Chapter 65 - Logan vs. Yuta - Part 1 - Logan's Path
11 Months Ago
"Bite!" Logan ordered.
Poochyena opened his mouth and bit down onto Treecko's tail.
"Got 'em!" Logan said.
"Fight through the pain!" Yuta commanded.
The Treecko stopped screeching and glared at Poochyena. His movements were jittery.
"Use Pound!"
Treecko jumped into the air, Poochyena still attached. He twisted his body and flung Poochyena towards the ground, smashed the Pokémon hard. When the dust had settled, both Pokémon barely stood.
"Poochyena, you okay?" Logan asked.
Poochyena let out a battle cry and sneered.
"Fantastic!" Logan responded, but his smile soon faded once Poochyena collapsed from exhaustion. Treecko soon followed.
The trainers both ran to their Pokémon.
"A tie," Yuta muttered.
Present Day
"Hello, everyone! And welcome back to the quarter-finals of the Ever Grande Conference! We've come down to our top eight, but it's time to halve that once more. In the previous battles, we saw Luna defeat Yuichi, Kenta defeat Adam, and Clark defeat Royal! Now, it's Logan Stephenson from the Unova region taking on Kato Yuta from Littleroot Town! These are two of the crowd's favorites, so we're sure to see an intense showdown," the announcer said.
"The following battle will be a six on six full battle between Logan Stephenson from Unova and Kato Yuta from Littleroot Town to determine who goes onto the semi-finals! There will be a short intermission once one side has lost three battles. We will start on the ice field! Trainers, begin!" the referee announced. He held up his flags.
Logan threw his Poké Ball onto the field. "Incineroar, it's on you!" His Pokémon appeared and then posed for the crowd.
Yuta calmly pulled his Poké Ball from his belt. "Salamence, go." He pushed the button, releasing a Dragon-type into the air. It landed on the ground and then roared.
Starting off really strong. But Incineroar is nothing to laugh at. Logan thought. "I'll give the first move to you, Yuta."
"I'll take it. Salamence, Earthquake!"
"Starting off really strong," Logan muttered. "Incineroar, let's go! Cross Chop!"
As Salamence leapt into the air and began to charge energy in his legs, Incineroar rushed him. Incineroar jumped at Salamence with his arms crossed, and he swiped at the Dragon-type. Salamence took the attack directly, but only flew back a little bit. He then continued his attack and came crashing down onto the stage, shaking the whole stadium. Incineroar landed back onto the field and felt the immediate effects of the Ground-type attack. He fell to one knee and roared.
"Steel Wing," Yuta commanded.
The wings on Salamence's back were suddenly turned to solid steel, and he bounded forward.
"Flamethrower!" Logan yelled.
"Into the air!"
As Incineroar released a flurry of flames from his mouth, Salamence soared into the air. Incineroar painted the sky with his flames, attempting to get even a scratch on Salamence.
"Now dive!"
Salamence continuously avoided the flames as he descended towards the ground.
"Incineroar, go!"
Incineroar nodded and then turned his attention to the ground. He blasted flames once more from his mouth, and he was shot into the air as Salamence collided with the field.
"Flying Cross Chop!" Logan yelled.
Incineroar crossed his arms as he fell back towards the ground. Before Yuta could make his next command, Incineroar smashed into the Dragon-type with his attack. Where the two collided with one another, there was a small explosion, and both were covered in dust and smoke. They both retreated to their respective sides of the field and stared at one another. The crowd started to cheer loudly, and Incineroar smiled.
"Even though Salamence is a pseudo-legendary, Logan's Incineroar is insanely strong," Yuichi told Yurie and Himawari. "The two trained together in Alola. I have a lot of faith in Incineroar's abilities."
Yurie leaned forward. She had never seen a Pokémon like Incineroar before, and the Logan that she saw on the battlefield was almost an entirely different person.
"Flamethrower!" both of the trainers commanded.
Their Pokémon followed suit, unleashing hot flames onto the field and completely melting the ice, transforming the field into a regular rocky stage. The flames collided with one another and then exploded.
"Darkest Lariat!"
"Go in with Dragon Claw!"
