theoneandonlylordmonkeyknight: He does, doesn't he?
TheHolyBlade: Indeed.
Iron-ninja: Having your team curb-stomped right in front of the friend that you've been trying to battle against is never pleasant.
CottonMouth25: You can lose beautifully or win in an ugly manner, but winning is still winning and losing is still losing. More or less quoted by Grimsly back in Gen 5.
Caellach Tiger Eye: Perhaps, but they're not perfect or all-knowing/seeing ^^; Not to mention that the two of them were in this tournament for fun and were only strategizing for when they battle each other- they had such faith in each other's skills that they didn't think they wouldn't be able to face one another in battle.
Everyone's back to that mindset by now and with good reason.
I've been enjoying writing this story for it's dramatic irony- the fact that everyone reading knows what's happening and the characters don't.
As for what Asalie's deal is, I can't delve into it because SPOILERS.
Honestly, Sopohocles is pretty endearing to me, especially with his relationship with Big Mo- Molayne.
Thanks :)
Gigarot: It's not a matter of stupidity, it's not knowing the history between the two and not having the foresight of the readers to know what's happening, not to mention Lusamine having the charisma to needle her way into Asalie's heart. Dramatic Irony.
You'll see how things turn out...
Gigarot (2): I gotcha :)
ShadowMewCynthia: Gotcha- I'll try to keep that in mind.
The good cheer Asalie had enjoyed was now all but withered away as she stormed down the streets of Malie, her face was set in a furious scowl. Who did that bastard think he was, adding salt on the wound to her friend like that?!
I'll kick his ass and make it up to Hau the next time I see him, the brunette vowed, fist clenched tightly before taking Rotom-Dex out to go over a battle plan.
"Here ya go, toots- anything in mind?" the electric-ghost type said as they presented an entry on Wimpod and its evolution.
"So far, he's only used bug types, but that Golisopod is obscenely sturdy if it can tank a Raichu's Electro ball when it's a dual water type," the brunette mused before looking over the other entry of the spider Pokemon. "Ariados is ridiculously fast and slippery- it'll take a lot to get in a hit."
I've been training with Hau and I've got a good idea of how strong he is- he lost five-zero in the end, meaning I've got an uphill battle ahead of me.
But I'll be damned if I don't make at least one of his team faint.
She eventually entered Malie Garden again and checked the clock on Rotom-Dex- there was only fourteen minutes left until the final round and it would take at least five to get back to the center of the city. However the scene in front of her kept her attention: three Team Skull grunts surrounding Kukui by the bridge.
The brunette made it to Kukui's side with Pell and Ifrit out by her side. "Prof-" she began before the man felt up four fingers and declared, "Four turns!"
"Huh?" the three grunts said, confused.
"That's the time it'll take for me to beat you both," the professor reiterated. "In fact, let's make this a battle royal, yeah! You gotta beat the man to BE the man, boys!"
At that, he brought out Masou- now a towering Incineroar- outside and he quickly took a battle stance, looking particularly eager for a fight.
"Y-yo, for real?!" the first exclaimed.
"F-fine, you asked for it!" the second stuttered.
"Let's kick his ass!" the third declared and they brought out a Golbat, Fomantis and Salandit respectively.
They weren't taken down in four turns- they were taken down in three, with Masou grinning in triumph.
Huh, Asalie thought, wondering if Pell and Ifrit shared her bewildered expression, looks like he didn't need me after all. Oh geez, I hope the heat from flamethrower didn't burn off my eyebrows-
"You can beat down three Pokemon at a time now, huh Kukui?"
The brunette froze at the familiar voice and saw number 44 approach Kukui with his hood down and sleeves rolled up, revealing wild white hair, asymmetrical shades, bling around his neck and wrists with tattoos.
"Boss!" the three grunts exclaimed in relief.
Kukui's calm smile never wavered while Asalie's eyes widened and Pell and Ifrit quickly slipped into battle stances- there were few to no doubts to who number 44 was if the grunts were calling him "boss".
