Downfall Of A Legend
CHAPTER 10
"Let's see how much you've grown..." Leader said to himself, leaning against his fist with a grin as he watched the two pokemon form on the field.
"Snorlax, Focus Punch!" the large pokemon stomped across the field, its fist drawn back with a glow.
"Beartic, Ice Beam on the ground," the large bear shot an icy beam at the ground, covering it in a shiny layer of ice. The large pokemon slipped on the ice, sliding across on its back.
"Change to Mega Kick!" the glow on its fist disappeared, its foot now glowing as its body spun in circles as it advanced on the bear.
"I can't tell when it's going to hit...!" Krystal muttered, watching the large pokemon intently. "Beartic, jump and use Slash!" the ice-type jumped up, its claws flashing as it brought them over its head, lowering towards the heavy pokemon.
"Flamethrower!" its mouth released an intense blast of flames, surprising the bear as it felt flames strike its chest with intense heat. Grunting, it landed on the ground again, holding its chest as a large singe mark appeared. "Snorlax, Beartic got burned! Flamethrower again!"
"Beartic, Brine!" the ice-type released a stream of water at the oncoming flames, blocking it before a shroud of steam spread across the field. The bear grunted, a bead of sweat going down the side of its head.
"Snorlax, Solarbeam! Then Flamethrower!" the large-stomach pokemon opened its mouth, a sphere of solar energy forming before bursting through the steam.
"Dodge and Icicle Crash," the bear dodged the attack, several spears appearing in the air before crashing down towards the heavy pokemon. Snorlax sent a jet of flames at the spears, melting them in the air. "Ice Beam!" a stream of ice burst through the steam, freezing the large glutton to the ground.
"Snorlax, Flamethrower!" the flames melted the ice, not effecting its stomach thanks to its ability. "Focus Punch!" the pokemon charged, its fist glowing.
"Counter with Slash!" the bear collided its claws against the fist, both fighting to overpower the other. "Brine," the bear released a stream of water in the glutton's face.
"Mega Kick!" raising its foot, the bear was surprised to feel the larger pokemon's foot be forced into its chest. "Now Focus Punch!" the foot was removed from its chest, replaced by a glowing fist which sent it soaring back a distance, rolling across the field with a grunt. "Finish with Flamethrower!" the jet of flames enveloped the weakened bear, it giving a shout of pain before falling to its side, the flames disappearing.
"...Well done," Krystal stated, recalling the bear.
"Yes! You did awesome, Snorlax!" the large pokemon smiled, the brunette hugging it with a beaming smile. Recalling it with a thanks, she smiled and puled another pokeball. "Not so bad, huh?"
"Not at all, only expected from an old apprentice of Leader," the icy-haired girl responded, tossing her pokeball and releasing a small blue fox figure.
"Let's keep this up!" she said enthusiastically, releasing her large turtle with twin cannons in its shell. "Let's start with Hydro Pump!"
"Dodge," the two blasts of water advanced quickly on the small figure, then it suddenly jumped and dived, landing behind the turtle in a mere few seconds. "Ice Beam," the small fox fired an icy beam at the large turtle, a small chunk of ice forming on the two cannons. "Iron Tail," the ice-type swung its gleaming tail into the turtle's shoulder, jumping back to its side with a grin.
"Water Pledge!" the turtle put its hands to the ground, a small puddle forming and moving across the field. Stopping beneath the fox, it burst up into a pillar of water, sending the fox into the air. "Now Hydro Pump!" bringing its cannons back into its shell, the ice shattered before bringing them back out, two powerful blasts of water sent at the airborne fox.
"Ice Beam," the fox froze the jets of water in the air, stuck to the turtle. The small pokemon slid down the pillars of ice with a grin. "Iron Tail," swinging its tail into the pokemon's shoulder, it sprung into the air, falling down and striking the turtle again.
"Blastoise, Hydro Pump straight up!" the turtle's cannons pointed up, blasting the fox with an intense jet of liquid. "Now Flash Cannon!" the water cut off, replaced by a silver beam.
"Glaceon, land and close in for the final hit," the fox quickly dove from the air, landing safely on its side, then darted across the field.
"Catch it with Water Pledge!" te turtle send multiple puddles across the field, each bursting up into a pillar of water, but the small ice-type darted around them.
"Ice Beam, then Iron Tail," the fox sent an icy beam at the turtle, freezing its lower half to the ground in a block of ice. Its tail gleaming silver, it swung around and struck the turtle. The ice suddenly shattered, the turtle falling on its chest as the fox landed gracefully behind it. "I believe that's my win."
"Return, you did your best," May told the turtle, smiling at the pokeball before swapping with another. her expression turning serious, she tossed it and released her own ice fox. Her opponent had released a white figure with two chunks of ice in its head. "You can have the first move this time, you'll need it!"
