Planning the rest of the night provided entertainment on the way back to the hotel. I ordered room service for my team so they could eat right away. There was a place to buy formal wear in the heart of the city which I could visit before dinner. Nothing unique was on the Starlight Lounge's main site or social media pages. I was expecting some special event if Zach insisted on meeting there.
I got my computer optimized to study Russell as soon as I walked in my room. I assumed there would be downtime after dinner to study before going out again. With it being a three on three singles battle, my strategy needed to change.
"Alright everybody, eat up. You're done for the night but I'm going out soon and taking you with me."
They had their fill, I took a much needed shower, I gave them praise for grinding out a tough win, and left to meet my family. A buzz filled the streets as elimination day loomed large.
One trainer I walked past was in the middle of an emotional breakdown surrounded by a group of friends. Another one a few blocks later had no problem boasting over the phone about advancing. Restaurants that had televisions opted to keep it on a dedicated feed about the tournament. A pit stop into the clothing store was a nice distraction.
"Do you need help with anything?" the clerk asked.
"Just looking for something that can get me into a nightclub," I bluntly responded.
"Follow me," came out a fraction of a second after I finished.
Their selection was unique. One rack had shirts intended to turn the wearer into a highlighter while another had more boring colors. The same applied to pants. I chose a middle ground: black button-down long sleeve shirt with thin white pinstripes and dark pants. The 18,000P total was more than I expected yet still a drop in the bucket.
"Honestly, do you think these will do?" I asked.
"Most places don't care. Not to be rude, but where are you going? Nothing sucks more than waiting in line for hours only to be turned away because of the dress code. I've been around long enough to know the sticklers."
I froze up while taking out my wallet. "Starlight Lounge," I whispered.
The clerk was surprised. "Oh. Well then, you've made a good choice. Take care."
My family was waiting for me outside the restaurant when I arrived. Lucas and I felt little out of place because the other diners were wearing business casual attire. He had team issued Pokéathlon gear while I had a plain shirt and shorts. A few people in the crowded dining room gave us the side-eye on the way to our table in a corner past a series of large landscape paintings. An uneasy feeling slowly came over me.
"Let me take the chair against the wall," I casually said.
"Are you sure? Looks like a tight squeeze for you," mom replied.
"Nah, it's fine." She was right. At least I could see everything in front of me.
We passed the time by talking about what Ever Grande City had to offer. No doubt they were enjoying the overall atmosphere. Why not? I couldn't remember the last time they had an extended vacation. Dad waved a hand in front of my face as I apparently stopped paying attention to the conversation.
"Ryan, are you looking for someone? Your eyes are constantly going back and forth," he noted.
"Huh? Oh! The paintings are very detailed," I sheepishly replied.
Food talk was a nice change of pace once our dinner arrived. My heart skipped a beat when some dressing dripped next to my bag of clothes. When asked why I had to buy them before eating, I gave a generic answer about having a packed schedule. The upcoming nightclub meeting was best left unsaid. Sadie got a string of notifications on her phone as we were finishing up.
"Sorry about that. A radio station wanted me to forecast for them on air and the Weather Institute has been drafting the terms of my contract. At least the extra money will be worth it." She turned to Lucas. "How's your contract negotiation going?"
"Anything different since our get together Fortree?" I butted in, remembering our conversation about Manectric's ability to compete.
Lucas rubbed his hands. "One more year to prove myself."
Mom and dad must have known seeing as they were less emotional than I thought. A smile on their faces still formed after the news.
"Nice!" Sadie said.
"For how much?" I asked.
"League minimum. Kind of a given since I was an unproven rookie. My agent took care of everything which was for the best."
"Definitely. I knew my boss for years and still felt nervous when I interviewed for the day shift," dad said.
Lucas went on about some infamous contract disputes in the sport's history until the bill arrived. It was on the expensive side as expected; dad wouldn't budge when we offered to chip in.
Goodbyes were said outside then my brother made a motion with his head to walk with him. We found a bench to sit on across from a line of stores. Lucas took a deep breath.
"Keeping our promise has been a pain in the ass. Nobody knows you gave me 15,000P to go to Johto for a tournamentjust over a year ago."
The memory of out conversation at a downtown Mauville ATM came rushing back. Only the 1,000P entry fee was going to be covered by our school. A boat ride from Lilycove to Olivine plus lodging made up the bulk of expenses.
"Do you know how close I was to not competing that weekend?"
"How close?"
A team photo from the tournament was pulled up. "These two? Overslept and nearly missed the bus. They never saw a second of competition all weekend. My ass was supposed to be on the bench taking notes on the other teams."
"That must've been awkward."
Lucas laughed. "Oh you have no idea. Coach was a no nonsense guy. He dragged me in front of everyone and said 'this is our new runner for the second leg of the relay race' then did the same for the other replacement in a different event. At the field. In front of anybody walking by. The scoreboard operators scrambled to update their graphics once they got wind of it."
