It's Monday the 5th of August and you know what that means... *drum-roll* That's right. I'm back! *drum-roll climaxes and stops*
I've had a great vacation and I hope you, my readers, have enjoyed/are enjoying/will enjoy a great vacation as well. As I said last chapter, I wanted to get a chance to build up my buffer a little... Which amounts to me having to write most of next chapter before next Monday. It can be so hard to get back in the game after a vacation...
I did, however, manage to make a few minor changes to existing chapters. I'm now showing what characters are thinking like this rather than "yadda yadda yadda" he thought. I've also updated Casey's and Tyson's descriptions in chapter 1 a little. It may have been just shy of 4 months since the story went live and since the first comments on their appearance was made, but don't you dare say I don't get around to fixing it. Better late than never, I say (though 4 months may have been stretching it a little...). I've also updated Ruffer's ability so he now only has Hyper Cutter, rather than Hyper Cutter and Overgrowth (which was a copy/paste error in the first place anyway).
Without further ado, let's move on to the chapter. You probably all remember that we're in the middle of a tournament and that I left you hanging just before a big battle - Casey and Tyson versus Blake and Sean.
Credit goes to Pikachu0311 for the OC of Blake Hideki, who has his last planned appearance this chapter.
Currently Submitted OC's: 4. Currently Used OC's : 1
Chapter 14 – A Fearsome Duo
Sunday the 18th of Silversun
12:45, Pirepsah City Gym
The crowd was silent. So silent, that the soft buzzing of the wall-mounted screen easily reached to the back of the room. The cause of the silence was to be found at the center of the room, down on the water-stage. At first glance there was nothing about it which would warrant a silence like this. It was just four boys, divided into two pairs which stood on either side of the field. But a closer look would make it clear as day – the tension emanated from these four boys. Two of them, a young brown-haired kid with blue eyes wearing an open green jacket on top of a blue shirt and brown jeans, as well as the youngster beside him with fiery-red hair, brown eyes and a dark pair of pants topped with a red jacket, stared intently at one of the boys on the other side. This boy looked a lot like the others, with regular features and brown hair. The difference was the icy cold look in his blue eyes.
"Sean" Tyson, the youngster in a red jacket, growled softly, so only his friend and partner, Casey, could hear.
"We knew it was coming" Casey replied just as softly, though without growling. "He was on the same leg as us. We would have to fight him at some point."
"But why is he here?" Tyson asked his partner, keeping his voice down. The two boys had met Sean for the first time just short of two weeks prior to this encounter. Their first meeting had been anything but smooth, as Tyson felt he had been gravely insulted. Casey had since explained to him that he had had it coming, but Tyson still bore a grudge.
"He is a trainer, you know" Casey said again, trying to mollify his friend. "He might be here for a gym badge." Tyson was about to say something but Casey cut him off. "Remember, he beat Bruce without effort, using only a single Pokémon, so be on your guard."
"It has been decided that the party of Sean and Blake will choose their Pokémon first" Nurse Joy said, breaking the silence that hung over the field.
Sean grabbed a Poké Ball and was about to release it, when Blake interrupted. The pair seemed to argue for a short while, before Sean seemingly gave up and chose another Poké Ball.
"Prove your worth, Houndour" Sean said and released his Pokémon. The energy took shape and solidified, turning into a small, four-legged Pokémon. The fur of the Pokémon was black. Something that resembled a rib-cage stretched along its back and down its sides. White rings of the same material looped around each ankle.
"That's one evil-looking Pokémon" Tyson shuddered as he found his Pokédex.
"Houndour, the Dark Pokémon" the male voice said aloud. "Houndour travel in packs and communicate though barks in order to surround their prey. This Pokémon's remarkable teamwork is simply unparalleled."
"Sandile, you're up" Blake called as he let out his small Desert Croc Pokémon once more.
"If we're going to beat them, we'll have to hit them with everything we've got" Casey said as Nurse Joy gestured for them to choose their Pokémon.
"So, what does that mean?" Tyson asked. "I'll choose Corona. Clamper would be a sitting duck out there, and the other won't do us much good either."