"Well well here we are, Kukui- fellow rejects who couldn't captains no matter how hard we tried," number 44 said with a sigh, though his sneering smirk didn't face for an instant. "Brought an' kept down by these moldy old traditions, the kahunas, captains… don'cha you think it's time we cut out all that Tauros-shit and make sumthin' new for ourselves? Trust me, I get it- you want the league for sumthin' new, right?"
He grabbed Kukui by the labcoat and brought him even closer. "Don't get me wrong tho', Kukui- we've don't need no league in Alola, 'cause we know who's the strongest, baddest trainer in all the islands, don't we?"
"Speak for yourself, Guzma," Kukui responded back, calm smile still in place. "It's not that I wasn't able to become a captain- I just chose a different path because I had different dreams, see? It's just like with anyone else."
He removed number 44's- or rather Guzma's, hand before continuing, "I wanted to figure out which moves could beat old Hala- and when I found the path that would get me there, I took it."
...
"As for making a Pokemon League, I think it's the best way to see as many trainers and Pokemon like that come together and have a chance to be pushed to their limit! To create the best moves, made when a trainer and Pokemon come together, when trust between them is second nature, when they're in the heat of battle, when it really counts."
!
Asalie stared at the professor with wide eyes as she digested what he said- she still didn't think it was a good idea, as the system Alola was using appealed to her more, but hearing him explain just what he wanted to accomplish put it in a new light.
"Don't you agree, Asalie?" Kukui asked and the brunette blinked as she realized that both Kukui and Guzma were looking at her expectantly.
"... what?" she got out, confused at what he expected her to say to this.
Guzma cackled at that, head thrown back and everything. "Is this lil' shit one of yours, Kukui?" he wheezed.
"This is Asalie- she moved to Alola recently all the way from Kanto," Kukui said, much to the brunette shock and disbelief. "Discovery, new experiences and adventure- she's been going through all of them ever since she stepped foot here!"
"I can speak for myself, professor," the brunette put in, becoming a little peeved at being talked of when she was right there.
"Not only that, but she and her team's been able to unleash from real powerful moves," Kukui went on, expression daring. "You say you're the strongest trainer on these islands- so why don't you put your money where your mouth is, Guzma?"
This was too much and Asalie was already punching the bare-chested man in the arm. "Will you stop speaking for me, dammit?!" she snapped angrily.
"What, are you saying can't beat him?" Kukui asked, smile still present.
"Don't change the subject!"
"So yer th' little hellion who's been messin' with ma crew."
Asalie shouted in surprise as Guzma loomed over her out of nowhere and swiftly backtracked. "Th' brat Gladion talk'd 'bout an' the one who's got my second-in-command still lickin' her wounds," he kept going, head swiveling so Asalie looked him dead in the eye, dark gray into murky gray.
"She's got no one to blame but herself for that," Asalie retorted, fist trembling- whether from anger or fear or both, she didn't know or care.
Guzma's eyes narrowed but didn't comment, instead asking,"Why even bother with th' island challenge, huh? You don't strike me as th' type to battle just to go on a journey, let alone try ta take on a crew as rough as an' tough as mine- what's yer angle, Asa?" drawling out her nickname with a sneer.
The brunette was tempted to say that she didn't owe him an explanation, but part of her wasn't satisfied with that. "That's what I'm trying to find out," she finally said aloud.
Guzma laughed and gave a sneering shrug. "Ya don't even know yer doin' it! Guess that's why you an' Hala's brat get 'long so well, huh?"
His comment to Hau made Asalie scowl and she growled, "He's a better trainer than you could ever be."
"Yeah, that's why he lost w'thout takin' down a single one o' ma team, ain't it?"
"That's rich coming from the leader of a pack of morons and thugs who never get anything done!"
That got the biggest reaction from Guzma yet and his smirk twisted into a scowl, eyes flashing. His fist twitched and Asalie flinched involuntarily, thinking he would try to punch her- but he stayed his hand and shrugged, calm again. "You can talk all ya want but words don't mean shit if ya can't back 'em up. We'll finish up our talk on th' stage."
With that, he swaggered past her and out the garden, the three grunts following him closely. Once he was gone, Asalie clung onto Kukui's arm, trying to steady herself- she had just trash-talked the boss of the boy who beat her team, the woman who beat her into the ground, and the various thugs who had been harassing her and her friends throughout her entire journey.
