Chapter 13
"Let's do this!" Kade called, walking out the Pokémon Center alongside his brother and Zayna.
Zero pet Zorua's head and grinned. "Are you ready for another gym battle?"
"Zorua!" he replied happily.
"You're going to have some trouble with this battle, Zero. He likes to do three-on-three battles, and one of your Pokémon won't even obey you," Zayna mentioned.
Zero nodded. "I'll just have to do well enough with the Pokémon that will listen."
The gym didn't match the city in the slightest. From the outside, it appeared like a aquamarine museum. Blue pipes came out of the building and penetrated into the river. The doors were cold and heavy on the touch. From afar, it didn't appear intimidating, but when the twins were closer, they could feel cool energy bursting from the inside.
When they walked in, the field was as they expected. In the middle of the giant dome-shaped museum, a calm pool sat. The twins took notice of the small islands in the pool, probably for Pokémon that stood no chance battling in the water.
"Who goes there?" a voice boomed from the other side of the pool. One of the cold metal doors slid open, and a man walked out. His body was so colossal that when he walked, the group could see the water in the pool shiver slightly. His long, purple hair swayed with him and bounced off of his shirtless back as he moved. The only clothing that he sported was cream colored sweat pants held up by a torn black belt.
"Um…my name is Kade, and this is my brother Zero. We're wanting to challenge you to a gym battle," Kade stammered.
The man took a closer look at the group, his strong eyes piercing into them. "Ah. I remember you, Zayna. How has your journey been?"
Zayna nodded and smiled. "Really well! Well, I'm not going to be collecting gym badges, but I'll be journeying with these two."
He glanced over the twins. "Are you two, by chance, Mitchell's kids?"
Kade and Zero looked over at each other. They had not heard anyone call their dad simply Mitchell in a long time. It was a bit of a shock. Everyone was usually as formal as they could get with their dad.
Zero nodded. "Our father is Mitch from Skyvale City."
The man rubbed his chin. "Did you two already go against Aurora?" The boys nodded. "And did she ask for a double battle?"
"Yeah!" Kade responded. "She said she thought it'd be a good idea since we're twins!"
He glared back at Kade, not liking his energy. "My name is Atlas, and I accept your challenge. But you must prove that you are worthy to me. Even if you beat me, if I feel that your bond with one another and your Pokémon is not a strong one, then you will not receive my gym badge."
"What?!" Kade asked, really confused as to what he had just told them.
"I accept your double battle challenge. Not only will it challenge you, but myself."
The twins looked at each other while Atlas walked to his side of the field. He stepped into his trainer's box and motioned for the duo to follow suit. The two crammed into the tiny spot, Kade taking up a bit more space than Zero.
"Melon, I need you!" Atlas called.
A tiny girl, sporting the same purple hair as Atlas ran out of the doors. She smiled and took her placed at the referee's box. She glanced over the boys and turned to her father. "Is this a double battle, daddy?" Atlas nodded. "Okay then! This battle will be a full six-on-six double battle between my daddy, Atlas, and these two! The battle will be over when one side's Pokémon are incapable of battling! Begin!"
"She has a lot of spunk," Zero commented.
"I shall reveal my two Pokémon first," Atlas announced. "C'mon out, Sharpedo and Goldeen!"
Two Pokémon were revealed, one looking menacing and the other, extremely relaxed.
"Who do you think we should go with?" Kade asked.
"Dream team?"
"Dream team!" Kade called. "Ralts, you're up!"
"And you too, Zorua," Zero said happily.
The two Pokémon jumped onto one of the islands, laughing while the water splashed around.
"Weak Pokémon…" Atlas mumbled.
"It looks like we'll get to see them battle together, Oshawott," Zayna said to her Pokémon, placing her on her lap while she sat down on one of the small benches.
"You may begin," Atlas said.
"Combination number one! Zorua, use multi-Shadow Ball!"
"And Confusion!" Kade added.
"Let's see what they're capable of," Atlas told his Pokémon. They nodded and stayed in place.