Both of the Pokémon dove into the smoke, but it was Salamence that was knocked out of it.
"Flare Blitz!" Logan ordered.
The smoke suddenly blew away as Incineroar's body became engulfed in flames. He charged forward, crashing into the Dragon-type Pokémon. Salamence was tossed back, but nowhere near finished.
Yuta looked down at his bracelet and then shook his head. "No. Not yet! Keep up the pressure! Use Dragon Claw!"
"It's time for us to use our special move!" Logan called.
Incineroar nodded and then jumped back. Logan raised his bracelet with the Z-crystal in it, and the two started to strike poses in unison.
"Malicious Moonsault!"
Seconds before Salamence swiped his arcane energy filled claws, Incineroar leapt into the air, his body exploding with dark energy. He flipped his body multiple times and then stretched out his limbs. Before Salamence could react, Incineroar came crashing down, flattening Salamence into the earth.
The referee looked at Salamence before making his call. He raised his flag. "Salamence is unable to battle! Incineroar is the winner!"
"How in the world?" Yuta wondered before returning his Poké Ball. He looked at his hand. It was shaking violently. "I'm nervous?"
"Take a few deep breaths, Yuta," Logan said. He smiled. "I want you at your best."
Yuta nodded and then closed his eyes. He drew out his next Poké Ball and tossed it onto the field. A Gardevoir appeared, and she slowly waved her arms around with the flow of her dress.
"As far as I can remember, Gardevoir is a Psychic-type. You sure you're thinking straight, Yuta?" Logan asked. "I hope you have something planned. My Incineroar loves to put on a show."
"Trust me. We'll be fine. Start with Calm Mind!"
Gardevoir put her hands to her head and began to charge energy. Her eyes glowed purple, and the area around her shook.
"Get in quick! Use Darkest Lariat!"
"Incine!" the Pokémon howled as he bounded forward on all fours. He jumped into the air and span his body around, his arms extending out wide.
"Magical Leaf!"
Gardevoir elegantly ducked under Incineroar's arms. She then put her hands together and unleashed green energy into the air. The green energy pelted into Incineroar's jaw, sending him into the air, but he wasn't injured.
"Flamethrower!" Logan ordered.
"Hyper Beam!"
The two Pokémon unleashed their attacks, making the streams clash in midair. Hyper Beam was stronger though, breaking through Incineroar's flames and then blasting the Fire-type high into the sky. Incineroar crashed down onto the earth, and his body went limp, but his smile never faded from his face.
Logan laughed. "You're Gardevoir is insanely strong." He returned Incineroar. "But my next Pokémon will give her some trouble. Seismitoad, you're up!"
Logan's large Pokémon appeared on the field, and his body wobbled around as he tried to find footing. He put his hands together nervously and looked out at Gardevoir.
"Doesn't really look like Seismitoad wants to fight," Yuta exclaimed.
Logan shook his head. "He does. He just doesn't want to hurt your Pokémon too badly."
"I guess we'll start then. Use Magical Leaf!"
"Sludge Bomb!"
Gardevoir once more released a flurry of leaves onto the field, but they were quickly drowned out by sludge from Seismitoad's attack.
I wouldn't choose Seismitoad knowing that you have Magical Leaf without a counter in mind. Logan thought. "Shake things up with Earthquake!"
Seismitoad squatted down low before jumping into the air and landing back on the ground hard. He shook the entire battlefield, and Gardevoir lost her footing.
"One more Sludge Bomb!" Logan called out.
"Hyper Beam!" Yuta yelled.
The two Pokémon unleashed their attacks, even though Gardevoir's came a little bit later. But it was no problem, as the beam of light tore through the sludge. It nailed Seismitoad directly, sending him backwards. He rolled behind one of the stones and hid while the Hyper Beam destroyed some of the field. When the attack stopped, Gardevoir stood tall but was breathing heavily.
"Now let's try Sludge Bomb!"
Quicker than one could imagine he could, Seismitoad flipped into the air. He turned his body around and unleashed the purple goo from his mouth once more. It drenched Gardevoir, and she let out a shriek as she fell to one knee.
"Hydro Pump!"
"Moon Blast!"