And now I have to fight him. This evening just keeps getting better.
"You doing okay?" Kukui asked, helping her stand properly again.
Reminded of the man's words earlier, the brunette punched his arm and was too angry to notice the professor had winced at the blow. "Why the hell did you tell him about me?!" she nearly shouted. "Why did you egg him on?!"
"I could ask you the same question," the professor pointed out.
Her expression became even more furious before Kukui held his arms up in defense. "But you're right- I got carried away. I only figured since the two of you were gonna battle, it wouldn't do much to dance around it."
"W-well you didn't need to go spilling my life's story!"
"Sorry, sorry..."
Asalie took a chair to sit down in and Ewa was gracious enough to give the brunette free tea after what happened so she could calm down. But far too soon, the loud speaker called out, "Our final contestants- number 44 and number 17- please come to the stage!"
Kukui walked with her over to the stage and gave her a thumbs up before she ascended the stairs and took her place. Guzma took the opposite side, arms crossed and hood covering him like before.
"The final-" the speaker began before Guzma began to laugh loudly to rut them off- the cackles rang across the center, loud, grating and mocking.
"Greetings, cowering public!" he yelled, relishing their startled surprise and fear. "Have we got a show for you tonight! In the blue corner, the little hellion takin' Alola by storm! In the red corner, the hated boss of Team Skull who beats you down and never lets up!"
Asalie's hand was already moving to her poke-balls as Guzma met her eyes. "Hey Asa," he drawled her nickname again, "wanna see what destruction looks like in human form?
A deranged and cackling sneer spread across his face as his hood went down, revealing his eyes wide and blazing with bloodlust.
"IT'S RIGHT IN FRONT O' YA- IT'S YA BOY, GUZMA!"
So startled by the man's bellows, Asalie took the wrong poke-ball and brought out Ruby first. Ariados screeched as it leaped onto Ruby and the Midnight Lycanroc knocked it to the side with her paw, teeth bared in a snarl. Ariados came at her with poison jab so fast, Ruby was barely able to get her arms up in time to shield her chest from the brunt of the blow. She tried to smash down a rock slide on the bug/poison type but Ariados had already shot away from the attack and to the other side of the stage.
Ruby growled in anger before she tried to lunge at the Ariados only for the bug/poison type to use shadow sneak and push her back, then swiftly dodging her blows to attack her unguarded back, knocking her forward. Ruby let out a furious bellow and smashed down rock slide after rock slide to strike the Ariados, but it was simply too fast and continued to dodge and strike Ruby multiple times and then evade her attacks, even using the discarded rocks for cover at times.
This continued for nearly a minute until Ruby let out a blood-curdling scream of rage and lunged at the bug-poison type only to freeze inches away from it's body before collapsing onto the ground, unconscious from the poison that had seeped into her body from her arms.
"Midnight Lycanroc is unable to battle- the winner is Ariados!"
That thing's even faster than I remember, Asalie thought as she brought back the rock type. Ruby couldn't land a single hit during this fight at all! If I can't even land a hit-
After looking her poke-balls and debating, she brought Kumonga out next and the Ariados wasted no time and leaped at Kumonga. The Araquanid looked startled for a split second before firing out a wide-spread scald- if it was moving too fast to attack, she'd attack as much area as she could. However, the bug/poison type quickly changed directions and Kumonga's scald ended up smashing against the rocks, lessening the impact.
Oh hell, I forgot about the leftover rocks! Asalie paled in realized as she saw the leftover rocks surrounding them.
The Ariados hopped on top of one of the rocks before shooting straight at Kumonga, it's pincers gleaming with poison. The blow hit Kumonga's side and the Araquanid winced at the blow before trying to use scald, only for the Ariados to duck behind the rocks before the water smashed against the debris. The bug/poison type swiftly shot around, using the rocks as cover while Kumonga could barely move his head to fire the scald.
This is bad, Asalie thought, fist clenched. How can I deal damage to that thing if it keeps hiding-
Her thought cut itself off as she looked at the field and where Ariados was jumping between the rocks and how Kumonga's scald hit the debris apart. "Keep using scald- smash away the rocks!" she called out and the Araquanid obeyed, concentrating scald to destroy the rocks.