"Damn. And how did you find out about being planned to sit all weekend?"
"Coach met with each of us individually the day after we returned to Lilycove. Nobody from the league had interest in me when I sent the paperwork in. My performances with Electrike led to a more honest conversation about my chances of getting invited to a private tryout. Did well there and the rest is history."
"All that… wow," I said in awe. There was a long pause before he stood up.
"I'll share with you the best piece of advice I got once training camp: the best ability in an athlete is availability." He stood up. "I take it that line of thinking works with battles even though trainers don't actually fight?"
I also stood up. "Any Pokémon that's not knocked out can turn the battle around. Even if the battle is likely going to end up as a loss, the least I can do is make my opponent squirm."
"Glad to know you still have that mindset," Lucas said with a smile before hugging me. "Thanks again for believing in me. Let me know if you need anything and I'll see what I can do. Good luck tomorrow."
"You bet. Look forward to seeing you guys there."
What downtime I had in my room was spent on catching up on the rest of the field. Revisiting Russell's battle against Zach didn't do much for me considering mega Manectric and Starmie were the only two Pokémon Russell needed to win; his Sceptile fell to Zach's Staraptor immediately after the battle started. Russell's overall performance crumbled when Brittany took care of Starmie.
Sceptile couldn't hit Brittany's Rhyperior hard enough thanks to Solid Rock. His remaining hope in Zangoose using Brick Break was quickly dispatched by what looked to be a critical hit from her Tyranitar's Crunch. With him also getting swept by the prodigy, I didn't feel too bad until something clicked.
"Wait… hold on," I mumbled. I checked the standings one more time. "Dammit!"
My team was startled at the sudden outburst. They all looked at one another with Linoone coming over to check on things.
Advancing could only be accomplished by winning. A draw would stand because the overtime rules only applied to the elimination rounds. With a draw, our pool records would be 1-1-1 before going to tiebreakers. The first one was Pokémon differential and that was enough. I was sitting at an ugly -3 while he was at a more respectable -1.
"Don't mind me. I just remembered something," I said while rubbing his back.
Looking back at the tape, I saw Starmie's performance was unusual. Over the course of the battle against Zach, it started attacking just before Russell issued a command. It was the right move every time which left almost no window for a reaction. That wasn't a problem until I saw the battle against Brittany.
As soon as Russell's first Pokémon fainted and he was down 4-3, Starmie went rogue. Using random attacks at full power with no regard for timing was its way of mounting a comeback. Russell was visibly frustrated yet didn't try to stop the behavior. I chalked it up to stress or him being incompetent considering his history of being a trainer with less than average skill. That theory fell apart when a bum rush attack left Tyranitar in a decent amount of pain.
"Fuck… that's a Shadow Pokémon isn't it?"
After some digging, there was no record of a Starmie being on Russell's team during his final gym battle. Ardos had found another way to get back at me where I couldn't retaliate without putting myself in jeopardy. Knowing the leader of Cipher, he could convince someone to use a Shadow Pokémon despite the downsides. I wasn't sure how much in-depth information he would have given. The revelation wasn't just affecting me.
Articles were written about nine Pokémon acting out across nine different pools. It wasn't explicitly listed, but the trainers using the modified killing machines were seeded 100 or worse. Some had meltdowns as their supposed ticket to victory no longer obeyed them even if the final result was a win. Others remained calm and tried to work through the sudden adversity, but were rattled by the sudden mood change in their partners.
Russell and Starmie was the tenth combination but weren't mentioned by name. After looking through every clip in the article, Starmie acted like the most normal Pokémon which was enough to stay off the press' radar. Its behavior in the Brittany battle lasted a short time and could be excused for stress. The other nine Pokémon went overboard with late hits or blatantly disobeyed orders.
"Better hope Zach can help me out," I said while getting ready for a night on the town.
The cab ride to the southwest side of the city was not pleasant. My driver scowled when I told him the destination was the Starlight Lounge. He blew through stop signs if there were more than two people standing on a street corner looking in our direction. Beggars aggressively knocked on our windows if we caught a red light only to be scared off when the driver threatened them with brass knuckles. I quietly breathed a sigh of relief when we arrived to a large building.
"Thanks, boss," I said.
"Whatever. You better have 5,000 for the fare," the driver said with a hint of malice.
"Yeah, yeah, here's your money. Have a good night."
"You too." He reset the meter. "Sick fuck," he said under his breath thinking I couldn't hear him.
The line for the club wrapped around the block. There were bouncers equally spread out not only to manage people in line, but some Pokémon standing by their trainers. Anyone remotely thought to be loitering or hustling nearby was shooed off. Zach was the exception. He was waiting patiently and jogged over to meet me.
"Glad to see you take me up on my offer," Zach said. "Looking good by the way."
"Man, this place makes Mauville look like sunshine and rainbows," I said shaking my head.
"Can't speak for other places around here, but Starlight has great security. Let's go."
