Defeating Penny, Battling Krabby

"You've certainly got some nerve..."

With just one remark, Xia You had made a lasting impression on the three beautiful sisters of Cerulean Gym!

Sakura smiled faintly. "Whether it's being Pokémon Trainers or performing water ballet, both are our main occupations. Now, please come with us."

Led by the three of them, Xia You followed a passage to the edge of the pool.

By now, all the spectators who had come to watch the performance had left, so there was no one around to disturb them.

Then, as the other two siblings tossed floating platforms into the pool, the battlefield was ready after that simple bit of preparation.

It really couldn't have been more slapdash...

Still, that aside...

Xia You scanned the floating platforms several times, not daring to let his guard down.

After all, this was a Water-type Gym, with water all around. Since he had no Water-type Pokémon himself, his Pokémon had limited room to maneuver, so every move required care.

"All done." Ayame clapped her hands and smiled. "Now we can battle!"

Without another word, Xia You walked over to the Pokémon Trainer's command area on the opposite side, facing Sakura and her sisters across the water.

As Sakura watched him from the other side, her voice carried across.

"The battle rules here are simple. Each of us will use one Pokémon. Defeat all three of us, and your challenge will be a success!"

Ayame folded her arms, looking amused. "So, who would you like to challenge first?"

That earlier remark had certainly kindled a little fighting spirit in them!

Xia You studied their faces one by one, but couldn't glean anything from them.

"Anyone is fine. You can decide."

"Big talk." Penny, the youngest of the three, volunteered and stepped forward, taking a Poké Ball from his pocket. "In that case, let me take you on first! Come out, Goldeen!"

He opened the Poké Ball, and with a flash of blue light, a white fish with a single horn on its head appeared in the pool.

Information about it flashed through Xia You's mind.

He remembered that it was a pure Water-type Pokémon. Its well-developed dorsal and tail fins let it swim at five knots. With its tail fin fluttering as elegantly as a dress, it was also known as the queen of the water!

Glancing down at his feet, Xia You sent out his first Pokémon as well.

"Eevee, I choose you."

At Xia You's command, Eevee cried out excitedly, then leaped straight from the poolside onto a floating platform!

Neither Pokémon had a type advantage over the other.

Victory would therefore depend on which was stronger. However, with Goldeen enjoying the advantage of terrain, defeating it wouldn't be easy for Eevee.

It would come down to Eevee's performance and his own commands!

Sakura, the eldest, acted as referee first. Seeing that both Pokémon were ready, she called out, "The Cerulean Gym challenge begins now!"

The moment she finished speaking, Penny gave his command.

"Goldeen, use Peck!"

With Penny's order, the battle officially began!

Goldeen dove underwater and vanished. A few breaths later, ripples spread across the surface, and it suddenly burst out of the water, hurtling straight toward Eevee as though it could fly!

It really was fast!

Xia You's gaze sharpened, but his voice remained calm. "Eevee, dodge it!"

Thanks to its impressive agility, Eevee sidestepped before Goldeen could strike, easily evading the attack.

Seeing this, Xia You continued, "Use Tackle!"

Just as the two Pokémon passed each other, Eevee sprang into the air and hurled itself at Goldeen's body.

Unfortunately, just before Eevee could make contact, Goldeen twisted aside as well, dodging the attack before plunging back into the water with a splash and disappearing.

Neither trainer gained an advantage in their first exchange.

But it did make Penny realize that the man opposite him wouldn't be easy to handle!

Eevee landed steadily on another floating platform, but the splash from Goldeen's plunge had drenched its body.

It shook out its fur, but still couldn't get all the water off.

Having taken it all in, Penny smiled from across the pool. "Good! Goldeen, keep that up and force it into the water!"

Goldeen repeated the maneuver, using Horn Attack on Eevee once again.

This time, the extra weight of the water had slowed Eevee considerably. Facing Goldeen's second attack, it only just managed to dodge, the horn nearly grazing its body.

Xia You breathed a sigh of relief at the sight, though he couldn't help feeling how close a call it had been for Eevee.

Given Eevee's current strength, if it actually took a hit and fell into the water, it would be at a severe disadvantage.

Looks like I'll have to find a way...

With that thought, Xia You scanned the floating platforms. When he noticed that two of them had drifted together, a plan gradually formed in his mind.

"Eevee, jump onto that platform over there!"

Eevee turned to look at Xia You. Though puzzled, it followed his command and jumped over.

Penny naturally couldn't tell what he was trying to do either, but he still smiled. "Whatever you do now, it won't help! Goldeen, use Horn Attack!"

Goldeen leaped out of the water again, driving the horn on its head toward Eevee.

"Eevee, back up!"

Xia You's voice rang out at that very moment.

Hearing his command, Eevee took several steps backward and stood at the far end of the platform. That shift put all its weight on one side, tipping the other end upward!

Just then, Goldeen struck, slamming into the raised platform!

Worse still, its pointed horn lodged in the platform, leaving its entire body suspended in midair!

"What?!" Penny's face fell in shock, while the other two sisters widened their eyes.

None of them had imagined such a maneuver was possible!

Xia You gave a quiet smile.

No matter how much a fish had thrown its weight around before, once it was out of the water, it was doomed.

Out of the water and stuck to the platform, what could Goldeen possibly do?

"Eevee, finish it!"

At Xia You's words, Penny immediately panicked and shouted to Goldeen, "Goldeen, get back in the water!"

Goldeen writhed several times, but no matter how hard it tried, it couldn't pull its horn free!

"Damn it." Seeing Eevee draw closer, Penny shouted, "Goldeen, use Supersonic!"

A visible sound wave emerged from Goldeen's mouth. Though Goldeen had its back to Eevee, the Supersonic still hit and briefly confused it. Once Eevee recovered, however, the situation remained unchanged.

"It's over."

As though confirming Xia You's words, Eevee used Tackle, slamming hard into Goldeen and knocking it out.

"Fine, you're good..."

Penny sighed helplessly, recalled Goldeen into its Poké Ball, and silently stepped aside.

As she stepped down, Ayame took her place and walked over to the Pokémon Trainer's command area.

"You've got some skill." Looking at Xia You, she took out her Poké Ball and released her Pokémon. "But this next Pokémon won't be so easy to handle. Come out, Krabby!"

The next second, as her words faded, a crablike Pokémon appeared in the water.

At first glance, its pair of large, raised pincers was particularly eye-catching!

On closer inspection, however, the vacant eyes on its red-and-white body made it look rather dopey, as though it wasn't especially bright.

Being so familiar with it, Xia You couldn't help recalling its information.

As a River Crab Pokémon, Krabby's large pincers were undoubtedly formidable weapons!

Those pincers occasionally fell off during an attack, but new ones would soon grow back. When danger approached, it would also blow bubbles from its mouth to cover its entire body, making itself appear larger.

Less mobility, but stronger at close quarters...

After considering it briefly, Xia You called Eevee back.

"Eevee, come back. Thanks for all your hard work."

Once Eevee returned to his side, Xia You stroked its forehead in praise, then took out Bulbasaur's Poké Ball.

"It's your turn now, Bulbasaur."

He opened it, and amid a flash of blue light, his Bulbasaur appeared on the floating platform.

"Bulba, Bulba!"

The moment it appeared, Bulbasaur fixed its gaze on the Kingler in the water, brimming with fighting spirit!

In terms of type matchups, the Grass-type Bulbasaur undoubtedly had an advantage over the Water-type Krabby.

But the same problem remained.

On a battlefield filled with pool water, there was severely limited room to maneuver. Staying out of the water would therefore be a key factor in securing victory!