Chapter 92: Poison Control

An hour later, Max and Plumeria stood on opposite sides of the arena while the ref went over the rules. When Plumeria saw who her opponent was, she burst out laughing.

"This is a joke, right? Are you even old enough to own a Pokemon? This will be so easy, I almost feel sorry for you, kid."

This got Max's blood boiling.

"Kid? I'll have you know I'm 11 years old! Not to mention this is my second League."

"Whatever, kid. Just don't run home to mommy when you lose."

"Ahem."

The referee's voice snapped them out of their trash talk, the two of them snapping back to attention as he finished his spiel.

"Alright, both of you will send out your first Pokemon at the same time. Are you ready?"

The two competitors nodded.

"Then let the match begin!"

"Gengar, Go!"

"Mightyena, I Choose You!"

"Mightyena vs Gengar, begin!"

"Gengar, use Shadow Ball!"

"Mightyena, use Sucker Punch!"

Gengar prepared a Shadow Ball, but Mightyena was too quick, headbutting him and sending the attack flying off into the distance. Gengar got back up, shaken but undeterred.

"Hit him with a Snarl, Mightyena!"

"Ominous Wind, Gengar!"

Mightyena summoned all of the energy within him into his mouth before letting out a ferocious bark, which blew Gengar back. At the same time he had done that, Gengar had created and launched a terrible gust of wind, knocking the hound off his feet and sending him flying a few feet, although he quickly got back up.

"Gengar, hit him with Night Shade!"

"Crunch, Mightyena!"

Gengar rapidly began shooting out eye beams, trying to hit Mightyena, but the hound was too quick, easily evading each one before running up and biting Gengar hard. Gengar wobbled for a minute before hitting the ground, out cold.

"Gengar is unable to battle! The round goes to Mightyena!"

"Good job, boy! Return!"

Mightyena dutifully trotted back to his trainer, growling contently as Max stroked his fur before returning him to his Pokeball. Max then turned his attention back to Plumeria.

"Still think I'm just a kid?"

"Don't get too cocky, the match isn't over yet. Go, Crobat!"

"Gardevoir, I choose you!"

"Gardevoir vs Crobat, begin!"

"Hit her with a Leech Life, Crobat!"

"Gardevoir, dodge and use Psybeam!"

Gardevoir gracefully weaved out of Crobat's fangs before hitting him with a beam of psychic energy, almost knocking it out of the air completely. Although it got back up, it was not without some difficulty, angering Plumeria even more.

"Use Sludge Bomb!"

Crobat concentrated hard, launching the biggest ball of poison it could muster...

Only for Gardevoir to teleport out of harm's way, the sludge bomb splatting harmlessly against the back wall. Plumeria eyed the field cautiously, trying to figure out where the Fairy would appear when she noticed the air start to shift behind Crobat.

"Crobat, now's our chance! Turn around and hit her with a point blank Cross Poison!"

"Counter with Psychic, Gardevoir!"

Crobat turned around, ready to strike with its wings, only to be barraged by waves of psychic energy, proving too much for it to handle. Crobat flapped its wings for a good minute trying to stay aloft, only to crash to the ground out cold.

"Crobat is unable to battle! The round goes to Gardevoir!"

"Great job, Gardevoir! Go, Camerupt!"

"This isn't over yet! Go, Muk!"

"Muk vs Camerupt, begin!"

"Venoshock, Muk!"

"Start off strong with Earthquake, Camerupt!"

Muk tried to gather up poisonous energy in his body, but the violent shaking of the ground caused it to lose his balance, sending his attack flying off into a wall where it slid down harmlessly. Plumeria was starting to lose patience.

"Poison Jab!"

"Lava Plume, and keep it going!"

Muk slithered across the battlfield, ready to attack, but was stopped by a large wall of fire bursting out of the ground. He tried to move away, but another one burst up, followed by two more until he was trapped in a tiny little circle, unable to advance. This was what Max was waiting for.

"Alright Camerupt, use Fissure!"

"No!"

Plumeria's cry fell on deaf ears as Camerupt slammed his hoof into the ground, creating a massive hole underneath Muk that he fell into before being slingshotted back up. When he fell back on to the ground, he was down for the count.

"Muk is unable to battle! The round goes to Camerupt, and the battle goes to Max from Petalburg City!"

"Yes! Way to go, Camerupt!"

Plumeria stood there for a good minute, completely in shock. Then, she began stomping the ground in anger.

"No! I won't accept this! I should've won! I've been a trainer way longer than this snot-nosed brat, there's no way he could've beat me! He must've cheated, I..."

"Security, please escort her out of the arena."

The guards, sick of Plumeria's whining, picked her up and dragged her away, still screaming.

"Let me go! This is unfair, I demand a rematch!"

Everyone just sighed a breath of relief.

"That girl has issues."

"Agreed."

(Outside the arena)

"And stay out!"

The guards, ears ringing from Plumeria's rant, tossed her out into the Poni Wilds, slamming the door shut behind them. Picking herself up, Plumeria threw herself on the door and began pounding.

"Let me in! This isn't over, you'll be hearing from my lawyers!"

Guzma, who had been just wondering around the forest out of boredom, had seen the whole event and chuckled.

"So...how'd it go?"

"SHUT UP!"