Soon, the stage was splattered with water and the rocks had been reduced to bits and pieces, leaving no cover for Ariados and plenty of room for Kumonga. The bug/poison type wasted no more time and lunged straight at the Araquanid with shadow sneak. But the water/bug type's head swiveled around and the Ariados became stuck in it, pincers inches away from his face.
The next moment, the Araquanid slammed the Ariados to the ground with leech life. Ariados hissed and tried to scratch at Kumonga's legs and sides but the Araquanid was unmoved, pincers pinning it down before he blasted scald after scald into the Ariados's face. Finally, the bug-poison type stopped thrashing and became still underneath Kumonga.
"Ariados is unable to battle- the winner is Araquanid!" the announcer called out, clearly surprised that the Ariados had been taken out.
"Yes!" Asalie couldn't help exclaiming outright, fist pumping at her victory involuntarily.
However, her triumph came to a screeching halt when Goliosopod came out so fast, she didn't see the attack that sent Kumonga hurtling right off the stage, crashing behind her with a sickening thud on his back. The Araquanid shuddered for a brief moment before slumping on the ground.
"A-Araquanid is unable to battle!" the announcer rasped in shock. "The winner is Goliosopod!"
Guzma cackled with glee and Asalie brought Kumonga back, nails digging into the skin of her palm. But before she could reach for Bishop's poke-ball, Ifrit was already out of her poke-ball and firing a flame burst at Goliosopod, knocking it back a few steps and the bits of flame barely missed some of audience members while falling on the rest of the stage. Asalie stared in surprise at this, especially at the anger on the Magmorter's expression.
Goliosopod moved to dodge the next attack but to it's shock, Ifrit had aimed right where it had been going towards and the flame burst hit it's chest. Goliosopod hissed at the burning pain but was otherwise unfazed as it began to run at the Magmorter. Ifrit's expression didn't change as she continued to fire at the Goliosopod with the precision of a sniper, forcing it back to avoid her flames and the remains falling on the stage and fizzing out.
Quickly, the water/bug type began to use razor shell to slash apart the flame bursts directed at it and sending the embers flying into the crowd. Ifrit wasn't deterred in the slightest and continued her bombardment. Asalie wondered why the Magmorter wasn't moving as fast as she used to, as Ifrit could fire and run at the same time when she saw that the stage was still damp and covered in rocks, as well as remembering she had only recently evolved.
"MAG!" she bellowed and locked her cannon-like arm back to fire another flame burst only for it to fizzle out and black smoke started to come out of her arm.
She's out of flame burst moves-!
The thought barely left Asalie's head before the Golisopod smashed down a razor shell against Ifrit's back and knocked her forward until she was teetering off the edge of the stage. Goliosopod then sauntered up to her before using the razor shell one last time and the Magmorter fell with a thud onto the ground, unconscious.
"Magmorter is unable to battle- the winner is Goliosopod!" the announcer said, sounding a little upset.
Asalie brought her back and released Bishop onto the stage, the Magneton buzzing with anticipation. Guzma only laughed harder, even as Bishop began a discharge attack. The Goliosopod quickly grabbed some of the larger bits of rocks leftover from Ruby's rock slide and used them to deflect some of the electricity before hurtling the bits of pebbles alight with Ifrit's leftover flames at Bishop.
The rocks stuck to Bishop, between the joints of their three heads and the magnets while the fire scorched their side- they tried to keep up but collapsed underneath the pain of the burns and the weight of the rocks that the water/bug type kept hurtling at them. Goliosopod advanced upon the Magneton and raised it's arms back to deal a razor shell only for Bishop to fire a flash cannon right into it's face, shattering some of the rocks- this however made some of the debris and embers to get into the screws underneath their heads and Bishop screeched at the foreign sensation.
While it scored a direct hit, Goliosopod went right at slashing down razor shell onto Bishop, though a little slower this time- the Magneton tried to unleash another electric attack but whenever they began to build it up, the debris and ashes inside their joints caused them pain and kept them from initiating the attack.
