Pokemon: Gym Leader

Diantha had just begun to feel hopeful when despair hit again like a freight train.

She knew a thing or two about Grimmsnarl, and based on Dylan's battle style, she was one hundred percent certain—

This Grimmsnarl definitely had Prankster. She'd bet her heart on it.

And that… was just awful.

Because after the Skill Swap earlier, her Gourgeist now had Prankster too—but Prankster has no effect on Dark-types.

And Grimmsnarl was Dark/Fairy.

Gourgeist was already at a type disadvantage. Now even her ace strategy had been nullified.

Diantha's eyes flickered with uncertainty.

But Dylan wasn't going to give her time to think.

"Dark Pulse."

Grimmsnarl brought its claws together, summoning a sphere of black energy that rippled forward toward Gourgeist.

Dark-type Dark Pulse!

"Return!" Diantha didn't hesitate any longer. She recalled Gourgeist immediately.

It was no match. There was no way to win against a Dark/Fairy demon like that.

"Aurorus!"

After a moment's thought, Diantha threw out another Poké Ball.

White light burst, revealing a massive Pokémon landing with a thunderous crash.

It resembled a long-necked dinosaur, mostly dark blue with pale blue crystalline patterns on its neck and belly. On its head were aurora-like finned frills.

Aurorus. And despite the name, it didn't have Dragon typing.

Beep—Aurorus, Rock/Ice type, Tundra Pokémon

Ability: Refrigerate

Moves: Hyper Beam, Blizzard, Light Screen, Ice Beam, Freeze-Dry, Nature Power...

"Ah, a fossil Pokémon brought back to life," Lillie tilted her head, curious. "But Aurorus doesn't seem like a great match for Grimmsnarl."

She wasn't wrong—Aurorus didn't counter Grimmsnarl, nor was it countered. It would all come down to tactics and execution.

The problem was… Aurorus's typing was extremely vulnerable. Rock/Ice meant it had two 4x weaknesses: Fighting and Steel.

That was rough.

And Grimmsnarl had no shortage of physical Fighting-type moves in its arsenal.

That's why Lillie was skeptical about the matchup.

"We'll see how Miss Diantha handles it," Leaf shrugged.

Many Pokémon had 4x weaknesses. It didn't necessarily mean instant loss—battles were more than just type charts.

Back on the field—

"Aurorus, use Blizzard!"

Diantha took the initiative. She didn't have much real experience battling Grimmsnarl, as very few trainers in Kalos used one.

But she knew it was a bruiser up close.

Aurorus let out a howl, icy-blue energy swirling in its maw.

"Sucker Punch," Dylan's lips curled slightly.

Grimmsnarl's eyes gleamed with malice. It vanished and reappeared beside Aurorus in a blink.

Whoosh!

Aurorus unleashed a violent snowstorm—but Grimmsnarl had already dodged to the side and slammed its blackened claws into its foe's flank.

Rip!

Sucker Punch connected hard. Aurorus cried out, its body jolting from the impact.

"Ice Beam!" Diantha countered sharply.

Aurorus forced itself upright, glaring at Grimmsnarl as freezing energy built in its throat.

"Fake Tears."

Grimmsnarl suddenly dropped to its knees, hands clasped, making deep, croaking whimpers.

No one knew what it was saying, but the groveling posture was clear—

It was begging for mercy?

Uh…

The audience was stunned. Just staring at this muscular, demonic goblin bowing and pleading on the battlefield—was this even legal?

Bowing?! Seriously??

Even Aurorus was confused, its Ice Beam pausing mid-charge.

Could it really hit a Pokémon that was clearly begging for forgiveness?

"Don't fall for it, Aurorus! It's a trick!"

Diantha's eyes widened. She immediately warned her Pokémon.

Really?

Aurorus hesitated again, unsure what to believe.

That's when Grimmsnarl's hair stood on end, bristling like needles, glowing with black light—then suddenly stabbed upward into Aurorus's chin.

Aurorus roared in pain, Ice Beam discharging harmlessly into the air.

False Surrender!

Grimmsnarl's signature move—pretend to submit, then strike with bristling hair. In the games, it always hits.

Now we see why.

Aurorus snarled in rage, glaring down at the grinning, devilish Grimmsnarl, who was standing tall again.

That dirty, scheming, foul beast!

It had duped her!

Aurorus began charging up another Ice Beam.

"Looks like she's mad. Let's help her a bit."

Dylan smiled lightly.

"Swagger."

"Grahahah!"

Grimmsnarl made a face that could make children cry and began cackling darkly.

One hand on its hip, the other raised a very suggestive "middle finger" at Aurorus—distorted waves of energy rippled toward its foe.

With Prankster, Swagger came out instantly.

Aurorus's eyes ignited with rage. It couldn't believe the insult.

"Aurorus!" Diantha cried out.

White light burst across Aurorus's body—Attack sharply rose.

But along with the boost came… confusion.

A moment later—

Bam! Bam! BAM!

The battlefield trembled as Aurorus began slamming its head into the ground—repeatedly.

It was hurting itself!

And in its confusion and rage, it didn't even seem to notice.

"…Bit stronger than I expected," Dylan mused. It was the first time he'd seen a Pokémon go so hard into self-damage after confusion.

"Aurorus! Snap out of it!"

Diantha shouted desperately. She'd dealt with confusion status before—sometimes a trainer's voice could help.

But—

"Drain Punch."

Dylan wasn't giving her the chance.

Grimmsnarl's arms glowed white as it leapt forward, raising both fists high.

Bam!

The punch landed perfectly on Aurorus's side, sending the Ice/Rock Pokémon flying with a shriek.

When it hit the ground, it didn't get back up.

Instant KO.

The crowd gasped.

Sure, Aurorus had a 4x weakness to Fighting—but this was one of Diantha's main team members!

Then again… it was Dylan's Grimmsnarl.

And Aurorus had taken damage already.

"Aurorus is unable to battle. Grimmsnarl wins."

Leaf announced crisply.

Diantha frowned deeply and recalled her fainted partner.

That was three Pokémon down, and Gourgeist was a poor matchup against Grimmsnarl.

She clenched her fists and threw her next Poké Ball.

"Tyrantrum!"

With a furious roar, a massive dark-red tyrant of a dinosaur crashed onto the field, its royal presence radiating sheer force.

Rock/Dragon type: Tyrantrum.

"A powerful one," Dylan noted with interest.

Beep—Tyrantrum, Rock/Dragon type, Despot Pokémon

Ability: Strong Jaw

Moves: Head Smash, Giga Impact, Earthquake, Dragon Claw, Crunch, Thunder Fang...

Lillie blinked at the info.

"But Miss Diantha… if it's all brawn, it won't be enough to beat Grimmsnarl."

Dylan looked at her knowingly.

Diantha stayed silent as the battle resumed.

Less than three minutes later—

Bang! Bang! BAM!

Tyrantrum, like Aurorus before it, was slamming its head into the ground—over and over. The battlefield was cracking.

Yup. Grimmsnarl had used Flatter.

It sharply raised Tyrantrum's Special Attack—but made it confused.

And now, the tyrant king was pummeling itself.

"See, Miss Diantha? I said so."

Dylan shrugged. "You can't beat Grimmsnarl with brute force alone."

"…"

Watching Tyrantrum bash its own skull into the dirt, Diantha's mind blanked.

Her body was numb. Her soul, tired.

First Klefki played paralysis.

Then Grimmsnarl played confusion.

And Dylan… what the hell was he playing?

How was any of this Fairy-type?!

This isn't fun. I want to go home.

(End of Chapter)