Author's notes:
Book's almost done, and I hope everyone's enjoyed it so far.
To answer writersblock2000's question, I decided to give Ian's Pokemon nicknames for exactly the reason that Andy suggests: you would name a person or a pet, wouldn't you, instead of calling them by the name of their species? Why should a Pokemon be any different?
But if the names confuse anyone, I can just call the Pokemon by their species name. what do you think?
One more thing: if anyone has any questions or requests, please post them. I'll be glad to answer.
And last but not least, I was originally planning to write three stories, but not sure whether or not I should go through with that plan. If enough people want to read two more stories, I'll gladly write them. If not, I'll just write up a summary of what I had planned for the next two books. So I know: send me a review/PM telling me what you think (whichever you prefer); I need to know.
Thanks, and hope everyone enjoys.
Almost done.
Chapter 46: Battle Montage
Honestly, I began to loose track of the battles. One bled into the next, you know how it is. I had… four matches (3 on 3) total, the fifth being the most interesting. I'll give a synopsis of the first few fights, focusing on my Pokemon's parts in them.
Sound good? Good. Time to carry on.
(-o-)
My first battle is worth note, simply because it was the first time I had ever fought before an audience. It was more than a little nerve-wracking, I'll admit. Ok, so it was terrifying. I sat, shaking, on a padded bench in the corridors that ran beneath the arena, sixth floor, Casey and my dad attending to me quietly. They brought me bottled water, whispered encouragement.
A few minutes later, an official, dressed similarly to a TV producer (I think; he was wearing a white t-shirt, vest, backward baseball cap, and headset) told me it was time. Swallowing the last of my water, then swallowing again from the nervousness, I rose and faced the opposite wall.
With a mechanical hiss, a four-foot wide section of it opened as a door. Lights glared at me through the gap. Clenching my fists, I entered.
The room around me was high-ceilinged, metallic. It was like a technological cathedral: two of the walls were windows-turned-screens, displaying statistics on me and my opponent. The arena was plain, with no unique terrain. There was a shallow trench running around it, and it was in this trench that I now stood.
The crowd was mostly quiet; there were a few odd cheers, but no one was getting excited. This was the first match of the day. Things hadn't gotten interesting yet.
I ascended the stairs to a little railed-in circle, about five feet wide. There was Battle Tower technical manager waiting next to it, holding open a small gate that led into the sanctum. I nodded to him and entered. He closed the gate behind me.
The instant it was shut, the ground beneath by feet began to shake; I looked around, narrowly containing the urge to panic. I was standing on a podium, which was extending itself up from the ground. In seconds, I found myself overlooking the battlefield from a raised platform. My opponent, opposite, was doing the same.
The crowd began to murmur. It knew that something was about to happen. The room grew tense with apprehension.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" roared a voice from overhead. The stats on the wall-screens were replaced by a man's beaming face. He was wearing a bright orange jacket; his face was pinched (in an almost painful-looking manner) into a smile. A shock of white-blond hair blossomed from his head. "I WELCOME YOU ALL TO THE FIRST OFFICIAL BATTLE OF THE POKEMON LEAGUE CHALLENGE!"
The crowd screamed its approval. I glanced around, searching the first few rows of the crowd. My father and Casey sat just behind me, clapping and calling with the rest; Richard was one floor up, readying for his own battle, which began in half an hour.
"IN THE BLUE CORNER WE HAVE, HAILING FROM SAFFRON CITY, PETER TAKAI!" There was a brief pulse of praise from the stands. "AND IN THE RED CORNER, HERE ALL THE WAY FROM FORTREE CITY, HOEN, IS IAN CARTWRIGHT!"
I received a similar burst of laudation, enhanced by a few extra whistles from my two personal supporters.
"THE COMPETITORS HAVE ALREADY BEEN BRIEFED ON THE RULES OF COMBAT! IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, THEN LET THE OPENNING MATCH BEGIN!"
He drew out the last word lavishly. Oh yeah: it was time.
My opponent looked to be a little younger than me. He was dressed in a white tunic and pants, representing a dojo of some sort; I guessed what type of Pokemon he would be using.
I guessed correctly: his first partner was a Machamp, muscles bulging like melons beneath its purple-grey skin. It roared with the pleasure of the fight, flexing to cheers from the crowd. I sighed, inspected my own Pokemon.
"Go, Calypsa!" I cried, tossing down the pokeball. It bounced back to my hand, leaving behind the sleek, finned, aquamarine body of Andy's Vaporeon. She stretched cattily before giving her muscular opponent a dubious glance.
"ON MY GO," readied the announcer; his voice still hadn't lowered from its booming inflection. "READY? LET'S DO IT, PEOPLE!"
Calypsa bounded forward, halving the distance between her and Machamp. The fighting Pokemon tensed, ready for the little blue mass of sinew flying toward it.
