The atmosphere in the Fuchsia City Gym was charged with anticipation. Gladion stood opposite Koga, his Pupitar, Collosus, towering proudly on the battlefield. Across the field stood Nidoking, its muscles rippling with raw power, its sharp horn gleaming under the bright lights of the arena.
Gladion adjusted his gloves as he analyzed Koga's Nidoking. He had seen its movements, its aura, and its presence. "A nine-star Pokémon," he murmured under his breath, his voice low enough for only himself to hear. This was the maximum strength a Gym Leader was allowed to use in official Gym challenges—a level of Pokémon that could rival those of lower-tier Ace trainers.
"This battle's not going to be easy," he admitted, his eyes narrowing. But a smirk crept onto his face. "Good thing I didn't come here for an easy fight."
On the other side of the arena, Koga's sharp eyes locked onto Collosus. Standing beside him was, Agatha, the ghost-type mistress of the Elite Four, leaned forward slightly, her gaze unreadable. She had becomes bored sitting in stands with the silent ninjas so decided to just be besides her old buddy Koga. Well, Koga would likely disagree on the buddy part.
"That Pupitar…" Koga muttered.
Agatha's thoughts mirrored his. "So, Maren got the kid a real monster. Not just any Alpha Pokémon—a pseudo-legendary Alpha Pokémon. The sheer power of something like that… if he evolves it into a Tyranitar, and it turns against him, it might take an entire Elite Four team to subdue." She glanced at Gladion. "Let's hope the boy knows what he's doing."
Koga gave a short nod, his lips pressed into a thin line. "Let's test the boy, then."
Koga made the first move.
"Nidoking, Horn Attack!"
The massive Poison/Ground Pokémon roared, its sharp horn glowing faintly as it charged forward with tremendous speed. The ground trembled beneath its powerful legs, each step reverberating through the gym.
Gladion smirked, unfazed by the intimidation. "Collosus, Stone Edge—Version 2!"
Collosus let out a mighty roar as spikes of stone erupted from the ground in a jagged line, surging toward Nidoking. The arena shook violently as the Stone Edge V2 moved to intercept the oncoming Pokémon.
Gladion's mind drifted back to the countless hours he and Pupitar had spent refining Stone Edge. He had learned that there were two distinct versions of the move. Version 1 involved massive boulders orbiting the user before being launched with devastating precision—a technique that relied on sheer power and accuracy, perfect for overwhelming opponents. In the earlier series of anime, this move has being used this way.
Version 2, on the other hand, was a more tactical approach, where spikes erupted directly from the ground, making it ideal for disrupting enemy movements or countering fast and aggressive strategies. This version was used in the later series of the anime. Training for both versions had been grueling since there was no one to help train the Version 2 of Stone edge. There was not even a video or something.
But Gladion knew mastering both would give him a critical edge in battle, allowing him to adapt to any situation.
He recalled how he had focused on Collosus's endurance and spatial awareness to perfect Version 1, ensuring the Pupitar could handle the immense energy required to create and control the boulders.
For Version 2, he had worked on honing Collosus's control over the terrain itself, teaching him to detect and manipulate the battlefield's weak points to summon spikes with pinpoint accuracy. The training wasn't just physical—it was mental, too.
Gladion would often test Collosus's decision-making, making him choose the right version of Stone Edge based on hypothetical scenarios. Now, seeing both versions seamlessly used in a high-stakes battle, Gladion couldn't help but feel a swell of pride. Their hard work had paid off.
Agatha's eyes widened slightly. "So, the brat knows how to use Stone Edge like those arrogant Kalos trainers? This is more refined than the typical Stone Edge." She scoffed but couldn't hide her intrigue. "Impressive."
Nidoking's charge was relentless, but it slammed into two stone spikes, slowing its momentum. The third spike stopped it entirely, the sharp edges digging into its hide and forcing it back.
Gladion seized the opportunity. "Collosus, Stone Edge—Version 1!"
The ground beneath Collosus glowed faintly as massive boulders materialized, orbiting him like planets around a sun. With a commanding roar, the Pupitar launched the rocks at the dazed Nidoking.
