Okay, this time around Spike and Blaze duke it out once more, and an old issue resurfaces along with a new one. This little chapter here's a bit different from what you'd probably expect from me. Something very new is about to happen.
I can't tell you too much without spoiling something, as I made a vow to myself I wouldn't, but I can tell you this won't be your average rival battle. So I'll let you see for yourselves. Anyway, hope you enjoy the chapter.
Chapter 37: Embodiment of Water and Fire
Spike and Blaze held each other's glare. Silence. It immersed the abrasive geyser site as tension filled the air. Yet Spike's gaze was more wary than challenging. Blaze was different; he was indeed bigger and looked more threatening than before, in which a prickle of inferiority flooded Spike. He still hadn't evolved and he loathed the realization that he felt insignificant and weak compared to the fire-type before him.
While in turn, Sky still could hardly believe Blaze had evolved either as he returned Kyle's gaze of mock confidence. Had Kyle trained harder than he had? Sky thought Kyle must have won his Gym Battle a day or two before. Sky arrived in the Gym early, but the kid he had met before, Alvin, had left by the time Sky had arrived. The thought repeated itself in Sky's mind. Kyle couldn't really be a better trainer, could he?
Sky took a deep calming breath, and made a quick glance down at Spike. "We're not gonna lose." He promised, trying to convince himself as much as Spike, seeing his uncertainty reflected in the Pokémon's eyes. "Ready, Spike?"
Spike gave a curt nod, his eyes never had left Blaze.
Kyle snorted in contempt. "I'm sick of being here. Make this quick, Blaze." he responded irritably and cast his mocking eyes down towards Blaze. The Quilava didn't respond directly but shifted his paws, his eyes were fixed with a sharp, serious glare directed at Spike.
Sky felt heavy with tension and anxiety. The winner of this round would decide the battle. He wasted no more time and begun the bout. "Water Gun!"
Spike froze in brief hesitation for a moment, despite his nearly adapted second nature to using his moves whenever Sky ordered. But he took in a breath anyway, and launched a stream of water towards his target.
"Blaze, use Quick Attack." Kyle ordered calmly.
Contrary to Spike, Blaze swiftly pushed ahead without a moment's hesitation, skid left, and dashed on at full speed towards Spike. The stream of speeding water only inches away from his pelt as sped by.
Sky was amazed at Blaze's speed, but then he realized his attack had failed. "Double Team!"
The sorrel haired trainer was grateful for the distance. Though Blaze was skimming across the ground with speed that the only Pokémon on Sky's team could hope to compare with was Sora, it would take the Quilava a few seconds to reach Spike, and that was all the gator needed.
Within a few feet of Spike, Blaze skidded to a stop as Spike flashed, and a grand total of seven illusions appeared in a circle; surrounding the Quilava. Blaze's eyes shifted warily left and right as he sought the real one, but couldn't tell when each copy looked identical.
Kyle narrowed his eyes. "Cheap trick... Ember, Blaze."
The red spots on Blaze's jet-blue pelt flashed in a spur of flames, and the Quilava targeted the first illusion-in-question–where Spike had originally used the move–and fired a scorching line of multiple, small-blazing fireballs. The image faded once the fireballs blazed through it, and then Blaze began to slowly turn his head left, while steadily maintaining the burning lines of fireballs and began taking out Spike's illusion copies one by one.
"Crap..." Sky muttered under his breath, but before he could order Spike to attack using the cover of his copies, only the real Spike remained after his last illusion faded, and the Totodile stumbled away on one foot from the burning embers with a small cry as the fireballs soar past his side.
"Spike, Water Gun!" Sky ordered.
Kyle smirked. "Quick Attack!"
Before Spike could take in a gulp of air, Blaze leapt towards the azure Totodile; forcing his lean hind leg muscles against the rough surface to thrust forward, and with only a small gap separating the combatants this time, Blaze's shoulders slammed into the Spike's chest.