Zach waltzed up to the entrance outside of the rope where the largest bouncer stood watch. People near the front of the line were eager to see what would happen for such a brazen move. Ardos' bodyguard stood at 6'3" and 210 pounds of seemingly pure muscle. The bouncer was slightly taller and looked to be at least 260 pounds; so glad Ardos didn't find him first.
He was poking his head into the club while on the phone. Within a minute, a belligerent partygoer was shoved past us by another large man. I was terrified when he hung up the phone and turned to us while smiling.
"Zach! It's been too long."
They shared a hug. "Same! Thanks for getting us in on short notice. How's everything going? Still keeping in touch with Crasher Wake?"
"Of course! He's trying to get a tag team match set up down the road on Jubilife's Pokémon Variety Hour. I sometimes think about getting back into the pro wrestling scene but the daily grind and limelight exposure would be too much. So... this is the guy you were talking about earlier?"
"Yup." The bouncer let out a boisterous laugh.
"You going to show him a good time?" Zach put on a serious face. "Oh… sorry. I forgot. Let me escort you in. Put on these wristbands first. Your wallet will thank you."
The ground floor was nothing special. Dim to no lighting, people dancing, the DJ keeping the energy up, bartenders serving drinks like there was no tomorrow. A few tables were roped off the edge of the dance floor where groups of people and Pokémon sat. One level up wasn't restricted, but it was a calmer atmosphere. People could still order drinks and mingle. The stairs to the third floor was blocked off by another bouncer who immediately moved for us. A large set of frosted glass doors were waiting for us at the top along with a set of small lockers with their own key.
"Gentlemen, leave all electronic devices in the locker. Enjoy yourselves in the VIP room."
It was like walking into another world. The lighting was more for mood with the colors slowly changing between dark colors. The music from downstairs was reduced to muted thumping when music wasn't playing. Large couches, chairs, recliners, were all over the place. A stage replaced the dance floor. The bartenders wore three piece suits. All of that paled in comparison to the main difference: an aura of lust.
Every waitress could deliver more than drinks provided a customer paid up. What got me the most was that same attitude applied to Pokémon. People who had their Pokémon out could request a working Pokémon from a list to relieve their partner's or their own stress. A door at the end of the bar led to a series of rooms in case things got too hot for the lounge. Money was constantly exchanging hands.
I noticed a few human-Pokémon couples on the way to our seat. Most of the people had their arms draped around a Pokémon's midsection, neck, or shoulder. A man not much older than me was intimately holding an Absol, affectionately petting it, and peppering it with kisses. I had no idea how someone could do such a thing until I looked back at Zach. He led me to an empty couch against a wall. I rubbed my forehead when we sat down.
"Feeling okay? Need a drink?" Zach asked nonchalantly.
"Wow. I'm uh, still trying to process everything." I took a deep breath. "This is all legal, right?"
"Yes it is. The owner is from Sinnoh and has dealt with all the necessary red tape. We just have a different attitude towards this sort of thing. Manufacturers over there make translators to close the communication gap and allow for clear consent among working Pokémon across the world."
"Do you… you know?"
"I do. Not for shits and giggles," he bluntly replied. Floatzel was called out.
Of course! I remembered how frisky she was when we docked at Pacifidlog Town. She glared at me for a bit before Zach calmed her down. For being in such an active atmosphere, she had excellent self-control. Sitting on his lap with her back against his chest was good enough for her.
Zach explained the Sootopolis incident was not a rumor. He thought the walls blocked more sound than he thought. The ridicule he saw in comment sections from that day until our battle was unbearable even by his standards. He was about to leave Ever Grande until the press printed my comments about me wanting to battle him regardless of the past.
"Don't take this the wrong way, but how does someone enter into this lifestyle? How do you manage Floatzel with the rest of your team?"
"There is no clear answer as to how people start. As for how I do things, I'd rather keep it to myself. Anyway, let's order some drinks and I'll explain what's going on."
Water was the safe choice while Zach chose a mint berry martini. When a waitress came over, he asked for a working Pokémon to stop by for a second. A Gardevoir was waved over and he pointed out she was wearing an earpiece despite having the ability to use telepathy. Zach asked for the Pokémon's rates and all those jokes or insults everyone said growing up were suddenly no longer jokes or insults. He apologized for wasting their time and gave them a tip for their trouble. We shared a toast and he only took one sip of his martini.
"Our community outside of Sinnoh is very tight-knit. Imagine my surprise when I heard a new place opened up at New Mauville a week ago. I looked up the area and saw it was an odd location." I took his pause as my chance to respond.
"New Mauville was originally supposed to be a 69-floor underground city but was never finished. It eventually devolved into a tourist attraction for trainers or people looking to escape the city for an hour or so. Now it's owned by Pokémon Services. You're telling me they turned it into a club like this?"
Zach looked angry. "The reason I called it a 'place' was because it would have been shut down yesterday if it was in Sinnoh."
"Have you been there?"
