Chapter 71 - Making It Difficult
"We welcome you back from the commercial break and to this Top 64 match-up on the ice field! We have Egawa Seshiru taking on Veronique Corbeil in what has been a pretty one-sided affair!" the TV announcer told the viewers at home. "With only one Pokémon left against Seshiru's three, it's looking like Veronique will need a miracle to pull off a win!"
"Talonflame, use Flare Blitz!" Veronique ordered in her Kalosian accent.
"Waterfall!" Seshiru ordered calmly.
Seshiru had chosen Lapras for the ice field, as she was able to move around easily. But Veronique struggled to get a good grip on the battle, and within a matter of minutes, she was down to her last Pokémon.
Talonflame exploded with fire before racing down the field, melting some of the ice. Lapras waited patiently, and the two collided, sending steam into the air. The crowd felt the rumble of the attack, and Talonflame was blasted from the steam, traces of aquatic energy forcing him back. He hit the ground, unconscious, stunning the crowd into silence.
"Talonflame is unable to battle! Seshiru and Lapras are the victors!"
And the crowd erupted into cheers.
Logan, who was in the backroom of one of the small stadiums, watched the television. He grinned and then cracked his knuckles. "That means that we're both in the Top 32!"
"Mr. Stephenson and Mr. Tokunaga, your battle is next!"
"And welcome to the Top 32, folks! We're set to get things going with an intense battle right out of the gate as fan-favorite from Unova, Logan Stephenson takes on fan-favorite from Johto, Tokunaga Ryodai!"
It was set to be Logan's last battle on the various fields. This field was full of obstacles made of rocks, and after dozens of matches prior, the scars of battles showed themselves.
"Go, Dugtrio!" Ryodai shouted while rolling his Poké Ball against the ground. It exploded open, and three heads popped out from the field, glaring at Logan.
"It gives me the advantage," Logan said. "Go, Grotle!"
Grotle materialized on the field and shook her bushes around. She growled once she caught Dugtrio's three sets of eyes.
"Begin!"
"Grotle, use Razor Leaf!" Logan ordered.
"Earthquake!" Ryodai commanded.
Before Grotle could even start her attack, Dugtrio began to shake the field with a force powerful enough to be felt up in the stands. Grotle's attack was put to a stop, and the Grass-type held her head down low as she tried to regroup.
"And Slash!" Ryodai yelled over the noise.
Dugtrio disappeared into the ground and in an instant, reappeared. They slashed outward, knocking Grotle onto her side.
"It was a critical hit!" the announcer screamed.
"And Tri-Attack!"
"Grotle, use Double Team!"
Dugtrio tried to finish off Grotle with a quick combination strike that would have seen Logan fall far behind, but Grotle was prepared for her directions. She suddenly multiplied across the field, surrounding Dugtrio.
"And Razor Leaf!" Logan said while pointing into the air.
All of the clones moved together before the real Grotle launched her attack from behind, slashing into Dugtrio's three heads.
"Dig!"
And in an instance, Dugtrio had disappeared into the ground. Grotle's position was now revealed, it didn't take long for Dugtrio to strike from below, sending Grotle into the air. The Grass-type crashed into one of the many boulders, and she slunk to the ground.
"Grotle is unable to continue!" the referee declared.
"And that's why Tokunaga Ryodai is one of the favorites to win this whole tournament! Faced with a type-disadvantage, and he still manages to take a chink out of Logan's armor!" the announcer said.
Logan withdrew Grotle and then grabbed his Level Ball. "Alright then, I'll play this game! Go, Nidoking!"
"What is he doing?!" Yurie screeched. Her sudden outburst earned her a couple of stares from other audience members, but she didn't notice. "Think with your head!"
Nidoking emerged and then roared. He looked at Dugtrio who appeared damaged by the Razor Leaf.
Ryodai shrugged. "I guess this is gonna be a lot easier than I thought! Use Earthquake!"
"Ice Beam!" Logan shouted.
As the field started to shake, Nidoking unleashed the jagged beam of ice from his horn. It struck the field and made a line until it connected with Dugtrio, freezing them completely and putting a stop to their attack.
"And now, Smart Strike!"
Nidoking bounded down the field and raised his arm. He swiped, destroying the ice with ease. Dugtrio had been stunned by the attack, and their three heads fell into one another, fainted.
