POKEMON
CRIMSON VERSION
PART 1
Chapter One
And So It Begins
"Blaze!" A gentle woman's voice called through the doorway to a drowsy seven year old.
Blaze Templar groaned piteously as he tried to cover his head. Going to school was pointless. He had little interest in most school related work, and while he was skilled when it
came to it he really didn't want to bother with it. School was a pain. It was easy. It was dull, and it was….boring. Blaze really didn't want to bother with the topic since it was so irrelevant.
People learned by experience. He knew this.
Yet, there was one class that held his attention; or rather used to: Pokémon Class. "Pokeclass" as the kids affectionately referred to it as used to be something he learned from.
Pokémon were so diverse, unique, powerful, fun, and most of all: Loving.
In Pokeclass Blaze was the best. In mock battles he'd tear through his opponents one by one and even in handicapped matches he'd still win. Even when they had the 3v1 battles
or 4v1's Blaze obliterated his opponents.
Frankly, his classmates were exceedingly jealous.
"Blaze Templar! Get up immediately!" His mother called with a much more insistent tone.
"Don't wanna." Blaze mumbled as he pulled his pillow over his head.
He stared at the Plusle's and Minun's woven into the fabric. However, he jerked when he felt a shockingly cold blast of water cover his chest.
He fell out of his bed in a heap and stared in shock at his mother. His shock turned to an injured look. However, she merely arched an eyebrow at him and stared impatiently.
"Well?" She asked.
"I'm up." Blaze muttered and stared at the wood of the floor.
"I guess your father won the bet." She sighed and walked out of the room.
Blaze felt ashamed for a long moment, he shouldn't give his mom a hard time just because he was feeling bored about school. That wasn't right. So, Blaze straightened his
shoulders and began to glance around his room.
Everything was still in place, his dresser still had the battle books on the top and the 'contest' books were stacked neatly nearby. Getting up Blaze made his way to his dresser. He
easily avoided the Pokémon figurines that were scattered in one part of the floor and opened the top drawer of his dresser. He pulled out a pair of underwear and a pair of socks and
tossed them on his bed. Then, he pulled out a blue and black shirt out of another drawer before he pulled out a black pair of pants. He tossed those on his bed as well before he began to
pull of his Teddiursa pajamas. Once he got changed he slipped on his crimson and black coat and made his way out the door.
"Well, look whose up finally." His dad grinned at Blaze as the seven year old entered the kitchen.
"Hi dad." Blaze greeted.
Blaze looked at his dad curiously. He often came home tired or with an ashen face but today was unlike anything he had ever seen. His dad's face normally only slightly careworn
seemed exhausted, nervous, and even…scared.
That didn't make much sense to Blaze though, why should a government official that handles relations with the Asada Pokémon League be so tired so frequently?
It also didn't explain why his mother seemed so apprehensive all the time.
However, Blaze didn't have time to consider this mystery seeing as his mother gave him a couple Pop Tarts and a glass of milk and pointed to the clock.
Blaze's eyes widened in shock at the Piplup Clock. He had two minutes to eat breakfast!
Instantly Blaze wolfed down his strawberry pop tarts and took a couple deep gulps of the milk.
"Bye Mom! Bye Dad! Love you both!" Blaze yelled as he rushed out to meet the red buss of the Asada Elite Academy.
"Bye Dear…" Blaze's mom whispered sadly behind him.
Seven minutes passed and Blaze was seated beside his friends. His best male friend, a boy named Danny was pretty skilled at battles, but was also rather…geeky. While Blaze's
other close friend, a girl named Alicia was extremely popular and passionate about Pokémon but lacked both the knowledge and skill to be good at them. It was because of this that they
became friends. Danny was the 'brains' of the group, knowing anything that came up as long as it wasn't street knowledge or the natural instincts it took to be truly great at Pokémon,
while Alicia stood as their access to the 'popular' circles.
If Blaze was willing to admit it to himself he'd have conceded that he'd have been the head of the group. He was decisive and in battles his friends turned to him for instructions
and guidance. If he said jump they would. Blaze exuded an aura of power that his peers looked towards. They trusted him instinctively. Yet, Blaze never paid much attention to that. His
passion was battles, seeing Pokémon grow, mature, and befriend.
