Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon (a.k.a. Pocket Monsters) or any of its various characters and themes. Both rights, and/or ownership, to the Pokémon franchise belong to Satoshi Tajiri and Nintendo.
[Chapter Four - "Too Close For Comfort"]
'This Smeargle of hers doesn't look all that threatening. I mean, look at it. Would I possibly need to worry that much about its abilities?', Kyo thought to himself.
"Alright, Kaoru! We'll start things off for now. Hit that Smeargle with your Bubble Attack!", Kyo commanded.
Poliwag followed its trainer's orders and bubbles began to rush out from its mouth at a pretty decent speed.
Without its trainer saying anything, the Smeargle waved its tail in a circle in front of itself, popping all of the bubbles that came its way.
"Say what?!", Kyo exclaimed. 'It blocked the attack with only its tail?'
The french girl laughed. "Is s'at ze' best you've got? You'll 'ave to do better s'an zat."
Kyo clenched his teeth together and growled. "Kaoru, let's try a Double Slap attack this time!"
Poliwag closed the gap between it and its opponent, then turned around and went to slap Smeargle with its tail. But before its attack could land, Smeargle grabbed Poliwag's tail with its free hand. (Smeargle's other hand was still holding its own tail.)
"What the-" Kyo started.
"I told you already, didn't I? You're not trying 'ard enough.", The girl said. "Smeargle, get rid of that little tadpole. Throw it as hard as you can."
The Smeargle reacted immediately and tossed Kaoru away as though it were as light as a feather. Kaoru landed on its feet and wobbled a bit, dizzy from being thrown through the air. But it soon shook the dizziness away and was ready to continue.
"Kaoru, you alright?", Kyo asked.
"Poli!", Kaoru returned. It's tone of voice was a cheerful one so Kyo knew he was still ready to fight.
"Alright then, hit it with your best Water Gun!"
Poliwag sprayed a rush of water from its mouth in Smeargle's direction. But, like before, the Smeargle spun its tail in front of itself, repelling the attack.
'That is seriously starting to get on my nerves.', Kyo thought to himself.
"Okay then, Smeargle. W'at do you say we start our attack now?", the girl said, her Smeargle standing ready. "Use Sketch!"
"Sketch?", Kyo asked aloud.
Smeargle held its tail forward, like a painter holds the paintbrush, and began to draw something in the air. A shadow-like image appear and water began to rush forward from the image.
"Oh no! Kaoru, look out!", Kyo yelled. Kaoru barely dodged the attack. "Was that a Water Gun? How did you manage that?"
The girl laughed. "You gave us the attack, my friend. Z'at is se' power of Sketch. It allows the user to copy any move its target has used against it in battle."
"So now you're telling me that I have to fight a pokemon that can copy all of my attacks?", Kyo asked, a little nervous about how this battle would turn out.
"Z'at's right, my friend. You have given me everything I need to defeat you. Are you ready to give up yet?", The girl asked sarcastically.
"If you think that a simple painting copycat is going to stop me, you've thought wrong." Kyo looked toward Kaoru who had been looking his way. Kyo nodded and Kaoru turned back toward Smeargle, determination in its eyes. "In that case, we'll just have to change things around a bit."
"W'at are you talking about?" The girl asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.
"Kaoru, let's go!" Kyo yelled.
"Poli!", Poliwag replied.
"Use your Bubble attack, Kaoru!"
Poliwag spewed bubbles forward like before. The Smeargle held its tail forward.
"Sketch it, Smeargle.", the girl said before Smeargle began painting another shadowy image in the air. The image starting spewing bubbes just like Poliwag had done a second ago. The bubbles cancelled each other out.
"I was hoping you'd do that. Kaoru, use Water Gun while it's distracted!", Kyo added.
Poliwag had closed in on its opponent by this time. It sprayed water from its mouth with great force and high speed. The water hit its target hard and caused it to fly back a little. However, the Smeargle caught its feet in the ground and, after sliding a few inches back, came to a halt.
