Lost Episode #1: Ebony And Scarlet
Japanese Title: Soot And Somber! Contest Of Flames And Darkness!
Translation: Hai To Kuroi! Kyougi No Tobihi To Kuragari!
By: Kat of Pokemon: The Hokubu & Nanka Trek
A/N: Ooh! Looky! A "Lost Chapter" to "The Angel Adventures"! Very interesting…This one is partially inspired by a review I got. Isn't that nice? And if I translated that title wrong, please don't hurt me! I'm not too good at translations...Ugh...Thanks!
Eevy was wandering down the route to Daffodil, muttering incoherent things about the last Gym Leader she'd defeated. Cain Tatosi, Master of the Red Badge, had been the focus of her attention for the entire morning. All she kept doing was asking herself if Raikou was really telling her the truth. For all she knew, he could have been lying for one of his twisted Legendary Beast reasons. That thought only made her grumble more. She was so caught up in her daydreaming/ranting that she passed right by the sign on the side of the road. Medira, however, did not.
"What's this?" she asked herself out loud as she stopped to look, "Hey! This is the perfect thing for me!"
"What is?" Yuu-Yuu stopped and looked back at her blankly, "What is it?"
"I'll tell you what it is," Medira grinned, taking out a Poke'Ball in her left hand while staring down at the sign, "It's my lucky day!"
*^~^**^~^*
Jason was sprawled-out in a couch in front of a TV. Will was sitting next to him, shaking his head and muttering. At the sound of the television hitting PKMN TV, the brown-haired boy cloaked in forest green shot straight up, wide-awake and staring at the screen. Will groaned.
"You know, you really ought to stop that," he cautioned the younger Elite, "Get too much closer and all you'll be seeing is red, green and blue."
"Shut up, Will," Jason glared off at him, "Go play darts or something instead of pestering me."
"Eh, shut up yourself, munchkin," he snorted and stretched out in his chair, finding the top of Jason's head to make a perfectly good footrest, "Be still, boy."
"Get off!" Jason slapped him away, getting an evil grin in return, "Knock it off, Will!"
"What?" Will asked innocently, "What'd I do?"
"You…You…You…OH!" Jason turned bright red and stormed out, "Jerk!" he hollered back.
Luri cocked an eyebrow at Jason as he stomped by, then glanced in the door at Will, "What'd you do to him now?"
"Nothing," he shrugged, answering pointedly, "Just got comfortable is all."
*^~^**^~^*
"Come on, Medira," Sooney grumbled, "Just tell us what it is."
"It's a contest," Medira tossed her Poke'Ball upward, then catching it and holding it out, "For the coveted Skullcap Trophy."
Eevy immediately stopped at that, "The Skullcap Trophy?" she questioned blankly, "I've heard of that. The Skullcap Trophy is given out at the Ebony and Scarlet Festival in Juniper Park every year."
"What's the Ebony and Scarlet Festival?" Yuu-Yuu's head fell to the side.
"The Ebony and Scarlet Festival is a whole carnival dedicated to the Fire- and Dark-type Pokemon. The Skullcap Trophy is the winner's cup to the Soot and Somber competition. A series of battles between just Fire- and Dark-type Pokemon," Medira explained quickly, "I've always wanted to go, but I'd never been traveling until now."
"Your specialties are Fire- and Dark-types, aren't they, Medira?" Yuu-Yuu questioned.
Medira nodded with a grin, "Yeah. They're my favorites."
"Excuse me, please!" a bicycle skidded to a stop beside them, "Are you going to the Ebony and Scarlet Festival?" a young girl asked, a boy about her age skidding to a stop beside her.
"Uh…Yes, we are. Why do you ask?" Eevy's head mimicked what Yuu-Yuu's had done.
"Scoping out the competition!" the guy grinned, "I'm Tane and this is my sister Soija."
"Oh. I'm Eevy. These are Medira, Sooney and Yuu-Yuu," she pointed over her shoulder, "You're competing in the Soot and Somber battles?"
"You bet! How about you?" Soija asked enthusiastically.
"I am!" Medira waved.
"So am I," Eevy nodded.
"Well, we'll meet you at the park then! Bye-bye!" they both waved and started pedaling again.
"I suppose we should get to that park then, huh?" Medira smirked, "Let's go!"
*^~^**^~^*
"A competition all for Fire- and Dark-types, huh?" Luri scratched the back of her head, "That's definitely not for me or you, Will."
"Got that right," Will shuttered, "I despise the Dark-type Pokemon."
"You guys should really learn to loosen up," Lance shook his head, "It's not like they can come through the screen at ya' or anything."
"Very funny," Luri snorted.
"Yes. Just hilarious," Will fumed, "Seeing pretty colors yet, Jason?"
"I'm seeing pretty something," Jason sat with his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hands, drooling at the TV.
"You really ought to get a life," Luri scolded, "Both of you," she glanced over at Lance, who was staring intently at the TV.
"Whatever you say," Jason and Lance both waved their hands at her.
*^~^**^~^*
"Look at all the Fire Pokemon!" Medira shrieked happily, "And all the Dark Pokemon!" she cried louder, "But hey…What's with all the Ghost Pokemon?" she started grumbling.
"Because there are so few Dark Pokemon we know of at this point, we've decided to allow Ghost-types in as well. They are Ghosts, after all. And what could be darker that a spirit from the other side?" someone started chattering in front of them.
"And just who would you be?" Medira puffed.
"I'm Anouk," he nodded once, "The curator for the Ebony and Scarlet Festival this year."