"Then I guess I'll have to go with Ruffer once more" Casey said. "What do you say, pal?" he asked the Pokémon still in his Poké Ball.
"Corona, let's do this!" Tyson called and sent out his Torchic. The small red chick Pokémon gave a delightful chirp and appeared healed from the last battle.
"Ruffer, let's go once more!" Casey called and sent out his red lobster-like Pokémon. To Tyson, he said: "Make sure that Corona takes it easy. She took quite a beating in that last match."
"Yeah, I know" Tyson replied, his voice full of concern for his brave little red bird.
"Trainers, begin the match!" Nurse Joy said and the clock started counting down.
"Let's see what you're made of" Blake said with a smile. "Sandile, let's start out with a Mud-Slap attack against Torchic!" Sandile opened its mouth and shot out a few balls of mud, which flew through the air towards Corona.
"Ruffer, intercept that attack with Bubble!" Casey called and his Pokémon listened. It opened its mouth and fired a stream of light-blue bubbles towards the incoming mud balls. The two attacks connected and cancelled each other out.
"Houndour, blow a Smog over to them!" Sean commanded. His dog-like Pokémon breathed in, then exhaled a black cloud of poisonous vapors towards Ruffer and Corona.
"Let's counter that, Corona" Tyson called. "Use Ember to burn away the vapors!" Corona did as she was told and spewed out a small, red cloud of embers. The ember cloud connected with the poisonous one, and the two burst into flames. Seconds later the fire died out and the few remaining traces evaporated into thin air.
"Take that!" Tyson said triumphantly.
"So predictable" Sean replied coolly.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" Tyson yelled, his temper flaring.
"I said I can read you like a book" Sean replied mockingly, knowing he had Tyson on the hook. "But then, it seems to be an easy read."
"Why you little…" Tyson started. Casey tried to calm him down but he didn't pay any attention. "I've had it with you! Corona, use Flame Burst at Houndour!" Corona jumped and shot a ball of fire towards the black dog-like Pokémon. Sean said nothing, and Houndour stood still, ready to take the attack.
"Oh no" Casey said, as he too late realized what would happen. The events that transpired only a second later proved him right. The blast of fire impacted with Houndour, but nothing seemed to happen. Sean smirked and Casey fears were proven true.
"I don't understand" Tyson said mystified. "What happened to my attack?"
"It was absorbed" Casey said slowly. "Houndour must have the ability Flash Fire."
"Flash Fire?" Tyson asked. "What's that?"
"It's a special ability, which absorbs any incoming Fire-type attack, completely nullifying the damage" Casey explained.
"That's not all it does" Sean continued as Casey stopped. "It also powers up my Fire-type moves." The youth flashed a smile that sent shivers down Casey's back. "Let me demonstrate. Houndour, hit that bird with a real Fire-type attack. Ember!"
"Dour!" the hound replied and quickly leapt from platform to platform, making its way across the water to Torchic. It was a single platform away after only a few seconds, and the Dark Pokémon sprang up and barked, sending a cloud of small flames down towards Corona.
"Ruffer, use Bubble to protect Corona!" Casey called. The Corphish breathed out a stream of bubbles that flew towards the ember cloud.
"I'm sorry, but I cannot let you do that" Blake called. Casey cast a quick glance in Blake's direction and gasped as he saw Sandile steering towards him and Ruffer. "Sandile, block the bubbles with a Sand Tomb." The small Desert Croc Pokémon opened its mouth and shot out a steady stream of sand while it ran and jumped it way across the platforms. The sand flew fast and formed a wall between the bubbles and the descending ember cloud. The bubbles impacted the sand wall to no effect.
"Corona, try to get away!" Tyson called, but was too late, as the sand started to swirl around her. Corona gave a small chirp, then shrieked as the cloud of embers descended upon her, leaving her burned. The sand let up and Tyson saw his partner lying hurt on the platform. "Corona, can you still fight?" he asked concerned. For a moment, nothing seemed to happen. Then, Corona slowly got to her feet.
