This would be Gary's third match against Grey.
The first time, he was too full of himself—he picked his strongest Primeape, accidentally triggered its Ability, and got flattened on the spot.
The second time, he didn't realize his opponent was Grey, and a Speed-boosted Blaziken taught him a lesson.
Now, the third time!
After the S.S. Anne incident, Gary felt reborn. His strength wasn't what it used to be.
Facing Grey, he'd go all in!
"Gym Leader Grey, thank you for saving us on the S.S. Anne. I've been thinking a lot these days, and I've tuned my team to their best condition."
Gary took out a Poké Ball, dipped his head and kissed it, then looked up at Grey again. "So please accept my second official gym challenge!"
[You can tell the young master's toned it down a lot.]
[Honestly, toning it down doesn't mean hiding the cheer squad. We all want to see them.]
[Where's the sis? Where's the sis! I want the cheerleaders!]
Gary's words pulled the room's attention.
He'd just beaten Sabrina—proof his strength was real.
A battle with Grey felt hard to call.
Would Gary take Grey down, or would Grey steamroll him?
Chat guessed at endings while gifts flooded the screen.
"Since there's a challenger, as Gym Leader I can't refuse."
Grey smiled and stepped forward, taking Sabrina's place.
Bumiao's Machoke came in carrying planks, patched up the arena with ease, and left.
After it left, Grey let a thread of Aura roll off him, a man-made pressure that stirred his coat.
Bumiao announced the rules: "Each side may use three Pokémon. When all of one side's Pokémon are unable to battle, the match ends. Gym Leader Grey, please send out your Pokémon."
"While I was traveling, my partners and I met all kinds of people—training and battling, all the way through."
Grey met Gary's eyes and closed his fingers around the Three Generals' balls. "How much have you grown? Show me."
Bang!
Red light flashed. Hitmontop landed brimming with fighting spirit, arms swaying as its legs paced side to side.
Staring at one of the Three Generals—Hitmontop—an oddly catchy BGM popped into Gary's head.
"Tch. Figures. Just seeing it once and my thoughts are already scrambled…"
He shook it off and immediately threw his Poké Ball.
"Dodrio!"
The brown, three-headed "running bird" twisted its necks—three pairs of eyes locking onto Hitmontop!
[Pokémon: Dodrio]
[Type: Normal, Flying]
[Level: 33]
[Ability: Early Bird]
[Moves: (not listed)]
"Dodrio, huh? Looks like you came prepared."
Grey rubbed his chin and gave his read.
"Naturally."
Gary flipped his hair on instinct, ready to toss a quip—but Grey's narrowed gaze made him swallow it.
Against Grey, he couldn't slip.
"Dodrio, use Acupressure on yourself!"
Gary stayed steady. With time to spare, he chose to set up.
"Dro!"
Dodrio's three heads whipped back and forth; white light flared at their beaks as they pecked acupoints along its body.
"Fake Out."
Hitmontop was faster. A twitch and it vanished into an afterimage; only the rush of air gave away the motion!
Dodrio's nerves spiked and it pecked frantically through its brown down.
Too slow by a beat!
Smack!
A crisp crack echoed; all three heads flinched from the sudden slap.
"Triple Kick!"
As the hit stopped, Hitmontop planted the point of its head on the floor, flipped, and spun up like a top!
Thump-thump-thump!
In a single whirl, three heavy tail-kicks hammered Dodrio's necks. It screeched; eyes bulged.
"Use a multi-hit move!"
Gary's answer was low and sharp. With Hitmontop this close, repeated strikes would tell!
Dodrio's long beaks burst with white light. Three very different temperaments stabbed forward in a messy flurry!
Shnk-shnk-shnk!
Three angles at once. At first Hitmontop tried to meet them, but after the first exchange, it was losing ground.
It was what it was—three heads versus two legs was an innate edge.
"Back off with Agility."
Grey chose to reset.
Hitmontop's spin accelerated, drifting out to a safe range.
"Then we'll use Acupressure!"
Seeing Hitmontop withdraw, Gary took the window to boost again.
Dodrio threw its heads high, then jabbed acupoints along its body. Its activity spiked hard.
"Dro-dro!"
A red aura surged. The center head cried high, long legs stamping; force ramped up.
"Raised its Attack? Not bad."
Gary smirked—then blinked at the distant Hitmontop.
Hitmontop was upside-down and spinning, a gyroscope kicking up wind and cloaking the field in dust!
Both his and Dodrio's sightlines were blocked. They could hear the hum of Hitmontop's spin, but not fix its position.
"As expected—I can't let my guard down…"
Gary didn't dare blink, afraid Hitmontop would blitz them next second. He probed from range: "Dodrio, Tri Attack!"
"Dro!"
Dodrio braced, and orbs of ice, fire, and lightning formed a triangle—braiding into a single shell of power with a hidden bite!
When the shell finished, all three heads lunged and shoved—blasting it into the smoke!
Boom!
Tri Attack lit the dust from within as it tore through the cloud.
Gary held his breath, trying to pinpoint Hitmontop.
"Why can't I find it…"
His eyes swept hard; his fists clenched as he muttered.
A streak of black light ripped out from the flank of the dust cloud, too fast to track!
No need to think—had to be Hitmontop!
"Not good! Jump—then use Pluck!"
Gary's voice pitched up. The instant he saw the dark streak, he snapped the order.
Flying-type energy wrapped Dodrio's beaks with the slipstream; it sprang skyward, a huge leap taking it close to the dojo rafters!
Brilliant light burst in midair—but Dodrio hadn't expected Hitmontop to leap just as high.
The thick dark flare and the white gleam crossed hard.
For a moment, you couldn't tell which was stronger.
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