Chapter 20 - Battling Sabrina

I made my team a special breakfast the following morning. I got a hold of these poffins that increased stats. We were all particularly pumped up this morning. I got 12 of them, so each of my Pokemon would have two of them.

"Alright guys!" I held the basket of poffins in my hand as I walked in front of my team; they were lined up like soldiers. "Today, we are going to be facing a very strong opponent. I need to know that you can handle it," I began.

"Now... I am going to give you all your choice of poffins..." My Pokemon practically drooled as I dangled the basket above them. "But, of course you all can't have first pick. So, to decided who gets the first choice of these poffins... I will give you each a number, & roll these dice, so its fair." I heard Charcoal grumble.

I numbered my Pokemon, then rolled the dice. The first number I rolled was a 5. Relic crawled foward. I gave him his choice of poffin & he happily ate it. Next came Cinder, Phantom, Jolt, Venus, & finally Charcoal, who did not look very pleased at being last. So, in hopes he'd cheer up, I went backwards this time for the remaining six poffins, meaning that Charcoal picked first.

After eating the poffins & their regular breakfast food, I strolled confidently to the gym with Brandon. The line was awfully long this time. "Excuse me miss, how long will it be?" Brandon crossed his arms & tapped his feet on the floor unpatiently. "Perhaps another hour?" A random lady answered & walked away on her rediciously high high heels, swaying her hips dramatically.

"I can't wait an hour," Brandon shook his head. "Then don't. But I need this badge," I replied. He looked at the line, clearly overwhelmed by the size of it, & then sighed. "I need the badge too." He ran his fingers through his hair.

After a suprisingly short wait, we were 5th from being next. I realized that the reason the line was moving so fast was because Sabrina was knocking everyone out with her strong Gengar. I gulped, intimidated by the mean looking ghost Pokemon throwing strong Shadow Balls & using strong Psychic attacks.

The trainer currently battling was using a Bayleef. The Bayleef was knocked out after no more than 30 seconds.

"That Gengar is gonna be tough to beat," I gulped. Brandon only nodded & watched as more & more trainers were beat.

One particular trainer, with a Blastoise, actually won, but he was the only trainer that I saw win. It seemed like Sabrina used her Gengar in battle every time. The only two Pokemon I had seen her use were a Haunter & a Gengar. Both were incredibly strong.

Soon enough, Brandon & I were next. "I'll go first," I let him know. Slowly I walked up the stage. "If you don't mind, it'll just be a sec. I'm healing my Pokemon," Sabrina informed me. I nodded.

I was glad that she was giving me a few moments, I needed this time to think over my team & who I'd be using to battle. Ghost-types were immune to ground, normal, & fighting. I eliminated Relic as a possibility for the battle because of his lack of effective moves. The only move he had that would damage a ghost-type was Absorb, which was not a very powerful move.

Ghost-types were weak against dark & ghost.

Poison & bug were not very effective, so Venus would not be a good option either... I decided Phantom would take part in the battle, & Jolt, because they knew Shadow Ball, which was good against ghost-types.

"You ready?" Sabrina's voice snapped me out of my reverie. "Uhh... Yeah," I stammered. Without another word, the rules of the battle were read aloud. A two on two match without substitutions, time limits, or items.

"Let's go, Misdreavus!" A ghostly Misdreavus appeared, laughing evily at me. "Okay... Go Phantom!" Phantom came out & saw the Misdreavus. His eyes went wide with... Lust? Did Phantom like Misdreavus?

"Phantom." I called out to him & he turned around. "This is not match.com, this is a battle, okay? She will hurt you when given the chance," I reminded him. I expected him to frown, but he quickly nuzzled against me, & assured me he'd do his best.

"Confuse Ray." A calm voice pierced my eardrum & I saw Misdreavus readying her attack. "I don't think so! Thunderbolt!" Before she could carry out her attack, Misdreavus was hit with a shockingly powerful Thunderbolt.

"Now use Shadow Ball!" I instructed. "You too, Midreavus." The two Shadow Ball's colided, causing a bit of an explosion. Phantom was blown back a bit & since Misdreavus was fairly small, she flew back even more.

"Use Psybeam." "Sucker Punch." I spoke full of confidence as my Phantom disapeared & avoided the Psybeam. He appeared moments later behind her & punched her so hard she fell down to the ground. "Use Payback."

My heart skipped a beat as I heard that. If Phantom was hit with Payback, he'd faint. "Phantom! Quick! Use Shadow Ball!" He quickly used it before Misdreavus could attack & she was out.

Sabrina retreated her. "Yes Phantom! Good job!" I pet him & held him close. He loved it. I heard a Pokeball open & in front of me stood a vicious looking Gengar. It's eyes were red & cold. This Gengar was mean.

