Golden Souls

[MixedMedia]

Hey there.
This is my first ever pokemon fanfict. I'm a mega fan of gold and silver, and now of course, heartgold and SoulSilver, so I made this fanfic. It's not much really, I just thought it would be a bit of fun. Hope you enjoy :thumbup:

***
Golden Souls​

A teenage girl stepped forward and surveyed the land around her. It was a slight hill that broke into two paths. One, she could see, lead to a small house beside an apricorn tree. The other, which was her destination, led to Violet City. A slight breeze was blowing from behind her and rustled her dark blue hair. She took this as a good sign.
The girl's name was Molly and she had just started her Pokemon journey for the second time, after the first ended in disaster. A five year stretch of not training Pokemon had left her a bit rusty, and with only one Pokemon to her name she knew she had to start from the bottom.

"Dour! Dour!" the black dog Pokemon called from her side.

A houndour was quite the unusual Pokemon to see in the Johto region, but it was not from Johto at all, and neither was Molly. Hoenn was their home but was also a land they dared not return to.

"Don't worry," Molly said to her Pokemon. "We'll do well here. I'll become real Pokemon trainer."

"Houndour!" her pokemon agreed.

***​

"Houndour! Go!" Molly shouted as she directed her dark type Pokemon to battle.

Her opponent, a young boy in blue shorts, sent out a Rattata.

"Rattata!" The boy shouted. "Use Quick attack!"

"Ratta!" the purple rat cried. It charged towards Houndour at quite a speed.

"Houndour! Use smog and dodge it!"

Houndour opened it's mouth and released billows of green smoke. As the Rattata disappeared into it, Houndour jumped out.

"Now, Houndour, finish it with an ember!"

"Dour!" Houndhour cried as it spat out a flurry of small fireballs into the smog.

"RAAAAAAA!!" came the cry from within. The Rattata shot out with a flaming tail. The mouse Pokemon ran around in a distressed circle before collapsing onto it's side.

"Rattata, return," the boy ordered and recalled his ailing Pokemon. He smiled as he looked back up at Molly. "Your Houndour is really strong. I've never seen a Pokemon like him before."

Molly patted her faithful friend. "He's very special. We've been through a lot."

The youngster smiled a toothy grin. "Say, do you think I could get your PokeGear number? I'd love to challenge you again when I train a bit more."

"PokeGear?" Molly questioned.

"Err, yeah. Everyone's got one around here. You can call people on it."

Molly thought through her inventory. All she had brought with her was her backpack, five unused Pokeballs plus Houndour's, and some money.

"I don't have one."
The boy looked down. "Oh... well, that's ok I guess."

"If I get one, I'll be sure to come and look for you though," Molly promised.

"Cool!" the boy replied. I'll be sure to train harder! You won't win next time!"

Molly held out her hand. "It's a deal. I'm Molly."

"Joey," the boy replied.

***​

That's all at the moment. Nothing major or anything. I'll continue the rest a bit later

 

[MixedMedia]

*Is back already*
Part 2 ^^;

***
Violet City turned out to be a very historical town. Back in Hoenn the only place of significant history she had visited was the museum in Veilstone city. The culture of Johto was so different and interesting Molly couldn't help but love it.
She had seen the schoolhouse and met the somewhat odd teacher. He was a very pleasant man, just a bit... quirky. The children there were very intelligent and probably knew more about Pokemon match-ups than she did. One little boy had been very interested in her dark type Pokemon, telling her that a Psychic move wouldn't be able to harm him. That was something Molly didn't know, and she felt a little bit ashamed for not knowing.
The two places she most wanted to visit though were the Sprout Tower and, of course, the first Gym. The Tower was first on her list. Even though she had no doubt that her Pokemon could get the Zephyr badge, she still wanted to get in a bit of extra training.

"HEY! Coming through!" a younger voice cried. "WATCH OUT!"

Molly turned, and just as she did a boy ran right into her knocking her over. Houndour jumped in front of her and growled fiercely at the boy.

"Sorry, girl. I told you to watch out," he said sheepishly. He was a few years younger than Molly. She guessed he was just starting his journey. He had a hair colour that could only be described as yellow and it stuck out at all angles.

