~I'm back, I'm back, I'm finally BACK!~ Thanks to Black Dragon Mistress for being the very first to review and making me oh-so-happy! I've been waiting a lifetime to update this story and now I finally can! Last update was on 5-18-13, so you realize how long it's been.
Anyway, I've set up a rubric for how this shall continue:
1 review = 4 chapters. The next three chapters are part of this reward, so don't forget to review! T_T
And that does not mean make the same person review over and over again. No.
The four of us sat in the lobby while our pokemon were being treated. We went ahead and brought in all of our pokemon, just in case. We didn't want any of them at less than their best if something else were to happen.
"So, we'll pick up where we left off in our battle, right?" I asked Deidara hopefully. He smiled and nodded.
"Right. I can't wait to see who'll win this. I have a feeling it's gonna be intense." He said good-heartedly. I nodded in agreement.
"Hell, after seeing your pokemon, I'm starting to have doubts of my own." I said sarcastically making him stick his tongue out teasingly, which I returned.
"So I take it you're heading to Azalea town after this, right?" He asked inquisitively. Kakuzu pulled out his map, and nodded in confirmation.
"That's the nearest town. That's where the Hive Badge is, correct?" He inquired, putting the map away.
"Sure is. The gym leader there, Shino, is really into bug pokemon, just to give you a heads up." Deidara said. "Actually, Shino and I used to be really close friends. I wonder how he's doing these days..." He trailed off in thought. "Man, I'd love to go visit him some time. It's been years since we saw each other last." He said. Hidan furrowed his brows.
"Shino...Shino..." He pursed his lips as he thought. "Why does that name sound so familiar?" He asked to anyone in general. Kakuzu snapped his fingers as he seemed to come to a realization.
"Shino Aburame! Son of Shibi Aburame. His family was world famous for being top class bug pokemon tamers." The masked man said. Hidan smiled as he seemed to remember now.
"Ah, that's right! The Aburame Bug Pokemon Tamers. ABPT, for short." Hidan said. "I remember going to one of their shows a while back, long before I met this old fucker." He said, jerking his thumb at Kakuzu, who glared as if he was tempted to rip his thumb off his hand. "So little boy Shino became a gym leader, huh? Nice." He commented in approval.
"Hey, you're right. I totally forgot about what his family did." Deidara said. "Actually, I think they still do shows and stuff. As a matter of fact..." He trailed off as he pulled something out of his back pocket. It was a small pamphlet with the acronym "ABPT" on the front. "Just as I thought. There's a show going on in two days." He said, handing the pamphlet to Hidan. I leaned over his shoulder to get a good look at the description.
"Come one, come all, to the Aburame Bug Pokemon Taming show in Azalea Town! Witness amazing stunts and tricks pulled off by none other than the father-son duo, Shibi and Shino Aburame! Hurry now, tickets are only available until the day before the show!" It read. Well that sounded interesting.
"Huh. Maybe we could try to see it when we get there, hmm?" I suggested as Hidan returned the pamphlet to Deidara, who replaced it in his back pocket. Hidan shrugged.
"Couldn't hurt. Who knows? Maybe Blondie here could tag along, too." Hidan said. Deidara narrowed his eyes.
"Don't call me that." He said. "Anyway, if it wouldn't be a bother, I'd love to join you at least until after the show." He agreed with a smile. Kakuzu sighed as he thought it over, leaning away from the puppy-dog eyes all three of us were sending him.
"Oh, alright. Just as long as it doesn't slow us down." He said finally. Hidan and I high-fived, and grinned back at Deidara.
"Excuse me, but your pokemon have all been healed and are ready to go." Said Nurse Joy as she appeared in the lobby. A big, round, pink pokemon followed her with a tray of pokeballs on its head and one in both of its hands. Finding the pink thing atrocious, but interesting regardless, I pulled out my pokedex.
"Chansey, the egg pokemon. She has a very compassionate nature and loves helping sick or injured pokemon." It said. Well, no wonder she was helping out in a Pokemon Center. A pokemon like that would sure be useful for healing other pokemon.
We all took our pokeballs and left with a sincere thank you. Then we made our way back to the Violet Gym, and up to the balcony. Someone must have cleaned up the glass that had fallen all around, which made it easier to continue our battle.
"This battle will resume where it left off. Gym leader Deidara's pokemon, Togekiss and Mandibuzz, have both been defeated, whilst only challenger Nell Cresstorm's Honchkrow has been defeated." The referee said. "Her last pokemon used was Skuntank, but she can substitute it with another pokemon if she so wishes. You may begin!" He waved the flags, signalling for us to start.
"I hope you don't expect me to go easy on you now. Go, Braviary!" Deidara exclaimed, releasing his pokemon from before. I sighed in frustration. I remember my pokedex saying that it would battle non-stop until it had won. I hoped I would be able to prove that theory wrong.
"Not a chance. Come on back, Skuntank! We can finish this up right here, right now!" I said, returning him to the field. He seemed happy to be given a second chance, and I smirked in satisfaction. Finally, we could end this battle, once and for all.
"You can go first again, if you think you stand a chance at beating my Braviary." Deidara taunted. I scoffed.
"Alright, but you'd be making a big mistake." I told him. "Skuntank, use smokescreen!" I ordered quickly, not giving my opponent a chance to react. I figured, since this strategy had worked the first time, it would surely work again. Aside from Skuntank's ability to see through the smoke, everyone else was left with zero visibility.
"Ha! That won't work this time around. Braviary, use whirlwind to clear the smoke!" Deidara told his pokemon. I had to shield my eyes as the smokescreen was batted from the area by a powerful gust of wind, courtesy of Braviary's strong wings. "Now, use aerial ace!" He commanded before I had time to think of my next move.
His Braviary rose high into the sky, poising itself as its body suddenly started glowing faintly. Unfortunately, that distracted me as it dove downward and toward Skuntank. Crap, even if I were to tell him to dodge, he was admittably too slow to get out of the way of such a quick attack. I had to think of something, and fast.
"Uh, Skuntank, use...explosion!" I decided finally, although I regretted it as soon as the words left my mouth. But there was no stopping it now. Skuntank's body lit up as he gathered power, letting Braviary get close enough before he went off.
His explosion shook the entire arena, blinding me for a second as the burst threatened to knock me off my feet. But I held my ground as the energy died down, allowing us to see what damage had been done.
Three more chapters to come! Hold on tight!