Chapter 71:
Rival Roundup
"What do you mean you haven't got him up?!" Ironically, the sound of Barry woke me (and probably everyone else in the Pokémon League Center) up. No, I hadn't forgot about his promise. "Listen, if you don't tell him to come down, I will fine you! He said he would battle me before he went to take on the League!"
After getting dressed I went down to the entrance where Barry was yelling at the Guard of the League's entrance. Beyond those doors lie the Elite Four. Beyond the doors of the Elite Four, lie the Champion.
"Buddy listen" the Guard said. "Maybe leave the kid alone. Let him get his sleep, he needs it."
"It's fine" I told him. "I promised Barry that we would have a showdown."
Barry turned to me. He started laughing wildly, then hugged me. "Congratulations man! 8 Badges, and now we're at the League!"
I told him to calm down a little, but what the heck. I was excited to.
"So" he said. "Shall we get this underway?"
"Go Rap-"
"Barry, you have a call" Nurse Joy said before Barry could send out his Pokémon.
Barry was understandably frustrated. "Can't it wait? We're about to start something here. I swear I'm gonna fine whoever is on the other end of that line."
"Oh come on" Nurse Joy said. "You wouldn't possibly fine your father, would you?"
Barry stopped for a minute. "Dad… is calling?" He gulped. "Lucas, I'm going to need a minute. Sorry about this. I'll meet you outside."
What was all that about?
I got another great look from the view of the Pokémon League. I swear it's one of those things that never gets old.
Sitting on the grass, I took out my Badges. All 8, glimmering in the sun. All the great matches I had had all led up to this. Roark, Gardenia, Maylene, Crasher Wake, Fantina, Byron, Candice and Volkner all gave me the Badges because I deserved them, not just because I beat them.
"Our journey is almost over" I told everyone, sending them out. Empoleon, Luxray, Drifblim, Blissey, Toxicroak and Mamoswine. The team that will pull me through tomorrow.
"Sorry about that" Barry said, exiting the building. Those were the only words he said. Now Barry being quiet could still be heard from Kanto where he was standing, but this was, quiet quiet. He didn't seem to speak much, but when he did, it was more solemn than I was used to hearing.
"Come have a seat" I told him as he sat next to me. "What's with that face? We made it."
"It's not that, well sort of" he replied. "Dad has… made me an offer."
I needed to know what this was. Barry's Dad is the Tycoon of the Battle Tower in Sinnoh's Battle Frontier. He's an exceptionally strong Trainer with whom Barry has a strong bond with. However, he isn't home often because, well, being a Tycoon is quite a big job. Well payed, but a busy job.
"What is it?" I asked firmly.
"Dad is retiring soon and, he wants me to be the successor."
I got up, proud of him. "Barry that's amazing!"
Barry gave a weak smile. "Well, sure but here's the thing. I have one choice or the other. Either become Champion, or the Tower Tycoon. It's quite a big choice."
Well, that was a good point. Being the Tower Tycoon is one thing, but that would mean letting go of the dream that Barry had worked towards since day one.
"How long do you have to decide? I asked.
"Not sure, he wants a final opponent." Barry couldn't finish his sentence; he started sobbing wildly. "I've worked so hard to come here." Barry got out his Badges. "It was fate that day the Starly attacked us. But fate has led me up to here. I've come this far, am I to just give up?"
"Barry, I know it's not my decision, but I think this is your fate. All this time, the Badges have been showing your worth for other goals. I say you take it; you'll never get this offer again. And hey, I'll be supporting you all the way."
Barry stood up and looked over the horizon. To our amazement, there was a rainbow. Our eyes sparkled at the site. "Look, the rainbow signifying our destiny!" Barry shouted. He smiled, but then noticed something golden on the rainbow. It was flying under the arch.
"That can't be" I said, getting out some binoculars. There was a large golden Flying Pokémon with a yellow crest flying swiftly on the giant multicoloured wonder. "It's Ho-oh!" I shouted. "It is said that anyone seeing it is promised eternal happiness."
Barry closed his Badge Case and put it away. "What am I doing? You're right! I'll take Dad up on his offer!"
I tipped my hat to Barry. "But, first things first. We have a battle to do."
Barry put his thumb up. "Heck yeah! Let's get this show on the road!"
"I choose Rapidash!" Barry shouted.
"I'm going with Blissey!" I replied as our two Pokemon stood against each other.
"Rapidash, Megahorn!" Rapidash's horn started to glow green. It then jabbed Blissey for tons of damage. Thankfully Blissey has high HP so it didn't matter too much.
"You okay?" I asked Blissey as it made a quick recovery. "Great! Now, give Rapidash a taste of your Focus Blast!" Blissey threw a ball of energy at Rapidash. Rapidash was hurt quite a bit.
"Rapidash, use Flare Blitz!" Rapidash suddenly burst into flames. It then charged full pelt into Blissey, finishing it off.
"What a powerful move!" I replied.
"Flare Blitz sure is" Barry replied, just as Rapidash felt a lot weaker; one more would finish it. "But Flare Blitz does recoil damage to."
"Then I'll take advantage of it. Empoleon, Aqua Jet!" Empoleon was sent out. It then dashed into Rapidash quickly with water, fainting it.