Molly pulled herself to her feet. "You should be more careful, you know. And why are you cowering like that?"

The boy pointed to Houndour who was still growling and baring his sharp fangs.

"Oh, right. Houndour, it's ok, he's not a threat."

The boy studied the Pokemon. "Houndour, huh? Never seen one of those before. He looked a bit on the puny size to be travelling with an older trainer like you."

"Houndour! Hound!" Houndour barked as he fired a small fireball that ignited the tassels hanging from the boy's hoodie.

"Hey! What's the big idea!?"

"He doesn't take kindly to strangers," Molly replied coolly then added, "He's only young. We're just starting our Pokemon journey."

"Now?! But you're waaaaay older than I am," the boy laughed. "You must be really bad at it!"

"HOUNDOUR!!"

The boy pulled his hood up over his head for protection against the dark type dog. "Ok, ok, I'm sorry!"

"Why don't we start again? I'm Molly."

"I'm Alex. Soon to be the Worlds greatest everything! Pokemon League Champion, Pokemon Master, Maybe ever the worlds best Pokemon breeder in my spare time. OH! And a Legend in the Pokealthon!"

"That's a lot for one person."

"Yeah, but I think I can manage it," he replied casually. "You going to Sprout Tower?"

"Yes. I want to do some training before I challenge Falkner."

Alex turned over his collar revealing a Zephyr badge. "Been there, done that. I'm going to the tower to get a TM some old guy is handing out. I'll come with you in case you need some help."

Molly rolled are eyes at Houndour who snorted. Company was that last thing they needed at the moment, especially a boy who thought he was a gift to the world of Pokemon. But maybe, just maybe, it would be helpful to have someone native to Johto to help her about.

********* edit ***********​

These little parts should be so much longer >.<
I am sorry for them being so short and all ^^;

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Sprout tower turned out to be more than expected. Inside was a giant wooden pillar that rocked back and fourth like a swaying Bellsprout. Monks walked back and fourth in their traditional garb, takling to the tourists that visited. Carved wooden statues of Bellsprout decorated the room and portraits of Bellsprout hung from the walls.

"Bellsprout! Psh-shaw!" Alex exclaimed. "Why make a tower about such a weak and useless Pokemon?"

"It's poetic," Molly chided. "See how the pillar sways? It's like a Bellsprout. It might sway but it will never fall. I think its beautiful."

"I still say it stinks."

"Hound-dour..." the dark Pokemon sighed.

"Do you always let your Pokemon out of his Pokeball?" Alex asked.

"Yeah. He's my partner, I can imagine him not traveling outside his Pokeball," Molly replied.

Alex stared, unblinking. "That is really, really weird."

"I like it," Molly defended through gritted teeth. "And so does Houndour."

"Hmm... In that case, I'll send out my own Pokemon!" Alex declared. "Go! Totodile!"

In a flash of white a small blue crocodile like Pokemon appeared. It grinned a toothy grin and started jumping on the spot. "To-to-to-to-DILE!"

"A water type..." Molly whispered bitterly.

"Yup! Got him from Professor Elm. The best of the three if you ask me. Perfect for a soon to be Pokemon Master like me!" Alex replied proudly.

"I had a water type once. A Mudkip."

Alex tilted his head to the side and widened his brown eyes. "A what-kip? Sounds dumb."

"A Mudkip. It's a starter Pokemon from Hoenn," Molly explained.

"You are from Hoenn?"

"Yes."

He cupped his hands around his mouth. "JOHTO! JOHTO!"

His Totodile copied him. "TO-TO! TO-TO!" it cried.

Molly hung her head. This was going to be a long journey.

 

[MixedMedia]

*** Golden Souls Segment 3 ***


In a dimly light room a man sat behind a desk. Leaning back on a chair he looked over the papers on his desk. The man’s features were hidden by shadows and only a vague silhouette could be seen.

Suddenly the door at the far end of the room opened and a hooded man ran in.

The man at the desk looked up at his subordinate. “Well?”

“We’ve found her, sir. She was seen crossing over the Kanto border to Johto.”

“And the Pokemon?”

“It was with her.”

The man cursed under his breath.

“Shall I arrange transportation to the Olivine Port for you?”