"Dugtrio is unable to continue!" the referee declared.
Ryodai clicked his tongue against his cheek and then withdrew Dugtrio. He was quick to choose his next Pokémon, tossing the ball into the air. A small white Pokémon appeared. It had a tail with what looked like paint on its tip. The Pokémon looked mischievously at Nidoking.
"We have to stay on our toes," Logan said. "Nidoking, use Ice Beam!"
"Smeargle, blast through with Fire Blast!" Ryodai commanded.
The two Pokémon launched their attacks, but the Normal-type's attack was surprisingly stronger, breaking through Nidoking's Ice Beam. It continued down the field until it hit Nidoking, knocking him off balance.
"And now Hydro Pump!" Ryodai shouted.
"What kind of Pokémon is this?!" Logan wondered, unable to come up with an immediate counter-attack.
The Smeargle followed in the path of the flames that he had created. He leaped into the air and then swung his body around, sending a stream of powerful water from his tail. It hit Nidoking directly in the chest, knocking him backward. He dragged against the field, eventually hitting a large stone and coming to a stop.
"Nidoking is unable to battle!" the referee announced.
Logan took in a deep breath and returned Nidoking. He had to think about his last Pokémon carefully because Ryodai was known as a skilled trainer. If Logan made a miscalculation, his time in Kanto would be over in an instance.
He looked over Smeargle. The Pokémon had used two of the strongest attacks from two very different types. He was sure to have more surprises, which left Logan with very few options. If he wanted to win, he'd have to potentially go all out.
"Charizard, you're up!" Logan yelled while throwing his Poké Ball into the air. His Pokémon emerged in the air before coming down to the field. We won't be able to take Hydro Pump directly, but maybe we can use our speed to get around everything.
"Hydro Pump!" Ryodai ordered.
"Smear-gle!" the Pokémon grunted while unleashing the blast once more.
"Into the air!" Logan shouted.
Charizard huffed and then flapped his wings, quickly taking into the air and narrowly avoiding the blast.
"Dual Wingbeat!" Logan directed.
Charizard twisted and charged power within his wings. He unleashed it downward, getting two direct blows to Smeargle.
"He's moving a lot," Ryodai said, still appearing confident. "Lock-On!"
"Oh, that is not good," Logan muttered. "Charizard, I need you to focus! This is gonna be rough." Logan quickly pulled a dark blue crystal from his pocket and attached it to his Z-Ring.
Smeargle pointed his tail at Charizard and then closed his eyes. When he had a full understanding of Charizard's motions, he nodded, giving Ryodai he signal.
"Bring it down with Hydro Pump!"
"Devastating Drake!" Logan shouted while hitting his final pose. He sent the arcane energy swirling into the sky, connecting with Charizard. The Fire-type roared and then blasted the purple flames from his mouth.
The two attacks connected, causing a massive explosion. Hydro Pump was direct and powerful, but Charizard's Z-Move had managed to lessen its effect, which was what Logan was aiming for. Charizard fell from the sky, exiting the smoke.
"We can't give them another chance," Logan said. "One more Dual Wingbeat!"
Charizard entered the smoke and then flapped his wings, sending it in different directions. He launched the energy downward, once again getting a direct hit on the Normal-type. Smeargle flew backward and landed in front of Ryodai, his body limp.
"Smeargle is unable to battle!"
"And with that, we're down to only two Pokémon remaining in this battle! The excitement is too much for me, folks! Who is gonna win it?!" the announcer screeched.
"I have faith in my Pokémon," Logan muttered while Charizard came back to his side of the field. "We can do this."
"I like you, Logan," Ryodai said while withdrawing Smeargle. "But we came to win! Magmar, let's go!"
Ryodai's next Pokémon emerged, spitting fire at the ground. It looked up at Charizard and then growled. The two had their Fire-type pride on the line, which was sure to be entertaining for everyone watching.
"We're not going to hold back! Flare Blitz!" Ryodai shouted.
"Magmar!" the Pokémon responded. Flames exploded around his body, and then he dashed forward, ready to do as much damage as he could.
"Dragon Pulse! Keep 'em back!" Logan ordered, repeating his defensive strategy from before.