"Well lucky you," Medira huffed, "What's next? Water-types?"
"Don't be a grouch, Medira," Eevy waved her hand at her, getting an evil scowl in return.
"Actually, we were thinking of adding the Psychic-type, but we decided against it. They're too centered around the sun to be Soot and Somber," Anouk shrugged.
"There's just one thing that bothers me," Eevy shuttered, "Where there's Ghosts, there's always-"
"Your big brother!" she was suddenly hoisted into the air from behind, "How are you, baby sis?"
"Stop callin' me that!" she kicked, "And put me down!"
Morty dropped her on her feet and snickered evilly at her as Anouk continued, "Are you knew to the Festival?"
"Yeah," Yuu-Yuu shrugged, "We've heard about it and all, but that's nothing much…"
"All right then. Let me show you around a bit," he started walking and the group trailed quickly behind.
"We're now here in the beautiful Juniper Park between Dogwood and Daffodil City," the announcer walked backwards as the camera men followed him along, "As you can see, it's the beginning of the Ebony and Scarlet Festival here and there are Fire, Dark and Ghost Pokemon everywhere you look."
*^~^**^~^*
"How can we tell if it's beautiful there or not through his big fat head?" Will wanted to know with a grumble.
"Ya' got that right," Jason nodded, "We can safely believe his parents weren't glass-blowers."
"Yeah," Luri agreed, "It's not like his head is made of glass or something."
"His brain may be made of air, but his head sure isn't see-through," Lance put in.
*^~^**^~^*
"Look at all the Pokemon," Yuu-Yuu stared around aimlessly, "They're everywhere."
"All Pokemon have free rein during the festival. All except Water and Psychic, that is," Anouk kept walking, "The Water Pokemon get touchy with the Fire-types and the Dark and Ghost Pokemon tend to get angry with the Psychic-types."
Juniper Park was one of the most memorable places in Nanka. Why? Because it was the source of festivals, carnivals, banquets and awards every year. The Ebony and Scarlet Festival was only one of many different celebrations honoring only specific types of Pokemon. Eevy was sure Misty would be hiding for the Bug and Poison festival. The curator to that one was usually Gym Leader Bugsy Beetle from Azalea Town in Johto. He had good reason to run it, as he was a fanatic for insects. The Poison part of that festival was usually run by Janine Envenom; daughter to Koga and niece to Aiya. She and Bugsy never really did get along all too well, but they worked out their differences for that particular three-day weekend.
Today, however obvious it may have been, Juniper Park was overrun with Fire Pokemon like Growlithe and Magmar, Dark Pokemon like Murkrow and Umbreon and Ghost Pokemon like Gengar and Misdreavus. Eevy looked left to right as Anouk kept talking, then spotting a familiar face. She ducked down beneath the crowd and walked along a bit before standing straight again, successfully avoiding Cain's glance.
"…And then we've got our major attraction here this year," Anouk finished saying something Eevy had missed completely.
"And what would that be?" Medira grumbled.
"That would be him," Anouk pointed over the scores of people milling around a small stage area, "Master Blaine Flare. He came all the way from Cinnabar Island in Kanto just to get to the Festival."
Blaine was sitting on the stage, arms and legs crossed, with a few people meandering around. One Anouk pointed out as being his cousin Renee, who was a trainee to Master Blaine's Gym and a competitor in the Soot and Somber Competition. Blaine's eyes fell briefly on Eevy and narrowed slightly before he pushed his sunglasses back up his nose and brushed his mustache a bit in thought.
"She seems like the right type," he thought silently, "Confident stance, controlling stare, mature attitude and build. And that one behind her," his glasses slipped down again, "The Ghost Master of Johto. That would mean she is the girl from Rose. She is the one Raikou spoke of," he cleared his throat a tad louder than he really meant to; he was only trying to get Eevy's attention, but succeeded in getting pretty much everyone's, "Excuse me," he grinned nervously.
Everyone looked away, excepting Eevy, "Why's he staring at me?" she wondered silently.
*^~^**^~^*
"Blaine," Will rolled his eyes, then grinned as Cain came on the screen, "Hey! Cain! Blaine and Cain! Cain and Blaine!"
"Don't be an idiot," Luri rolled her eyes and shook her head, "I know it takes you a bit of effort, but try real hard."
Jason snickered at the purely evil look Will shot, "Do you think that old guy remembers all the stuff Raikou said?"
"First of all, munchkin, he isn't old. Blaine is a respectable and strong trainer, so knock off the old cracks right now," Lance puffed, "Secondly, of course he remembers. Everyone does."
"He must," Will had snapped out of his comedy routine, "He's eyeing her enough."
"Well, there're a couple other reasons to eye her, ya' know," Jason glanced off at the gawking Lance.
"A couple? Keep going," Lance muttered.
"Men…How utterly repulsive," Luri growled, crossing her arms and slumping back in the chair.
*^~^**^~^*
Anouk started rambling again after he'd managed to separate Medira's gaze from the Fire Master, "Over there in that field is where the Soot and Somber Battles will be held."
"When do they start?" Yuu-Yuu asked as she dragged Medira along behind her.
"In about an hour," Anouk answered after checking his watch, "There'll only be about a dozen or so competing. Nothing much. The competition can't be too-too big, since there are so few Dark and Ghost-types."
"So it'll be fairly quick?" Morty asked for some reason of his own.
"Yeah. Let me check the chart," he wandered over to a board near the Soot and Somber field, "Let's see…One, two, three, four…" he trailed off, "With you two battling, it comes out to fifteen matches all together. Twelve for the run-down, two for the semi-finals and one for the finals."
