Chapter 72 - Sora's Secret


"With Seshiru's first knocked out Pokémon of the tournament, what will she do next? Will Clint be able to keep this momentum?" the announcer wondered, trying to make the crowd as invested in the battle as he could.

"Floatzel, let's go!" Seshiru shouted while tossing her Poké Ball forward. Floatzel emerged and helicoptered her tails around before glancing over at the smaller Petilil.

"Rain Dance!" Seshiru directed.

"We won't lose!" Clint shouted. "Use Pollen Puff!"

Floatzel unhinged her maw before blasting a ball of mist into the air. It exploded, turning into artificial rain clouds, which started an instant downpour. Petilil responded by racing forward. She leaped into the air and shot off a pink ball from her mouth. It blasted towards Floatzel, exploding at the last second.

"And Leech Seed!" Clint ordered.

"Ice Fang!"

Now with rain coming down onto the field, Floatzel was much faster than Clint or Petilil would have assumed. The Water-type came through the pink blast and unhinged her jaws, which had quickly been covered with ice. She bit down onto Petilil, making her screech, which sent shivers down the collective spines of the crowd.

But then, the screeching ceased, and Petilil crumpled to the ground.

"Petilil is unable to battle! Floatzel is the winner!"

"All it took was one powerful strike from Floatzel, and Seshiru is back on track with this battle! How will Clint respond?" the announcer wondered while Clint withdrew Petilil.

"We won't lose!" Clint shouted. "Furret, go!"

The long Pokémon materialized from his Poké Ball and hit the field. She looked up at the artificial rain clouds, slightly bothered by the weather.

"I won't underestimate your Pokémon anymore, Clint," Seshiru said. "Actually, I don't have a single real rival in this tournament. With you managing to take down my Gastrodon, you've proven to be a threat. I guess that makes you a rival, so to speak."

Clint couldn't help but smile. "I like it! Let's be rivals, then! Let's fight with everything we have! Furret, use Headbutt!"

Furret lowered himself and then dashed across the field, his long body bobbing up and down. He leaped forward, ready to crash into Floatzel.

"Put a stop to it with Earthquake!" Seshiru commanded.

Floatzel lifted herself with her tails before she smashed her thick hind legs into the ground, making the field shake. It wasn't enough to hold back Furret though, who powered through and then collided with Floatzel's head. The Water-type stumbled backward slightly, stunned by the attack.

"Aqua Tail!" Clint yelled.

"Use your own Aqua Tail!"

The two Pokémon spun around, aquatic energy surrounding their tails. They clashed and then held out. Furret was surprisingly stronger than Floatzel had anticipated. And for the Water-type, she found it insulting.

"Ice Fang!"

Clint grinned. "Hyper Voice!"

Floatzel unhinged her jaw once again and prepared to snap forward. But then suddenly, she was blasted backward as Furret unleashed a terrible shriek. Floatzel hit the ground hard, her body dragging against the field, but while the attack was powerful, it wasn't enough to keep her down.

"Earthquake!" Seshiru ordered.

Floatzel didn't need to be dramatic about her attack this time, opting to smash one leg into the ground, which was enough to shake the field.

"Defense Curl!" Clint shouted.

Furret quickly rolled his body, taking the full brunt of Floatzel's attack. While she was now in defensive mode, it still wasn't enough to protect her from the shaking, and she took considerable damage.

"Finish this with Aqua Tail!" Seshiru yelled while snapping her fingers.

"Headbutt!"

Floatzel, using the water that came from the rain clouds, skated across the field. She focused the water around her dual tails before spinning around, aiming for a direct hit on Furret. But the Normal-type was quick, leaping into the air once again. He smashed the top of his head into Floatzel's jaw, and the Water-type hit the field with a sickening thud.

The entire crowd was shocked into silence as they watched Floatzel remain still. Seshiru, who had claimed that she wasn't going to underestimate Clint, was also quiet. She hadn't expected Furret to get the advantage, but here she was, with now two fainted Pokémon.

"Floatzel is unable to battle! Furret is the winner!"

"Alright!" Clint yelled while punching the air. "We're gonna win this!"

Seshiru slightly shook as she withdrew Floatzel. Up until this point, her Pokémon had been able to make it through the battles with ease, but Clint was offering up a genuine challenge. He seemed like the least likely to win out of the Top 16, and if she was struggling against him, how would she fare against the others?