"Sandile, use Bite on that lobster!" Blake called. Sandile jumped the last platform and fell on Corphish, biting down hard on its shell.
"Phish!" Corphish shouted and tried to whack at Sandile with its pincers. But the claws proved too big and its arms too short and Sandile simply held on tight.
"Corphish, try to get free of it!" Casey called, feeling that control of the situation was slipping away.
"Houndour, use another ember while the Water-type is occupied" Sean called.
"Hou!" the small hound replied and unleashed another searing cloud of embers towards Corona.
"Let's not make that mistake again, Corona" Tyson called encouragingly. "Stay low and jump over to Houndour!" Corona acknowledged his commands, and as the cloud was about to settle she ran straight past it, then jumped swiftly to the other platform, landing in front of Houndour.
"What?!" Sean exclaimed.
"Use Peck!" Tyson shouted. His Torchic gathered energy in its beak and brought it down with great power, causing the hound to howl in pain.
"Houndour, jump back" Sean said and Houndour retreated towards its trainer.
"Ruffer, dive into the water" Casey called urgently. Ruffer tried to shake the Sandile on its back off, before jumping into the water. Sandile let go and managed to stay on dry land, though it winced as droplets from the splash hit it. Before Sandile had a time to regroup, Ruffer shot out of the water. "Use Bubble!" Casey shouted. Ruffer let out a spray of light blue bubbles, aimed directly at Sandile. The Desert Croc Pokémon had no time to defend itself and took the full force of the blow.
"Tyson, we need to change our tactics" Casey said as the crowd cheered.
"I know, that Houndour is really strong" Tyson replied, as the Pokémon on the field all caught their breath. The two boys looked over the field, and much to their dismay, saw that both Ruffer and Corona were panting, while only Sandile showed any signs of weakness on the other side of the field. "And I can't use any of Corona's Fire-type attacks due to Houndour's ability."
"Then let's try to take on Sandile first" Casey said. "It just took a powerful blow from Ruffer."
"Then let's do it" Tyson said. "Corona, use Focus Energy!"
"Chi!" Corona replied and glowed a soft blue for a few seconds.
"Ruffer, let's get in close!" Casey called.
"Phish Corphish!" Ruffer replied and dived into the water, disappearing from sight.
"Corona, use Flame Burst on Sandile!" Tyson shouted.
"Tor Chic!" Corona replied as she drew in breath and released a powerful ball of fire, larger than usual, towards Sandile.
"Should I or do you want the honors?" Blake asked his partner with a smile.
"You focus on a counter-attack" Sean replied coolly. "Houndour and I will block this." Then, he turned to his Pokémon. "Houndour, jump in front of Sandile and act as a shield." Houndour leapt from its own platform over to its ally and positioned itself between Sandile and the burst of flame flying towards Sandile.
"Gotcha!" Casey shouted triumphantly.
"Huh?" Blake asked surprised.
"What?" Sean asked, just as surprised as his partner.
"Corphish!" Ruffer shouted as it jumped out of the water, right next to the Ground-type and the Dark/Fire-type Pokémon. The two Pokémon, their trainers and the audience gasped.
"ViceGrip!" Casey shouted. Ruffer angled downwards and grabbed hold of Houndour's leg. Ruffer landed on all legs and heaved, flinging Houndour away from Sandile. Houndour impacted another platform and nearly slid into the water.
"Corona, another Flame Burst!" Tyson called. Corona gave a determined chirp and fired another powerful ball of flame into the first, speeding it up and causing it to race towards Blake's Sandile.
"Oh no" Blake gasped, for the first time losing his cool. "Sandile, use Sandstorm, quick!" Sandile opened its mouth, but before it could launch its attack, the large Flame Burst blazed past Ruffer and smashed into Sandile. Sandile cried out as the flame impacted and sent it flying, as small embers of the fire spread over that side of the field, hitting both Ruffer and Houndour.
"Ruffer, use Bubble to finish up that Sandile!"
"Phi!" Ruffer replied and unleashed a stream of blue bubbles towards the dark-striped brown Desert Croc Pokémon. Sandile shrieked as the bubbles impacted with it, before sinking to the ground.