"Well, we've got some time to kill. Why don't we go look around?" Eevy suggested.
"OK. Sure," Medira agreed and started walking.
As they started on their way back into the immense crowd of people, they brushed past someone they hadn't seen before. Both Medira and Eevy stopped, as did the stranger. He glanced over his shoulder at them, then continued at a slightly quicker pace. Eevy and Medira looked to each other momentarily before they too started walking. That guy was as no one they had ever met, nor would they ever meet anyone quite like him. They would, however, encounter him again. He meandered over to the battle chart and stared for a few seconds. He gripped the top sheet between his right index finger and thumb and tipped it up to see a trainer's stats.
"Evangelina Hikoboshi," he looked back over his shoulder at her, then flipped up another page, "And Medira Kurayami. Interesting," he dropped the papers and turned around to face the crowd, his black trench coat swinging with him and his black hat pulled down over his bright crimson hair, "So the stories…They are true."
He strolled forward, shoving people out of his way as he wandered back into the crowd. Back at the chart, the three papers he'd merely laid his fingers on were burned. Black and charred as if a lighter had been lit beneath them. Yet they were blackened in the shape of a thumb and pointer.
*^~^**^~^*
Eevy went barreling down the path and slid to stop at a game booth, "Come on, Morty!" she waved above her head, "Let's see if I can still kick your pants!"
"What's a water game doing at a Fire and Dark-type carnival?" Medira murmured grouchily.
"Well, what were we gonna do? Have flame-throwers instead of water guns?" Anouk questioned.
"That's one idea," Medira answered seriously, causing everyone to sweat-drop.
Morty jumped into a seat beside his sister, "Why do you always insist on making a fool out of me like that?" he asked as she took aim.
"Well, seeing as how it doesn't really take much effort to make you look like an idiot, I find it sort of a past time," she grinned at him and spit out her tongue.
"That was not at all funny," he puffed.
While the two of them went at it both verbally and with water guns, Medira wandered off to a stand with a rainbow Poke'Ball sign in the front. She could hear the announcer behind her, describing Eevy and Morty's game, and decided to check the place out more. Upon closer inspection, she realized the sign was fiber-optic, and that it was also the Rainbow League's symbol.
"I should have known they'd have a place here," she thought while wandering around in front, "Anything for publicity."
It was basically a display of pictures of every single Gym Leader Medira knew of. You could buy them (Not that she wanted to or ever would.) but she examined some anyway. She noticed all of the Elite 4 pictures were gone with a big blue and yellow "Sold Out!quot; sign hanging across the front of the four posts. Out of the Gertan Rin Gym Leaders, Cain's Gym and some witch in an orange dress were most popular. The least popular; Taylor and the Blue Badge's Mistress. In Johto, to her surprise, Morty and Claire's were the two most favored. The two least were Chuck and Pryce. Not at all surprising to her. From the Orange League, every one of them was almost empty and in Kanto, the Cerulean Sisters and Erika were on top. The two on the bottom were Lt. Surge and poor Blaine. She growled at how Water and Grass-type trainers could be preferred over the Fire-type, but then realized it was probably because you could get a personalized photo of Blaine by meeting him face-to-face for less than a quarter of the price.
"Sure," she mused with a hidden grin, "But then you don't get the pretty frame."
She then turned around as Morty pouted by, growling as his sister followed him, a stuffed Flareon, Umbreon and Gengar over each shoulder and her head. Morty grumbled something and just kept walking as the camera men and the announcer trailed behind them, chattering away. Anouk, Yuu-Yuu and Sooney were behind them, sighing repeatedly at the puffing Morty, the gloating Eevy and the gabbing announcer. Medira offered the girl standing at the League booth's cash register, Rachel by her tag, a small wave and grin before following Eevy and everyone else along.
*^~^**^~^*
"She kicked his butt!" Will laughed, kicking in hilarity, "That was too good!"
"You've got one weird sense of humor," Luri leaned away, "And I'd thank you to keep it to yourself from now on, please."
"Hey, look!" Jason jumped off the floor and to his feet, "Look behind that guy there!"
The camera men kept moving, strolling along and not even calling mention to the two red cattily eyes in the underbrush. Raikou's gaze carefully scanned side to side, watching every person for a few seconds before moving to the next. Then his eyes locked on someone; someone in a black coat and hat with matching pants and shirt. The Thunder Beast's eyes narrowed and he bared his long front fangs with a vengeance. He had to watch over Eevy like a hawk now. If that man clad in black was to get to her, everything would go up in smoke. Literally.
He informed Lance, and only Lance for some reason, of his discovery, "We have a visitor. A bad one, Master Lance," he told him in his mind.
"What do you think he's doing there?" Lance thought.
"Watching," was Raikou's only reply before disappearing from Lance's head.
*^~^**^~^*
"Well, it's getting close to game time. Why don't we head over to the field?" Anouk suggested as he pointed to the Soot and Somber battle arena.
"All right with me. How about you, Medira?" Eevy glanced over the Umbreon plushie on her shoulder, "Medira?"
"That's fine with me too," she nodded, still a bit annoyed at the addition of Ghost-types to her precious Ebony and Scarlet festival.
"Come on, guys! Let's go get prime seats!" Yuu-Yuu grabbed Sooney's arm and ran forward.
"You be careful up there, huh?" Morty cautioned with a grin, "We wouldn't want you to get roasted, now would we?"
"Geez, shut up!" she pushed him away and followed the storming Medira and the gloating Anouk along the aisle.