Gardevoir held her arms into the air as Seismitoad sucked in air. He released pressurized water from his mouth as Gardevoir caused pink energy to rain down from the sky. The two attacks connected, cancelling each other out and causing an explosion.
Before Logan could give Seismitoad his next order, leaves came rushing from the smoke. They tore into Seismitoad, but he once again rolled back and hid behind one of the rocks.
"Destroy that rock with a Moon Blast!" Yuta commanded.
Gardevoir raised her arms into the air once more, forming a ball of energy in between her hands. She then made a forward motion, launching the ball down the field.
"Into the air!"
As the ball of fairy energy collided with the stone, destroying it completely, Seismitoad launched himself into the air, a stream of water flowing from his mouth.
"Now Sludge Bomb!"
Seismitoad did a frontflip, releasing purple sludge from his body. The sludge flew across the field and doused Gardevoir. She let out a howl and then jumped backwards. Her body shook as the poison flowed through her.
"Come down with Earthquake!"
Seismitoad's legs started to glow, and he tucked his knees into his chest. With a large crash, he smashed into the ground, causing the entire field to be covered in fissures. The energy sent Gardevoir into the air, and she landed hard on one of the stones. Her body went limp as it fell to the ground.
"Gardevoir is unable to battle! Seismitoad is the winner!" the referee declared.
Yuta withdrew his fainted Pokémon and then contemplated his next few options. "Your Seismitoad is no pushover despite his demeanor."
Seismitoad nervously put his hands together and lowered his head.
"My Pokémon aren't pushovers either. We're going to come back and win this!" He ripped the next Poké Ball from his belt and held it in the air. "Glalie, let's go!"
A giant ball Pokémon with two pointy ears appeared above the field. He glared menacingly at Seismitoad, making the Water-type even more nervous.
"An Ice-type?" Logan wondered. "This is getting exciting."
"Hail!" Yuta yelled.
"Hydro Pump!"
As Seismitoad took in a big breath, Glalie unleashed a ball of mist into the sky. The ball exploded, filling the air with a haze. From the haze, a sharp crystal of ice fell, nailing Seismitoad in the face. He stopped his attack and felt at his nose, irritated by the weak attack.
"Now, Blizzard!"
Glalie howled while releasing a blast of wind from his mouth. Inside the wind were small ice crystals and snow, which made the attack dangerous. It raced across the field and overtook Seismitoad making him roll back. He raised his arms and knelt down, shielding his face from the wind.
"Gyro Ball!" Yuta's voice called.
From the mess that was the haze, snow, and ice, Glalie emerged. His body was rapidly spinning, and he crashed into Seismitoad, making the Water-type slide back even further. Glalie was quick to retreat back into the haze, and he repeated his attack over and over again until Logan finally came up with a plan.
"Wait for him to come close and use Focus Blast!" he ordered.
Seismitoad was worn out, but he put his hands together, forming a blue ball of chakra in his palms. He patiently waited, calmly looking around his surroundings for anything that looked like Glalie. Eventually, something emerged. Seismitoad used his attack, clearing out an area of the haze, but Glalie was nowhere to be found. With explosive energy, Glalie emerged once more, ramming his large body into Seismitoad's jaw. The Water-type fell to the ground and heaved. He had never been in a situation like this before.
"Seismitoad! You okay?" Logan asked. His Pokémon nodded as he slowly stood back up and tried to focus once more. "Let's not give up! Defensive Sludge Bomb!"
Before Glalie could attack once more, Seismitoad started to spin, releasing the purple from his body, creating a shield of poison. Glalie emerged from the haze once again.
"No! Stop!" Yuta yelled.
But it was too late. Glalie rammed into Seismitoad, and the poison covered his body. He screeched as he slowly floated backwards and tried to get the poison off of him.
"Focus Blast!"
Seismitoad lifted his arms and put his hands together, forming the blue energy ball in front of him. He launched it forward as Glalie reentered the haze. There was a large crash and an explosion, leaving everyone in a state of confusion. When the smoke faded away, one of the large stones from before was now in pieces.
"Missed…" Logan muttered.
"Blizzard!"
