Chapter 69 - Zapdos vs. Regice


Seshiru looked at Regice. She couldn't wait much longer, because the Pokémon would wake up in only a few moments. She had to make the most of the time given to her.

"Zapdos, use Heat Wave!"

Zapdos wasted no time. It screeched and then flapped its wings, which started to glow red with power. Wind whipped up around it before blasting against Regice, who was forced back a few feet. It remained standing though, continuing its slight bob.

"Then, in that case, we should attack again! Zapdos, use Thunder!"

The ground shook while Zapdos screeched. The clouds rumbled before shooting a lightning bolt directly at the avian Pokémon. Zapdos absorbed the energy before directing it right toward Regice.

But unlucky for Seshiru, the attack took too long. Regice's yellow eyes started to glow, and Jindai immediately made his command.

"Blizzard!"

Although there was not enough time for Regice to use its attack offensively, it did manage to create the small storm around its body, absorbing the electric attack.

"And once again!" Jindai yelled, his deep voice coming through the winds like thunder.

"Detect!" Seshiru ordered.

Zapdos would have been incredibly weak to the attack, but it managed to move around the winds with ease, almost like paper floating through the wind.

"And close-up Thunder!"

Zapdos continued forward before discharging its attack once again. This time, there was nothing that Jindai or Regice could do. The Ice-type was shocked, and its movements started to lose their fluidity. It backed away and looked from side to side, trying to collect itself.

"Ice Punch!" Jindai shouted.

Regice quickly recovered and then skated forward. It lifted one of its arms and swung, nailing Zapdos in the wing. The avian Pokémon screeched before backing up slightly.

"Zapdos, use Hurricane! You can do it!" Seshiru ordered.

Zapdos backed away and took into the air. It started to fly in circles, generating wind with every movement. Regice remained still, but Seshiru could tell that it was focused on Zapdos' movements.

"Blizzard!" Jindai's voice boomed.

Regice generated the storm around its body, forming a cocoon of ice and snow. It expanded until it reached Zapdos' Hurricane, mixing and turning into a massive storm.

Logan put his arm in front of his face. "I wasn't expecting snow this close to summer!"

Yurie, who hated winter and snow in general, ducked and put her head into his chest. Torchic responded by trying to emit small flames from his body that would warm the two of them.

Seshiru looked into the storm and tried to get a lock on Zapdos' location, but it seemed impossible. If she didn't do something soon, then Blizzard would take over Hurricane, and she would lose.

"Heat Wave!" she shouted.

A part of the swirling wind started to glow red, slowly expanding. The ice and snow melted, turning to liquid, which drenched everyone in the room. They all shivered before they could feel the heat of Zapdos' attack. The avian Pokémon continued to spin, turning his attack into a flaming tornado, which engulfed Regice.

Seshiru grinned, but her smile slowly faded away when she saw Regice's glowing eyes piercing through the flames.

"Regice, use Focus Punch!" Jindai commanded.

Regice's inner chakra extinguished the flames around its body. It held its arm above its head before aiming for Zapdos, who was slowly descending.

"Zapdos, don't let him! Thunder!"

Zapdos started to use its attack, shaking the pyramid from the rumble of its thunder. But, it didn't stop its descent, aiming directly for a close-ranged attack on Regice. Moments before they collided, lightning struck down from the sky, lighting up the entirety of the battlefield and blinding everyone momentarily. The battle had been decided, as one of the Pokémon was sure to have made the final blow. All trainers in the room could feel the energy shift, and they knew that it was over.

Seshiru's eyes widened and her arms fell to her side. She couldn't believe it.

Jindai folded his arms and grinned.

"Regice is unable to battle! Zapdos is the winner!" the referee announced as he observed Regice's fallen form. He held up his flag and pointed at Seshiru. "Egawa Seshiru is the victor!"

"She did it!" Logan yelled while standing up, bringing Yurie with him. The two danced around a little bit while Torchic tried to avoid their flailing legs.

"Yes!" Seshiru shouted. She jumped up and down while Zapdos slowly made its way to her. Seshiru was overcome with joy though, and she ran to the legendary Pokémon, leaping up and giving it a hug around its neck. "We did it, Zapdos!"

Zapdos screeched before eyeing Jindai, who was slowly making his way towards them. The Pyramid King withdrew his Regice and then looked back at the two of them. Seshiru let go of Zapdos and then bowed, managing to collect herself momentarily.

Jindai held out a golden coin, similar to the other ones that Seshiru had received. This one had a square pattern in the middle, showing what appeared to be an aerial view of a pyramid.

