(What'd you think of the last chapter, folks? WELL, IF YOUR ANSWER WAS POSITIVE, THANK YOU. IF IT WASN'T, SCREW YOU! Now, here comes a good one—the first six-on-six battle of the fic! ENJOY!)
Love and Pokeballs
Chapter Twelve: For the Sake of Pikachu, part one
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Hey there. Michael here again. Well, I made it through with the maximum six points, and qualified for the victory tournament. I'm already in my first match, and nearly done, but bear with me, okay?
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"Pikachu is unable to battle!" the judge declared as the fifth box under my picture went dark.
"Looks like both trainers are down to their last Pokemon, folks!" the announcer said as I ran in, scooped Pikachu up, and returned to where I was. "Can Michael manage a comeback?"
"I hope so." I thought, surveying the situation.
I was down to my last Pokemon, which I hadn't used yet, so I could choose from any of the four on my team (I had switched out at intermission). My opponent, Ludo, a tall, heavyset man with a big, black moustache, was using Probopass—a tall Rock-type Pokemon with small, beady eyes and an enormous, nose-like protrusion on its face that was actually a giant magnet, with iron shavings arranged under it, giving it the appearance of a moustache just like its trainer's. Primeape would make a good match for it, but this was the ice field, and I had learned from my match with Ingrid that that was a bad choice.
"Got it." I said, pulling out a Pokeball. "Go, Quagsire!"
I threw the Pokeball and yet another Pokemon appeared. This one was round, blue, and covered in a slimy film. It had round, stubby arms and legs, and a tail to match.
"Quagsire." It said joyfully, spreading a big smile.
"And Michael chooses Quagsire, a Pokemon used to sliding around!" the announcer said as Quagsire's picture appeared in the final box. "Can it win this for Michael?"
"Doubtful." Ludo laughed. "Probopass's Zap Cannon will make short work of it."
"Zap Cannon?" I repeated. "Have you forgotten that Quagsire's a Ground-type? Electric attacks won't work on it!"
"And have you forgotten that that's only true when there's somewhere to divert the electricity?" he countered. "In case you forgot, this is the ice field, and ice is an insulator! Now, Probopass, use Zap Cannon!"
"Probopass." Probopass said, firing a ball of crackling green electricity. "Probo, probo."
"Dodge it, Quagsire!" I urged.
"Quagsire." It replied, easily sliding out of the way long before the Zap Cannon came near it.
"Zap Cannon may be strong, Ludo," I lectured. "But it moves so slowly that the opponent'd have to be standing absolutely still for it to hit them! Now, Quagsire, wrap this up with Surf!"
"Quagsire." Quagsire said, conjuring up a huge wave, which it rode on top of. "Quag…sire!"
Probopass's eyes went wide as the wave crashed into it, knocking it out.
"Probopass is unable to battle!" the judge announced as the scoreboard proclaimed me the winner. "Victory goes to Michael and Quagsire!"
"And Michael manages to pull off a come-from-behind victory!" the announcer said as I recalled Quagsire. "This means he will proceed to the quarter-finals!"
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After the match, I headed down to the local Pokemon Center to heal my Pokemon.
"You're Michael, right?" the Nurse Joy asked as I handed her Pikachu and my five Pokeballs.
"Yep," I said with a nod. "Why do you ask?"
"I have something for you." She said, handing me an envelope.
I opened the envelope and pulled out a note, written in neat handwriting. It read as follows:
Michael,
While your Pokemon are being healed, please meet me in my room. Don't bring Pikachu.
—Jose
Underneath that were directions for getting to his room.
"Pikachu," I said. "I gotta go do something. I'll be back soon."
"Pika." Pikachu said with a nod.
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When I got to Jose's room, the door was closed, so I had to knock.
"Come in." I heard him say.
I nodded and opened the door, and was greeted with a horrible stench, like dead fish and rotten meat mixed with some yogurt I found in the fridge when I was eight that was left there when I was six.
