"Welcome", called John once both had taken position. "I must say, I'm impressed. I didn't expect to have to fight someone so soon. It is an honour. Silver and Sky, right."
"Wrong", answered Antauri.
Gibson shuddered slightly. There was no trace of rage in Antauri's voice, but that made it so terrible. There wasn't a trace of any emotion there, which meant his brother was close to snapping.
"Pardon?", asked John.
Now Gibson saw a smirk flitter over Antauri's face, before he answered: "Silver and Sky are they names we took on to not catch too much of your attention. Our real ones should be quite familiar to you, considering you are an inhabitant of Shugazoom City." John waited expectantly and Antauri gave another smirk, before he gave his trademark bow, the one he always did when he introduced himself to someone new. "I am best known as Antauri." Shock appeared on John features and the silver haired teen continued: "Second in Command of the SuperRobotMonkeyTeamHyperForce."
Now Gibson, unable to keep a grin off his features, introduced himself. "Mr Hal Gibson, but please do not call me Mr or Hal, just Gibson. Medical Officer and Resident Scientist of the SuperRobotMonkeyTeamHyperForce."
John looked deathly pale right now, before his features turned to an evil grin. "I see! So you wish to try to free everyone, don't' you. Let's see what you can do." He turned to the audience and shouted: "Let this battle for the crown begin!"
"This battle is between the High-Champion John and the challengers Antauri and Gibson. Each challenger will use six Pokémon in this double-battle, the Champion a total of twelve. The battle is over when all Pokémon on one side are unable to continue. The challenger side is allowed to substitute Pokémon during the fights. BEGIN!"
Antauri grabbed his Pokéball tightly while he watched how John's two sailed through the air. Then they snapped open to reveal his first Pokémon. It were a weasel-like Pokémon with a bluish-black colour, clad in a bright red crown, and collar, Weavile, and a quadruped dragon-like Pokémon, with large, red wings. Although primarily blue, red-coloured portions of its body, included its wings are the eyebrows, neck, and the undersides of its tail and limbs. It was a Salamence.
Then Antauri and Gibson threw their balls in unison.
"Lanturn go!"
"Lucario I need your assistance!"
Lanturn and Lucario appeared in front of their respective trainers. "Weavile Faint Attack and Salamence use Dragon Breath." "Lanturn stop Dragon Breath with Ice Beam!", ordered Gibson. While Dragon Breath shot at Lanturn and Lucario, the water-electric-type prepared his Ice-Beam. "Lucario attack Weavile with Metal Claw!", ordered Antauri. Lucario closed his eyes and shot forward. Landing in front of Lanturn, he slashed his claw out and hit Weavile back to Salamence. Then the jackal allowed himself to fall to the ground. Ice Beam shot over his head and collided with Dragon Breath.
"Aura Sphere!"
The blue sphere shot through the smoke the colliding attacks had created and hit Salamence straight. "Weavile get under Salamence! Salamence use Draco Meteor!" Antauri heard Gibson curse under his breath, then the scientist shouted: "Lanturn get underwater!"
Lanturn glanced at Lucario nervously, but then dived down, just when Salamence fired its attack. "Lucario use Psychic to shield yourself!", bellowed Antauri the second the meteors shot down. Lucario's eyes flashed a brighter red and one meteor that headed for him after the other got blasted away. Unfortunately, since that kept Lucario busy, Weavile managed to land a Blizzard at Lucario.
It wasn't effective due to the typing, but powerful enough to freeze the Fighting-Steel-Type's lower body to the ground. Finally Draco Meteor let off and Gibson shouted: "Now Lanturn! Ice Beam! Direct attack at Salamence!" Lanturn shot out of the pool behind Salamence, preparing his Ice-Beam! "Weavile-" Before John could even finish his order, Antauri shouted: "Lucario Aura Sphere on Weavile!"
The blue sphere blasted Weavile out from underneath Salamence and the Ice-Beam hit head-on. The two super-effective attacks did their job in damaging their opponents. "Lucario free yourself with Metal Claw!" White claws glowed strongly while Lucario did his best to break free from his prison. "Salamence use Fire Fang!" "Lucario look out!"
Lucario looked up, to find Salamence's Fire Fang digging into his shoulder. He cried out in agony and tried to push Salamence off. "Hang on!", ordered John. Then he shouted: "Weavile use Blizzard, freeze those ponds closed!"
"Lanturn dive!" Lanturn dived under, just in time to not be frozen as well, yet now he was caught underwater, with no way to attack or be returned.
"Lucario concentrate, let your aura out!", called Antauri to his struggling Fighting-Steel-Type. And Lucario listened. His struggling ceased all of a sudden and he fell limp. Salamence looked confused, then a cracking sound filled the air. The next second Lucario's aura exploded around the jackal and blasted Salamence, as well as the ice, away. "Now use Aura Sphere Multiple times on the frozen pools!", ordered Antauri.