"No. Someone in the community had overheard some construction workers talking about their work in a bar when it was close to completion. One thing led to another and an appointment was made. Not uncommon for a soft open. The first red flag was needing a password for the ferry."
"That's cute. People can surf or fly over there."
"Which earns you a return trip to Mauville in handcuffs for trespassing. Even if you go there normally, you're asked to turn in your phone which is standard practice. Our community knows this, but everyone else immediately assumes the worst. Blackmail or revenge porn tied to any adult business back home is serious business.
Floatzel rolled over so she could bury her head in Zach's chest. He was no longer relaxed and she got him to pet her for support. The martini had him in a trance before he turned back to me.
"Were there any other red flags?" I asked.
"Normally you have the option to enjoy a session with your own Pokémon. Each place has their own rules but another other industry standard is allowing for 'own trainer, own Pokémon' because it's easy money. New Mauville? Nope. As a compromise, you could put Poké Balls in a locked box with any electronics and keep it inside the room."
There was no way Ardos was that ignorant. "Does your acquaintance remember anything about the place?"
"That's another problem. Initially, the experience was a blank space. People who are uncomfortable will text someone before and after an experience to leave a trail in case something happens. Their phone had a text log of them going in at 10:00 pm and arriving back in Mauville at 12:30 am. Nothing had to have happened because their body didn't feel sore and they didn't feel dehydrated. Their Gardevoir filled in the blanks as best as it could because it was in the room and could hear everything despite being in the ball."
Cold sweat started to form. "The owner has a Hypno and Alakazam. That might have something to do with it."
Zach couldn't hold out any longer. He scared Floatzel by reaching for his drink then taking a big swig.
"That's bad. Very, very bad," he said loud enough to draw a few looks.
"Just take it easy for a second," I urged.
Offering him a sip of water got the rest of the lounge off our backs. Zach's behavior was masked even more by a stage show announcement. Floatzel passionately nuzzled him to bring him down a bit.
"Mind control sessions from working Pokémon are one of the most regulated things in the entire industry. Licenses for the building owners, staff, and the actual Pokémon are mandatory. The process takes months to complete and is so expensive that few locations across the world offer the service. Even then, it's not entirely safe for everyone. I can't imagine an unsuspecting mind wipe."
"Tell me about it," I sighed.
He grabbed my collar out of frustration. Dim lighting and a technical crew working on the stage provided enough of a distraction from anyone bothering us. Security would have talked to us otherwise.
"You think this is a joke!?" he hissed.
I calmly grabbed his wrist. "No. I'm aware of what psychic types are capable of. Sorry if I came off as dismissive."
"Oh… sorry." He kissed Floatzel on top of her head. "I'm wary about the serious side of this industry and anyone who plays it off immediately. It's hard to tell what's real versus what's role play. I could never do those kinds of things to Floatzel."
"Understandable."
"The last red flag they recalled was the requested Pokémon had a collar." Zach took a sip of his martini. "They went to the Mauville police but the lack of a clear memory didn't help."
"Even though they told the police about Hypno?"
"There was a follow-up investigation and nothing came from it. Now our community is split. To ease concerns, the owner is putting on a gala with a masquerade theme at this place called Lostelle's after the tournament is over. It's honestly a good idea considering this lifestyle is something people rarely want to be openly associated with over here."
Limiting bad publicity was not out of the ordinary for Ardos. I didn't think the gala would be a trap either. He couldn't afford another public scandal. As uncomfortable as it would be, attending was a good idea.
"Got a date and time for me?" Zach was surprised.
"Uh. Wow. I recommend getting your feet wet first before jumping into the deep end."
I shot him a deadpan look. "That's not why I'm going. Is there anywhere I can sign up?"
He showed me various groups to follow online that posted updates. Unfortunately, there was no set date. For such a risqué community, the sites were genuinely helpful and did not tolerate jokes.
"Any other tips?"
"A tuxedo is the bare minimum attire for men. For your sake, keep the color scheme simple. Women usually wear dresses with darker colors as well to not stick out. Be honest about being a new to the scene too. Conversations should be less awkward. Lastly, I recommend having a Pokémon by your side. It's the best common ground topic."
Now it was my turn to almost have a meltdown. I had to bank on Ardos had a short memory on what Pokémon I had. If that didn't matter, there was the issue of choosing which teammate to pretend to be attracted to.
Pretending to be gay with Linoone, Walrein, or Aggron would be disrespectful on so many levels. Magneton? Hard pass. Ninetales wasn't a fan of large crowds and she had Linoone. Altaria would laugh hysterically then never let it go for as long as I lived. On the flip side, I also envisioned her slapping the everloving shit out of me.
"Could I bring a date?"
"Sure. It's not uncommon for a couple to scope out an event for anyone interested in a wild night." I glared at Zach. "Don't get mad at me. That's what usually happens."
Oh joy, the alternative wasn't much better. It sounded like I had to hire an escort and tell others we were only testing the waters. Only question was hiring a human or Pokémon? It was still a dumpster fire waiting to happen.