Zorua opened his mouth and unleashed a multitude of Shadow Balls into the air. Ralts lifted his arms, sending out psychic energy to control them. He flung his arms forward, sending all of the balls at the Pokémon. Each of them connected, exploding on contact against Atlas' Pokémon. When the water fell back down, and the steam cleared, his Pokémon floated where they were before, not damaged by the attacks.
"That was a great way to combine your attacks. But it was not strong enough. Let me show you my power," Atlas said, his eyes contracted, and on his face a wicked smirk formed. "Horn Attack and Crunch!"
Goldeen shot into the water, her horn glowing. And Sharpedo rounded the other way, splitting up who the twin's Pokémon were focusing at. Goldeen jabbed from under the small island, tossing it and the Pokémon into the air. Sharpedo shot from the water and gaped his mouth open, smashing into Ralts.
"Catch him!" Zero ordered.
Zorua rebounded off of the small island and shot into the air. He grabbed ahold of Ralts with his mouth and landed on a different island away from Atlas' Pokémon.
"Our turn! Double Team, Ralts!"
"And Faint Attack!"
Ralts focused his energy and started to multiply, surrounding Sharpedo in a full circle. Zorua shot at Goldeen, multiplied into three different Pokémon, ruining Goldeen's focus, and smashed into her with his real body.
"What are you going to do against my Sharpedo? You clearly have a disadvantage."
"Toxic!"
"What?!"
Ralts took in a deep breath and formed the liquid ooze in his throat. He spit it up, splashing it over the water-type. Sharpedo screeched from pain, taking in the full effect of poison.
"Aerial Ace!" Zero ordered.
"Damnit!" Atlas yelled, angry that he couldn't focus on both of his Pokémon at the same time.
Zorua flung his body forward, white streaks pulling from his body. He checked into Goldeen, making her skid against the water.
Atlas pulled up his Poké Balls and returned both Pokémon. "Now that I have an idea of your power, I can really battle."
"What?" the twins asked together.
"You see, since I heard from Aurora about you two, I've decided to take a few precautions. I know of your father's skills, and there is no saying that you won't be just as skilled. So, I needed to test your strategy with those two Pokémon. Divide and conquer won't work with me," he explained.
"Well, shit. He figured it out," Kade whispered to Zero.
Zero closed his eyes and started thinking, going over the entire battle that just took place.
"Any strategy?" Kade asked.
"Yeah," Zero said with a grin.
"The real battle starts now! C'mon, out Frillish and Buizel!" Atlas screamed, not taking note of the two brothers conversing. A pink Pokémon with a ghost-like dress appeared. She had soulless red and blue eyes and a wicked smile. The other was orange and had a tail that split at the end. He floated calmly in the water, taking in his foes.
"You got it?" Zero said, finishing his strategy talk with Kade.
"Yeah, it just doesn't seem like you."
"But it'll work."
"If you're going to take your time, I'll strike! Frillish, Buizel, use Bubblebeam and Water Gun!" Atlas called.
"Zorua, get in the way and use Shadow Ball!" Zero called.
Zorua nodded and leapt in front of Ralts. He opened his mouth and started to flip, forming the dark balls of energy. They were flung at the oncoming attacks, causing an explosion on contact.
"Now!" Zero said.
"Ralts, Toxic!"
Ralts jumped above the smoke and released the poisonous goop from his mouth. The goo fell over the water field, and Ralts landed in the water. When the smoke cleared, both of Atlas' Pokémon floated behind Ralts.
"What?" the twins yelled together.
"Pursuit, Buizel!"
"Watch out, Ralts!"
"Aerial Ace!" Zero screamed.
Buizel prepared his attack, his arm turning black with energy. Zorua flew forward, the streaks breaking from his body, but Atlas was ready.
"Water Pulse," Atlas said calmly.
Frillish turned and formed a small ball in between her hands. She tossed it into the water field, blowing up a tidal wave. The wave encased Zorua, stopping his attack completely and sending him into the water.
