Adventures in the Big Apple Ch. 34

Chapter 34 – Underground Battle: Max versus Clay

Max's Unova Team:
Ethan (Pignite, Lv. 35), Peter (Pansage, Lv. 34), Toad (Seismitoad, Lv. 36),
Sid (Sigilyph, Lv. 34), Sora (Zorua, Lv. 15)

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I look around the environment around my spot on the battlefield. The shiny gems decorated on the wall awed me when I first saw them. I turned to Clay, standing on the other side of the battlefield, hands crossing his chest, staring at me.

"Did you put those gems on there to decorate this place?" I asked.

Clay laughed. "Gotta make this place beautiful for this place's a mine!"

"Are those real?" I continued.

"You bet they are!"

I let out a "wow" instantly because I felt touched by those gems. Ahh… I really wanted to take one and carry it with me… Unfortunately, that'll be impossible.

"So… are ya ready?" asked Clay holding up a Poké Ball and pointed at me with it.

"Let's do it," I replied, holding up a Poké Ball as well. Sora gave out a little cry next to my ear on my shoulder. I turned to him, smiling, and gave him a pat.

"Not yet, Sora," I softly said, "You are not strong enough for this yet."

Sora gave me an unhappy face. I understand his eager but there's no way I'm going to let a newborn like Sora into a Gym battle without training. It's like sending him to a suicide mission.

"Then here I come! Krokorok!" Clay said releasing his Krokorok. Krokorok stood in front of Clay, staring at me with his hand crossed.

"Let's get this over with quickly," I said, throwing a Poké Ball. "Ethan, clear to engage!" I remarked.

Ethan came out from his Poké Ball and stood in front of me.

"A Pignite?" Clay asked bewilderedly. "Why Pignite?"

I chuckled a little. "You can call this one a strategy, if you want to."

Clay laughed hard. "Looks really confident! I like it!" Clay then pointed at Ethan and ordered, "Krokorok, use…"

"Scald!" I exclaimed suddenly.

"Wait, WHAT!?"

Surprisingly, Ethan suddenly shoot out a stream of hot, boiling water toward Krokorok before Clay can even finish his commend. Krokorok was pushed to the side wall by the water and fainted. All within a 15-second time frame.

Clay can't believe what he just saw. A Fire-type Pokémon just used a Water-type move on him!? It certainly freaked Clay out.

"How…"

I flushed out a TM from my bag and showed him.

"Something really funny with Pignite is Pignite and his evolved form, Emboar, can both learn Scald through this TM," I explained. "And they are the only Fire-type Pokémon capable to learn a Water-type move."

Clay sniffed. "Looks like ya do know your things," Clay said, and he doesn't look like he's impressed at all. "Let's see how you can handle a Water-type like him!" Clay threw another Poké Ball after returning Krokorok. Out from the Poké Ball, well, was a Palpitoad.

That was a good thing I have, well, used to have a Palpitoad, I thought. Thanks to Toad I acquired everything I need to know to take this Palpitoad down.

I grinned deviously as I returned Ethan in to his Poké Ball and took out Peter's.

"Can't remember when is the last time I accidentally enraged a Gym Leader during a Gym battle," I said. "Peter, you are cleared to engage!"

I threw up a Poké Ball and Peter, my little Pansage showed up from the ball. He's been itching for a Gym battle because he hasn't been battle in a single Gym battle before this one. Peter showed his anxious so much that he gave me a back flip right on the spot.

And myself, of course, deviously smiling at the battlefield, ready to go.

Clay pointed at Peter with his pickaxe and shouted, "Palpitoad, Hydro Pump!"

The man really is unimpressed.

Palpitoad unleashed a powerful stream of water right toward Peter.

"Peter, Dig!" I commended. Peter immediately borrowed to the dirt ground on the battlefield to avoid the water. For the next minutes, both Palpitoad and Clay tried to figure out where Peter went because he stayed underground for the whole minute without coming out from there.

"Now where did that Pan-"

BOOM!!!!!

An explosion suddenly happened right underneath Palpitoad and made Clay startled enough to fall on the ground. When the smoke cleared, Clay looked closely at the ground zero. What clearly happened on the field was Palpitoad laying on the ground flat, fainted. Peter then borrowed out next to the flat Palpitoad, heavily panting.

"What did you do!?" Clay exclaimed.

I smirked. "Simple. I had Peter use Seed Bomb after opening a little hole right under Palpitoad."

Clay's jaw dropped. "Weren't it supposed to hurt Pansage as well?"

