We stood before a domed building, golden rings arching over it at different angles and the Kalos Gym symbol hung over the doorway.
"Time for our 7th gym badge," Alex said, one hand on her hip. "Wow, only one more to get after this. Feels like this journey has gone by fast."
"Despite everything else?" I smiled. "I guess it has."
"By the way," Alex tapped me on the shoulder, heading towards the door. "I call dibs on battling first."
"What?" I smirked. "Don't want to analyze the opponents by having me battle first?"
"I should mention," Robert started saying as we entered the building and down a hall as he stared at a brochure. "This gym is likely going to wow us."
"Wow?" I asked, looking at him, then Alex breathed, "Wow."
"What?" I turned my head and said, "Wow."
The large dome shaped room's ceiling was just electronic screen, each one having seemingly meshed together without a crack visible. Beautifully colored galaxies, supernovas, and a dazzling array of stars shone above us. And the arena was like on big open timepiece. Gears turned beneath a blue glowing battlefield, their clanging sounds matching wonderfully with the scenery. Three large rings were situated at different intervals, the one highest used as stands for people to watch from. Three other rings circled around the arena and I realized this place wasn't a dome at all. It was a sphere as the circular rings were allowed to nearly brush up against the floor and ceiling.
"It's like we're in space," breathed Robert, actually looking kind of giddy. "This is amazing!"
"Welcome, challengers," a voice spoke in something akin to a noble tone, belonging to a dark-skinned woman standing beneath a metal archway at the far end of the stadium on the stand. With star shaped earrings, her purple hair was curled up in a unique style and her periwinkle eyes regarded us as if we were a curious mystery. Over a black suit she wore a silver cape with the inside looking as if it was space itself. On either side of her were her two Pokemon. A Female Meowstic to her right and a male one to her left.
"I am Olympia," Both Meowstics' eyes turned blue and a similar blue aura surrounded them and Olympia. All three floated into the air and lowered themselves at the opposite end of the battlefield. "Gym Leader of the Anistar Gym. At long last me meet."
"Um," Alex looked unsure. "You were expecting us?"
Olympia only gave a small nod, her Meowstics floating in front of her, paws connected. "Step forwards, Alexandra."
"Alex," She snapped, an expression of anger quickly rising on her face. But just as fast it faded. "I go by Alex."
Olympia spread out her arms. "Alex, show me the fire that burns within your soul."
The Meowstics narrowed their eyes, glowing brighter.
Alex snatched two pokeballs clipped to her waist, tossing both in the air. "Let's go, Absol, Frosmoth!" Absol appeared on the ground and stretched, eyeing the Psychic type opponents with a curious glance. Frosmoth floated gently around Alex, one of her wings gently brushing against her face.
Alex knelt. "Absol, I know who your trainer was before me." Absol looked surprised at that and regarded Alex, who smiled. "But I don't care about that. I believe you and I now have a bond and I'm willing to push that further," she held up large silver necklace she had bought the day previous from a local shop and had it modified. In the middle, a small orb glowed. Absol stood straighter in surprise, then walked towards her trainer and bowed so Alex could clasp it around her. Alex then held up her wrist, her Keystone shining. "Let's show her how bright our spirits can really shine." Absol nodded and turned to stand proudly as she and Frosmoth faced the Meowstics.
A woman with long blue hair in purple gym robes stood on the side of the battlefield. "Alright, the Anistar gym battle between Alex, the challenger, and Olympia, the Anistar Gym Leader, is about to begin! This is a double battle! Each trainer will battle with two Pokemon at once and there will be no substitutions! Battle, Begin!" She finished with a wave of her hand, the gears beneath the arena locking into a new position, only to continue on turning.
"Frosmoth, Aurora Veil!" Alex commanded and a mystifying curtain shrouded itself over both Frosmoth and Absol before disappearing. "Absol, hear my call!"
Meanwhile, on the other side of the battle, Olympia said, "Light Screen and Future Sight."
The male Meowstic brought up a barrier while the female's eyes glowed pink for a second before both disappeared.
"Let our power and bond grow as we go beyond evolution," Alex touched two fingers to her Keystone, a brilliant light connecting her and Absol. "Absol, Mega Evolve!"
Light broke free from Absol, revealing a more serene Pokemon. Feathery wings sprouted from her back and the horn extending from the right side of her head became more curved while her fur covered the right side of her face more.
Alex grinned proudly. "Night Slash and Bug Buzz!"