Spike let out a pained gasp, knocked breathless before he found his paws suspended in mid-air for a split second, then the gator tumbled backwards against the rock surface, erupting a small cloud of dust around where he landed and the path he rolled.
Kyle gave a small grin of satisfaction. "Pathetic. Your Totodile's hardly improved a bit." he remarked smugly.
"Damnit... They made the first hit..." Sky muttered more spitefully under his breath now, temporarily placing Kyle's comment aside to take a look at the battle ground and think. Nothing they could use. In fact, the rough rock-surface was sure to have left scratches on Spike after his fall. Sky was at a loss what to do next. The dust was beginning to clear when Sky saw Blaze standing only a few feet from the it, giving the cloud a studying glance for the Totodile in case of a surprise attack. "Crap...We're not done yet!" he shouted, Kyle simply sneered in reply.
After the dust finally cleared, slowly it revealed Spike standing steadily on both feet, scratched and scraped at a few places, and heaving lightly while a little shaken from the hit he had taken. A seriously determined gleam shone in his ruby-red eyes.
A flicker of surprise crossed Blaze's face, but then soon faded into a smug grin. "Well, I see you can take a hit at the very least." He credited. "It's almost admirable. Too bad it's wasted though. You are so pathetic."
Spike's lips drew back in a growling snarl. "I dare you to come over here and say that!" he threatened, flexing his sharp claws with nervous anxiety.
Meanwhile during the short amount of elapsed time, Sky had gotten an idea for battling the Quilava, quickly recalling Spike would most likely fair better in close combat, but he soon realized a blind charge forward would leave them vulnerable to an easy counter attack. "Spike, Double Team; then use Scratch!" Spike doubled his orders.
Spike could guess what Sky was planning, and flashed briefly before creating three illusions, followed by all four figures charging forward.
"Two can play that game!" Kyle responded arrogantly. "Blaze use Smokescreen and follow with Tackle!" he commanded.
As the Spikes approached, Blaze drew in a quick breath, his back flames igniting, and the intoxicating, choking black smog smothered the air around them.
Sky let out a grunt of surprise and watched anxiously as he lost sight of the two Pokémon to the spreading layer of smoke.
A few short moments passed and both trainers could hear scrabbling and then one sharp cry as a figure was tossed from the cloud of smoke, a few streams of smoke following it.
Sky's eyes widened once he discovered the figure was Blaze. He heard Kyle give a remark of disbelief.
The Quilava lay on his side with the other facing the air, bleeding with three deep gashes embedded on his flank.
"Missing something?" The smoke had begun to clear as Spike stepped forward to stand in front of Blaze, carrying a clump of jet blue fur in his blooded claw nails, grinning from here to Hoenn with slightly boosted confidence. Perhaps he and Sky had a chance after all.
"Deceitful little bastard..." Blaze growled with pain obviously showing in his voice while he lifted his head to toss a glare of pure despise at Spike.
However, cheerful Spike may have been, Sky was throughly confused. Spike had somehow managed to attack Blaze within the choking smokescreen, despite the fact it was Blaze's move. The Quilava shouldn't have had much trouble finding Spike within the smoke before Spike found Blaze himself. Surely Blaze was used to his own attacks?
Sky's mind raced for answers, and after some of the smoke had cleared, Spike saw two of Spike's three copies remaining and the answer became clear. "Blaze attacked the wrong Spike... of course!" Sky exclaimed, enlightened, and a growling Kyle turned to look at him.
"What are you babbling about?" he demanded, his tone edged with intense anger, despite his shock.
"You must be a really bad mathematician; four against one are really bad odds." Sky retorted with a calmly smug smirk. When Kyle still looked lost, Sky went on. "Blaze might have been able to see Spike, but not which was real!"
Samantha looked pensive, then turned to Kyle and said, "Yep, he's right. Blaze was probably confused." she confirmed, not seeming to take either sides, but not seeming against the battle itself.