"Keep in mind there will likely be a long information post once the gala details are set. You can ask questions in the Hoenn group as time goes on if you think of something else," Zach said before finishing his drink.
"I think I know too much," I sighed.
"Buneary as a species are never friendly at first when people catch them. Probably because Lopunny are the most sought-after working Pokémon in Sinnoh," he teased with a grin. I put my head in my hands.
"Please stop," I groaned.
He put his hands up. "Alright, alright, fine. Honestly, thanks for being so open-minded. I'm rooting for you tomorrow. Watch out for Russell's Starmie. That thing is insanely strong."
I felt like I owed Zach an explanation as to why that was the case. Then again, I didn't want to sound like a conspiracy theorist and give people in his community a reason to avoid me. I had no definitive proof to show Starmie was a Shadow Pokémon.
"Guess I'll have to save Magneton for last."
"Best of luck." The lights dimmed even more as the music got louder. "Cut loose for a bit! Watch the show! The models in tonight's lineup rarely do public appearances. They're even performing with their own Pokémon."
The routine had me staring at any female performers with a red face the entire time. Each one was wearing an outfit to match their Pokémon partner. Cheers erupted as one performer after another took the stage, regardless of gender combination; the energy never died down.
The charged atmosphere made a few couples run to the back rooms for a more hands-on experience. Zach and Floatzel gave into temptation although they kept things mild. I found myself staring like a schoolboy at a model wearing a long, lavish dress with the color scheme of her Milotic. I joined the cheering when another came out in a scantily clad dress paying homage to Altaria. If caution was thrown to the wind, Winona would look gorgeous wearing it.
"En-core! En-core! En-core!" the crowd chanted once the final performance ended.
"What a wonderful audience! We here at Starlight Lounge hope you enjoyed the show!" was the response over the loudspeaker.
Zach turned to me. "Fingers crossed something that good happens at Lostelle's."
"I think it will."
"Should be good." Floatzel was getting frisky once again. "Now that I've gotten everything off my chest, she's ready to get on. If you want to stay longer, I can help you get comfortable. Maybe there will be a model hanging around."
His offer was so tempting. I wanted to let my mind completely melt with the skilled touch of any of the women present or do a little bit more in a back room. As much as it pained me to admit, my battle tomorrow was more important.
"I think it's time for me to grab my things and head out. Thanks for everything."
"Actually, I should be thanking you for treating me with respect."
The ride back wasn't bad despite the massive crowds filing out of the bars. I spent the trip trying to digest everything Zach had said and showed me. As if I needed another reason to sound like an insane person. I gave up upon entering my room.
Before getting settled into bed, I called out Walrein. He was understandably grumpy. I rubbed his head for a few minutes to get him into a better mood.
"Buddy, you're our anchor again. You're the only one who can take multiple hits from Starmie." He slowly nodded. "Get some sleep."
I didn't give a rah-rah speech to my team at breakfast. Linoone took notice and nudged me as I was eating. Probably against better judgment, I told them the cold truth.
"Okay, I'll keep this short. If we lose or draw, that's it. Our run is over. It's a three versus three singles battle which we're all comfortable with. Although I can't confirm it, Starmie appears to be a Shadow Pokémon. Walrein is the most equipped to deal with it when fully healthy. I'm planning to use Magneton as well. The third slot is wide open. I need everybody on full alert. Let's get going."
The air surrounding the fields was electric the moment I stepped off the shuttle. Plenty of groups still needed to be decided. The portable bleachers by my field were not only full from a distance, there were two camera crews and more fans standing off to the side. My family and housekeepers were there along with a few surprise guests.
Wattson was sitting on the lowest level signing autographs with one security guard on his left. He silently acknowledged me with a nod as he finished up. Vivian was on his right looking stressed for the upcoming bout.
Looker was off to the side talking on his phone. I doubt he had an interest in the battle on a surface level. Was he sent to check for Shadow Pokémon? Did he want to talk to me after the battle? Was someone going to get arrested? We exchanged a quick glance; his facial expression was stoic.
Cecil and Maddie were on assignment taking notes on whatever medical jargon was relevant to them. They too kept a neutral expression when spotting me.
Jen's presence was by far the most surprising. I didn't know if she was on official business for Ardos or if she wanted to see me get eliminated. A sense of dread came over me when I realized she could likely find out what my family and friends looked like. Her fake smile and waving turned my dread into concentrated rage. I kept a calm face for the camera crew.
"Gentlemen, please come to midfield," our referee said. "This round will be three versus three singles battle with all other rules still applying. Russell, you are the lower seed which means you will call the coin toss."
"Calling tails."
"It is tails. What is your choice? Send out your Pokémon first and make the first move or send out your Pokémon second?" the referee asked after the flip.
"Go second."
I was not happy about having to send out a Pokémon first. In addition to the limited lineup, I forgot to watch Russell's eighth gym battle for a more thorough scouting report.