"There you go, ladies. Your pictures are right here and right here," Anouk pointed them out on the score board, "Every time you win a math, you'll move up a level until there're only two left. Good luck to both of you!" he waved and walked over to the judges' stand.
Eevy gagged, "Great!" she mused silently, "Cain and Blaine are judging! I'm dead!"
"Come on, Eevy. Let's get going," Medira stomped forward.
*^~^**^~^*
"There she goes a-battling away!" Lance cheered suddenly, then noticing all eyes locked on him, "Um…I'll stop," he slowly slid back into his chair and stared at the TV in quiet musing.
"Sometimes I really can't help but wonder about him," Luri murmured.
"I agree completely," Will nodded slowly.
"I don't think there's anything wrong with him," Jason shrugged.
"You wouldn't," Luri and Will said together, rolling their eyes.
*^~^**^~^*
Eevy and Medira were standing around aimlessly, awaiting their turns as two others duked it out up there. Each picture on the scoreboard had the trainer's signature under it. One's could definitely be identified as Keri, but the other was totally illegible. All either Eevy or Medira could make out of it was the last letter; V. Eevy tapped her toe while staring at the match, grumbling at how long it was taking and Medira was hissing at the abundance of Ghost-types in the competition.
"Well, Keri's down," Medira muttered lowly, "That leaves Miss Unreadable there."
"Who's next?" Eevy asked eagerly, looking at the chart as Unreadable's picture and signature moved up, "Keanu and Sirocco. I wanted to be next…"
"Why?" Medira asked with a grin, "Can't wait to get up on stage and show off to your buddy Cain?"
"Wha-Wha-What?!" Eevy shrieked, ready to strangle her, "That's not funny!"
Medira just turned away and laughed nastily at Eevy's reddening face, "Sure it is."
"Ooh…" Eevy was just raising her hands to the back of Medira's neck when she gasped and jumped forward, "What?! I didn't even touch you!"
"Not you! Him!" she pointed out onto the field, "That Sirocco guy is that guy in the trench coat!"
"AH!" Eevy shot up straight, "Its is!"
Sirocco was battling away with Keanu as Eevy stood leaning against the scoreboard, muttering about how she'd better be next. She heard something to her right and glanced off in that direction.
"Hi," Cain offered her a smirk, "Nice to see you again."
Medira giggled and had to step around to the other side of the scoreboard to laugh, as Eevy would have exploded had she just started laughing, "Hi," Eevy returned slowly with a nod, "Shouldn't you be at the judges' stand?"
"I can see from here," he smirked wider, "In fact, I can see more from here."
"Yes," Eevy grunted slightly and crossed her arms, turning away.
He walked right up behind her and leaned over her shoulder to look at the scoreboard as Sirocco moved up a level and Keanu was blacked out, "Seems you're next," Cain put his hand on Eevy's shoulder, "Good luck."
Eevy nodded slightly and pushed his hand off, "Thanks," was her only reply as she walked out to the field.
She was facing off against a girl named Nikki. Nikki readied a Poke'Ball and released a Sneasel. Eevy rolled her eyes and yawned, releasing Zovo. Zovo ran forward without a word from Eevy and sent Sneasel flying back. Eevy grinned as Nikki growled and threw out another Poke'Ball. This one revealed a Gastly, causing Morty to cheer and Medira to hiss. Nikki ordered her Gastly in for a Lick attack and Zovo bounced away. Eevy recalled him and sent out Yovo, who triggered cheers from the audience. He ran forward and lunged into the air, Faint Attacking Gastly away. Gastly floated back into the air and shot a Confuse Ray, which Yovo countered with his own. They both deflected the other's attack, and Yovo ran in for a Pursuit, slammed Gastly straight to the ground. Nikki pouted momentarily and recalled her Ghost-type. Eevy cheered as her signature and photo moved up a notch. Blaine's glasses again dropped down his nose and his eyes traveled between Sirocco and Eevy repeatedly.
*^~^**^~^*
"Wow!" Luri's jaw fell, "She hardly even commanded them! They just went ahead and clobbered that girl!"
"You won't be saying "wow" when she bakes your Ice-types, Luri," Will watched her face turn from a grin to a frown, "Oops. Forgot that, didn't you?"
"Shut up, Will."
*^~^**^~^*
Medira was next, lunging out to the arena in utter bliss of being able to defeat a Ghost-type with her beautiful Fire- and Dark-types. Larissa, a little miss-priss by the look of her, took out a newly polished Poke'Ball and let her Misdreavus loose. Medira's scowl got deeper and deeper as she stared the little Ghost-type down. Holding out her Poke'Ball, she released Blackstorm, her Umbreon. Another cheer sounded as Blackstorm grinned evilly at his opponent. Medira ordered him in and the Dark-type lunged but once and sent the Ghost-type flying. Larissa called him back and sniffled, then releasing a Vulpix. Medira cocked an eyebrow, then let Blackstorm in again. He jumped and pushed Vulpix away, but the little Fire Fox came flying back at him with impressive speed and knocked him back. Medira recalled him and sent out Flamedance, her Rapidash. It took Flamedance one swift stomp right down on Vulpix's back to knock it cold. He reared and cried out and Medira cheered as her photo and name moved up.
Unreadable was again up to battle; against a girl named Lysette. Unreadable made short work of her Charmander and Haunter, knocking herself up to the next level of battle. Sirocco was also up again, obliterating the Growlithe and Arcanine team of his opponent; a girl named Piper. It seemed Sirocco was just as ruthless toward women as he was to men.
