Chapter Sixty-Eight: Stamping Her Foot

"Arcanine, use 'Reversal'!"

"Breakhorn, 'Stomp'!"

'Reversal' is a Fighting-type move, not Arcanine’s native element, but it counters Rhydon and, like 'Rage', grows stronger the more injured the user is. It seems Gary favors these kinds of skills...

But facing off against Arcanine was Breakhorn, who raised his hoof once more. This time, the power of the earth directly fused with Breakhorn's forehoof.

Arcanine charged forward with astonishing force, while Rhydon’s stomp was equally powerful. Given Arcanine’s current injuries, ‘Reversal’ was at least 120, if not 150, in power. Yet, hearing Mist call for 'Stomp', Gary was momentarily stunned...

The collision produced a muffled crash and a cloud of dust. When it cleared, both Arcanine and Rhydon lay sprawled on the ground.

Gary’s face darkened; he had believed Arcanine could hold on! He had expected Rhydon to use 'Earthquake' again, not realizing it had learned 'Stomp'.

'Stomp' is also a Ground-type move, with only 70 power, but... if the user’s last Ground-type move missed, it accumulates the missed gravitational energy and unleashes it for a doubled effect.

Earlier, Nidoking dodged the 'Earthquake' with 'Air Balloon', and the missed gravitational wave was stored. Now, it burst forth, making 'Stomp' more powerful than 'Earthquake'—essentially double the usual force.

Non-contact moves can cancel each other out, but when contact moves clash, both sides suffer.

With Arcanine and Rhydon simultaneously losing their ability to battle... however...

Nidorino, who had just been knocked aside by Nidoking’s 'High Horsepower', now wobbled back into the arena, looking bewildered at the unconscious Arcanine and Rhydon.

Misty paused, then, nudged by Sonoko, quickly announced, "Arcanine and Rhydon are unable to battle! Mist wins!"

Clearly, Gary’s team now had four fully defeated Pokémon, while Mist’s side... Nidorino was still standing.

Though the weakest, Nidorino had indeed lasted until the end!

Nidorino, now at leisure, strode to the center, shaking his neck fiercely and roaring, "Nido! Nido!"

To the unknowing, one might think all the opponents had fallen to him...

Gary, seeing the outcome decided, grimly recalled Arcanine as well.

Mist, unable to watch further, recalled Nidorino to his Poké Ball.

Gary took a deep breath to steady himself. Mist approached, but before he could speak, Gary said first, "This time, I lost. But next time... next time I see you, I won’t lose again!"

"Huh? Next time we meet, you want to battle again?" Mist looked at him in confusion.

Gary, who had just calmed himself, instantly scowled and strode away after pocketing his Poké Ball.

"Well done! You actually beat that arrogant guy!" Sonoko came over and slapped Mist’s shoulder.

Mist, knowing his victory was hard-won, quickly said, "I’ll need to visit the Pokémon Center first... You all go to the museum, I’ll catch up."

When Pokémon faint from battle, simple treatment is necessary; medicine alone isn’t enough.

Generally, while inside a Poké Ball, they recover slowly, eat less, and injuries don’t worsen—unless the injury was caused by overexertion.

Fainting in battle is a kind of protection; forcing through this “insurance” risks worsening injuries. If it exceeds their self-healing limit, even inside the Poké Ball, their condition can deteriorate.

"No, we’ll go with you—it’s on the way," Sonoko suggested.

So the three returned to the Pokémon Center. Mist planned to temporarily deposit the Poké Balls of Ivysaur, Exeggutor, and Rhydon.

Just then...

"Oh? Gary? We meet again..." Mist greeted Gary cheerfully upon running into him.

It made sense—Gary had also suffered Pokémon losses and needed to be here.

Seeing Mist, Gary looked as though he’d swallowed something foul.

"Didn’t someone say next time..." Misty started to tease, but Gary interrupted, "Don’t get ahead of yourself! When... when the rookie tournament comes, I definitely won’t lose again!"

"Huh? But at the rookie tournament... it’s unlikely we’ll run into each other," Mist remarked earnestly.

Gary: ...

Watching Gary leave with a frosty expression, Mist snapped a photo with the Pokédex and sent it to Professor Oak—after all, he’d already defeated Gary, and how the professor chose to educate his grandson was now his business.

Afterwards, Mist, Misty, and Sonoko headed to the Pewter City Fossil Museum—where the exhibit would open the day after tomorrow.

It was clear Sonoko wasn’t rebellious or prone to running away, but she disliked being too constrained. They traveled everywhere by taxi.

"Huh? Closed already today?" Mist noticed that the Pewter City Fossil Museum, a city landmark, was deserted, though plenty of Officer Jennys were stationed nearby.

"Yes! Since Master Kid has sent the warning letter, and with the exhibition opening soon, they’re taking a couple days to set up, so it’s closed for now," Sonoko explained.

The Pewter City Fossil Museum was part of the Suzuki family’s business...

As for the Officer Jennys outside, they were clearly posted for Kid’s arrival, mostly from the mobile squad—whose job is security. Many have dog-type or flying Pokémon, but they’re not skilled in investigation and rarely part of the “Jenny Clan.”

When the trio tried to enter, several Officer Jennys stepped forward to question them.

But the museum director hurried over, ushering Sonoko and her friends inside.

"Uncle Charles! Well, any news? Has Master Kid sent a second letter?" Sonoko asked eagerly.

The director, elderly with white hair and beard, sighed, "Not yet... Miss Sonoko, your mother is also here, so please mind yourself."

If only Sonoko’s uncle and father were present, it wouldn’t be an issue. Second Son Jiro’s thoughts always wandered, and he liked Sonoko’s free spirit, while her father Shiro was gentle with family.

But...

If her mother Tomoko heard her calling Kid "Master" in a worshipful tone, she’d surely scold her.

Sonoko, hearing her mother was present, quickly restrained herself.

———

Note 1: In the game, ‘Stomp’ doubles in power if the previous move missed. For realism, here it only doubles if the previous Ground-type move missed.