Pokémon: The Renegade Trainer

The gym circuit was more than just challenges to qualify for the annual league conference, it also served as a driving force for a region's safety and workforce.

A gym provides a lot of jobs for the people, whether directly or by handing out qualification badges. It was equivalent to a board exam for certain Pokémon centered professions.

And more importantly, gym leaders serve as guardians for their respective cities.

For instance, the Eterna gym is responsible for keeping the Grass and bug types in the adjacent forest in check.

Oreburgh gym also keeps the nearby Rock and ground types from rampaging at the mines.

Being integral for the region's operation, the people running the eight regional gyms were obviously exceptional people hailing from high-ranking clans...

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10 days ago, Oreburgh city gym...

"So I'm down to my final Pokémon, huh?"

It was inside a wide battle stadium. A man with a stubble dark-red beard, wearing a rather unconventional mining gear stood before Cynthia. 

"But even with my back against the wall, Byron will never give up!"

The redhead gym leader threw his final Pokéball and emerged a sturdy Bastiodon whilst the challenger had Budew out on the field.

When the battle commenced, Byron commanded: "[Flamethrower]!"

"Evade, and then [Leech seed]!" Cynthia still had one injured Pokémon on the back. After all, she was up against an entire team of fossil Pokémon. It was naturally a tough fight.

She was counting on Budew to break nullify Bastiodon's sturdy so Gabite could cleanly defeat it with a Ground-type move.

Just as the small sprout was about to get hit by a full-power [Flamethrower], an ever familiar light enveloped its small body as it sidestepped to avoid the attack.

The Soothe bell on its head rang while it charged in.

 "Way to go, Roselia!!!"

Cynthia cheered, seeing the flower Pokémon with blue and red flowers for hands. It was sharp and precise, much like thorns on a rose.

Byron was impressed, but his Stern look said otherwise. "Don't stop, Bastiodon. Keep attacking with [Flamethrower]."

It danced gracefully through the field of rocky terrain, dodging the barrage of [Flamethrower].

Despite being worn out from their battle, it still managed to plant a [Leech seed] on Bastiodon's feet before succumbing to a breath of fire that was launched at it point-blank.

The referee blew a whistle, raising a red flag as he announced: "Roselia is unable to battle."

"You did well, have a good rest."

The trainer said to the returned Roselia as she took another Pokéball from her pocket.

"Let's show it out new move, go Gabite!"

Byron got on-guard seeing the Ground-type once more. Cynthia's Gabite left quite an impression the gym leader, noticing how it's attacks were potent enough to break through his defenses.

"[Brick break]!"

"[Protect]!" 

As Gabite propelled itself forward, with a powerful Fighting aura enveloping its claw. It attacked with a downward motion, only to collide with a green ethereal forcefield when [Brick break] was a few inches away from Bastiodon.

Byron didn't let this chance go, knowing his Pokémon's quadruple weakness to Fighting type. "Bastiodon, use [Swagger] then [Foul play]."

Before another [Brick Break] could land, a red energy emitted from Bastiodon's body that targeted Gabite's mind.

The dragon felt more powerful, but was confused at the same time.

Cynthia smiled, "Use [Bulldoze]!"

As if Gabite could still hear its trainer through the noise and distractions, it slammed its claws to the ground, causing it to tremble and quake around it.

"GABITE!!!" The land-shark roared.

Bastiodon was taking continuous and compounding damage, but kept charging towards Gabite. It's insane defense allowed it to survive a boosted x4 super-effective move. 

It eventually hit the Dark-type move to its target, dealing massive damage as it used Gabite's doubled attack power.

But what Byron didn't expect, was for the Land Shark Pokémon to tough the [Foul play] by cushioning the attack meant to hit its guts by blocking it with its claw.

It's free hand was raised, gleaming of Fighting-type energy, and fell on the prehistoric Pokémon's head.

This knocked Bastiodon unconscious with swirls on its eyes. 

"Bastiodon is unable to battle, thus the winner is Challenger Cynthia!"

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Present day, Eterna city...

A woman in her thirties, with orange hair tied in a ponytail, wearing their gym's trademark green clothes and a bright smile on her face.