But Koga was one step ahead. "Substitute!"
In a burst of smoke, Nidoking vanished, replaced by a large tree trunk that absorbed the brunt of the attack. The Stone Edge smashed into the trunk, splitting it into splinters, but Nidoking was nowhere to be seen.
Gladion blinked, momentarily stunned. "Eh? Is this Naruto or Pokémon?" he muttered.
"Nidoking, Poison Sting!" Koga commanded.
A barrage of glowing purple needles shot toward Collosus with incredible speed. Each needle sparkled ominously, carrying enough venom to weaken even the toughest opponent.
Gladion stayed calm. "Iron Defense!"
Collosus's rocky shell gleamed as it hardened further, the needles bouncing harmlessly off his exterior. The Pupitar didn't even flinch, standing as an immovable fortress on the battlefield.
Gladion's smirk returned. "Now, charge for a Hyper Beam!"
Collosus began to glow faintly, energy building within him as he prepared the devastating attack. Sparks crackled around his form, the intensity growing with each passing second.
Koga's eyes narrowed. "Nidoking, don't let it charge! Poison Sting, again!"
Another barrage of needles rushed toward Collosus, but the Pupitar stood firm. His shell showed not a single mark from the repeated assaults.
And then, it happened.
"Hyper Beam!" Gladion shouted.
The energy Collosus had been gathering exploded outward in a blinding beam of golden light. The sheer force of the attack shook the gym, the sound deafening as it tore through the air.
"Nidoking, Protect!" Koga yelled urgently.
Nidoking crossed its arms, summoning a yellow barrier in front of itself. The Hyper Beam struck the Protect with incredible force, but the barrier cracked instantly under the immense pressure. The beam didn't stop there—it plowed through the Protect, heading straight for Nidoking.
Koga's eyes widened in alarm. "Crobat!"
In a blur of speed, Koga's ace Pokémon, Crobat, swooped down from the rafters, throwing up its own Protect just in time. The second Protect managed to withstand the attack, but only barely. When the dust settled, half the arena lay in ruins, the ground scorched and cracked from the sheer power of the Hyper Beam. The arena Psychic barriers had been activated to protect the stands.
Gladion stared at the destruction, his jaw slack. Collosus turned to his trainer, his expression mirroring Gladion's shock.
"I… didn't think it would be that strong," Gladion admitted, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.
In truth, he had never tested Collosus's Hyper Beam before. Moves of that magnitude weren't easy to practice, especially without risking collateral damage. When he had asked Collosus if he knew the move, the Pupitar had confirmed it, and Gladion had left it at that. He hadn't expected this level of devastation.
But his shock turned to dread as he looked back at Nidoking. The massive Pokémon was slumped on the ground, clearly on the verge of collapse. If Crobat hadn't intervened, the Hyper Beam could have killed it.
Koga's silent glare burned into Gladion, his usually calm demeanor replaced with visible anger. Chapters first released on NoveI-Fire.ɴet
Gladion swallowed hard. "I… I'm sorry," he said, his voice sincere. "I didn't mean for it to go that far."
Koga didn't respond immediately, his gaze shifting from Gladion to Collosus. After a moment, he sighed and nodded. "You need to learn control, boy. Power without control is dangerous—for you and everyone else."
Gladion nodded. "Understood." His resolve hardened. He would never let something happen again. He had to remember that unlike anime or games, Pokemon can accidentally get killed in friendly Pokemon matches here.
As the arena was repaired for the next round, Gladion sat on the sidelines, reflecting on the battle so far. Collosus stood beside him, looking uncharacteristically subdued.
"We'll do better," Gladion said softly, patting the Pupitar's shell. "Next time, we'll make sure we're in control. Agreed?"
Collosus let out a low growl of agreement, his eyes blazing with determination.
From the stands, Agatha watched with a sly smile. "The boy's learning. Maren would've been proud. Let's see how far he can go."
The battle wasn't over yet, and Gladion knew it. Koga still had one more Pokemon left.
----Author Notes------
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