Buizel continued his attack, jabbing his arm into Ralts. The psychic Pokémon grabbed ahold of Buizel's arm and shuddered.
"Hold on, and use Toxic!"
Ralts grinned and let loose some of the toxic spit onto Buizel's arm. The poison immediately set in, and Buizel loosened his grip. Frillish turned her attention to Buizel, worried for her partner.
"Aerial Ace!"
"Watch out, Frillish!"
Zorua burst from the water, smashing his body into Frillish. She flew back a little, landing in the water in front of Ralts.
"Keep it up, Ralts!"
Ralts nodded and tossed some of the poisonous goop onto Frillish. The Pokémon screamed from pain as the poison took place. Both of Atlas' Pokémon withdrew into the water, wanting to regroup.
"Now would be a good time," Zero mumbled to Kade.
His brother nodded and lifted his Poké Ball, returning Ralts. He then released him at his feet.
"Coming up with something new?" Atlas asked.
The twins nodded and Kade tossed out his next Poké Ball, Electrike appearing on the island next to Zorua. She smiled and howled into the air, knowing this would be an important battle.
"Buizel, Swift!"
Buizel blew from the water, and swung his tail around, sending small stars from it. The stars pelted the island that Zorua stood on until he slid into the water.
"Zorua!" Zero cried.
"Frillish, Bubblebeam!"
"Electro Ball!"
Before Frillish could unleash her attack, Electrike jumped into the air, a ball of electric energy forming at her mouth. She released her attack at Frillish, shocking the water and all of the Pokémon in it. Zorua struggled, but climbed back onto one of the islands.
"Are you okay, Zorua?" Zero asked. Zorua nodded weakly then turned back to his opponents.
Frillish floated out of the water and above an island that Buizel stood on.
"Electro Ball!"
"Shadow Ball!"
Both of the quadruped Pokémon let loose their attacks, colliding with the weakening water-types. Atlas' Pokémon retreated back into the water, but were not done.
"Both of you, Ice Beam!" Atlas yelled.
Suddenly, the water field started to turn still and into ice. Two jagged beams emerged from the water, pointing at the twin's Pokémon.
"Aerial Ace! Protect Electrike!"
Zorua nodded and used up the remaining energy that he had to lunge forward. He took the full force of both attacks, shielding Electrike. Zorua was frozen solid and landed on one of the islands, destroying the ice and revealing Zorua as unable to continue.
"Zorua is unable to battle!" Melon declared.
"It took forever for one of their Pokémon to go down, and Atlas has three Pokémon poisoned," Zayna told her Oshawott. "It seems to be in the boy's favor!"
"Then, let's go, Duskull!" Zero called, throwing his next Poké Ball onto the field. Duskull appeared, floating daintily over the water.
"Both of you, Water Pulse!"
"Night shade!" Zero screamed.
"And Electro Ball!"
Electrike unleashed her attack, Duskull's attack following, pushing it forward. All of the Pokémon's attacks collided, an explosion taking place afterwards. When the smoke cleared, both of Atlas' Pokémon were unconscious, floating in the water.
"Both Buizel and Frillish are unable to battle!" Melon declared.
"Damnit…" Atlas grumbled as he returned his Pokémon. He grabbed two more Poké Balls, releasing Sharpedo and Goldeen once more. Sharpedo breathed hard, the poison still in effect.
"Electrike, let's finish this quick by shooting a Thunder Wave into the water," Kade ordered. Electrike charged crackling blue electricity along her body, preparing to fire the current into the water.
"Goldeen, Sharpedo, use double Whirlpool!" Both aquatic Pokemon dove under water with swiftness that matched a legendary Pokemon.
Zero had a bad feeling about the upcoming move, so he had Duskull do something never thought of before. "Alter your Shadow Sneak to go through the side walls and hit them underwater!" Duskull shot into the side wall of the pool, disappearing from site. Electrike fired her Thunder Wave into the blue water, but a spiraling whirlpool demolished its effects. Electrike clawed herself onto the island, preparing for the whirlpool to overtake the island.