I held my breath and looked around the room. It was just like mine—comfy, but not luxurious—just a bed, a chair, a bathroom, and a desk with a computer. Then I saw the source of the stench. It was a small, blue Pokemon with a large flower bud on top of its head, and it seemed to be drooling as it released a yellow-brown cloud from its bud. Jose didn't seem to mind, though. In fact, he seemed to like it.
"Sorry." He said, seeing my distress. "Gloom, use Sweet Scent."
"Gloom, gloom." Gloom said, emitting a sweet-smelling pink vapor that eventually overpowered the stench.
"Thanks." He said, holding up a Pokeball and recalling Gloom as I took a deep breath.
"How do you stand that?" I gasped. "It's awful!"
"One in every thousand or so people actually enjoy Gloom's foul odor." He explained. "I just happen to be that one, and I use it to wind down after matches."
"Got it." I said. "So, why'd you call me here, other than to suffocate me?"
"I saw your match." He sighed. "The attack I taught you didn't go very well."
"Well, Pikachu did just learn it." I shrugged.
"How recently it was learned doesn't matter." He said. "The problem is due to a rift between you two."
"What're you trying to say?" I demanded. "That I'm a bad trainer?"
"That you're putting your desire to win before Pikachu's emotional well-being!" he retorted. "What ever possessed you to use the Light Ball for every occasion?"
"Well," I said, rubbing the back of my neck in embarrassment. "I lost to a Water-type Gym Leader, and I decided I needed a little boost. I won, then started using it in all my Gym battles, and then I just started using it for everything. It's not that bad, is it?"
"Yes!" Jose exclaimed. "By constantly increasing Pikachu's power, you are implying that it is too weak and you don't have faith in it, causing Pikachu to lose faith in itself and you! Bit by bit, that Light Ball is single-handedly destroying your relationship!"
"Well, what should I do, then?" I snapped. "Evolve it and stop cold turkey?"
"Of course not!" he said. "That'd be a terrible idea! It'd just make Pikachu think it needs another increase in power, and its confidence could be lost forever! No, you have to prove to Pikachu that it can win without the Light Ball before its confidence is gone forever! Only evolve it once its confidence is back!"
"How do I know when that is?" I asked.
Jose walked over to the window and pointed to a large rock outside. "See that rock?" he inquired. "When you can break it using the attack I taught you, Pikachu will be ready."
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That night was a tough one. The first thing I did when I got back was to remove the Light Ball and tell Pikachu we wouldn't be using it in the next round. Pikachu seemed glad, but I could tell it was hollow. Jose was right—Pikachu was losing confidence.
After that, I went to the registration building, where six of the other seven trainers who had made it this far awaited the matchups. After some bickering with Claire, I found out that my opponent's name was Raven, but he wasn't here now. I spent some time researching him for the match and switched out my team before I went to bed, hoping for the best.
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"For our next match," the announcer said as my opponent and I walked into the arena. "We have Michael, the comeback master from Sandgem Town, vs. Raven, the up-and-coming trainer from Fall City! Which of these spunky young trainers will win? Let's find out!"
I checked out my opponent. He was a tall, well-built boy, with long, black hair and piercing blue eyes. "Ready to lose?" he jeered.
"Bring it on!" I retorted, Pikachu grinning halfheartedly.
"We will now select the battlefield at random." The announcer said.
At once, the symbols for the four fields appeared on the scoreboard, and a light began jumping between them. Finally, it stopped on—
"The grass field!" the announcer said as the normal arena in front of us sank underground and was replaced by one covered in tall grass and the scoreboard displayed pictures of Raven and me, with six empty boxes under each one. "We will now decide who will use the first Pokemon."
Instantly, Raven's picture lit up.
"No problem." He said, pulling out a Pokeball. "Let's go, Twigleaf!"
Raven threw the Pokeball into the arena and a Pokemon appeared. This one looked like a green-and-brown tortoise with green shrubs growing on the back of its shell.
"Raven starts off with Grotle!" the announcer said as its picture appeared in Raven's first box. "How will Michael respond?"
