Skyla the Mistralton City Gym Leader's Story

Radegast would walk into what could only be described as the largest room with an open roof he'd ever been in. The red tiles below him were steel plating, the walls a metal barrier to shield from the wind. The teen would actually see the fans blowing above them, the wind howling through the small pocket of air he and his friends occupied. If Radegast wouldn't have known better, he might've guessed the Gym Leader was a Steel-Type user because of all the metal around them.

Speaking of which, there was one other person in the large room besides Radegast. What was weird was she didn't exactly match the room's complexion or make-up, which is an odd trait for a friend of Elesa to have. Dressed in a custom fitting blue jumpsuit that left here belly exposed and her curves as broadcast to onlookers as they could be, she stood with her right hip extended, her left arm resting on it while her right arm was by her side. She wore cadet blue gloves. Her auburn hair flowed gracefully by her side, a ponytail tied by what appeared to be a blue propeller, though some have mistaken it for a flower. Her blue eyes were piercing and focused. And when they rested on Radegast, her smile was informal and pleasant...like a soft breeze.

"Aha!" she said in a perky tone, pointing a gloved finger at Radegast, "So you're the trainer who wishes to challenge me! I've heard a lot about you, mostly from my friend Elesa. She said you had your own unique style that fits you. From the way you look, I can agree!" She twirled around as she made a gracious bow, her flowing locks bouncing around her head.

"I'm Skyla," she introduced, "The Mistralton Gym Leader. I'm a big fan of those who don't mind getting a few bruises along the way. And typically, my challengers come in here with at least one or two. But you've gone completely unscathed! I may have to build your character myself then." She had twirled to her spot on the battle field, a PokeBall already in her hand.

"Oh, and I'm not going to take it easy on you like Elesa did!" she mentioned, "I'm giving it everything I got. I want you and your Pokemon to do the same! I want to battle strong trainers after all."

She gave Radegast a wink of encouragement as she waited for the first combatant.

Elder materialized next to Radegast as Chrome returned to it’s pokeball, finally done with the wind. Radegast pulled off the goggles and makeshift mask and shook his head. His dreadlocks swung loose.

“From the way you look, I can agree.”

“Is she hitting on you?” Elder jabbed Radegast in the gut. Radegast laughed and shook his head. “Just cause most gym leaders are girls doesn’t mean they want anything to do with a kid like me, man.”

Elder laughed in return, the two of them exchanged playful blows in the most unfitting of times. “Alright, alright, let’s get serious now.”

The introduction “We didn’t get any bruises because we’re not dumb,” Elder replied. At least, we’re trying not to be.

Radegast hummed. Deep down, he was irked by her comment about “his” pokemon. Not my pokemon. They never seem to get it. Skyla, however, will be disappointed since she’s not actually fighting a trainer.

I will show my old man, Radegast repeated that ancient vow to himself. There’s more to life than what I was born for.

“You good?” Radegast asked with one final jab at the Gengar.

“I’m good, Lord-Regent,” The Gengar grinned as he stepped forward. Radegast set down on the ground and unfolded the cylinder slung over his back. With his harmonica and guitar, Radegast played as he watched the fight begin.

Skyla saw the trainer and the Gengar getting a little...buddy-buddy. Her eyes sparkled as she knew already what her initial plan was. She was also fascinated by the guitar and harmonica combination the trainer elected to play. She seemed to light up like a Christmas tree as she watched.

"Oooooooo, you know how to play music?" she inquired with genuine curiosity, "Oh that's cool! I bet Roxie was a cool Gym Leader to fight, huh?"

As she spoke, she unleashed her first Pokemon...the familiar fascinating eyes of Swoobat. This female Swoobat had a toothy grin on her face and the heart-shaped nose that seemed to transfix most Pokemon and some humans already. Though Skyla was going to show that Gengar a thing or two about how to be wooed.

"Swoobat, start things off with Attract!" she cried as she pointed at Elder. The Swoobat swooped in, giving a dazzling little wink as hearts swarmed all around Elder. When she returned to her side of the battlefield, Elder would be seeing his combatant from a different lens...he would be infatuated with her.

Skyla gave Radegast another wink, "I know how you boys get! Let's see how my love potion works!"

“No you’re not,” Radegast quipped jokingly as the heart-shaped particles blasted the Gengar.