"We'll see. Froslass, Hail," the ice-type extended its arms, a melodious sound coming from its mouth as a strange cloud formed over the battlefield, small chunks of ice falling and hitting the field.
"What was the point of that? They're both ice-types," May asked herself, looking oddly at the smiling trainer across from her. The ice shattered on the ground, releasing a light mist into the air, clouding the vision across the field.
"Froslass, Ice Punch," the faint figure disappeared, re-appearing behind the fox as it drew back an icy fist.
"Glaceon, jump and Shadow Ball!" the fox quickly jumped, the fist striking the ground. The ice-type looked up with a glare, surprised to see a purple sphere coming at it. It moved quickly, gloating at a high speed back across the field. "Wow...They're moving fast..."
"And that is my strategy with Froslass," Krystal called, clearing the brunette's mind. "I use Hail to combine with her ability, Snow Cloak, to bring out her true speed. I did not plan on you using a glaceon, another pokemon with Snow Cloak."
"So in short, they're both at max speed," May said to herself, understanding. "I'll have to use this for an advantage. Glaceon, Shadow Ball!"
"Dodge, then Ominous Wind," the ice-type moved swiftly across the field in the mist, releasing a powerful gust of purple-shaded wind.
"Mirror Coat!" the fox glowed, the purple wind bouncing off and going back at its user. The ice-type brought its arms up, enduring the ghost-powered wind.
"She used my own attack against me, and with double the power...She certainly is Leader's first student..." Krytsal smiled to herself. "That only makes me more excited. Froslass, Double Team," the ice-type flashed, then several copies appeared across the field. The fox looked around cautiously, looking intently at each one. "Ice Punch!"
"Spin on your back with Iron Tail!" the ice-type flipped on its back, spinning with a speed boost form the Hail, its figure changing to a sphere with a silver streak.
"Interesting..." Leader said to himself, smirking as he watched the brunette's strategy. Each copy charged forward at once, striking the spinning fox with its fist bouncing off, disappearing until only one was left. "Hit it!" the spinning stopped, the fox springing at the real ice-type and swinging its silver tail on its head. The pokemon called in pain, looking angrily at the fox before it disappeared.
"Froslass, spin and use Ominous Wind," the ice-type spun in the air, releasing a purple gust in every direction across the field.
"Extend your Iron Tail down with a spin, while using Mirror Coat!" the ice-type looked up, seeing the fox in the air. Descending down with its silver tail pointed straight down, it was spinning with a opalescent glow on its body, the ghostly wind bouncing off its body.
"Ice Punch!" the ice-type's fist glowed an icy blue, charging up with it drawn back. Its fist tightening, it glowed brighter, then it moved to the side, the fox diving past it and crashing into the ground. The ice-type dived down on it at a high speed, sending an icy fist into its back.
"Iron Tail!" the ice-type gave a scream of pain, the gleaming tail slapping across its cheek. The fox jumped to its feet, scratches visible across its body as it panted lightly. The ghost across the field glared at it, panting lightly as it also had scratches and marks. "Glaceon, we're going to finish this with one more move!"
"We're doing the same, Froslass!" the ice-type looked back at her, the girl giving a solemn nod. The ghost-type nodded, its fists glowing an icy blue. Both pokemon charged forward, each with a burning passion in their eyes and their teeth bared. "Full-power Ice Punch!"
"Last Resort!" the small fox became enveloped in a brilliant white radiance, a powerful aura surrounding the pokemon. Both ice-types collided, the fox's aura fighting against the ghost's fists. As both trainers tried to make out what was happening through the light mist, the ghost's eyes flashed light purple, an outline appearing around the fox. Both pokemon suddenly burst past each other, stopping themselves and looking back. Glaceon stood defensively with its teeth bared, the ghost holding its arms out to its sides. Time passed slowly, everyone impatiently waiting for the results of the final match. Suddenly, the ghost fell forward, eyes closed.
"Yes! Glaceon, we did it!" May exclaimed happily with excitement, her happy eyes looking at the fox. Suddenly, in a quick flash of purple, the fox fell on its side, its eyes also closed. "Glaceon!"
"I guess it's a draw," the icy-haired girl stated, recalling her ghost-type with a smile. She looked at the brunette, who recalled her fox and was smiling with a serious look in her eyes.
"But next time, it will be different," May told her.
"It sure will," Krystal replied, both girls returning to their group.
"You were actually pushed into a corner," Jack told her, an eyebrow raised as the girl looked at him. "I saw that move, don't think you can hide it from us."
"...I knew Froslass was injured, and I knew her glaceon wasn't going to fall anytime soon. I will not accept losing in front of Leader, so I had no choice," she explained, the boy rolling his eyes.
"A draw is just as bad as a loss," he stated, smirking to himself.