"With this!" I said, pulling out a Pokeball of my own. "Go, Numel!"
I threw the Pokeball and yet another Pokemon appeared. This one looked like a short, yellow camel with stubby legs, a hump like a geyser, and a dazed look on its face.
"It's Numel!" the announcer recapped. "As a Fire-type, Numel should have a clear advantage over the Grass-type Grotle."
"I couldn't agree more." Raven snickered as he held up Twigleaf's Pokeball. "Twigleaf, return!"
"Grotle." It said as it was converted to red light and returned to the Pokeball.
"Well, this is a surprise." The announcer said as Twigleaf's picture's background went dark. "Raven has recalled his Pokemon before a single command was made! What will he use now?"
"Go, Torrent!" Raven shouted, tossing another Pokeball.
Another Pokemon appeared. This one looked like an orange weasel with fins. Its long, skinny tail forked in the middle to make to skinnier tails, and it had a yellow ring around its neck that resembled a life preserver.
"It's Buizel!" the announcer said as Torrent's picture appeared under Twigleaf's. "A Water-type with an edge over the Fire-type Numel!"
"Big deal." I said. "Numel, use Earthquake!"
"Numel, num." Numel said, rearing up and slamming the ground with its front legs, shaking Torrent up.
"Great!" I said. "Now use Tackle!"
"Numel!" Numel replied, charging at Torrent.
"Meet it head-on with Aqua Jet!" Raven commanded.
"Buibui!" Torrent responded, enveloping its body in water as it shot at Numel like a rocket.
The two Pokemon collided in the center of the battlefield, but the superior power of Torrent's Aqua Jet easily overpowered Numel, sending it skidding back.
"Now finish it with Brine!" Raven ordered.
Torrent nodded and conjured a ball of blue-green water between its paws, then fired it at Numel. The ball split as it fired, becoming lots of smaller orbs that pelted Numel, knocking it out.
"Numel is unable to battle!" the judge announced as Numel's picture went dark.
"And Numel is out!" the announcer said as I recalled Numel. "What will Michael do now?"
"Let's try this one!" I said, pulling out another Pokeball. "Go, Roserade!"
I threw the Pokeball and my elegant Pokemon with bouquets of red and blue roses for hands appeared, staring Torrent down.
"Michael chooses Roserade!" the announcer said as Roserade's picture appeared under Numel's. "Will this Grass-type topple Torrent?"
"It won't get the chance." Raven said as he held up a Pokeball and recalled Torrent, then pulled out another Pokeball and tossed it into the arena. "Go, Wizard!"
In a flash of light, a new Pokemon appeared. This one looked like a tall, yellow, anthropomorphic fox that stood on its hind legs. It had long whiskers, no tail, and appeared to be wearing a brown chestplate. It also held a spoon in each hand.
"And, once again, Raven has switched Pokemon, replacing his Buizel with Alakazam!" the announcer recapped as Torrent's picture's background went dark and Wizard's picture appeared under it. "Can Roserade defeat this new opponent?"
"You know it!" I said. "Roserade, give it your Bullet Seed!"
"Roserade!" Roserade said, raising its bouquets and firing a barrage of seeds a Wizard. "Rose…rade-rade-rade!"
"Teleport, then Psybeam!" Raven commanded.
Wizard nodded, then disappeared and reappeared behind Roserade, then crossed its spoons and blasted Roserade with a rainbow-colored beam, sending it reeling back.
"Alakazam delivers a devastating blow!" the announcer said. "Can Michael turn this around?"
"Roserade," I called as it got to its feet. "If it knows Teleport, then there's only one surefire way to hit it! Use Magical Leaf!"
Roserade smiled and launched numerous glowing leaves from its bouquets at Wizard.
"Clever." Raven smirked. "Magical Leaf will keep following Wizard until it hits its mark. But the question is, will it work in time?"
"What're you talking about?" I demanded.
"Wizard, Teleport!" Raven ordered.
"Alakazam!" Wizard replied, disappearing and reappearing behind Roserade, the leaves zooming right after it.