Phantom noticably flinched when the Gengar let out a mighty roar. "You can do this Phantom," I cheered him on. He nodded & readied himself.

"Shadow Ball." "Phantom dodge-" No sooner had I spoke, the Shadow hit Phantom with such power he flew back & almost hit a wall, but he luckily went right through it. Seconds later he flew back, looking hurt, but ready to fight back. I heard gasps of onlookers as Phantom appeared again. "I didn't think that Haunter would still be able to battle," I heard someone half yell half whisper. I smirked. They obviously didn't know my Phantom like I did; I knew he would still be able to battle.

"Shadow Ball!" Phantom shot back a powerful Shadow Ball that Gengar could not avoid. He too, flew back, but not much. He just walked foward & used a move called Dark Pulse. This was bad. Very bad. "Phantom, use Thunderbolt!" But it was no use. He was hit & looking horrible.

"Phantom..." I wanted to cry. I had never seen him look so hurt. "Finish it. Shadow Ball," Sabrina instructed. "Use your own!" This time we were fast enough & Haunter's Shadow Ball colided with Gengars, making a small explosion of the dark energy. "Sucker Punch!" Our attack worked, luckily, & Sucker Punch really hurt Gengar. Before he could get up we used another Shadow Ball.

I thought for sure victory would be ours, but Gengar used Dark Pulse & Phantom didn't get back up. I recalled him.

"I'm so proud of you. You did great," I smiled & whispered. "Now," I said, pulling out a Pokeball with thunderbolts drawn on sloppily with a sharpie. "Jolt! Come on!"

Needless to say Jolt won me the badge. He was hit by a Shadow Ball that caught him off guard, but he so fast he dodged all the moves Gengar shot at him. He used Thunder, & a Shadow Ball finished Gengar off. I praised him. "You did excellent!" Jolt jumped on me & licked me adoringly. My badge was given to me & I couldn't be happier. I won!"

I waited on the sidelines as Brandon's Growlithe battled a Gastly. "You're Jolteon & Haunter are really something," a boy looking about 19 suddenly spoke beside me. I smiled. "Thanks."

"Is that your boyfriend battling?" he questioned. My cheeks flushed at the thought of Brandon being mistaken as my boyfriend. "No... Just... Just a friend..." I heard Growlithe whimper & turned to see him hit by a powerful Shadow Ball. "No..." I muttered. Gastly was preparing another Shadow Ball, but Growlithe used Flame Wheel & knocked him out.

"Yes! Great job Growlithe!" I cheered. Growlithe turned to look at me & barked happily.

Sabrina's next Pokemon was a Pokemon that definately did not originate from Kanto. It looked like a lamp. I shit you not, this Pokemon was a lamp, & had two long arms without fingers. Lampent. I had never seen this Pokemon in real life, but being the Poke-geek I was, I had read about them.

Brandon was looking at the Lampent, baffled by its appearance, probably not knowing what type it was. To make matters worse, whilst Brandon was cocking his head at the Lampent, Sabrina had ordered it's first attack, Flame Burst, & flames were bursting out on the battle field in every direction.

Luckily Growlithe's flash-fire absorbed the flames & Growlithe retaliated with a power Flame Wheel, although it wasn't very effective to the dual-type fire and ghost Pokemon.

Growlithe then used Bite, which was super effective, but Lampent used a powerful Shadow Ball, & just like that Growlithe was out cold.

Brandon bit his lip & thought about who to use next. I wanted to yell to him 'Use Wartortle! Water is super-effective to Lampent!' but it seemed as if he read my mind, because as soon as I thought it Wartortle was on the battle field, using Bubble.

This battle seemed to take forever. Wartortle's Bubble & Water Gun were avoided easily, & Lampent's fire moves didn't do much. In the end though, after using a Bite & weakening Lampent, Warortle used Water Gun & Lampent surpisingly fainted.

The trainers behind me sighed in relief when the battle was finally over.

"Took you long enough!" I teased Brandon as we left the gym & headed to the Pokemon Center to spend the night. "That lamp thing was strong!" Brandon yelled. "Lampent," I corrected,"& yeah, I'm glad I didn't have to battle it."

Phantom showered me with extra affection as we rested in our room at the Pokemon Center that night, as if saying sorry for losing earlier. "You did great, Phantom. You too, Jolt," I told them. Charcoal wanted to battle, & he didn't hide his disappointment in me for not using him. "Charcoal, come on. I'll use you to battle against Lt. Surge, I promise," I said sweetly. He looked at me & nodded. "Good boy," I patted him softly & I could swear I saw him smile.

"Vermillion first thing in the morning?" Brandon asked as we both lay in our beds. "Yup," I answered, popping the 't'. "Sounds good. Night Katrina," he said softly. "Good night Brandon," I smiled huge, even though no one could see me.