Frosmoth flapped her wings at a high frequency, the sonic attack directed at both Meowstics. Absol ran forwards, faster now that she had mega evolved. She twisted her body, slashing the blade on her head, a fierce dark wind lashing outwards.
"Dark Pulse and Psyshock," Olympia voiced.
The Meowstics switched places in the air, the female blasting a Dark Pulse at Absol's attacks while the male shot psychic pellets of air at the incoming sound attack. Two explosions resulted from the attacks and both Meowstics flew higher out of the smoke with Frosmoth flying just below them.
"Icy Wind!" Alex shouted and Frosmoth blew a cold wind towards them. Both Pokemon were battered, but a rift opened up above them, psychic energy slamming into Frosmoth, sending her tumbling away. Absol jumped and caught Frosmoth on her back, letting the Bug type to flutter off her.
"Speed's lowered," Alex smirked. "Good. Frosmoth, Aurora Beam! Absol, jump and use Night Slash again!"
"Meowstic," Olympia raised her hand, white nails shining. "Send him in and use Play Rough!"
The female Meowstic channeled psychic energy around the Male and shot him towards Absol while also dodging the Aurora Beam with speed that obviously hadn't been lowered.
"What!?" Alex looked surprised as one attack missed and the other didn't have a chance of getting off, as the male Meowstic slammed into Absol and began pummeling her.
"Keen Eye," Robert noted as we watched from the stands. "Female Meowstic. Her speed stayed the same thanks to that ability."
"Keen eye you have there," I joked.
"Bite," Alex yelled instinctively and Absol managed to bite down hard on Meowstic.
"Thunderbolt," Olympia shouted. "And paralyze her with Thunder Wave!"
The male Meowstic blasted Absol with electricity, allowing himself to be freed from her jaws. He floated back up in the air as the female Meowstic moved behind Frosmoth and shot her with a small jolt of energy, paralyzing her. Frosmoth flinched and dropped lower to the ground, but managed to stay in the air.
"Thunderbolt and Thunder Wave on Absol," Olympia commanded her Meowstics, who both proceeded to do just that.
Absol took both hits, taking damage from the Thunderbolt, but her body glowed with a rainbow color and the spark of electricity rebounded and hit the female Meowstic, paralyzing her instead.
"Lucky Break!" Alex grinned. "Frosmoth, Bug Buzz!"
Struggling to flap her wings, Frosmoth managed to fire the sonic waves and only grazed the female Meowstic, the male one having tried to psychic her out of the way.
"Double Team!"
Multiple Absols popped into existence, all of them leaping towards the Meowstics.
"Helping Hand paired with Dark Pulse!" Olympia shouted.
The male Meowstic got behind the female and supported her with psychic energy. Her eyes glowed and fired a dark beam at Absol, who sliced through it with her horn, slamming a dark wind against her. Meowstic was slammed against the male, both sent tumbling through the air.
"Let's use that why don't we," Alex raised her hand. "Frosmoth, Helping Hand! Absol, Razor Wind!"
Absol swung her head, a whirlwind swirling up around her. Frosmoth flapped her wings before falling to the ground, the paralysis taking effect, but the energy had already descended upon Absol, the whirlwind growing stronger.
"Together," Olympia told her Pokemon and both Meowstics touched paws, the blue aura around them growing stronger. "Psyshock!"
The air condensed around the pair of Psychic types into hard pellets imbued with psychic energy. They shot towards Absol and Frosmoth, but Absol swung her head and roared. The whirlwind blasted forwards, the pellets doing little to slow it down. A few went through the fierce wind and phased through Absol while some hit Frosmoth. The whirlwind wasn't slowed down much as it slammed into the Meowstics. They fell towards the ground, landing on their feet, pained expression on both.
"Get them both Absol!" Alex shouted. "Night Slash!"
Absol ran forwards, dark wind streaming from her horn.
"Thunderbolt and Shadow Ball," Olympia called out, but the battle was basically over. With both Meowstics having dropped in speed and unable to do much against a Dark type like Absol, the battle was essentially over before it had begun.
The Thunderbolt shocked Absol's body, but she kept running, the Night Slash slicing through the Shadow Ball and slamming into the Meowstics. They were knocked backwards, tumbling to Olympia's feet, weakened to the point where they couldn't do anything but slowly rise to their feet. While not fainted, they had certainly lost.
The referee raised her hand. "Both Meowstics are unable to battle. Alex, the challenger, wins!"
Absol greeted both her Pokemon who returned to her and congratulated them. "Good job out there, both of you. And Frosmoth, I officially welcome you to the team."