The shadowed man smiled. “That won’t be necessary. Send a few grunts and have them retrieve her. We’ll teach that little wretch what happens when she steals from us.”

“Of course, sir.”

“And one more thing…” the man behind the desk paused to make sure his underling was listening. “Make sure they don’t mess up this time, Tabitha.”


***


“Of course, I was totally the best student in the class. I graduated from the Pokemon school early and then Professor Elm, hearing what a Pokemon expert I was, called me himself to ask me on a special mission for him. He wanted me to help raise this very powerful Totodile for him,” Alex hadn’t stopped talking since they started up the tower.

“To-to-to-to,” Totodile giggled.

Molly opened her mouth to reply but Alex cut over her. “It’s not as if I brag a lot or anything. I just think people should know what a Pokemon genius I am. Take you, for example, you could have challenged me and your Pokemon might have been hurt!”

Molly cleared her throat. “You know, just because a Pokemon has a type advantage it doesn’t mean it will win.”

Alex tilted his head to the side with that all too familiar confused expression. “It doesn’t? Well, my Totodile is much more powerful than your Houndour. A Pokemon battle would prove that in no time.”

“I’m game if you are,” Molly asked, smiling at the prospect of a battle against the boastful young trainer.

“Errr…” Alex stammered. “My Totodile isn’t ready.”

“To-ta?” Totodile questioned. It looked over to Houndour and blew a single bubble at the dark type Pokemon.

“Maybe I can help?” asked a rasping voice.

Molly and Alex turned on the spot, both started by the stranger’s sudden appearance.

Behind them stood an elderly man in a dark blue robe tied at the middle by a darker blue band, over that was a yellow and green shawl with images of Bellsprout emblazed on it and he wore wooden sandals upon his feet.

He smiled. “I appear to have given you two young folk quite a startling.”

Alex snorted. “Maybe her, but not me. I knew you were there the whole time.”

“Of course,” the man replied, in an almost patronizing way, then turned to Molly. “I hear you are looking for a Pokemon battle?”

“Oh, no-no, sir. Not looking,” Molly quickly answered. “I just wanted to show that my Houndour is no pushover.”

The man studied the dog by her side. He knelt down and ran his fingers along the bone like structures on his back, he lingered on the Pokemon’s neck were faint marks still remained. “This young one has seen some rough battles.”

Molly winced. “Yes.”

“They look like… bite marks…”

“Yes. From a Carvanha.” By now Molly’s head was lowered in shame. Her heart broke thinking about how her naivety had caused Houndour to get so hurt; her Pokemon lying limp on the ground, the Carvanha’s teeth sunk deep into his neck.

Something nudged her hand. “Dour?” Her Pokemon looked up at her with concerned eyes. He nudged her again.

The elder’s eyes warmed. “Your Pokemon cares deeply for you. We shall battle, and, should you win, I shall award you with a special TM.”

“Alright.”

“A one-on-one battle.” He pointed to Alex and added, “You can referee.”

His hand fixed upon a Pokeball from with his robes. He threw it into the centre of the room. “I call upon you, Hoothoot!”

 

[MixedMedia]

**Golden Souls Segment 4***

Molly stood her ground against the foe’s Hoothoot. The round owl Pokemon tilted its head from side to side rhythmically while switching from one foot to the other. Houndour stood opposite it, his body lowered to the ground ready to attack.


The elder smiled. “You first, child.”

Without waiting a second longer Molly cried, “Houndour! Use smog!”

“Hoothoot, blow it away with your Gust!”

“Gust?!” Molly gasped.

The Hoothoot flapped its tiny winds rapidly causing a mini tornado to whip away Houndour’s smog.

“Hoothoot can’t learn Gust!” Molly growled.

The elder grinned. “His father was a pidgeotto.”

One of Falkner’s father’s Pokemon no doubt. This guy is trickier than he looks! Molly thought. “Houndour, don’t let your guard down!”

“Hoothoot, use Hypnosis!” the old man called.

“Hoothoot!” the Pokemon cried. Its eyes suddenly glowed red and its head swayed more hypnotically than before. “Hoot... Hoot. Hoot… Hoot.”

Houndour started to rock in the same motion as Hoothoot. His eyes began to slowly close. Soon he had fallen to the ground, asleep.