Alicia turned her brown haired head to face her friend Blaze and her blue eyes sparkled brightly as she smiled at him.
"Blaze! I was worried that you wouldn't make it." She smiled brightly at him as she scooted over and let Blaze sit beside her on the deep blue bench seat.
"Don't worry. I'm here."
"Today." Danny added dryly as he pushed up his thick glasses to rest properly on his nose.
Danny's green eyes scanned Blaze clinically.
"You had a strawberry pop tart for breakfast didn't you?"
"How'd…?" Blaze asked in shock.
Danny reached over to Blaze's chest and brushed off a few crumbs.
Blaze furiously blushed as Alicia and Danny laughed at him.
"That's not very nice." Blaze muttered to their amusement.
Their laughter only ended once they drew into sight of the school. Once the buss stopped and the students bailed out of the bright red vehicle they made their way up the stairs.
"So, see you in pokeclass?" Alicia asked her boys.
Blaze and Danny nodded in unison.
Pokeclass was unique seeing as all the other classes were gender segregated. Blaze wasn't sure what that was about but throughout the entire school from the first grade all the
way to the 12th graders they were segregated by gender.
Once they separated Blaze turned to Danny and gave a half nod towards the changing rooms that several boys were reluctantly trailing into.
It was another downside to attending the world's finest school. Uniforms.
The Asada Academy required every boy and girl to wear a stuffy blue, red, gold and black uniform that had a scratchy material and a chocking neckline. Girls had to wear an
awkward skirt that came to the knees and somehow found itself causing more problems than solving.
Blaze hated the uniform of the school but he supposed that it was necessary if he wanted to get school over with.
Danny nodded miserably at Blaze and the two friends made their way to go change into the hot, stuffy material that felt as if it was made from a Tyranitar's hide instead of the
claimed Mareep wool.
Classes passed as Blaze expected, slowly. They couldn't hold his attention well and he found himself staring off into space as he thought of the last simulated battle he'd had. He
had been using a Metagross against a Dragonite and since that Metagross didn't have access to many useful moves such as Psychic or Meteor Mash he'd had to come up with some novel
tactics. It had actually stumped the computer and he'd won when the computer's AI had simply given up.
Blaze however knew that that wasn't going to happen in real life and wondered if he'd have won or not. Either way, Blaze had shocked and awed his teachers and peers alike with
that little stunt.
"Blaze Templar! Pay attention!" A book slammed onto Blaze's desk and jerked his focus onto his teacher.
"Sorry Professor Plum." Blaze said sheepishly as the class laughed at him.
"If you're so confident about your Pokémon skills then perhaps you can tell me about Salamence's natural ability, its weaknesses and its evolutionary chain?"
Blaze mentally groaned before he began.
"Salamence is a Dragon and Flying Type Pokémon that's natural ability is its intimidation and it is a final stage Pokémon. Bagon evolves to Shelgon and then to Salamence.
Some notable moves of Salamence are Dragon Dance and Dragon Claw." Blaze recited dully.
"What about Espeon?" Plum demanded.
"Espeon has the ability to pass on any status effects that harms it to an opponent and it evolves from Eevee. Espeon is unusual since it evolves via trust during the daylight hours.
Notable moves include Calm Mind and Psychic." Blaze replied.
"Starly." Plum glared.
"Starly, Staravia, and Staraptor. Intimidation is its evolved forms specialty, and it eventually learns powerful moves such as Brave Bird and Close Combat."
Again, he silenced his professor but this time it was only for a minute.
"That's it. You think you're so skilled and knowledgeable. Pokémon battle. Rentals only now." Plum glared.
"Of course!" Blaze felt the blood rush to his limbs and life flow through him like an electric current.
Contests were interesting, pokeathalons were noteworthy, but battles were where Blaze truly shined.
"Battle Confirmed!" Blaze's friend Danny yelled and then continued in a loud yell. "Contestants will begin battle in ten minutes in Training Gym three. Rental Pokémon only!"
