The trip didn't take long at all, Eliana noted. The 'training field' was more like a small, dirt-packed clearing in the woods, with a few worn-down logs serving as benches. It was crude, but it had a certain charm, a raw, untamed energy that the polished battles she had with Sabrina.
"I have three members, what about you?" Gabriel asked standing at one side of the field.
"Same," Eliana answered, taking her place at the other side of the field.
"A three on three then?" Gabriel questioned.
"That's fine." Eliana didn't believe she would have to use more than one, Gabriel was at a severe type disadvantage but she'd humor him.
"So, what's the team?" Gabriel asked, already reaching for a PokéBall. "I'll warn you, our master has trained us well. Even though we're beginners, my Pokémon are top-notch!"
"My team is my team," Eliana said simply, a small, secretive smile on her face. She let her own PokéBall fall into her palm, the cool metal a comforting weight. She wasn't about to reveal her hand, not when the game was just getting interesting.
Gabriel shrugged, accepting her non-answer. "Alright, then. Let's do this! Go, Machop!"
He threw the PokéBall, and in a flash of light, a muscular, gray humanoid Pokémon appeared. It flexed its biceps, its eyes narrowed in a fierce, determined stare.
Eliana considered her options, before remembering that she had promised Kirlia that he would get the next battle. She had wanted him to get more physical fighting experience and Gabriel's Machop was the perfect opponent for that. Kirlia appeared om the field in a flash of light, immediately in his fighting position, a mock ballet pose. A stark, graceful figure against the rugged backdrop.
Kirlia nodded, a determined glint in his eyes. He stood tall, his small hands clenched into fists, ready for the fight.
"I bet your using Telepathy to communicate?" Gabriel looked surprised, but then a smirk spread across his face. "My master said only the strongest psychics had that ability!"
"Is this your first time fighting a psychic?" Eliana shot back, her voice laced with confidence, "I won't go easy on you, even if it is."
"We'll see about going easy!" Gabriel yelled. "Machop, start things off with a Low Kick!"
The fighting type Pokémon crouched down, its leg sweeping out in a wide, powerful arc aimed at Kirlia's legs.
In a blink, Kirlia vanished from the path of the attack. He reappeared directly behind the off-balance Machop, his small fist already encased in a shimmering, frosty aura. The punch connected squarely with Machop's back. While the attack didn't do much initial damage, the fighting type still cried out in shock as the icy energy seeped into its muscles.
Gabriel's eyes widened in surprise. "An Ice Punch on a Kirlia? Why would you..."
"Preparation," Eliana stated simply, her gaze unwavering. She watched as Machop staggered to its feet, its movements sluggish from the cold. "Surely you know Kirlia has two different evolutions."
"Don't get cocky!" Gabriel yelled, a flush of anger rising on his cheeks. "Machop, use
Power-Up Punch!"
Machop shook off the effects of the ice attack, its determination renewed. It lunged forward, its hand glowing with white energy as it brought it down in a sharp, precise chop aimed at Kirlia's head.
"Of course you know Protect," Gabriel sighed in disappointment, "Machop wait for it to go out and use your own Ice Punch!"
The moment the green shield flickered out of existence, Kirlia vanished again. He reappeared a few feet away, just as Machop's ice-encased fist slammed into the empty space where he had been a second before. The fighting type stumbled forward, its momentum carrying it off-balance.
Kirlia was a blur of motion, closing the distance between them in an instant. He drove his icy fists into Machop's side, the force of the blows sending the Pokémon skidding across the dirt-packed field. Machop struggled to its feet, its body trembling, its breath coming in ragged gasps. It was clear that the fight was almost over.
Gabriel stared at the scene, a look of disbelief on his face. He had expected a challenge, a test of his skills. Eliana looked younger than him so he didn't expect her to have a Pokémon that could actually battle.
"Aren't you a psychic?" he muttered, shaking his head. "Why are you fighting like this?"
"This is why you fighters get outclassed. You have no variety in strategy, just brute strength." Eliana replied, her voice slightly amused.
