The Crossroads of Route 36

(Just life, moved to Thailand etc... great to be back!)

Max smiled as the attack clearly both took the Vanillite by surprise and did some decent damage. Growlithe yelped happily as well in seeing Max's joy, happy to please his trainer and friend. Their joy was short-lived however as the small ice type Pokemon released a deafening uproar. Max's covered his ears but not before giving Growlithe his next order.

'Growlithe shut that thing up, use bite attack!' Max yelled overtop of the uproar. Growlithe looked back at Max as he yelled, only just recollecting what he said. He charged back at the wild Vanillite, his large jaw hanging open to brandish his sharp teeth. His jaw became dark as he grew closer in an attempt to launch the dark type attack.

The Vanillite was not interrupted in attack or in spirit as the jaws closed around her. It only gave her greater impetus to scream louder, knowing how sensitive and delicate canine ears were. Straining her vocal cords to the utmost, she continued her resonating attack.

The noise was growing unbearable, and Max could see Growlithe was having a hard time deal with it. The Vanillite had caught Max slightly off guard and he was growing weary of the battle. He was certain another ember would finish it off and was about to give the order. But instead of getting Growlithe to struggle a moment longer, he made a split second decision.

'Growlithe back off!' Max yelled, as he unclipped an empty pokeball from his belt. Growlithe retreated back to his trained and watched him do his thing. The empty pokeball soared towards the screaming Vanillite and in an instant a red flash absorbed the Pokemon into the ball. As the pokeball dropped to ground, Max looked down at Growlithe.

'Wait for it Growlithe' Max said. 'If it escapes, blast it with another ember attack'. Max was unsure if he would catch the Vanillite. And though he had no intention of adding the ice type to his team, it was a rare find and he was sure someone would willing to trade.

The Vanillite was agitated, and was in no manner weak, and easily broke out of the pokeball. The sphere flew back to the trainer's hand, ready to be thrown again. The Fresh Snow pokemon was infuriated; the trainer had interrupted her attack. Thankfully, it had also broken her out of a locking move while she had dealt maximum damage to her opponent. She frowned at the Growlithe standing beside his trainer, and her arms began to mist over, looking wet.

'Now Growlithe ember once more!' Max said once he saw the ball burst open. He hadn't expected a catch, nor was he really wanting one. He looked down at Growlithe who quickly snapped into action. Even with the damage of two uproars he was still in good enough shape to launch a powerful ember directly at Vanillite. While not the most powerful fire type move, it was accurate so Max would be surprised if it didn't connect.

Vanillite was able to dodge the Ember, anticipating the move and suddenly released a gush of water at the Growlithe from it's hand. The water quickly seemed to cool down, though not enough to freeze as the atmosphere temperature was plummeting again. It was queer; the Ice type pokemon was not capable of using water moves naturally. It was Water Pulse(EM)! It, while lacking the boost of STAB, would still be decently powerful, hoping to inflict severe damage upon the fire canine.

Ember missing wasn't a big deal, but Vanillite returning the fire with a water pulse was. Max watched as Growlithe was helplessly doused in water, Max struggled to think of what he could do next. Growlithe shook of the water as quickly as possible but it still left the faint smell in the air of wet fur. Max was about to give an order before he realised that in addition to the super effective damage on Growlithe, the pulse had left him confused as well. Max didn't want to risk Growlithe on hurting itself in addition to another water pulse so made the decision to recall his old friend.

'Take a rest Growlithe' Max said soothingly as the inebriated Growlithe returned to his ball. 'We'll let some fresh blood finish this sucker off'. That left Max with a somewhat difficult position. He considered Eevee as he had been consistent lately but decided Heracross was in need of training also. He unclipped the bug type's pokeball.

'Let's go Heracross!' Max blurted as Heracross appeared. He looked his usual strong self, happily rising his large horn into the sunlight. Full health and ready for action, Max was confident Heracross could finish what Growlithe started.

'Heracross rush Vanillite with a night slash!'

The disappearance of the Growlithe and the introduction of a pokemon - clearly fighting type, perhaps part of full - made the Vanillite nervous and edgy. Even though she would have been at a disadvantage type-wise against the fire pokemon, she'd evened the odds by her EM. However, she was still at a disadvantage against the Heracross facing her, and she had no counter for it.

Judging by how the Single Horn Pokemon chose a simple Dark attack - which hurt, nevertheless - perhaps it did not know any Fighting moves. The Vanillite leered. The temperature dropped sharply; if teh trainer and his pokemon did not find some shelter soon, they could be frozen, or suffering from hypothermia, or go numb, or, or...

Waving her hands in the air, she whipped up the winds to concentrate in an area, causing a freezing Icy Wind to plow towards her new foe, secreting water again to patch up the hole the bug type had slashed in her side, wishing she could rejuvenate health as well.

Max was unconcerned by the leer of the Vanillite, being a special attacker lowering Heracross's defence made no real impact. In addition the icy wind, while having the STAB bonus, was still a weak special move that Heracross was able to absorb with ease. Max's confidence returned and he was sure that the match was his.

He noticed the sudden change in the air and realised that the night beckoned. Heracross was rather thick skinned and even if the cold was effecting him, he wasn't showing it. Max however knew that neither of them would last too long out here without some shelter. He looked at the small Vanillite who was patching up the gash at its side with water. He wondered if this battle was worth winning if he just would up frozen himself. Max decided to go for one last catch on this Vanillite before making for some solitude.