"Nice. But let's see how you do against Heracross!" he said, sending out his large horned Bug Type.
"Then I'm using Drifblim!" I said. It was Bug vs Balloon. "Use Shadow Ball!" Drifblim fired a shadowy blob at Heracross and took away almost half of its health.
"Heracross, use Swords Dance!" Heracross started dancing about, raising its attack. What could Heracross possibly use? Fighting Type moves do diddly squat on Ghost Types and Bug Type moves do very little to both Ghost and Flying Types.
"Drifblim, Shadow Ball again!" Another blob was fired at Heracross.
"Heracross, Stone Edge!" Heracross fired multiple small stones at Drifblim. With the Attack boost, it took down Drifblim in one. Thankfully, Aftermath was there to take Heracross down with it.
"I choose Floatzel!" Barry shouted.
"Then I'm using Toxicroak!" I replied.
"Floatzel, Ice Fang!" Floatzel bit Toxicroak with frozen fangs.
"Toxicroak, Poison Jab!" Toxicroak jabbed Floatzel. A lot of damage was done, and Floatzel was poisoned.
"Floatzel, let's get in one more attack. Iron Tail!" Floatzel's tails turned to metal as it whacked Toxicroak with them. Toxicroak barely hung on.
"Use Sucker Punch!" Toxicroak punched Floatzel before it could attack, knocking it out.
"I choose Staraptor!" Barry shouted. Toxicroak was gonna go down anyway. "Use Aerial Ace!" Staraptor dove down into Toxicroak, delivering the final blow.
Luxray was my next Pokémon. "Use Thunder Fang!" Luxray chomped down on Staraptor as its fangs sparked.
"Staraptor, Close Combat!" Staraptor repeatedly attack Luxray. It barely hung on, but thankfully the lowering of Defense gave Luxray the opening she needed. Rivalry had prevented an OHKO, but this was to finish it.
"Thunder Fang!" Staraptor was down.
Barry gave me a grin to show me that he was far from finished. "I choose Snorlax!" Out came the giant, admittedly fat cream and blue coloured Pokémon.
Snorlax
113
Normal Type
Sleeping Pokémon
Region of origin: Kanto
6'11" (2.1 m)
1014.1 lbs (460 kg)
It stops eating only to sleep. It doesn't feel full unless it eats nearly 900 pounds a day.
Munchlax (Baby Pokémon) – Snorlax
"Luxray, Thunder Fang!" Luxray chomped down on Snorax, but its HP was out of this world. It was like a wall, it wasn't going to go down easily.
"Snorlax, Earthquake!" Snorlax made the ground shake. Luxray, being an Electric Type, couldn't take it. Luxray's weak knees gave way and it fainted.
"Okay then, I choose Mamoswine!" I shouted as the giant brown Ice Type entered the scene. "Use Ice Shard!" Mamoswine shot a chunk of ice at Snorlax, but it did very little.
"Nice try, but Snorlax's Ability is Thick Fat. Ice and Fire Type moves won't do much on it, unlike this move. Snorlax, Body Slam!" Snorlax jumped up and landed on Mamoswine.
"Mamoswine, Earthquake!" Another ground shaking, this one was a Critical Hit! Snorlax was getting weaker.
"Use Earthquake back!" Yet another ground shaking. Just one more needed to be used.
"EARTHQUAKE!" Sure enough, that was the straw that broke the Camerupt's back; Snorlax was finished.
"So, it comes to this. Go Torterra!" Barry shouted. The Pokémon that started his journey, and my final obstacle between him and victory for me.
"Mamoswine, use Ice Shard!" Thankfully Ice Type moves are 4x great on Torterra, so it did significant damage, even if it's Defense really helped Torterra take it.
"Torterra, Leaf Storm!" Torterra summoned multiple leaves from the tree on its back, then fired them at Mamoswine. Super Effective, Mamoswine was down.
"Final Pokémon. Empoleon!" Out came my first Pokémon to battle Barry's first Pokémon. "Use Drill Peck!" Empoleon span really fast, then into Torterra. One more would give me the match.
"Torterra, Earthquake!" Guess what? Yep, the ground shook. I was afraid this might be the end, but, by some sort of miracle, Empoleon took it!
"Alright Empoleon! Let's finish this off! DRILL PECK!" Empoleon used one more Drill Peck into Torterra.
I had won.
Barry looked at the setting sun. "Good luck tomorrow Lucas. I have my own destiny to fulfil. I guess, that battle has shown that becoming Champion is your destiny. Mine? Become the Tower Tycoon!"
"You can do it Barry" I told him. "Do you want me to wave you off?"
Barry shook his head. "Nah, you stay here. The boat leaves from Snowpoint City, I don't want to delay the biggest match of your journey. After all, Dad's retirement won't happen just yet, but I have a lot to learn."
He gave Staraptor a Revive, sent it out and hopped on its back.
"I'll visit the Battle Frontier once I become Champion" I promised.
"Thanks. I'm getting trained by… someone. I don't really know who, but I'm gonna go meet him. See you around and listen, if you don't do your best, I'm gonna fine you!"
With that, Staraptor flapped its wings and flew off into the sunset.
To our own destiny.