"I see you've travelled far to challenge me. Welcome to the Eterna city gym, trainer Maguro. It's an honor to battle with you." 

"Likewise, gym leader Moriya."

The trainers shook hands in the middle of the battlefield, walking back to back towards their positions.

On the sidelines were two girls. As this was only his first gym battle, and he wasn't that famous yet, the bleachers were quiet. 

The seven year old spoke in an innocent tone to the green-haired lady beside her: "Are you his girlfriend, pretty stranger?"

"Oh--wha? No, I'm not." Iizumi was startled by the small girl in a bobcut.

"I see. Then I guess there won't be a breakup if he lost to big sis."

"She's really strong, huh?" 

"Yeah."

The two ladies got along while waiting for the combatants to prepare, but the young Gardenia really got Iizumi wondering 'Can someone like Maguro really lose?'

After travelling with him for a week, she could see how dedicated the guy was to his Pokémon and how his Pokémon were freaks that only thought about training.

'But to be fair, he isn't the only one who's obsessed with becoming the best.'

Snapping Iizumi out of her reverie was the referee's loud voice. "The battle for the Forest badge between gym leader Moriya and challenger Maguro shall now begin. 

It will be a standard three-on-three single battle, and only the challenger is allowed to switch out his Pokémon. The gym leader shall show her Pokémon first and the challenger gets the first move.

Battle, start!"

"Leafeon, let us dance." 

A greenish yellow Pokémon with leaves adorned on its tail, forehead, and ears. On its neck was a white scarf.

Maguro saw the quadrupedal eeveelution emit a formidable energy. And so, he took his first Pokéball and released it.

'It's a Brown-potential...'

"Rotom, start it up with [Will-o-wisp]!"

 Leafeon was unfazed, and everyone soon felt the temperature rise.

"Leafeon!!"

'She does starts with [Sunny day], but will it have both abilities or just one?'

"You're quite observant. But will that matter? Leafeon, let's use [Body slam]."

Seeing Leafeon healthy and faster, it confirmed Maguro's fears that it had both Leaf Guard and Chlorophyll as its abilities. Furthermore, the Silk scarf guaranteed that its Normal-type move would deal a heck ton of damage.

"Then Plan B it is. Use [Overheat]!"

The eeveelution rushing in was the perfect opportunity for Rotom-heat to launch its super-effective fire move boosted by the sun. It was a critical hit!

 Having weak Special bulk caused Leafeon to faint in one-shot. 'He's good. This might be fun.' Moriya thought, seeing how Maguro perfectly countered her first Pokémon.

"Leafeon is unable to battle!"

By the bleachers, Iizumi tried to talk to the little Gardenia, only to see her completely invested in the match.

"This is exciting, challenger Maguro."

A big blueish spherical Pokémon took the field as Moriya said those words, but it fell on deaf ears as her challenger was too absorbed in the battle. His eyes were locked onto his opponent, anticipating for the match to start.

A smile appeared on the gym leader's face, and the referee announced "Battle, begin!"

Before the gym leader could say anything, a sphere of electric struck Tangrowth and the Microwave was withdrawn to its Pokéball.

"Hey what in the world?!" she screamed.

Tilting his head, Maguro said, "[Volt switch]?"

"You didn't say anything."

"Well, your Leafeon used [Sunny day] without a word. Why can't I do the same?"

Moriya pouted, "Well, that's fair. I just got startled, I apologize."

She got back to her usual hyped demeanor when Maguro sent out Murkrow.

"Tangrowth, [Ancient Power]!"

"[Rain dance], then [Haze]."

Having the sun may have been advantageous for Maguro, but that only applied to Rotom-heat. 'Having the rain will be better for the latter part of the battle.'

A downpour started falling, and black smoke deterred Tangrowth's aim. But that wasn't all, with [Haze] in effect, it wouldn't be getting any boost to it's stats.

Dodging the poorly launched rocks, Maguro built more momentum. "Let's use [Hurricane]!"

"Tangrowth, use [Protect]."

Strong gusts whipped up the battlefield, and the rain allowed Murkrow to send it towards the Grass type. It was boosted by it's held Sharp beak as well.

But Moriya was quick to respond. 

"Prepare another [Hurricane]."