Eevy again ran out to the field, this time against a guy named Armin. He grinned at her and she rolled her eyes. Upon her eye tumbling off to her right, she saw Cain, glaring into Armin with smoke nearly billowing from his ears. He face was gradually getting redder the longer it took Eevy to attack. Armin released a Slugma and Eevy Yovo. Yovo bounced up to Slugma and jumped into the air. Slugma fired flames up at Yovo's belly, but the Umbreon rolled in midair, pointing the ring on his forehead downward. From the ring he released a beam of bluish-white energy, blinding Slugma with Flash. Slugma oozed into a puddle eyes tiny and staring into space. Armin recalled him and let out a Ponyta. The horse trampled forward and Headbutted Yovo into the air. Eevy quickly pulled him back and released Zovo. Ponyta jumped for Zovo, but Eevy ordered Zovo to run to the side. The horse slammed the ground to form a cloud of dirt. From the smoke came Zovo, chomping down on Ponyta's ear. Ponyta shrieked and flailed, toppling over as Zovo jumped off and landed securely on his feet with a cry of glory. Again, Eevy's picture ascended on the scoreboard.
*^~^**^~^*
"Geez! They're kickin' everybody's rears!" Jason's jaw dropped a bit, "And look at that Sirocco guy! And that girl with the scribble for her name!"
"Calm down, Jason!" Luri leaned away from him.
"Yeah, munchkin. Take some chill-pills and lay down," Will cocked an eyebrow while also leaning back.
"But he is right," Lance agreed from his chair, "They're really doing good. Including Sirocco."
"What's the matter with you? Got a grudge over the trench coat guy?" Luri asked, causing both Will and Jason to snicker.
"No, Master Lance. Do not tell them," Raikou cautioned, "They do not need to know."
"No," Lance shook his head, "Just…You know…"
The other Elite looked at each other blankly, "O…K…"
*^~^**^~^*
Medira was up again, grinning as she faced Anouk's cousin Renee; trainee to Blaine. Now she could really show off. Medira first released Flamedance and Renee countered with a Haunter. The Haunter dive-bombed Flamedance and the horse jumped away, springing to the side with a great show of Agility. Medira ordered a Fire Spin attack and the Flame Horse let it loose, curling the attack around the Ghost. Haunter lifted into the air to avoid it, but Medira again ordered an attack. This time it was a Flamethrower. Haunter shrieked as the attack shot from Flamedance's mouth and collided with him, causing him to fall. The last attack was a Fire Blast. The burning attack roared forward and turned the once violet Pokemon black. Renee gasped and Morty frowned. Renee recalled Haunter and let out a Cyndaquil. It Tackled right into Flamedance, sending him tipsy. Medira growled and pulled him back, letting out Blackstorm. The Umbreon shot forward upon his master ordering a Quick Attack and sent Cyndaquil rolling head-over-heals away. Cyndaquil stood again, poised to attack, but Blackstorm was nowhere to be seen. Until, of course, he Faint Attacked Cyndaquil in the back of the head, knocking him cold. As Renee recalled her Pokemon, her picture blacked out and Medira's slid up a level.
Unreadable was once again battling. This time against a girl named Naomi. She once again baked her opponent easily, grinning and removing her peach-rimmed glasses to examine the scoreboard. Obviously she was nearsighted. She put her glasses back on, recalled her Pokemon, and sat down to await her turn. Sirocco took the field right after her, destroying each of his opponent Laszlo's Pokemon in two hits; his Pokemon hitting Laszlo's and Laszlo's Pokemon hitting the ground. Sirocco grinned and glanced at Eevy as he passed her, adding a "good-natured" nod of luck.
Eevy marched onto the field, realizing she was facing Soija. She grinned, and Eevy returned with a small smile. Soija raised her Pokemon and released a Gengar. Morty screamed in delight. Eevy reached to her belt and threw Zovo's Flame Ball onto the arena. Soija winked and let Gengar out for an attack. Zovo sprinted away, avoiding the Night Shade completely. Gengar stopped and glared at Zovo, but the Flareon flew in with a heavy Bite right to Gengar's face. Gengar leaned back a bit too far and toppled over. Zovo put his head back, took a deep breath, and fired an Ember right at the fallen Ghost, who twitched a bit, but ultimately fainted. Soija recalled him quickly, jaw slightly hanging open, and then released an Arcanine. Zovo ran for it, Tackling it with all his might, but just flopped off and bounced away. Eevy pulled him back and released Yovo, who flew at Arcanine with lightning speed. He Glared into Arcanine, freezing him solid, and ran around to his side. He back-tackled his opponent's side with all his might, serving after a few tries to knock the Fire-type to the ground. He Bit down on Arcanine's tail, then Pursuit attacked his gut, knocking the wind out of him. Soija recalled her Pokemon and praised it. She smiled at Eevy, gave her a thumb's up, and walked slowly away as Eevy's picture was bopped up another notch.
Medira's was the last match before the semi-finals. She met up with Tane, a smirk forming on her opponent's face. After a quick wave and greeting, Tane released a Tyranitar. Yuu-Yuu's jaw fell, as she'd forgotten that thing was half Dark-type. Medira just shrugged and sent out Flamedance. Tyranitar jumped up and then started digging with all his might, tunneling under the arena. Medira's Pokemon tore forward and reared up. With one immense explosion of an attack, Flamedance's hooves connected with the ground, cracking and shaking it with full force. The Earthquake shook Tyranitar for all his was worth, crashing his head into either side of his tunnel. As the quaking stopped, the low moan of a Tyranitar was heard from the tunnel. Tane put his arm down the tunnel and recalled his Pokemon, the releasing another. This one was a Magcargo. Cain smiled and cheered it on silently. It pushed itself into a ball and rolled forward. Flamedance turned to run, but his side was hit, pushing him away. Medira called him back and sent in Blackstorm, who shot toward Magcargo. He hit so hard, the slug was thrown off course and up into the air. Tane gasped as Magcargo started falling and Blackstorm flew forward, jumping to the air and slamming Magcargo away. Tane threw his arm up and recalled Magcargo before he could hit the ground. He smiled sadly at Medira, waved once, and joined his sister. Medira's picture took off to the semi-final line.
