A New Chance (BLITZ, MOD)

[Sam]

Last night's sleep had surprised Rose. Not a single nightmare from Darkrai. Either he had gone away or just given her the night off. She knew that the first one was impossible, but she hoped for it anyways. Instead of waking up like the morning before, tired and restless, she woke up in the warm, soft bed sheets, refreshed and peaceful.

After training in the courtyard of the hotel for a little bit, Rose and Brendan had decided that it was time to face the gym leader. So here they were, walking into the large, factory building. Outside, under a small roof cover, there were fluorescent lights hanging down, turned off at the moment. Everything around them was made of high-tech metal. The door was sealed, strangely, with multiple metal locks and the doorbell, which Rose found to be wierd at a gym, made a strange ringing noise all around the inside. Maybe it was there because there was so much room, the gym leader couldn't hear a door knock.

Rose wondered what Pokemon were waiting for her and Brendan in there. This was sure to be a tough gym battle already. Both she and Brendan had very few Pokemon that could match Steel types. Atlas had Dig, but their other two ground types, Isabella and Zara didn't know ground type moves. Fate and Fang wouldn't do well either, as Fang's moves were sure not to do much effect and Fate's choice of Pokemon was a mystery. Their hopes were hanging on a thread.

[Wolfe]

Brendan walked up defiantly, wearing a solemn expression. Well, this was it. Their test as a trainer, as friends, as partners. Brendan sighed. He had found out a lot about Rose last night. And he had told her everything. His horrible secret. Well, now wasn't the time to dwell on the past. It was time to move on. Into the future.

His thoughts were distracted by the gym itself. Built in the last century, it was a huge complex, part warehouse and refinery. It had been closed way back, before Brendan had been born. Now, it served as the city's gym. His footsteps echoed loudly, each step making vibrations across the gym. At least both of them had gotten a good night's sleep. That, at least, had been lucky for both of them.

Just like Brendan, Fang was a bit jittery. Brendan, stupidly, had allowed him a sip of his morning coffee. Big mistake. He was buzzing around, panting like he had run a marathon. Zara wasn't much better, either. She, unlike the others, hadn't gotten a good night's sleep, so she was trotting along, semi-awake. Well, they were all on edge, anyway. Hopefully, it would serve them well. Brendan was........nervous. Really nervous.

Well, whatever would happen, they weren't leaving each other. Darkrai would forbid it. He turned to Rose, still shaking. "Hey..whatever happens...we'll stay friends. Side by side, till the end, huh?"

[White Dragon]

From the other side of the room, a door opened with a screeching noise. Unlike the front door, this one was rusty and old. No one had bothered to clean it before the place was turned into the city gym. Now a man, in his older years, walked out with a half smile on his face. He saw the two trainers on the other side of the gym and knew right away, that they were here to challenge him. He stepped out into the light to show himself to them. "Ah! A couple of trainers! You're here to battle me, I presume!"

He took out a Pokeball and threw it into the air. Out came a Magnemite. He caught the Pokeball as it came down gracefully into his hand. He gestured to himself. "My name is Screech. I am the user of Steel types. I hope you're ready to battle one of the toughest types there ever was." He observed the two with a smile. "So, shall we battle singles or doubles?"

[Sam]

Rose looked over at Brendan. "Yeah, of course." When Screech walked out of the door, her eyes were set ablaze. This was the West Wind City gym leader. Right here, this old man. Well, not that she should underestimate him. He was a gym leader, not a member of Team Celestial. And he would make a real match with his steel types. So, there couldn't be any taunts this time.

"We'll be battling double. Two on two?"

She took out a Pokeball and threw it into the air. Out of it came her tiny partner, Fate. She looked up, suddenly surprised at where she was. She looked back at Rose, questioning. She was choosing her against steel types? Maybe she thought that she would luck out and get a fire type or a fighting type. Well, whatever. She turned back and crouched down, ready to spring.

Rose turned to Brendan. "Who's got first move?"

[Wolfe]

Brendan sighed, relieved that Rose hadn't rejected him. She was a good person, better than he would ever become. Screech strode out into the large room, looking quite refined. Certainly, he would be a real threat to both of them. Well, that was what Brendan wanted, anyway.