"I see. So, you do 'ave some fight in you, after all." the girl said. She didn't seemed worried at all, despite her pokemon taking such a strong attack from that close. "But z'at only makes this more fun for Smeargle and I. Smeargle, close the distance between you and that Poliwag."
Smeargle let go of its tail and at that instant, Kyo became nervous. 'Wait, it released its tail? Why would they rush forward? That pokemon could just Sketch our att-"
"Kaoru, look out!", Kyo yelled, finally realizing what was coming.
"Too late." Smeargle dashed forward with great speed. By the time Poliwag could prepare itself for an attack, Smeargle had already been standing in front of it. "Smeargle, use your pound attack!"
Smeargle jumped and crashed directly into Poliwag, the force through Poliwag through the air, straight towards Kyo.
"Kaoru!" Kyo was now worried about Poliwag's condition but Poliwag got up ready for more. "You sure you're okay, buddy?"
Poliwag nodded then jumped forward a few paces. It was clear to Kyo that Kaoru was determined to win this battle no matter how much abuse it had to take to do it.
"I'm with you, my friend. Let's show em' what we're made of." They nodded in unison.
The girl was clapping her hands together. "I must say, you're doing way better than I 'ad figured you would. But 'ow much longer can you last? It's clear you can't win. Not only can my Smeargle copy your attacks, but it's also faster z'an your Poliwag, not to mention, stronger. Z'ere is nothing you could possibly do to 'arm us."
"You talk too much, you know that?" Kyo said sarcastically. "Kaoru, Water Gun. Let's go!"
Poliwag sprayed water forward like before.
"Smeargle, dodge it then close in and use pound." Smeargle began to rush toward Poliwag, zig-zagging in order to avoid the water. When it got close enough, it jumped forward, crashing into Poliwag and sending it flying backwards again. But, Poliwag got back up, not ready to quit.
"Kaoru, use your bubble attack, then your double slap."
"Poli." Kaoru spewed bubbles from its mouth. The bubbles were a little faster than before.
"Smeargle, sketch it." Smeargle sketched the move, repelling every bubble visible. By this time, Poliwag had closed the distance between them and turned to slap Smeargle with its tail.
"Don't you learn?" the girl started, "Smeargle, grab it like before."
Smeargle grabbed Poliwag by its tail like before. At this time, Kyo smirked.
"Kaoru, Water Gun! Hurry!"
With its tail be held, Kaoru turned to face Smeargle and fired a water gun from point-blank range, causing the Smeagle to release its tail. Smeargle flew backward while Kaoru landed on the ground below itself.
Smeargle caught its footing again and stood ready.
"Well z'at was a very quick turn of events. Using my earlier tactics as a way to create your own. Nicely done." the girl flipped her hair upon saying this.
"I told you, didn't I? We're not ready to quit just yet."
I sat there in awe by how well these two battled together. I wondered if Lilith and I would be that great one day. The thought excited me. I was going to remember this battle no matter who won.
"Well then, my friend, prepare yourself for some more punishment." the girl started, "Smeargle, Fury Attack!"
Smeargle rushed toward Kaoru, who had been running towards it.
"Kaoru, double slap!"
The two pokemon's attacks clashed and they jumped backward afterwards. After a moment of rest, they repeated the process. This went on about three more times before Poliwag had lost power over Smeargle, causing it to take a flurry of blows.
"This battle's over." the french girl said in an irritating tone of voice.
Even I found it irritating and I wasn't even battling her.
"Kaoru...please tell me you can still stand, pal." Kyo said, his voice filled with worry for his pokemon's condition.
Poliwag struggled to get back on its feet.
"Why doesn't z'at pokemon just stay put? Does it really enjoy this much punishment?" the girl said annoyed.
"Kaoru? Don't strain yourself." Kyo said.
