(Disclaimer, I do not own Pokémon, I only own my characters.)

It was time for his next battle, and Steven had informed him the he would be going up against a pair of twins.

"They allow that?" Zekiev asked, confused at these circumstances.

"Well, they allowed you to go through the tournament with one Pokémon, didn't they?" Steven explained as Zekiev stepped on the platform. "I'm sure you can handle it kid, it won't kill you."

"I guess…" Zekiev mumbled, as the lift carried him and Blaze once again to the field. "We can do this buddy; it's nothing new to us."

"Phlo" Blaze responded, feeling the air shift with maliciousness as they stepped off of the lift. There stood a boy and a girl, they looked almost identical, except the girl had long hair, and the boy had a look on his face that radiated bloodlust. It was unnerving to Blaze, but he wouldn't let it get to him, he had a battle to win.

"Be ready for anything Blaze," his master said cautiously, patting his head, "I don't like the feel of this."

"It is time for the final match of the semi-finals to be underway!" The announcer explained excitedly over the loudspeaker, ready to announce the two combatants.

"In the red corner, the twins Stacey and Stanly Psikopat! The carry a combined sixteen badges, and are being sponsored by The Lavender Town Pokémon tower!" the announcer exclaimed, as Stanley was already reaching for his pokeball.

"Shut up you annoying bastard!" he shouted, throwing his pokeball into the air, letting a shrill laugh escape his lungs.

"I guess the battle is already underway!" the announcer shouted, shuddering as the crazed boy stared at him again.

"Go, Medicham!" Stacey shouted as her Pokémon appeared on the field next to her brother's Gengar. The boy and his Pokémon shared the same sick, face splitting smile, and Zekiev decided it was about time for him to get serious.

"Well…let's do this Blaze!" he exclaimed to his partner, "don't hold back!" Blaze nodded determinedly, he wasn't going to lose this match for the world.

"Gengar, use shadow claw!" the boy screamed, his Pokémon complying.

"Gar!" he nodded, flinging himself at Blaze, claws at the ready.

"Blaze!" Zekiev shouted, "Dodge, then use Thunderpunch!" his Pokémon was gone in a flash, leaving Gengar looking confused. The sound of the air crackling was his only warning before a large fist covered in electricity slammed into the Ghost Pokémon's face, sending it sliding across the field.

"Gengar!" the insane boy shouted, "Get up and use Giga impact!" The Pokémon jumped to its feet, sprinting towards Blaze.

"Medicham, follow up with brick break!" Stacey commanded her Pokémon, who immediately caught up with her brothers Gengar. If this attack landed, following her brothers, it would surely knock the Typhlosion out, and they could proceed to the finals.

"Blaze! Catch them and then use Fire blast!" Zekiev called, his Pokémon waiting for its chance to strike. This was a risky move, and he knew it, but he could take them both out in one hit, rather than just one at a time.

"TY!" Blaze grunted as he caught the two Pokémon, slamming then together and releasing an Explosion of fire from his mouth, blasting them to the other side of the ring. He put more force than was necessary into the blast, but wanted to make sure it was enough.

"WHAT?!" Stanley roared, throwing out his second Pokémon, a Gastly. He didn't care, he wanted that trainer dead more than anything right now.

"ILL SKIN YOU WITH YOUR OWN TEETH!" he screamed, laughing like an angry maniac.

"And the Psikopat twins are disqualified, for the use of a third Pokémon!" the announcer shouted to the crowd as the boy screamed again.

"Gastly! Use explosion!" He shouted, his Pokémon readying the suicide attack.

"Blaze!" Zekiev called to his Pokémon, "knock it out before it can explode!" and in the blink of an eye, blaze was in front of the small ghost Pokémon, sending it crashing to the ground with a Thunderpunch. The Gastly would feel it later, but at least it was alive.

-why would he want his Pokémon to die just to beat me…what is wrong with this guy?!-Zekiev wondered, trying to understand why the trainer would be so crazy.

"Let's go." Stacy said to her brother in an angered tone, she would deal with him at home.

"Yes sister," Stanley hissed through his teeth, "as you wish…" and they descended the lift on their side, disappearing from view.

"The victor is Zekiev Zolnerowich and Blaze! We will now be taking a thirty minute intermission, and then we will continue on to the finals!" the announcer eagerly spoke to the audience, and then turned the microphone off to eat his lunch.

The lift descended once again, and Steven greeted Zekiev with a pat on the back. It had been a long day, and soon the finals would be upon them. To say a lot was on the trainers mind would be an understatement, he was anxious to finally face his last opponent, Jakus Onita. He already knew it would be a long battle, unlike the battles he had won today, and he was excited for a real challenge. The trainers he had faced were good, but not even close to Zekiev's level of experience. If they hoped to ever face him again, they had better train like crazy to stand a chance.

"Good job out there kid, you are really sweeping the field!" Steven announced excitedly, just as eager as Zekiev to move on to the finals, "But I think you should use your time wisely, and take Blaze to the Pokémon center to rest up. I'll get us all some food for the wait." Zekiev nodded once, and took off in the direction of the stadiums built in Pokémon center. He tended to avoid people along the way, as he didn't want to be distracted and waste time. Blaze walked by him, taking in the surrounding people and Pokémon. Zekiev could now see the Pokémon center, and picked up the pace to arrive quicker.

As he entered the red and white building, nurse joy gave him a warm smile.

"Welcome to the stadiums Pokémon Center, how can I help you?" she asked nicely, as Blaze entered the building behind Zekiev. Nurse joy went slightly wide-eyed for a moment but returned her gaze to Zekiev, awaiting his answer.

"I'd like to heal my Typhlosion please." He stated, making his way to the main desk. Blaze followed behind him quietly, sniffing around.

"Well, does he have a pokeball?" Nurse Joy asked, glancing at Blaze as he sat on his hind legs by the counter.

"Hey buddy, I have to put you in your ball for a few seconds, okay?" The trainer asked Blaze, holding out the pokeball. Blaze nodded, and tapped the center of the ball with his nose, vanishing in a beam of red light. He handed the ball over to nurse joy, who smiled at him again.

"This will take a minute, please take a seat if you wish." She stated, and Zekiev walked to the chairs by the door, sitting and waiting for his friend to be at full power again.

Thanks for reading, please review! The next chapter will be out soon, and will be the longest of all the tournament battles! I hope you are as excited as I am!