"Understood. Ryan, wait for my signal. Shake hands, go back to your sides, and good luck to you both."
Russell didn't appear to have a malicious aura during the short handshake. He was just as competitive as I was even if his overall body of work didn't reflect it. The sizable crowd cheered in anticipation with my family being the loudest. I got the nod to make my selection once everyone was in place.
"Let's go, Linoone!" I called out. He stayed low to the ground, twitching in anticipation.
"Sceptile, I choose you!"
At least I had some idea of what Sceptile was capable of as a species. The thought of it being corrupted briefly entered my mind before seeing how focused it was. The flags were raised.
"Linoone versus Sceptile. Go!"
"Sand Attack!" I ordered.
"Get moving with Leaf Blade!"
Sceptile immediately went off to the side as Linoone started digging. He fired chunks ahead of the grass starter's evolved form and it ran into one. Leaf Blade was put on pause in favor of eye rubbing.
"Covet!"
My partner pounced on the distracted grass type with a vengeance. The onslaught went from flailing around to a more direct attack; Sceptile was holding an item. Linoone had something in his grasp but couldn't yank it off.
The grass type felt Linoone stop from the confusion to deliver a backhanded Leaf Blade. It wasn't as powerful yet it got the normal type to abandon his quest for treasure. Russell pulled a necklace from his pocket.
"Can't steal a Mega Stone from a Pokémon who needs it to mega evolve. Behold! The power of a Sceptilite!"
A blinding light filled the area and radiated energy. The threat I had to deal with was amplified. Its stats had increased, it was part dragon type, and its ability had changed to Lightning Rod.
"Dragon Pulse!"
"Run, Linoone!"
Sceptile fired a blast of blue energy more powerful than what Altaria could put out. Linoone managed to avoid a direct hit, but the blast knocked him off his feet. Some "oohs" echoed came from the crowd.
"Be careful about going in directly! Get close enough then use Slash!" I said, trying to stay calm.
A simple bob or weave at the last second wasn't going to work. Kicking up part of the field for a makeshift smokescreen bought him enough time for a head start; the mega evolved Pokémon didn't move. Dragon Pulse came out again and grazed Linoone.
"Keep it up! If it gets too close, switch to Leaf Blade!"
Linoone abandoned his head-on approach in favor of running laps around Sceptile. To the naked eye, he wasn't doing anything special. However, I saw his footprints on the field form smaller circles with each passing lap. Linoone's endurance allowed for him to closed the gap while not losing speed dodging the occasional Dragon Pulse. The preparation for Leaf Blade told me it was time to strike.
"Slash!"
My teammate pushed off the ground with a glowing claw aiming for the grass dragon's throat. Sceptile timed its counterattack perfectly. It swung its arm sideways so the middle of the blade cut across Linoone's midsection before it got hit. The normal type tumbled to the ground clearly injured.
"X-Scissor!"
Sceptile rushed to Linoone with its arms crossed looking to deliver a knockout blow. Even though Linoone had no chance of getting away, he scooped up some dirt and waited to fling it at his opponent's eyes as a parting gift. The sudden cheap shot caused a miss and an adrenaline rush. Linoone was back on his feet wincing.
"Get in with Slash!" A roar came out as he took a solid swipe at Sceptile's side.
"Dragon Pulse!"
No amount of sand in the eyes was going to stop the blast from hitting at point-blank range. Linoone slid unceremoniously across the field and was unconscious when the dust settled.
"Linoone is unable to battle. Sceptile wins!" the referee said. Russell was clapping with intensity.
"Alright! That's what I'm talking about!"
The referee signaled for my next Pokémon. My friends and family looked on nervously. Sceptile was rubbing its eyes trying to get rid of any leftover dirt. There was only one move I could make for a chance at a comeback.
"Walrein, you're up!" He was surprised at coming out early. "You got this."
"Pinning your hopes on type advantage when Sceptile is faster and also has a type advantage? I don't know about that," Russell retorted.
"Sure you want to test that speed?" I shot back.
The referee raised the flags. "Walrein versus Sceptile. Begin!"
"You won't sucker me into close quarters combat. Focus Blast!" Russell said.
Sceptile quickly brought its arms back to gather energy then fired. I was worried for only a second as the blast veered off course. The Forest Pokémon immediately went back to rubbing its eyes. A few laughs were sprinkled in from the crowd. I had trouble keeping a straight face.
"Use Swagger!"
Walrein sounded more relentless than usual. The sarcastic tone was replaced with pure rage. His fins slammed the ground then he started waving over his agitated opponent. It looked childish, but he coaxed Sceptile into seeing red.
"Dragon Pulse!" The attack fell on deaf ears. Sceptile started punching the ground and grunted in pain.
"Frost Breath!"
Walrein scooted forward then let loose a sea of ice crystals. Russell tried to snap his partner out of confusion only to fail. I took an exaggerated deep breath when the damage was done.
