The Starr Trainer - A Poke-Fan Fiction

The Dragon Trainers' Next Gym Badge

Belle stepped out of the hospital. A bandage covering the stitches on her forehead wraps underneath her clothes to keep the other stitches on her body safe. Her arm was in a cast, and her heart shattered to pieces. She took a deep breath and crossed over to the pokemon center to retrieve her pokeballs. 

"It's so nice to see you've recovered, Belle. Your father sent your pokemon back this morning, and they are in perfect health and eager to see you." Nurse Joy handed Belle her pokeballs, and Belle strapped them to her legs.

"Thank you so much, Nurse Joy, for ensuring their safety. I appreciate it."

"Of course, dear." 

Belle left the pokemon center and called all of her pokemon out. She looked around at them. "Charizard, Alterra, Grovyle, Dragonair, and Kingdra. I know it's been a confusing start to our journey, and I have had some moments of weakness. It's time to fight past the weaknesses and work on becoming stronger. I'm still going to be recovering from my wounds for a bit, but I will do my best to keep up with you and our training. So, should we get to it?" The pokemon cheered and wrapped themselves around Belle. She smiled in their embrace. "The best team around. Grovyle, have you been practicing at home?"

"Grovyle!" 

"Well, what do you think, guys? Should we race? First one there gets to be the one I battle with?" All of them cheered. Belle chuckled. "Alright. One, two, three!" Everyone took off. Belle ran, pushing through the pain as she tried to keep up with everyone. Charizard and Alterra flew into one another, delaying their movements. Kingdra, Dragonair, and Grovyle were close together, but Grovyle touched the gym door first in the final stretch. Belle's eyes shone with pride. "Alright, Grovyle. Let's give it our all!" Belle called back all of her other pokemon and stepped in the door with Grovyle by her side. 

"Who's there?" A man's voice called out.

"My name's Belle Starr of Celadon City. Grovyle and I would like to challenge the gym leader to a battle."

"Well, step right up then," Grant said, smiling at them. "I'm Grant, the Cyllage gym leader, and I accept your battle."

"Each player will be able to use two pokemon. The first one to defeat the others pokemon will be the winner. The battle between the  challenger Belle Starr and gym leader Grant will now begin." 

"Alright, Grovyle. Let's show them what you got!" Belle extended her hand outward, Grovyle lept onto the field, readying itself for battle."

"Grovyle, nice," Grant said with a nod. "Come on, Onix! Let's show them some real strength." Belle smirked at the comment. "Onix rock tomb!"

"Grovyle dodge it." Grovyle moved to dodge but was hit directly by the rock tomb. Belle pinched her lips. "Break it with cut and leap!" Grovyle did as Belle commanded and lept up. "Leaf blade!"

"Onix, use rock polish and dodge it!" Onix successfully dodges the leaf blade attack. "Go at it with iron tail!" 

"Flip backward, Grovyle!" Grant gaped as Grovyle flipped backward to avoid Onix's attack. "Hit him with leaf blade!" The leaf blade made direct contact, hitting Onix critically as they were in close range. "Grovyle, Pursuit!"

"Go again with iron tail!" 

"Leaf blade!" Onix went in with his tail hitting Grovyle as he finished casting pursuit. Grovyle clutched to Onix's tail and ran up Onix's body. Leaping off Onix, he turned around and shot a powered-up leaf blade at Onix. Onix cried out, falling to the ground. "Finish it with cut!" With that final hit, Onix fell to the ground.

"Onix is unable to battle. The winner of the first round is the challenger."

"Nicely done. You won't be so lucky this time around. Tyrunt, come on out!"

"Your Tyrunt is so cute! Could I see him after the battle?" Belle asked.

"Sure! But, let's finish this first." Grant said. Belle nodded. 

"Grovyle, let's show off that speed you've been working so hard on, huh? Quick attack!" Grovyle nodded and moved into its quick attack. Belle took out her notebook and wrote notes to continue to work on speed in diagonal moves. 

"Block it with rock tomb!" Grovyle ran into the rocks that blocked him from getting to Tyrunt. Belle glanced around the stadium. "Use Drago meteor!"

"Grovyle, dodge it!" Grovyle jumped out of the way just in time to dodge the move. "Pursuit!"

"Use crunch, Tyrunt!" Grant ordered. 

"Cut as soon as its mouth is opened to bite!" Grant glanced at Belle the instant Grovyle followed through with the attack. The cut damaged Tyrunt, and the crunch damaged Grovyle. "You still good?" Grovyle nodded. "Spinning leaf blade!"

"What move is that?" Grant asked. Belle smiled and gestured to Grovyle as Grovyle began to spin. Grovyle's speed picked up, and leaves started to surround him. "Tyrunt dragon tail!" Before Tyrunt could begin its attack, Grovyle's leaf blade hit. 

"Quick attack, then use cut on impact!"

"Wait, two moves in one?" Grant couldn't react quick enough to Belle, and Grovyle's attack as, just as directed, his quick attack turned into cut. Tyrunt fell over, defeated.

"Tyrunt is unable to battle. The winner is the challenger, Belle Starr!"

"You did it, Grovyle!" Belle exclaimed, leaping in the sky. Grovyle lept with her. "Look at that. All the training paid off!" 

"Very impressive. I can't recall ever being beaten with only one pokemon. You've more than earned this," Grant said, presenting her with the cliff badge. "Where are you from, Belle?"

"Celadon City. I'm here to become the first Dragon-type Pokemon Master!"

"I don't see how anyone will be able to stand in your way. Come over and see Tyrunt!" Belle and Grant kneeled as they tended to Tyrunt's wound. Tyrunt and Grovyle chattered amongst them. "Dragon-type, huh," Grant nodded. "So, you're planning to evolve Grovyle then?"

"When he's good and ready. We still have some work on speed to do." 

"Wait, you're the missing girl, aren't you?" Belle nodded. "I can't believe I didn't put it together before. I'm glad to see you're okay."

"Yeah, me too. Thank you," Belle pat the top of Tyrunt's head. 

"Your two moves at once strategy is impressive. How did you train your pokemon to do that?"

"A lot of practice, and I do it alongside them. Show the way movements can transition, and we practice, practice, practice!" 

"I'm surprised I didn't hear about you before."

"I've been out of the scene for a few years to work on getting stronger. Now, I'm ready to win the league and show just how powerful dragon pokemon can be."

"Well, you certainly taught me a few things. I wish you the best of luck on your journey, Belle." Belle and Grant shook hands, Grovyle followed suit with Tyrunt. 

"Thank you, Grant. Come watch me at the league!"

"You can count on it!"