*^~^**^~^*
"This is really getting interesting," Lance stuffed gum in his mouth, "They're kicking some major butt out there," he proceeded to chew like a cow.
"Could you possibly chew with your gaping mouth shut?" Luri glared into him harder than the Pokemon had been in their battles.
He stopped chewing loudly, but blew a bubble and popped it as loud as he could and continued to do so until Will turned on him, "Knock it off, would ya'?! I can't hear the TV!"
"Well, sorry," Lance puffed, "Geez…"
"Would you all just be quiet?!" Jason blared suddenly, "I want to hear this!"
He turned the volume almost all the way up, "We're now entering the semi-finals of the Soot and Somber competition. Only four of the participants have successfully made it this far. One of them being our trainer, Eevy, and another her good friend Medira. Let's look at the scoreboard. Uh…Uh oh…"
*^~^**^~^*
"Uh oh?" Sooney questioned from behind the announcer, "Uh oh what?"
"Look there," he pointed up to the semi-finals.
"Oh no!" Medira and Eevy screamed louder than everyone was chattering, "I have to battle you!" they pointed and looked to each other.
Well…This could pose a problem. Eevy and Medira looked at each other solemnly, eyes whimpering slowly at the thought of battling. Battling each other had never even crossed their minds, nor would they have considered it an option. But…They both wanted that trophy. And neither was willing to back down. They swallowed hard and each jammed out their right arm.
"No hard feelings, right?" Eevy looked into Medira with her blue and green eyes.
"No hard feelings. Right," Medira returned the gaze directly with her violet stare.
With a nod, they both turned to the field where they were to battle.
*^~^**^~^*
"No…Way…" Luri nearly fell right off her chair, "They can't battle! Call 'em! Somebody call Anouk and have him change it!" she flailed.
"We can't do that. It's too late now," Will muttered, "They have to battle. Besides, even if we did have them change it, if Eevy and Medira each won their semi-final battles, they'd be facing off in the finals."
"That really bites the big one," Jason pouted, "I can't decide who to root for now."
"I know who I'm rooting for," Lance smirked, "Eevy all the way!"
Luri rolled her eyes and said again, "Men…"
*^~^**^~^*
"Go, Flamedance!"
"Go, Yovo!"
Both Poke'Balls broke open in the center of the field, revealing a Rapidash and an Umbreon respectively. Eevy and Medira nodded to Anouk, who rang the gong for the match to begin.
"Go, Yovo! Take Down attack!"
"Go, Flamedance! Agility now!"
Flamedance bolted from one side of the arena to the other, sliding around with immense speed. Despite how fast he may have been running, Yovo lunged for him and slammed his chest, shoving him away with a heavy slam. Medira gasped and Eevy grinned.
"Yovo! Use Bite attack!"
"Flamedance! Use Fire Spin!"
The flames lashed forward and encircled Yovo, trapping him in place. Medira bit her bottom lip as Yovo started to escape, but her Pokemon added more flames, holding the Umbreon back. The fire suddenly tightened in on the Umbreon, encasing him completely. The fire cleared and Yovo coughed twice before he was recalled.
"Nice job, Yovo. Now go! Zovo! Use Quick Attack!"
"Use Stomp, Flamedance!"
Flamedance slammed his front hooves down, but surprise! No Flareon! Zovo ran in from behind and jumped up, crashing into the back of Flamedance's head. Medira growled as Zovo pushed down on Flamedance's neck, connecting the horses chin with the ground and sliding along with him, Flamedance whimpered and Medira called him back.
"Great job, buddy. Now get in there, Blackstorm! Confuse Ray!"
"Ember!"
Zovo shot hot coals right into Blackstorm's eyes. The Umbreon stepped back and pawed at his face, whining slightly. Zovo took the time to attack and Headbutted Blackstorm flipping into the air.
Medira cried out, "Blackstorm, no!"
Blackstorm's eyes shot open and he flew to the ground, eyes blazing violent red. He sprang for Zovo, pushing him back a bit. Zovo turned while sliding to skid to a stop and looked up at Blackstorm as if he were crazy. Eevy gasped as Blackstorm's rings started glowing violently.
"Tri-Attack!" Medira called, pointing forward.
"No way!" Eevy gasped, her jaw flying open, "Run, Zovo!"
Zovo flailed off to the side, but this Tri-Attacking Umbreon was too fast. The attack hit his leg, freezing it solid. Zovo heated up a bit and melted it away, then staring into Blackstorm, his previously frozen leg twitching.
"Cut attack," Medira ordered lowly.
"Take Down," Eevy did the same.
Both Pokemon flew for each other. They collided in a blur of black, yellow, orange and lime-yellow. They both stopped in front of opposite masters, panting heavily. Neither really wanted to fall, but one ultimately cringed and toppled to the ground, a low whimper escaping him…
"Zovo!" Eevy ran out onto the arena, "Zovo! Are you all right?" she scooped him up, eyes tearing up, "Zovo! I'm so sorry," she buried her face in his lime collar.