"Sceptile is unable to battle. Walrein wins!"
There was a loud roar from the crowd. I saw my parents squeezing each other's hands. Jack was rocking in his seat. Rebecca was leaning forward. Vivian nervously folded her arms. Wattson had an intrigued look on his face.
"Turns out a quadruple weakness to ice was all I needed," I taunted.
"Oh please! You only got lucky because of some dirt," Russell said.
"Funny that a person who made it here by the skin of their teeth bitching about luck. You're seed 121 out of 128."
To say I hit a nerve would have been an understatement. He took a few steps out of the trainer's box while screaming an expletive every other word. If the referee didn't order him back, I would have been down to fight. We both got hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. The broadcast crew was loving the chaos more than anyone.
"Make your next selection," the referee said to Russell. "Both of you are on thin ice. Understand?"
"Yeah, I hear you. My choice is Manectric!"
Once again, I was forced into a corner. Keeping Walrein in was asking for a loss. I was hung up on who to switch to. At least the referee had to announce the round before I could legally make a substitution.
"Walrein versus Manectric. Start!"
"I don't think so. Walrein, return!" I waited as long as possible to make my choice. "Go Magneton!"
Ninetales was my other immediate choice, but I preferred being resistant to electric attacks. Altaria also sounded good until I considered the ice variant of Hidden Power. Aggron didn't have the special defense to last long enough.
"Magneton versus Manectric. Start!" the referee said.
"Run in for a Crunch attack!"
"Use Metal Sound!"
The quadruped used its superior speed to dodge incoming tangible bursts of sound. Its teeth dug in as best they could for a close hit. Magneton eventually shook its opponent off.
"Again!" I called out. The sound wave found its mark with the two sides being so close to one another, disorienting Manectric.
"Shake it off and use Charge Beam!"
It came out fast, but was pitifully weak rope of electricity. Magneton didn't even flinch. He ordered another one and it came out just as fast with more power.
"Don't let it get comfortable! Use Flash Cannon!" Russell took a page out of my book.
"Run around it!"
Manectric took the same approach as Linoone to dodge the blast of metal particles. It was far enough away to adjust to any ranged attack. I banked on it stopping to launch a counterattack. It never came and I was starting to feel the pressure.
"Fire another shot!" I called out.
The attack missed horribly and Manectric retaliated with another Charge Beam. It didn't need to put a lot of effort into the attack before running to its right in a circle. The line of electricity was fatter and Magneton was grazed when trying to move out of the way. I had an idea seeing Magneton trying to line up for another attack.
"Spin the opposite way when you use Flash Cannon!"
Linoone scooping sand ahead of Sceptile worked because aiming for a general area was good enough. Manectric was too fast but was following a specific path. Magneton aimed straight then quickly spun to the left where the attack nailed Manectric in the side. It was down and panting.
"Metal Sound!"
"Thunderbolt!"
Manectric was in no condition to run away and took another disorienting sound wave. Thunderbolt still came out strong. Magneton dropped to the ground as its electric counterpart tried to stand. As soon my partner was upright, I saw an opportunity for an easy hit.
"Tri Attack!"
The glowing white triangle with red, yellow, and blue points was sent towards the struggling Manectric. A yellow flash caught my eye before a small explosion occurred. I couldn't see the outcome, but the sound of a flag going up calmed me down.
"Manectric is unable to battle. Magneton wins!"
Everyone in the crowd was on their feet clapping. I was starting to sweat and my heart was beating faster. Russell was taking deep breaths with his head down. He looked at his belt as if he wasn't sure about who to send out. I didn't blame him for taking as long as possible to make a decision.
"Starmie, you're up!"
My attention immediately turned to Jen. She was clapping with the others although visibly uninterested in the action. Looker kept a poker face as well. Magneton didn't appear to sense anything unusual. Was I wrong? No, I couldn't be. Why choose Starmie when Zangoose and two other Pokémon were available? I gave up on it as the flags went up.
"Magneton versus Starmie. Go!"
I went for the finisher immediately. "Thunder!"
"Hydro Pump!"
Crackling electricity quickly turned into a stream that missed the mark. I kept my frustration bottled up because Magneton was exhausted. Starmie blew its chance for a knockout by firing slightly to the left at first. My partner had enough energy to get away.
"Don't get scared! That thing's barely standing! Try again!" Russell said.
"Put everything you got into another Thunder!" I called out.
Starmie was too quick and didn't miss the second time around. The powerful burst of water knocked the electric steel type out.
"Magneton is unable to battle. Starmie wins!"
Looker and Jen appeared more interested in the battle when I looked at the crowd. My friends and family were sweating almost as much as I was. Lucas kept his arms folded while his chest rose and fell rapidly. Dad was hugging mom. Sadie was rubbing her forehead. Jack looked sick to his stomach with Rebecca helping him get through whatever he was feeling. Cecil and Maddie buried their heads in their notes. Vivian put her head in her hands for a few seconds.
