Uploaded Dec. 4th, 2012

And now, my reader people, another chapter, and another battle!

With the rise of the sun came my appetite for battle. I jumped up and ran to get dressed as Bane awoke. He yawned as I put on my shirt. "What? Is there a fire, or something?" he asked, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

"Nope," I replied. "I just can't wait for today's battles!"

Bane got up and fell out of bed, waking Anorith, Shellder, Shiekire and Hitmonlee (yes, they slept outside of their pokeballs again). "...Well," Alysson, having just opened the door, said slowly. "That shows promise."

Bane grumbled and got up with Anorith hugging his leg. "Why are you here again?" he asked. "I thought we stopped traveling together?"

Alysson shrugged. "Just... felt like coming over, is all," she explained shyly.

I thought something might've been bothering her, but kept it to myself. "Well, time to go to the arena!" I announced in a Bane-like fashion.

"...You're rubbing off on him, you know," Alysson told Bane.

"Hmm," Bane pondered. "Never knew... Well, you know what they say: a river in New Jersey is like a farm on the moon."

Alysson and I, as well as all of our pokemon, stood utterly shocked by what had just forced its way out of Bane's mouth. We simply sat there as Bane got his clothes and went to the bathroom to change. "Too easy," he chuckled as he walked in.

Alysson was the first to leave as she simply left, leaving the door ajar. I continued to sit there, even after Bane came back. "...Why?" I asked out of partial curiosity and fear.

"Why what?" Bane asked back.

"Why... are your like you?" I finished, still offset by the earlier events.

He shrugged. "I guess it's genetic," he answered. "Ready to go?"

I nodded and got my jacket, then we returned our Pokemon (except for Hitmonlee, who walked) and walked out. Once at the arena, we bumped into Ron. "Howdy," he greeted, tipping his hat while still hiding his eyes. "Ready fer' yer' match, Storm?" he asked me. I nodded, fiercely determined to win that tournament. "Good luck," he said as he walked to the waiting room below ground.

I looked to Bane, hoping for some sort of guess as to Ron's short greeting. Bane just shrugged. "Bad fish last night?" he guessed. We laughed and Bane went to the waiting room as I prepared for my match.

The announcer greeted me, asked my name and my home town, as well as why Hitmonlee was walking beside me, and then directed me to a small tunnel, under which I would wait for the battle to be announced. As I stood there, I could hear the crowd's cheers at a deafening volume. My breathing sped up and I could feel sweat forming on my brow. Hitmonlee brought me out of it with a sharp "Mon!" I turned to him and he nodded. I smirked and nodded back.

I turned back to the opening, the light flooding into the tunnel from the arena. I could hear the announcer beginning his introductions. "Welcome, people of Pasturida, other residents of Kenewyore, and esteemed guest, Sir Barney Righton!"

Sir Barney was once again sitting at the front of the crowd, apparently. Once again, I'd like to remind you that having a highly esteemed knight of the King's Court watching my every move doesn't exactly comfort me. "In today's first match, please help me in welcoming Storm Craigson, a resident of our fair town of Puzzlin!"

Well, that was my cue. I walked into the light of the arena and was welcomed by screams and cheers from the audience. It was a bit humbling, really, to have all of these people here to watch me battle. "And," the announcer continued. "Menna Wellows, a visitor of the Sinnoh region!"

A young girl (basically one my age) walked out of the other end of the arena. She was pretty tall, African-American, had black hair and equally black eyes. She wore a red t-shirt with the Sinnoh National Symbol on it, jean capris and red-and-blue crocs. She also wore a white cap with a red pokeball-symbol on it and a pair of black, rounded-square fashion glasses.

"You ready?" Menna shouted, pointing at me.

I shrugged. "Not sure!" I shouted back with Bane in mind. "Give me a few minutes and I'll get back to you!"

She stood there in mild shock until the announcer spoke again. "Are the challengers ready?" he asked over the sound system.

Menna snapped out of it and pulled out a pokeball. "Ready!" she replied.

I pulled out one of my pokeballs and held it out. "Also ready!" I proclaimed. Ya'know, the word 'proclaimed' doesn't get used enough.

"Begin!" the ref shouted, swiftly waving both flags.

I chose Shellder and Menna released a Combee; a yellow pokemon made of three hexagonal comb-like parts with a face in each 'comb,' and a round, oval-shaped tail and two bug wings on its back. On another note of interest, the bottom comb had a red spot on it, showing that it was a girl.

Menna opened. "Combee, use bug bite!" Combee rushed at Shellder and the bottom head bit him.

"Shellder, spin!" There's really no need to say 'rapid spin' is there? He knows what I mean. Shellder spun and threw off the bug. "Now use icicle spear!" Shellder continued to spin and shot icicles from its horns, raining ice onto the bug and KOing it.

"Combee!" Menna shouted, her knees almost buckling. "Return!" She returned it to its pokeball as the official raised my side's green flag.

"Shellder wins round one, challenger pick your next pokemon!" he announced.

"Well, a quick win right out of the starting gates for Storm, from Puzzlin!" the announcer boomed. The crowd cheered and I was overwhelmed by the noise.

"Whoa," I breathed.

"Hey!" I turned to Menna's attention. She was holding her next pokeball – a great ball. "I'm not done yet! Grimer, go!" She released a Grimer – if you recall Gulka and her Muk, a Grimer is Muk's preevolution; basically a bit smaller – and immediately attacked. "Grimer, use toxic!" Grimer shot a purple liquid at the spinning Shellder, which bounced right off due to the friction.