Frosmoth chimed quietly and Alex returned her to her pokeball to rest. Absol shook herself, reverting back to her normal form. She raised a paw and Alex held it. "Let's do amazing things together, Absol. I'm not Kamake, but I promise to be who you deserve."
Absol bowed her head and licked Alex's hand before being sucked back into her pokeball. Alex stood to see the Psychic Badge floating in front of her.
Olympia smiled softly. "Proof of your win. Go forth, Alex. Never let your spirit die or you may crumble to ashes yourself."
Alex stopped at those words and blinked. Shaking her head, she headed for the stands.
"I'm up," I said, cracking my knuckles.
"Yes you are," Robert nodded and looked at me, eyes landing on what I was holding. He began to chuckle and shook his head. I grinned and moved down towards the arena, meeting Alex halfway.
She stopped as I moved past and muttered, "You've got to be kidding me. I give you freedom and this is what you do..."
I stepped forwards onto the arena, black combat boots planted firmly as Greninja and Pawniard stood on either side of me. I breathed in, then out. "Greninja." Our minds connected and water surged around him before pulling back into his cloak. While he did that, in one fluid motion, I swung the trench coat over me, tightening the belt. Black and form fitting, it reached down just past my knees. Once I had used this to mark me as an assassin of Team Rocket, but now I wore it as a symbol of who Greninja and I are.
"We are the Kage-Shinobi," I said, Greninja standing beside me, our determination one. "And we won't lose."
"You gotta admit," Robert said to Alex in the stands. "That is cool."
"Shut it," Alex growled, but even she could understand the reason he wore a trench coat again.
"That Pokemon," Olympia breathed, eyes sparkling. "Yes, it is him."
Both her Meowstics had been returned and now a Sigilyph and Slowking were in front of her. The referee raised her hand. "The same rules apply as before! Battle, begin!"
"Ready Pawniard?" I asked and he nodded. "Good. This is your first battle with me, so Greninja will show you the ropes. Greninja, Water Shuriken! Pawniard, Metal Sound!"
Pawniard clanged his claws together and a sharp ringing hit both enemy Pokemon. Sigilyph had set up a Light Screen while Slowking's eyes sharpened as Olympia shouted, "Disable!"
Greninja's Water Shurikens disappeared while he was mid-leap towards Sigilyph.
"Change to Night Slash!" I shouted and one of Greninja's blades shot to his hand, glowing dark. He slashed at Sigilyph, but his attack was repelled by an Air Slash.
"Sigilyph," Olympia called to her Pokemon. "Cosmic Power! Slowking, Surf!"
"Dodge!" I shouted and Greninja leaped back as Slowking ushered in a wave of water, crashing towards him and Pawniard. "Pawniard, rush forwards!"
Pawniard looked at me in surprise, but I nodded. He ran and I felt my connection with Greninja.
"We have to take down that Slowking," I thought, feeling Greninja's emotions having merged with my own. "He'll try to keep us at bay while Sigilyph fires moves at us. That will be their plan. So we need to rush. Defend Pawniard and help him reach Sigilyph."
All of this was communicated in an instant and I found myself seeing through Greninja's eyes. I slammed my hand on the ground, trench billowing upwards. "Water Pledge!"
Greninja mimicked the movement as he landed in front of Pawniard, three geysers of water interrupting the original flow of the incoming wave, allowing neither Pokemon to get hit. I lowered my right hand and so did Greninja, allowing Pawniard to jump upon it and was vaulted into the air towards Sigilyph.
"Hit him with Water Gun," Olympia commanded. "Sigilyph, Air Cutter!"
Both Pokemon were wide open for Greninja to strike either, but I wasn't going to let Pawniard take the hits. I gripped my trench and swung it off, shouting, "Hydro Shield!"
Greninja ran full tilt and leaped, swinging off his cloak as I did, using it to block both attacks before they could reach Pawniard. I bent back and so did Greninja so we could allow Pawniard to leap over him.
"Night Slash!" I yelled and Pawniard swung his claw, slashing it across Sigilyph's body. I felt a tingle shoot up our spines and we grinned. Extending both palms, I shouted, "Water Shuriken!"
Quick as a flash, Greninja shot two Water Shurikens at Slowking, who due to slow speed, was unable to dodge. He flinched upon being hit and Olympia raised her hand. "Disable!"
"That's fine," I grinned and both hands flung to my side as Greninja grabbed two blades from there, both turning dark. "Pawniard, after Slowking! Greninja, you know what to do!"