"Do whatever you can!" Kade cried as the whirlpool began to rise from the surface of the water, creating a maneuver the twins had never seen before.
"It is like a upside down…twister!" Zero shouted. "Duskull, you have to hit them!"
"Not possible!" Atlas chuckled. "They are spinning way to fast now." He glared into the water as if he could see through the glare from the lights. He was truly one with the water.
Electrike shot a mirage of Electro Balls into the middle of the Whirlpool, but they had no effect. "Duskull!" The Ghost type Pokemon held his breath as he shot out of the bottom of the pool. He threw his body at Goldeen, sending her straight into Sharpedo. The underwater vortex kept spinning, so the three Pokemon were sent spiraling upward.
As the Pokemon were shot up, they were struck by Electrike's Electro Ball mirage. The Electric type spun head over heels as the Whirlpool exploded from the middle. Water shot everywhere. A huge cloud of smoke covered the field.
"Goldeen! Sharpedo!" Atlas cried.
"Electrike!" Kade shrieked.
"Duskull!" Zero shouted. The cloud of smoke soon cleared, revealing the scene. The water rippled against the islands and sides of the pool, still moving from the massive attack. Goldeen and Sharpedo drifted against the side of the pool unconsciously as Electrike and Duskull lay limp on the island's ground.
"All four Pokemon are out! Atlas has two remaining while Zero has one and Kade as two!" Melon shouted. She winked at her dad as if she knew what was coming next.
"Gorebyss! Huntail!" Atlas' last remaining Pokeballs erupted and shot a beam of light into the water. A long slender eel-like Pokemon stuck its body out of the water to let the boys drool in its beauty. The Pokemon glared at them as it flicked its long antenna-like fin onto the water. The second Pokemon rose right beside the Gorebyss. This Pokemon was much lower on the beauty scale, and it had a wide gaping jaw. It had a similar single orange fin on its head. "These Pokemon are twins, so I'm sure this will be the true battle of the twins!"
"Leavanny, go!"
"Drapion, let's get 'em!" The twin's Pokeballs erupted with their own flashes off light. Kade's Leavanny crossed her arms and huffed at the Water Pokemon, and Drapion simply growled at them.
"Freezing Water Pulse Bombs!" Atlas roared. Huntail fired several orbs of water into the air as Gorebyss shot a slender beam of ice that froze them in midair. The frozen orbs began to free fall over the island.
"Drapion, use Pin Missile," Zero ordered. Drapion looked up at the frozen Water Pulses, but she launched herself up in the air and began to knock them away with Night Slash.
"Leavanny, use Razor Leaf to assist her," Kade ordered alongside his brother. Atlas smiled.
"Double Hyper Beam!" Atlas roared once again. Kade was shocked by the attack, so he didn't get to make a move before two powerful blasts of energy knocked Leavanny out of the pool, smashing her into the cement wall that was six feet away from the pool.
"What the heck," Kade grunted as he recalled Leavanny, "she just got started!" Melon declared Leavanny out, forcing Kade to recall her.
"Ralts, we are done playing around!" Ralts popped beside Drapion and sensed Kade's intensity.
"Don't stop! Gorebyss, use Agility. Huntail, use Water Pulse," Atlas ordered. Gorebyss began to swim so fast that it appeared to be gliding on the surface.
"Drapion, Thunder Fang on Gorebyss," Zero ordered. Drapion readied her Thunder Fang, waiting for the Water type to get close.
"Ralts, use Confusion!" Ralts threw up his palms, stopping the Water Pulse over the water.
"Smash through it with Giga Impact!" Huntail cloaked itself in powerful energy as it smashed through the Water Pulse and collided with Ralts. As that was happening, Drapion happened to lunge in the right direction, snapping her jaws and electrifying Gorebyss before she threw Gorebyss across the pool.