She shook her head and then looked to the field. "We won't lose now. This is our second chance, and we're not going to blow it! Go, Kingler!"

"Kooki!" the bright orange Pokémon shouted while exploding from her Poké Ball. She clamped her large pincers shut intimidatingly, but Furret didn't appear afraid.

Clint looked up at the sky. The clouds were beginning to fade, which meant that Seshiru would be losing her environmental advantage. "Use Headbutt!"

"Wait for it," Seshiru said while crossing her arms.

Kingler knew exactly what Seshiru was going to have her down. She buckled down and waited for Furret, who came barreling down the field. Furret leaped into the air, and Kingler prepared for her follow-up command.

"Guillotine!"

In an instant, there was a flash of light, and the two Pokémon collided, ending up back to back with one another like a scene in a samurai movie. If Kingler was at a higher level than Furret, then she would have won the battle instantly. But if Furret was more experienced, then the battle would continue as though nothing had happened.

But then, Furret collapsed, making the crowd gasp.

"Furret is unable to battle! Kingler is the winner!"

"And with one simple strike, Seshiru ruthlessly brings the battle back to an even ground!"

Logan and Aaron stood together in the backroom. Logan was cheering for Seshiru, but he had a soft spot for Clint. Seeing the old man lose his most trusted Pokémon in an instant was heartbreaking.

Aaron crossed his arms and then clicked his tongue. "I guess that shows how low-level this Clint guy is. A Pokémon shouldn't be going down to a one-hit KO attack like that in a conference."

"Or, you're underestimating just how strong Seshiru's Kingler is."

Clint withdrew Furret and then looked at his Poké Ball. "You were great, buddy. Don't worry. Get your rest. I'm saving you for the finals of the tournament. Let me handle the rest of this battle for now." He looked up at Seshiru. "Egawa Seshiru! I'll remember your name! This has been a truly interesting battle! You're one of the strongest trainers I've ever met, so I can't hold back! Go, Pidgeot!"

From Clint's Poké Ball, an avian Pokémon with long feathers emerged into the air. It cooed loudly, and the crowd clapped excitedly as they entered the final match-up of the battle.

"That's not all!" Clint exclaimed dramatically. He unbuttoned the top of his thick plaid shirt and pulled out a small necklace with a creme-colored marble attached to it.

"No way! That's a-"

"Mega stone, baby!" Clint yelled. "Pidgeot, do your stuff!"

Pidgeot was engulfed in multi-color energy, and the crowd awed, most unsure of what exactly was happening. The energy exploded, revealing a new form, and the crowd went wild.

"Anyone can do mega evolution," Aaron muttered.

"Seshiru can't," Logan retorted.

"Now our speed is outmatched!" Clint shouted. "Use Steel Wing!"

"Crabhammer!" Seshiru ordered.

Pidgeot's body was surrounded with metallic energy, and he flew towards the field, starting to spin his body. Kingler prepared by holding up her larger pincer. Within a matter of seconds, the two connected, sending out a shockwave across the field.

"We haven't mastered mega evolution just yet, but in this form, Pidgeot's ability becomes No Guard! We won't be missing any attacks!" Clint exclaimed. "Air Slash!"

"Hydro Pump!"

The two Pokémon divided momentarily, and they unleashed their long-ranged attacks. But just like before, they were relatively even in power. Eventually, Kingler was forced to stop her attack, and she was pelted by the aerial energy that came from Pidgeot's relentless flapping.

Clint grinned. "Here's our chance! Double-Edge!"

Seshiru snapped. "Superpower!"

Chakra exploded from the ground below Kingler, and she held her position while Pidgeot raced towards her. The two collided and held out for a while, but it was Kingler that won the battle up close. Pidgeot was blasted backward, unable to cleanly get back into the air.

"Hydro Pump!" Seshiru ordered after snapping her fingers again.

"Koo-ki!" the Water-type shouted while using the long-ranged attack. The blast of concentrated water hit Pidgeot directly in the face, forcing her to the ground.

"Pidgeot, get up!" Clint shouted.

"Finish this with Crabhammer!" Seshiru yelled.