It took a moment for everyone to process this dumb move, but we moved on. "Shellder, spinneedle!" I shouted. Shellder spun as its horns grew and rammed Grimer, doing little damage.

"Grimer, use mud slap!" Menna shifted. Grimer slapped the ground, throwing mud at Shellder and halting his spin. "Now use toxic again!" Grimer once again shot a purple liquid that hit Shellder this time, poisoning it.

"Shellder!" I cried out. I immediately returned my shellfish and the referee raised the red flag.

"Shellder has been recalled and is therefore out!" he decreed. "Round two to Menna!"

"Wait a second!" I shouted in surprise. "There's no subs in this tournament?" The referee shook his head 'no' and I facepalmed. "Good to know," I mumbled.

Menna waved to the audience, soaking up all the cheering. That really bugged me (still does, by the way). I pulled out my favorite pokemon and released Furyash.

"Fury!" it cried, strongly flapping its wings and bringing Menna back down to Pokearth. "Furyash!" Its cry was like the screech of a rising phoenix from the ashes.

Menna blinked a bit and her attitude became more serious. "Grimer, use mud slap!" she shouted.

As Grimer prepared, I countered. "Fly over it and use flamethrower, Furyash!" Furyash flew over the mud and shot a stream of fire at Grimer, turning the glob of goo into a purple caked sculpture.

"Grimer!" Menna shouted, copying her exact pose from before. She returned her pokemon as the official basically repeated his earlier comment and the announcer said more stuff. "Now I'm mad!" she shouted, bringing out her last pokeball.

"Luxray!" she shouted, releasing the blue lion-like pokemon that dwells in the Kirabor mountains. It gave a mighty roar as I steadied myself. If I win this battle, I move on to the next round, I reminded myself. If I lose…

"Furyash, use flamethrower!" Furyash flew at the Luxray at top speed.

"Luxray, use shock wave!" Menna countered. Luxray's fur sparked and a wave of electricity shot out in all directions, hitting Furyash and knocking it to the ground.

"Fuyash!" I shouted in shock. "Try to get up!" Furyash struggled to its feet, barely able to support itself.

"Luxray, wild charge!" Menna shouted. Luxray ran, gaining speed as well as a cloak of electricity, and slammed into Furyash, KOing my first pokemon. "Oh yeah!" Menna soaked up the audience's cheers.

I returned Furyash and thought over my options. Shiekire's pretty good, but it's flying type is weak to Luxray. But… Hitmonlee made my decision, walking onto the field and stretching his legs. "Hit-mon-lee!" Hitmonlee declared, making Luxray's fur spark for some reason.

Menna chuckled. "Alright Luxray, ram him!" she declared. Luxray cloaked itself in electricity once more and ran. Hitmonlee stood with his arms crossed, waiting for the beast.

"…I don't even need to suggest it, do I?" I asked, already having an idea of what Hitmonlee was going to do. Hitmonlee shook his head and waited. As Luxray neared Hitmonlee leaped directly upward and shot his foot down as Luxray ran under him, burying the lion's head in the dirt. Hitmonlee landed gracefully and gave a stretch as Luxray attempted to pull its head out of the dirt.

Eventually the lion pulled itself out of the hole and shook the dirt from its mane. It growled at Hitmonlee. "How dare you do that to my Luxray!?" Menna gritted her teeth. "Luxray, use shock wave!"

Luxray's fur sparked as it prepared. "Hitmonlee!" I shouted quickly. "You can't dodge it, so brace yourself!" Hitmonlee thought for a moment, then leaped into the air toward Luxray. Luxray shot its shock wave and Hitmonlee shot a blaze kick off, both hits connecting and knocking the pokemon onto their backs.

Both pokemon groaned as they lifted themselves to their feet weakly. "Come on, Hitmonlee!" I cheered.

"Luxray, get up!" Menna also cheered. "Come on! Get up, now!" Luxray and Hitmonlee staggered up then stared each other down.

A weak groan was heard as Hitmonlee began to fall forward as his eyes started to close. "Hitmonlee!" I called. Hitmonlee's eyes flew open as he caught himself on his knee. On the other side of the arena, Luxray fell to the ground.

Menna fell to her knees and shouted. "NOOOO!" She screamed at the sky. "My precious Luxray lost! Why? WHY!?"

The referee gave her a minute to whine, and then announced the results. "Hitmonlee is the winner of the round, and Storm Craigson is the winner!" The crowd cheered again as I stood there. Hitmonlee stood indifferently but I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I stood tall and pointed straight up. I wanted the crowd to cheer for the real winner.

There you have it, folks! And now-

Bane: MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! BAGEL!

Now what?

Bane: I've taken over your fanfic account!

What?

Bane: And posted my own story! YAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! !#!

Okay, fine, whatever. (looks at account...) HEY! You did! …What is it, anyways?

Bane: My Adventure to the Fifth Wall!

The lesser known, but more powerful, cousin of the fourth wall?

BANE; YES! AND I LOCKED THE CAPS LOCK, TOO! HAHAHA!

Okay. You heard him, folks. If you want to read insanity personified, go check it out on my page.

BANE: OR ELSE! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

No more smarties for you.

BANE: SO YOU THINK!?&?!1!