Asalie couldn't breath or think, paralyzed watching the Goliosopod hammer down blow after blow on the Magneton. She wanted to scream at Bishop to attack or at Goliosopod to stop but her throat was closed off and she could only watch as Bishop collapsed on the stage after a full minute of them taking the hits.
"Magneton is unable to battle- the winner is Goliosopod," the announcer got out, voice subdued at the display.
Guzma's grin couldn't be more triumphant as the brunette could only bring back Bishop before turning to her poke-balls- only Pellimore's was left. Her breath came out in shaking and labored inhales and exhales as she brought her starter out.
Pellimore looked back at her trainer to see the other four poke-balls had been used and her gaze hardened as she looked at the Goliosopod. She took to the skies swiftly before Goliosopod could get a hold of her- Guzma didn't look worried in the least as Goliosopod began jab it's pincers in the air to use swords dance and sharply boost it's attack power.
The Dartrix then divebomed the Goliosopod as swiftly as she could, knocking it back with pluck- but the water/bug type quickly caught a hold of her and smashed Pell into the ground with x-scissors before kicking her across the stage when she tried to get back up. Pellimore was barely able to avoid it's next attack as she shakily took to the air again, panting harshly from the pain and the force behind the blow. But Goliosopod only used swords dance again and the Dartrix was already losing altitude.
In that moment of watching her starter struggle so hard to stay in the air and the bulging power from Goliosopod, a horrible realization dawned on Asalie.
I'm gonna lose.
She had lost before- she had lost many times before on her journey and one had happened earlier this month with the Ultra Beast. But the thought of losing here made her swell with a foreign fear and rage- was it because of Guzma himself, the fact he was the leader of Team Skull, or was it because he beat Hau and put her friend down? Maybe it was a combination of the aforementioned reasons- but the fear and anger Asalie was feeling made her stomach lurch with nausea, her vision blurry.
I'm gonna lose.
Her teeth gritted together tightly, making her jaw ache- a vile, acid taste began to fill her mouth. She tried to will her hand to move to Pellimore's poke-ball to call her back but it was frozen, caked in sweat and shaking harshly. She could only watch as Pellimore began to fly down lower and lower from exhaustion and closer to Goliosopod's reach before closing her eyes tightly, unable to watch what would happen next.
But the next moment, she heard Pelimore give a screech of rage before her wingbeats became stronger- Asalie's eyes opened in time to see the grass owl's body beginning to blaze with blue light as she neared the water-bug type, Golisopod rushing to meet her head on with arms drawn back to create Asalie's astonishment, several dark purple arrows appeared out of the light, pinning and forcing Goliosopod back but not before he smashed x-scissors down on Pell's still alight form.
The two Pokemon skidded to a halt on opposite ends of the stage, panting harshly- the light faded from Pell's form and she now stood at nearly Asalie's height with longer and thinner legs, pale tan plumage beneath the green leafy cloak-like plumage covering her head and shoulders with two criss-crossed orange feathers on the chest.
They stood for just a little under a minute, before they both collapsed onto the stage. Asalie was already running to her starter, uncaring for any rules she might be breaking and knelt by the grass owl. Her dace had become a dark shade of teal with orange circles resembling glasses around her bleary eyes, which were now a fierce amber color. Pell gave a weak but smug smile at seeing her trainer, gently nuzzling her shoulder as Asalie hugged the grass owl to her, tears starting to slide down her face and her nose quickly becoming stuffy from the mucus pileup.
"Golisopod and Dartr- Decidueye, are both unable to battle! The tournament has ended in a draw!" the speaker declared and this brought a slew of worried murmurs and irritated grousing from the people gathered.
"The battle to please our Guardian has ended in a draw?"
"This bodes ill."
"Has this ever happened before?"
"As good a fight it was, it leaves a sour taste in my mouth..."
The brunette paid these no mind as she hugged Pellimore to her, burying her tear-stained face in her plumage- the last thing she wanted was for anyone to see her crying like this. "Thank you, thank you," she said again and again, voice hoarse
The brunette eventually drew back her head to avoid getting her feathers dirty before wiping at her eyes. Guzma's upper expression was shadowed as he brought back Goliosopod- who on closer inspection, had a nasty looking burn between two of it's pincers.
