A League of My Own
"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the Kalos League! We come to you from Lumiose City with more than one hundred trainers gathered from all around the world with the same goal on their minds: Winning the Kalos League. One hundred and twenty eight trainers come in, but only one of them will come out on top! Who is it going to be?"
I am here with one thing set on my mind: winning it all. I know I can do it because I have trust in my Pokémon. I know that with them by my side, nobody can beat me. I paid attention to the screen as it displayed the opening battles. A hundred twenty-eight trainers, so sixty-four battles take place. Ironic enough, I'm taking part in the very first battle. I took my Poké Ball out from around my neck and smirked at it.
"Here we are, buddy. This is the moment we've both trained so hard for."
I made my way towards the battlefield and waited for the battlefield to rise up. I felt determined, holding my pride and joy in her ball, probably waiting for me to throw it in the air.
"The pilot battle of this year's Kalos League will be between Daniel and Bryce." The announcer proclaimed. He proceeded to give some background information on us while the battlefield was preparing to rise. "Daniel comes from Saffron City in the Kanto region while Bryce hails from Snowbelle City. All battles in the Kalos League will be three-on-three matches until the semi-final round, just like last year."
We'll make it to the top, I thought, looking at her ball again, I promise that!
"And the first battle will take place on a rock and water battlefield! Let's send things down to the referee to start the league!"
A roar of cheers followed shortly thereafter as the referee came up to his podium, flags drawn and raised.
"Trainers," he began, "this three-on-three battle is about to begin! Please release your Pokémon!"
"Let's turn things up to eleven!" Bryce smirked, tossing his ball into the air. It opened up and revealed a Gliscor to me.
"Alright, buddy!" I replied, tossing my ball in the air. "I know you can do this." The ball opened up and revealed my first Pokémon, Electrode.
"Gliscor versus Electrode," the referee said. He waved both flags downward, starting the battle. "Battle begin!"
"Electrode, huh?" Bryce laughed. "You're asking to lose, aren't you?"
I didn't reply. Instead, I nodded at Electrode. Electrode understood and started rolling around Gliscor in speeds that would make a Deoxys jealous.
"Gliscor, use Sludge Bomb."
"Mirror Coat, Electrode." I smirked.
Electrode rolled around for a bit, then set up the destructive mirror to reflect all damage back to Gliscor. The collision of the Sludge Bomb, combined with the speed and critical strike of it, caused a smoke cloud to appear around Gliscor. Bryce seemed to be struggling to keep his cool after that.
"Gliscor," he called, "are you okay?"
His Gliscor answered back as the smoke cleared out, revealing the ground-type Pokémon stuck on the ground. Electrode came in from seemingly out of nowhere and was on top of Gliscor's left wing, keeping him grounded. I took this moment to really take advantage of the battlefield.
"Use Thunder on the battlefield, Electrode." I commanded.
Electrode unleashed a powerful Thunder attack and struck the battlefield, as well as Gliscor. The move had no effect on Gliscor, but that wasn't what I was after; I was after something larger.
"Is this a misfire?" The announcer shouted, voice carrying throughout the stadium. "Daniel calls for a move that has no effect on Gliscor!"
The Thunder attack that was surrounding and striking the battlefield was powerful enough to knock large stones loose and send them flying through the air at incredible speeds. I saw this move used once before in my journey through the Sinnoh Region and thought that it was an excellent way for electric-types to deal with ground-types.
"Gliscor, get out of there!" Bryce called, voice sounding panicky.
Looking up, the stones began turning in direction and accelerating downward. Electrode looked up at the stones as well, planning his escape route. As the stones got closer, I told Electrode to roll out of the way, leaving Gliscor all alone in the worst possible time for Bryce. The stones struck Gliscor all over and left it heavily damaged; the Pokémon couldn't even stand.
"Gliscor is unable to battle," the referee concluded, raising his red flag, "Electrode is the winner!"
"Unbelievable," the announcer commented, "I've never seen Thunder used that way before. With Gliscor down and out, Daniel and Electrode come up big in the first battle."
"Gliscor, return." Bryce said, looking at the Poké Ball. "You were amazing. Take a good rest."
"Electrode, return." I said, deciding to substitute. "Excellent work."
"Who will come out next for Bryce?" The announcer commented. "Will he be able to turn things around?"
I'd doubt it. I thought, holding out my next Poké Ball. "Gyarados, you're next."
The ball opened up and let out my ferocious Gyarados. It let out an echoing roar, letting everyone know that it was here to win battles. I looked over to Bryce and smirked.
Your call now, detective.
Bryce smiled and tossed his Poké Ball in the air. "Heliolisk, go!"
Out popped the Pokémon, showcasing determination in its sight as it looked at Gyarados.
Going for type advantage again, huh?
"And the second round is Gyarados versus Heliolisk." The announcer stated. "Based on type alone, Heliolisk has the advantage but learning from the first round, that doesn't matter when battling Daniel! Let's get back to the action."
"Begin!" The referee called, waving his flags down.
"Heliolisk, Electric Terrain."
Heliolisk let out some small volts of electricity and changed the terrain of the battlefield from rocky to charged electricity. I let the change happen and decided to use the strategy I used back when I battled in the Lumiose gym.
~Some time ago~
"Heliolisk, use Electric Terrain!"
"Go, Gyarados, and use Fire Blast to burn the field."
"I see what you're trying to do," the Gym Leader said, "but it won't work! I'll use everything I've learned on my journey and show you just how the unexpected always triumphs."
I looked around as I saw Heliolisk seemingly dance around the battlefield. It looked much like how a performer shows off their electric-type Pokémon, but this was something else. I looked up, then got an idea.
"Use Rain Dance to set out the flames, Gyarados."
Gyarados, looking back at me with confusion, hesitated a bit.