Lucario shot out of the smoke his trick had caused. His shoulder had burn marks and he gasped for air, but other than that he was fine. Now he fired one Aura Sphere after the other, aiming for all the pools on the field. They burst open and Gibson ordered: "Lanturn use Discharge!" "Cease your attacks Lucario!" Lucario stopped and landed on the ground in front of his trainer. The pools glowed yellow while electricity surged through them and in a massive BOOM, the ice burst away completely and Lanturn came up, electricity running over his body. "Discharge once again!"
"Lucario use Aura Sphere again!"
The two attacks shot forward and collided with Weavile. The Dark-Ice-Type cried out and was thrown back against the wall behind John, knocked out cold.
"Weavile is unable to continue. Sir, send out your next Pokémon."
John scowled at Antauri and Gibson, which only gained him smirks from the current Johto Champion and the newest member of Johto's Elite Four. Of course he didn't know that he was facing a Champion and Elite Four Member and hopefully he wouldn't find out anytime soon. "Arcanine come out!" His Arcanine appeared and growled loudly. Lucario growled back, just as loud.
"Oh dear", sighed Antauri.
"He just had to bring out a canine as well, didn't he?", asked Gibson.
It was rare in the canine-family of the Pokémon. But Lucario and Arcanine belonged to those that had quite the problems with other canine Pokémon. Lucario accepted Mightyena because he was member of their team and Magnayen didn't have any problems with other canines. "Lucario concentrate", ordered Antauri sharply. Normally he wouldn't be that rough, but that was the only way to get through to Lucario in such moments. Lucario stopped in his growling and blinked, before he shook his head and said: "My apologize Master."
"It's quite alright, just keep your focus." Lucario gave a nod of understanding, then John ordered: "Salamence Dragon Breath! Arcanine use Fire Blast."
Before Antauri or Gibson could react, the attacks hit already. Dragon Breath hit Lanturn and Fire Blast Lucario.
"Lucario!"
"Lanturn!"
Everyone waited silently for any sign that the two Pokémon were still conscious. The referee had already started to raise his flag, when Antauri shouted: "Lucario Aura Sphere!" Lucario shot out of the smoke and blaster a close rang Aura Sphere against Arcanine's chest. The big dog got flung back and before Salamence could hit the battered Aura Pokémon with another Fire Fang Lanturn's Ice Beam hit straight. Stunned the people watched how Arcanine tried to get up, grunting heavily.
But Salamence didn't move anymore.
"Salamence is unable to battle! Sir please call out your next Pokémon."
John growled, but threw his next Pokéball. His Seviper appeared. Antauri and Gibson exchanged glances, before nodding. "Lucario take a rest!" "You too Lanturn, you did great!" The two Pokémon gave thankful smiles and allowed their trainers to recall them. "Alakazam I need your assistance" "Swellow please help here!" Alakazam and Swellow appeared on the field, their eyes focused on their opponents.
"Swellow let's start this off with Aerial Ace!"
"Arcanine block it with Extreme Speed!"
"Block Arcanine with Thunder Punch Alakazam!"
Swellow shot forward at Seviper, when Arcanine rushed at it. Suddenly Alakazam appeared and his crackling yellow fist collided with Arcanine's cheek and flung it away. Seviper still managed to dodge Aerial Ace and John shouted: "Sludge Bomb Seviper!" Seviper hissed and spat balls of acid substance. Alakazam and Swellow got both hit and cried out.
"No", gasped Gibson when the attack was over. Alakazam and Swellow were both hunched over, wincing. "They're both poisoned", whispered the blue haired teen in shock. Antauri nodded with a frown. He linked his mind with Alakazam's, to find out that that poisoning was a bad one. "Arcanine use Fire Blast!"
Swellow tried to flap its wings to get away, but winced again.
Alakazam sent a mental question and Antauri asked; Are you certain. Agreement came back and Antauri nodded. In the last second Alakazam leaped in front of Swellow, taking the hit alone. Gibson gasped, then asked: "Did he ask to…"
Antauri nodded and shouted: "Now Alakazam! Psychic! Give it your all!"
Alakazam gave a nod and glowed blue. Seviper cried out when the attack hit it and held it tight. The attack had much effect, so quickly chipped away at the snake. Finally, the second the poisoning and the hit from Arcanine got to Alakazam and he toppled over. His Psychic faded, to have Seviper give a weak hiss before the snake blacked out as well.
"Seviper and Alakazam are both unable to battle. Challenger, Sir, send out your next Pokémon."
Antauri recalled Alakazam and whispered: "Thank you my friend, for your sacrifice." A small pulse of Psychic energy reached him, which Antauri interpreted as; You're welcome.