Kingler waved her pincer above her head while she ran as fast as her gangly legs would carry her. Pidgeot tried to get back up, but she was severely weakened by Kingler's Superpower. She pushed herself up with her legs and then looked to Clint for direction. Before Clint could give any orders though, Kingler swung her pincer, hitting the back of Pidgeot's head. The Flying-type flew into the air with a spiral before landing on the ground in front of Clint. The multi-colored energy from before reappeared, returning Pidgeot to his original form.

The referee nodded and then raised his flag for the last time in the battle. "Pidgeot is unable to battle! Seshiru and Kingler are the winners!"

I had to power through at the end. I'm lucky that Kingler knows a Fighting-type attack because it gave me an advantage against Double-Edge. Clint really could have won that battle hadn't it been for that one attack, Seshiru thought.

Clint withdrew Pidgeot and then smiled before waving to the crowd.


"I'm sorry, Logan. I failed," Clint said as he came to the backroom. He looked genuinely dejected, but he quickly gathered himself and smiled. "It was a good battle though!"

"A great battle!" Seshiru exclaimed.

Clint sighed. "Well, I told myself that if I got eliminated, I'd be on the first plane back to Kalos." He looked at Seshiru and then Logan. "I'll be supporting you both from afar, but I have a family to get to. We'll be watching it on TV. I'd love to see you both in the finals, battling each other with the intensity that only two best friends can bring to a match!"

The two eyed one another and then grinned. The way that he phrased it made them eager to battle each other.

Clint looked at Logan once more. "And, Logan. No matter what happens, you need to know something."

"Huh?"

Clint stood up straight. He thought for a moment, but then turned away. "Forget about it. Concentrate on the tournament. Good luck!"

Seshiru and Logan watched Clint leave before exchanging looks again, now confused.

More matches followed seeing Haruto, Emma, Maleah, and Aaron advance to the Top 8. And then, the last battle came, Logan vs. Sora.


"We have officially entered the last battle of the Top 16! The battles have been intense up until this point, but with trainers like Fujiwara Sora and Logan Stephenson, the excitement won't stop just yet!" the announcer yelled into his microphone.

Logan and Sora walked to their respective sides of the field, and the crowd began to cheer loudly. Logan stopped at his trainer's box and then eyed Sora curiously, who was standing with one foot in the box and one foot out.

"It's so early in the tournament, and they're already facing each other," Yurie said. "Sora is so strong. I'm worried for Logan."

After her battle, Seshiru went to the stands to sit with Yurie so that she wasn't alone. She also brought snacks that only the competitors were given. She wasn't interested in them, but she knew that Yurie would be. "Don't worry about Logan. He's got a lot of fight in him."

"The following battle between Fujiwara Sora from Johto and Logan Stephenson from Unova will now begin! It will be a single, three on three battle with no substitutions allowed! Are the trainers ready?" the referee asked.

"Ready!" Logan exclaimed while Sora simply nodded. Logan noticed that Sora had corrected himself and was now standing in his trainer's box.

"Begin!"

"Go, Crabominable!" Logan yelled while throwing his Poké Ball forward. Crabominable appeared and roared, his body quivering with energy and rage.

Sora closed his eyes. He reached for his belt and pulled out his ball. "I was able to defeat you in Cerulean City, but things have changed, and I want you to know that I haven't gotten cocky. Feraligatr, you're up!"

The crowd gasped when Feraligatr appeared on the field. He stomped, shaking the stadium and showing off his power.

"He's starting with his strongest Pokémon," Seshiru said. "He's taking this very seriously."

"C'mon, Logan! C'mon, crab thing!" Yurie cheered.

"Crabominable, use Stone Edge!"

"Bomi!" the Pokémon roared while concentrating his energy. Five pillars of stone lifted from the ground around him, and when he was prepared, he sent them all flying forward.

Sora closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. "Hydro Pump."

Feraligatr concentrated and then blasted his attack from his mouth, easily tearing through each of the stone pillars.

"And Earthquake."

Feraligatr threw around his body before slamming one of his thick legs into the ground, making the stadium shake. Up until this point in the tournament, it was the strongest Earthquake that anyone had felt. It would have surely done a lot of damage to Crabominable, but Logan had a counter.

"Make a platform! Use Stone Edge!"