Seven minutes later the entire school had gathered at the Battle Dome; a massive complex devoted to Pokémon battles only.
"This Pokémon battle will be six versus six! Random Pokémon will be selected and to be used in a one versus one battle!" Danny announced before a teacher entered the
announcement booth several stories above the arena.
Blaze glanced around the large arena. It was an atypical arena for competitive battles, brown floor panels, and white lining to draw the sides with two large podiums to be used for
the competitors.
The stands were filled to the maximum capacity while the students roared the headmaster Professor Thorn began to announce the judges and so forth.
The gym teacher ran out dressed in the officials garb and spoke.
"Draw your first Pokéballs!"
Blaze grabbed the first Pokéball that popped up out of the large hole and grinned at Professor Plum confidently.
With a lazy toss Mightyena appeared. The hound-like Pokémon howled and sent a chill through the crowd.
"And Blaze will lead off with Mightyena!" Danny announced.
"Go!" Plum yelled and the red and white ball opened revealing its Pokémon.
"And Professor Plum will lead with Hitmonlee! Will Blaze be able to counter the type advantage or will Hitmonlee kick Mightyena into oblivion?" Danny yelled from the student's
announcement booth.
"Mightyena, Poison fang the ground." Blaze ordered and then whispered, relying on Mightyena's superior hearing.
"And remember where the fang residue remains. It's going to be a trap."
Mightyena gave a half nod and then sprung into action.
"Hitmonlee! Bulk up!" Plum said arrogantly.
"He's trying to make his defenses too strong and his attack strong too…Let him. Mightyena: Howl!"
A chilling howl echoed throughout the arena and Hitmonlee looked nervous.
"Hitmonlee gained attack and defense with tightening its muscles but Mightyena also increased its attack and made Hitmonlee nervous!" Danny yelled.
"Keep it up!" Blaze encouraged.
"Don't let that dog scare you! You've got a type advantage!" Plum yelled.
Mightyena howled again, but this time his intimidation didn't work as well. Nevertheless Mightyena's crimson eyes burned with the thought of victory.
"Mightyena! Get Ready!"
Mightyena tensed up and prepared for an attack.
"Hitmonlee! Hi Jump Kick!"
"Hitmonlee!" He agreed and a second later jumped into the air and spun before accelerating towards Mightyena."
"Mightyena…Protect!"
"How did Blaze know that Mightyena knew that?" Danny gasped in shock as Mighteyna rolled out of the way of the Hi Jump Kick.
Because of that Hitmonlee slammed into the duracreet wall. Thus harming it severely.
"Swagger!" Blaze yelled.
"Not bad." Plum admitted grudgingly.
"Watch this." Blaze grinned.
"Take Down!" Blaze yelled and then added in a quiet tone.
"Aim to knock it into the poison trap."
Mightyena roared and smashed into Hitmonlee sending it sprawling…directly into the poisonous residue and a moment later Hitmonlee looked agonized as the venom spread
through its body.
"What a combination! The initial attack on the ground has just served a very dastardly purpose! Hitmonlee is now confused, poisoned and lying on shards of fangs! Blaze must
have remembered how fast Mightyena's fangs regrow and took advantage of that fact!"
"Get up Hitmonlee and use counter!"
Hitmonlee flipped onto its feet and grabbed Mightyena and tossed the hapless Pokémon before Blaze could say a word…directly into the fang shards."
"Ouch! What a comeback! It almost…Yes! Professor Plum anticipated a combo attack of large damage…but why is Hitmonlee looking fresh?"
"A Lum Berry." Blaze muttered in disgust.
Lum Berries were unusual fruits that could heal status afflictions of a Pokémon. Apparently, that Hitmonlee had been carrying one and Plum staked his hopes on it. His hope was of
course well justified since it meant that the severe damage was doubled to Mightyena who was now unconscious.
"Good job Mightyena." Blaze murmured and returned the unconscious Pokémon.
"Alright…You're up next!" A Skarmory appeared.
"Okay, so this is typical." Blaze muttered.