At this new information, Kyle froze, but soon began to growl again, and he glared at Sky with undisguised despise. "That was a cheap and lucky shot!" he retorted.
"So you say." Sky couldn't help feel that it may have been merely luck. Spike would be on the ground right now–not Blaze–if Blaze had picked out the real Spike. Then again, the Smokescreen was Kyle's order.
Meanwhile, not too far away from the battle site, the brown haired girl in the blue hooded sweater happened to catch a glimpse of the battle after the Smokescreen was launched, and she was throughly surprised to see that the very chaotic Totodile she'd seen from the diner had managed so well battling.
Her eyes glinted with slight interest. "Well... it's not a complete joke of a Pokémon after all. Let's see what you got." She stood still, watching. Out of sight from Sky and the others, but close enough to witness the battle.
Blaze gave a low groan and slowly pulled himself back to his paws, grunting with the effort. Spike saw the slash he made had run deep near one of his Blaze's hind legs, though just not enough to give him a definite advantage.
"You... are one very annoying Pokémon..." Blaze cast a sharp glare at Spike, and Spike became instantly alert and prepared himself for an attack; and almost as if replying to Spike's readiness, Blaze lowered himself to the ground.
Hearing Blaze's remark from the sidelines to Spike's persistency, Tank sweatdropped. "You have no idea." Commented the Mankey with a flat expression. Though he couldn't help feel glad Spike was able to get a good hit in since his arm injury kept him from battling himself. After all, he thought, Spike was his teammate. "Hey, don't let him off with that pathetic blow! Do some damage!" Tank called enthusiastically.
Spike chuckled, glad to see Tank was over tying with Fang, and back to being less moody. Which was about normal for the Mankey.
Blaze simply ignored Tank, but not after sneering, and turned his gaze back on Spike. "As I was saying, it's too bad for you, your last hit wasn't quiet good enough..." he outstretched a forepaw in preparation to lunge forward. "Now that I know just how crafty you can b, I won't repeat the mistake of underestimating you."
Once Spike saw Blaze take on the more offensive stance, he flexed both claws, unsure whether it was unease or excitement that made him so anxious. Spike didn't know wether to take that last statement as praise or a threat. He wondered just how many opponents considered him as crafty.
"Blaze, Quick Attack!" Kyle ordered hostilely, not over Spike using Blaze's own move against them.
"Double Team, Spike!" Sky countered.
Blaze flinched upon moving his wounded hind leg, but for only a second, and he dashed off again. Just as he approached, Spike flashed and two copies appeared along side of him. Almost as soon as they had appeared, Blaze dashed into the one in the middle, running through the copy. The other two Spike's stumbled on one paw with offset balance as the Quilava sped by.
Sky felt excitement build as he saw the order had avoided Spike being hit."Now, use Water Gun!" He ordered, and in turn the copy vanished and Spike carefully took aim.
Blaze skidded to a stop along the rocky earth, not too far from Spike, and begun to turn around, but not before a stream of water hit his flank, and forced him back further onto his side.
"Yes!" Sky cheered victoriously. "Nice shot, Spike!"
Spike gave the regular toothy grin at his trainer's praise.
Kyle smoldered. "No way this loser's gonna show me up..." he growled distemperedly under his breath. "Blaze, Quick Attack again!"
Though not without pain and growing fatigue, Blaze hopped from his side and onto his paws, and in an instant Blaze made a strong leap forward, and within a second of Spike's knowledge, collided shoulders first into Spike and the gator tumbled backwards again and zipped along the site.
Sky flinched in surprise, now realizing it was he and Spike who let their guard down this time.
"Now, Cut!" Kyle gave a new order. At least to Sky it was.
Blaze gave a small smirk, and dashed after Spike, ignoring the rough rock scraping away at his paws as he ran even further.