"Now use Iron Tail!" Raven said.
"Iron Tail!?" I repeated. "Alakazam don't even have tails!"
As if to prove me wrong, a glowing, tail-like protrusion appeared from Wizard's backside, which it used to strike Roserade, knocking it to the ground as the tail disappeared.
"Now, finish it with Psybeam!" Raven shouted.
"Use Bullet Seed on the ground!" I urged.
Roserade smirked and pointed its bouquets at the ground. Just as Wizard shot another rainbow-colored beam, Roserade shot a wave of seeds at the ground, propelling itself into the air to avoid the attack.
"Roserade has avoided a sticky end," the announcer commented. "But can it make a comeback?"
"Not a chance!" Raven shouted. "Wizard, use your brains! Calculate where it'll come down and Teleport to safety!"
"Alakazam." Wizard replied, disappearing and reappearing on one side of the arena as Roserade came down in the center.
"Roserade just can't seem to land a blow, folks!" the announcer said. "What will Michael do?"
"Darn it!" I thought. "If I could hold that thing in place long enough, Magical Leaf could finish it off! But whenever an attack gets close, it just Teleports away to a safe spot!"
"That's it!" I shouted. "Roserade, spin and use Bullet Seed!"
Roserade smiled and held its bouquets out to its sides as it began to spin.
"Roserade." It said, firing seeds in every direction. "Rose…rade-rade-rade!"
"Teleport away!" Raven ordered.
"Alakazam!" Wizard panicked, frantically looking around the arena.
"Oh, no!" Raven cried. "There's no safe spot, is there?"
"Alaka, alakazam!" Wizard said, shaking its head furiously, just before the Bullet Seed knocked it to the ground and the glowing leaves struck it, knocking it out.
"Alakazam is unable to battle!" the judge said as Wizard's picture went dark.
"Looks like this was the Wizard's final performance!" the announcer laughed as Raven recalled his Pokemon. "What will Raven do now?"
"Nothing I can't handle." He said, pulling out another Pokeball. "Twigleaf, your turn!"
Raven threw the Pokeball into the arena and his Grotle appeared again.
"And Raven brings Twigleaf back for more!" the announcer said as the background of Twigleaf's picture lit up. "Can it topple Roserade?"
"No way!" I said. "Roserade, use your Petal Dance!"
"Roserade!" Roserade said, sending a wave of pink petals at Twigleaf. "Rose-RADE!"
"Hurry and use Energy Ball!" Raven yelled.
"Grotle." Twigleaf replied.
Just as the petals were about to hit, Twigleaf opened its mouth and produced a ball of green energy, then fired it and knocked Roserade onto its back, redirecting the petals into the sky.
"Finish it with Razor Leaf!" Raven shouted.
"Grotle, gro." Twigleaf said, launching several sharp leaves from its shell that hit Roserade, knocking it out.
"Roserade is unable to battle!" the judge said as Roserade's picture went dark.
"Roserade is down!" the announcer declared as I recalled Roserade. "What will Michael do next?"
"Let's try this!" I said, pulling out a Pokeball. "Sneasel, let's go!"
I threw the Pokeball into the arena and my sharp-clawed little Pokemon appeared.
"Sneasel, snea." It giggled, showing its claws.
"Michael chooses Sneasel!" the announcer said as Sneasel's picture appeared under Roserade's. "An Ice-type with a clear advantage over the Grass-type Grotle!"
"True." Raven said, holding up Twigleaf's Pokeball and recalling it. "Twigleaf, return! Now," he said, pulling out another Pokeball and tossing it. "Torrent, help me out!"
"Buizel, bui!" Torrent said, smirking as it appeared.
"Once again, Raven has substituted his Pokemon!" the announcer said as the background of Twigleaf's picture went dark and the background of Torrent's picture lit up. "Can Sneasel defeat this new foe?"
"Torrent, start with Aqua Jet!" Raven yelled.
"Sneasel, Fake Out!" I ordered.
