Pokemon Heroes: Sinnoh Saga [Book 1]

Chapter 81: Battle with Candice

"My battle with Candice was one of the fastest battles I'd had. It had thrown a surprise at me, being the first battle in the Sinnoh League that used four Pokémon as opposed to three Pokémon. But this far into the league, I should've expected it more than I did. Regardless of the number of Pokémon she threw at me, I'd had the advantage. Lucario had easily torn through her Sneasel and Piloswine. Sneasel's Ice/Dark Typing didn't stand a chance against Lucario's Fighting/Steel Typing. Piloswine wasn't fast enough for Lucario's Fighting moves either. To deal with Froslass, I swapped in Empoleon, an old favourite of mine. Empoleon brought the Ghost/Ice Pokémon down within minutes. I was left with my Rampardos against her Abomasnow. A truck versus a tree. What a match. In other news, my grandfather suddenly reappeared again for the first time since Lake Valor."

Candice was young, and only been a Gym Leader for a year, and was also, apparently, the Leader of Snowpoint City, High Priestess of the Snowpoint Tribe, and Chieftess of the Tribe, as well.

She was only a few years older than Sam and had inherited the positions from her grandparents recently.

There was no denying she was admirably strong, or that she was skilled.

But Sam needed to end this quick, and he needed to explain the situation to Candice.

There were many reasons he couldn't lose, the Pokémon League just one of them.

"Rampardos, Flamethrower!" cried Sam.

"Avalanche!" responded Candice to her Abomasnow.

The Pokémon roared, slammed its feet into the ground and caused the ice hanging from the ceiling of the gym to crash down into the field.

The Avalanche blocked the flames, melting them, causing a coat of steam to seep across the coat the field.

Just as Sam had hoped.

He sent his Rampardos in for a Zen Headbutt.

The Pokémon roared, stampeding across the field, shaking the ground as she charged towards Abomasnow.

Rampardos wasn't silent, but the steam cloaked her until it was too late.

Abomasnow managed to turn in time however, and grab Rampardos by the skull, stopping her dead in her tracks.

Snow and dust was kicked up as Rampardos shoved hard against Abomasnow, trying to shove through the impenetrable wall that was the Pokémon.

Rampardos was nothing if not persistent.

But Sam also had Abomasnow where he wanted her.

Sam called for a Flamethrower.

There was no time for Abomasnow to dodge at that close to her opponent, and Rampardos let her have a massive blast of fire, right in the face.

Abomasnow staggered, crying out in pain, as it stumbled back, trying to stamp out the flames on its body.

Sam had Rampardos go in for the proverbial kill.

First, an Ancient Power.

The move sent massive chunks of rocks at Abomasnow, stumbling the Pokémon back further. In fact, Abomasnow was sent sprawling across the ground, near the edge of the ring.

As the Pokémon tried to stand, Rampardos charged in at top speed, slamming a Zen Headbutt into Abomasnow's chest.

Rampardos finished the battle by lifting Abomasnow with its massive skull and slamming the Pokémon down into the ground by her side.