With a final, decisive leap, Kirlia teleported directly in front of the exhausted Machop. He delivered one last Ice Punch straight to the face. Machop finally collapsed, unable to battle any longer. The fighting type lay on the ground, its body covered in a thin layer of frost, its eyes closed in defeat.
Gabriel recalled his Pokémon, a grim look on his face. "Okay, you're good. I'll give you that. But I'm not done yet!" He grabbed another PokéBall, his jaw set in a defiant line. "Go, Tyrogue!"
In a flash of light, a new Pokémon materialized on the field. It was smaller than Machop, a bundle of tightly coiled energy with a purplish-gray body, bandages wrapped around its hands like miniature boxing gloves, and a fierce, determined glare in its eyes. It bounced on the balls of its feet, a live wire of pent-up aggression.
"Tyrogue is a different kind of challenge!" Gabriel declared, a fresh wave of confidence in his voice. "Machop is power, but Tyrogue is attack and defense combined! It's going to evolve into a Hitmontop!"
Eliana watched the Tyrogue, her expression unreadable. She could feel its raw, untamed fighting spirit, a stark contrast to Kirlia's graceful discipline. It was a chaotic energy, unpredictable and volatile.
Out loud Eliana told Gabriel, "I'll be staying with Kirlia, you get the first move."
She wanted to test her Pokémon's endurance, and this Tyrogue was the perfect next step.
Gabriel smirked, misreading her confidence for arrogance. "Don't say I didn't warn you! Tyrogue, use Mach Punch!"
Tyrogue launched itself forward, a small purple and gray missile aimed straight at Kirlia's chest. It was faster than Machop, its movements sharper and more precise.
Kirlia vanished, reappearing behind the charging Tyrogue. His eyes glowed with a faint blue light as he unleashed a wave of psychic energy. The force of the attack sent Tyrogue stumbling forward, its momentum disrupted. Kirlia then slammed it onto the ground before releasing the move. The little fighting type shook its head, its glare intensifying.
Gabriel's brow furrowed. "Another Teleport, don't you have any other moves?"
"I have plenty," Eliana replied coolly. "I just don't need them yet."
"We'll see about that!" Gabriel yelled. "Tyrogue, use Bullet Punch!"
In an instant, Tyrogue's fists began to glow with a silver light. It launched itself at Kirlia, a flurry of rapid-fire punches, a whirlwind of steel-hard fists. Tyrogue was right in front of Kirlia when Eliana gave her next command.
Just as Tyrogue's fist was about to connect, Kirlia's own fist shot out, a flash of blue meeting a speeding bullet. The impact was sharp and sickening. Tyrogue was stopped in in its tracks, the ice spreading from the point of contact across its entire body. The fighting type cried out in shock, tripping as it stumbled backward, its breath coming in ragged gasps before the ice completely concealed it.
Gabriel stared at the scene, a look of disbelief on his face. He was sure the Bullet Punch would do some damage, it was super effective against the half fairy type. But his Pokémon was the one completely frozen, they hadn't even started training on breaking out of status conditions like that so the fight might as well have been over.
"Okay, that's enough, Tyrogue return!" Gabriel shouted across the field. "Thanks buddy."
He recalled his Pokémon, his hands shaking slightly. He took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure. He was down to his last Pokémon, and he knew it. He had one chance left, one last trick up his sleeve.
"You've been impressive," he admitted, his voice a little calmer now. "But I'm not done yet. There's still one left and this one is my oldest partner!"
"Riolu, you're my last hope!" Gabriel yelled, sending out his final Pokémon. In a flash of light, a small, blue and black canine Pokémon appeared. It stood on its hind legs, its paws clenched into fists, its red eyes fixed on Kirlia. There was a different kind of energy about this Riolu, a quiet intensity that was far more intimidating than Tyrogue's raw aggression.
Eliana's eyes narrowed slightly, a Riolu, this was a new variable. The aura-sensing Pokémon was a wildcard, its abilities a direct counter to the unpredictability of psychic power. It could sense intent, read movements before they happened. This wouldn't be as simple as the last two.
"Riolu, use Quick Attack!" Gabriel yelled, desperation lacing his voice.
The Riolu was a blur of blue and black, streaking across the field towards Kirlia. The attack was much faster than anything its teammates had thrown.