Crabominable continued to focus his energy from before, and he ripped five more stone pillars from the ground, now allowing himself to be picked up by them. He floated into the air and looked down at Feraligatr, who was enraged by the audacity.

"Aerial Ice Hammer!"

Crabominable put his two massive pincers together before leaping off of the platform that he had created. He raised his arms into the air and prepared to hammer down his strike as hard as he could.

"Ice Punch," Sora commanded, his eyes still closed.

Feraligatr jabbed upward, and the two attacks met. They held out for a second, but it was clear that Crabominable was stronger in this instance. He hammered down onto Feraligatr, making the Water-type stumble back.

"Dragon Claw."

Feraligatr was much faster than Logan would have fought. He slithered forward and slashed, getting a direct hit on the Ice-type. Purple arcane flames surrounded the two of them, and Crabominable roared from pain. However, he remained still. Eventually, Feraligatr stopped his attack, and he took a couple of steps back, confused as to why Crabominable didn't bother to escape.

But then, Feraligatr roared, and he fell to one knee as purple energy slowly made its way around his body.

"What?!" Sora asked.

"It's Toxic!" the announcer exclaimed. "Logan and his Crabominable are well-known for their Toxic strategy, which almost got him the victory in last year's Ever Grande Conference! Will the same strategy help him to advance this year?!"

"Nice!" Logan exclaimed. "Use Dynamic Punch!"

"Hydro Pump!"

Crabominable lunged to hit the powerful strike, but Feraligatr was much faster. He launched the strong blast of water from his mouth, knocking Crabominable back with ease.

"And Earthquake!" Sora yelled, which was out of character.

Feraligatr stomped against the field again, making it shake. Crabominable had no way to escape this time, and the violently churning of the field brought him down to his stomach. Feraligatr roared, but then some of the poisonous effects of Toxic set in, and he ceased his attack.

"Dragon Claw!"

"Dynamic Punch!"

The two Pokémon, weakened by the battle, managed to stand back up. They ran forward and jabbed, hitting each other in the face. They wanted to try to test their individual strength and hold out the attacks, but instead, they both were forced to stumble back.

Feraligatr let out another roar and tried to signal that he was ready for another attack, but then, the poisonous energy finished coursing through his body, and he fell flat on his face.

"Feraligatr is unable to battle!" the referee declared. "Crabominable is the-"

Before he could finish, Crabominable curled up into a ball and rolled onto his side, his long pincers limp on the ground.

The referee couldn't help but chortle to himself. "Crabominable is also unable to battle! This battle is a double knock-out!"

"Amazing! This Top 16 battle starts with a double knock-out!" the announcer screamed as the two trainers collected their Pokémon.

"With Feraligatr out of the way, the rest might be easy for Logan. It was Sora's strongest Pokémon, right?" Yurie wondered.

Seshiru clenched her fist and watched the mysterious boy. "As much as I want to believe that, this battle isn't even close to over."

"Espeon, go," Sora exclaimed while pushing the button on his Poké Ball. His Espeon emerged on his side of the field and shook off the nerves upon seeing the crowd.

"We've prepared well," Logan said with a grin. "Go, Dusclops!"

After a year of not battling together, Logan's Dusclops materialize and then raised his two ghostly hands into the air. He laughed, overjoyed that he'd get another chance to battle alongside his trainer.

"We're not going to give you any chances," Sora said calmly. "Use Dazzling Gleam."

The marble on Espeon's forehead started to glow, and in an instant, there was a flash of light that filled the field.

"Iron Tail!" Sora directed.

"Catch it with Thunder Punch!"

Although the light had done some damage to Dusclops, he was well prepared for a follow-up strike from Espeon, being well versed in trickery. His hands started to spark and he waited. When Espeon came through the light and twisted her body, Dusclops reached out, grabbing her tail with his electrified hands. The two struggled and pushed, trying to get a leg up on the other.

"Shadow Ball!" Logan shouted.

A ball of black energy formed in front of Dusclops' eye. He launched it at close-range, but Espeon easily ducked and moved around it.

"Psychic."

Espeon hit the ground, and her eyes started to glow blue. Dusclops' motions became jittery, but he wasn't too bothered by the strike.

Sora held out his arms and opened his eyes. "Hold him. And use Zap Cannon!"