Slightly winded, Spike could hardly gather his bearings as he shakily returned to both feet before he sensed Blaze approaching, but only moments too late. Spike cried out as Blaze's claws ripped past Spike's side with a swift swipe, and the gator again returned to the ground awkwardly on his belly, and his arms tightly wrapped around the new wound. Scarlet drops fell from his side and fell and stained the rock surface he lay on, and Spike heard Sky's voice call his name in warning, and with a pang of alarm Spike managed to just roll out the path of a scorching fireball.
Sky shot a furious glare at Kyle. "Kyle, what the hell are you doing?!" he shouted, sounding both stunned and infuriated.
"Winning." The raven haired trainer replied simply with a grin. "Blaze, Tackle!"
Sky gritted his teeth, unable to believe Kyle's ruthlessness. "Spike, use Water Gun!" he countered quickly.
Spike had been given just enough time to stand back on his paws again as Blaze charged for him again. Spike took in a gulp of air, and locked onto Blaze once the Quilava was within a few feet, then let loose the stream of water. Though Blaze swiftly ducked to his left, and narrowly avoided Spike's attack. Blaze slammed into Spike's side before the Totodile could redirect the fast-moving stream of water, and the stream was cut short once Spike cringed and stumbled backwards. Then Blaze spun around and balanced himself on his forepaws, before he proceeded with swiftly kicking Spike with both hindlegs to knock the Totodile onto the ground.
This time, Spike lay motionless for a moment before he struggled with the effort to stand again. "Damnit..."
Sky said likewise. His clenched fist trembled. Though Blaze looked tired, Spike looked exhausted. He soon began to realize he and Spike were losing the battle. Sky gave a low helpless growl as he thought desperately of what to do next.
"Giving up already?" He could hear Kyle's smug taunt call from across the arena. Sky could hardly stand to hear his voice. Despite how much Blaze moved around or was hit, he still didn't seem to tire as much as Spike. "One more move; that will be all it will take to win this, and then we'll all know who's the better trainer." he declared with a sharp glare, and in a high enough tone for them all to hear.
"Honestly! Take it easy, Kyle!" Samantha exasperated. "Whatever the issues, you're taking this a little too personally. Besides... don't you think you're over doing it?" Samantha added, sounding more uncertain now as she gazed over at Spike. Sky knew she took pity on them both.
"Hey, Sky!" The trainer's dark thoughts were interrupted by Pearl. She also sounded worried. "Spike looks exhausted... Don't forget, he did battle in the Gym today." she reminded gently. He noticed she wasn't pushing him to forfeit, but simply reminding him Blaze was most likely less-weary compared to Spike.
Sky didn't reply and was silent with the indecision of what to do next. He gazed aimlessly at the ground, teeth gritted. He didn't want to lose to Kyle, nor did he want to push Spike too far. He cursed mentally; winning seemed light-years away now.
While Spike was still struggling to return to both paws again, and after hearing Kyle's words, the Totodile put a massive effort into getting up with a surge of determination. "No way..." he choked out, his front paws slowly acceding from the floor with massive effort as he made a final effort to pull himself up. "I'm... not... losing... here..." Spike's tone was robbed of it's vigor since most of his energy went to simply breathing and standing now. Which he even had trouble with the breath he drew, and his body was exhausted and bleeding from some scrapes and the slash on his side, besides just being bone-weary. As he rose, a familiar light blue arura began to lift and waft fiercely around him, and he cast a determined ruby-eyed glare at Blaze while back standing on two feet.
Blaze was throughly stunned, but he refused to let his shock show. "...Nice trick. Too bad it won't do you any good." his voice held an assuring edge, though he was clearly disturbed by the glowing.
Spike felt to weak to argue and simply gave a glare as he patiently awaited Sky's next order.
Sky was also stunned, but he at least wasn't completely new to this. "This is Spike's Torrent ability..." he recalled, then let out a silent prayer. "Hope this works... Spike, use Double Team!"
"What?" Pearl exclaimed, seeming completely shocked.
Spike gave off a glancing flash and three more copies appeared lined next to him. They moved to form a surrounding semi-circle around Blaze.