"Eevy," Medira and Blackstorm stepped up to her, "Is he all right?"
"Yes. He's fine," she snuffed a bit, "Hey, good battle," she threw out her arm and Medira just stared, "Come on. Don't make me look stupid," he voice was breaking as she pushed her arm farther toward her, "Shake my hand already, will ya'?!"
"I'm sorry," Medira slowly took Eevy's hand, "I know you wanted to win."
"Well, I didn't. That's just how it is, I suppose," Eevy gathered the fur ball she dubbed Zovo into her arms and carried him off, "You did so well. Very, very good…" she trailed off as she walked away.
"You were great, Blackstorm. Rest a while," Medira recalled her Umbreon and walked off the arena, sharing an occasional glance with Eevy.
*^~^**^~^*
Lance was standing in the corner, moaning, "No fair! Eevy can't lose! She's Eevy!"
"Everybody can lose," Will contradicted while shaking his head, "Even you."
"Even you," Jason added, looking at Will with one eyebrow cocked.
"Who? Me?" Will pointed to himself, "No. No, I can't lose."
For the third time, Luri growled, "Men…"
*^~^**^~^*
Unreadable was up against Sirocco now and she bared her Poke'Ball outward. She threw it forward, releasing a Murkrow that crowed and hissed at Sirocco as he too threw out his Pokemon. His was a Magmar, towering over the bird. Murkrow flew up for a Peck attack at his master's command, but Magmar merely grabbed his beak and tossed him off to the side, sending him soaring through the air. He righted himself and dive-bombed Magmar with a quick and painful Fly. Magmar leaned right as he was hit from the left and leaned left as he was hit from the right. He turned and lit his fist on fire, crashing Murkrow away with a growl. Murkrow was recalled an the Houndour sitting calmly by Unreadable's side bounded forward. He Crunched down on Magmar's tail causing him to growl and flail. He tripped and fell to the ground, sputtering slightly. Sirocco recalled him and released a Ninetales a few shades darker than that of the usual Fire Fox. It lunged at Houndour and rolled him away. The Fire/Dark dog ran for the Ninetales, but a Fire Blast sent him sailing into the air. He landed on his feet and retorted with a fast Take Down, shoving the Ninetales back. Ninetales bared his fangs and bit down on Houndour's back, knocking him out. Unreadable had finally been defeated. She ran to her Pokemon and picked him up, carting him off the arena. Her picture blacked out and Sirocco's picture jointed Medira's in the finals.
*^~^**^~^*
"Oh…My…Gawd…" Jason heaved, "That guy's tough! His Pokemon are really strong! Medira will never win!" he started bawling.
"This is bad…He's doing well," Lance murmured, "I'm starting to enjoy the fact Eevy didn't make it to the finals."
"I certainly hope that guys isn't after Elite Second position," Luri muttered, then started wailing, "I'd be dead meat!"
"This, I have the feeling, is going to get ugly," Will watched the TV intently as the finals started up.
*^~^**^~^*
Medira bared her Poke'Ball on the opposite end of the arena as Sirocco. He too took out a Poke'Ball. Raikou crouched in a patch of bushes, eyes flowing from Eevy to Cain to Blaine to Medira to Sirocco repeatedly. His mind, however flowed to and from Lance almost as much. He stayed low and looked on quietly.
"I choose you, Blackstorm! Use Tackle!"
"I choose you, Magmar! Use Fire Punch!"
Magmar swung around as Blackstorm flew at him with a blast of speed. Magmar's flaming fist smashed into Blackstorm at full power and sent him flailing away. Blackstorm rubbed his snout and hissed.
"Try and Quick Attack!"
"Smog!"
The black cloud billowed forward, the poisoning attacks starting in, but Blackstorm was able to evade and slid under the attack, bouncing up and crashing his back into Magmar's chin. The Fire-type's face went up into his own attack and he inhaled deeply, Poisoning himself.
"Tri-Attack!" Medira shouted over the screaming people.
The rings on Blackstorm's forehead and ears started glowed and the three different elements were released. They slammed into Magmar, shoving him back a few steps. Thunder irrupted from the attack, Paralyzing Magmar instantly.
"Magmar!" Sirocco gasped.
"One last Take Down!" Medira cheered.
With one last slam, Magmar went sliding toward Sirocco, who recalled him quickly, "Return, Magmar! Get in there, Ninetales! Use a Fire Blast attack!"
That one attack was what did the already exhausted Blackstorm in. The straining Umbreon wasn't fast enough to get away. The fire lashed into his side and threw him away and to Medira's feet. She shrieked and picked him up.
"Return now," she called him back after a few words of praise, "And go, Flamedance! Attack!"
"This is it, Ninetales! Attack!"
"Flamedance! Use your Stomp attack!"
"Ninetales! Use Fire Spin!"
The flames from Sirocco's Ninetales shot forward, spiraling around Flamedance's back hooves as he reared to Stomp. Much to Ninetales' surprise and dismay, the Fire Horse merely jumped the burning attack and flew at him. Ninetales sprang back repeatedly as Flamedance kept Stomping and advancing, trying to get a hit in.
"Ninetales! Use Bite attack!"
"Flamedance! Use Fire Blast!"
Ninetales jumped for Flamedance, but the horse was faster. He let out a roar of fire, slamming right into the Ninetales' face. The opposing Pokemon cried out and slid away with a shutter, moaning a bit.
"Ninetales, return!" Sirocco growled, pulling his Pokemon back.
