Chapter 2: A Powerful Trainer
Moth strode calmly to the field. Yesterday she had received a call that a powerful trainer would meet her there. He had submitted himself for the next battle over the phone, but she wanted to meet him for herself.
She saw the silhouette from a ways off. His shaggy red hair just barely hid his ears. He adjusted his cap, a dark reddish-orange against his rust-colored hair. He fingered a Poké Ball that he held in his fist. Moth blinked, impressed. He seems like one powerful trainer!
The teen looked up when Moth approached. "I'm Axel," he stated, getting to the point.
Moth held out a hand. "Moth."
Axel shook her outstretched hand stiffly. "I talked with you yesterday."
Moth nodded. "Are you ready for battle?"
Axel tossed the Poké Ball into the air. It opened in midair and released a beam of light. On the ground, a magnificent lion-like Pokémon materialized with a roar.
"Absolutely," Axel replied at last. Moth stared at the Pokémon.
"Arcanine," she whispered.
Axel gave a faint shrug. "Impressive, isn't it?"
Moth was jolted out of her stupor by his arrogance. "Yup. Tell me your three Pokémon and I'll get you set up on the field."
Axel narrowed his eyes, and Moth noticed the shade of brown was the same as the Arcanine's. "Just don't give me some low-rate trainer. I'm no ordinary trainer, and these are no ordinary Pokémon."
"Right," Moth replied.
Axel stood on the field with Arcanine's Poké Ball in his hand. Moth was at her position above the screen, and the woman whom Moth had chosen to face him murmured to her Pokémon through the Poké Balls. The woman, named Sybil, was pale and had long black hair hanging down her back.
Moth picked up her megaphone. "Ready?"
Both trainers looked up and nodded.
"Fight!"
"Impress them all, Arcanine!" Axel shouted, tossing the Poké Ball. Once again the Fire-type roared as it materialized. Fire swirled around its paws as it looked at Sybil.
"You can do it, Spiritomb," Sybil murmured, pressing the button. The Spiritomb intoned its cry as it crouched on the grass.
"Arcanine, use Flare Blitz!" Axel commanded.
Arcanine roared. Flames swelled around it. The grass beneath it crumbled to ash as the heat intensified. The Pokémon tipped its head back and roared again. Moth caught a glimpse of shimmering red inside of its mouth.
Then it charged.
The Spiritomb had been observing all of this and was unprepared for the attack. It was thrown clear off its...er...stone and collided with Sybil's head, leaving a lump. Sybil merely rubbed her head and muttered, "Untrained Pokémon."
The Arcanine looked proud of itself, even though a scratch on its side revealed recoil damage.
"Avenge Spiritomb's defeat, Medicham," Sybil called.
The Pokémon practiced chops in the air as it stood on the field.
"Arcanine! Take that thing down with Wild Charge!"
Sybil bristled at Axel's insult. "Medicham is not a thing," she hissed. "Dodge it, Medicham!"
The Pokémon's eyes glowed as it sidestepped the electrified tackle. The Arcanine couldn't stop, and it collided violently with Sybil.
"Ouch," she moaned. "Medicham, defeat it with High Jump Kick!"
The Medicham hesitated slightly. Its trainer was underneath the dazed foe.
"Don't worry about me," she insisted.
The Medicham launched itself into the air. Its gaze cleared of worry when Sybil wriggled out from underneath Arcanine. The Fire-type had just shaken its head to clear it when Medicham's feet knocked it down to the ground once more.
"Arcanine! Get up!" Axel yelled. He exclaimed in delight when it staggered to its paws. "Use Reversal!"
The Arcanine shuddered and charged Medicham. It flew through the air and landed heavily on Sybil's head injury. "Ouch," she groaned.
"Great job, Arcanine," Axel praised him. It seemed to stand a little straighter.
"Go, Gardevoir!" Sybil said intensely. It materialized, glaring at Axel.
"Use Reversal again!" Axel commanded. It tackled the foe, and Gardevoir fell to the ground, but got back up again.
"Use Psychic," Sybil told it. Gardevoir's eyes glowed with a blue-white light, and Arcanine tensed, baring its teeth in pain. It bellowed loudly and its legs buckled.
"Arcanine has fainted!" Moth said, taking away Axel's change to yell at his Pokémon. "What will he send out next?"
"Beat her, Gallade!"
Moth's eyes widened. "Gardevoir versus Gallade! Who will win?"
Axel looked smug. "Night Slash," he told the Gallade. It darted forward gleefully, swiping at its opponent with shadowy blades. Gardevoir crumpled on the ground.
"Axel wins!" Moth declared.
After the battle, Sybil had headed for the Pokémon Center to heal her Pokémon. Axel hadn't; he had stayed with his Pokémon to brag. He had used a Max Revive on Arcanine.
Moth approached him.
"What are you doing?" she asked casually. Showing off?
"Oh, I'm just standing here, letting people see the victors," he replied. "Go, Eelektross!" Axel tossed a Poké Ball. The large blue eel-like Pokémon emerged, electricity crackling around it. A few people oohed.
"That was a nice battle," Moth told him.
Axel smirked. "I'm coming back again tomorrow. See if you can get a tougher trainer for me, 'k?"
Moth clenched her teeth for a moment. "Fine."
Cliffhanger? Cliffie! Please review!