Ace

Chapter 12

  "Welcome, young trainer." Olympia's imperial, all-knowing eyes gazed down at me, betraying no emotion. She was levitating in the air with her psychic powers surrounded by both a male and female Meowstic, under a midnight-blue domed ceiling (A/N: I haven't watched the entirety of the X and Y anime, please correct me if I'm wrong!). "Who are you? What's your story?"

  I lifted my head high, trying to hide my nerves. "My name is Astrid Foncé! I'm a Dark-type Pokemon trainer from Laverre City, daughter of Diana and Michael Foncé. I'm here to challenge you to a gym battle, so I can win my seventh gym badge!"

  "Good." Olympia thrust her hand forward, and her two Meowstic hovered out, floating in front of her in what I assumed was the battlefield. "Then, let us begin. A double battle. Astrid, show me what you've got, and no holding back."

"Zorua, Murkrow, let's go!" I sent out my two newly-caught Dark-type Pokemon. I knew that Psychic-type moves had absolutely no effect on Dark-types, so I hoped to win the battle quickly.

  "Meowstic, use Magical Leaf!" the female Meowstic generated leaves, which it fired at Zorua.

  "Dodge it!" Zorua tried to jump out of the way, but the torrent of leaves just swerved upwards and hit Zorua. "Don't give in! Use Punishment!" The Dark-type move would have been super effective against Meowstic, but it just backed away and avoided the attack.

  "Disarming Voice, let's go!" the male Meowstic cries out loudly and makes Murkrow drop from flapping in the air to falling on the ground hard. "Are you all right, Murkrow?" My Pokemon struggles to its feet and caws. "Way to hang in there!"

  "Murkrow," I commanded. "Use Foul Play!" Murkrow dove down at the female Meowstic, talons glinting sharply.

  "Dodge, and use Charge Beam!" Olympia's female Meowstic sent a beam of electricity at Murkrow, who had a super-effective Electric-type attack launched at it, landing directly. And somehow, somehow, the attack doesn't render it unable to battle. Perhaps Murkrow knew how desperate I was to win and endured that attack?

  "Use Fly this time!" Murkrow propelled itself high up into the air and avoided the Disarming Voice attack from the male Meowstic. Then, diving down, it prepared to strike the Meowstic with that devastating Flying-type attack... but the Meowstic flattened itself onto the ground and Murkrow flew right above it without landing a scratch, before retaliating with a Covet, which Murkrow luckily dodged.

  "Zorua, try to use Dark Pulse!" Zorua's attack only grazed the female Meowstic's side, so it took hardly any damage. However, it fought back with a super-effective Signal Beam, which hit Zorua squarely in the chest and it fell back onto the ground.

  Both my Pokemon were battered and weary, while both Olympia's Meowstic were completely unscathed, moments away from victory. If I didn't think fast, I would lose the battle. Think, I told myself. A Dark-type trainer has to be cunning, has to always have a plan. You have to find a way to beat her.

  Think, Astrid. Think.