'Heracross use horn attack now!' Max ordered. Heracross obeyed instantly, using his wings to move swiftly towards Vanillite. Max readied an empty pokeball. The second Heracross made connection he was moving in for the kill. Well the catch.

The Vanillite dodged neatly, sliding across the iced ground. She sent a blast of another Icy Wind to lower the speed of the Heracross, as it always did, trying not to show the panic she now felt, and she had felt at the swift approach of the Single Horn pokemon. Realizing that wasn't going to cut it, she started doing something queer.

As though gathering the moisture in the air, she froze up some skillfully made and cut javelins, pointy and tough looking. The sunlight glinted off it's tip, cruelly sharp, and the glossy, sleek surface of the shards. Conjuring up four of them she tossed the Icicle Spears at her opponent. She spied the pokeball in the trainer's hand, and made a steady resolution to absol-utely refuse to get caught.

The icy wind blasted directly at Heracross, lowering both his health and speed in the process. While not the most powerful move the added speed drop more than made up for it's lack of force. This put Vanillite in the position of attacking twice and it did just that by summoning the icicle spears, a powerful physical move.

Max was in no hurry to see another Pokemon on his team be bested by the fresh snow Pokemon. And while icicle spear wouldn't do a huge amount of damage, multiple hits could spell the end for Heracross. Max and Heracross's eyes met only briefly, but they both knew what had to be done. Heracross spread his wings in an evasive stance, looking to avoid the incoming spears. Max wasn't sure if he would be able to dodge them all, but the important thing was that he got close to Vanillite once more.

'Heracross avoid the spears then charge through and use Aerial Ace!' Max yelled. Heracross made his obedient yip and took off towards the oncoming attack. The Vanillite was weak after feeling the force of two Pokemon, one of them being a fire type, and Max was finished trying to capture the stubborn Pokemon. He needed shelter and this thing had caused him enough trouble. An unavoidable attack should be able to finish it off.

Vanillite still had a spear in her hand, just waiting to toss it, and momentarily distracted by the relief of the trainer putting the pokeball away, she was struck by the rather large Heracross. Hissing in annoyance, she struck out with the spear in her hand, disappointed that her move had missed. Nevertheless, with her strength ebbing; if the attack hadn't been resisted, she would have most likely been defeated; she managed to conjure up four more Icicles, weaker this time.

Heracross, clearly happy with his successful attack, flew up high then back down in front of Max to show its joy. Max, while happy, was in no mood for celebrating just yet. Vanillite had managed to muster more spears and was looking ready to go for another attack. Heracross' eyes narrowed as he saw Vanillite summon the icicle spears. He awaited Max's instruction.

'Heracross avoid the spears as best you can then finish it off with a night slash!' Max called out. Heracross nodded obediently and awaited Vanillites oncoming attack

Vanillite hissed, knowing it would be her last stand. She released the spears, giving it every last ounce of her strength, releasing water which she needed for her own body's hydration to form a Water Pulse to circulate around the Icicles. This pokemon clearly hated to lose, and would do whatever except for backing off. Nevertheless, the Icicles flew speedily towards the Heracross, water pulsating around them to deal extra damage and hopefully confuse.

Heracross absorbed the first two spears with ease, barely even fazed by the ice type move. The third seemed to knock him off balance slightly, though not to the extent it drew his focus away from the task at hand. Heracross continued to dodge the remaining spears, only to be doused by a water pulse that left him confused. Max was concerned Heracross may not be able to complete his move but he still seemed determined. Max called out after the single horn Pokemon.

'Shake it off buddy.' Max yelled. 'I know you can do this!' Max only hoped his words of encouragement would be enough for Heracross to break the confusion and finish the battle with a night slash

Unfortunately the confusion would haze up the trainer's words, but there was no need for an attack. The Vanillite lay motionless; conscious, but just barely. It seemed to have knocked itself out by sheer fatigue. Heracross had unofficially won.

The air condensed around the Ice type furiously as she strove to recover as soon as possible to get away without furthur injury to herself. Her two previous gashes were now visible as she had used up the water she required to keep the wounds frozen until they naturally healed. She seemed to recover enough to woozily stumble to her feet(?) and stagger off. No worries. She would soon enough find an Oran Berry and that would see her through till she was fit again.

Growlithe gained 9 exp!
Growlithe grew to level 19 with 5 exp remaining!
Growlithe learnt Reversal!
Heracross gained 10 exp!
Hercross grew to level 16 with 3 exp remaining!
Hercross learnt Chip Away!

(Might want to edit your pokemon's moves in accordance with Gen 6.)

Max watched as the wild Vanillite lost all of its stanima and finally collapsed. Max was impressed with the young pokemons fighting spirit and was slightly dissapointed he couldn't make the catch. Though he had other things to worry about.

Max swiftly returned Heracross to the comforts of his pokeball and clipped it back to his belt. All of his pokemon had been weakened by the past two battles and he needed to find shelter before the cold air picked up and night falls. He looked at his two options.

Eckrutek was by far the closer option and Max knew the way well. Though in regards to the gym, Max was too underleveled to take on the elusive Morty. Whitney, while no easy challenge, had levels closer to his own. In addition the way to Goldenrod City was packed with trainers for experience. Max's mind was made up, Goldenrod city it is.

(End of topic)

(If you wouldnt mind doing that as i cant edit the page. thanks)