Eric's gym challenge was going smoothly as he beat the second gym trainer, once again, with just his Fearow.
For the third trainer, he faced someone who was again familiar, yet unfamiliar. It was Daisy, Misty's older sister, who he barely recalled from the anime.
Just like in the anime, Daisy was very beautiful. She looked more like a model than a trainer, and looked a few years older than Eric.
"I've been seeing your battles. It's quite cheeky of you to think you can defeat everyone here with just a Fearow. I don't hate it, though."
Daisy winked at Eric as she stylishly threw a Poké Ball in the air - as if it were a performance and not a Pokémon battle.
From the ball, a Dewgong emerged as it flipped in the air and landed gracefully in front of Daisy.
It was as if she were in a contest rather than a Pokémon battle.
---
Pokémon: Seel
Gender: Female
Level: 31
Type: Water
Ability: Thick Fat
Held Item: None
Potential: Deep Blue
---
'As expected, she can't be underestimated just because of how she acts.'
Daisy was still the daughter of a gym leader. There was no way she would be weak.
"You're up, Fearow!"
Fearow shot towards Seel as soon as the battle commenced, her beak glowing with flying-type energy. But just as she was about to make contact, the opposing Seel rolled sideways at just the right moment and countered with Ice Beam!
"Protect, then Aerial Ace!"
Fearow followed Eric's command as a green barrier surrounded her, blocking the ice beam. She then shot towards Seel - who was still nearby, but this time Seel used protect!
"Back up and gain distance!"
"Don't let it, use Ice Beam!"
Seel immediately followed up with an Ice Beam the moment the green barrier disappeared,
Fearow was too close, so she couldn't dodge fully as the Ice Beam landed on her left wing.
But she didn't back down as she once again followed up with Aerial Ace, this time connecting and sending Seel flying.
Fearow followed up, shooting towards Seel, using Peck. While doing so, she spun her body rapidly, adding torque to the attack.
This was developed during training on Mount Moon as a first step towards learning Drill Peck. In terms of power, this move was Fearow's strongest. Eric simply called it enhanced peck.
Seel managed to use Ice Beam, but Fearow was already inches away.
She landed the enhanced Peck - causing the Seel to be sent flying, but was also hit by the Ice Beam and fell to the ground.
"Both Pokémon are unable to continue!"
The referee gave the verdict, asking the two to send out their next Pokémon.
"My, you really are good."
Daisy commented as she recalled Seel and sent out her next Pokémon. It was a Starmie.
Eric did the same and sent out Poliwhirl
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Pokemon: Starmie
Gender: Male
Lvl: 32
Type: Water / Psychic
Ability: Natural Cure
Held Item: None
Potential: Deep Blue
---
"A Poliwhirl?! My, how cute!"
As Daisy observed Poliwhirl, Eric did the same with Starmie. Particularly because his body was Indigo Blue and his core was a shade of teal instead of red, as it was supposed to be.
This Starmie was a shiny!
This was the first shiny Pokémon Eric had ever seen in real life.
"Poliwhirl, Surf!"
"Starmie, you as well!"
Two large waves crashed into each other, filling the field with water.
"Rain Dance!"
Starmie had a clear advantage due to his additional psychic typing. While not all of Poliwhirl's attacks were effective on him, Starmie could use psychic-type attacks to deal damage.
So Eric chose to use Rain Dance to activate Poliwhirl's ability and give him the speed advantage.
Even if that helped Starmie, too, it won't matter if he can't hit Poliwhirl.
The rest of the fight was very fast-paced.
Starmie used Rapid Spin to attack Poliwhirl, who easily dodged due to having his speed doubled.
Poliwhirl then countered with Water Gun, but Starmie curved like a boomerang to dodge it - still spinning rapidly.
He then countered with Psybeam, which was again dodged by Poliwhirl, who immediately used Muddy Water - this time hitting Starmie.
He then followed up with a Bubble Beam, pushing Starmie into the ground.
While Poliwhirl's attacks didn't cause a lot of damage, they did cause some damage.
Under Eric's command, the poor Starmie simply could not hit Poliwhirl - frustrating Daisy to no end.
Eventually, he succumbed to Poliwhirl's relentless attacks, giving him an easy win.
"Starmie can no longer battle. Trainer Daisy, please send out your next Pokémon."
"You really are good. I forfeit." Daisy sighed as she smiled and bowed politely before exiting the stage.
"Let's meet again sometime later." She waved at him as she left.
Eric was a bit surprised that she didn't fight all the way.
He didn't know that Daisy had simply forgotten to bring more than two Pokémon with her today.
While Eric was doing his gym challenge, Ethan, who had started earlier, had finished and was currently facing the Gym Leader, Canna - Misty's mother.
By the time Eric went to watch, the battle was nearing its end.
Ethan's Scyther was facing off against Canna's Octillery.
Scyther dashed towards Octillery and used Fury Cutter, but Octillery dodged and used its tentacles to wrap around the joints of Scyther's arms.
It then used Ice Beam from its mouth, hitting Scyther at point-blank range. Scyther couldn't hold on and was defeated.
Ethan had lost the fight.
As he recalled Scyther and was about to leave the field disheartened, Canna stopped him.
"You fought impressively. Especially your coordination with Scyther. Here, take this."
She walked up to him and held out the Cascade Badge for him to take.
"But I lost..."
"Winning against me isn't a requirement. You proved yourself in this battle. You are more than qualified to get this badge."
It was true that defeating the gym leaders wasn't necessary. They can give out badges if they felt the trainer was worthy enough.
Ethan felt a little awkward about taking the badge after losing, but he relented and took it nonetheless.
"Well, it didn't go how I wanted, but I did get the badge."
He said to Eric as he walked past him.
"A badge is a badge."
Eric responded as he walked towards the field where Canna stood.
It was now his turn.
Ethan decided to check out Eric's battle as he headed to the viewing area.