Doubles sounded good, at any rate. They would be crushed if they challenged him alone. With that over, Brendan reached into his bag, then threw a Pokeball out. It flashed bright red, opened, and Fang materialized from the light. He growled, then swam around for a bit, examining his surroundings.

Brendan looked back at Rose, a bit concerned. Then he spoke, this time directed at Screech. "Um..sir, you may have the first move. After you send out another Pokemon....sir."

[White Dragon]

Amusement twitched in Screech's face. He had called him 'sir' unlike many others. He liked being respected, but now it was rather unnecessary. "You can call me Screech, not sir. But, if you want to call me sir, I'm very fine with that. He laughed a deep, booming laugh. He took out Magnemite's Pokeball again and returned it. "If you don't mind, I'd like to use my two best if its two on two double."

So this time, he sent out two other Pokemon, a Skarmory and a Metang. It was then that he noticed that Brendan had a Tynamo on his side. He realized his mistake, but managed not to show it and make it look like boasting, however much he didn't like it.

"Skarmory, use Peck on the Zorua, and Metang, use Take Down of the Tynamo." Skarmory swooped into the air, his metallic beak glowing bright as he bore down upon Fate. Metang threw himself at Fang, glowing as well, but yellow instead of white.

[Sam]

Fate stood and watched as Skarmory came closer and closer. She closed her eyes and thought of her ability. When she found it in her mind, she bent it slightly with her will. She waited and waited, but nothing happened. She was panicking now and Skarmory was still there. Why wasn't Illusion working? She tried to find someway in the tiny second she had left, but she found none, and then Skarmory hit.

The strength of the bird was tremendous and it sent Fate spinning across the floor, her eyes still closed. When she stopped rolling, she opened her eyes and, immediatly, felt herself changing. She saw Skarmory with different eyes at a different level, much much higher. She looked around. Everything seemed to be tinted with red, especially Rose's happy face. She trotted back to her, looking at herself. The bend seemed to have worked, transforming her into the type she wanted then letting it pick the Pokemon. Maybe later she'd learn how to fully control her ability. She'd been practicing the bending thing all night and this is what had paid off. She was a Rapidash, having chosen fire against steel.

She looekd at Rose for permission. The girl nodded and Rapidash turned around and locked eyes with Skarmory. Then she heard Rose whisper, "Let Fang deal with the flying type. For for Metang." Fate nodded, but kept her eyes on Skarmory. If she could somehow trick them...

She stood taller and then roared with aggression. She jumped forward, her fiery mane consuming her, then rolled straight towards Skarmory. Before she hit him, she checked herself and turned to the right, now going straight for Metang with her first Flame Wheel.

[Wolfe]

Brendan shuddered, as Fang took a huge hit to the body. He flew back, hit the wall, and slid down. The coffee, obviously, hadn't been a good idea.

Anyway, he was just getting warmed up. Tynamo shook it off like it was nothing, then floated back up to his previous stance. Brendan thought carefully, then acted. Then Fate morphed into a menacing Rapidash. Brendan chuckled.

Luck was on their side today. Anyway, Skarmory had to be suppressed. Since he doubted Fang had enough power to take it down with sheer force, he decided on a tactic.

Turning towards, Fang, he yelled, "Fang, use Thunder Wave on Skarmory." The eel shuddered suddenly, then began charging up a wave of static electricity. He roared, then loosed a wave of energy towards Skarmory.

[White Dragon]

Both of Screech's Pokemon floated back to their spots in front of their trainer. They both had landed hits. Metang was the only who had taken damage, and only because it had used Take Down. A now, they stood there, with their mouths open in Skarmory's case, as a Rapidash was suddenly in the place of Zorua. And it was coming straight at them with Flame Wheel!

Skarmory, who was in its line of attack, leaped out of the way, then realized that Rapidash had changed course and was now headed for Metang. The other Pokemon was unprepared for the attack and took it head on, super-effective. It flew back and hit the wall. It wasn't fainted, yet. Just damaged, a lot. It stumbled back into the air and took its place again. Screech commanded it to use Metal Claw at Tynamo as his attack hit the winded Skarmory and paralyzed him. Skarmory weakly got up. "Skarmory, use Swift on Rapidash!" He pulled his head up and began charging the attack when a wave of electricity zapped through him and held him still.

