Hurry it along!

He was eager to test out his new teammate - and to show just how far he’d come as a trainer. Time to put all that work up at Mt.Silver to the test! A Pokeball was gripped, likewise, this one from Ash’s belt. Pulling his arm back, the trainer lobbed one toward the battlefield, the small capsule spinning harshly before bursting open.

"I choose you… Tyranitar!"

The ball burst open, unleashing the large, reptilian looking armored Pokemon. A rather loud cry left it as it took the stage, dark eyes glowering upon the steel-clad avian. So this was its first trainer battle, huh?

♫

"Let’s go, Tyranitar! Use Stone Edge!"

The reflex training really paid off, or maybe that was the move's sort of low accuracy. Still, the rocks manage to pierce at the Pokemon's right wing and that alone causes significant damage and trouble flying. Tyranitar's power was nothing to sneeze at but thank Arceus his partner could take a hit.

      "Uuuuh.... Roost! Quick! You got this, you got this. You're fine!" Barry seemed just as pumped up as usual, flailing his arms about, but it stunted his response time as a result.

                                      "Huh--? It's no problem and not weird at all! You're looking at the amazing Pokemon ping pong competitor and trainer, Barry!" A tad bit honking his own horn there but there wasn't much else to be expected from him.       "See, our reflexes are so fast, nothing gets past us. They're as sharp as a Persian!"

   Barry lifts one leg up, carefully balancing while holding his hands up like paws with bared claws. Empoleon sounds an agreement but soon has to support his trainer as he starts to tilt and sway. He recuperates quickly and stands properly with a hand on his hip.

"Eeh, I guess so. Oh wait, I got it!                 How about you just don't tell anyone how long it took? It works perfectly with your stoic attitude and I'll totally keep my lips sealed.                              Is that genius or is that genius?"

But mountain climbing was totally better.

"Sounds good to me! But if anyone’s butt’s getting kicked, it’s yours!" A finger was pointed toward Barry as well ; it seemed this intense, overly-energized rivalry was back in action.

Pikachu, meanwhile, wasn’t sure whether to join in the excitement or shake his head at the duo. With the temptation of a good battle though, he settled on the former, cheeks already crackling.

"Three on three no switch outs until the Pokemon you have out faints, got it?"      Barry already had an idea of the perfect partner to kick off with and shuffled around in his satchel for it. "We'll send them out on the count of three, Oo--hkey?"

"One...          TWOTHREE--!"

Not overly concerned with sorting out who it was, the trainer merely grunted in agreement. That sounded like something he would do.

         "So you're upset cause you're not getting them done fast enough? That sounds kind of like something I'd say!" Barry laughs and flaps one hand dismissively.                           "I wouldn't get too heated about it. You're a great trainer so as long as you get the badges in the end that's what matters. Whenever I try to rush with gym leaders they always pull a fast one on me... Don't tell anyone that though."

40 DAY POKÉMON CHALLENGE ♡ DAY 31

Before anything can get to that point, he hears the vendor's grouchy voice over by the start of the line. He couldn't quite see who they were rejecting, as they were looking down, but they looked to be wearing bulky Winter clothes and yet was still shivering. Probably about his age, too. Talk about a stubborn seller.

So, he was definitely a lot stronger, then. “Now I kinda want to see what you’re made of! Now that both of us are a lot tougher!” Was that a challenge? Probably, if Barry wanted to take it that way. He was equally eager to see how his own progress had paid off.

"…Right. Thanks."

"You're welcome!"

           As they look him over, Barry puffs out his chest and straightens his back. It's important to make a good impression. He wouldn't admit it but he'd been a little worried that after so long, Ash might have gotten himself a better rival. He could share but he wasn't about to be replaced!