Pearl relaxed as she caught on. "Now I see... nice move, Sky!" she called encouragingly.
Sky felt a surge of hope. "Okay... now, Spike; use Water Gun!"
Blaze apprehensively glanced from Spike clone to Spike clone as he wondered which was real again. It never seemed to work when he attacked the copy standing in the spot where Spike first originally stood whenever he used this move. Then, Blaze wouldn't have caught wind of the attack coming from his left, launched by the western positioned clone that faced him, if it weren't for the enormous roar it was giving as a massive stream flowed toward him. Blaze felt the panic build, and leapt ahead, but his hind-quarters were stricken by the rush of water and Blaze was caught for a moment with the stream of water and fell on his side a few feet away with a yelp.
Sky flinched and held his breath. 'Damn... it wasn't a direct hit...'
Spike nearly collapsed again. It had taken nearly all of his remaining strength to fire that last Water Gun, and now he was apprehensively aware of his blurring vision and the light-blue arura was beginning to die down.
Though stunned, Blaze lay for a moment to catch is breath, before beginning to stand again and padded in front of Spike, limping. Spike saw with a faint spark of satisfaction Blaze was looked almost as tired as he did. "You... you just won't quit..." He remarked, Spike couldn't tell what his tone carried. "Learn to stay down..."
"Blaze, Quick Attack!" Kyle called.
Blaze, using the last bit of reserved energy he had left, leapt forward and once again rammed into Spike with his shoulders. Spike felt pain stab through him once more as he was shot backwards again and skid the ground until he stopped; again motionless.
Spike took the time he had on the craggy rock surface to recollect his breath, but as he tried to stand again, his limbs wouldn't oblige.
But in turn, that last Quick Attack drained Blaze of more energy than the Quilava thought it would, and it was evident he was becoming more and more tired as he stumbled and almost fell."There... and this time, don't get up." he warned sharply. Then went on with a contemptuous edge. "You weren't meant to win; there was no way you would."
Despite his rising emotions, Spike could hardly growl in response. He had thought of this but didn't want to believe it would happen. The arura around him faded completely. Soon his vision began to fade more, and his body–with a strange sense of relief–began to feel lighter. 'No...! I can't lose now... not... against him...' Spike pleaded to himself desperately, but it was to no use. All went dark.
---
Then Spike realized with a pang of alarm he was still conscious. He was floating. All around him was nothing but endless darkness.
Spike felt his heart pound, and he gulped. 'Am I... am I dead?' he wondered with dread. Then burst out, "No way! H-he didn't hit me that hard!"
Amused chuckling broke the silence and pulled Spike away from his troubled thoughts.
"So nice to see you again...Spike."
Spike nearly jumped out of his scales as he recognized the dry, malevolent voice that haunted his dreams."You again?"
Then the same two glowing eyes from before, and this time a violet, spiked figure faded into view in front of Spike. It had what looked like two detached bony hands floating in front of it.
"You remember me. I'm flattered."
"What the heck do you want from me?" Spike shouted indignantly. Trying vainly to skiffle the fear that clutched his heart.
"I can see the feeling isn't mutual." the voice rasped.
Spike then saw the figure that had formed around the eyes, and was stunned. "Are... are you a Pokémon?"
The voice's eyes gave away nothing. "Maybe. Maybe not. Telling you that now certainly would not help you in this place."
Spike felt an ominous prickle run up his spine. His gaze fell behind the eyes, to the endless abyss of darkness that surrounded them. "...Where am I?"
The figure looked amused, and Spike waited anxiously and wondered if he would get a direct reply for once.
Finally the voice explained, "You are lost. Lost in an endless pit of darkness...which resides inside of your heart..."
"What?" Spike was stunned. Before he could ask any more, he felt a cold shill grip him and he couldn't move.
"Created by me, of course." The voice went on as if that meant nothing. "What you are now is an embodiment of said heart and mind.You don't think you'd be able to make such a place, do you?"