“Now, Hoothoot, use your Foresight!”

Hoothoot’s eyes once again glowed red but this time emitted an eerie red light than scanned the sleeping Houndour like a searchlight.

“Come on Houndour! Wake up!” Molly shouted, but Houndour was still asleep.

“Finish the match Hoothoot with a Wing Attack,” the elder ordered.

Another bred move! Molly fretted.

Hoothoot took to the air and paused as it’s wings started glowed white. It’s gaze was fixed upon Houndour. Suddenly it lunged, travelling at full speed towards the dark type.

Houndour’s eyes sprung open and it jumped to its feet. Molly’s heart swelled with hope as her Pokemon locked onto the Hoothoot.

“Houndour! Do what you can do stop that Hoothoot!”

“Houndour!” it cried as it opened it’s mouth again for another smog attack.

Houndour disappeared in a cloud of green smoke almost instantly. The Hoothoot continued forward and it too then disappeared from view. A large crashed followed and then silence.

“Hoothoot! Give it another gust!” the elder ordered.

“Hoot… HOOT!” the pokemon called, sounding slightly weary. Again it whipped up a tornardo and cleared the smog away, both Pokemon were still standing, Hoothoot it particular was standing on top of a little crater.

Must have missed Houndour!
“Houndour! Use Ember!” Molly shouted, sensing victory.

“Dour!” Her Pokemon barked. “Dour! Dour! Dour!”

With each bark came a separate fireball. Each struck the Hoothoot sending it flying backwards. The owl Pokemon tried to stand up again but could not manage it.

“Hoothoot is unable to battle!” Alex declared. “This match goes to Molly and Houndour!”

“Well done! You did great, Houndour!” Molly cired. She dropped to her knees and hugged her beloved Pokemon.

“Well fought,” the elder commented. His Hoothoot had since recovered and was standing faithfully at his side. Molly noticed it had something in its mouth. The Pokemon hopped forward and dropped it in her lap. It was a TM.

“TM50…Flash…” Molly read from side.

The elder nodded. “I keep my promises. You won fair and square. You should be ready to challenge Falkner.”

The young girl got to her feet and looked over to Alex. “What do you say? Want to come with me to the Gym?”

Alex punched the air. “Yeah! That would be awesome! I can’t wait to see you battle again!”

***


The two trainers and their Pokemon stopped outside Sprout tower. Molly admired the beautiful lake surround them; the lilly pads, the Polliwag frolicking and the Magikarp swimming around them. The sun was setting now and the stone lanterns had been lit. The water of the lake was dyed orange and red like the sky.

“You know…” Molly whispered half to herself. “I think I’m going to like it here.”

“Johto is the best…” Alex murmured. Suddenly he didn’t sound like the arrogant young trainer he usually was. He sounded genuine, something that made Molly think that they could actually be friends.

“TO-TO!” his Totodile suddenly cried, it’s hands cupped around it’s mouth. “To-to!”

“Yeah! You tell them Toto!” Alex agreed. “Johto! Johto!”

Maybe not…

“Hey, I have a question,” Alex said suddenly. “How come a Nurse Joy didn’t fix up your Houndour. Doesn’t Hoenn have them?”

“Yeah, Hoenn have Nurse Joy and Pokemon Centres,” Molly replied, not fully answering his question.

“Are they any good? The Nurse Joy’s here are awesome. Your Houndour wouldn’t be scarred if you took him here,” Alex pressed.

Molly’s temper flared. “Hoenn Nurse Joy’s are just as good as Johto’s! I… I just didn’t take Houndour to see one.”

Alex’s eyes widened. “Why?”

Molly felt a lump in her throat and her voice caught. There was no reasonable explanation, it was the same reason she had left Hoenn in the first place and she wasn’t going to bring it up again.

“I can’t explain,” she said quietly, barely a whisper. “Maybe some other time.”

Alex, for once, seemed to grasp that it was serious and let it lie. Instead he turned towards a large building with a Pokeball on its roof. “Come on. Let’s rest our Pokemon, and ourselves.