Pawniard ran for Slowking, each attack from him and Sigilyph deflected by Greninja using both his blades, practically dancing around the battlefield. Then both he and Pawniard slashed their Night Slashes against Slowking, the Psychic type brought to one knee.
Olympia commanded Slowking to use Surf once more, but I yelled, "Extrasensory!"
Greninja's eyes glowed and the water was deflected back onto Slowking. Sigilyph's next attack struck Greninja in the side, my hand reaching to my own side as I felt the blow. "Pawniard, Metal Sound!"
The sound disrupted Sigilyph and Greninja leaped into the air, slashing as he went, bringing the Psychic type crashing to the ground. As he made to rise, Pawniard dealt the finishing blow, knocking him out. A blast of water from Slowking knocked Pawniard back, but Greninja ran for the Water type, a glowing blade in his hand.
"Power Gem!"
Glowing rocks sprung into the air, each one shooting towards Greninja. Our movements were fluid, my reflexes taking over as we both swung our hands. Each rock was knocked away and Greninja slid past Slowking so fast, an afterimage of the glowing blade was left hanging for a second. Then Slowking collapsed.
"Both Pokemon are unable to battle," the ref called. "That means Zeno, the challenger, wins!"
I slid to the ground, sweating as Greninja's form faded. We had pushed ourselves, which would definitely be felt sooner or later. I stood to greet Greninja and Pawniard. "Amazing first battle, Pawniard. You'll be a powerful Pokemon one day."
He made a metal sound, which sounded happy. Greninja clasped a webbed hand on my shoulder and I grinned. "Fighting in full sync like that really wears me down. But there's definitely promise there, I can feel it." Greninja croaked in agreement and I looked to find the Psychic badge floating in front of me as it had done for Alex.
"Both of you have won," Olympia congratulated. "While much remains unknown, I can see that you all are important. For what is to come is shrouded in darkness and the path you walk uncertain. I wish you good fortune and may the future shine brightly upon you all."
With that, she returned to her archway and closed her eyes. At first I thought she might be asleep, then decided she must be meditating. As Alex and Robert met up with me, the blue-haired referee met up with us.
"Please excuse Miss Olympia," she bowed her head slightly. "She has been feeling unwell lately and the disturbances across Kalos have been putting a great deal of stress on her. Don't think too hard on what she's said to you all."
"Sure," Alex said. "No problem."
We left and Alex hit me in the shoulder.
"Hey," I complained. "What was that for?"
She just stared at me, then sighed. "Next time, I do the shopping for you."
"Hey," I raised my hands, having already put the trench coat back in my backpack. "I'm not going to wear it all the time, I promise. It's just, it felt right when paired with Greninja."
Alex sighed again. "Fine, but only when you battle. I want you wearing regular street clothes when you're not."
"You know," Robert sounded as if he was holding back a laugh. "You sound like you're his mother."
Alex shot him a glare and he burst out laughing. Wiping a tear from his eye, he said, "We should get your Pokemon to the Pokemon Center. Then I guess we rest and wait to see if Looker calls."
"Sounds like a plan," I nodded and we set off for the Pokemon Center.
...
That evening, the call came. With dusk setting in, we made our way to Route 18 where we waited for Looker to arrive with a helicopter.
"This is it," Alex said, tossing her pokeball up in the air before catching it again. "Off to take down Team Flare."
"The Defenders of Order lost in our last encounter," Robert shook his head. "Shameful."
"But this time," I raised my gaze to the helicopter heading towards us. "We won't lose. We'll stop their plans and destroy the Ultimate Weapon before they can use it."
...
Olympia sat, eyelids fluttering and she moaned in pain as her head was filled with images. Flashes of chaos, a city burning, deep green eyes. Her eyes shot open, mouth slightly open.
Two brothers united. Foes now allies. People crying out in terror. Vines spreading across a city. A serpent-like figure rising from the depths of chaos itself.
"Your collective arrival was one of great importance, a sign of change," breathed Olympia. "Hero Born of Darkness, Priestess of the Ancients, The One Who Seeks Clarity. Kalos enters a time of uncertainty and heroes are needed or else all will fall."
She shuddered and fell back, her students catching her before she could hit her head. She could barely process what she had just witnessed, but she feared she had seen the end.
Been nearly a year since I started LDOC and already we're at 50 chapters! Wow. Anyway, I'm still unsure about my Double Battle writing skills. Let me know what you guys think because I'm not too sure myself. Also, PlaySation 5 details were released and I'm stoked! Some of the games I just really want to play, but then I'm reminded of how much the PS5 is likely to cost... It must be done...Until next time readers. Toodles