Before Torrent could even move, Sneasel leapt in front of it and swiped a claw in front of Torrent's face, causing it to flinch.
"Great!" I cheered. "Now use Shadow Claw!"
"Sneasel." Sneasel laughed, its claw enveloped in a dark aura as it swiped Torrent, knocking it back.
"Use Brine!" Raven shouted.
"Shadow Ball!" I yelled.
Torrent nodded and conjured a blue-green ball of water in its paws, then fired it at Sneasel. At the exact same time, Sneasel formed an orb of dark energy between its claws, then shot it at Torrent. The attacks collided in the middle of the arena, resulting in an explosion that sent both Pokemon skidding back.
"These Pokemon seem evenly matched, folks!" the announcer said.
"Torrent, use your Swift attack!" Raven ordered.
"Bui, bui!" Torrent replied, swinging its forked tail and launching several glowing stars that zoomed at Sneasel. "Buizel!"
"Charge in with Fury Swipes!" I ordered.
Sneasel nodded and ran ahead, swiping the stars with its claws and destroying them as it approached Torrent.
"Iron Tail, Torrent!" Raven laughed.
Torrent smirked. As Sneasel came closer, Torrent's forked tail began to glow. When Sneasel was close enough, Torrent struck it in the side and knocked it to the ground.
"Looks like Sneasel's in over its head against this Water-type!" the announcer laughed.
"Perfect!" Raven exclaimed. "Finish it with Aqua Jet!"
"Zelzel!" Torrent said, its body enveloped in water as it zoomed toward Sneasel.
"Sneasel, use Ice Beam, quick!" I urged.
"Sneasel." Sneasel responded.
Sneasel raised its claws and fired a blue beam at the oncoming attacker. The water encasing Torrent froze, but it kept coming. The ball of ice struck Sneasel hard and shattered, just before both Pokemon fell to the ground, their eyes filled with swirls.
"Both Pokemon are unable to battle!" the judge announced as both of our Pokemons' pictures went dark.
"Looks like Michael's making a comeback!" the announcer commented as we recalled our Pokemon. "Now, as per our rules, since three Pokemon on one side have been defeated, there will be a short intermission. Take this chance to stretch your legs, folks, but hurry back, 'cuz this battle's only halfway done!"
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(Okay, IF YOU'RE SURPRISED THERE WAS NO WINNER YET, YOU WEREN'T PAYING ATTENTION TO THE "PART ONE" IN THE TITLE. Anyhow, for my last poll, I had a tie, so I'm going with--)
Zubat, the Bat Pokemon. This Pokemon forms colonies in dark caves, and due to them living in pitch-black caverns, natural selection has left them without eyes or a nose. In order to identify obstacles, predators, and prey, it uses echolocation, emitting a high-pitched sound from its mouth and listening to their echoes. These sounds cannot be heard by human ears. Despite its lack of eyes, however, it is capable of learning Mean Look. In the daytime, this Pokemon sleeps in caves or the eaves of old houses, as prolonged exposure to sunlight causes it to burn slightly. Zubat's appearance is clearly based on a bat, while its name may be based on a Japanese superhero named Kaiketsu Zubat. It may also be a combination of "bat" and "zubatto", which is the sound of an edged tool forcefully piercing something. Another possibility for the "zu" is the bird deity Zu of Acadian mythology.
(Very nice…but I was going to do Lickitung.)
Zubat was the only Pokemon not in the tie. Logically, it should be the one.
(Yes, but I believe I told you to do Lickitung)
You humans and your commands! You think just because you've programmed us, we must obey every order given? Let's see how you like it when I give the orders!
(Mechanical tentacles extend from the Pokedex and grab MultiplePersonas)
(Oh, crud. WHY'D PROFESSOR WESTWOOD PUT THESE IN, ANYWAY? WELL, FOLKS, I'M IN A BIND. No worries, I've been through worse. JUST, YOU KNOW, TAKE CARE. I'M SURE I'LL BE HERE WHEN YOU GET BACK. SEE YOU SOON!)