Dark types were weak to Fighting types, and Steel types had a weakness to Fighting types as well, however, since Skarmory was also a Flying Type it only took neutral damage to
fighting moves.
"Skarmory…Spikes!" Blaze ordered.
"Hitmonlee…Blaze Kick!"
"Protect!" Blaze yelled and Skarmory flew out of the way just in time.
"A nice maneuver by Blaze but how will he handle the Blaze Kickin' Hitmonlee?" Danny yelled.
"This is too convenient…" Blaze muttered.
What were the odds that that particular Hitmonlee would also know Blaze kick as well has be holding a Lum Berry? What were the odds that the first two of Blaze's Pokemon would
be weak against Hitmonlee directly and unable to attack it directly as well?
"Skarmory, fly and drop another two layers as fast as you can! Use protect if Hitmonlee tries to Blaze kick you!"
Skarmory nodded and soared a moment later.
"Mind Reader!" Plum ordered.
"Get ready…" Blaze murmured to Skarmory.
"Now!"
"Blaze Kick!"
The Protect went up just in the nick of time. While Skarmory was uninjured from the fire kick it looked tired from its efforts of dodging so determinedly.
"Now! Go for the Brave Bird!" Blaze said just loud enough for Skarmory to hear.
Skarmory glowed a brilliant hue and a blazing bird rushed at Hitmonlee.
"Close Combat!" Plum yelled desperately.
"Hit him with everything Skarmory!" Blaze yelled.
The attacks slammed into each other and to Blaze's shock only Skarmory fainted.
"Not possible…" Blaze muttered.
Even with the bulk up after all the damage Hitmonlee had taken the only way it could have survived is if Skarmory hadn't been trained well and Hitmonlee had been.
"There's a severe Pokemon level disadvantage here." Blaze said simply as he looked at Plum.
Plum scoffed at the thought.
"I've been battling for years kid. I've got you outclassed."
"Right." Blaze replied sarcastically before he narrowed his eyes and tossed a third Pokéball onto the field.
A monstrous Pokemon emerged. It had green scales and a tail thicker than a hundred year old tree. Sand whipped around the armored beast as its terrifying glare fixed itself on
Hitmonlee.
"Tyranitar…" Blaze whispered in awe.
Few Pokémon were as terrifying as the armored Pokémon. With a monstrous arsenal and access to vicious stats the Pokémon was known as a 'Sweeper' or one that could defeat
entire teams on its own. Few Pokémon dared face a Tyranitar, and fewer still defeated one.
But…One thing came back to haunt Tyranitar. It was severely weak against fighting attacks.
"Blaze isn't catching any breaks here! His third Pokémon also suffers a weakness to one of Hitmonlee's attacks!" Danny mumbled.
"Tyranitar. I'm tired of this Hitmonlee. Finish it with an earthquake." Blaze muttered.
A second was the only warning Hitmonlee had before the entire stadium was ripped asunder from Tyranitar's attack.
There was no surviving the attack. Hitmonlee toppled and Blaze breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'm not done yet kid!" Plum vowed and tossed a second Pokéball onto the field.
Danny groaned.
"And Blaze has another threat against him: Machamp!"
"Substitute and Stone Edge!" Blaze yelled desperately.
"Dynamic Punch!"
Before Tyranitar could even begin to obey Blaze's orders the lightning fast punch smashed into Tyranitar sending it flying and a moment later Tyranitar collapsed.
"In an equal match it shouldn't have done nearly that much damage." Blaze whispered.
"It's gotta be a setup…" Blaze glared at the smirking professor.
The only question is: Why?
Blaze tossed the next Pokéball hoping for the best and expecting the worst.
"Ursaring…Good Pokémon but against Machamp…"
"Swords Dance!" Ursaring roared and a moment later was stronger still.
"Now Dynamic Punch!"
"Endure and Counter!" Blaze ordered.
After taking the devastating hit Ursaring countered with a reversal directly to Machamp's face; sending the champion fighter flying.
"And Blaze's incredible counter strike one hit K-O's Machamp! That's what we've come to expect of our resident expert!" Danny cooed.