As it struggled to get back on its feet, Poliwag's body suddenly started glowing a bright white. The light surrounded its body and took another shape. When the light faded, Poliwag had changed form.
"Kaoru?", Kyo asked.
I burst out of my seat with utter surprise. "Wow! That's amazing. Poliwag just evolved!"
I could feel the other trainers in the room staring at me but I didn't care. I was way too excited to pay much attention to them. I just experienced my first evolution.
"W'at is z'at t'ing? Did it just...evolve?", the girl exclaimed in shock at what had just taken place.
The new Kaoru turned to Kyo. "Poliwhirl.", it said.
"Poliwhirl, eh?", Kyo started, "Looks like we're back in this, pal."
Kaoru nodded and turned back to Smeargle.
"Let's finish this battle once and for all!"
"Whirl!", Kaoru replied.
"Evolution or not, it's still not a match for my Smeargle. Use your Fury Attack, once more!"
"Kaoru, dodge it."
Kaoru followed its orders and dodged all of Smeargle's strikes with ease.
"Impossible! 'e dodged all of z'em?" the girl asked.
At this point, I knew who was going to win this fight.
"Kaoru, Double Slap!"
Kaoru raised its arm and began slapping Smeargle repeatedly.
"Smeargle, get out of z'ere, quickly!"
Smeargle braced itself and then managed to get away from Kaoru before its next attack landed.
"Kaoru, Water Gun! Let's go!" Kyo continued.
Poliwhirl then sprayed water forward. This time, with more way more force and speed than it had when it was a Poliwag.
"Sketch it, Smeargle."
"I knew you'd do that."
"What?" the girl said, caught off guard by Kyo's comment.
"Kaoru, Hypnosis!"
Poliwhirl stood still and stared at Smeargle. Its eyes began to glow a bright red and Smeargle fell asleep almost instantly. The water, however, was still traveling towards it. The water gun hit its target and sent it flying towards its trainer. Smeargle had lost.
"No, Smeargle!"
"SMEARGLE IS UNABLE TO CONTINUE THE BATTLE. POLIWHIRL IS THE WINNER!", the announcer stated.
Just like before, I burst with excitement. This meant that Kyo and I would possibly face each other later on in the tournament. I couldn't wait.
"Great job, Kaoru." Kyo said as he walked up to his partner. He then walked over to his opponent, who had just finished praising her pokemon and returning it to its poke ball. He reached out a hand towards her. "That was a really fun battle.", he said with a friendly smile on his face.
The girl took his hand and let him help her back to her feet. "You were great as well. Your pokemon is very strong and determined.", she replied with a smile of her own. "Maybe one day, we can battle again."
"Sounds good to me." Kyo said.
The girl nodded, then walked away with her hands together in front of her.
When Kyo made it back to the locker rooms, I was already standing there, waiting to congratulate and question him about his battle and his tactics. When that was over with, we awaited our next opponents to be called. Our opponents weren't really that tough beyond that point and soon enough, it was down to the last match-
Myself and Lilith against Kyo and Kaoru.
This was going to be a tough battle for Lilith and I. Not only due to the type disadvantage but also due to Kyo's battle experience. But, that only made me even more ready to face him. Lilith and I were not going to back down easily. We were going to win this tournament. We were going to prove that we were going to be the next top trainer. I would be one step closer to achieving my goal of becoming better than "that trainer". There was only one thought left in my mind- Lilith and I- were not going to lose this battle, no matter what.
A/N: So everyone, I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as i enjoyed putting it together for you. Believe it or not, I re-wrote the battle scene about 5 times before I finally decided how it should go. My friend was the one who suggested his character, Kyo's, Poliwag should evolve. So now, Kaoru is a Poliwhirl. But that only makes Sarutobi's type situation worse. Not only does Lilith have to go up against a Water-type pokemon, but now the pokemon has evolved. Will they manage to get through this? Be on the lookout for Chapter 5 to find out. Til next time.