"Just trust me on this one." I told it, smiling as the idea played out in my head. I was going to use the rain to put out the flames, hoping the battlefield would return to normal. While that would happen, I would use the rain to "hide" Gyarados from Heliolisk.
Gyarados started using Rain Dance thereafter. Rain began falling from the ceiling of the gym and started to put out the flames from the Fire Blast. Just as expected, the battlefield was back to normal and Gyarados was cloaked with rain.
"What's this now?" The Gym Leader called. "Using Rain Dance to put out the fire-charged field? That's clever, but not clever enough. Use Thunderbolt, Heliolisk!"
"Use Hyper Beam, Gyarados!" I said, seeing Gyarados behind Heliolisk.
Gyarados unleashed a powerful Hyper Beam from behind Heliolisk and sent it flying towards the wall behind me. Heliolisk collided and smoke billowed from the damaged wall immediately. As Heliolisk fell down, the robotic referee made its final judgement.
"Heliolisk is unable to battle," it said, raising its red flag and pointing towards me, "which means the winner of the Lumiose City Gym Battle is the challenger, Daniel from Saffron City."
Just as expected, I thought to myself.
"The entire battlefield is now charged up with electricity, perfect for any electric-types." The announcer commented.
"Gyarados, use Fire Blast to burn the battlefield."
Gyarados unleashed the heated fumes and unloaded it all over the battlefield, burning the small charges of electricity like last time.
"Burning this field won't do you any good, you know," Bryce said, "Wild Charge, Heliolisk."
"Dodge and use Rain Dance."
Heliolisk ran straight towards Gyarados and, just before reaching it, missed and kept going, coming to a stop on the rock wall behind Gyarados. Meanwhile, Gyarados used Rain Dance and put out the flames on the battlefield like before, using the rain as a cloak to get behind Heliolisk.
"Where'd you go?" Bryce wondered. "Stay on guard, Heliolisk."
Heliolisk nodded at Bryce, but couldn't find Gyarados anywhere. I smirked, then called for the final move.
"Hyper Beam."
Just like in the gym battle a while ago, Gyarados had positioned itself behind Heliolisk and unleashed a violent Hyper Beam on it, sending Heliolisk flying away in the other direction, colliding and smashing through a rock wall on the other end of the field.
"Good work, Gyarados." I praised.
"Unbelievable," the announcer said, "after taking away the electrified battlefield, Daniel and Gyarados strike with a powerful Hyper Beam. Is Heliolisk out of this match?"
The smoke that formed around Heliolisk's body finally disappeared and revealed to the stadium that it was out of this battle. The referee raised the red flag again.
"Heliolisk is unable to battle. Gyarados is the winner."
The crowd roared with excitement as Heliolisk returned to its Poké Ball. Looking over, I could tell Bryce was feeling some anxiety already. That usually happens in a three-on-three battle where you have yet to eliminate one of your opponents' Pokémon. He grabbed his last Poké Ball and tossed it up.
"It's all up to you, Venusaur."
The gigantic grass-type popped out of its Poké Ball and looked briefly at Gyarados before I called it back.
"Good work, Gyarados," I praised as it returned to its Poké Ball. I pulled out the next one and sent it out. "Let's go, Moonlight."
Moonlight, my Umbreon, popped out of her Poké Ball and stood proudly in front of Venusaur. She had the look of determination in her eyes as things got underway for the last time in this battle.
"Venusaur, use Razor Leaf."
"Dodge, Moonlight," I said, "and use Shadow Ball."
Venusaur unveiled a barrage of leaves and shot them rapidly towards Moonlight, whom had dodged and jumped out of the way with grace. In the air, Moonlight formed the dark-mattered ball of shadow and sent it over towards Venusaur.
"Vine Whip, Venusaur," Bryce said, "send back that Shadow Ball."
Venusaur acted quickly and slapped the Shadow Ball, hitting it back over to Moonlight. I chuckled quietly.
"Stay there, Moonlight." I told her.
Moonlight smiled, staying put. Collectively, the crowd gasped as they saw Moonlight just standing still. The Shadow Ball came back and hit Moonlight, causing a billowing cloud of smoke to appear around her.
"Umbreon is hit," the announcer remarked, "after Daniel told it to stay still! What could he be thinking?"
"Why would you let Umbreon get hit deliberately?" Bryce asked me.
I pointed at Moonlight. "Dark Pulse, full power."
Moonlight's eyes shone through the smoke as she unleashed her attack on Venusaur, with the Shadow Ball attached at the end of it. The two conjoined attacks hit Venusaur's face and created yet another cloud of smoke. Venusaur let out a rather pained cry and the ground shook seconds afterward.
"Venusaur!" Bryce cried.
When the cloud of smoke uplifted from Venusaur, it was revealed that it went down and was finished battling for today. The referee rose the red flag once more and turned towards me.
"Venusaur is unable to battle," he stated, "Umbreon is the winner and the winner of the battle is Daniel from Saffron City!"
The crowd let out a roar of cheers for Moonlight and myself. I called Moonlight back to her ball and placed the ball back around my neck. Venusaur returned to its Poké Ball as well and Bryce came over to me, hand out.
"It was a great battle," he told me.
"Pleasure's all mine." I responded, shaking Bryce's hand.
"With a three-to-nothing sweep of Bryce, Daniel powers his way into our second round matchups." The announcer reiterated. "Quite an interesting pilot battle for this year's Kalos League. Next up is Nicole from Lumiose City versus Michael from Anistar City. Let's see how these two trainers follow up Daniel's spectacular battle."
I left the stadium thereafter, focusing on training rather than seeing how others were battling. When it's getting closer to the finals, then I'll start to care. For now, my next opponent will be beaten.
To Be Continued…
