It didn’t take long for someone to appeared. And when the woman introduced herself, his warm gaze fell upon a purple haired woman with a smile. At first, the scarred man was silent and his expression blank. Although Maverick didn’t know much about the new gym leader, he heard that her name was Katherine Fairburne and that was about it. Was he really about to practice battle against another gym leader? Really? But when he realized he hadn’t said anything, he let out a small cough before gathering himself.

“To her, it’s not an accessory. It’s a trophy,” he explained to the woman as he stood up from his resting position, “And she thinks its a sign of true power.” Really, he had no idea why she wore it. It was big and bulky but he wasn’t gunna take it away from her. She would surely rip him to pieces. “It’s nice to meet you Katherine,” the man greeted, hand extended out in an offer for a hand shake, “The name is Maverick. We are looking for someone to do some practice battling with. I want to challenge a gym soon before summer ends and I feel like my pokemon aren’t ready yet.” He paused, eyed the woman curiously. “How about you? Not that its any of my businesses, but aren’t you a gym leader?” It wasn’t that Maverick was surprised to see a Gym Leader out and about. After all, he was practically dating one with how often they ran into each other. It was more or less, was he about to get his ass kicked in a practice battle? Again?

The woman seemed so pleasant yet, so creepy at the same time. Or maybe, it was just him and not knowing what she could be capable of. Either way, the man nodded to her advise even if he choose not to completely agree. A practice battle shined a light to what his pokemon was capable of and if they can’t handle that, they couldn’t handle a real one. It was his opinion and what he believed was the right way. Or maybe, it didn’t want to take any more hits to his pride.

Upon the woman calling forth a creature she wanted to use today, his warm gaze flickered to the disturbing creature that appeared. A chill ran down his spine as the massive canine by his side let out a low menacing growl. He didn’t know what I was, but mimikyu’s have always creeped him out. And although it might not have been the best one to battle the ghost and fairy type, it was the only he wanted to training today. Reaching into his pocket, the man summoned his own creature. The ball burst open to let loose a grimmsnarl. The troll goblin mutation like creature snickered mockingly at the ghost and fairy type pokemon, a wide sinister grin spread along his face.

“I’ll be using Reaper,” Maverick introduced as he moved to the adjacent side of their practice area, being sure to leave plenty of room for the creatures to battle it out, “He recently evolved and I want to get him use to his new form before we take on a gym.” And once Maverick and his beloved canine made their way to their side of the battle field, they both nodded to the woman. “We are ready.” The grimmsnarl let out another round of snickers and giggles, thinking of ways to mess with this little rag doll pikachu looking creature. The nasty plotting boosting his special attack all the while.

With everything ready to go, Maverick made the first move. “Use dark pulse,” the man mumbled. The grimmsnarl clamps his hands together and pulled them apart ever so slightly. A small black and purple ball slowly formed, rapidly getting large the more he separated his hands. And as swiftly as the ball formed, the dark and fairy type pushes the ball in his opponent direction. A swirl of dark energy beams off in its direction in a dark pulse, aiming to hit anywhere it can.

That thing was just straight up disturbing. Even as it took the attack and moved in close, the grimmsnarl just wasn’t ready. The creature was so quick it not only hit once, it hits three times and forces the bring pokemon to one knee. Pain rippled through his body as the super effective move forces him to take a moment o breath. Maverick winced, knowing it was already a bad start. “Don’t let it get to you Reaper,” the man hollered out in hopes to give the pokemon more encouragement, “ Use torment and play rough back!”

The grimmsnarl stood, breathing heavy. He faced his foe and stomps his foot on the ground, yelling at the opponent forcing to it to being unable to repeat move. Once he was done yelling, he rushed in towards the ghost pokemon as quickly as he could. His intentions was to play rough back, but the other pokemon was really quick.

Maverick’s summer madness to battle as many gyms as he could was coming to a swift end. The creature was just out smarted and really, Maverick too. The creature only mimics his attacks, forcing the creature to being unable to use the same moved again. But at this point, did it matter? The creature exchanged blows, him hitting the masked pokemon while taking blows back. And after so many blows, the Grimmsnarl was forced to his knees once more. However, the trainer could not see what was going one anymore. “Reaper,” he called out, unable to see the creature in the thick haze, “You can do this.”

But do this, he can not. Taking one last blow, the creature toppled over. His face hit the ground with a soft thud as he was out cold. With no response from reaper, Maverick frowned. A sigh escaped it. Well… that was quick. Reaching into his pockets, the man called the creature back. This only proved they were not ready. And yet again, got his ass kicked by a gym leader. “Well..” The man mumbled with a sight hint of disappointment in his tone, “You won.” Another blow to his pride. “Thanks for the practice battle,” he sighed, warm gaze met her’s as he nodded to her, “See you around I guess.”

With that, Maverick and his massive houndoom turned to leave. How the hell was he to beat her in the gym battle if he can’t even last a few minutes in a practice battle?