Normally using two moves at once would prove troublesome for any Pokémon, but Espeon was experienced. She charged the electric energy in her mouth before blasting it forward, sounding like a cannon from war.

"Get out of the way!" Logan shouted desperately.

Dusclops lurched and tried to move, and at the last second, he forced himself to the side, narrowly avoiding the electric sparks.

Logan grinned. "Oh yeah! Ice Beam!"

Dusclops waved around his hands before launching the jagged beam of ice. It connected with the ground until it reached all the way to Espeon. It wasn't a direct hit, but rather, it froze her feet to the ground.

Sora closed his eyes again, and it appeared like he was attempting to form a strategy, but Logan's commands were relentless.

"Shadow Ball!"

Dusclops closed his fist, generating a ball of black energy in front of his eye. He then punched at it, sending it across the field. This time, there was nowhere for Espeon to run, and she was launched into the air by the powerful attack.

"Falling Dazzling Gleam," Sora ordered.

Espeon direct her body at Dusclops before launching the bright pink light once again. Dusclops put his large hands in front of his face to block the attack, but it didn't protect him from massive damage.

"And Zap Cannon!"

Before Logan could give an order, the sound of a cannon reverberated through the stadium. The electrified ball of power came down from the sky, blasting Dusclops directly in the middle of his body.

"Dusclops!" Logan shouted.

"What a technique!" the announcer yelled into the microphone. "And even if Dusclops survives the attack, you should all know what it means! He'll be dealing with a paralysis condition!"

And so was true. Dusclops now was frozen in place as sparks came off of his body.

But Logan couldn't help but grin. "You caught it, right?"

"Clops!"

"Using Blasting Thunder Punch!"

Dusclops, although paralyzed, slowly lifted one of his large hands into the air, revealing some electric energy that he had caught from Espeon's attack. He struggled but then jabbed forward, shooting off the energy back at Espeon. She was too exhausted to try to move, taking the blast directly. Her body dragged against the field before it stopped in front of Sora.

"Espeon is unable to battle! Dusclops is the winner!"

Sora knelt and felt at the tufts of fur on Espeon's cheeks. "You fought hard. Don't worry about the rest of the battle." And with that, she was absorbed by the red light. Sora stood back up and drew out an Ultra Ball from his belt. He opened his eyes and looked at Logan.

"Feraligatr isn't your strongest Pokémon, right?" Logan asked.

"I'm not aware of any other Pokémon on Sora's team that can pull off a win here. His Bayleef is strong, but I'm not sure if it'd be enough," Maleah said in the backroom.

"There's more to Sora than meets the eye," Aaron mumbled.

Haruto folded his arms. "It doesn't matter who wins here."

Dusclops was exhausted, but Logan was relieved that he made it through the battle. He looked at Sora with anticipation, who appeared as though he was nervous to use his next Pokémon.

"If I don't do this now, then there's no chance that I'll beat you," Sora said. He pushed the button on the ball, opening it up and revealing his Pokémon to the world. "Go, Tyranitar."

Sora's massive Pokémon emerged onto the field and screeched, making everyone surprised. It looked like it could have been a relatively wild Tyranitar, as the look in its eyes was dangerous. It looked back at Sora, catching his gaze before it turned to Dusclops and then screeched once again.

Sora closed his eyes. "Tyranitar, use-"

"Pain Split!" Logan shouted.

Before Sora could finish his command, Dusclops started to shake, and red energy exploded off of him, racing for Tyranitar. The two became bound by the energy, which sapped away some health from the fresher Pokémon.

"And just like that, Dusclops has regained some health while cutting down Tyranitar's health almost in half!" the announcer yelled.

"That's not really something I expected from Logan," Yurie exclaimed.

Sora remained calm. "Dark Pulse."

Tyranitar fought through the unexplainable pain. He formed a ball of pure black in his mouth before launching it at the ground. It exploded into a wave of darkness, which washed over Dusclops, bringing him to the ground.

"And Stone Edge."

Before Logan or Dusclops could think of a counter, Tyranitar ripped the cylindrical stones from the ground and launched them to the other side. They repeatedly pelted into Dusclops, and within seconds, the Ghost-type slumped to the ground, almost becoming completely flat.

"Dusclops is unable to battle! Tyranitar is the winner!" the referee declared.

