As the referee started the match and the crowd cheered, the nervousness raises up within Oscar. he is not used to be on this side of the attention, especially when a lot is at stake. He is used to exams but this is like an exam where everyone can see you fail and it scares Oscar a little.
Oscar looks down at his pant to see Diasho tugging at them as to say not to worry and to send him out. Oscar smiles and turns to Lan before saying.
"Diasho, go and make me proud." Diasho goes to walk into position and takes a stance against the bunny. Diasho seems to get a little more buff for some reason.
"Begin with Bulk Up," Lan commanded once the opposing Pokemon, a Ralts, approached the Bunnelby. The rabbit nodded and clenched his ears tighter, a red aura flaring around his body as his muscles thickened. Defense wasn't Lan's concern, a Ralts would be more likely to use energy based moves than physical ones, but this would give Bunnelby's attacks a boost for as long as he was out.
Oscar notes that the bunney is gearing up for a big attack. Thanks to Sophia, he has a move to counter this tactic as long as the bunny is a physical fighter
"Diasho, Use reflect." Diasho lifts his hands and forms a clear barrier with a slight blue tint in front of him. This should help Diasho survive a hit or two from the bunny
Lan hadn't expected Reflect, but as he watched the force field appear, he smiled.
"Good idea to set up a move like that at the start of a battle," he commented.
"Bunnelby, offset it with another Bulk Up."The glow around Bunnelby intensified like a flame growing into a blazing fire, red sparks rising into the air, as he stared down the Ralts. The barrier may soften his attacks, but did nothing to weaken his resolve.
"Thanks thou I have to be honest. A friend helped me out." He was being honest. Getting all the credit felt a little wrong especially as he wouldn't have it cause of Sophia.
"Diasho, Use confusion while you still have first strike." Daisho glows purple as the bunny does so too. Diasho forces the bunny to hit himself before leaving the bunny alone.
"Teamwork, an important skill for trainers," Lan replied. Given that Reflect was a Psychic type move, it was probably Sophia who'd helped out. The same girl who'd acted less than friendly towards Oscar in the meditation room, but had ultimately shown respect for him. It was good to know this group could support each other when they needed to, and the current situation made sticking together all the more essential.
When Daisho made his move, using Bunnelby's pumped up strength against him, the bunny staggered then shook off the attack. Both Pokemon and trainer remained calm.
"Counter with Quick Attack," Lan ordered.
The Bunnelby charged, that aura streaming from him like the tail of a comet, allowing him to knock the barrier containing the Ralts back several paces.
Oscar whinces for his pokemon as if he had felt it as if it is his own. Oscar nods in understanding of what Lan has to say about teamwork.
"It is like the old saying goes: Want to go fast, go alone. Want to go far, go together." As Diasho recovers for Oscar's next command, Oscar gives it with more confidence than in tbe beginning of the match.
"You are doing great, Diasho. Now, attack with confusin again. He is on his last ropes." The same thing happened as before with the bunny and the bunny doesn't look so good.
The Bunnelby struggled against the psychic move, but couldn't stop his body moving against his will, his paw-like ear whacking him with a sharp slap. This time, when he stumbled, he didn't steady himself but flopped to the floor.
"Come back, Bunnelby," Lan called, returning him.
"Munchlax." He pressed the button of another Pokeball, the chubby teal bear appearing in front of the Ralts.
"Use Chip Away." The barrier would absorb half the damage, but wouldn't last much longer.
Before the Muchlax could attack Diasho, Oscar shouts.
"Aurora, sub in for Diasho quickly before he attacks. Aurora jumps in front of the Muchlax's attack and soaks it nicely. That was a close call.
Snorlax and Muchlax are even known in Hoenn ti be a dangerously powerful Pokémon. Maybe Oscar can take care of him now.
"Aurora, Use your sky uppercut with flair" Aurora dashes towards the opponent, crouch before jumping. As she jumps, she twists and releases some aura. It looks like a showstopper.
