The Destined

Chapter Eleven

The next day, I walked back to Veilstone's gym and thankfully, it was unlocked this time.

"Are you ready Maylene?" I asked.  "You took my line!  But first you need to make your way to me by finding the correct path," she answered.  "More mazes?  Aw come on, give me a break," I complained.

There seemed to be three paths that I could take with three boxes that had gym trainers in them.  I tried to avoid them as best I could.  I took the path to the far right and found it was blocked by a wall. "Seriously?" I glared up at the awaiting gym leader. "If you're waiting for me, why do you have obstacles everywhere?"

"Rules of the Pokémon League Council," she shrugged. "I don't have a choice."

"Whatever," I said. "How am I supposed to get past this?" "You're not going to like this, but you need to defeat at least four of the gym trainers and the walls will deactivate," Maylene answered. "Let me guess: also rules of the Pokémon League?" I asked. "Unfortunately," she sighed.

* * *

Four gym trainer battles later and I was finally able to get past the obstacles. "Alright, let's do this," I said confidently as I stepped up to the battling platform. "Those trainers gave me enough practice to figure out a strategy."

"Don't get too cocky," she smirked. "Go, Meditite!" "Okay Staravia, Wing Attack!" I called. "You came ready, I see. Well, so did I! Rock Tomb!" Maylene countered. "But I thought Meditite was a Psychic-Fighting type?" I questioned. "Just because Rock Tomb is a rock type attack and Meditite is a psychic and fighting type doesn't mean it can only learn those specific types of moves," she explained.

Well that shakes things up a bit, I thought. "That caught me off guard, I'll give you credit for that. But I'm not that easy to figure out. Staravia, get that Meditite out of here with Whirlwind!" I commanded. That got me out of that situation, but I need to think of a plan for that Rock Tomb. Whirlwind returned Meditite to its Pokéball and brought out a... I don't actually know that Pokémon.

"Lucario: the Aura Pokémon. A steel and fighting type." My Pokédex explained. "It uses its aura to sense everything around it to detect enemies. It can predict Pokémon and humans thoughts and movements alike."

"That's a pretty cool Pokémon," I complimented. "If that's the case, then I choose you, Monferno!" I recalled Staravia.

"Start this battle with Flame Wheel!" I punched the air in front of me as if to attack Lucario myself. "You're not prepared for this attack! Lucario, Aura Sphere!" Maylene shouted. "Dodge and use Mach Punch," I slightly worried, fearing that one Aura Sphere could do massive damage. "Lucario, Metal Claw!" Maylene ordered.

Monferno was taking a lot of damage. I had to think of something fast! Clearly, straight head on force wasn't working. Not that it wasn't doing anything, it just wasn't doing enough.

"Monferno, use Leer," I strategized. My plan was to drop Lucario's defense for my attacks to do more damage, but Lucario seemed unaffected? "What's the deal? Why isn't Lucario's defense lowered?" I pondered. "That would be Lucario's ability: Inner Focus. It cancels any stat changes Lucario's opponent," Maylene answeredy. "Making it unchangeable."

Inner Focus??? This was clearly Maylene's strongest Pokémon, and I haven't even seen her final yet. How was I supposed to win if I barely do anything to it?!