Logan was hesitant, but he withdrew Dusclops. He looked at Tyranitar and then thought over his options.

"Logan has plenty of Pokémon that can take on a Tyranitar. Let's just hope that he's thinking with his head and not his heart," Seshiru said.

"Go, Poliwhirl!"

Seshiru sighed. "He's an idiot."

Sora's shoulders relaxed even more than they already were. "I'm questioning your decision, Logan. Are you trying to lose or humiliate me?"

"I have faith in my Pokémon! Poliwhirl, use Rain Dance!"

Poliwhirl formed a ball of mist in front of his swirl and then bounced it into the air. It exploded into clouds, instantly creating rain.

"Tyranitar, finish this quickly with Thunder Fang," Sora commanded.

Tyranitar roared, and the light from the sparks in his mouth pierced the darkness of the small rainstorm. He ran forward, every step shaking the field.

"Use your speed!" Logan shouted. "Brick Break!"

Poliwhirl was incredibly fast in the rain. He dashed forward while holding out his fists, ready to bash in Tyranitar as hard as he could. Tyranitar lunged forward and snapped down his jaws, but Poliwhirl was too quick, avoiding it with ease. The Water-type then got a direct hit on the side of Tyranitar's jaw, knocking the Rock-type silly.

"One more! Two more! Don't let up!" Logan directed.

Poliwhirl ran circles around Tyranitar, jabbing, withdrawing, and then jabbing again. Every blow was minimally effective, but the damage started to add up, and Tyranitar was beginning to feel the pain.

Sora's eyes remained closed, but he moved his head around as though he were tracking Poliwhirl's every movement.

"Dragon Pulse at the ground!" Sora yelled.

Tyranitar was no longer aiming for Poliwhirl. He raised his head and charged an arcane ball of energy. When it was completed, he pointed at the ground and then launched it, causing an explosion that knocked back Poliwhirl.

"Not good," Logan muttered.

Tyranitar slowly walked towards the grounded Poliwhirl, his jaws electrified. Sora hadn't given him a command, but he knew exactly what needed to be done. Poliwhirl sat up, dizzied by the blast from before. He looked up at Tyranitar, terrified of the beast.

"Do it for Flareon!" Logan shouted. "Use Hydro Pump!"

Upon hearing the name of his one true love, Poliwhirl was filled with passion. He blasted a heavy stream from the middle of his spiral, which kept Tyranitar from coming any closer.

"And Earthquake!" Logan ordered.

Poliwhirl bounced into the air and stuck out his legs. He landed on the field, causing it to shake. It wasn't as powerful as Feraligatr's was, but it was enough to damage Tyranitar. The Rock-type stumbled slightly.

"Finish this, Poliwhirl!" Logan yelled. "Use Brick Break!"

"He's actually gonna do it!" Seshiru yelled excitedly.

Poliwhirl skated across the field and then leaped into the air. He aimed at Tyranitar's jaw and then jabbed.

But what followed next was a terrifying screech from Poliwhirl. His body sparked with electricity as his fist met the inside of Tyranitar's maw. The larger Pokémon crunched, sending more sparks through the Water-type's body. He threw Poliwhirl into the air and glared, prepared to strike one last time.

"Thunder Fang!" Sora yelled while opening his eyes.

"Brick Break! Give it all you got!" Logan shouted.

The two Pokémon eyed one another. Now, it was all about who aimed correctly. The two collided, sending electric sparks all around the field, giving the effect of lightning to Poliwhirl's rainstorm. They froze, and the rain faded away. Poliwhirl dropped to the ground, landing on his legs.

And they waited.

And waited.

Until, Tyranitar stumbled, falling flat on his back. The crowd erupted into cheers.

"Tyranitar is unable to battle!" the referee yelled while raising his flags into the air. "Logan and Poliwhirl are the winners!"

Logan was in shock. It took him a while, but he eventually came out of it before rushing onto the field, taking Poliwhirl into his arms.

"You did it, Poliwhirl! You're amazing!" Logan exclaimed.

"He actually did it," Seshiru said in shock. "That Poliwhirl is amazing."

"I knew he could do it!" Yurie yelled excitedly. "Go, Poliwhirl!"

"What a battle, and what a way to end the Top 16!" the announcer yelled as the screen's graphics shifted, revealing the next day's battles. Seshiru was set to battle Emma, and Logan would be taking on Aaron.