“I’m fine, Lord-Regent… I’m…” from Elder’s point of view, every notable flaw he saw in the Swoobat seemed to just… vanish. “Fuck now I'm getting,” he slurred, “How is that even… that doesn't even…”

Perfection only existed once before to Elder, and visions of that previous perfection began to replace the Swoobat. “No, this isn’t…” She was blue, with black and red stripes. The heart-shaped nose of the Swoobat seemed to expand like a growth, and a mouth formed above. The hallucination was distinctly frog-like. “No… I thought they… were cut short…”

The Toxicroak was as beautiful as last Elder had seen her. “I’m so sorry…” he blathered, “I didn’t remem… I didn’t know…”

Radegast stopped his strumming. Elder was stumbling and stammering, and that had the boy… worried. Holy shit you’re not all right, he realised. He produced Crystal’s pokeball and released her. He then pulled Elder back forcibly by using the pokeball. There was a silence as Crystal and Radegast gazed at the pokeball. Normally he’d be bursting out by now.

Radegast and Crystal exchanged glances, and Crystal’s eyes darkened. “No one messes with my friend,” Crystal growled as she darted forward and unleashed a savage Ice Beam.

Skyla's own brow furrowed as the Gengar reacted...abnormally. Normally, their eyes filled with hearts and lust and couldn't keep their eyes off of Swoobat. This one however...this one was filled with regret. She'd never considered Pokemon reacting to it in their own way.

She shot Radegast a look as he repealed the Gengar and sent in a Dewgong...a clear female. "Hrm, not much fun this way...but whatever. Swoobat, hit this thing with Energy Ball!"

The Swoobat shot forward, a sizeable green orb growing in it's mouth. The Swoobat fired it's projectile at the same time Crystal shot it's Ice Beam. Both blows would connect and send the two flying back. While the effects were relatively the same, the damage output for each was horribly skewed. Crystal would find she could take a couple more of those flying green orbs. Meanwhile, Swoobat would be on her last leg already, the intensity of the blow the Dewgong delivered proving to be powerful. Skyla wasn't going to perform the switch-out. Not yet.

"Energy Ball, again!" she commanded, hoping for the critical strike. But she wouldn't get it. Swoobat shot back around and unleashed another of those glowing green orbs at Crystal. Crystal wouldn't be able to tank another hit like that, but she could dish out one more...

Crystal’s darkened expression emit no joy as she unleashed an Aqua Jet. She aimed to smack down the Swoobat before it could utilize it’s superior speed to unleash a second Energy Ball.

Radegast continued to look at Elder’s pokeball for a moment. The Gengar didn’t emerge like he usually did. Soon enough, the teenager slipped the ball back into his belt, and he returned to playing his music. The music was not exactly the happy-go-lucky variant it was before. If anything, opting out of using the harmonica allowed him to focus on the guitar entirely. His style would be reminiscent of Mexican guitarists, although Mexico doesn’t exist in Ruula.

A good strike with an even greater result. Crystal effectively knocked out the Swoobat and enacted her revenge without taking too much damage. As the Swoobat was recalled into it's PokeBall, Skyla nodded, impressed.

"Well done," she said to Radegast, noticing the shift in tone in his guitar playing, "I guess you take an interesting strategy in performing your battles. It's interesting. You're like one of those Neo Team Plasma guys."

As she talked, she was studying the Dewgong...the way her dark eyes seemed to bore through anything. She was on a mission it seemed. But Skyla knew just how to combat that. She drew out her second Pokeball and flung it, the Avianoid Pokemon hovering in their midst. Sigilyph was one of the more interesting Pokemon to look at. No one could ever guess where it's eyes were...on it's small bulbous head or it spherical body. Black and yellow dominated it's color spectrum, although red, blue, and green accents could be found all over. It was reminiscent of something that could be found in a Native American museum (if those were a thing on Ruula).

"Okay, Sigi! Get her with Psychic!" she started off. The Sigilyph would shoot a beam of powerful telekinetic force at Crystal, faster than its opponent.

Crystal tanked the Psychic force with a growl. She then returned fire with another devastating Ice Beam.

Radegast reached into his backpack and produced a MooMoo Milk. “Catch!” He called to Crystal, who leaped up, snatched the bottle with a fin, and drank heartily from it.

He felt a pokeball crack open, and the Gengar was back. Radegast devoted his attention to his oldest friend. “Are you okay, dude?”

“When I… well, died… I thought my memory was cut short, like most every ghost,” Elder replied, “At least, that's what I thought until I came across tormented spirits. Turns out our memories aren't cut; more like they were locked away. I remember things, Lord-Regent. She’s still alive- she must be. I can make it up to her-“

“Slow down, man,” Radegast jabbed Elder with the head of his guitar, “We'll handle it when we finish up here. Where we go, we go together. Let's get the unfinished business done first, eh?”

“But... wait... no I can't be a tormented spirit now. We don't have time for that.. Yes… Yes you’re right, Lord-Regent.” Elder replied with a sigh, “Patience begets wisdom. You would make a fine ghost when you pass on too.”

“You ready to tag out with Crystal?” Radegast jerked his head towards the battlefield, “It’s another Psychic-type.”

