DPA: Rivals

Chapter 20: King Nidoran The Second

Daryon walked up to the Pewter City Gym, reaching out to open those doors once more, and hesitated. He didn't want to mess up again. He couldn't afford to lose a second time. He had to go in and win. Taking a deep breath, he opened the doors, walking inside.

He looked towards the battlefield just as Skye was returning a fainted Dratini to its Pokéball.

"You and your Pokémon put in a lot of effort," Brock said, grinning. "You should be proud."

"Thanks!" Skye replied, blushing. "But I don't think Gym battles are for me. I just wanted to know what it felt like to be in one."

"You tried something new, and that's never a bad thing," Brock said. He turned towards Daryon. "Welcome back, Daryon."

Everyone turned towards Daryon, who felt a little embarrassed. "I'm sorry about earlier, I just got so...angry. I don't know what came over me."

"You're okay with me," Brock said, returning Onix to its Pokéball. "I'd be careful of that anger in the future, though. It can lead to some pretty dark places if you don't keep it in check."

"I understand," Daryon said. "Can I rematch you?"

"I believe Geodude and Onix are still in good enough shape to continue on. Sure."

"Thanks!"

Daryon stepped up to his side of the arena, while Brock walked over to his own. Daryon unclipped two Pokéballs off his belt, sending out both King and Queen.

"You can only use one at a-" Max began, confused, before Cameron shushed him.

King looked at Queen for a moment, before turning around and scurrying onto the battlefield. Queen walked over to Daryon's side, plopping down beside him and watching the battle.

"King and Queen are partners," Cameron said, adjusting his lens-less glasses. "King wouldn't fight earlier because it didn't know where Queen was, and that made it worry."

Brock sent out Geodude, who immediately went for a Rock Throw, ripping a huge chunk of rock out of the ground and chucking it towards King. King jumped up, Double Kicking the stone projectile, sending shards of rock in every direction.

Geodude began rolling at a breakneck pace towards King, ready to deliver a powerful Rollout. King waited for the incoming attack, and just when Geodude was within reach, dished out a savage Double Kick, stopping Geodude in its place. There was a moment where nothing happened, as a stunned Geodude looked at King, and King looked at Geodude. Then, Geodude rolled over to its side, knocked out.

"Brilliant move!" Brock exclaimed, returning Geodude. "Rather than bringing the attack to Geodude, you let Geodude roll directly into the attack!"

"Thanks!" Daryon said, returning King and Queen and sending out Bulbasaur. "Are you ready?"

"For a battle like this? Absolutely!" Brock cheered. "Let's continue!"

Onix slithered towards Bulbasaur, ready to bring down an Iron Tail. "Bulbasaur, let's pull a Cam!" Daryon shouted.

Bulbasaur nodded, vines shooting from the bulb on its back, as if for a Vine Whip. But rather than smack Onix, they wrapped around Onix, tightly, restricting Onix's movement. Spores blasted out of the top of Bulbasaur's bulb, the Poison Powder hitting Onix in the face, just where Bulbasaur had aimed. Onix's eyes snapped shut as it tried to shake off the poison.

What followed was a little over a minute of pure struggle, as Bulbasaur did everything to keep Onix constricted, unable to move, while Onix did its best to get free, its health being whittled down by poison all the while. Both Daryon watched in suspense as the two battled it out, Onix's pure strength against Bulbasaur's super-effective typing.

Then, it happened. Onix collapsed. Bulbasaur rolled out of the away as the enormous Rock Snake Pokémon hit the ground, fainted.

"YES!" Daryon roared with joy, running onto the battlefield, swooping up a tired but adrenaline-filled Bulbasaur, spinning around, happy. "We won! We won! We won!"

"Saur! Saur! Bulba!"

"Pika!"

All of his friends had joined him from the bleachers, congratulating him.

"You were amazing out there," Cameron congratulated his friend.

"Well, I learned from you," Daryon replied, hugging Cameron.

After all the cheering, Daryon was delighted as Brock placed a Boulder Badge in his outstretched hand.

"You earned it, kid," Brock said, having already returned Onix.

"Thanks, Brock," Daryon said. "I really enjoyed our battle."