"I present you with the Brave Symbol. Congratulations, Seshiru. You're the only participant this year to get this far. You were the only person to actually challenge me. I didn't expect you to beat me either," Jindai said. He put his hand to his chin. "You're one of the most talented trainers I've ever met. I've already discussed it with the other Frontier Brains, and in the case where you defeated me today, we were going to ask if you'd like to join our ranks. Lila is stepping down, and I can't think of anyone better to take her place."

"Me?" Seshiru wondered. She hadn't thought of her next step on her journey. She wasn't sure where she wanted to go or if she wanted to compete anymore. The thought of becoming a gym leader had crossed her mind, but there was something more mysterious and powerful about becoming a Frontier Brain.

"Yeah. If you decide to accept, then you'll take over the Battle Tower. As is our schedule, we'll be moving to Hoenn next year. I hope that that wouldn't be too much of a bother for you?"

Seshiru shook her head. "Can you give me a while to think about it? It's a pretty big decision to make right now."

"Of course!"

"Thank you."

"Also, with this victory over me, you get a secondary special prize," Jindai said while he began to dig into his jacket pocket. "Unfortunately, not a lot of people are able to beat us in our entirety, so this isn't a very well known benefit. With your victory today, Seshiru, you are now able to enter the Indigo Conference as the sole representative of the Battle Frontier. With your strength, I'm sure that you could make it to the finals with ease." He handed over a small golden bar, the same one that Midori had given to Logan.

She took it and then turned to her friends who were making their way onto the field. They weren't sure what to say to one another. Seshiru was convinced that her journey in Kanto was over, but in the blink of an eye, she and Logan were now in competition with each other. In the blink of an eye, they were officially rivals.

"Well then," Logan muttered.


It had been a few days since Seshiru had won the Brave Symbol. She said goodbye to Zapdos after her victory, and then the group relocated to a Pokémon Center right outside the Indigo Plateau. Only Logan and Seshiru would be allowed to go into the hotels and special training courts since they held their gold bars. But, they didn't want to leave Yurie alone, so they opted to train at the Pokémon Center.

Becoming rivals wasn't necessarily a problem for them, since they were both competitive and respected one another. But it wasn't something that either of them had expected. Seshiru had convinced herself that she was there to support Logan till the end of the conference, and she had even offered to be his coach. But now that she was a competitor, the mood had slightly changed. If she could win the Indigo Conference and defeat the Battle Frontier all in one year, then she knew that she'd feel fulfilled as a trainer. She'd be considered one of the strongest in all of Kanto.

Logan, on the other hand, was used to competing against people that he was close with. And from his losses in other conferences, he knew how to handle himself just in case it came to Seshiru versus him at any point in the tournament. He knew that he couldn't hold back, but if there was anyone that he wanted to lose to, it'd be his close friend.

Logan and Yurie sat on one of the Pokémon Center benches while Seshiru trained with her Pokémon. They watched her train with the original four Pokémon that she brought to Kanto. They had all gotten so much stronger over the year.

"So, only a week or so left in Kanto, huh?" Yurie asked. She grabbed Logan's hand. "I know we bring it up a lot, but won't you consider going to Sinnoh with me? Even if you don't want to battle anymore after this, I still think it'd be fun! You can help me train."

Logan sighed but then managed a smile. "I'm definitely not looking forward to goodbye, but I can't guarantee you anything. First off, you don't need me to help you to train. You're more than capable. You made it to the finals of the grand festival!"

Yurie slightly slumped.

"But also, I'm aiming to win, and if I do, then I have to stay here for a while," Logan said. "And I do miss home. I miss my actual bed, and as weird as this is to say, I miss the air in Unova. I'd like to go home for an extended amount of time."

"I see," Yurie said quietly. "Make sure you send a lot of letters. Don't just disappear."

"I won't," Logan exclaimed. "I'll write you a letter every week! I promise!"

"Promise?" Yurie wondered. "But you said you're bad at keeping promises."

"If it's a promise to Little Miss Yurie, then I'm sure I can keep it."

The two locked eyes. Now that they were a couple, Yurie couldn't help but be mesmerized by Logan's blue eyes. It was a rarity on her side of the world. And Logan, he had trouble looking back at her, but the thought of looking away didn't seem like an option. He looked down at her lips momentarily.

"Lunchtime!" Seshiru declared loudly, breaking their trance. She had walked back to the two without either of them noticing. "I made nori rolls! I'm not sure if you'll like it, but the seaweed is healthy for you!"