Elder eyed the Sigilyph. “The eye camouflage is reminiscent of Butterfree, meant to ward off predators. However, it is not a bug. Curious.”

"Sigi, go for Psychic again!" Skyla called while Crystal drank the Moo Moo Milk, the beam of telekinetic energy cutting the positive gaining of the substance in half. There was no guarantee, but another hit could knock Crystal out completely.

"Heheeeee!" Skyla giggled as Elder hopped out of the ball and eyed the Sigilyph, analyzing it. "You ready for more?"

“Crystal, let’s tag out.” Elder called. He ignored the Gym Leader’s tease, for all he cared about was getting stronger, and getting all they need to do complete. Then he can find her again.

“Roger that,” Crystal’s eyes lightened up once more as she retreated. As she did so, she and Elder exchanged a high-five. The Gengar entered the battlefield, leaped into the air, and fired off his Dark Pulse.

Skyla's brow furrowed in confusion as the Dewgong switched out with the Gengar. Didn't he know? Or was she about to witness some incredible strategy unfurl here?

"That's an odd move," she mentioned to Radegast, "I don't know why you'd do that, but...Psychic, again!"

The Sigilyph's Psychic shot across the field and smashed into Gengar with maximum effort before Gengar could get off it's Dark Pulse. Sure enough, it was a one hit knockout, just like Skyla suspected. She stared at Radegast, slightly more confused now that that idea proved to do nothing but knock out one of his Pokemon.

"I don't get it. You threw in Gengar against a Psychic-Type? One that knew Psychic, which is one of the stronger moves? What was your plan there?"

She still doesn’t get it, Radegast shook his head with a smile. He produced Crystal’s ball- which was empty, and recalled the knocked-out ghost.

As Crystal lay resting- slowly recovering- next to the boy, Radegast tapped on another pokeball. The Operative emerged. “Sir!” The Operative clicked with a salute.

Radegast high-fived the Galvantula. “Make it rain, buddy,” Radegast encouraged.

“Sir, yes sir!” She barked. With her superior speed, she was quick to fling some Electrowebbing, aiming to envelop the Sigylyph with a devastating electrical charge.

"Sigi, dodge to the right and use Psychic!" she cried. The Sigilyph hovered to the right, about to make a perfect dodge from the Galvantula's Electroweb...

It was close, but Galvantula applied just enough spread to coat the Sigilyph, dealing the final blow and knocking it out. Skyla snapped her fingers as she smiled and recalled her Pokemon.

"Oh, so close too!" she quipped as he pulled out her third Pokemon, "You've got me at the halfway point. But here's where I start performing wipe outs! Skarmory, go!"

Out popped the steel winged beast itself, the Armor Bird flapping it's crimson wings as it glimmered in the hangar lights. Her beady yellow eyes locked onto the Galvantula as it hovered.

The Skarmory was a savage-looking bird, the very thing a bug like Galvantula should fear. This Galvantula didn’t even skip a beat, for she knew the Skarmory would never match her speed with that heavy armour. Operative’s abdomen glowed violently, and she unleashed a wave of electrical current. The Thunder Wave crossed the arena rapidly, aiming to paralyze and further slow the Skarmory.

Skyla nodded as the Galvantula began with Thunder Wave. It was already faster than her Skarmory was, she realized at this point. Her initial plan to start with Agility fell through by then and that was okay. In a sense, it was almost unnecessary for the Galvantula to do that. If it was already slower, then why bother lowering it further? Of course, now she had to worry about the effects of paralysis and Skarmory seizing up on her. That could prove to be bad.

So let's hope luck's on my side! she thought as she sent out her first command.

"Skarmory! Go ahead and use Aerial Ace on that thing!" she said, the Skarmory charging forward with incredible speed despite the Paralysis. It wasn't the nature of her body in this instance. It was the nature of the move. And this one never missed, regardless of how agile and evasive the target was.

The Operative was not exactly happy with taking a never-miss strike like that. She once more produced electrically charged webbing and flung it across the field. Her compound eyes still allowed her ample accuracy.

Radegast brought Elder out and produced a revive. The golden diamond-shaped stone seemed to glow as the boy applied the medicine. It hardly seemed proper, but the team needed their friend up and running.

"You're not doing alright, Elder," Radegast flatly stated.

"Yar..." Elder agreed.

"I'm saying this 'cause you're my bro, dawg."

"I imagine this must feel like being a trainer, you telling me how I messed up and all."

"Don't worry, man. This is being a friend," Radegast smiled as he pet the Gengar. He then passed Elder the harmonica. "Come on, let's jam while you watch. I'm sure Operative could use some help, what with the Thunder Wave usage and all."

