Short Stuff in Between: Gary versus Paul

**"Short Stuff in Between: Gary versus Paul"** is the thirtieth (thirty-first in Archive of Our Own and Royal Road) chapter of *Pokémon Reset Bloodlines.* Gary Oak attends the battle as scheduled with Paul, confident that he'll be able to defeat him. However, despite trying to plan ahead of Paul, he'll quickly realize that the Sinnoh trainer has made his own plans, and it won't be as easy as he thinks.

## Plot

While Ash Ketchum is battling Joshua, Gary Oak heads for the battlefield for his own scheduled match against Paul. Gary ponders on how far he's come, and how many opponents he's faced since he began his journey, many of which he respects, but Paul is one he only has contempt for. Nonetheless, he knows of Paul's strength and knows he's not to be taken lightly.

With Don George acting as referee and explaining the rules, the battle goes underway. Gary begins with Arcanine, while Paul sends Torterra first. Upon seeing Paul's starter Gary immediately switches Arcanine out and sends Pidgeot instead. Paul gives the first attack command, ordering Torterra to use Stone Edge, which Pidgeot blocks with Defog. Gary had planned ahead for Paul trying to use Torterra to set up Stealth Rock to clear it away. However, Paul switches Torterra out and sends out a Jynx. Before Gary can switch Pidgeot out, Jynx blocks the retreat with a Mean Look, forcing Gary to keep going with the battle until one of them falls or Jynx gets switched out. Pidgeot tries to attack with Aerial Ace, but Jynx counters with a Blizzard and blows him away, before finishing him with Psywave. Gary tries to calm himself down by remembering he still has five more Pokémon, and sends Arcanine back to the field.

Paul for his part switches Jynx out and sends his Nidoking. After hesitating for a bit, Gary decides to keep going with Arcanine and attacks with Extreme Speed. Before Nidoking can counterattack, Arcanine launches a Dragon Rage, but he recovers fast enough for Paul to order Bubblebeam and neutralize the attack, but Arcanine manages to dodge. Paul orders Nidoking to use Earth Power, and by evading this attack Arcanine jumps directly into the line of the Bubblebeam, which they hadn't stopped before, and the bubbles stick to his feet weighing him down. Gary orders Arcanine to use Flame Wheel to pop the bubbles, and surprisingly the fire attack clears them away, before charging at Nidoking, who receives him with a Poison Jab. Both attacks collide and Nidoking manages to inflict poison on Arcanine, which Paul tries to capitalize with Venoshock. However, Gary manages to order Arcanine to use Extreme Speed once more and knock Nidoking out of the fight, but the damage is already done. Gary promptly returns Arcanine so he can rest for the time being, relieved that they've tied now.

Paul brings back Torterra, and Gary sends out Alakazam, as a countermeasure for Stealth Rock. Sure enough, Paul tries to set it up, but Gary orders Alakazam to use Psychic, stopping the rocks in midair and throwing them back at Torterra. Alakazam uses Shadow Ball while Torterra counters with Seed Bomb, and Alakazam is forced to use Teleport to dodge after his attack neutralizes the first volley of seeds, leaving the ones behind still going at him. Alakazam reappears floating over Torterra, ready to attack with another Shadow Ball, but then Paul snaps his fingers twice. Turns out that it's a signal to deliver a Leaf Storm, catching them off guard and blowing Alakazam away. Before they can recover, Paul orders Torterra to use Stone Edge, launching the stones upwards and knocking Torterra right into the club's ceiling, defeating him.

The result of this bout sends a chill down Gary's spine, wondering if Paul planned for this. Every time he tried to send a Pokémon to prevent Torterra from setting up Stealth Rock, Paul would simply crush said Pokémon mercilessly. When Don George reminds him to choose his next Pokémon, Gary decides to not to think about it and sends out Porygon. Paul recalls Torterra and sends out his Hypno. Gary tries to order Porygon to use Shadow Ball, but Paul replies with "You know what do do", and Hypno uses Disable to block it. With Porygon now exposed to a Psybeam attack, Gary orders Conversion 2, turning Porygon into a Dark-type. Unfortunately, Hypno also knows Drain Punch, which is supereffective against Dark-types. Porygon uses Tri-Attack, but Hypno dodges it and lands the Drain Punch, making both Gary and Don George wince. Hypno goes for another before Gary can order Conversion 2 to change types once more, and to add insult to injury, he also orders a Poison Gas. Despite this, Gary presses on, and before Paul can finish them off, he manages to get Porygon to land a Shadow Ball. In a desperate move, he then launches a barrage of them, landing on Hypno and managing to knock him out, but the poison also takes its toll on Porygon, resulting in a double KO.

As the trainers return their Pokémon, Gary ponders on the current situation. Paul has three wins while he has two. Paul has Torterra with little damage from Alakazam's attack, and Jynx completely unscathed, with two unknown Pokémon still in wait. Gary meanwhile still has Arcanine, who is heavily damaged and poisoned on top of that, Blastoise and Tangrowth, the latter of which he chose over Exeggcute because he didn't have a Leaf Stone. He ultimately decides to send out Tangrowth. Paul's Pokédex chimes in to inform that Tangrowth might have Ancient Power, making both Gary and his own Pokédex wonder who could program it with the personality of a valley girl. Paul sends out one of the two unknown Pokémon, surprising Gary who comments that he didn't take Paul for a Wonder Trader. Paul replies that he doesn't trust that service, only Pokémon that he caught himself. Gary however feels confident that he and Tangrowth can beat it, and the battle continues.

## Continuity

* This chapter takes place during the time frame of the previous one, at the same time Ash battles Joshua.
* The result of Gary and Paul's battle is not revealed until "Aftermath of Saffron". The rest of the battle proper is shown in the first part of the *Gary Interlude II*.
* While the narration doesn't specify it, the last Pokémon sent by Paul is a Seviper, as revealed later in the Mewtwo arc.

## Trivia

* This chapter was written as extra content to alleviate the wait for the Sabrina arc, which ended up being rather long by itself.