But once again, Charizard's attack only served as a cushion, as Magmar easily came through the arcane flames. The two collided, and to everyone's surprise, Charizard was knocked backward.
"And Iron Tail!" Ryodai commanded.
"Duck and use Flamethrower!" Logan directed.
Charizard didn't duck, instead allowing himself to fall flat on his back, avoiding Magmar's tail. He then launched the heavy flames from his mouth, engulfing Magmar. Normal flames wouldn't have affected Magmar, but since it was a concentrated attack, the Fire-type was stunned.
"Now Thunder Punch!" Logan ordered.
"Respond with Fire Punch! Don't hold back!"
The two Pokémon lunged before jabbing. They hit each other directly in the jaw with their respective punches, but neither one of them wanted to give an inch. They held out for a while, waiting for either to give up or for a new command.
"Focus Blast!" Ryodai yelled.
Magmar quickly let go of his Fire Punch, allowing for Charizard to hit him full force, but as he fell back, he charged an orb of chakra in his palms. He fell onto the ground but then launched the orb forward, colliding with Charizard directly, engulfing the larger Pokémon in chakra.
"No!" Logan shouted. He couldn't see his Pokémon in the blinding light. "Charizard!"
Everyone in the stadium froze, waiting for the results of the attack. But then, there was a loud boom, and the chakra wafted away as Charizard stumbled forward, breathing heavily. He growled and then spat fire at the ground.
Logan snapped his fingers. "Oh yeah! Let's give him the juice! Use Dragon Pulse!"
Charizard blew smoke from his nostrils and then unleashed his attack once again. This time, it wasn't for defensive purposes, but rather a direct attack. Magmar was blasted across the field, crashing into rocks and ripping through them like butter. He landed on the bench behind Ryodai, his body hanging off the seat.
The referee nodded. "Magmar is unable to battle! Logan Stephenson and Charizard are the winners!"
"And just like that Logan Stephenson makes a comeback, which brings him to the Top 16!" the announcer yelled, making the crowd cheer.
Seshiru had passed through the Top 32 with ease, as Logan had expected. After all of the battles had concluded, the Top 16 were called into a locker room. Logan looked around, finding Sora, Maleah, and Haruto. He wasn't surprised. He also recognized the jolly thirty-year-old from when he first started his journey in Kanto. And there was Emma from the King of Kanto tournament. He remembered her because she was also from Unova.
But there was one other person that stuck out to Logan, someone that he didn't know was in Kanto, someone that he hadn't seen in roughly a year, and someone that he was yet to beat. He didn't think that they would meet again until after his journey in Kanto.
"Aaron," he muttered under his breath as he looked at the blonde boy from across the room.
"Hmm?" Seshiru wondered. "You know him?"
"He's one of my first rivals. In fact, I'd consider him my first," Logan said.
It was then that Aaron took notice of them, and a cocksure grin came over his face. He slowly made his way through the other contestants to Logan and Seshiru. He wore a nice blue dress shirt and black slacks. "Surprised I didn't see you all year."
"I didn't know you were in Kanto," Logan said.
"Probably because I was well ahead of ya, eh?" Aaron said. "I did some intense training in Unova, came to Kanto, won all of the badges in a couple of months, and I spent the rest of the time doing more training in various areas. I heard you had a rough time though. Surprised you made it."
Logan grinned and then cracked his fingers. "I have faith in my Pokémon. And I have faith that we'll win this whole thing. Don't worry about me."
"We never got to battle in the Vertress Conference back in Unova, buddy. I guess this is our chance?"
"Last chance, huh?" Logan put his hands into his pockets and smiled. "I've beaten Mao and Luna. That leaves you. I'm glad you've made it easy for me."
Seshiru grinned. "This is getting intense. Hopefully, we'll get to see two old rivals duke it out, and I'm all for it."
"Logan!" a loud voice bellowed, making the three turn around to find the tubby man in the hiker's gear. "It's a pleasure to see you here! Do you remember me?"
"Yeah!" Logan exclaimed. "We met in Diglett's cave! Carl?"
"Clint."
"Oh."
Clint looked over Logan, and he sighed deeply. It was as though he desperately wanted to say something to the teenager, but he had to hold himself back. "I hope the best for you in the tournament! If we face each other, I'm not going to go easy on you!"