Elder caught the harmonica, stared at the Lord-Regent, and sat down next to him, between the human and the resting Dewgong. The two of them played on while the Gengar's red eyes watched the fight. "Operative, once you finish that Skarmory, head on back."

An Electric-Type move that would prove to do wonders in this situation. The Skarmory was coated in the shocking substance, both hurting her and slowing her down further. Not like xshe wasn't slow enough already. But Skyla knew she had one more chance before a potential knockout.

"Aerial Ace, again!" she called.

The Skarmory flew across the battlefield once more, manipulating the wind around it to carry him at an increased velocity that seemed to appear like the slower speed had no effect on her. The Skarmory hit, knocking the Galvantula into the danger zone. One more hit and she wouldn't be able to fight. Yet, the same could be said for Skarmory.

Once more, the Electroweb was charged and unleashed. As soon as Operative confirmed the take-down, she would bound back to the Lord-Regent and the other two who were sitting by. “Assignment complete, sir!” She once more saluted with a chipper tone to her clicks. “Ready for the next one, sir!”

“At ease,” Elder smirked.

“You feeling better, Elder?” The Operative asked.

“It’s the shock of remembering something, I’m not fit for fighting right now.”

Radegast wordlessly continued playing his guitar, but he jerked his head towards the backpack he left on the ground beside him. Elder reached inside the backpack and produced another MoomooMilk. This one was going to the Operative. In the meantime, Elder called out Rage.

“HUZZAH! THE INFINITE MIGHT OF RAGE IS REQUIRED! … ISN’T THIS THE FLYING GYM?”

“Operative’s got the power to finish this, but she needs some time to recover,” Elder explained.

“SAY NO MORE!” Rage bellowed, “I WILL PROVIDE THE ASSISTANCE FOR MY FRIENDS SO THEY MAY SURVIVE LONG ENOUGH SO I MAY BEST THEM MYSELF IN THE FIELD OF MORTAL KOMBAT!!! OURS WILL BE A LEGENDARY DISPLAY OF MARTIAL PROWESS FOR AGES TO COME!!!”

“That’s great now go throw rocks at the guy,” Elder flatly replied.

Rage did exactly that. As soon as he was able to, his claws dug into the steel flooring, and somehow managed to produce chunks of rock with which to throw.

Skyla let out a grunt of satisfaction as the Skarmory was felled by the Electroweb, her sparkling blue eyes turning toward the dreadlocked teen with newly found respect for him.

"I'm impressed," she said to Radegast as the third PokeBall was replaced in her hand with the fourth, "But you have one more to go. And this is my favorite Pokemon too, so you better keep your eyes on the prize, goose!"

If Top Gun had been a thing in Ruula, she would've made a pretty incredible pun, all things considered. However, if Top Gun were a thing in this world, Skyla would've probably played the part of Tom Cruise in the lead role and then she would've earned the right to make such a pun warranted in the Gym Battle setting. Of course, it makes more sense given that her favorite Pokemon was a Swanna.

Speaking of which, the gracefully large bird appeared in front of Radegast and his Pokemon as the final obstacle to be surmounted. The final Pokemon to beat to get to the sixth Gym Badge. And this Swanna seemed to pack a mighty punch.

As the Primeape entered the battle, Skyla was already calling her move, "Swanna, kick things off with Air Slash!"

A visible slice of air was formed from the wing of Swanna, her Air Slash raced towards Rage at an impressive velocity and managed the first hit just as Rage got the Rock Slide off. The wave of earth cascaded upon the low flying Swanna quickly and slammed into the big bird. When the dust settled and the earth quit shaking, Skyla's beautiful bird emerged from the rubble, shaken and battered, but definitely not out of it yet. It couldn't take another one of those hits, though.

But Skyla had seen everything she needed to. Her piloting eyes missed nothing. And it was clear to her that the only reason a Fighting-Type would come in was to waste a move and kill time for the real threat to emerge, which would likely be that Galvantula again. And sure enough, there was an empty container of Moo Moo Milk resting on the side.

So she prepped for it.

"Swanna, use Roost!" she said as Rage and Operative performed the likely swap. While the movement on Radegast's side of the field was performed, Swanna nestled her wings by her side and lowered her head, recovering some well needed health. In fact, by the time Operative would appear on the field, Swanna would be nearly at full health once more. And even if Rage took the opportunity to strike again rather than perform a switch, Swanna Roosted first.

“HAHA! STILL KICKING!” Rage bellowed, “IT’S ALL YOURS, FRIEND-OPERATIVE!”

Rage bounded back, and he high-fived the Operative as he returned. “THE BIRD THAT IS NOT SUROS RESTS! SEND IT INTO THE ABYSSAL PLANE!”

“Yes SIR!” Operative barked as she darted back onto the field. Once more, with feeling, she produced and subsequently launched Electrowebbing at the Swanna.