"Well, he can't escape unscathed," I said matter-of-factly, "But since he's a Grass-type, it's nothing to him."

I took out Peter's Poké Ball and returned Peter back to the ball. "Like one of my friend said, 'I wouldn't take a gamble that had no chance of success.'"

Clay laughed out loud. "Well, well, well! Bold and straightforward! I like it! I wonder how are you going to take my last Pokémon on?" Clay threw a Poké Ball and released his final Pokémon, Excadrill.

I took out my Pokédex to look up his data since I haven't seen an Excadrill before, although I did hear about him before.

"Excadrill, the Subterrence Pokémon. They drill their maze-like nest 100 meters underground. Their drilling habits often post threats to subway tunnels in cities."

I took out another Poké Ball when Sora nagged me even more. I smiled once again and pat him on his head. "Not yet, Sora. Just watch and learn," I said. Sora groaned, making unhappy faces. I chuckled a little and turned back to the battlefield.

"Toad," I said, throwing the Poké Ball. "Cleared to engage!"

Toad came out of his Poké Ball and started croaking, staring right at Excadrill. And this time, I'm gonna make the first move.

"Toad, Muddy Water!" I ordered. Toad instantly came up with a tidal wave with heavy mud, washing directly toward Excadrill.

"Excadrill, use Dill Run!" Clay ordered, pointing his pickaxe. Excadrill turned himself into a drill and drilled right through the muddy wave, directly cuts the wave in half.

"Toad, dodge it, now!" I shouted. But unfortunately Toad took a direct hit since his lack of reaction speed. Luckily Toad didn't suffer much damage.

Note to self: Train Toad for his speed.

Toad was being pushed back but he managed to hold up the spinning drill.

"Drain Punch!" I remarked. Toad held Excadrill on the ground, single-handed, and he used his other hand to land fist right on Excadrill, all while Excadrill stayed in his drilling orientation.

"Excadrill, struggle out and use Metal Claw!" Clay ordered.

Excadrill struggled out from his drilling form and dashed right on Toad, ready to unleash his attack.

"Muddy Water once more, Toad!"

Toad took a step back right after Excadrill struggled out and called in another muddy wave. This time, Excadrill had lots of problem dashing through the water and eventually being washed away by the wave. When the tide fades away, Excadrill forced himself to stand up, heavily injured, and panting heavily.

It's now-or-nothing for Clay, yet I think he still wanted to take his final shot. Why did I think that?

Well, because…

"Excadrill, Bulldoze!"

Excadrill dashed toward Toad and jumped up, trying to slam himself on the ground. But before he can do it…

"Toad, use Drain Punch from the bottom!" I ordered.

Toad dashed to the Pokémon on mid-air and timed his time pretty well, because when Toad stopped right under Excadrill, he was just about to unleash his attack, and that attack, luckily for Toad, requires Excadrill to slam on the ground to deal damage. Toad charged up his punch and delivered it right on Excadrill's face.

Toad's punch sent Excadrill flying straight up and slammed on the ground hard right next to Toad, creating a mini-crater on the spot, and kicked up some smoke. When the smoke cleared, it was pretty clear to Clay and I was: Excadrill fainted, and I won the match.

Clay sighed for a second, and he cracked out and started laughing.

"Nice work, kiddo!" Clay said, returning Excadrill. "I sure ain't like the feelings but ya showed me something I liked to see!"

"Thank you," I replied, returning Toad. "It sure feels great to have a hot battle like this in my birthday…"

"Oh, it's ya birthday?" Clay remarked, surprised. "Then it's perfect! 'Cause I need to give this to you as well!" Clay said handing a Quake Badge to me.

I took the badge from Clay and took a good look at it.

"Ya brother told me I shouldn't go easy on ya for our battle," Clay said. "Looks like he's right, ya really are a tough young'en!"

I laughed.

"I believe ya young'ens are heading to good 'ol Mistralton next?" Clay asked.

I nodded.

"Then do ya mind if I tag along with ya?"

"Why?" I bewilderedly look at Clay and asked.

"'Cause I'll need your help over there," Clay responded.

"Help for…?" I asked.

"There is gonna be a meetin' for Gym Leaders discussing about Team Plasma and I need you young'ens join the meetin' as well."

"Something's up, isn't it?" I said.

Clay nodded. "And I know just the people who are reliable enough to help us."

"I see," I said.

Sounds to me it's almost time for the clash between the two forces, apparently. And this time the clash might be even more bigger then any other clash before…