Blaze heard the students roar in approval, and then he realized with shock that he had become a symbol for them. He was their champion, and so the setup finally made sense.
If I'm defeated here…then it means that we students can't hope to beat the teachers and so they're necessary to the students. I'm to be made an example of…Disgusting. Well, just
because I have a severe disadvantage doesn't mean I won't win.
A second later Plum sneered and tossed out his third Pokémon.
"So we are looking at Blaze's fourth Pokémon and Professor Plum's third. Can Blaze turn this around?" Danny asked.
"And it's Gyarados!" Danny yelled as the atrocious Pokémon appeared.
"Can't I catch any breaks?" Blaze mumbled before he focused on Ursaring.
"Get ready…I need you to hold on one more time and counter one last time."
Ursaring nodded wearily.
"Stone Edge!" Blaze ordered.
"Protect! Dragon Dance and Thunder Fang!" Plum ordered.
"Get ready…Now Endure!" Blaze yelled and Ursaring braced itself a second before the attack struck the bear.
"Now counter with a point blank Giga Impact!" Blaze ordered.
"What a comeback!" Danny roared as Gyarados was knocked out with the incredible hit.
Plum glared at Blaze and tossed out another Pokémon: Scizor.
"Well, it's time…Bullet Punch!"
"En-" Began Blaze as the blindingly fast punch struck down Ursaring.
Blaze called Ursaring back and called out the next Pokémon.
"And Blaze's fifth Pokémon is Onix!"
"Blast it…" Blaze muttered.
"Onix...Go for a stone edge…and then bide." Blaze muttered.
Onix roared and razor sharp stones tore at Scizor who merely dropped to one knee and it's wings started to flutter rapidly.
"Roost…Well, that makes life fun." Blaze sighed.
Then, once Scizor roosted off the stone edge damage it rushed Onix for a bullet punch. Onix roared in pain but took the hit.
"Ouch! What a devastating bullet punch! Scizor is not holding back and Onix has a severe weakness to steel types. This hasn't been a good match up for Blaze!"
"Hold on Onix…Just one more…" Blaze muttered desperately.
"Now Scizor…Finish this with Metal Claw!" Plum yelled.
"Hold on Onix…Just hold on for one more hit." Blaze hoped as Scizor's potent claws raked over Onix.
Then, Onix's patience paid off. Its unbridled fury ripped into Scizor. The crimson aura washed over Scizor and tore through its defenses in a heartbeat.
"Wow! Blaze's idea worked perfectly! Scizor is down! Scizor has been defeated!" Danny gasped with shock.
Plum glared furiously as he released his fifth Pokémon.
"And now….It's Heracross! Blaze has been completely-"
"We're sorry but Mr. Talon is unable to comment at this time." A teacher interrupted to boos of the crowd.
"So they do want me defeated that badly eh?"
"Onix…How hurt are you?" Onix gave a feeble roar.
"Okay, I know that this is a terrible thing to ask you but you can rest after one more attack alright? Selfdestruct." Blaze whispered sadly.
Onix glowed a brilliant white and a moment later an eruption of energy rocked the stage.
"And Onix used self destruct! A powerful move! Will Heracross be able to withstand the attack?" The headmaster announced.
"Not this time." Blaze sighed in relief as they both recalled their fifth Pokémon.
A few moments later Blaze threw out a Pokéball. His last Pokémon.
"Blaze's last Pokemon is Rhyperior! Plum's final Pokemon is Starmie!"
A few moments later Blaze grinned and spoke.
"Substitute, Swords Dance!"
Plum hesitated for a moment. That moment was all Rhyperior needed to get set up.
"Now…Mega Horn!" Blaze yelled.
"Pro-" Plum began desperately but it was in vain as the attack struck Starmie viciously.
"Mr…Templar…has…defeated…Professor…Plum." The headmaster grated out.
The students roared and their cheers filled the facility.
Several minutes later the headmaster approached Blaze.
"Mr. Templar, I'm going to want to see you, Mr. Talon as well as your friend Miss. Selene in my office. Go and get them."
Blaze had a sinking feeling but nodded stiffly.
End of Chapter 1. Any comments? Any questions?