I didn't even notice it until now, Asalie realized. Ifrit must have burned it when it used razor shell-
"WHAT'S WRONG WITH YA, GUZMA?!" said man suddenly bellowed, smacking himself upside the head. "NOW'S S'PPOSED T' BE TH' TIME T' SHOW THIS LIL' SHIT AN' EVERYONE YER SUMTHIN'!"
This made the brunette shout in surprise and recoil back while Pellimore raised a wing between her trainer and the other man. But he calmed down as quickly as he flared up and fixed Asalie with a sneering scowl. "Well, I'll definitely remember ya, Asa- as sum'one who just got skyrocketed t' th' top o' ma shitlist!"
With that, he left the stage only for several trainers to quickly block his way with their teams. Guzma sneered at this before he was suddenly yanked up into the air and Asalie's eyes widened as she saw the familiar shape of a Crobat carrying him away into the night.
"Well shoot," Kukui remarked, his smile finally gone but no less calm before turning to Asalie as she returned Pellimore to her poke-ball and hobbled down the stairs.
"I'm ready to sleep for a month," she said with a groan.
Asalie didn't sleep for a month, but she did sleep until well past noon in the next day. She also realized she had yet to take the yukata off and had gone to sleep still wearing it.
The previous night flooded back to her and the brunette rubbed her temple to ease it- she encountered the friggin' boss of Team Skull and ended their battle in a draw thanks to Pellimore evolving at the last minute. She cleaned herself up and got together her things in an almost haze-like state, braid tied back against her head once more.
It barely seems real, she thought, pulling on her jeans, a purple tanktop and her jacket and boots. It sounds like something out of a manga than my life last night.
Asalie came downstairs to find Kukui and Hau both waiting for her. "Yo!" the former greeted her while the latter tried to smile but it eventually slid off his face.
"Morning," she said to them both.
"How're you doing, Asa?" Hau asked, smile strained.
"I got a good night's sleep."
"I should hope so, after last night's battle," Kukui remarked and Asalie noticed that he wasn't smiling. "Asalie, did you notice anything at all last night during your battle?"
The brunette blinked at this. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, I've seen and heard of you doing amazing battles with your Pokemon against the trial captains and kahunas- but your battle with Guzma was a disaster."
"He's the leader of a group of criminals- of course I wasn't going to win!"
"But that's not the point- it wasn't a disaster because of his strength, it was because you acted incredibly rashly and used your Pokemon's moves poorly."
Asalie froze at this as the black feeling welled within her once more and Kukui continued, "Using powerful moves are well and good, but every time you used a strong move, it ended up hindering your later battles because of how their changed the terrain and because you over-relied on them, they ran out of juice for the moves faster."
Her teeth gritted together and her fist clenched but the professor went on, "Ruby's rock slides gave Ariados cover and high ground while hindering Kumonga's movement, while his scald limited the power of Ifrit's flame burst and hers allowed Goliosopod ammunition along with the debris."
"Guzma might be strong but you were nearly hoisted by your own petard if it weren't for Ifrit's flame body and Pellimore's evolution."
Asali's gaze was on the floor, the black feeling beginning to grow bigger along with a deep sense of shame and Kukui's expression softened. "Don't just rely on the power of a move- use any move to it's full potential," he told her gently.
She forced her head to jerk in a nod, not trusting herself to speak before the professor then dug into his pocket to give her a brilliant green crystal with what looked to be Pellimore's head inscribed on it. "This is for Pell, now that she's a Decidueye. It's Decidium!"
"... it's what now?"
"This will allow your starter to use a special Z-Move that only Decidueye knows when it holds it," Kukui explained before handing a bright crystal to Hau. "And this is Primarium-Z, for Primarina's special Z-Move."
"Thanks professor," Hau said, voice subdued as he took it.
"Thanks again for the mask- I'll make sure it gets to the Royal."
With that, the professor left the two trainers behind. Asalie remembered Hau's loss to Guzma and turned to him. "Do you wanna train later?" she asked.
The green-haired boy's expression was far away as he shrugged.
This and chapter 24 were originally one chapter before I had to split them up because of the length- I'm rather happy with how this turned out.