Our initial attempt at a Quick Attack failed, as Calypsa was Countered back by her opponent. Machamp yelled and flexed in triumph, only by the blasted to its backside by a yet of water. After indignantly shaking itself dry, it sprang to its feet, but paused. The Pokemon eyed each other angrily.
Calypsa bounced forward, jumped up. Machamp groped the air, trying to catch her, but Calypsa easily slipped through by applying her Acid Armor. My Pokemon reformed overhead, leaving Machamp stunned in her wake. Ice Beam probably wasn't the best choice of move against a fighting Pokemon (or maybe it was, I don't know; I've never considered type advantages too important), but it did the trick. The moist coating from our previous attack froze nicely, trapping Machamp in a skin of ice.
"Finish it up with Tail Whip!"
Calypsa landed, barked happily, then jumped backward, fluked tail swinging. She knocked Machamp aside; its ice coat shattered on impact with the floor, depositing the fighting Pokemon on the ground. It struggled to get up, but to no avail.
The crowd roared, and Calypsa squealed happily with them before bounding to my shoulders.
(-o-)
My Venusaur pawed the ground in anticipation. He shook his leaves happily and bellowed at the stadium. My opponent (a longhaired guy wearing boots and a sleeveless shirt) scanned his belt, considering his options carefully. After a moment, smirking despite his previous loss against Saturn, he selected a ball and cast it to the battlefield.
A Meowth appeared, standing on its hind legs (though still slightly hunched over) in order to use its front paws as weapons. It wasn't very big. In fact, Saturn dwarfed it; he didn't seem too impressed by his feline opponent. The Meowth hissed, baring its small, sharp teeth. At the MC's call, the match continued.
The Meowth may have been small, but it sure was fast.
It vanished into a little tan blur and came careening across the field at my Pokemon. Saturn's vines extended and walloped at his foe, but they only managed to hammer on the metal floor.
The Meowth jumped over another Vine Whip, then, to overwhelming laudation from the crowd, landed on one of the thick vines and ran down it, straight for my Venusaur's vulnerable back. Saturn trumpeted in fear and began retracting his tendrils, but it was too late; Meowth scurried into the greenery on Venusaur's back and began Slashing away.
Saturn was obviously pained, and began trying to shake the little menace off. He began to wail desperately, and I thought quickly for an answer.
"Razor Leaf!" I shouted.
A shotgun of foliage erupted from Saturn's back, throwing the Meowth out. It landed, like cats always do, on its feet, only slightly damaged by the attack. It was near the trench that outlined the arena, eying my Pokemon.
"Shadow Ball!" ordered my opponent; I guess he wasn't letting up.
A ball of shimmering violet-black energy appeared between Meowth's paws. The Pokemon tossed it back and forth between its hands, like a cat playing with a call of yarn. I panicked, ordered a quick Bullet Seed attack.
Meowth saw it coming and lobbed the Shadow Ball toward my Pokemon before leaping out of the path of the oncoming Seeds. Saturn was preoccupied completing his attack, and only managed to partially move from the attack's path. The Shadow Ball stuck him in the rear, exploded with a puff of darkness. Saturn moaned as his left hind leg gave way; he slipped and fell, his moan escalating into a cry. Vines pulsed forth, digging into the floor, trying to hold up Saturn's body. He was weakening fast…
"Come on, Saturn," I murmured to myself. I needed a trump card, yet again. A way to end this quickly. Maybe Saturn could build enough energy for a Solar Beam… but by the time the attack charged, he would be fainted. Perhaps if he could send his vines through the floor… no, Meowth was too fast and would get around them. If Venusaur…
"Arial Ace!"
Meowth began running toward Saturn at its highest speed, becoming less and less visible. It pushed off the ground, became airborne, and vanished completely.
In a flash, Meowth reappeared behind my Pokemon. The crowd held its breath; everything was still… Saturn crumbled to the ground, knocked out.
Let this be a lesson: never over-strategize, because you might overlook the battle.
(-o-)
Finally, I'll include a battle by one of my newest Pokemon: Steelix.
(-o-)
The two Pokemon eyed each other across the arena. Pidgeot flapped slowly but powerfully, staying in more or less the same position in the air. Staring it down with eyes like blue crystal was Fang, my massive Steelix. Her slightly blue-tinted metal shown in the harsh lights of the arena. It was time.
"Air Slash!" called my opponent, a girl with short blonde hair, wearing a colorful kimono.
Pidgeot crowed happily and dove toward my Pokemon. Fang coiled back, ready to strike out, but she wouldn't get her chance: Pidgeot pulled up early, swinging her wings downward. Two arcs of solid air appeared in their wake, and sliced toward my Pokemon with a sound like rushing wind.
The air blades, struck Steelix on either side of the head, batting her down. They didn't do much damage, though, not as much as my opponent had hoped.
"Use Sand Storm, Fang."
My Pokemon rotated the steel links that made up her snake-like body; bursts of sand erupted from the gaps, twisting and surging together. The sand formed a whirling jet of sand and air that expanded, filling the arena with a maelstrom. Rushing dust tore around the arena, pulling Pidgeot from the sky. The bird Pokemon was thrashed against the ground, struggled to its feet, then took the sky again, uncertain about flying on the painful winds.