"Ralts!" Kade cried as he witnessed his starter sinking to the bottom of the pool. He pulled off his shoes, and he prepared to dive in after his Pokemon. Zero quickly caught his shoulder, hoping he wouldn't go down because he could pull both of them.
"Look!" Zero yelled. Kade stopped, noticing the water glow a bright white. Atlas looked around and tried to see what was going on. The bright light was interfering with his sight.
Ralts' form began to morph. His one red spike split into two and merged into the side of his head. The trainers could see a skirt grow from the gown-like legs. He sprouted thin legs from the skirt and jumped out of the water.
"Kirlia!" He roared as he used Confusion to levitate himself onto the islands.
"He…evolved," Kade stuttered. His newly evolved Kirlia landed beside Drapion, glaring at the opponents.
"Finish this with a super double Whirlpool," Atlas ordered ruthlessly. His Pokemon glowed powerfully as they spun rapidly.
"Drapion, dive with them and hit them with a Thunder Fang," Zero commanded powerfully. He knew this could possibly be the last move.
"Kirlia, try to stop it with Confusion!" Kirlia took a graceful stance, pushing his psychic aura around the now twister-like Whirlpool. Drapion's jaws electrified as she lunged head first into the whirlpool, being sucked in. Kirlia lost all power and fell to the ground.
"We have to do something!" Zero cried. Kirlia struggled to get up, and she floated over the monstrous whirlpool.
"Finish with a Water Pulse through the middle, send it with Drapion!" Atlas roared. Gorebyss and Huntail both sent a pulsing ball of water that smashed into Drapion's chest.
"Drap!" The Pokemon cried as the double Water Pulse sent her rapidly through the Whirlpool. Kirlia looked straight into the eye of the whirlpool, seeing Drapion spinning at him. He looked into the sky, glowing a slight green. He began to spin, and he sent colorful leaves into the air.
"Kirl!" He shrieked. The leaves spun around him, creating their own spiral that clashed with the Whirlpool.
"No!" Atlas yelled. Another huge explosion ensued, sending a thick cloud of dust across the gym.
"Who's the winner?" Kade shouted. He wanted to jump in after his Pokemon, but he restrained himself. The cloud of smoke cleared to reveal all four Pokemon down. Both of Atlas' Pokemon were barely floating in the water, and the twin's Pokemon were both facedown.
"Please, get up," Zero pleaded. Kirlia tried first, but he fell face first into the dirt. Melon raised the flags for a draw, but Drapion suddenly stood and roared loudly. Atlas' eyes widened with disbelief.
"The twins win!" Melon cried. She was happy for the twins, but she felt sad for her father.
"That was very good," Atlas complimented as he held out the gym badge that acted as a microchip.
"That was an intense battle," Kade said enthusiastically.
"What moves do we get?" Zero quizzed.
"You get Water Pulse and Whirlpool," Melon answered as she grabbed her father's hand.
"We better get going now, sir," Zero said, bowing goodbye.
"That was awesome!" Zayna cheered as she met them outside of the gym.
"I'm excited for that fishing competition just outside the city!" Kade shouted, pointing towards the setting sun.
"You really want to travel at night?" Zero questioned with a sarcastic tone. Kade stopped in his tracks and dropped his head.
"Dinner time!" Zayna yelled. She grabbed the twin's arms and led them into the city in search of food.
JB/N Sorry for the delays lately, guys. I personally have been going through so much lately, and I can't seem to write anymore. 2/3's of this chapter was written by myself. Then, I had another JohtoBlue member, Thea, edit it. I love the character Atlas, and I believe we should feature him even more!
Q1) How do you guys get out of writer's block?
Q2) I know I'm not going to like reading these, but what about this story, do you NOT like?
PS/N- Sorry, I meant to update last time, but that didnt work out did it;) Well, hope you like it. The next update for Drake's will be on Saturday, and then I wll be posting a NEW, yes NEW, story tomorrow. Please everyone be on the lookout and check it when I post it.
Q1: How'd you like the battle?
Q2: Did Kirlia evolve in the right time? How long should he stay a Kirlia?