Spike was completely astonished and he remained completely silent; trying to digest the unbelievable information. 'What in the world is happening?'
Then as the voice went on, Spike could hear disgust in it's voice. "No... you are far too good-natured and innocent to ever be capable of this."
Spike wondered what that meant, then caught a gleam in the figures yellow eyes. "But now..." he began chuckling. "I'm going to have some fun... while you are here, you're body is nothing but an empty shell..."
Spike felt a ominous shiver run up his spine at the voice's amused tone. He was almost too fearful to reply. "What do you mean?" Then with a frightening pang of alarm, Spike realized the voices purple figure was beginning too fade, and the eyes cast one final glance at Spike before the violet figure vanished completely. Followed by the eyes.
"Have fun in the darkness, Spike... I'll take care of that obnoxious Quilava, while you stay here... lost in the dark as you will be forever."
Spike's mind froze with terror, and he hardly heard the laughter the voice gave. The very Pokémon's whom had just caused him so much pain, was now in great danger.
Spike felt a ripple of panic surge through him. Then the surrounding darkness slowly began to engulf him until he could see nothing.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sky looked breathlessly at Spike's unmoving figure, and for a moment, he expected the worse. "Spike?"
To his relief he saw Spike begin to stir.
Sky let himself breath again. "You're okay..." he started, his voice carrying endless amounts of relief. Then his expression shifted to defeat. "Spike... that's enough... we–"
His next words caught in his throat as he saw Spike begin to stand again, almost as if he had just awoken from merely sleeping.
The Totodile steadily pushed himself from the floor, placing a precautions claw in front of him followed by the other, and stood. Sky realized with a pang of alarm he was standing on all fours. And something more which made everyone freeze. The arura had returned; this time it was violet.
A loud heartbeat echoed throughout Spike, and the arura wafted more fiercely as the impossible happened. Spike begun to change. Amid the flashing, purple flame-like arura, Spike's claws began to grow out and extend as well as his forepaws themselves; the scarlet spikes along his spine became more jagged at the ends and gave a tinted crimson glow; his hind paw-nails curved to hooked talons; glistening teeth curved back, and grew sharper and longer than that off his next evolutionary form; his mid section thinned out slightly; and finally the triangular area of dark around Spike's eyes edged sharply, the southeastern edge pointing down; all topped by Spike's usually cheerful ruby-eyes shifting to a startling shade of violet.
Sky stood rigid with terror, unable to believe what he was seeing just ahead of him. He could tell Spike hadn't evolved, but he had changed. Whatever stood before him, he was certain it couldn't be Spike as they knew him.
Blaze stared in horror, and took a cautiously fear-filled step backward. "What trick...?!"
Spike's mouth stretched into a malevolent smile, barbed with vicious teeth. "Yes... I'm finally in control of my powers again..." he spoke to himself with unrestrained enthusiasm in his voice as he looked down in admiration at his newly extended claws. Spike's claws glinted like blades. His voice uncharacteristically full of malice for Spike's standards. Then he returned his stare to Blaze, who stood nearly frozen while faced with the burning violet eyes.
"You'll make an excellent warm-up... It's been weeks since I've last used my powers..." Spike slowly crouched lower. He smirked as he added, "Try not to die too fast."
Not a figure stirred as Spike dashed across the rocky site with speed that surpassed his opponent by unnatural amounts. He ran on all fours as Blaze did, though the Quilava couldn't find the thought to run as he stood there, petrified.
Shadowy violet energy swept along Spike's claws as he pulled one upward and attacked. Blood sprayed the air as the last pale glow of twilight died.
And there is the chapter. As you probably know already: explanations always come later with this kind of stuff. Luckily, this mystery is just about over. Explanations are only a short while away now.
Anyway, I like comments, and I definitely want to hear comments about this one, so famous last words: review! As for the next chapter; ASAIC. (As soon as I can) Later, all.