From the air, the strong wind came roaring down. It pelted into Seismitoad, and his large body was unable to take it this time. He was lifted off of the ground and tossed backwards, landing against one of the rocks and then falling unconscious.
"Seismitoad is unable to battle! Glalie is the winner!" the referee yelled while the crowd cheered.
Logan returned Seismitoad and sighed. "That thing is fast, and Yuta really knows how to work with weather conditions."
The hail faded slightly as Glalie floated back to his side of the field. He chortled as he looked at Logan.
Logan grabbed his Premier Ball. "We'll just have to outspeed you. Manectric, you're up!"
Manectric appeared on the field and howled. He took note of the weather conditions and then ducked his head, preparing to attack.
"Use Gyro Ball!"
"Flamethrower!" Logan ordered.
Glalie shot across the field as his body started to rapidly spin, and Manectric released flames from his mouth. As soon as the flames connected, Glalie stopped his trajectory and then went into the air. He glared down at Manectric who simply smiled in return.
"With a move like Flamethrower, getting in close will be dangerous," Yuta muttered. "But at least it's not boosted."
"Doesn't matter if it is or not. Manectric is strong enough to take down your Glalie with no problem! Manectric, use Thunder!"
Manectric growled as the sky started to rumble. He unleashed electric energy from his body and into the sky, but when the lightning came crashing down back to the earth, it missed Glalie completely.
"What?!"
Yuta grinned. "I guess that's weather for you. Glalie, use Blizzard!"
Glalie gaped open his maw and released the ice cold attack, covering the field with snow. Manectric got down low as he tried to avoid it, but it was impossible.
"Fight through with Flamethrower!"
Manectric nodded before releasing more flames from his mouth. The flames fought through the wind, and eventually, the two were testing each other's strength, and the attacks were battling it out in the middle of the field.
"Don't give up!" Yuta yelled.
"Give it all you've got!"
The two Pokémon pushed further, blasting their attacks at full power, but it was Blizzard that won out, extinguishing Manectric's flames. The wind once again washed over Manectric, and he collapsed to one knee.
"Manectric! Are you okay?" Logan asked. His Pokémon nodded.
"While he's down, use Crunch!" Yuta commanded.
Glalie bounded forward across the field, now clear of any weather conditions. The Ice-type opened up his mouth, a thick dark energy foaming at his mouth.
"Thunder!" Logan ordered.
Manectric roared as he unleashed the electricity from his body. It came crashing down onto Glalie moments before he could reach Manectric. The Ice-type winced and remained in place while he tried to figure out what just happened.
"Perfect! Now, Flamethrower!"
"Manectric!" the Pokémon cried out while unleashing his flames once more. The fire engulfed Glalie, making him fall back. He collapsed to the ground, unable to continue.
"Glalie is unable to battle! Manectric is the winner!" the referee declared.
"Nice!" Logan yelled out. "You did it, Manectric!" His Pokémon nodded while breathing heavily.
"Since Yuta has lost three of his Pokémon, we will now take a short fifteen minute recess!" the referee declared as Yuta returned his Pokémon.
The crowd started to stir, and some people went to the concessions for food. Yuta sat on the bench behind his trainer's box while Logan walked back to the locker room. Luna and four other trainers were all watching the TV screen as he walked in, and he took a seat away from them. Luna eyed him and then stood up. She walked towards him, and to his surprise, sat down.
"So far, so good," she said. "But if he's using that Metagross from yesterday, then you may be in trouble."
Logan nodded. "I brought along Incineroar for two of his Pokémon, but it looks like I've already used that option. I was hoping to draw out his stronger Pokémon from the beginning, but that didn't happen. The second half is going to be a lot more difficult."
"Well, it doesn't matter who wins," Luna said. "Because I'm next, and I won't hold back."
Logan laughed. "I'm well aware."
Yuta took in a deep breath and looked up at the screen. Three of his strongest Pokémon remained. He had been waiting years for this battle, and he carefully selected his team. He knew that if he could beat Logan, then he could beat anyone.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Alright. Part 1 of this battle is done. The next chapter is going to be a bit of an experiment. It will see the ending to Logan vs. Yuta, and I'm also planning on going into Yuta's journey a bit.