Hong Meiling Sleepwalks Through the Heavens - Chapter 38 - Training with Cynthia

Protect defends oneself against the opponent Pokémon’s moves.

Eevee leapt in front of Rufflet, raising its head as it casted an illusory shield before the two of them.

The helix-like beam of electricity bombarded the shield, but fizzled out almost immediately.

In game, Defend is able to block most moves if activated. In the ‘real’ world, however, Meiling guessed that if the move was strong enough, it might be enough to shatter the shield.

Ah, that means Plus and Mine’s electricity beam isn’t strong enough to break through the shield.

“Eevee! Use Swift on Plusle; Rufflet! Use Aerial Ace on Swablu!”

Meiling couldn’t help but sigh and look away as she heard this, Cynthia! I thought you said you just got this Rufflet! How did it learn Aerial Ace this face? Why does my Swablu only have two skills?!

Eevee swiped its tail, unleashing a barrage of stars that launched themselves towards Plus, while Rufflet flapped its wings and soared into the air.

“Plus! Use Thunder Wave to defend against Eevee! Mine, keep attacking Eevee with Discharge! Cotton, dodge the attack and use Peck!”

In game, Thunder Wave paralyzes the opponent, but in the ‘real’ world, it has multiple uses, like how Meiling directed Plus to use it to defend against Swift; in game, Aerial Ace will always hit, but in the ‘real’ world, Meiling supposes that, if you are fast enough, you’re able to dodge it.

Immediately, Plus released waves of electricity that bounced from star to star, dispelling them. As the stars dissipated, Mine continued its barrages of electricity.

Cynthia, however, no longer asked Eevee to Protect, but instead ordered, “Eevee! Burrow!”

Burrow is a Ground-type attack that allows Pokémon to dig into the ground, before un-burrowing for a surprise attack. Now, Cynthia wanted to use it as a means of evasion.

Eevee pressed its paws against the ground and begun to dig, and slithered into the hole before the next wave of electricity hit its fluffy body.

Meanwhile, Rufflet dove from the air to swoop down towards Swablu. Even though Meiling ordered Cotton to dodge, it was way too scared to move.

At the last possible moment, Cotton did a hail Mary and dove to the right, but Rufflet’s wings scraped through Cotton, causing its already-light body to be swept across the air.

Fortunately, it wasn’t severely hurt.

“Rufflet, use Peck!” Cynthia ordered,

At this point, Rufflet’s Peck might be enough to defeat Cotton.

Rufflet immediately swooped down and rushed towards Cotton.

Cotton was lying face-first on the floor. As it got up, it was once again petrified realizing its situation, and cried.

When Rufflet saw this, its eyes widened as it came to a screeching stop mid-air. Cotton braced itself and blinked, but did not feel the impact.

Opening its eyes, Cotton realized that Rufflet was simply staring at it, and Cotton chirped and ran off.

At the same time, Meiling’s Pokédex beeped: [Cotton has learnt Charm.]

…what the hell?

Charm is a Normal-type move that charms Pokémon, rendering them unable to move.

I’m confused. How did Cotton learn how to do that? In the middle of battle?

It was about to die, so driven to survive, it decided to… charm Rufflet?

Meiling blinked blankly, unsure whether to criticize Cotton for being too timid or praise it for being able to adapt to the situation.

Rufflet’s eyes were practically the shape of hearts, and its eyes held a fondness for Cotton.

“Plus, Mine! Shoot that bird down!” Meiling immediately ordered.

Another helix-like arc of electricity crackled through the air, yet Rufflet’s gaze was still affixed onto Cotton, unmoving.

“Rufflet! Wake up!” Cynthia shouted anxiously.

However, her shouts were useless – if Pokémon could simply snap out of it from any sound, then Charm would be useless.

The arcs of electricity homed into Rufflet, and shot it down from the air. With Plus and Mine’s synergistic effect, coupled with Rufflet’s weakness to electricity, how could it withstand the blows?