Only Wattson had a poker face. And why wouldn't he? He has been in my shoes hundreds, if not thousands of times as a leader. A thumbs up gave me more confidence than I expected.
"It's too early for me to be going home. Walrein, let's finish this!"
Being at full strength was critical. Walrein's bold nature gave it better physical defense and being water type helped on the special defense side. Using Tri Attack or Metal Sound to soften up Starmie would have been a huge plus, but I got greedy and got punished for it. Russell looked lost and was shaking. I slowed my breathing while trying not to shake.
"Final round! Walrein versus Starmie. Begin!"
"Surf!" I said.
"Use… use Ice Beam," Russell stuttered.
It was more of a defensive measure. The fierce wave was slowed down by a section getting frozen over. Leftover energy that made it to Walrein had no effect thanks to Thick Fat.
Offense was going to be at a premium because both sides were at a type disadvantage. Knowing Starmie was a special attacker, I had a chance to really take control.
"Alright, let's rile it up with Swagger!"
Walrein went back to his patented belly slapping to get his point across. Starmie not having a face complicated things, but it started twitching which told me the move was working.
"Go in after it," Russell said with a lack of confidence.
The sudden attitude change sold the idea of Starmie being corrupted to me and that I had made a big mistake. Most trainers would be enthusiastic to order a physical attack after their Pokémon was affected by Swagger. I hoped for a tantrum, but ended up disappointed as Walrein took a spinning tackle. He doubled over for a moment then looked back at me in shock.
Jen cracked a smile at the result in the corner of my eye. Looker was writing something down on a small notepad. Thankfully nobody else knew how much trouble I was in.
"Frost Breath!"
"Ice Beam!"
The countermeasure proved to be effective as the two attacks met halfway. Neither one gave an inch as a giant ball of ice formed on the field. I needed Starmie to hurt itself to gain the upper hand.
"Keep up the pressure! Ride the waves! Surf!" I urged.
"Hydro Pump!"
For the third consecutive time, Starmie kept its composure. The cannon-like blast cut the wave down to size and had Walrein soaring through the air.
"Frost Breath!"
He couldn't get a clear shot or hold it; the icy breath still hit its target. The landing was far from graceful, but it didn't hurt as much as I anticipated. Starmie was going to attack on its own, but got riled up. Russell was terrified.
"Now's not the time!"
I thought it was going to hurt itself in confusion, but it started spinning on its vertical axis. A small purple tornado formed then made its way toward Walerin. He had no chance of outrunning it and braced for the worst.
The attack picked up his large frame with ease and the super effective mystery attack felt like it was never going to stop. He took a hard fall and got up with labored breathing. Starmie recoiled in pain too. The crowd could not make sense of what they were seeing. At least people outside of my circle were witnesses to what a Shadow Pokémon was capable of.
"Brine!" I called out.
"Get your act together, Starmie!"
Calling out to it was enough to calm it down. Unfortunately for Russell, it was too distracted to dodge the incoming attack. Brine didn't hurt as much because the damn thing was too healthy.
A battle of attrition was no longer in my best interest since the tornado attack was on the special side the rush attack was boosted. Winning through sheer power was not going to cut it either.
"Use Swagger!" I said, hiding my reluctance.
"Tw-twister!" Russell stuttered.
I did not want to say anything for fear of being ejected. No way that was a Twister attack. Starmie couldn't even learn Twister. Most of crowd didn't buy it either.
Starmie got heated so fast that it didn't get a chance to attack. Instead, it hurt itself in confusion by throwing itself on the ground. The window I was looking for was finally open.
"Brine!"
"Hydro Pump!"
I cursed as both attacks collided. "Roll away, Walrein!"
Getting out of the line of fire prevented any damage and got the two lined up perfectly. Russell and I saw the finish line at the same time.
"Charge ahead!" Russell ordered.
"Brine! Put everything you got into it!" I screamed.
The final push gave Starmie an extra pep in its step. It got almost halfway to Walrein before he could attack. Just before the powerful blast of water connected, Starmie just… collapsed.
A knot formed in my stomach. There were a few gasps from the crowd as Brine pushed the unconscious body back to Russell's side, occasionally flipping it over. The referee sprinted onto the field waving both flags over their head; the universal symbol for an emergency stoppage.
"Walrein, stop the attack!" I pleaded.
He aimed away from the action until he stream died out. Shrieking filled the stands, attracting extra security. The referee rushed the announcement to formally end the contest.
"Starmie is unable to battle. Walrein wins! This match goes to Ryan!"
Cecil, Maddie, and their supervisor sprinted over from their seats. I tried looking for Jen, but she was nowhere to be seen. Looker was making a call. Russell was by his Pokémon's side wailing. My family and friends looked pale and were unsure how to react.
Truthfully, neither did I.
Just to confirm: there will be no smut going forward. I apologize if you expected more in the first half of the chapter or scared you if it's not your cup of tea. Have a good day and I will see you next chapter :)
-W4f