"Neither will I!" Logan said determinedly.
Clint loosened his posture slightly. "Has-has anything interesting happened recently? Have you met anyone intriguing?"
Logan's eyes shifted. "What kind of question is that?"
"Nothing! Nothing! I just don't know how to make conversation in English, is all!" Clint exclaimed, in perfect English.
"Can I get your attention please?" Mr. Goodshow said into a microphone. "Starting tomorrow, you'll have two days of rest. Please use that time to gather your Pokémon, enjoy good food, and have good conversations with other trainers. The sixteen of you are currently the strongest trainers in Kanto, and I'm honored to be in front of such a wonderful group of people."
"Quite the showman," Aaron muttered.
"We will now determine the bracket moving forward. In front of me are three pools. You will fish for the Magikarp that we have in the pools. Each of them are numbered, and your number will be your position on the bracket," he explained. "One at a time. Let's start with Fujiwara Sora!"
Sora leisurely walked to the pools, lightly bumping into people along the way. He didn't seem to mind though. He was handed the fishing rod, and he cast the reel, instantly getting a bite. He pulled the Magikarp out and let it flop around desperately.
"Number 9, which puts you in the B-Block!" Goodshow exclaimed.
He then began to call more of the contestants one by one, who all seemed a lot more eager to get their numbers than Sora was. And eventually, Logan and his rivals were called.
"Emma Minami!"
"Number 4. A-Block."
"Aaron Nora!"
"Number 11! B-Block!"
"Maleah Kalani!"
"I'm Number 14, which is the B-Block."
"Clint Holland!"
Clint was the most eager to get his number, but the Magikarp took its time. After what felt like minutes of waiting, Clint reeled in the Pokémon and then excitedly shouted, "Number 7! A-Block! The A-Block is for winners!"
"Egawa Seshiru!"
Seshiru didn't need to wait, and she pulled her number immediately. Most of the trainers in the room were looking forward to her number, as she was one of the top trainers to win the entire thing, according to the betting odds.
"Number 8," she said. She looked up at the screen as her picture was placed next to Clint's. "A-Block, which I've heard is for winners."
"Logan Stephenson!"
Logan took in a deep breath and walked to the pools. He loved fishing, but he loved it because it was usually relaxing. This was nerve wracking, because it'd be deciding his future opponents for the tournament. If he drew anything in the A-Block, then he could potentially battle Emma, Clint, or Seshiru, but the B-Block would leave him Maleah, Sora, or Aaron. Any of the battles excited him, but he still had one more rival yet to determine their position.
The Magikarp took the bait instantly, and Logan pulled, revealing the number 10. "B-Block," he exclaimed before looking up at the screen. His Top 16 battle was set to be against Sora, and the only way that he would face off with Seshiru is if they both made it to the finals.
"Kawahara Haruto!" Goodshow yelled.
Haruto cracked his neck and then walked to the pool. He looked up at the remaining numbers left. He didn't care what block he ended up in. He was determined to make it to the finals and win regardless.
"Number 1," he said when his Magikarp was reeled in. "That's A-Block."
And the tournament was set for Logan and his rivals. They all eyed the bracket. Logan felt a mixture of emotions. He wanted to battle with all of his rivals at least once, but it looked like no matter what happened, he wasn't going to get a battle with both Haruto and Seshiru. If he wasn't careful, he wasn't going to get a battle with either of them.
"Don't worry, Logan! I see that dreaded look on your face!" Clint exclaimed while putting his hand on Logan's shoulder. "I promise to get to the finals and battle you! You'll get your battle!"
Logan couldn't help but smile. "You read my mind, Clayton."
"Clint."
The following two days were filled with exactly what Mr. Goodshow had asked of them. Logan and Seshiru were allowed to call upon all of their Pokémon, getting special rooms to store them all. Logan wanted to see all of Seshiru's Pokémon, but he also wanted to save some surprises for the battles. Seshiru also opted to not meet any of Logan's older Pokémon out of respect for the competition.
Yurie didn't want to look suspicious to her brother, so she spent most of her time with Haruto. But even he was so secretive as to not show his Pokémon to his own sister. They did manage to enjoy a couple of good meals together, something that Yurie had missed.