Fang followed up with an Iron Tail; the hardened appendage extended into Pidgeot's path, but despite the Sandstorm, our foe was able to evade it. Fang's tail lashed past, missing completely; Pidgeot had inexplicable slipped inside our defenses.
"Mirror Move!"
Pidgeot swerved down, its tail flashing, becoming metallic. The Iron Tail struck my Steelix in the head, knocking her back. The eddies of sand washed over her, doing no damage, but Steelix did not move.
I knew a move like that wasn't enough to finish off a Steelix; she was faking. I love it when my Pokemon take their own initiative, but some warning would have been nice.
"Dig, now!" I commanded.
Fang shook happily. Then, with her head spinning like a drill, Steelix burrowed away into the floor. I entertained a brief mental image of Fang reappearing from the ceiling on the floor below us, but I was sure that she would be careful enough to avoid this. She was waiting. Pidgeot circled overhead uncertainly.
"Wait for it," cautioned my foe to her Pokemon. "It can't hurt you as long as it's underground."
Slowly, the winds began to die away. The sand settled on the floor. And…
"Iron Tail!"
A steel spike the size of a truck jutted up suddenly from the ground, smashing into Pidgeot's chest, knocking it from the air.
Fang rushed up from under the floor, jaws wide. Pidgeot landed on its side, clawed its way up. It was slipping on the sand, but somehow managed to reclaim its feet; it used its wings as crutches. It wouldn't get into the air again in this match.
"We've only got one chance," said my opponent. No joke. I wasn't intending to let her take that chance… "Pidgeot, use Hyper Beam!"
Hyper Beam? Somehow, that seemed incongruous with the light-framed bird Pokemon standing before us. No matter… couldn't take that chance.
During the practice battles in the days prior, I had picked up a few interesting moves from my opponents. So I'm sure you'll understand if my Pokemon use moves here that they haven't before.
Pidgeot opened its mouth… um… beak; energy gathered from nowhere in its throat. In seconds, it would fire, tear through the air in the arena, and smash into my Pokemon…
"Dodge with Double Team," I said, trying to stay calm.
Fang (or, at least, Fang's image) split in three. The afterimages of her speed wavered slightly in the air, and Pidgeot hesitated. Which one was the real one? Unable to hold in the energy any longer, Pidgeot fired. The ray of gold shot through the centermost image. It dissolved like mist at the impact.
Finally, one image solidified, the other melted away. Fang had been the one on the left.
"Finish this, Fang!"
Roaring in agreement, my Pokemon arced her body high into the air, then came smashing down like a meteor on her foe. Needless to say, Pidgeot caused no further trouble.
(-o-)
Richard had his share of excitement as well.
…A Blissey's lobbed Egg Bombs did nothing to stop the oncoming Rhyhorn's Take Down. The rock Pokemon had built up too much momentum for a few petty explosions to stop him. Blissey became desperate: the field was clouded with the smoke of explosions, but Rhyhorn charged on. He slammed into her, sent her flying…
…Grovyle leapt high, came down with a shattering Leaf Blade, only to be met head-on by Electivire's Thunderpunch. Sparks flew, whit hot, everywhere, and the Pokemon were obscured. Grovyle leapt back, away from the sparkling attack, only to be struck down by a blindingly-hot Charge Beam…
…fists flew faster than bullets, red gloves smacking into scaly orange flesh. A blast of heat sent Hitmonchan skipping, dodging back. The Pokemon moved like a boxer, weaving around Charizard's blows. The fire Pokemon took the air, pursued by a Sky Uppercut from Hitmonchan. Suddenly, Charizard dropped, connected with Hitmonchan on the way, and slammed powerfully into the ground, sending dust, heat, and metal plates flying…
Very exciting. The evening after my match with Steelix, we waited under the sky, lit by fireworks. We had both made the final sixteen, and were ecstatic. Casey had almost completely overcome her obliviousness toward me, so when she tugged on my sleeve and pointed at the Tower's screens I knew that something else was wrong.
I glanced up.
I glanced at Casey.
She nodded.
I glanced back up.
UPCOMING MATCHES: TOMORROW AT 2:40 PM, IAN CARTWRIGHT VS. RICHARD DAVIS.
I looked at Richard, saw he had seen it too.
"We knew it was going to happen eventually," he said.
True, but that didn't make it any easier. Suddenly, the sky seemed very, very dark, and not just because the fireworks had stopped. I felt a sudden, impending sense of doom, and I felt it had to do with more than my match with Richard. Something else was happing, and soon.
(-o-)
Rook watched the League fights, and he learned. The boy's Pokemon, their movesets, their strengths and weaknesses. He considered his own team. They would be more than enough, when the time came. Now, it was just a matter of how long he could wait.
Rook was hungry. He didn't think it would be much longer.