Just as the Riolu was about to make contact, a wave of blue energy shot out from Kirlia. It caught the Riolu mid-air, lifting it up and slamming it back down to the ground. The small Pokémon yelped in surprise, its body hitting the dirt with a thud.
Gabriel flinched, but he wasn't giving up. "Riolu, get up and use Force Palm!"
Riolu scrambled to its feet, its determination unwavering. Its paw began to glow with a faint, white light as it charged again, this time more cautiously, its movements a careful dance of feints and dodges.
Kirlia met the Riolu's charge head-on, his own fist glowing with a cold, blue light. The two attacks clashed in the middle of the field, a shower of ice and psychic energy erupting on impact. Kirlia glided back while Riolu was thrown back. But it landed on its feet, shaking its head to clear it, itwas still standing.
Gabriel saw a chance, "Now, Riolu, use Quick Attack!"
The Riolu shot forward again, a blur of motion, but this time, it didn't come straight at Kirlia. It used a zigzagging motion in an attempt to confuse its opponent.
Instead of dodging, Kirlia stood its ground. It opened its mouth and let out a series of high-pitched, melodious notes. The sound waves washed over the field, hitting the Riolu head-on. The fighting type cried out in pain as the fairy-type attack slammed into it, its speed faltering. It stumbled, its movements becoming sluggish. Another wave of Disarming Voice crashed over it, and it stumbled again.
"Don't give up!" Gabriel yelled, a desperate plea. "Riolu, use Endure!"
Riolu dug its heels in, its body glowing with a faint, protective aura. It braced itself for the final wave of Disarming Voice, its body tensing in anticipation. The attack hit, and the Riolu cried out, its body trembling, but it refused to fall. It was still standing, barely, its breathing ragged, its body swaying on the verge of collapse.
Gabriel was ecstatic, "I knew you could do it! Now use Quick Attack!"
But the Pokémon was too tired, it had used all its remaining energy to withstand the attack.
Kirlia let out one last, powerful note. The sound wave hit the exhausted Riolu, and it finally collapsed, its body hitting the dirt with a soft thud. The battle was over.
Gabriel stared at the field, a look of sadness on his face. He had lost, and he had lost badly. He recalled his Riolu, his hands shaking slightly. He took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure.
"I... I can't believe I didn't take out a single Pokémon," he said, his voice barely a whisper.
"You fought well," Eliana said, her tone softening slightly. "Your Riolu has a lot of potential."
"Thanks," Gabriel said, a small smile on his face. "You're... you're really strong. I've never fought psychic specialist like this before."
"I told you I was good," Eliana replied, a smirk on her face. She recalled Kirlia, who gave her a small, smug look. He had enjoyed the battle, and he was proud of his performance.
"You're more than good," Gabriel said, shaking his head and slapping his cheeks with his hands. "Alright then I've made my choice!"
"You're my rival now!" Gabriel held out a hand towards Eliana, "Next time we meet you'll have to use more than one Pokémon. And one day I'll overcome the type advantage and defeat you completely!"
Eliana look surprised at that, she had expected annoyance or maybe even anger at losing. Gabriel had subverted her expectations with his positive outlook and she actually did want to battle him again. Eliana reached out and took his hand, "You know what, yeah. I guess we are rivals now, I'll be waiting for you."
Gabriel paused before reaching into his pocket and taking out a phone, "Before I forget let me get you number!"
Eliana hesitated for a moment, before rattling off a series of numbers. She hadn't given her number to anyone before, but she found that she didn't mind giving it to Gabriel. He was interesting, and he was a good battler. And he was the first person she had met who wasn't afraid of her, or what she could do.
"I'll text you later, you better be ready for our next battle!" Gabriel called out, as he turned and ran off, his footsteps echoing in the quiet woods.
Eliana stood there for a moment, watching him go. She was alone again, but the silence didn't feel as heavy as it usually did. She felt a strange, unfamiliar warmth spreading through her chest, a feeling she couldn't quite name. It was a new sensation, one she hadn't experienced before.
She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. She had to get back to the gym before curfew. She turned and started walking, her footsteps quick and purposeful.