However, at this time, Eevee un-burrowed and landed a swift headbutt on Plus’s abdomen from beneath the ground.

Plus’ body shot through the air, and when it landed, its eyes rolled to the back of its head and fainted.

Meiling and Cynthia immediately used their Poké Balls and retrieved Plus and Rufflet respectively. Now, Mine and Cotton are left to fight against Eevee.

It is still an uphill battle, however. Eevee is stronger than Mine and Cotton.

“Eevee, Quick Attack on Minun!”

Eevee’s body seemingly transformed into a ball of lightning as it rushed towards Mine.

“Mine, Thunder Wave!”

Meiling wanted to use Thunder Wave in an attempt to halt Eevee’s advances and paralyze it, but Cynthia immediately called out, “Eevee, Burrow!”

Eevee stepped out of its lightning-quick shell, and dug another hole and dove into it.

Tsk, I can’t tell when Eevee is going to un-burrow…

Cynthia’s Eevee is well-trained, which means any of its skills are enough to one-hit most weak Pokémon.

If Eevee landed a headbutt on Mine, Mine would probably suffer the same fate as Plus.

Meiling’s mind raced as an idea snuck into her head, and she shouted, “Cotton! Carry Mine on your back and fly!”

Since Burrow is a Ground-type skill, as long as you are airborne, you won’t get hit!

Cotton was shocked hearing this – a Pokémon barely weighing 1kg… how was it supposed to carry a Pokémon more than 4kg and fly?

Cotton tried using Charm onto Meiling, but of course, it wouldn’t work. Meiling shook her head and did a ‘shoo’ motion, urging Cotton to act quick.

Seeing this, Cotton gritted its teeth and flew towards Mine, beckoning Mine to jump on its back.

Mine hurriedly leapt onto Cotton, and Cotton desperately flapped its wings. However, just as it was taking off, Eevee leapt from the ground and headbutted Cotton’s belly.

After all, they were barely off the ground. A second later and Eevee would’ve missed.

All Cotton could feel was its lunch lurching out from its stomach as it was swatted up into the air alongside Mine.

Gravity soon did its thing, and Mine rolled onto the ground relatively harmless, though a bit dizzy.

Cynthia, seeing the opportunity to win, yelled, “Eevee, use Take Down on Minun!”

With Cotton heavily injured, Cynthia decided it would be best to take down Mine first.

As the name suggests, Take Down causes the Pokémon to tackle the opponent Pokémon and deal heavy damage to them.

Eevee charged up speed, preparing to ram straight into Mine.

“Mine! Thunder Wave!”

However, Mine still seemed dizzy, and in that split second, did not activate Thunder Wave. Eevee’s body hit Mine hard, knocking it out.

However, before Mine fully fainted, Thunder Wave pulsed out of its body, sweeping through Eevee’s body.

Mine and Eevee fell over at the same time. Mine fainted immediately, while Eevee twitched erratically with the remaining electricity in its system.

Of course, Eevee won’t just fall to a single Thunder Wave.

“Cotton! Use Peck!”

Cynthia widened her eyes, seemingly having forgotten about Cotton since it was tossed aside from the earlier kerfuffle – Cotton’s defense was way lower than Plus and Mine, so Eevee could reasonably knock Cotton out in a single headbutt. However, electricity continued to course through Eevee’s system, and Cotton endured the pain resonating throughout its body, waddled over to Eevee, and kept pecking at its body.

With pecks pecking on several parts of Eevee’s body, it felt waves of pain resonating, combined with each arc of electricity jolting in its body.

The pecks, however, caused Eevee to break free from the electricity’s restraints, and braving through the pain, Eevee leapt up and kicked Cotton away with its hind legs.

Cotton, in shock, arced through the air, landed, rolled on the ground several times, and fainted.

Eevee watched as Cotton fainted, and with its own strength leaving its body, Eevee fainted as soon as it tried getting up, laying gingerly next to Mine’s unconscious body.

“…it’s a tie!” Professor Carolina announces.