As soon as the Riolu appeared, Lan recognised her. The one whose pack had let her stay in this very monastery, a place of serenity for her to hone her aura skills.
"So you found a trainer to go with," he addressed Aurora.
"I knew that would do you good."Watching her prepare an attack, Lan decided to make a switch of his own.
"Munchlax, return for now," he said, withdrawing the bear cub.
"Doduo." In a flash, the two-headed bird stood in the Munchlax's place. Normal types were vulnerable to Fighting moves, but Doduo's Flying type could compensate for this weakness...
... Or not. It seemed Aurora had received some training since she'd left. Both her aura-cloaked fists shot up, striking the chins of each head at the same time. The Doduo didn't even get to fight back before crumpling to the ground.
Lan's jaw tensed, lips pressed together, but he kept his composure as he returned the bird.
"Seems it's your turn again, Munchlax," he said, sending out his last healthy Pokemon.
"Zen Headbutt."Oscar was amazed at seeing Aurora one hit knock out a gym leader's Pokémon that has no weaknesses. He thinks that he needs to bench Aurora to make things a bit more fair even for a gym leader.
" Aurora, you can stay on the bench for now. You already did more thab enough work. Roadrunner, it is your turn" Aurora nods and Roadrunner excitedly runs onto the battlefield.
Roadrunner was hit with tbe zen headbutt but is still going strong.
"Now, Roadrunner, use ember on that munchlax" RR dashes forward and sends small flames towards the foe
Munchlax winced as the flames hit, but once they fizzled out, he simply brushed the soot off his fur. Special attacks were something he could easily withstand.
"Chip Away this time," Lan called. Faced with the new opponent, a move that matched his Pokemon's type would be much more effective. The Munchlax lumbered forward, flailing as hard as he could with his fists.
The munchlax hit Roadrunner quite hard, Forcing the orange chicken to bite down and swallow the oran berry stored in his mouth. It healed Roadrunner up and Roadrunner seems to be pumped up from that as if he likes the challenges. osar smiles as he remembers that Roadrunner always has had a competitive spirit when it comes to battling . the longer the battle, the more worked up he gets.
"Roadrunner, use ember again" Roadrunner dashes forward and spews embers like before but these seem to be more intense that before. The embers hit the munchlax and burn some of the fur badly.
This time, Munchlax grunted and reeled back. He wasted no time in taking out the Sitrus Berry tucked into his thick coat of fur and devouring the fruit, standing a little taller as he did so. Normally, a Pokemon would wait longer before consuming their healing resource, but Munchlax was going to take the first opportunity that arose for a snack.
"That's it, now, Chip Away again," Lan commanded. The Normal type, almost fully revitalised, stomped over and threw another volley of punches.
Oscar grits his teeth as the Munchlax does eats the berry and heals up. He should have remember the saying of 'hungry as a snorlax'. he has to try delay this unstoppable force. The munchlax hits Roadrunner and makes him be on his last legs. Roadrunner get worked up from the fighting and hit.
"Roadrunner, retreat. Diasho, sub in." Roadrunner looks upset from being benched but does what he is ordered. Diasho stands center stage once again. He has lost his muscles but looks to be a little hunger than before.
"Diasho, Put up reflect." Once again, Diasho lifts his hands and forms a clear barrier with a slight blue tint in front of him.
Instead of ordering an attack right away, Lan opted for a stalling move.
"Recycle," he called.
The Munchlax held up the berry stalk, which glowed, the light spreading into a fruit shape then fading to reveal a Sitrus Berry. He licked his lips at the sight of it, but kept enough self-control to store it in his fur for later. This, combined with his strategy of reaching for berries after just a few hits, would hopefully help him withstand Daisho's attacks until the barrier faded.
"Now, another Chip Away." At Lan's command, Munchlax pummelled at the Ralts, aiming to deal as much damage through the barrier as possible.
The hit from the munchlax causes Diasho to take his berry, with the added gluttony. Oscar grits his teeth as he is now having top fight for the long game.