The night before his Top 16 battle, Logan sat alone in one of the parks, enjoying the summer heat. His Charizard sat by his side, looking into the sky.
"Mind if I join your little picnic?" Maleah asked from behind. Logan didn't flinch. He patted the ground next to him and allowed her to sit down next to him.
"So, you and Yurie, huh?" she said as she sat down. "I guess that means that you and I can't be a thing."
"I'm sorry," Logan said. "The heart is a weird thing."
"You know that if we're not a couple, then I'm not obligated to go easy on you. If it comes down to us in the finals of the B-Block, then I'm going to go all out, as though I'm fighting the champion himself."
Logan was silent momentarily. "From tomorrow on, that's how I intend to battle. Everyone is so strong. Everyone is a threat. Anyone that I've met in Kanto could take the championship, and I wouldn't be surprised. I've called most of my Pokémon back, but I'm afraid that there will be no reason. What if I lose tomorrow to Sora?"
"Then you lose, and that's that," Maleah said. "I guess then it'll be okay that we're not a couple. I don't like losers." She laughed. "Don't stress yourself out. Relax, and enjoy your time here."
"I have to," he said. "It's my last conference."
"Oh? Going back home?"
"Yeah. I intend to."
"And what about your relationship with Yurie?"
"I haven't thought about it too much. Or at least, I've been trying not to think about it. I don't want to bum myself out."
"Think you'll break up?"
Logan slowly stood up. "It's been nice talking to you, Maleah. Good luck tomorrow. I hope we'll get the chance to have our battle."
"With two days of rest, we have finally come to our Top 16! These sixteen trainers are the best in Kanto, so we're sure to see some heated battles moving forward!" the announcer said to a stadium packed with thousands of Pokémon battling fans. It was one of the loudest crowds that Logan had ever heard, which didn't surprise him, as the Indigo Conference was considered the most popular tournament in the world. There was sure to be thousands of people from all around supporting the different contestants. Everyone desperately wanted to win, so the battles from the Top 16 on would potentially be the most intense he would ever have.
"Our first match-up is from the A-Block!" the announcer said as the graphics on the giant screen shifted, revealing Clint and Seshiru's pictures.
Clint stomped and then raised his hands into the air. "Oh yeah!" He looked at Seshiru. "I'm here to make this conference hard for ya! Your clean sweeps stop here, Seshiru!"
Seshiru folded her arms but then smiled. "I'm looking forward to it."
The two trainers walked to the field, which was standard with no gimmicky terrain for the trainers to battle around. As they made their entrances, the crowd cheered. Seshiru was now a fan favorite, and the fans from Kalos cheered as loudly for Clint as they could.
"The following battle between Egawa Seshiru from Fuchsia City and Clint Holland from Kalos will now begin! It will be a single, three on three battle with no substitutions allowed! Are the trainers ready?" the referee asked, getting nods from both of them. "Begin!"
Seshiru grinned. "Since we're supposed to get serious, here we go! Gastrodon, let's show them our power!"
Seshiru's Pokémon was pink and brown with black beady eyes. It clung to the field, looking as though it was going to have trouble moving around quickly. Clint regarded it momentarily before cocking his head.
"Petilil, you're up!" he shouted.
His small Grass-type Pokémon that had remained on his shoulder, slowly climbed down, making the crowd go quiet momentarily. It waddled its way onto the field clumsily before striking a battle-ready pose.
"We've studied you, Seshiru!" Clint exclaimed. "I've taken an interest in a lot of the trainers at this tournament, and if I want my chance to battle them, then I have to give it my all! I'm sorry, Seshiru, but your second chance at glory ends with me!"
Seshiru shrugged. "You have a big mouth. Gastrodon, use Ice Beam!"
"Protect!" Clint shouted.
Gastrodon wasted no time, immediately unleashing the jagged beam of ice from her mouth. It froze the middle of the field, but it didn't stop there, racing for the Grass-type. However, Petilil knew what was going to be asked of her, and she immediately created the blue forcefield around her body.
"And now, Leech Seed!" Clint shouted.
Seshiru remained calm when she gave her order. "Sludge Bomb."
Gastrodon howled as she shot clumps of purple goo into the air. Petilil swirled while shaking her body, dropping seeds of energy towards the field. But every seed was destroyed with ease.