"Yes! We won!" Medira shrieked and grabbed Flamedance's neck, "You were amazing!"
"Brrr," her Pokemon nearly purred at her.
Blaine sat back and took his glasses off, rubbing his eyes, "Oh…It's going to be a long year…"
"Yay, Medira!" Yuu-Yuu sprang onto the field, "Woohoo!"
"Hurray for Medira!" Sooney screeched, roaring out and latching onto Medira.
"Great job," Eevy nodded and gave a thumb's up, "No hard feelings."
Medira returned the nod, "No hard feelings."
*^~^**^~^*
"Yahooah!" Jason sprang out of his chair, "All right! I officially love that festival!"
"You love something all right," Will leaned away.
"Yeah. Probably mostly himself most of the time," Luri murmured, eyes wide at the screaming Elite First.
"I officially hate that festival," Lance snorted.
"What?! Why?!" Jason asked frantically.
"Because," Lance fumed, "Eevy didn't win!"
*^~^**^~^*
Medira squeezed Blackstorm and Flamedance, each under an arm, and smiled for the camera. The announcer was blaring into the lens and Morty was again trying to defeat Eevy at the water gun game. Medira went all a-twitter when Anouk, Cain and Blaine handed her the Skullcap Trophy. She smiled wide and held it up, cheering for herself, then looked to Eevy and winked. Eevy nodded slowly and returned to her game with Morty. Yuu-Yuu and Sooney were running around the festival, getting a bit of everything to eat as Medira sat with her Pokemon, praising them and showing off.
Suddenly a shout rang out, "HA! I finally beat you!" then the sound of water and a scream as Eevy pointed her water gun right in Morty's mouth.
Sirocco wandered over to Medira and crossed his arms, glaring at her from under his hat, "You battle well. Quite well, actually."
"Thank you, Sirocco," Medira nodded once, eyes narrowed for she didn't know what reason.
"Please," he lowered his head and took her hand, his touch slightly warmer than most as he lowered his lips to the back of her hand, "You may call me Siro," with that, he turned and walked away.
What Medira and the others didn't see, Raikou did. Sirocco slid stealthily behind a tree and narrowed his eyes. He looked left to right, then seemed to seep into the tree behind him. His hat hooked on a branch and he left it, disappearing completely from vision. Raikou growled, eyes flaring up as a blacker-than-black shadow slid off the tree and flew off into the forest.
Medira, after getting rid the people following her, rejoined Eevy and the others. She was clutching a photo tightly; a photo of Cain, Blaine, Anouk and herself. She shrieked with delight every now and then with no apparent cause, but she had her reasons. Morty now had a Misdreavus plushie, which he traded with Eevy for the Gengar. In the end, he wound up trucking them all back to Rose, but just the same…Eevy and the others, including Cain, Blaine and Anouk, waved as he walked away. Cain gave one last, somewhat sweet glance to Eevy and then he too set out on his return trip home. Anouk said he had to go and being the clean-up, and left with a slight wave. Blaine turned to Eevy and extended a hand, which she stared at blankly.
"I look forward to meeting you again," he said quickly, shoving his glasses back up his nose.
Medira gaped as Eevy returned the handshake, "You too…" she murmured in a daze.
"I must get back to my Gym. Good bye, ladies," he started to turn away, but paused, "Give them my best regards."
Somehow, Eevy just knew who he was talking about, "I will, Master Flare. Good bye," she shook herself straight, "Well! Let's get going!"
*^~^**^~^*
Jason was sitting quietly on the floor, staring at the TV with a scowl crossing his face, "You just don't like it because your little girlfriend didn't win…" he muttered lowly.
"Oh, shut up!" Lance thundered from the corner of the room, "You only like it the way you do because your little girlfriend did win!"
"Medira is not my girlfriend!" Jason shot to his feet.
"And Eevy is not my girlfriend!" Lance retorted.
"Could have fooled me! Sitting there drooling on the floor!" Jason snapped quickly.
Lance shoved him back, planting him in a chair, "Be quiet, munchkin, before I'm forced to hurt you!" he glared evilly into the younger Elite.
Jason swallowed and leaned back a bit, "Fine," he snorted.
"You know, those two really make you wonder sometimes," Will shook his head.
"Yes. This I've noticed," Luri nodded slowly.
Lance stomped across the room and slammed down in a chair, staring across the room at Jason, who returned the look with matched malignancy, "Stupid little midget," Lance kicked the leg of the table bitterly, "That Sirocco guy is definitely not who he says he is. Raikou knows it, I know it, and I have a feeling he knows we know it."
"Awry jerk," Jason muttered while yanking a book from the shelf beside him, "I oughtta just bean him one of these days," he continued fuming while opening the book, yet his glance returned to the TV time and again, "For some reason, I can just tell that Sirocco guy is a force to be reckoned with. And if I'm not mistaken," he glanced momentarily at Lance, who narrowed his right eye at him over his paper, "So does he."
*^~^**^~^*
Anouk was picking up the dozens of popcorn containers that lay around the perimeter of the Soot and Somber field. As he neared the edge, something caught his attention on the arena. He wandered over and looked down, a blank expression overcoming his face.
"White powder?" he questioned himself lightly as he bent down, "And black fur?"
*^~^*End*^~^*
A/N: So, what do you think? You like? You no like? I hope you like it. It took me forever. So who's the guy in the trench coat? Any ideas? Hmm? Well, I'll leave you be to ponder now and go work on some more things…Muahaha…
*^~^*Pro_V*^~^*
-=O~Her Many Pokemon~O=-
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