"Antauri…thanks", breathed Gibson. Antauri smiled at his brother and, while brushing a silver bang from his face, answered: "We're a team here Gibson." Then he grabbed a new Pokéball and flung it into the air. John had already called out his Raichu. Antauri's Pokéball snapped open and a blue and purple vortex appeared. "A Spiritomb?!", gasped John. "A shiny one at that?"
Antauri smirked, then Gibson ordered: "Swellow Air Slash!" Swellow shot up from the ground. Its face was scrunched in a grimace, but determination burned in the bird's eyes. It flapped its wings and bluish blades shot forth.
"Arcanine block them with Fire Blast! Raichu with Thunder!" The second the attack was blocked, Antauri shouted: "Spiritomb Hypnosis!" Spiritomb floated forward and sent his Hypnosis at Arcanine, followed by Raichu. Both fell asleep almost immediately.
"Spiritomb use Hyper Beam!"
"Swellow Air Slash again!"
The two attacks shot forth and hit the sleeping opponents. The next second Swellow fell from the air and crashed to the ground, the poisoning had finally taken its toll.
"Swellow is unable to battle. Challenger send out your next Pokémon."
Gibson nodded and recalled Swellow. "Thank you Swellow…Marowak onto the field!" The Ground-Type appeared and spun its bone. "Spiritomb use Dream-Eater on Arcanine!" "Marowak sue Bonemerang on Raichu!" The attacks shot forward and hit straight. Spiritomb cackled while he gobbled up Arcanine's dream, having Antauri shudder. He didn't even want to know what dream Arcanine had when Spiritomb had such a reaction.
Arcanine whined loudly, while Raichu didn't even react when the ground-type attack hit him.
"Marowak followed it up with Bone Rush!"
"Spiritomb use Hyper Beam once more!"
Again the attacks shot forward and when the attacks faded the referee shouted: "Raichu is unable to continue! Sir, please send out your next Pokémon!"
"Sharpedo your turn!" John's Sharpedo appeared and dived into the water immediately. "Marowak use Bone Rush again!" Antauri watched how Marowak advanced the still sleeping Arcanine. Spiritomb was still recharging from. That was when it happened. A Hydro Pump hit Marowak dead-centre and the ground type got flung against a wall with a cry. Antauri's eyes widened and his head jerked to the left.
He'd forgotten about Sharpedo.
"Marowak get up!"
"Spiritomb dodge!" Spiritomb dived away from another Hydro Pump, to have Sharpedo's Aqua Jet colliding with it. "Spiritomb!"
"Now Sharpedo, use Hydro Pump once more!" Sharpedo fired his Hydro Pump and Spiritomb got shot away, directly at Marowak, who just got up. Antauri growled to himself while he reached for Spiritomb's Pokéball.
"Arcanine, Spiritomb and Marowak are unable to continued." Arcanine?, wondered Antauri, to find a drenched Arcanine being recalled by John. He growled louder. This man was a true monster. "Send out your next Pokémon!"
Antauri took a deep breath while he picked his next Pokéball, as did Gibson.
"Lanturn help me out once more!"
"Lucario I need your assistance again!"
"Yanmega get out here!"
Antauri's Pokémon:
Chimecho
Baltoy
Hypno
Mightyena: Bite, Tackle, Sand-Attack, Double Team
Latias: Dragon-Pulse, Psychic, Mist-Ball, Areal Ace (Shiny)
Spiritomb: Hypnosis, Dream-Eater, Hyper Beam, Confuse Ray (Shiny)
Lucario: Close-Combat, Aura-Sphere, Metal Claw, Psychic
Haunter: Night Shade, Shadow-Ball, Mean Look, Destiny Bond
Espeon: Psychic, Gyro Ball, Sing, Iron-Tail
Umbreon: Shadow-Ball, Moonlight, Dig, Double Team (Shiny)
Metagross: Meteor Mash, Psychic, Earthquake, Flash-Canon
Mismagius: Thunderbolt, Shadow-Ball, Ominous Wind, Energy-Ball
Alakazam: Psycho-Cut, Psychic, Shadow-Ball, Thunder-Punch
Honchkrow: Dark-Pulse, Hyper-Beam, Sky-Attack, Brave-Bird
Absol: Razor-Wind, Dark-Pulse, Shadow-Claw, Giga-Impact
Gardevoir: Magical-Leaf, Psybeam, Psychic, Energy-Ball
Gibson's Pokémon:
Latios
Leafeon: Solar-Beam, Magical-Leaf, Heal-Bell, Leaf-Blade
Marowak: Bonemerang, Bone Rush, Focus Blast, Fire Punch
Gengar
Infernape: Fire-Punch, Flame-Thrower, Thunder-Punch, Focus Punch
Garchomp
Chatot
Arcanine
Glameow
Swellow: Aerial Ace, Air Slash, Agility, Steel Wing
Lanturn: Ice Beam, Discharge, Bubble-Beam, Signal Beam