[Sam]

Fate, satisfied that she had scored a hit, was pleased to see that Tynamo's attack had hit Skarmory right on. She looked over at Metang to see him flying straight at Fang. She and Rose thought of an idea at the same time. She was the best in this battle, thanks to her fire type moves, but Fang could get Skarmory with electric type moves. Without looking at Rose this time, she leaped in front of Fang, rearing up high.

She opened her mouth and began spraying Metang with all the fury of an Ember attack. She swished her flaming tail in the direction of Skarmory, an indication to Brendan and Fang that they should attack Skarmory while she had Metang occupied.

[Wolfe]

Fang watched in glee as the Thunder Wave smashed into Skarmory, a direct hit. Fate had also managed to tackle Metang head-on. Using their momentum, and taking Fate's signal, Tynamo charged up, sparks flying, and lunged for Skarmory.

[White Dragon]

Skarmory had no choice but to watch as Tynamo slammed head first into him. The very moment he attacked, the paralysis wore off and he could move again. However, he didn't have time to dodge the attack, so he merely blocked it with his hard, steel wings. He grunted with pain as the electric type attack hit his wings, hard. He pushed Fang away and staggered a bit, his health gone down. Then he shook himself down and prepared to attack back. "Skarmory, use Swift!" He heard Screech's call and lunged forward, opening his mouth and sending steel-tipped stars at both Pokemon.

Metang was having a much better time then Skarmory. As Fate blew the embers at it, they were quickly knocked away by its steel fists burning with the attack, while the Pokemon toke minimal damage. It kept going, slashing down with his claws, smiling inside, knowing that if a hit landed on the Rapidash, it would turn back into Zorua.

[Sam]

Fate widened her eyes as Metang swipped away her Ember, just like that. That wasn't good at all. And now he was coming towards her with Metal Claw, leaving nothing for her to do. Then another brilliant idea popped into her mind. She could block it, just like Metang had done. So, trying to think of her four moves, one of them came to her. The only time a fire type could ever use this move was if they were a Rapidash. So, Screech wouldn't have thought of it. She lowered her head, just as Metang came up and pointed her horn straight at its eyes. It began to glow bright green and, just as Metang's claws slashed at her, she whipped it around, intercepting the steel type's claws. She pushed it away without effort, turned to the other claw and did the same, and ended with jabbing Megahorn straight forward.

[Wolfe]

Fang, who had been turned away by Skarmory's iron wings, was all the more determined to fight. But there was another threat. He had to stop the Swift from reaching Rapidash. Composing himself, Fang darted around, charging itself with ions from the air. With the added speed, Fang darted around, blocking the glistening stars in midair. He paused, exhausted and hurt, but still had a lot of vigor. Brendan called for him to attack again, but this time with Charge Beam. Physical attacks wouldn't do much against Skarmory anyways. The Tynamo growled in assent, then roared, charged its body, and loosed a beam of pure electricity.

[shades]

Metang Certainly was learning more and more from this battle. Helearned he was being to smart. And that zoura loved ti mimic him. With his attacks deflected, and getting hit by the megahorn, he floated back to his position, waiting for his masters hesitant commands. it seems scrrech was at a loss with Zoura. He was noticing that the pokemon was learning how to counter his pokemon's attacks. It was time for another approach. "Confusion!" Metang responded imediatley. His eyes glowed, and he looked right into Zoura's as the light changed oddly between the two pokemon. If it took affect, things would be quite advantageous for them.

As for skamory, he was lucky the attack only clipped. His constant movement let the attack hit him, but not dead on. Hadit made contact, he would have been out. Infact, he was hanging on by hardly a thread now. He was knocked out of the sky, to weak to fly. Screech comanded peck, but Skamory couldnt move that fast. He looked ppituflly at his master. "Alright, sand attack then!" Skamory weakly moved is wings, and mostly stomped with his feet, kicking up dirt and dust. It wasnt as quicly as the atack normally took, but he steadily kicked dirt right at Tynamo. Maybe he could take a break from hits. He wouldnt be able to take anymore.