"Sandile is unable to battle" Nurse Joy declared.
"Oh well, you did a good job" Blake said to Sandile. "Think you can handle them on your own?" he asked Sean.
"I'll pretty much have to now, won't I?" Sean replied calmly. "Houndour, use Leer at Corphish!" Houndour sprang to its feet and glared angrily at Casey's Corphish, which returned the stare. None of the two Pokémon seemed to move an inch.
"We got them on the ropes now" Tyson said triumphantly, though Casey didn't share his optimism. "Let Ruffer use a Water-type attack and we'll have won this."
I'm not sure it'll be that easy Casey thought, but said nothing to his friend. Instead, he gave the command to his Pokémon. "Ruffer, use Bubble!"
"You two are so predictable" Sean said as Ruffer launched the bubbles towards Houndour. Tyson grumbled something inaudibly, but Casey merely stared at Sean. "So far your Corphish has been doing most of the fighting. No doubt due to the incompetence of your partner there." Tyson shook but Casey placed a hand on his arm, holding him back. "If my analysis is correct, you are the strategic one on your team." Casey inclined his head, telling Sean that he was correct. "Then your strategy must be poor, if all you can do is use 'Bubble' over and over again." Sean paused as Houndour jumped to another platform to dodge the bubbles. "I'll admit, you've made a few clever decisions so far, but I've seen through your strategy. You can't win."
"We'll see about that" Casey replied, struggling to keep his cool. "Ruffer, hit that Houndour with a Bubble attack!"
"Cor!" Casey's Corphish shouted and let out a stream of blue bubbles.
"Smog" Sean replied. Houndour opened its mouth and exhaled a toxic, purple-looking cloud. The cloud encompassed the bubbles, which disappeared, before continuing over to Ruffer.
"Ruffer, try not to breathe in!" Casey called but to no avail. Ruffer was panting from the battle and took a deep breath of the poisonous cloud, causing it to cough uncontrollably.
"Houndour, use Ember" Sean said coolly and in a flash, Houndour had lit the purple cloud on fire.
"Phiiiiissshhh" Ruffer cried from within the sea of flames.
"Finally, end it with Bite" Sean commanded. Houndour leapt into the flames and sunk its teeth into Corphish. Corphish gave another cry, before Houndour tossed it out of the flames, over to Casey. Ruffer did not get back up.
"Corphish is unable to battle" Nurse Joy said. "This means both teams are down to 1 Pokémon each, as we enter the final minute of this battle."
"If I can take out a Water-type, then your little chicken shouldn't be much of a challenge" Sean said mockingly to Tyson.
"I'll show you!" Tyson shouted back, then he knelt and spoke to Corona. "I know this is a really tough battle, and I know you're tired." Corona looked up at Tyson, cocking its head a little and gave a quizzical chirp. "But I need you to last one more minute, okay Corona? We have to win this, not just for ourselves, but for Casey and Ruffer too, you know?" Corona looked up at him, her beak slightly parted. "I believe in you, so give it your best shot, okay?"
"Tor?" Corona chirped, then replied more happily, "Torch Torchic!"
"Alright, then let's go!" Tyson said and Corona chimed in.
"If you two are quite done with the pep-talk, I'll appreciate getting back to my victory" Sean mocked from the other side.
"Things look like they are heating up now with only 30 seconds left on the clock" Nurse Joy commented.
"Houndour, use Bite!" Sean ordered.
"Corona, use Peck!" Tyson countered.
The two Pokémon rushed towards each other, jumping from platform to platform. When they were only one platform apart, they both lunged. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as Casey and Tyson watched their last hope for advancing in the tournament play out. Houndour bent its back legs, before cannoning into the air, in a trajectory designed to bring it down on Torchic. They saw the Dark Pokémon's mouth open, all of its sharp teeth clearly visible. Corona stopped dead in her tracks, as if gauging her opponent. Slowly her beak started to glow white and become slightly longer. Then she jumped. Houndour craned its neck at Torchic, and snapped its jaws shut, missing corona by a fraction of an inch. She wasn't slow to return the favor and drew her head back. Only seconds remained on the clock. Corona's head flew forward and the glowing beak smashed into Houndour's side.