***

I know its not the best, and it's reeeeeeeeally short, but does anyone have any comments or critque? *watches tumbleweed*

 

[MixedMedia]

Comments and critique welcome

***Golden Souls segment 5***

Molly awoke in the Pokemon centre bunk bed. The simple, but warm covers were still wrapped tightly around her. On the floor lay Houndour, curled up and sleeping peacefully upon a woven rug. The sun gleamed though the window and illuminated particles of dust and outside a Dodrio called its morning cry.

Houndour’s eyes flickered open. He got to his feet, stretched and finished with a loud yawn. He tilted his head at Molly expectantly.

“Alright, alright. I’ll get up”

She too stretched as she got out of the bed and paused for a moment to think about what had happened. She had been in Johto a few days and so far had gone unnoticed. She picked up the TM50 from her bag and examined it. A blinding move like that would come in very handily in battle, but would it suit her dark fire Pokemon Houndour?

Suddenly the morning ambience was disturbed by a knock at the door. She decided to ignore it but it only got loudly and more persistent. With a sigh she got to her feet and walked to the door, opening it a little bit. She was not at all surprised at who she saw. “Alex!”

“Morning, Molly!” he said cheerfully. “Ready to kick some bird Pokemon butts?”

Molly rubbed her eyes. “A little early isn’t it?”

“The early bird catches the worm,” he replied. “And so he will be too busy to see you coming!”

“Okay, I’ll get dressed.”

“Great!” Alex chimed.

Molly shut the door and quickly put on her purple hoodie with the Pokeball logo on the back, a pair of loose blue jeans that were little ripped at the bottom and her dark purple boots. Not usually what she would wear but she had decided to journey through Union Cave if she won against Falkner. She finished by tying her long hair up in a ponytail.

“Molly, come on!” Alex whined from outside. “Why do girls take ages to get dressed? Sheesh.”

Molly sighed and turned to her faithful Pokemon. “Are you ready to face Falkner?”

Her Pokemon nodded. “Houndour!”

“Then let’s go.”


***


Molly stared in terror at the gym. What she had first entered she had thought they were closed. The gym was empty bar two Pokemon statues, some blockades set up to stop people from reaching the furthest park of the gym and an odd block on the floor that was coloured orange, unlike the others which were grey.

Then, of course, Alex had pointed out to her that the odd orange stone was in fact a lift. When Molly gazed up she could see the gym suspended in this air. Bird trainers stood on glass panels that served as the floor while their flying-type Pokemon danced through the air.

“This is so cool!” Alex laughed. He ran to the lift, pulling Molly along with him.

As the lift rose Molly felt her chest tightening and her legs turning to stone. Just how high is this place anyway?!

“Not scared of heights are you?” Alex asked.

“No…” Molly replied. Her voice sounded distant and shaky. “I just don’t… like how… high this is.”

“And that there’s nothing to stop you falling?” Alex added. “You could slip off and then; wheeee…. SPLAT.”

“Yeah… and that.”

“Come on! Live a little!” Alex laughed. He ran off the lift and fearlessly ran across the glass panels, cutting the corners as he went. Molly watched him with her heart in her throat and slowly followed.

“Houndour? Remind me never to come here again!” Molly whispered to her Pokemon. She was sure she saw her dark-type smile back.

“Oh no!” she heard Alex call. “I’m falling!”

Molly’s head jerked up, her eyes leaving the glass path for the first time. Alex stood, quivering over the edge, his arms flailing.

“Alex!” Molly shouted. “Hold on, I’m coming!”

Without thinking again she ran over to him as quickly as she could, which under the circumstances wasn’t very quickly at all. She rounded the final corner to him and just as she did Alex stood upright. “Just kidding!”

Molly stood looking dumbfounded at him. Suddenly her annoyance flared. “You idiot! What were you thinking?”

Alex grinned. “Got you moving though, didn’t it?”

Molly suddenly realised that it did. From her fear that Alex would get hurt she had forgotten her original fear. She would never admit it, but Alex could actually be intellectual at times.

“Hey! You two!” someone shouted. The voice belonged to a young man. The pair turned and saw him walking along the glass towards them. He was about Molly’s height and had her colour hair. He stopped in from of them. “This area is for gym challengers only!”

“I wish to challenge you,” Molly declared.