Logan clenched his fist and then sighed. He looked over at Tyranitar, who was being comforted by Sora. Logan chuckled to himself.

"It was a great battle! Let's get dinner, Sora. I have a few questions for ya!"


"So, you never forget a face, huh?" Logan asked. The group chose a noodle shop to eat at. Yurie had been eager to try it since they arrived.

"Technically," Sora responded. Slowly, he started to smile, his eyes remaining deadpan.

Logan got closer and looked at Sora's light blue eyes. Now upon a closer inspection, he saw that they had a misty quality to them.

"How are you able to battle?"

"You figured me out?"

Logan took a step back and put his hands on his hips. "Not completely. You've never looked at me straight in the eyes, and the way that you waddle around and bump into things, I always found odd. But, what gave you away was the fact that you weren't even standing in your trainer's box. How does a blind trainer even exist?"

"Wait. Blind?" Yurie questioned. She got in front of Logan and stared at Sora.

"Yep!" Sora said proudly. "Blind as a Zubat."

"But you're a photographer!" Yurie exclaimed.

"And you battle with seemingly no issue!" Logan added.

Sora laughed. "Well, I've never actually seen my own photos. I use them to show my parents my adventures, because I can't describe what I've seen or where I've been. Also, I found that it hides the fact that I'm blind. No one treats me differently if they think I can see."

"I see."

"I don't."

"But how about battling? How are you able to do that? And you traveled the world with no issue!" Logan said.

Sora shrugged. "I've had my fair share of issues. I've lost count of how many times I've fallen into a lake. As for how I can battle, you probably won't believe how I do it."

Logan stuck his hand out and put it on Sora's shoulder. "I've battled with psychics. Nothing can surprise me."

Sora nodded. "I can see the aura that all living creatures have. I can sort of feel their energy and read their emotions. I've heard that some Pokémon can do this too. I'd love to meet one someday."

"Sora, you're incredibly gifted," Logan stated.

"An inspiration!" Yurie added. "Now I know why you didn't want to do the contest on the Sevii Islands!"

"I'm glad you think so, but do you think we can keep this all a secret? I don't want people to worry about me or treat me like I'm weird."

Seshiru couldn't help but laugh. "Even without knowing your secret, we still thought you were weird.

"We'll keep it hushed though!" Logan said. "I still am in shock, to be honest."

"Logan, I'm glad that you played detective and figured this out, but you should probably focus on your battle tomorrow," Seshiru said. "What kind of trainer is this Aaron?"

Logan put his hand to his chin. "I haven't seen any of his battles in three years. I'll have to watch some tapes tonight. The main thing I remember is his Samurott. Aaron sets his Pokémon up with beefy maneuvers and then strikes relentlessly."

"And you're battling against Emma," Yurie said, recalling her battle with Emma in Cerulean City. "She's not easy. If she's going all out, then you might have trouble."

"Things are surely going to get intense," Seshiru said. "Today was a close call for the both of us. Tomorrow isn't going to be any easier."


AUTHOR'S NOTES:

If you look up Sora Fujiwara on the Kokoro Echo's Pokémon Universe wiki, you can see the art that I had done for him. I really like how it turned out. I've been keeping the secret that Sora is blind since Chapter 4. I had to be careful about how I wrote his dialogue and his actions, as I didn't want to give it away, but I also wanted to drop hints and such about his secret.

Anyways, next chapter we'll get into Logan's first full battle! It'll be Logan Stephenson vs. Aaron Nora in the Top 8!

REVIEWS:

pokestets23 - "Gastrodon went down. Wow! By a Petalil of all things. Can't wait!" - I wanted to shake Seshiru's confidence a bit!

pokemonking0924 - "I guess you didn't want to waste anytime and wants to get to the epic battles between rivals quickly. Also Maleah just doesn't know when to quit and I'm looking forward to hearing more about Logan's first rival Aaron." - His backstory and such will be revealed in the next chapter!

CrescentApple - "This is getting exciting. Logan forgetting Clint's name was pretty funny. Reminds me of Butch. I get the odd manner around Logan, simply because of the previous story." - There's also kind of a recurring gag that I use where Logan is afraid of forgetting people's names. Also, thanks for reading the other story.