"You're lucky everyone else is here," he cringed, recognizing that familiar tone. She only smiled innocently, standing by Leader. "...Now, the six of us are done our battles."
"That only leaves one left," everyone's eyes silently moved to the young man sitting in the throne, who had a grin with his eyes closed, the mouse on his lap with the same expression.
"...It's finally time," he stated, standing and moving down to the field. The mouse got comfortable on the throne, grinning.
"Good luck, N," Brock told the older man, getting a responding nod before he moved to the field.
"This is your last chance to back down," Leader called across the field, taking his final step into the box.
"I came here to stop your plans, I do not intend on leaving without my expectations being met," N responded, his foot hitting the box.
"Then let's make this interesting," N looked carefully at the younger man. "...I propose a bet."
"What kind of bet are you planning?" N asked.
"Nothing to worry about, just a little even sacrifice. You sacrifice something valuable, I sacrifice something valuable," Leader explained, grinning.
"What kind of valuable are we talking about?" the man asked, carefully looking at his opponent.
"Any means you consider important or special to yourself," Leader replied. "Could be an item, person, money-"
"Or a person!" everyone looked surprised at May, who was moving towards the field. "...If you win, you can have me."
"May, what are you doing? We can't agree to his condition," N told her, but the brunette gave him a stern expression.
"What makes you think I consider you valuable?" Leader asked, crossing his arms.
"Like you said, it could be anything considered special to us. I'm the one with the strongest will to bring you back, if you have that there's nothing left to fight against your personal emotions," May told him, fists clenched at her side as she stood beside N. "It's our only offer."
"May...Are you positive on this decision?" N asked her.
"It's the only way we can get close enough to him," May told the man with a gentle smile. "And if he does win, I can be with him again. I'm sorry for sounding selfish, but that's more important to me than anything right now."
"...Your courage is admirable, I will respect your choice," N gave a nod, looking back at Leader.
"Wait, sis! You can't do this to us!" Max shouted, eyes wide in horror at his sister's words. She looked back, giving the group a heartwarming smile.
"I'm sorry, everyone...But the heart is stronger than the mind," she told them, looking back at Leader.
"...Interesting...You sacrifice yourself, just to get to me..." Leader said to himself, low enough for anyone to hear. Surprisingly, only the brunette's ears were able top pick up a word.
"Only because it's you," Leader looked up, surprised he had been heard by anyone. "...I just want my old Ash back," Leader froze at the brunette's smile, feeling warmer than the sun or any fire. He blinked, turning his head with a quiet grunt.
"...Very well, I accept your term," he told them, pulling a pokeball from his belt. Everyone looked closely, surprised to see it was a Master Ball.
"What are you planning?" N asked, looking intently at the rare pokeball.
"To show my honor in this battle...I will bet Zekrom."
"What?!" Max gaped, his eyes wide.
"He's risking a legendary pokemon in the trade?" Dawn asked, mouth agape.
"He can't be serious," Misty stated.
"Of course he is, just look at him," they looked oddly at Brock, then back to Leader. His expression was dead serious with a grin. "He's really making this battle something to go for."
"Do your best, N!"
"You have to win!"
"So, it's decided. I offer Zekrom, you offer May," he across the field, stopping in front of the brunette. She looked into his eyes, the same color of auburn she had fallen for all those years ago. "Of course, I can't allow you to stay with your friend, for strategic purposes only," the brunette giggled to herself, confusing the trainer.
"Even in all of this, you're still trying to even the battle..." she smiled, the trainer cringing again. "It's so like you, Ash."
"Why...It's been years, I'm past those feelings...But why do I still get this feeling...At just a smile...?" Leader thought, closing his eyes. He opened them again, his expression darkened as he gestured to the side of the field. "Being a toss-up for the battle, you will stand at the side until the final match is decided."
"As long as you don't go easy," she winked, smiling as she moved to her designated spot. "It's working...I'm getting to him, I can tell his feelings are starting to come back...Just a little more, and I'll be inside his head completely..." she thought to herself, standing with her hands behind her back at the side. Leader returned to his box, pulling a pokeball from his belt.
"Now with no distractions, we will finally settle things here," Leader stated, his hand calmly at his side. "N, previous leader of Team Plasma...Leader, the man able to conquer Unova singlehandedly with seven trainees..."
"We're not losing, especially not now," N told him, giving a brief glance to the brunette at the side. "We're not losing a friend."
"That's what you think," Leader grinned, both trainers tossing their pokeball simultaneously. The lights struck the ground, quickly taking form into two large figures. On Leader's side stood a large red and black crocodile, and on N's side stood a large blue turtle. "Let's end this!"
"Ash..." the brunette thought sadly, looking at the trainer with a concerned look. "Please...Let things go back to normal..."
END