The young man paused and looked her up and down, then did the same to Houndour. “We don’t get many female challengers. Sure you’re up to it?”

“Molly beat the Elder at Sprout Tower yesterday!” Alex chirped in defense.

The man, who Molly had now taken to be Falkner, only laughed. “I’m much tougher than him! You’ll never win if you are gloating that victory.”

“I wish to battle you,” Molly repeated. “What battles I have won or lost before now are irrelevant.”

The gym leader nodded. “Very well. We will do battle!”

With that he clapped his hands together. As he did so more glass slabs lowered from the ceiling forming a glass battlefield. Falkner threw a Pokeball and a Pidgey popped out in a flash of white.

“Priiii…” it chirped.

Molly pointed forward and her Houndour ran out onto the glass.

“Before Houndour had even got its bearings Falkner ordered, “Pidgey! Use sand attack!”

“Piii!!” Pidgey cried as it flapped its wings. From nowhere, a cloud of sand blasted into Houndours face, blinding him.

“Houndour! Use your ember!”

“Dour…” Houndour barked, unsure. With it’s eyes closed it fired fireballs in all directions. With a massive stroke of luck, two connected with the Pidgey.

“Wow!” Alex shouted. “Critical hits!”

The Pidgey collapsed and Falkner recalled it. Houndour’s top front was lowered to the ground, his paws frantically prodding at his eyes.

“Go! Pidgeotto!” Falkner shouted as he threw a Pokeball. A larger bird appeared this time with a red crest upon its head. “I expected you to beat Pidgey!” Falkner shouted. “But Pidgeotto is out of your league!”

Molly looked to her Pokemon whose eyes were watering from the direct sand attack. She paused not knowing to continue or not. After the pain she had already caused him, albeit inadvertently, should she continue the battle with him blinded, or forfeit and try again some other time?

 

[MixedMedia]

No comments? No critique? I'm so alone XD


***Golden Souls Segment 6***


Molly stood facing a decision that would determine the outcome of the match. Houndour had been blinded by Pidgey’s sand attack in the first round and now could hardly see out of him painful eyes. The fire-type Pokemon was Molly’s only Pokemon, and only chance at victory, while Falkner had his strongest Pokemon, a Pidgeotto, ready and raring to go. The flying Pokemon flexed its large wings and ruffled its feathers waiting for the match to get underway. It certainly looked a strong and fit Pokemon, not one to be defeated as easily as Pidgey had.

Molly knew in her heart there was only one option. She raised her eyes to Houndour and ordered, “Houndour, return!”

The dark dog Pokemon looked over his shoulder at her but made no attempt to back down.

“Houndour, come back! I don’t want you getting hurt!”

“Houndour! Dour!” Houndour growled back.

“A Pokemon that doesn’t listen to its trainer? How can you hope to win?” Falkner asked.

Molly felt her cheeks begin to redden. What are you playing at Houndour?

She rummaged through her backpack until she found what she was looking for; Houndour’s Pokeball. She held it up and shouted, “Houndour, return!”

A red light shot out of the central button of the Pokeball and sped towards Houndour. The dog Pokemon saw it coming and as leapt out of the way before it could recall him.

“Molly…” Alex whispered from behind her, “I think Houndour wants to battle.”

The young teen trainer looked to her ever faithful Pokemon. He was still looking over his shoulder at her with the light of battle in his watering eyes.

This is what he wants? Molly found herself questioning. She smiled and called, “Alright Houndour! Let’s win this!”

“Make this quick Pidgeotto!” Falkner ordered. “Use Gust!”

“Pidgeee!” the Pokemon cried. It flapped its large winds rapidly causing a tornado to whip up; this one was a lot larger than the one the tiny Hoothoot had created.

“Houndour! Dodge it!”

The order had hardly left Molly’s mouth before her Pokemon was out of the path of the oncoming attack.

“Now give it the best ember you can muster!”

“Dour! Dour! Dour!” Houndour cried as it fired fireball after fireball in Pidgeotto’s direction. The attacks hit Pidgeotto causing the bird to be knocked back a few feet.

“Nice one, Houndour!” Alex called from the side.

Molly began to think that they could actually win, that is until Pidgeotto got back up unscathed.