She handed one over to Logan, who took in a whiff and could feel himself die a little on the inside.

"We're only a few days away," Seshiru said, her voice muffled by nori. "Do you think you're ready, Logan?"

Logan shrugged. "I can never tell. It seems like things are constantly changing. If I end up battling someone like you in the first round, then there's no way that I'm winning it."

Seshiru grinned and then nodded. "Well, at least you're being realistic."

Then, the backdoor to the Pokémon Center slid open, and a familiar face made his way to the courtyard. It wasn't a rival, as they were probably all already at the Indigo Conference, but instead, someone that they were all happy to see.

"Professor Oak!" Seshiru yelled. She waved a nori roll over her head. "It's so good to see you!"

Oak took notice of them and then slowly walked over. "Seshiru, Logan, and Yurie! It's odd that I'd find you here, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I'm happy!"

"Would you like a nori roll?" Logan asked while handing his over. Oak took it without a second thought.

"I heard about your victory over Jindai," Oak said. "Congratulations, Seshiru. I know that you were never directly one of my students, but I still take pride in knowing that your starter Pokémon came from me!"

Seshiru nodded. She knew that her Vaporeon would also be proud.

"And from what I understand, you'll also now be competing in the conference?"

"Yeah. I've been preparing," Seshiru said.

Oak took a bite and then looked over Logan and Seshiru. "Well, I always think that friendly competitions are the best. I'm sorry Logan, but I have to root for Ms. Egawa. I'm sure that you can understand."

"It's okay!" Logan exclaimed. He grinned mischievously. "It doesn't matter who's rooting for who; I'm still gonna crush her!"

"You talk a lot of smack for someone who barely made it this year," Seshiru said back.

"You barely made it too!"

"I wasn't even trying to make it though," she exclaimed, her grin never fading away.

Oak folded his arms and then looked at Seshiru's team of four Water-type Pokémon. "Seshiru, you've become quite the trainer. I heard about how you wanted a Squirtle when you started. I'm sorry that I couldn't make that happen."

"I wouldn't have traded my Eevee for the world," Seshiru responded.

Oak nodded before pulling a Poké Ball from his jacket. "Well, I'm gonna make it right, nonetheless. I was actually looking forward to meeting with you, and it's one reason why I came to watch the conference. As my own special congratulations for defeating the Battle Frontier, I wanted to give you this. Seshiru, I present to you your second ever starter Pokémon!"

"Huh?"

Oak pushed the ball's button and it burst open, allowing a small Pokémon to materialize in front of the trio. It was a Squirtle, smaller than the one that Yurie had caught. It looked up at Seshiru, and the two stared at one another momentarily. Seshiru could feel herself welling up, but she held in her emotions well.

The Squirtle was young, but her natural instincts kicked in, and as soon as she saw Seshiru, she knew that she was her partner. She reached her small arms out and pointed them at the trainer. Seshiru knelt and picked up the tiny Water-type Pokémon before pulling her in close.

Squirtle closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth of the trainer. And Seshiru couldn't help herself; she let a single tear roll down her cheek as she held onto the Pokémon that she had waited so long for.

"It's nice to meet you."


AUTHOR'S NOTES:

And with this chapter, things have become even more crazy. Seshiru is one of my favorite characters I've had the pleasure of writing, so the fact that I get to now add her to the Indigo Conference is a blessing. I think that now makes it one of five potential characters (Logan, Seshiru, Haruto, Sora, or Maleah) that could win the whole thing unless there's another character like Kenta this year (there's not).

Next chapter we will FINALLY get to the Indigo Conference. And then the conference itself will end up being at least 10 chapters with roughly 11 battles in total. … Why do I do this to myself?

I'm also going to try to work on the third movie story during this time. It has a pretty big connection to the Indigo Conference, so I need to finish it soon-ish.

REVIEWS:

pokemonking0924 - "This final battle at the pyramid is amazing so far but a battle between two legendary Pokémon is going to take things to the next level. Zapdos vs. Regice and I can't wait to see what moves the legendary thunder bird will use that will give it an edge against the ice golem." - Heat Wave! I believe it used it against Articuno too.

wisdom-jewel - "Now I want to know how the battle ends. This would be interesting to see how you write this out. You know I'm on the fence about Logan and Yurie's relationship. I do like the idea of them being romanticly involved but at the same time, I don't mind them being platonic life partners." - In the next wave of stories that I intend on doing, Yurie will be the lead. Logan won't be involved, but no matter the status of their friendship/relationship, he'll be supporting her.