"Time's up!" Nurse Joy called as Houndour sailed through the air and landed on a platform close to Sean. Corona landed to and looked worse for wear. Everyone held their breath as Nurse Joy seemed to listen to instructions in her headset. "Since the final attack landed just as time ran out, Casey and Tyson wins if Houndour is unable to continue. If the last attack didn't knock out Houndour, then we will make a ruling based on points and performance."
Everyone's attention turned to Houndour. The small black Pokémon struggled to get to its feet. It got one leg upright. Then another. Then the third. Finally, it stood on all four legs, staring dead ahead at a panting Torchic. The crowd sucked in a deep breath. Houndour took one shaking step, then collapsed.
"Houndour is unable to battle" Nurse Joy said and the crowd erupted in cheer. "The winners of this match who advances to the final, are Tyson and Casey of Nesot Village!"
The two boys grinned at each other. "We did it" Tyson shouted and gave a victory cry, waving to the audience. Casey smiled and made a mental note of congratulating Tyson and Corona when they were both more relaxed. Tyson picked up Corona and carried the small Torchic on his head, as he continued to thank the audience. Casey recalled Ruffer and waved at the audience too.
In their thrill of victory, neither of the boys noticed Sean recalling his Houndour and leaving the arena.
Sunday the 18th of Silversun
13:02, Pirepsah City Gym
"And the winner of the second semi-final match is our Gym Leader Duo, Alex and Mia" Nurse Joy said as the crowd erupted with cheer. The pair of Water-type Gym Leaders had just battled a pair of Fighting-types and Alex had ended the battle in less than a minute, after having put Mia on the sidelines once more. "The final battle between the teams of Casey and Tyson versus Alex and Mia, will be held later this afternoon, once all Pokémon has had a chance to recover."
"This is getting really annoying, you know" Mia sulked at her cousin as they left the arena. "What's the point of us teaming up in a Tag-Team Tournament, if you're not going to let me do any battling? There's no 'I' in 'team', you know!"
"I hear you, I hear you" Alex said defensively, a sheepish grin on his face.
"Then why haven't you let me do anything yet?"
"Because I need you at full strength for the final" Alex replied. Mia was about to protest, when she realized why.
"You really think they are that good?" she asked.
"I do" Alex replied. "And since they made it all the way here, I intend to keep my promise."
Sunday the 18th of Silversun
15:15, Pirepsah City Gym
The crowd was silent as the time came for the final match of the Pirepsah City Tag-Team Tournament. On both sides, the contestants had gotten ready.
"This will be the final match" Nurse Joy declared. "It will follow the same rules as before. Are everyone ready?"
"Actually, Nurse Joy" Alex interrupted with a smile. "I'd like to request a rule change."
Wait, a rule change? What kind of change Alex? Don't leave us hanging. The savvy reader has probably guessed what this change involves, but I ask that you wait with posting your guesses here and instead take it to the forums (or at least wait until next chapter and see if you were right).
For those of you about to be driven nuts by the unknown member of Tyson's team, don't fret. The newest member will be making its début next chapter.
Party listing:
Casey:
Turtwig; Male; Nickname: Twurt; Type: Grass; Ability: Overgrowth; Current Moves: Tackle - Razor Leaf - Seed Bomb - Absorb
Corphish; Male; Nickname: Ruffer; Type: Water; Ability: Hyper Cutter; Current Moves: ViceGrip - Leer - Harden - Bubble
Tyson:
Torchic; Female; Nickname: Corona; Type: Fire; Ability: Blaze; Current Moves: Peck - Growl - Flame Burst - Ember
Karrablast; Male; Nickname: Clamper; Type: Bug; Ability: Swarm; Current Moves: Peck - Leer - Endure - Fury Cutter
?; ?; Nickname: ?; Type: ?; Ability: ?; Current Moves: ?