“That was a good try but I’m afraid it’s not enough!” Falkner laughed. “Pidgeotto! Give it another Gust!”

Pidgeotto flapped its wings again. The sheer span of them struck fear into Molly. A second tornado formed and hurtled towards Houndour. Before Molly could give a command the attack hit and picked up the dog Pokemon from the ground.

“Dour?!” Houndour squawked in shock as the tornado carried him higher. It swung him around and around before it disappeared as quickly as it had been created. This sent Houndour skidding across the floor on his side and over the edge of the field.

“NO!” Molly cried. “Houndour!”

Houndour’s terrified yelps were the only things heard as the Pokemon desperately cried to climb back up onto the glass arena. His paws scrambled useless over the smooth glass trying to find a pawhold.

“Now, Pidgeotto,” Falkner ordered, “use Roost.”

“Piii…” Pidgeotto sighed as it settled upon the ground. It tucked it’s beak to its chest and appeared to fall asleep.

“That should sort out Pidgeotto’s injures inflicted by Houndour,” Falkner delared, smiling proudly.

Houndour had now managed to climb back onto the arena but was panting heavily. Its eyes had stopped watering now but looked red and painful. It gritted its teeth and pulled himself to his paws.

“Alright, Houndour!” Molly shouted. “Give it your smog while it’s resting!”

“Dour!” Houndour growled. He opened his mouth and exhaled clouds of green smoke. The smoke covered Pidgeotto and swirled across the glass panels.

“Pidgeotto, get out of there!” Falkner ordered.

“Pidgeot-to!” his Pokemon cried. It leapt from the smog and landed painfully on the ground, coughing heavily, its breathing laboured.

“Gah, Pidgeotto has been poisoned!” Falkner hissed.

“Pidge…ot…to…” Pidgeotto gasped.

Falkner pointed forward. “Pidgeotto! You can still win! Tackle it!”

Pidgeotto cried out again and hurtled itself towards Houndour. Houndour took the hit and rolled away.

“Leer at it Houndour!” Molly ordered.

Houndour crouched low and slowly slunk towards Pidgeotto. It’s eyes glowed a menacing red as it glared at its opponent. Pidgeotto appeared to be frozen in terror.

“Now, Houndour! Ember while Pidgeotto’s defense is down!”

“Dour! Dour!” Houndour cried. Fireballs fired from its mouth, each connecting with the poisoned Pidgeotto.

“Roost, Pidgeotto!” Falkner cried, getting worried.

“Don’t let it, Houndour! Ember again!” Molly countered.

As Pidgeotto lowered to the ground Houndour struck again, firing fireball at the flying type. Not as many hit this time but the damage was done and Pidgeotto had not had time to recover.

“Alright! Use another Gust and make it a big one! We can win this!” Falkner cried.

“Piiii!” Pidgeotto screeched. It summoned all the strength it had left and created the dreaded tornado that nearly ended the match so early on. It twisted towards Houndour.

“Houndour! Pidgeotto is weak! Dodge the tornado and then fill it with a smog attack!” Molly ordered.

“Dour!” Houndour barked as he carried out her ordered. He dodged, the smog attack hit the tornado, filling it and making it a tornado of toxic smoke. It continued to swirl around the arena before turning back towards its creator.

“Pidgeotto! Dodge it!” Falkner shouted as he realised what was happening.

Pidgeotto tried to move but it was already too weak. The tornado of smog hit the bird Pokemon and ended the match.

“Pidgeotto, return,” Falkner said as he held up his Pokemon’s Pokeball. Pidgeotto disappeared in a flash of red light and returned to its Pokeball. Falkner held the ball up and spoke softly to it, “You did great.”

“Wow!” Alex cheered. “That is the most awesome battle I’ve ever seen in my life!”

“Thanks, Alex,” Molly grinned. Houndour rushed back to her and nuzzled the side of her face. “Oh, Houndour. Don’t worry me like that again! You were brilliant!”

“Dour-Hound!” Houndour barked back.

“That was a good match,” Falkner agreed. He held out his hand towards her. “Here is your Zephyr badge. I hope we can battle again someday.”

Molly took the badge from him smiling in triumph. “It’s a deal.”


***

Comments or critique welcome