Not only did Tangrowth escape the first [Hurricane] unscathed, the storm also blew the smoke away and it could now see clearly.

Moriya smirked at this. "Now, [Ancient Power]!"

The rocks collided with the succeeding storm of wind and vapor. And when one [Ancient Power] hit Murkrow, it took a lot of damage and almost fainted. 

Meanwhile, [Hurricane] did more than 50% of Tangrowth's HP. 

"This is bad. Murkrow, 50k contract!"

Out of all his Pokémon, Murkrow was the least compatible for combat. And that wasn't because its talent was inferior, but because it personally had a distaste for battles and above all, Murkrow hated getting injured and needing medical treatment.

"Cawww!!" (DAMN YOU, TRAINER!)

Thus, they came to a compromise. A [Tailwind] whipped up at Maguro's side while the rain started pouring heavier.

In exchange, however, Murkrow was struck by [Ancient Power] and fainted with swirls in its eyes.

The referee did not delay, despite now having an umbrella over his head "Murkrow is unable to battle!"

"Thanks, buddy. This is our win thanks to you."

"Oh? I wouldn't be so sure about that."

"I'm all for proving you wrong." a large Blue Pokémon with a serpentine body emerged from Maguro's third Pokéball.

"Gyarados, [Dragon Dance] then [Ice fang]."

"Retaliate with [Ancient Power]!"

With [Tailwind], Gyarados was overwhelmingly faster and dodged all the floating rocks while simultaneously buffing itself with the draconic energies.

It took no time for it to then to tear the Fully evolved Tangela with [Ice fang]. It's wet body made it more susceptible to freezing.

But the referee called before the Pokémon could fully freeze. "Tangrowth is unable to battle!"

"Return and have a good rest. You did well."

After she placed Tangrowth's Pokéball to her belt, the gym leader spoke to Maguro. "You're a strong trainer, Maguro. That's why I'll be testing you to if you can overcome your limits."

"Oh that's something I do everyday."

"Then we'll go beyond that! Torterra, let's do this!"

"They're really going at it." By the bleachers, the rain didn't reach it and the two audiences were dry

"Big sis is losing. Just how?"

Replying to the dumbfounded Gardenia, Iizumi voiced out, "Because Maguro has been studying everything about this gym ever since we arrived in town."

"How does that--" before Gardenia could continue, the green haired girl gave her a notebook.

'He predicted all this?' as she read, Gardenia couldn't say a word. 

It was so simple a kid like her could understand his strategy. And instead of just plain old text, the guy even scribbled out his battle plan!

When Torterra took the field, it was already too late as Gyarados had already doubled its attacked with [Dragon Dance] and Moxie.

And although Moriya stood composed, she was troubled inside.

'He's definitely gonna attack.' Moriya knew Torterra wouldn't never outspeed Gyarados, but she wasn't about to give up. In her mind, he could still slip up.

"Torterra, use [Protect]."

However, she freezed when Maguro said "[Dragon Dance]."

There was a big drawback when using a move like [Protect], and that was a cooldown.

"[Stone Edge]!"

"[Waterfall], then end it with [Ice fang]!"

Stones and pebbles flew through the air, and Gyarados, enveloped in dense Water-energy, navigated through them. It didn't matter, it could both dodge and crush them.

It was unstoppable with its boosts, and after a roar, it crunched the Continental Pokémon with [Ice fang]. 

"ROAGHHHH!!!"

With a final bellow, the rainy skies cleared up and the gym battle was over.

"Torterra is unable to battle. Thus, the winner of this match is challenger Maguro!"

After tending to her injured Pokémon, Moriya stood up to confront her challenger. "Congratulations on winning your first badge, challenger Maguro."

"Thanks. This thing cost me half a million."

"Haha, I hope you'll think it's worth it," said the gym leader before as she received a small black box. "I present to you, the Forest badge."

He took the green and silver triple-square shaped badge before placing it to his badge case.

Iizumi eventually came up to Maguro and congratulated him. But before they could leave the gym building, they were stopped by a certain kid.

"Mr. Maguro."

"Hm?"

"I am Gardenia. And I wanna journey with you."

Everyone in the room stopped. ""WHAT?!""

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[TO BE CONTINUED]