"And Water Pulse."
Gastrodon formed a ball of energy at her mouth. She launched it at the ground, and it exploded, turning into a small tidal wave that raced across the field.
"That's not good," Clint muttered. "Pollen Puff!"
Petilil ran forward without fear. She leaped into the air once more and twisted her body, sending a ball of pink energy at the tidal wave. It exploded, dividing the wave down the middle. Petilil didn't stop her motion though, once again releasing the seeds of energy forward. This time, they connected with Gastrodon before exploding, wrapping vines around the Water-type.
"Gastrodon!" Seshiru shouted.
"Don't stop now!" Clint yelled. "Giga Drain!"
"Earth Power!" Seshiru directed. "And then Ice Beam!"
Gastrodon smashed the front end of her body into the ground, raising a pillar of earth, which blocked the incoming energy from Petilil. Then, in a quick follow-up strike, she blasted the jagged beam of ice once more, cutting the pillar in half, but more importantly, striking Petilil directly. The Grass-type hit the ground with a wicked thud, and the crowd became hushed.
The referee nodded and then went to raise his flag, but he suddenly stopped when he saw Petilil begin to stir.
"Don't you give up on my Petilil just yet!" Clint exclaimed with a smile. "She's got more fight in her than any other Pokémon in this tournament!"
Seshiru couldn't help but smile at Clint's enthusiasm, but her smile was quickly wiped away as energy was sapped away from Gastrodon, making Petilil chortle.
"Smart," Seshiru muttered. "But one more attack is all it'll take! Ice Beam!"
"Protect!" Clint ordered. He then snapped his fingers and shouted, "And then Giga Drain!"
In what looked like an exact copy of Gastrodon's previous defensive maneuver, Petilil brought up the blue defensive wall, deflecting the Ice-type attack. She then shot off an orb of green light from her body, which broke through the wall and quickly attached itself to Gastrodon. The Water-type howled from pain while Petilil enjoyed taking some of her energy. Then, shocking everyone in the stadium, Gastrodon slumped over.
The referee raised his flag. "Gastrodon is unable to battle! Petilil is the winner!"
"Amazing! In a shock upset that no one saw coming, Clint Holland was able to get the first victory in the match! Not only that, but Gastrodon is the first Pokémon of Seshiru's to faint in the entire tournament!" the announcer screamed. "Could we be seeing an incredible underdog story forming before our very eyes?!"
Seshiru was baffled. She looked at her fainted Gastrodon before slowly withdrawing her back to her Poké Ball. She took in a deep breath but then grinned. "You're making it fun, Clint. I'm glad that I could share this battle with you. But unfortunately, I won't slip up twice." She drew her next Poké Ball from her belt and held it out. "The real tournament begins now!"
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
So, Clint was the secondary character in my most recent KiiK Movie Story. So, for some of the context of his awkwardness with Logan, maybe give that a read!
We're locked in, folks. The final stretch of Kickin' It In Kanto is here. Every battle from Seshiru vs. Clint to the final battle is going to be intense. I've written out notes for each of them, and I'm really excited to see a lot of threads get tied up.
In the next chapter, we'll find out of Seshiru or Clint will move ahead, and we'll dive into Logan vs. Sora. From what I have planned, it might be one of the more entertaining battles I'll write.
REVIEWS:
pokemonking0924 - "I enjoyed the opening ceremony and seeing your characters carry the torch, it reminded me of the first series of Pokémon. This chapter was a great look at Logan and Seshiru's thoughts as they think about all they have accomplish and the future. Can't wait to see the epic battles between friends and rivals as the tournament continues." - Sorry to make you wait a little bit longer, but next chapter, we'll get a real rival battle!
CrescentApple - "I... like this. It's not a repeat of the last story. It's skipping the initial trials, telling us Logan and Seshiru are so strong, they don't even have to worry about the first match or two." - I'm glad that this came across that way! Haha. I didn't want to write out so many unnecessary battles.
wisdom-jewel - "This is a good switch a bit. I know that it would be easier to do this since you have to cover a lot—fewer chapters in the long run. I like it. I think it is easier to do it. I would like to know if both Loban and Seshiru would face each other." - Well, if they battle, it looks like it'd happen in the finals. But, anyone could take it.
