Chapter 21: First Gym Battle!
Pewter City, Pokemon Center.
Altro was sitting in the cafeteria teasing Mew.
*Mii~* (Muu, Papa~)
He noticed Celeste coming towards him. But he also noticed many single trainers looking at him with hatred. 'Maybe I'll have more money.' Thinking of this, he couldn't help but smile.
"Is Pidgey okay?" Altro asked.
Celeste nodded her head and replied. "Yes, he is fine."
Altro nodded. He already knew Pidgey was fine after all the care she had given him last few days.
"That's good. Then I'm going to challenge the gym. What have you planned?" Altro asked, as per Celeste's request, they were going to travel together until they reach Pewter City. Now that they are here, it's time to separate.
"I'll go watch your battle."
Altro nodded his head, and they started making their way toward Pewter city gym.
Outside the Pewter City Pokemon Gym. Altro took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. This is his first gym battle, and he had imagined this scene a lot of times, even in his previous life. Now he is here. The excitement couldn't be described in words.
"Altro?"
"Let's go," saying that Altro immediately pushed the door open.
As he entered, he saw a boy sitting behind a desk. "What can I do for you?"
Altro assumed this must be Brocks's brother. "Hello, I am here to challenge the Gym."
Hearing this, Forrest nodded and asked for his ID to register the match.
After that, he stood up and said. "Please follow me. The gym leader is waiting on the battlefield."
Soon they arrived on a rocky battlefield. Altro curiously looked around and Forrest led Celeste to the audience stand.
"Are you the challenger?" Altro heard a voice on the opposite end of the battlefield. There stood a middle-aged man looking at him.
'Is that Brock's father?'
"I'm Flint, the gym leader of Pewter City Pokemon gym. Let's see what you have for me, challenger."
Forrest came to the referee's stand and said.
"This is a match between Pokemon Trainer Altro from Pallet town and Gym leader Flint. Both sides will use three Pokemon each and the fight ends when one side loses all three Pokemon. Only the challenger is allowed to change Pokemon. If the challenger wins, he will receive a gym badge, 20000P$, and a TM. But if the challenger loses, he will have to pay 6000P$."
There were other challenge options with different prize money, but Altro chose this one.
"Please bring out your first Pokemon."
Flint took out a Pokeball and threw it stylishly. "Come out Graveler, show them who is the boss."
*Graveler* Graveler roared.
'Level 26. Looks like a newly evolved one.' Altro didn't panic because he knew that Flint was strong after his years of training. 'I don't know how strong his main team will be.'
Altro also took out a Pokeball and let his first Pokemon out.
"Pikachu, come out."
Everyone in the stadium was dumbfounded. No one would have thought Altro would use Pikachu.
Celeste was surprised because she didn't believe Altro would make a mistake. There must be some reason behind it. 'Couldn't he have just let out Gyarados and ended it?'
Flint and Forrest were surprised because one Pikachu has left a very deep impression on them just a few days ago. Yes, it was Ash's Pikachu.
But Flint didn't think Altro could win easily after all Ash fought his son's Pokemon, so he managed. It will be difficult to defeat him. It depends on the trainer, though. "Surprising choice you got there. Let's see what you have."
"Both sides are ready? Let the battle begin." Forrest shouted while moving the flags.
"Graveler, use Sandstorm and then Rock polish," Flint commanded calmly.
"Pikachu, Disarming Voice and Quick attack."
Graveler was affected by Disarming voice. But he quickly composed himself and used Sandstorm.
At this time, Pikachu was already in front of him. "Iron tail, Pikachu," Altro commanded.
"Harden," Flint shouted.
The Iron Tail slammed on the hardened body of Graveler, and he was pushed back. Although Harden raises the defense, the attack hurt him a lot.
Unfortunately, Altro didn't manage to stop the Sand storm from forming.
"Use Rock throw then Rock polish."
"Pikachu, send those rocks back with Iron tail."
"Use Rollout."
Graveler started rotating towards Pikachu with his heavy body.
"Keep using Electro ball" Several Electro balls hit Graveler. But the damage was little.
Altro saw Graveler slowed down a bit. He immediately commanded. "Iron tail."
Hearing this, Flint smirked. "Graveler, use Harden and catch his tail."
With his rotating speed, Graveler suddenly stopped and used Harden to catch Pikachu's Iron tail. He was hurt, but he succeeded.
"Now your only means of heavy damage is not available. Graveler Smackdown, finish him." Flint said confidently. He knew even if Pikachu use Electric-type moves, he won't be able to escape from Smackdown.
But Altro wasn't worried, he calmly said, "Pikachu, Brick break." Hearing this, Flint's pupils shrank suddenly, and he only heard a loud boom.
"Graveler is unable to battle. Pikachu wins."
Flint was a little disbelieving. He never expected to get himself trapped in Altro's trap. Altro never revealed Brick Break from the start. Misleading Flint into thinking Pikachu doesn't have any other ways than Iron tail to deal heavy damage.
"Wow, boy, you played me perfectly," Flint said while laughing.
"Here comes my next Pokemon Onix."
A large rock snake-bodied Pokemon appeared in front of him.
'A Level 30.'
"Pikachu, come back," Altro called him back in his Pokeball. "Good job, Pikachu. Take some rest."
"Come out, Gastly." Gastly came out of Altro's shadow and entered the Battlefield.
Flint frowned a little. Not expecting a ghost type.
"Continue." With the referee's call.
Flint commanded, "Onix, use Rock slide."
"Gastly dodge it," Altro commanded.
Flint didn't expect Altro to ask Gastly to dodge. 'How can Gastly dodge such an attack with his floating speed?'
But what Flint saw next was even more incomprehensible.
Gastly nimbly dodged all the rocks in a fluent motion.
Altro smirked at seeing that. 'Of course, this was only possible because of Gastly's hard work.' Altro's most hard-working Pokemon, Gastly. Since the day Altro asked him to practice his floating speed. Gastly every day worked hard without Altro mentioning anything.
All of Altro's Pokemon respect him a lot. Because of that, they also worked harder. It was because of Gastly's influence that Mew wanted to train harder.
"Gastly, use multiple Energy balls and finish it."
*Jejeje*
To Flint's horror, Gastly formed 4 Energy balls at the same time and launched them at Onix.
Before Flint could react, Onix was knocked out.
"Onix is unable to battle. Gastly wins."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone