Having beaten Aaralyn in their fierce third round battle at the SS Anne Tournament, James now faces his rival, Dean, in the quarter finals. With three victories over Dean and no losses to him so far, will James be able to keep up his winning streak?

Upload Date: 11th June 2013

Chapter 21: Into the Quarter Finals

Vermilion City, Kanto

3:00pm, 21st April 2005

James was wondering quite how this had happened. One moment they'd all been having a quiet discussion of possible tactics he could use against Dean and his team, the next it had become a raging argument with everyone now apparently having a competition to see who could shout the loudest.

Aaralyn was shouting the loudest though, so James figured he probably wouldn't go with her suggestions. Dean would have to be pretty deaf to not hear that! Richard and Livvi were arguing that their loaned pokémon should fill the fifth spot on his team. Doug was trying to be the voice of reason but wasn't meeting much success. Josh, in fairness to him, had so far kept out of the argument.

James checked his watch. He still had fifteen minutes until his match with Dean. He'd probably set off to get to the bow arena in about five minutes to make sure he arrived on time. He thought for a second. Could he take this noise for another five minutes?

"Alright, guys! That's enough!" he shouted. The others stopped bickering. "We've been at it for almost an hour and we haven't got anywhere!"

"It's probably best if you decide yourself," Doug said. "There's no way we'll all agree."

"Well you should definitely use Barru!" Livvi grinned. "That way you're certain of a type advantage over Dean's squirtle!"

"Dean will anticipate that!" Richard cried, cutting in. "You should use Naro to catch him off guard!"

"Naro's only a poison type!" Livvi argued. "Barru is a grass and poison type!"

"He's already used Barru – Naro deserves a turn!"

"Stop!" James shouted. "Okay, here's what I'll do – Richard's right, I've already used Barru so I'll use Naro in this battle. If I make it to the next round, then I'll have to use both anyway." He was expecting Livvi to raise some sort of objection, but she merely shrugged.

"As long as you know what you're doing it doesn't really matter," she said. "But don't let down your guard."

"Livvi, I've beaten Dean three times now," James replied. "I don't think I've got anything to worry about."

"That's what worries me."

3:17pm, 21st April 2005

"The match will be five-on-five! The battle will be over when all the pokémon on one side are unable to battle! Begin!" The referee shouted.

"I'm counting on you, Pidgeotto!" Dean yelled, throwing out a poké ball.

"Let's go, Kacha!" James called, tossing Kacha's poké ball into the air.

The two pokémon landed and locked eyes.

"Start off with Thundershock!" James called.

Kacha immediately launched an electrical jolt towards Pidgeotto.

"Dodge it!" Dean yelled.

Pidgeotto spun to the right to avoid the attack.

"Now use Whirlwind!" Dean ordered with a grin.

Pidgeotto stopped flying forwards and hovered in place for a second. Then he started flapping his wings vigorously, whipping up a powerful Whirlwind.

Kacha cried out nervously as the flying type fired the powerful blast of wind towards him.

"Kacha!" James cried as the pikachu suddenly transformed into a silhouette of red energy and returned to his poké ball. There was the sound of another poké ball opening. A burst of white energy shot out to where Kacha had been stood only moments before and reshaped itself into the worst possible form.

Ayra called out as the energy burst into a spray of sparks.

"No! Why did it have to be Ayra?" James cried.

"Guess you were feeling pretty smug when Pidgeotto came out against your pikachu!" Dean called over with a grin. "Looks like the tables have turned now!"

"I'll show you!" James yelled back.

"I bet!" Dean gave a confident smile. "Pidgeotto, use Gust!"

Pidgeotto quickly whipped up a gust of wind and blew it towards Ayra.

"Stick it out, Ayra, you can do it!" James called.

Ayra grimaced as he tried to hold himself in place. However, he was blown into the air before crashing down again just in front of James.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

Ayra pulled himself up and nodded.

"Alright, use Stun Spore!" James called.

Ayra quickly fired a cloud of yellow spores towards Pidgeotto.

"Blow it away!" Dean ordered.

Pidgeotto blew another gust of wind, catching the spores and blowing them back towards Ayra.

"Ah! Watch out, Ayra!" James cried as the cloud hit him.

Ayra cried out, grimacing. A few jolts of electricity flashed across his body.

"Now use Quick Attack!" Dean called.

Pidgeotto dived towards Ayra in a flash of light.

"Use Spore!" James ordered.

Ayra shuddered, unable to get a reaction from his body. He could do nothing as Pidgeotto slammed into him.

"Now use Gust!" Dean grinned.

Pidgeotto spun round and blasted another gust at Ayra. He was thrown through the air, landing on his back.

"Paras is unable to battle, so the winner is Pidgeotto!" the referee announced.

"Nice work, Pidgeotto!" Dean grinned.

"You tried your best, Ayra, you deserve a rest," James smiled as he recalled Ayra.

"What do you think then?" Dean grinned. "I've gotten tougher!"

"This battle's just getting started!" James grinned back. "Go, Naro!"

Naro cried out as he burst out of the poké ball.

"Pidgeotto, use Gust!" Dean called.

Pidgeotto whipped up a gust of wind and blasted it at Naro, who was hurled back by the force.

"You okay, Naro?" James asked.

Naro got back up and nodded.

"Okay then, use Poison Sting!"

Naro's horn glowed purple as he took off towards Pidgeotto.

"Dodge it, Pidgeotto!" Dean called.

Pidgeotto rolled to one side, leaving Naro to sail harmlessly past him.

"Now use Quick Attack!" Dean grinned.

The flying type soared down towards Naro at a lightning speed.

"Get out of the way, Naro!" James called.

Naro dived to the left just in time.

"Now use Peck!"

Naro waited for Pidgeotto to make another pass before leaping up, his horn glowing white this time.

Pidgeotto cried in pain as he was hit. For a moment, he rose with the upward direction of Naro's attack. Then he recovered as he started to fall back down.

"Use Sand Attack!" Dean ordered, pointing towards Naro.

Pidgeotto flew down close to the ground. Just as he approached Naro, he pulled himself abruptly to a stop. As his lower body continued to move until he was in an upright postion, his tail feathers swept up a small cloud of sand. This cloud struck Naro directly.

"Now use Gust!" Dean called.

Remaining in the same upright position, Pidgeotto flapped his wings vigorously to summon up another gust. Naro was blasted back. He quickly pulled himself back to his feet again though.

"Naro!" James cried. "Use Double Kick!"

Naro started charging towards Pidgeotto. When he was scarcely a metre away, he made a final leap. He then put out his right foreleg and, as it hit the ground, he spun his body round and made a leap up towards Pidgeotto with his back legs outstretched. All of this would have been more impressive if he hadn't sailed harmlessly past his target.

"Oh no!" Richard groaned in the stands.

"Sand Attack lowers the opponent's accuracy," Doug murmured. "And since Naro was basically firing blind anyway, he was even less accurate."

"Use Quick Attack, Pidgeotto!" Dean called.

Pidgeotto shot down towards Naro.

"Counter it with Peck!" James called to the nidoran.

Naro had landed softly on all fours after missing Pidgeotto and now simply jumped up as Pidgeotto bore down on him. Both attacks hit, sending the combatants flying back.

"What's wrong, Pidgeotto?" Dean cried, noticing that the bird pokémon had started wheezing and was looking a little feverish.

"I reckon it was poisoned by Naro," Richard said with both confidence and pride.

"That's probably it," Livvi agreed.

"Now's our chance Naro – use Double Kick!" James yelled.

Naro once again pulled off his elaborate Double Kick setup. This time, however, the poison pin pokémon hit Pidgeotto. He cried out as hee was forced back by Naro's impact. He recovered, but then visibly grimaced as he felt poison course through his body.

"Use Gust, Pidgeotto! We've got to end this quickly!" Dean yelled.

Pidgeotto shook his head a couple of times and then started flapping his wings.

"Dodge it! Get to one side, Naro!" James called as the wind heading their way started to pick up.

Naro darted to one side.

"Now use Poison Sting before Pidgeotto can change direction!" James yelled.

Naro charged forwards. He was almost there when Pidgeotto managed to turn the Gust back on him.

Pidgeotto cried out, trying to force the nidoran back. But Naro stubbornly pressed on before finally smashing into Pidgeotto.

"Use Quick Attack!" Dean yelled as Pidgeotto once again grimaced from the effects of poison.

Pidgeotto's cry sounded much weaker now – he was on his last legs!

"Finish this up!" James called. "Use Peck!"

Naro charged forwards. Both attacks found their targets. Naro and Pidgeotto skidded apart from the impact. They were both breathing heavily. Pidgeotto finally slumped forwards, having succumbed to the poison.

"Pidgeotto is unable to battle, so the winner is Nidoran!" the referee shouted.

"Alright! Nice work, Naro!" James grinned. On the other side, Dean withdrew Pidgeotto and pulled out his next poké ball.

"Let's go, Rattata!" He called.

Rattata cried out as he materialised.

"Rattata, huh?" James murmured, remembering its Hyper Fang from before. Over in the stands, Josh leaned over to Livvi.

"Hey, Livvi, can you scan that rattata with your Pokédex?"

"Um, I guess I could," Livvi replied. "But why?"

"It's just that I've never seen one before," Josh explained.

"I find that very hard to believe," Richard mumbled as Livvi pulled out her Pokédex.

"Rattata, the mouse pokémon. Rattata is cautious in the extreme. Even while it is asleep, it constantly listens by moving its ears around. It is not picky about where it lives – it will make its nest anywhere."

"Looks like James is making his move!" Doug called to them.

"Okay, Naro, return," James smiled. "You've done well, but I reckon I'll need you again later." As the nidoran returned to his poké ball, James pulled out his next one. "I choose you, Saeloc!"

Saeloc purred as she burst out of the ball.

"Use Hyper Fang!" Dean yelled to Rattata.

Rattata charged towards Saeloc. Before she or James could react, he sunk his fearsome teeth into Saeloc. She screeched in pain as she was pushed back.

"Are you okay, Saeloc?" James cried in alarm, running over to her.

Saeloc whimpered slightly as she pulled herself up. She gave herself a shake and nodded.

"Use Focus Energy, Rattata!" Dean called.

Rattata nodded and took a deep breath to get himself pumped. While he was doing this, Saeloc got up and ran back to her position.

"Okay, Saeloc – use Fury Swipes!" James grinned.

Saeloc surged forwards landing a quick succession of swipes on Rattata. He cried in pain as he tried to pull away.

"Use Quick Attack!" Dean called.

Rattata gave Saeloc a weak head butt to throw her off balance and then jumped back. With a flash of light, he tore forwards again.

"Dodge!" …Was all James had time to order. Fortunately for him, Saeloc managed to jump just in time and get out of the way. "Okay, now use Bite!"

Saeloc jumped towards Rattata, who easily evaded her using the leftover speed from the Quick Attack.

"Iron Tail!" Dean shouted.

Rattata's tail turned to steel. He jumped up into the air and rolled over to descend tail-first towards Saeloc.

"Use Growl!" James called.

Saeloc growled at the descending rattata.

"Now get out of there!" James yelled. "And use Icy Wind!"

The meowth jumped back and Rattata's Iron Tail slammed into the ground. Taking a deep breath, she blasted Rattata with her Icy Wind attack.

"Snap out of it, Rattata! Use Quick Attack!" Dean yelled.

Rattata fought the Icy Wind for a moment, then sprung forwards with a flash of light. He hit Saeloc, sending her flying back.

"Now finish this up with Iron Tail!" Dean called.

Rattata once again leapt up to use Iron Tail.

"Dodge and use Icy Wind again!" James ordered as the mouse pokémon began to descend.

Saeloc pulled herself back up and dived to one side. As she did, she fired another Icy Wind. Rattata cried in pain as he was caught in the side by the attack. He was sent flying to one side before hitting the ground. He rolled twice and then pulled himself up again, shaking his head to try and clear away the mounting fatigue.

"Now use Fury Swipes!" James grinned.

Saeloc rushed towards Rattata. He cried out as the meowth swiped at him with her claws.

"One last effort, Rattata!" Dean called. "Use Iron Tail!"

"And you use Bite, Saeloc!" James yelled.

The two pokémon leapt at each other. Saeloc hit first, digging her sharp teeth into Rattata's side. No more than a second later, Rattata's tail came swinging round and struck Saeloc, knocking her away from him. Both pokémon landed heavily. Only one found the strength to get back up.

"Rattata is unable to battle, so the winner is Meowth!" the referee shouted.

"Phew! Nice work, Saeloc!" James grinned. "I suppose it was inevitable though – I mean a cat against a mouse?"

"Let's see what you think of my next pokémon then!" Dean called over.

He's going to send out Squirtle, James thought. He only talks like that when he's pulling out his trump card.

"Show 'em what you're made of!" Dean shouted, throwing a poké ball into the air.

The white energy burst to reveal a pink biped pokémon. The first thing James noticed was a ridiculously long tongue hanging out of its mouth. It also had a tail and a rounded but otherwise unremarkable head. There were three cream coloured stripes on its belly and a similar coloured ring on each of its knees.

"Never seen one of those before," James remarked as he pulled out his Pokédex.

"Lickitung, the licking pokémon. Being licked by its long, saliva-covered tongue leaves a tingling sensation. Extending its tongue retracts its tail."

"Alright, Lickitung! Use Stomp!" Dean grinned.

"Dodge it and use Fury Swipes!" James called.

Saeloc jumped up to avoid Lickitung's attack and the dived back down to claw at it.

"Knock it away and then use Lick!" Dean shouted.

Lickitung knocked Saeloc back with a quick jerk of the head before extending its tongue at a lightning speed and wiping it against Saeloc's front and face.

For a moment, everyone held their breath.

After about three seconds, James laughed. "Your attack doesn't seem to have done much!" He called. Saeloc looked pretty disgusted, but other than that it hadn't done anything.

"Lick is a ghost-type attack!" James heard Aaralyn shout from the crowd. "Ghost-type moves don't affect normal types like Saeloc!"

"Damn. That's awkward," Dean sighed, rubbing the back of his head.

"Okay, Saeloc, use Growl!" James grinned.

Saeloc growled cutely at Lickitung.

"And now use Bite!"

Saeloc sprung towards her opponent.

"Intercept it with Wrap!" Dean called.

Lickitung extended its tongue again, this time wrapping it around Saeloc and pulling her back towards it.

"Use Icy Wind!" James yelled urgently. "You've got to get free!"

Saeloc fired an Icy Wind at her captor, striking Lickitung on the left shoulder.

Lickitung was forced back slightly for a second before shrugging off the attack.

"Alright, finish it off with Stomp!" Dean ordered.

Lickitung flung Saeloc to the ground before bringing one of its huge feet down on her. Saeloc cried in pain. Lickitung lifted its foot again.

"Meowth is unable to battle, so the winner is Lickitung!" the referee announced.

"Return, Saeloc. You did a good job out there," James said sadly as he withdrew Saeloc.

"That lickitung must be tough!" Livvi exclaimed. "I don't think I've seen Saeloc go down before!"

"Excuse me?" Doug raised an eyebrow. "I believe I was able to defeat Saeloc."

"Saeloc still beat Dragonair though," Aaralyn mused. "She's a tough cookie."

James pulled out another poké ball. "Let's go, Kacha!" He called as he threw the ball out.

Kacha cried out, relieved to be back on the field.

"Lickitung, use Lick!" Dean yelled.

I don't know what Lick does, but I don't really want to find out, James thought. "Kacha, dodge it and use Thundershock!"

Kacha managed to jump over the tongue as it rushed towards him. He quickly fired a Thundershock at Lickitung, who cried out as the attack hit.

"Use Lick again!" Dean called.

Lickitung extended its tongue again.

"Use Quick Attack to dodge it!" James called to Kacha.

Kacha quickly tore to one side, narrowly evading Lickitung's tongue and smashing into the licking pokémon's side.

"Use Wrap!" Dean yelled.

Lickitung swung its tongue around as James barked a new order to Kacha.

"Dodge it!"

Kacha ducked, allowing the tongue to sail over him.

"Okay, use Quick Attack again!" James grinned.

Kacha took off at a run towards Lickitung. However, there was no bright flash of light like normal. Instead Kacha jumped into the air, span around and then slammed his tail down on Lickitung's head. Lickitung groaned, staggering back and clutching its head.

"Wow!" Livvi grinned. "Kacha's learnt a new attack!"

"Yeah." Richard nodded. "Slam."

"You okay, Lickitung?" Dean asked. "Good! Use Supersonic!" he added as Lickitung nodded.

Lickitung emitted a high-pitched noise. James, Kacha and most of the people in the stands clutched their ears in pain.

"Make it stop, Kacha, use Slam!" James yelled desperately.

Kacha ran forwards and tried to slam Lickitung. Instead, he missed and crashed into the ground.

"Now use Lick!" Dean shouted.

The noise stopped and Lickitung whipped its tongue around, scoring a direct hit on Kacha. He gasped, stunned. He stood up rigidly. Then a couple of electrical jolts passed across his body.

"Paralysis?" James cried in horror.

"Yeah!" Dean called over to him. "A lickitung's Lick always tingles, but sometimes it leaves the target paralyzed!"

"Kacha! You need to get back here!" James called urgently to the pikachu.

Kacha tried to run but ended up falling over. Lickitung loomed over behind him.

"Finish it up with Stomp!" Dean called.

Lickitung brought its foot down heavily, sending Kacha flying.

"Kacha! Are you okay?" James cried.

Kacha groaned feebly in response.

"Pikachu is unable to battle, so the winner is Lickitung!" the referee shouted.

"Kacha too?" Livvi gasped. "That means he's only got Naro and Raenok left!"

"And Dean's still got three pokémon, including Squirtle," Richard added.

Back on the battlefield, James had just withdrawn Kacha.

"What do you think then?" Dean called. "Lickitung's pretty tough, huh?"

How am I going to get out of this? James wondered. "Well I guess I've gotta just keep fighting as hard as I can!" he said aloud as he threw out a poké ball.

Haven't had a cliff hanger in a while… ironically I think it was the last rival battle (before the chapter merging at least! :P). Anyway, James seems to be in a tight spot. Having lost three of his five pokémon and only having defeated only two of Dean's, James will have his work cut out for him. Nonetheless, the battle could still tip either way. Will James be able to recover and lead the rest of his team to victory, or will Lickitung prove too tough a nut to crack? Find out in Chapter 22!

James' Team:

Active:

Kacha (Pikachu): male, modest, sturdy body, likes dry food, electric type, Static ability, known moves are Thundershock, Double Team, Slam and Thunder Wave.

Raenok (Mankey): male, impish, loves to eat, likes sour food, fighting type, Anger Point ability, known moves are Fury Swipes, Leer, Low Kick and Karate Chop.

Ayra (Paras): male, lax, loves to relax, likes sour food, bug-grass type, Dry Skin ability, known moves are Scratch, Stun Spore, Bullet Seed and Spore.

Saeloc (Meowth): female, rash, likes to thrash about, likes dry food, normal type, Technician ability, known moves are Fury Swipes, Growl, Bite and Icy Wind.

Borrowing:

Barru (Bulbasaur): male, timid, highly persistent, likes sweet food, grass-poison type, Overgrow ability, known moves are Tackle, Razor Leaf, Vine Whip and Leech Seed.

Naro (Nidoran): male, mild, sturdy body, likes dry food, poison type, Poison Point ability, known moves are Leer, Peck, Poison Sting and Double Kick.

Recovering:

Charka (Charmander): male, naïve, often scatters things, likes sweet food, Blaze ability, known moves are Scratch, Smokescreen, Ember and Metal Claw.

Livvi's Team:

Richard's Team:

Active:

Sting (Beedrill): male, hardy, often dozes off, eats anything, Swarm ability, known moves are Focus Energy, Poison Sting, Twineedle and String Shot.