"Diasho, use confusion." Daisho uses the same tactic on Munchlax as he did on the bunny from earlier, hoping to do massive damage.
The Munchlax toppled, his pelt and his considerable bulk cushioning the impact. The attack had only left slight bruises, but that wasn't going to stop him eating the berry at the first chance he got. Righting himself, he chomped down the entire piece of fruit in a matter of seconds.
"That barrier won't last much longer," Lan said.
"Chip Away." With Daisho's health restored from having taken on Munchlax's early snacking tendency, now it was a matter of which Pokemon could wear the other down first.
Oscar looks determined to get this foe down one way or another. H e decides to throw Lan a little bit off with the next move
"Diasho, use disarming voice." Diasho opens its mouth and sends out white notes that hit the bear thus hurting it
"A variety of moves," Lan commented.
"A useful strategy, although if there's no clear advantage or disadvantage, you'll want to go with your Pokemon's strongest attack."He turned his attention back to Munchlax, who continued to shudder from the noise.
"Use Recycle again." Once more, the Normal type restored the berry. Instead of waiting like he had the previous turn, he devoured the fruit right away.
Oscar nods as he heeds the gum leader's advice. Lan was right. Confusion offered more to the fight than disarming voice and Oscar need brute force more than anything.
"Diasho, use confusion." Once again, Diasho forces his opponent to attack himself
For several turns, both battlers held out, Munchlax by enjoying a feast of restored berries between attacks, Daisho by keeping up the force field. Finally, though, the barrier dimmed and disappeared.
"Now, strike with Chip Away before he defends himself again," Lan ordered. Before the Ralts could put up another Reflect, the Normal type made his move. No matter how bloated his belly became, it did nothing to hinder him, and he struck with full force at his opponent.
Diasho is knocked back a meter or two. He takes a slow shaky step forward before collapsing on his face, fainting in the process. Oscar recalls to his ball.
"You did great. I promise to reward after this, regardless if we win or lose." He puts the ball away before giving the next order.
"Roadrunner, use ember and make it count. Set this Munchlax ablaze. " After calming down, Road runner dashes forward and spews more embers on the Munchlax. It hit the opponent and set some of his fur on fur. This even scared Oscar a little in fear of the Munchlax going into a blind rage.
Munchlax yelped and rolled on the floor, but the burned patch kept smouldering.
"Hold on and use Chip Away," Lan called. If not for the burn, the attack would have knocked out the Torchic, but the Normal type's punches lacked their usual strength. After swinging one more exhausted blow at Roadrunner, Munchlax fell flat on his face.
A roar of applause filled the room as the referee announced Oscar the winner. Lan bowed his head as he recalled Munchlax, then looked up with an expression of calm that contrasted with the surrounding excitement.
"Your Pokemon work admirably together," he commented,
"and all brought something to this battle. The one thing I will advise caution about is overzealousness, but in such circumstances, I cannot blame you. I see that you at least took the time to train your Pokemon, including your new Riolu - the two of you will doubtlessly help each other grow over the course of your travels."He fetched four cases from a box, then presented them to Oscar, along with a badge. Each case detailed a move and its effect.
"Take this badge, as well as a TM," he offered.
"Hidden Power, Double Team, Swagger, or Round."Oscar wipes the sweat off his brow.
"Thanks. To be honest and fair, I have to give credit to a person who helped me with reflect and another with berries. Without either, the end result would be vastly different." He smiles as best as he can since one of the two is a strained relationship.
He goes over, takes the badge and looks at the tms. He takes the hidden power tm. It is not tbe best but it is a versatile and useful one.
"Versatility is a good thing to go for if all else fail. Don't you agree? " Oscar smiles as he shares his wisdom.
Oscar feels more pull at his pants. He looks down to see Aurora gesturing to Roadrunner. He looks to be a little off. He looks to be straining for some reason. Oscar goes to him
"What is wrong? I am here." 
